Waste Heat/Cogen Opportunities in the Cement Industry

Abstract

ABSTRACT Significant progress has been made in using the waste process heat in cement plants. But the use of this process heat to generate electricity fell during past years, which saw low and steady power prices. Times are changing. Deregulation is bringing the specter of extremely volatile electricity prices, loss of control over power costs, and the real likelihood that energy prices may increase in the near term in some areas. As a consequence, it is timely to reconsider the value of using waste process heat to generate electricity. With cogeneration, industries can lower costs and improve the environment.