On July 25th-26th, 2023, Professor Wei Yi-Ming, Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, led a team of faculty and students to conduct research at Anhui Conch Group Co., Ltd.

   The research team received a warm welcome from Mr. He Chengfa, Vice General Manager of Conch Group. Accompanied by Mr. Zhan Jiagan, Deputy Director of the Technology Center, they visited the Conch Group's fully automated cement factory exhibition hall, open-pit limestone unmanned transportation project, and smart agriculture greenhouse project. The research team also conducted an in-depth inspection of the Conch Group's 50,000-ton carbon dioxide capture and purification demonstration project. This project is the world's first demonstration of carbon dioxide capture and purification from cement kiln flue gas, producing 99.99% food-grade purity carbon dioxide products.

   After the visit, the research team held discussions with Director Zhan and the heads of the Cement Production and Operation Department and the Safety and Environmental Protection Department of Conch Group on topics such as energy management, pollution prevention and control, "dual carbon" initiatives, and intelligent production. They reached a series of cooperation agreements, expressing their mutual interest in conducting research on carbon emission accounting systems in the cement industry.

   Anhui Conch Group Co., Ltd. was established in 1996, headquartered in Wuhu, Anhui Province. Its business sectors encompass cement manufacturing, green building materials, intelligent manufacturing, and new energy and materials. With a revenue of 39.7 billion USD, it ranked 353rd on the 2022 Fortune Global 500 list. As a leading innovator in China's cement industry, Conch Group has spearheaded technological advancements and industry transformation. It has been recognized as a national exemplar of technological innovation and received the highest accolade in China's industrial sector—the 7th China Industry Award. It enjoys a reputation as "the world looks to China for cement, and China looks to Conch Group." Conch Group actively explores the "dual carbon" pathway of carbon reduction at the source, during the process, and carbon sequestration at the end. Particularly in end-of-pipe control, Conch Group has successfully developed and established proprietary technology for capturing and purifying carbon dioxide from cement kiln flue gas. In 2018, it led the way by completing the construction and operation of a 50,000-ton annual capacity carbon dioxide capture and purification demonstration project, pioneering the utilization of captured carbon.