French company Fives FCB and US start-up NOC Energy joined forces to accelerate smarter energy use and the decarbonisation of the cement industry. By integrating NOC Energy’s clean heat technology, NOC Cell™, of which one single module (currently 10 MW) can avoid up to 20,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year, on Fives FCB clay calcination pilot plant, the two partners are exploring a technology demonstration and new pathway for the decarbonization of high-temperature thermal processes in the cement industry. The NOC modular thermal battery cell (photo: close-up image) is capable of converting renewable electricity into clean industrial heat at very high temperatures, of 700 to 1,500 °C, which makes it applicable for calcination processes.