ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Cement Production

Materials that might otherwise end up in landfills, illegal dumps, or our nation’s waterways can offer value as alternative fuels for cement kilns. Embarking on an alternative fuels project is a great step towards reducing your environmental impact and fuel costs. Turning waste into energy makes your plant more sustainable and profitable – but it can also introduce new risks to your production process.

The use of biomass and alternative fuels in cement kilns offers a higher environmental performance than landfill and incineration. Such fuels may be in the form of municipal and industrial waste products. CalPortland has used wood chips, pecan shells, on-specification used oil, and shredded rubber tires as alternate fuels sources in cement kilns.

Finding ways to reduce both energy needs and reliance on fossil fuels is a top priority for CalPortland. Although coal, petroleum coke, and other fossil fuels have been traditionally burned in cement kilns, the company is always finding ways of incorporating energy-rich alternative fuels into our operations. Recovering their energy value in cement making is a safe and proven form of energy recovery. This type of energy recovery conserves valuable fossil fuels for future generations while safely destroying wastes that would otherwise be deposited in landfills.

Concrete Logistics

CalPortland has commissioned 118 new “Near-Zero Emission” Compressed Natural Gas/Renewable Natural Gas (CNG/RNG) concrete mixer trucks, replacing its conventional diesel-powered fleet in southern CA. Additionally, the company also commissioned 24 cement bulk transport vehicles with CNG/RNG near-zero emission engines.

The transition to a fleet of CNG/RNG fueled low-NOx engine mixers contributes to the attainment of greenhouse gas and NOx reduction goals set forth by the California Legislature, the California Air Resources Board, and other regional and local agencies. The new engines provide the company with the following benefits:

• CNG Vehicles are environmentally friendly reducing GHG emissions by 20-80% vs. “clean” diesel technology.
• CNG immediately lowers carbon, sulphur, NOx and particulate matter emissions.
• CNG Vehicles run 90% quieter than common engines, creating less noise pollution and improving air quality where we operate.
• CNG is a domestically produced product, encouraging less reliance on imported energy sources further reducing our carbon footprint.
• Using CNG will reduce CalPortland’s overall truck maintenance costs, and provides superior vehicle performance prolonging the life of the vehicles.

CNG gives off little to no emissions while refueling, making it safer for the operator and the environment.