The event drew high-level attendees, including parliamentary secretaries Jurgis Miezainis and Janis Irbe, the Mayor of Saldus region Maris Zusts and representatives from the German Embassy in addition to Evika Silina, emphasising the growing regulatory and political momentum for CCUS in Latvia and across Europe.
In May the first CO2 was successfully captured at the Broceni cement plant using a CapsolGo® demonstration unit based on the proven Hot Potassium Carbonate (HPC) process. Capsol said its technology offers lower energy consumption with higher CO2 concentration and easy plant integration with no need for external steam supply.
The unit achieved high CO2 capture rate and guests including the Prime Minister observed captured CO2 being converted into dry ice, illustrating the potential for a full carbon value chain in the region.
“Carbon capture plays a critical role in decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries like cement. CapsolGo® is a real-world demonstration unit that partners de-risk projects and accelerate deployment. The strong regulatory support seen in Latvia is exactly the type of momentum needed to scale CCS across Europe,” said Cato Christiansen, CTO of Capsol Technologies.
This collaboration builds on Capsol Technologies’ proven track record in the cement sector, following successful application at Akmene cement plant, and aligns with SCHWENK’s commitment to investing in carbon-neutral cement across the Baltics and Scandinavia. The event demonstrated both technological innovation and the cement industry’s readiness to lead Europe’s decarbonisation efforts.