Modeling Control Measures for Air Pollutant and Greenhouse Gas Reduction in the US Cement Industry

Air pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHGs) share many similar sources, suggesting that simultaneous emission reductions may be possible. We quantify the changes in emissions of GHGs and criteria air pollutants and associated costs resulting from 40 control measures for the U.S. cement industry, and use this data base of measures to analyze the co-control of air pollutant and GHG emissions. The U.S. cement industry is selected since it releases 5% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions, 1.5% of national CO2 emissions, and 1% of national NO, and SO2 emissions. Emissions data bases for GHGs and criteria air pollutants were merged to create a combined cement industry inventory with kiln-level specificity. A data base of control measures was developed based on the literature, which included a set of measures targeting air pollutant reduction, and a distinct set targeting GHG emissions, mainly through energy-efficiency improvements. We quantify the annual capital costs and savings from reduced electricity and fuel use of these control actions and their co-impact on other pollutant emissions using consistent methods for all measures. We implement a policy analysis program, the Control Strategy Tool (CoST), to determine the annual costs and emission reductions resulting from national applications of individual technologies for all relevant cement facilities in the U.S. We determine that actions to reduce GHG emissions have limited potential to reduce criteria air pollutant emissions, and that actions to reduce air pollutants have minimal impact on CO2 emissions. Therefore, it is likely that separate sets of measures targeting GHG and air pollutant reduction goals would be necessary to accomplish reduction goals for both pollutants. Blending additives into cement, replacing the kiln with a more energy efficient unit, and the use of industrial waste as a fuel source are the measures that cause the greatest CO2 reduction. High pressure rollers, co-power generation, and adjustable speed drives reduce CO2 most cost-effectively. Maximum NOx reductions are generated with selective catalytic reduction or low NO, burners, although the most cost effective controls are combustion system improvements and reduction of kiln heat loss. This analysis can inform the development of cost-effective strategies for meeting criteria air pollutant and GHG reduction goals, and anticipate how the cement industry may respond to possible GHG regulation.Master of Science in Public Healt