Greenhouse gas reduction/recovery from portland cement operations - a case study on the solicitation process, system evaluation, funding and status of demonstration

The Cement Industry Environmental Consortium (CIEC) is a California non-profit corporation chartered in 1992 as a joint partnership between government, utilities and the cement industry. The CIEC undertakes basic research investigating methods for reducing environmental impacts from cement manufacturing operations. In April of 2003 the CIEC Board approved a solicitation for the reduction of greenhouse gases from cement manufacturing operations. Funding in the amount of $75,000 was secured through a grant from the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District covering the solicitation, submittal review and selection of an appropriate technology/proponent for greenhouse gas reduction/recovery. Obtaining additional funding through EPA, Department of Energy, and the California State Air Resources Board were initially unsuccessful. Response to the solicitation covered 37 distinct projects from 25 submissions, including many foreign submittals. The projects identified from the solicitation have been very promising, with selection of candidates made and initial work plans developed. This paper presents a case study of program aspects from identification and defining solicitation parameters to the current status of selected projects. Specific issues involved with the programmatic approach and types of projects covered by the solicitation are discussed. An overview of the results from the solicitation is presented along with a synopsis of the selection process. The paper discusses the project´s progress, current status and funding approaches.