Sebastian Quevedo Parra

About Sebastian Quevedo Parra

Affiliation
Politecnico di Milano

Innovandi Project
Core Project 12: Meta-analysis on the use of electric energy for clinker production

Background
Chemical Engineer from the University of Concepcion, Chile, with MSc. studies in Sustainable Energy Technologies from Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands. I am interested in understanding the complex interactions in the transition to a decarbonized cement industry, and the role that electrification and carbon capture technologies will play in it.

Research topic
My research project is focused on assessing the competitiveness of an electrified cement industry, through techno-economic assessment and scenario analysis.
I am using Aspen Plus to create process models of electrified cement plants based on different technologies, with information gathered from the literature and discussions with industry experts. The outcomes from the process modeling activities serve as inputs to develop a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model built to size the optimum renewable generation capacity, including storage alternatives and demand-side flexibility, for the management of intermittent renewable electricity supply. The architecture of the MILP model enables us to test different locations and conditions, including future scenarios in which projected cost reductions for developing technologies could favor the implementation of electrified cement plants. Finally, techno-economic key performance indicators (additional cost of clinker, cost of avoided CO2, CO2 emissions avoided, etc) are estimated and compared against benchmark decarbonization strategies based on carbon capture technologies and the willingness-to-pay for low-carbon electricity of other sectors and industries with high electrification potential.