6
hard-to-abate industrial emissions. In Figure 3B we sum-
marize results from the top 10 CO₂-emitting states for
2023 reporting year, based on
aggregated emissions data from their respective cement
manufacturing plants. Nevertheless, significant technologi-
cal innovations in the U.S. cement industry have emerged
over the years, demonstrating the potential to transform
and decarbonize the sector. This innovation is discussed in
the next section.
Technological Innovation in the U.S. Cement
Manufacturing industry
The United States cement industry is currently undergoing
a significant transformation toward decarbonization. More
cement manufacturing companies are gradually shifting
to environmentally friendly clinker production technolo-
gies. At present, clinker is produced predominantly using
dry with preheater and precalciner, dry with preheater,
long dry, and wet technologies. The adoption of dry with
preheater and precalciner clinker production technology
increased from 53.3% in 2002 to 88.5% by 2019 (Portland
Cement Association, 2021 Marceau et al., 2006). Hottle et
al. (2022) further highlight that approximately 80% of cur-
rent cement production leverages dry with preheater and
precalciner clinker production technology, reflecting their
significant role in current manufacturing practices (Hottle
et al., 2022). While the findings (as noted in Hottle et al.,
2022) are based on a 2016 survey, the trends they reveal are
consistent with broader industry developments. For exam-
ple, wet clinker production technology, which accounted
for 16.5% of production in 2002, has declined sharply
to just 0.6%, as evidenced by the 2019 cement industry
survey. The technological shift across the cement manufac-
turing industry from traditional wet-kiln technologies to
a more advanced dry with preheater and precalciner has
several environmental benefits. Research evidence suggest
that the adoption of such advanced clinker production
technology could significantly reduce energy inefficiency
with further opportunity for a 20% reduction in carbon
dioxide emission (Marceau et al., 2006 Benhelal et al.,
2013). Combining such a system with carbon capture
technology as a retrofit, with the purpose of either storing
the captured CO2 or utilizing it, along with clean energy
sources (e.g., hydrogen) and raw materials modification,
could offer a transformative pathway to decarbonization.
Deploying such hybrid approach (See Figure 2) could not
only accelerate decarbonization and help manufacturers
meet regulatory demands but also has an economic advan-
tage (e.g., incentives from the 45Q), while scaling to match
market demands. Commenting further on carbon capture
and storage (CCS) technology as a tool for decarbonizing
the U.S. cement sector, our analysis of data obtained from
Figure 3. Summary of the aggregated CO
2 emissions contributions from the top 10 states from 2010 to 2023 (A) and the
aggregated 2023 CO
2 emissions from the cement industry for the top 10 states (B)
Note: The data were initially aggregated at state level, based on the emissions reported by individual cement manufacturing plants to
the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) greenhouse gas reporting program. This aggregation process involved compiling and
synthesizing emissions data from all cement production facilities within each state, providing a comprehensive overview of state-level
emissions from the cement industry.
hard-to-abate industrial emissions. In Figure 3B we sum-
marize results from the top 10 CO₂-emitting states for
2023 reporting year, based on
aggregated emissions data from their respective cement
manufacturing plants. Nevertheless, significant technologi-
cal innovations in the U.S. cement industry have emerged
over the years, demonstrating the potential to transform
and decarbonize the sector. This innovation is discussed in
the next section.
Technological Innovation in the U.S. Cement
Manufacturing industry
The United States cement industry is currently undergoing
a significant transformation toward decarbonization. More
cement manufacturing companies are gradually shifting
to environmentally friendly clinker production technolo-
gies. At present, clinker is produced predominantly using
dry with preheater and precalciner, dry with preheater,
long dry, and wet technologies. The adoption of dry with
preheater and precalciner clinker production technology
increased from 53.3% in 2002 to 88.5% by 2019 (Portland
Cement Association, 2021 Marceau et al., 2006). Hottle et
al. (2022) further highlight that approximately 80% of cur-
rent cement production leverages dry with preheater and
precalciner clinker production technology, reflecting their
significant role in current manufacturing practices (Hottle
et al., 2022). While the findings (as noted in Hottle et al.,
2022) are based on a 2016 survey, the trends they reveal are
consistent with broader industry developments. For exam-
ple, wet clinker production technology, which accounted
for 16.5% of production in 2002, has declined sharply
to just 0.6%, as evidenced by the 2019 cement industry
survey. The technological shift across the cement manufac-
turing industry from traditional wet-kiln technologies to
a more advanced dry with preheater and precalciner has
several environmental benefits. Research evidence suggest
that the adoption of such advanced clinker production
technology could significantly reduce energy inefficiency
with further opportunity for a 20% reduction in carbon
dioxide emission (Marceau et al., 2006 Benhelal et al.,
2013). Combining such a system with carbon capture
technology as a retrofit, with the purpose of either storing
the captured CO2 or utilizing it, along with clean energy
sources (e.g., hydrogen) and raw materials modification,
could offer a transformative pathway to decarbonization.
Deploying such hybrid approach (See Figure 2) could not
only accelerate decarbonization and help manufacturers
meet regulatory demands but also has an economic advan-
tage (e.g., incentives from the 45Q), while scaling to match
market demands. Commenting further on carbon capture
and storage (CCS) technology as a tool for decarbonizing
the U.S. cement sector, our analysis of data obtained from
Figure 3. Summary of the aggregated CO
2 emissions contributions from the top 10 states from 2010 to 2023 (A) and the
aggregated 2023 CO
2 emissions from the cement industry for the top 10 states (B)
Note: The data were initially aggregated at state level, based on the emissions reported by individual cement manufacturing plants to
the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) greenhouse gas reporting program. This aggregation process involved compiling and
synthesizing emissions data from all cement production facilities within each state, providing a comprehensive overview of state-level
emissions from the cement industry.