This multi-year project directly addresses environmental challenges through innovative recycling and recycling, which will significantly reduce the consumption of ash pond landfills and original raw materials in cement manufacturing.
Lafarge Holly Saint Genevieve Cement Plant (Photo: Business Wire)
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--U.S.-based LafargeHolcim, its subsidiary Geocycle and CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) today announced an important milestone in their multi-year plan. That is, the first barge to load coal ash from a power plant. As part of the project, the project will recover and recycle more than 6 million tons of coal ash for beneficial reuse in the production of cement.
LafargeHolcim, the largest cement producer in the United States, Geocycle, a supplier of sustainable waste management solutions, and CenterPoint Energy, which operates two coal-fired power plants in southwestern Indiana, have invested more than US$80 million in infrastructure for demolition and processing And transportation, storage and recycling of coal ash produced at CenterPoint Energy’s AB Brown power station in Evansville, Indiana, for use at LafargeHolcim’s flagship cement plant in St. Genevieve, Missouri — Reduce the consumption of natural materials such as clay and sand in cement plants.
"This milestone is a concrete example of how industry players can jointly develop creative and efficient solutions that contribute to the circular economy. LafargeHolcim, Geocycle, and CenterPoint Energy will work together to avoid landfills in power plants and reduce the consumption of non-renewable raw materials. This is clearly a win-win for humanity and our planet," said Toufic Tabbara, CEO of LafargeHolcim American Cement.
Recently, for the first time, these teams transported nearly 2,000 tons of recycled materials, most of which were bottom ash and some fly ash, from the 165-acre pond of CenterPoint Energy's AB Brown plant. Since 2009, Geocycle has been managing the ongoing program between LafargeHolcim and CenterPoint Energy.
"Our multi-year plan with LafargeHolcim and Geocycle has always been the ideal solution because it allows materials to be removed from the environment and used for beneficial purposes," said Steve Greenley, Senior Vice President, Indiana Power Operations, CenterPoint Energy. "CenterPoint Energy's decision to recycle coal ash reduces the environmental impact and allows choices with less financial impact than other compliance options."
Coal is used as fuel for a quarter of the electricity generation in the United States, and it produces two combustion wastes: fly ash and bottom ash, a type of sand-containing sludge. According to data from the American Coal Ash Association, only 52% of the 78.6 million tons of coal ash generated from power generation in 2019 have been beneficially reused. The remaining 37.6 million tons are discarded in landfills or detention ponds. There are more than 2 billion tons of landfill ash in the United States. In order to reduce environmental risks, federal regulations mandate the closure of ash ponds and encourage the recycling of materials to achieve environmental and economic benefits.
Through careful material procurement and testing, the program promotes the treatment of water-filled coal ash material for beneficial reuse in the production of more environmentally friendly concrete mixtures. This beneficiation technology involves testing CenterPoint Energy's water-filled coal ash, which is currently being deployed in specific markets that are facing a shortage of fly ash due to the continued decommissioning of coal-fired power plants in the United States.
"This important circular economy relationship with CenterPoint Energy is how our Geocycle recycling management business seeks innovative solutions that turn our country’s ecosystem challenges into opportunities, contribute value to our operations and advance our vision for a net-zero future. A strong example of leadership commitment," said Sophie Wu, head of Geocycle North America.
Since 2009, Geocycle has managed the continuous supply of nearly 1.5 million tons of dry fly ash waste from CenterPoint Energy's AB Brown, FB Culley and Warrick power stations for beneficial reuse at Ste. Genevieve Cement Plant. This barge transportation represents the next phase of the long-term partnership between the companies.
As the only investor-owned electric and natural gas utility company in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy transmission company with power transmission and distribution, power generation, and natural gas distribution businesses. Serving more than 7 million metering customers in Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. As of September 30, 2021, the company has approximately 37 billion U.S. dollars in assets, and also owns 53.7% of ordinary units representing the interests of Enable Midstream Partners, LP limited partners. This is a publicly traded major limited partnership that owns, Operate and develop natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets in strategic locations. CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor company have approximately 9,500 employees and have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, please visit CenterPointEnergy.com.
Geocycle LLC is a US subsidiary of Holcim (US) Inc. and is part of the global Geocycle network, which represents more than 80 waste pretreatment facilities and more than 180 cement plants equipped with dedicated pretreatment and co-processing devices. Geocycle rethinks the waste challenge to provide innovative management methods. Our commitment is clear: We make unremitting efforts to bring society closer to a zero-waste future. Geocycle applies proven pre-processing and co-processing technologies to recover energy and materials from waste, contributing to a renewable circular economy that closes the resource cycle. Geocycle operates more than 20 facilities in the United States, and its customers include many Fortune 500 companies. Last year, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Geocycle significantly reduced the number of landfills nationwide, saving more than 280,000 tons of carbon dioxide. This is equivalent to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of 60,754 passenger cars driving for a year.
Holcim creates progress for mankind and the planet. As a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, Holcim is building greener cities, smarter infrastructure and improving living standards around the world. Holcim regards sustainable development as the core of its strategy and is becoming a net-zero company with employees and the community at the core of its success. As a global leader in recycling, the company is promoting a circular economy and doing more with less. Holcim is the company behind some of the world's most trusted brands in the construction industry, including ACC, Aggregate Industries, Ambuja Cement, Disensa, Firestone Building Products, Geocycle, Holcim and Lafarge. Holcim has 70,000 employees worldwide who are passionate about making progress for people and the planet through four business units: cement, ready-mixed concrete, aggregates, and solutions and products. For more information, please visit www.Holcim.com.
LafargeHolcim has nearly 350 sites in 43 states and 7,000 employees in the United States. Our customers rely on us to help them design and build better communities, provide innovative solutions, provide structural integrity and eco-efficiency.
Stephanie Sulcer, Communications LafargeHolcim Tel: 1 847 716 0368 Email: stephanie.sulcer@lafargeholcim.com
LafargeHolcim and Geocycle in the United States achieved a circular economy milestone through CenterPoint Energy, recovering 6 million tons of power plant coal ash.
Stephanie Sulcer, Communications LafargeHolcim Tel: 1 847 716 0368 Email: stephanie.sulcer@lafargeholcim.com