auma drafted theenvironmental impact study supporting theintegrated environmental permit of a cement plant in Vallès: an Annex I installation in a consolidated urban setting, where every emission parameter faces public scrutiny.
Project overview
| Client | Construction materials manufacturer (confidential) |
| Market | Industry |
| Practice area | Environment · Air quality |
| Location | Vallès Occidental (Spain) |
| Services | Environmental impact study for the permit |
| Year | 2021 |
The challenge
Cement manufacturing is one of the hard-to-abate sectors and, at the same time, an activity with a strong territorial presence. Permitting reflects that:
- Intensive process: high temperatures, heavy energy use and both fugitive and channelled emissions to control.
- Urban proximity: the plant coexists with inhabited areas, which raises the bar on air quality and noise.
- Strict sector benchmark: the industry has highly detailed best available techniques conclusions.
The auma solution
The EIA is built on rigorous characterisation of the real process, not theoretical values:
- Characterisation of emission sources, consumption and environmental vectors from the plant's operating data.
- Assessment of impacts on air quality, noise and surroundings, with particular attention to nearby residents.
- Benchmarking of operations against the sector's best available techniques as the reference for permitting.
The result
- Environmental impact study delivered as the basis for the integrated permit process.
- Documentation prepared to withstand technical scrutiny and the public consultation period.
- A technical baseline on which the plant can plan future environmental and process improvements.
For an Annex I activity with neighbours next door, the environmental assessment must not only be correct: it must be explainable to the people living there.
Frequently asked questions
Why does cement manufacturing need an integrated environmental permit?
Because it is listed in Annex I of integrated pollution prevention and control legislation, given its energy use, air emissions and production capacity. The permit consolidates all environmental conditions into a single decision.
What are best available techniques?
The most effective and advanced techniques that are technically and economically viable for a sector, set out in European reference documents. They define associated emission levels that underpin the permit's limits.
Why is cement hard to decarbonise?
Because a large share of its emissions are process emissions: decarbonating the raw material releases CO₂ regardless of the fuel used. Reducing them therefore requires material changes, efficiency gains and, in the medium term, carbon capture.
Do you operate an Annex I installation?
We draft the environmental assessment and permitting documentation for the most demanding industrial activities.
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