Investigating energy saving and climate mitigation potentials in cement production-A case study in Ethiopia

The cement industry is one of the most energy and emission-intensive sectors, accounting for approximately 7% of total-industrial energy use and 7% of global CO2 emissions. This study investigates the potential energy savings and CO2 abatement in the cement plants of Ethiopia. A Benchmarking and Energy Saving Tool for Cement is used to compare the energy use performance of the individual cement plants to best practices. The study reveals that all the surveyed plants are less efficient, with an average energy saving potential of 36% indicating a significant potential for energy efficiency improvement. Then, twenty-eight energy efficiency measures are identified and analyzed using a bottom-up energy conservation supply curve model. The results show that the cost-effective electrical energy and fuel-saving potentials of these measures are estimated to be 99 Gigawatt hours per year which is about 11.5% of the plants' annual electrical energy consumption and, 2.7 Petajoules per year which is to be 12.5% of the plants' annual fuel consumption, respectively. The cost-effective fuel measures have an annual average CO2 emission reduction potential of 254 kilo-tonnes per year which covers about 5% of the total CO2 emission. Sensitivity analysis is conducted using the key parameters that show some discrepancy in the base case results. This study could be used as a reference for policymakers to understand the potential for energy savings and CO2 abatement. It could also be used to design policies in improving energy efficiency in the cement sector.