Biogenic Solid Fuels in InterCal Austria GmbH: Conversion of the Lime Shaft Kiln in Peggau to CO2 Neutral Fuels

InterCal Austria GmbH is part of the Wietersdorfer Group and operates a parallel flow regenerative shaft kiln to produce quicklime at the plant in Peggau. The company has set itself the goal of significantly reducing fossil CO2 emissions in the production of quicklime over the next few years and achieving the Wietersdorfer Group’s ambitious target of CO2 neutrality by 2035. One key measure is to replace the fossil fuels previously used, such as natural gas and pulverized lignite, with biogenic solid fuels. By converting to alternative CO2-neutral fuels, up to one third of the total emissions in quicklime production can be avoided. The experience gained in converting the kiln at the Peggau site will subsequently be used to enable all active kilns within the InterCal Group to be converted to CO2-neutral fuels. This contribution provides an insight into how the know-how for the use of alternative fuels has been built up from the first experiences in individual tests in 2018 to the present day and describes measures and steps that have been taken and still need to be taken in order to sustainably and resiliently realize a 100% substitute fuel rate with CO2-neutral fuels at a lime kiln. © Austrian Society for Metallurgy of Metals (ASMET) and Bergmännischer Verband Österreich (BVÖ) 2024.