Wood Mackenzie’s Cement emissions data provide a comprehensive overview of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions profiles associated with cement production at integrated cement plants worldwide. Our data and analysis are essential for screening, benchmarking, valuing and analysing carbon reduction, avoidance and removal opportunities. The data is available through Wood Mackenzie Lens Direct, which offers API or bulk download options.

Wood Mackenzie's Cement emissions data cover 334 integrated cement plants across 31 countries. These assets have a combined production capacity of around 470 million tonnes per year.

Our asset-level profiles provide scope 1 and scope 2 absolute GHG emissions (ktCO2e). Emissions temporal coverage includes historical reported data back to 2005 for most assets, plus a Wood Mackenzie modelled forecast out to 2050. Our extensive coverage delivers critical intelligence on today’s cement emissions patterns. This comprehensive dataset empowers strategic planning for decarbonisation initiatives and capital allocation decisions.

Cement production consists of three steps: first, limestone is mixed and ground with other materials, such as clay; then, the mixture is heated to produce clinker; and finally, this clinker is ground with other ingredients to produce cement. The final grinding process can happen in integrated facilities where the clinker is also produced or in grinding facilities without clinker production. Our dataset includes GHG emissions for only clinker-producing assets (integrated cement plants).

Asset-level emissions sources are categorised by scope. Scope 1 refers to sources owned or controlled by the entity and includes direct emissions from cement production operations. Scope 2 covers indirect emissions associated with the purchase of electricity at the asset. Scope 2 emissions occur at the facility where the energy is generated, not at the asset where the energy is utilised.

The main scope 1 and scope 2 GHG emissions associated with cement production originate during the production of clinker, the primary component of cement. Around 60% of cement-related emissions come from the chemical process of calcining limestone (calcium carbonate) to produce lime (calcium oxide), with the balance coming from fuel burning and electricity use.

Emissions captured via carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects are discounted from the asset's total scope 1 emissions, based on data from Lens Carbon and Wood Mackenzie’s proprietary CCUS research.

Scope 3 emissions are not considered in Wood Mackenzie's Cement emissions data. These emissions refer to indirect GHG emissions from activities in the cement production value chain that are not owned or controlled by the cement manufacturer. These emissions encompass a wide range of upstream and downstream processes. Major scope 3 contributors include purchased goods and services, plant equipment manufacturing, upstream and downstream transportation and the use and end-of-life treatment of the final product (cement).

Wood Mackenzie’s methodology follows the approach provided by the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. We specifically use those contained in Chapter 2: Mineral Industry Emissions (Cement production).

Clinker production can be used as a proxy to estimate emissions. To quantify the asset's GHG emissions, a standardised “bottom-up” approach is used.

First, cement production at an asset level is derived before applying an estimated country-level clinker-to-cement ratio to obtain the asset’s clinker production. Then, based on the asset's operating characteristics and process-specific emission factors, scope 1 and scope 2 emissions are estimated. The asset’s operating characteristics include thermal energy requirement, fuel mix, and electricity consumption, among others. Where asset-level information is not available, industry-standard assumptions are used.

Where available, emission estimates produced via this methodology were validated and refined based on publicly available asset-level data.

Emissions calculations are derived from Wood Mackenzie’s proprietary asset-level model. Asset cement emissions profiles have been derived using a methodology that integrates partly or completely disclosed asset-level historical carbon emissions, cement and clinker production, usage capacity and operation data from asset owners or third parties. We combine with factors from globally recognised standards and Wood Mackenzie’s proprietary data.

Wood Mackenzie updates cement emissions datasets annually to ensure accuracy and comprehensive coverage. The refresh integrates operational changes and corporate portfolio shifts using our latest cement models. We also incorporate newly modelled assets and update CCUS projects that have started the construction phase. Additionally, we review and update the various factors and assumptions used to calculate emissions. Where available, our Research team reviews modelled emissions against external reported data as part of the update process.

Asset-level information related to geolocation, total installed capacity, process type and ownership, among other information, is primarily sourced from the UK Centre for Greening Finance and Investment (CGFI) and the Climate TRACE Emissions Inventory cement-related datasets. Country-level cement production is primarily sourced from the Zenodo cement dataset, governmental statistics offices and national cement associations. Emission factors are based on the default 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories and its 2019 Refinement.

Emissions associated with purchased electricity are calculated based on the emission intensity of the grids where energy consumption occurs, using Wood Mackenzie's proprietary data. Wood Mackenzie derives grid-average emission factors from proprietary power research findings, covering country-level grid factors for 180+ countries.