The Swedish Trade and Investment Council, together with members of the "Sweden+Taiwan Green Transition Alliance" including Alfa Laval, Volvo Trucks, and Baseload Power Taiwan, visited Asia Cement on January 26th. Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions about the goals and strategies for the green transition within the cement industry.

Asia Cement, the second-largest cement company in Taiwan, primarily operates in Hualien and Hsinchu. The cement industry is known for its relatively high carbon emissions due to its manufacturing processes. Consequently, Asia Cement has been actively pursuing the development of low-carbon cement and the recycling of waste materials. Furthermore, the company is enhancing its expertise in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies, with the aim of achieving a net-zero carbon emission target by 2050.

In light of Asia Cement's recent green transformation goals, members of the alliance shared their sustainable solutions:

• Alfa Laval demonstrated how its heat exchangers could help in recovering waste heat from processes, thereby significantly reducing the use of cooling water. Additionally, Alfa Laval's centrifuge technology could markedly decrease energy consumption and carbon emissions.

• Volvo Trucks presented its electric heavy-duty and medium trucks, along with comprehensive transportation solutions. Volvo Trucks not only offers a variety of electric vehicles but also provides smart operation strategies for existing diesel trucks to lower energy consumption.

• Baseload Power Taiwan discussed the potential of geothermal power generation, highlighting that geothermal power plants not only supply electricity but also contribute to an integrated ecosystem. Given its low carbon footprint and high land-use efficiency, geothermal energy is attracting attention across various sectors.

This exchange aims to foster cooperation between Taiwan and Sweden in the green transition of the cement industry, creating new opportunities to achieve the net-zero carbon emission goal.