UK projects aim to turn coal ash stockpiles into low-carbon cement

The trials showed that Coal Derived Fly Ash (CDFA), left in stockpiles after decades of coal-fired power generation, can be processed to meet European standards for use as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM). Every tonne of CDFA used in place of clinker cement could save around 760kg of CO₂ emissions and 1.6 tonnes of virgin raw materials.

Two large-scale processing projects are now under way. Drax and Power Minerals plan to begin production in Yorkshire in 2026, while Titan Group is building a facility at the former Fiddlers Ferry power station in Cheshire, due online in 2027. Together, they could help avoid around 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions a year, according to the UKQAA.

Dr Nigel Cooke, UKQAA director, said, “By accessing these CDFA deposits, much of the risk of having to import SCMs is removed, such as exposure to exchange rates, shipping costs, and supply-demand balance.

“Processing legacy stockpiles could potentially contribute up to 50% of our material needs for SCMs for decades to come. Indeed, this figure could be even higher depending on the level of investment in processing capacity. We now have the momentum and there has been a step change in level of energy and interest of those attending our meetings. It will make a massive difference.”