Coinciding with the third anniversary of its Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) released its annual U.S. Labor-Energy Input Survey of member companies.
According to the survey, 2023 was the most energy-efficient year yet for the U.S. cement industry. Other noteworthy trends include alternative fuel usage rising in 2023 to a 16% share of the industry’s fuel mix, up from 14.6% in the previous year’s report. Companies also experienced a growing consumption of natural gas and a decline in the use of coal and petroleum coke last year.
Additionally, natural gas’ share of total fuel consumption jumped to 31% in 2023 from 25.3% in 2022, representing the highest reliance on natural gas among cement manufacturers since 1976. Some of the increased reliance is likely accrued to the decline in its price. Concurrently, coal and petroleum share of the fuel mix fell to its lowest level since 1974.
The association said these developments in the industry’s energy consumption come in the context of U.S. cement manufacturers increasing the production of blended, lower-carbon cements. In 2023, half of the cement consumed in the U.S. was blended. According to the U.S. Geological Survey’s latest publication, blended cement’s share of cement consumption reached 63%, reflecting an all-time high.
“For a product that’s so essential and so prevalent, of course there is the challenge of carbon emissions. And as everyone relies heavily on the materials we provide, PCA member companies are doing more now than ever to reduce those emissions in accordance with the Roadmap,” said Mike Ireland, PCA President and CEO. “But to reach our goal, we absolutely need the assistance of our value chain members, the public, and most importantly – the policymakers – who we hope will continue implementing clean energy and industrial decarbonization provisions included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.”
