Oral Presentation World Sustainable Built Environment Conference 2026

Environmental feasibility of waste-to-energy systems:  An LCA of alternative fuels in Brazilian cement kilns (137670)

Arthur H Bach 1 , Carolina C Neto 1 , Ana Paula Kirchheim 1 , Ruane de Magalhães 1 , Ana Passuello 1
  1. Postgraduate program in Civil Engineering: Construction and Infrastructure, Porto Alegre, Brazil

The cement industry is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for approximately 8% of anthropogenic CO2. In Brazil, the sector faces the dual challenge of decarbonizing its production chains while managing increasing volumes of industrial and municipal waste. This study performs a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of substituting petroleum coke with alternative fuels derived from industrial waste within the Brazilian cement industry. Using SimaPro 10.3 and the Ecoinvent 3.10 database, twelve scenarios were modeled based on the Brazilian Cement Technology Roadmaps for 2030, 2040, and 2050, considering both current and improved kiln thermal efficiencies. The research focuses on the valorization of high-potential waste streams, including treated wood chips, rice husks, scrap tires, and refuse-derived fuels (RDF) composed of rubber, leather, textiles, and plastics. Impact assessment was conducted using the ReCiPe midpoint method, with a specific focus on Climate Change, Terrestrial Acidification, Particulate Matter Formation, Photochemical Oxidant Formation, and Natural Land Transformation. Results indicate that waste-to-energy strategies significantly mitigate CO2 emissions, especially when using biomass waste, resulting in the lowest emissions across all impact categories. Otherwise, RDF has presented great environmental potential in the waste-to-energy strategy. On the other hand, TDF has resulted in greater impacts, such as the production of petroleum coke, indicating that recycling strategies can be more environmentally beneficial. In clinker production, substituting fossil fuels with waste alternative fuels can potentially reduce CO2 eq. emissions by 11,3%. emissions, especially by reducing the use of petroleum coke and achieving the 2050 goals for clinker production in Brazil.