Energy and environmental performanceEE-006

Low-carbon fuel demonstrations in Canada

Lafarge Canada · Richmond and Brookfield cement plants, Canada · program outcome published 2024

Use this record when

The decision this case can inform

Use this record when developing an alternative-fuel demonstration and keeping observed substitution, indicated carbon factors, and expected future capability separate.

Evidence scope

Canadian government program record covering demonstrations at two plants. Some values are maximums or expected capability, not sustained annual whole-plant outcomes.

Source-supported facts

What the public record actually establishes

4 sourced points
  1. F1

    The demonstrations covered prepared biomass, wood waste, tires, and other lower-carbon fuel streams at Richmond and Brookfield.

  2. F2

    Brookfield displaced up to 15% of traditional fuel with scrap tires.

  3. F3

    The program indicates a 20–30% greenhouse-gas reduction per tonne of coal replaced at Brookfield.

  4. F4

    Richmond's stated 50% or greater value is an expected alternative-fuel capability, not a completed annual result.

Structured interpretation

Facts and reported results are kept separate from the lesson a plant may choose to test.

01

Operating context

Government-supported demonstrations increased use of prepared low-carbon fuels.

02

Intervention or finding

Biomass, wood waste, tires, and other low-carbon fuels were demonstrated with dosing, firing, and emission-evaluation work.

03

Documented result

NRCan reports increased injection; Brookfield displaced up to 15% of traditional fuels with tires and indicated 20-30% GHG reduction per tonne of coal replaced. Richmond's 50% or more is expected capability.

04

Plant interpretation

Govern alternative fuels through specification, preparation, dosing, combustion, quality, emissions, permits, and traceable accounting.

05

Transfer boundary

Up to, indicated, and expected values are not sustained annual whole-plant results.

Before applying the lesson

Questions to verify at your plant

These are decision checks, not operating instructions. Resolve them through local risk assessment, technical review, and authorization.

  1. 01

    Are fuel acceptance, contaminants, particle size, moisture, storage, fire protection, and dosing variability defined?

  2. 02

    Can combustion, residence time, kiln stability, clinker quality, emissions, and permit limits be demonstrated across the fuel envelope?

  3. 03

    Are maximum, trial, monthly, and sustained annual thermal-substitution rates reported separately?

  4. 04

    Does carbon accounting distinguish fossil and biogenic fractions, upstream preparation, transport, and any production penalty?