LEILAC · Project

Capture 95% of CO2 from Cement and Lime Production Without Major Retrofits

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Making cement and lime releases huge amounts of CO2 — not just from burning fuel, but from the chemistry of heating limestone itself. LEILAC figured out a clever trick: heat the limestone indirectly so the CO2 from the chemical reaction stays separate from the furnace exhaust. Think of it like cooking with a lid on — the steam (CO2) collects cleanly instead of mixing with your kitchen air. They built a 240-tonne-per-day pilot plant near Brussels to prove it works at real industrial scale.

By the numbers

95%

Process CO2 emissions captured

60%

Share of total plant CO2 that is process emissions

240

Tonnes per day pilot plant capacity

EUR 11.9M

EU contribution to the project

€8.8M

In-kind funding from consortium members

85%

European clinker production needing CCS by 2050

80%

Emissions reduction target by 2050

Consortium partners across 7 countries

The business problem

What needed solving

Cement and lime manufacturers face an existential cost problem: carbon pricing is rising and 60% of their CO2 comes from the chemistry itself, not from burning fuel. You cannot solve this by switching to green energy alone. Without a way to capture process emissions affordably, these industries face either crippling carbon taxes or relocation outside Europe.

The solution

What was built

A 240 tonne per day pilot plant near Brussels demonstrating Direct Separation calcining technology. The project also delivered a FEED study, a pre-FEED feasibility study, a techno-economic roadmap, and a visitor centre at the pilot site for knowledge sharing.

Audience

Who needs this

Cement producers with preheater-calciner kilns facing EU ETS carbon costsLime manufacturers supplying steel, construction, and chemical sectorsIndustrial gas companies looking for high-purity CO2 sourcesEngineering firms specializing in cement and lime plant upgradesCarbon capture project developers seeking proven separation technologies

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Cement manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Cement producers operating preheater-calciner kilns

If you are a cement producer facing rising carbon costs and tightening EU emissions regulations — this project developed Direct Separation calcining technology that captures over 95% of process CO2 emissions. The technology replaces the calciner in your existing Preheater-Calciner Tower with minimal changes to the rest of your process. A 240 tonne per day pilot plant was built and operated to validate this at scale.

Lime production

mid-size

Target: Lime producers supplying steel, construction, and chemical industries

If you are a lime producer struggling with carbon pricing eating into margins — this technology captures process CO2 without contaminating your lime product with combustion gases. That means cleaner lime output while eliminating the biggest source of your emissions. The pilot demonstrated this works with a 240 tonne per day throughput.

Carbon capture and industrial gases

any

Target: Companies specializing in CO2 capture, transport, or utilization

If you are in the carbon capture business looking for high-purity CO2 sources — LEILAC's Direct Separation produces a clean, concentrated CO2 stream ready for capture without expensive gas separation. The technology can also combine with alternative fuels to achieve negative CO2 emissions, opening new revenue streams for CO2 utilization.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this technology cost compared to conventional carbon capture?

The project was specifically designed to capture CO2 without significant energy or capital penalty. The FEED study and pre-FEED feasibility study assessed the economics in detail. A techno-economic roadmap was delivered as part of the project outputs.

Can this work at full industrial scale, not just a pilot?

The pilot plant operated at 240 tonnes per day, which is a meaningful industrial demonstration. The project delivered a FEED (Front End Engineering and Design) study to plan the next scale-up step. The stated goal is application to 85% of European clinker production by 2050.

Who owns the intellectual property and how can I license this?

The technology is developed by the LEILAC consortium led by LEILAC SARL (France). With 10 industrial partners in the consortium, commercialization pathways are likely already in discussion. Contact the coordinator through SciTransfer for licensing or partnership details.

How much CO2 does this actually capture?

The technology captures over 95% of process CO2 emissions, which represents 60% of total CO2 emissions from cement and lime plants. The remaining emissions come from fuel combustion, which can be addressed separately with alternative fuels.

Does this require rebuilding my entire plant?

No. For cement, the technology replaces only the calciner in your existing Preheater-Calciner Tower with minimal changes to the rest of the process. For lime, the integration is similarly designed to minimize disruption to your current operations.

What is the project timeline and current status?

The project ran from 2016 to 2021 and is now closed. The pilot plant was built and operated near Brussels. A follow-up project (LEILAC-2) has been pursuing further scale-up since then.

Can this technology work with renewable energy or alternative fuels?

Yes. The project explicitly states the technology can be used with alternative fuels and combined with other capture technologies to achieve negative CO2 emissions. Because heating is indirect, the fuel source can be changed without affecting the CO2 separation process.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a serious industrial consortium with 15 partners across 7 countries, and 67% of them are industry players — not academics. The consortium includes world-leading engineering, cement, lime, and R&D organizations who committed €8.8 million of their own money on top of the EU's EUR 11.9 million grant. With 5 SMEs and 10 industrial partners total, this is clearly a project built to move toward commercialization, not just publish papers. The geographic spread (Australia, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, France, Netherlands, UK) signals global market ambition beyond Europe.

LEILAC SARLCoordinator · FR
THE CARBON TRUSTparticipant · UK
IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINEparticipant · UK
NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNOparticipant · NL
CEMEX Research Group AGparticipant · CH
CALIX (EUROPE) LIMITEDparticipant · UK
SIEMENS PROCESS SYSTEMS ENGINEERING LIMITEDparticipant · UK
NRG PALLAS BVparticipant · NL
HEIDELBERG MATERIALS AGparticipant · DE
SOLVAY SAparticipant · BE
Quantis Sarlparticipant · CH
LHOIST RECHERCHE ET DEVELOPPEMENT SAparticipant · BE

How to reach the team

LEILAC SARL (France) — contact through SciTransfer for introductions to the project coordinator

Order a report on this consortium See LEILAC SARL profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how Direct Separation technology could cut your plant's carbon costs? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the LEILAC team and help you assess fit for your operations.

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