UNACEM

In 2024, UNACEM launched a groundbreaking project at its Drake facility—the first of its kind in Arizona—to use renewable plant-based materials instead of fossil fuels in the cement-making process. This innovative system is starting by replacing 5–10% of the plant’s traditional fuel (a coal-coke blend) with locally sourced wood chips, with plans to increase that to 30% by 2030. This marks a major step toward cleaner energy and a more sustainable future for Arizona.

What sets this project apart isn’t just its technical innovation, but its broader environmental and community impact. The renewable fuel—sourced from forest restoration efforts in the surrounding national forest—directly supports wildfire prevention, ecosystem restoration, and runoff control, helping the region better withstand extreme weather events.

By repurposing forest residues that would otherwise decompose or be burned in the open air, the project not only reduces waste but also avoids the need to use traditional fuels and to transport coal or coke by rail, cutting associated emissions and transportation impacts. Every short ton of wood chips used displaces fossil fuel and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 176 kg, contributing to the American Cement Association’s industry-wide goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

The initiative also builds on UNACEM’s international experience with alternative fuels. At a sister plant in Ecuador, the company successfully implemented a similar approach — providing valuable insight that helped shape the Drake project. UNACEM North America also draws from its long-running experience using agricultural byproducts, such as pistachio shells, at its Tehachapi plant in California.

The innovative system at the Drake plant was also designed with flexibility in mind—enabling the gradually ramp up fuel substitution while adapting to seasonal forest management cycles and variations in biomass quality. That adaptability has proven essential and serves as a key takeaway for other plants looking to pursue similar efforts.

Led by a cross-functional team, the effort showcases the power of collaboration and long-term thinking. From engineering hurdles and permitting complexities to securing a steady, high-quality biomass supply, the team overcame challenges with creativity and determination.

Though the project was completed in late 2024, it’s already generating measurable improvements in energy performance, pollution prevention, and community engagement. Drake Cement also earned its fifth consecutive Energy Star certification—further proof that sustainability and operational excellence can go hand in hand.

More than a fuel substitution, this project is a model of environmental stewardship, circular economy principles, and forward-looking industrial innovation. It’s a proud milestone not only for Drake Cement and its parent company UNACEM North America, but for the cement industry’s path to a zero-carbon future.