Fives and NOC Energy combine their expertise to accelerate the decarbonization of cement processes
A strategic partnership to decarbonize cement production processes
In response to the growing climate and energy challenges facing the cement industry, Fives announces a strategic technology partnership with NOC Energy, a startup specializing in the production and storage of very high-temperature clean heat. This collaboration marks a key milestone in the exploration of new solutions for decarbonizing calcination processes, which are among the most energy-intensive and CO₂-emitting in the world.
The partnership’s objective is clear: to optimize the use of decarbonized energy resources while reducing dependence on fossil fuels, in order to significantly lower the carbon footprint of cement production, a sector responsible for approximately 8% of global CO₂ emissions.
This is why Fives and NOC Energy are combining their respective expertise around NOC Cell™ technology, integrated into the Fives clay calcination pilot plant.
Technological synergy driving the energy transition
NOC Cell™ technology is a modular thermal battery capable of converting renewable or carbon-free electricity into clean industrial heat, up to 1,500 °C. At the scale of a 10 MW module, it can prevent up to 20,000 tons of CO₂ emissions per year, while ensuring process continuity thanks to its thermal storage capacity.
Fives provides this project with its recognized expertise in industrial processes, its clay calcination pilot plant, and several decades of leadership in calcination technologies for the cement and minerals industries.
The goal of this demonstration is to validate the integration of the NOC Cell™ into the clay calcination process, a key leverage for the development of low-clinker, low-carbon-footprint cements, and to prepare for its deployment at an industrial scale.
Carbon-free thermal energy for industrial continuity
Capable of rapidly generating, storing, and releasing heat on demand, the NOC Cell™ enables industrial facilities to continue operating without interruption, even when renewable energy sources are intermittent. It thus provides industry with a practical alternative that combines decarbonization, operational continuity, and energy supply security, three key requirements for production processes.
Through this partnership, Fives reaffirms its commitment to actively supporting the cement industry in its energy transition and decarbonization by transforming innovative technologies into reliable, high-performance, and sustainable industrial solutions.