What is SaltX Technology All About?
SaltX Technology is on a mission to erase industries’ dependency on fossil fuels. They innovate and industrialize electrification and carbon capture technologies aiming to make the shift on a gigaton scale to reach net-zero industrial emissions. Simply put, SaltX is reinventing how heavy industries handle energy and emissions, pushing for a cleaner, greener future.
Main Benefits and Key Milestones
SaltX’s journey is marked by impressive milestones and game-changing innovations. Here are some key figures and facts that highlight their progress:
- 2022: Proof of Concept – 300 kW electric production of Portland cement achieved.
- 2023: Pilot Plant – 1.4 MW, 17 tons per day (tpd) with the grand opening of the Electric Calcination Research Center (ECRC).
- 2027: Demo Plant – 8 MW, 120 tpd Zero Emission Quicklime (ZEQL) facility in Northern Norway, in partnership with SMA Mineral.
- 2031: Vision for commercial plants – 100 MW, 1,500 tpd Quicklime & Cement installations.
- SaltX’s patented nanotechnology enables energy storage in salt, delivering high-quality steam up to 450°C.
Electrification and Carbon Capture Technologies
SaltX focuses on two main pathways to drastically lower CO2 emissions: electrification and standard carbon capture technologies. Industries responsible for 8% of total carbon emissions require immediate and serious engagement. SaltX’s electrification technology replaces fossil-fueled heating processes with renewable electricity, capturing CO2 emissions released during heating. This approach is a game-changer for sectors like cement and quicklime production.
The Electric Arc Calciner: A Groundbreaking Innovation
The Electric Arc Calciner (EAC) is SaltX’s flagship innovation. This electric plasma technology reinvents the industrial calcination process—a high-temperature heating method used in many industries. By replacing fossil-driven heating with renewable electricity and capturing CO2 emissions simultaneously, the EAC eliminates the need for external CO2-capturing systems. It’s a breakthrough that could finally end industrial reliance on fossil fuels.
Industries Targeted by SaltX Technology
SaltX is driving innovation in hard-to-abate industries, focusing on sectors where decarbonization is most challenging. Cement, the world’s most used building material, is a major source of CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and limestone processing. SaltX’s electrification technology makes zero-emission cement a reality. Another exciting partnership is ZEQL (Zero Emission Quicklime), a collaboration with SMA Mineral, aiming to create a zero-emission quicklime industry using electrification and CO2 separation technologies.
Project Impact and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – promoting renewable electricity in industrial processes.
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – pioneering new industrial technologies.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – reducing industrial emissions and waste.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – drastically cutting CO2 emissions in heavy industries.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – collaborating with industry leaders like SMA Mineral.
Energy Storage with Nanotechnology
Beyond electrification and carbon capture, SaltX also solves the future of energy storage with its award-winning nanotechnology. Their nanocoated salt (NCS) and oxide technology provide a sustainable, all-natural thermo-chemical storage solution. This technology stores energy efficiently and releases high-quality steam up to 450°C, perfect for various energy storage applications. Charge it with electricity or heat when available… and release it when needed. It’s a smart, low-cost solution that complements their electrification efforts perfectly.
