Indian researchers propose nuclear-powered plasma kilns for cement

Indian researchers have proposed combining nuclear power with plasma kiln technology as a potential route to fossil fuel-free clinker production.

N Bhanumathidas and N Kalidas, co-founders of the Institute for Solid Waste Research and Ecological Balance (INSWAREB),

suggest using electricity from small modular reactors (SMRs) to power thermal plasma torches capable of supplying the high temperatures required for clinker production. The concept remains at the proposal stage.

Plasma heating itself has already reached pilot scale in cement production. Heidelberg Materials has operated a 300kWel plasma-heated rotary kiln at Slite, Sweden, continuously for up to 54 hours under the EU-funded ELECTRA project. The system electrically heats CO₂ to produce a plasma jet, eliminating fuel-related kiln emissions and potentially facilitating subsequent capture of process CO₂.

Heidelberg Materials has previously outlined plans to scale the technology to a 1MWel installation. INSWAREB argues that SMRs could provide the continuous low-carbon electricity required for eventual industrial deployment of plasma clinker production.