• ABB and Carbon Re sign agreement to work on opportunities for combined solutions for the cement industry

• Joint approach will explore how ABB automation expertise can be complemented by Carbon Re’s advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence technology

• Together they aim to help cement producers reduce carbon emissions and increase productivity

ABB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Carbon Re, an industrial artificial intelligence provider, to assess ways to accelerate the decarbonization of cement production while improving productivity. Together they will explore a joint go-to-market solution for the cement industry which will potentially unite ABB’s domain expertise and experience in delivering successful global automation and advanced process control (APC) projects with Carbon Re’s advanced artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and cement expertise.

Building on the success of an exploratory project at a cement plant in Czechia, ABB will explore opportunities to integrate Carbon Re’s AI platform on top of its existing ABB Ability™ Expert Optimizer for cement APC solution. Carbon Re leverages AI and ML technologies, which could add continuously updating, cloud-based optimization software to ABB’s portfolio. With the addition of this AI layer, Expert Optimizer targets – such as post combustion oxygen to improve combustion efficiency – would automatically be set based on ever-changing plant conditions. These automated adjustments would deliver enhanced operational and energy efficiency benefits.

One of the most pressing challenges in the cement industry is the high energy demand. Kilns are central to the current cement production process, but they are also among the most energy-intensive components. ABB’s Expert Optimizer helps maintain optimal kiln conditions, leading to improved energy efficiency and reduced emissions. It typically reduces specific energy from 1-5 percent and increases alternative fuel usage by up to 50 percent. With the addition of Carbon Re’s technology, plants can further reduce their specific energy by up to 5 percent and increase kiln stability with real-time pyro process optimization without intervention from the control room operator.

“At Carbon Re we are accelerating industrial decarbonization through the use of cutting-edge AI – our models have demonstrated that AI can find efficiencies within the complex chemical processes of material production, especially cement,” said Josh Vernon, CEO at Carbon Re. “ABB has led the way in the cement industry for decades, consistently pushing the boundaries of innovation. However, the next set of challenges, including carbon reduction in an increasingly complex production environment, requires a new approach and advanced technology. We’re excited to work with ABB to bring forward the AI-driven solutions necessary to meet the industry’s evolving needs.”

“Driving down the emissions of cement production is a pressing priority for the industry,” said Tyron Vardy, Global Portfolio Manager for Business Line Digital, ABB Process Industries. “Current technology is already making a positive impact, however, to reach the next phase of decarbonization, new, innovative approaches are required. Our collaboration with Carbon Re will bring us closer to achieving this. Enhanced by cloud-based AI technology, our decision support software will be able to help customers enhance and improve the efficiency of their systems faster than ever before.”

This announcement follows the recent launch of ABB’s ‘Do More With Digital’, a global campaign highlighting the opportunities for the process industries to realize their full potential through digital transformation. In the cement industry, ABB is delivering digital solutions to use less energy and raw materials when producing cement, while also facilitating the use of alternative fuels, allowing it to operate with a smaller carbon footprint.

ABB’s Process Automation business automates, electrifies and digitalizes industrial operations that address a wide range of essential needs – from supplying energy, water and materials, to producing goods and transporting them to market. With its ~20,000 employees, leading technology and service expertise, ABB Process Automation helps customers in process, hybrid and maritime industries improve performance and safety of operations, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. go.abb/processautomation

ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated. Building on over 140 years of excellence, ABB’s more than 105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation. www.abb.com 

Carbon Re is an Industrial AI company on a mission to reduce carbon emissions by gigatonnes every year through the use of AI technology. A joint spin-out of Cambridge University and UCL, it is focusing on decarbonizing cement and other foundational materials (such as steel and glass) which are responsible for more than 20% of global emissions. Carbon Re uses machine learning to optimize fuel use and quality in cement production. www.carbonre.com