Avaliação de ciclo de vida de cenários para 2030 da indústria brasileira de cimento

Abstract

The cement industry is intensive in energy and feedstock use. It includes five basic steps: consumption of raw materials, fuels and electricity, as well as feedstock transportation and clinkerization. Different environmental impacts of the production of one metric ton of cement in four Brazilian scenarios are evaluated. One business-asusual reference scenario (case 1) is compared to three 2030 scenarios based on sectoral carbon mitigation plans that assume the increase of thermal efficiency associated with the progressive replacement of fossil fuels and conventional materials by alternative fuels and materials (cases 2, 3a and 3b), by applying the Life Cycle Assessment methodology with ReCiPe 2016 method. Results indicate that carbon mitigation scenarios considered lead to reductions in all impact categories, both midpoint and endpoint, and also achieve GHG emission reductions equivalent to twice (case 2) and up to five times (cases 3a and 3b) the proposed target. Based on the comparison of cases 3a and 3b, they also suggest that the origin of alternative fuels is of little importance when compared to the benefits derived from fossil fuel substitution.