We had an interview on sustainability with Prof. Dr. Hakan Benzer, Founder Partner of Minerva Engineering, who has R&D and Sustainability as his primary concern and transforms R&D outputs into solutions that can be directly applied to the industry.
In previous interviews, Minerva was summarized as “blending scientific studies and industrial productivity, reflecting and implementing the harmony of new technologies and engineering in the field of application”. What would you say if you wanted to redefine Minerva?
Minerva is an R&D organization that focuses on science, measurement technologies and analytical analysis to produce innovative solutions for industrial applications. When we examine the statistics of R&D outputs being put into practice worldwide, we can see how low this rate is. At this point, the most important feature that makes Minerva different from other R&D organizations is that it offers solutions that can directly apply R&D outputs to industry and manages all the risks related to this.
There are studies in testing process and that you are in cooperation with more than one country, what is the status of these studies?
We had focused our initial studies on 3 different focal points in accordance with the philosophy of sustainable cement production. With the first of these, Pamir grinding technology, the studies have moved from the test dimension to the industrial application dimension. I can share with you that the findings obtained are better than expected. We commissioned the largest Pamir mill currently produced in the world and proved that we can achieve significant advantages in terms of capacity increase, energy saving and quality improvement. We continue our optimization studies in order to maximize the gains. We have also completed the necessary preparations for the presentation of the findings. We aim to share them one by one. As a result of the positive reflection of the outputs we received from here, we have also initiated project studies for the production of larger capacity/size mills. I would like to announce this here on your occasion.
The second subject we are working on, which we have not publicized much, is the testing of the carbon capture process to reduce C02 emissions. A doctoral thesis has been completed on this subject. We have started planning studies to test the findings we have obtained on a pilot scale on a large scale.
As the third subject group, we are also working on developing a flow chart for new product development policy such as the production of special type cement and/or cement with special additives in order to minimize clinker use within the scope of sustainable cement production policy. We are advancing our laboratory-based studies for these, and according to our findings, we are moving on to pilot scale studies.
Minerva Engineering was a participant in the DIGIRESCUEME project, which received funding from the European Union’s strategic partnerships project call. At what stage is the project and how has it contributed?
The project, which created search and rescue training modules with digital tools such as VR/AR, is now at the stage of identifying the needs and creating the first scenarios. As Minerva, we have contributed to the dissemination of the project and receiving expert opinions, and we will increase this contribution as the products of the project come out. Our researchers/engineers working within Minerva and external contributors are contributing not only to DigiRescueMe but also to many other EU projects. For example, Minerva continues to contribute to EU-based projects to develop new training modules on environmental practices in mining. Our team is skilled in developing and implementing such projects and continues to work with in the framework of the requirements of green transformation.
Investments in sustainable production are now as important as R&D in the cement industry. Why should cement companies invest in this area?
Sustainable production investments are a necessity due to market demand. Even if we leave everything else aside, economically, you have to take part in these investments to ensure economic sustainability in a carbon market where the price per ton has already reached 85 Euros. When we add these costs to the existing feasibilities, we already see that the payback periods are accelerating. I think that in the near future, companies that do not engage in such investments will probably have difficulties in accessing financial resources.
What are the challenges of conducting R&D based on environmentally friendly production in the cement industry?
Today, the industry has to accept that it is not only responsible for producing to meet the needs of society, but also for developing sustainable production systems that minimize environmental consequences. Such goals can only be achieved through a coordinated R&D policy in clean and sustainable technologies. Here, I see the need for cultural change as the biggest challenge. The cement industry is mostly conservative and has difficulty in accepting changes. Developments up to this time have mostly been achieved through the implementation of products for which R&D has already been completed. However, since sustainability necessitates system-specific R&D studies, the sector has to create an R&D work culture with the hypothesis of developing an innovative approach. The development of the industry in this direction must be supported by government/public policies and necessary legal regulations. If this synchronization is achieved, the industry has the potential to achieve this in terms of human resources and qualifications.
How would you describe the relationship between R&D activities under Minerva and sustainability?
For Minerva, there is a clear linear correlation between sustainability and R&D. As I have emphasized before, Minerva conducts its R&D activities within the framework of its sustainable production policy. As you can appreciate, sustainability is a very comprehensive concept that includes technology, economy, environment and sociology. Minerva carries out R&D studies to improve the technique by considering environmental and economic factors.
“Industry must recognize that it is not only responsible for producing to meet the needs of society, but also for developing sustainable production systems that minimize environmental consequences. Suchgoalscanonlybeachievedthroughacoordinated R&Dpolicyincleanand sustainable technologies. Here, I see the need for cultural change as the biggest challenge. The cement industry is mostly conservative and has difficulty in accepting changes.”
What is the mitigation road map?
Although the concept of mitigation has been on our agenda for a long time, the years 2030 and 2050 have been defined and clear boundaries have been set. Although 2030 is seen as the beginning, this year is actually the year when accounting starts. In other words, it is the point where we start to get the first results. Therefore, mitigation should start from today. The commitment for 2030 (approximately 41% reduction) is quite ambitious and above the level that can be met by routine practices. Therefore, in order to achieve the first results, the necessary investment preparations should be made today and investments should be made rapidly. In this context, the fastest target point should be the reduction of energy use and/or the utilization of alternative energy sources. I see the minimization of clinker usage rate as the second and most important target point.
Do you think energy efficiency or sustainable products are more prioritized and why?
In fact, energy efficiency is an element within the concept of sustainable products. Therefore, it is necessary to approach sustainability from a holistic perspective. Of course, it is necessary to make an accounting at the end and make the most advantageous application decision within the framework of this judgment. To answer your question specifically, sustainability is a much more prominent concept for me. I would not object to a reasonable increase in energy consumption in a way to reduce the clinker utilization rate.
Ultimately, R&D and sustainable production investments are issues that show their impact over time and most companies invest late because they are not convinced about this issue. As Minerva, what is your approach to sustainability and energy efficiency financing and how do you plan them?
Indeed, R&D and sustainable production activities are concepts that are reflected over many years by their very nature and their return starts very late. Of course, in order to survive, you have to provide the production conditions that will ensure profitability. In order for it to be sustainable, it is a necessity to have a production. Considering the current economic conditions, it is a reality that profitability can be achieved with great difficulty. At this stage, I attach importance to state support in the steps to be taken in this direction. In order for companies to make investments in this direction, it would be beneficial to provide the necessary advantages by the State in terms of both incentives and taxation advantages. Reducing the cost of financing with in the scope of incentives is an important issue. As Minerva, we share the risk by offering the advantages to be obtained as a result of the implementation of the R&D products we produce within the framework of the sustainable product policy within the scope of our guarantee. In this way, we try to help companies control their investment payback periods and make the right investment decisions within the framework of their policies by making the feasibility of their investments in this regard. In addition to the use of equity for financing our own work, we also pursue various R&D grant sources for R&D support at national and international level.
What kind of advantages does reducing/eliminating carbon footprint provide to companies?
Commercially speaking, customers demand it or will have to demand it within the framework of taxation policies. While the main goal is to minimize the negative effects of carbon emissions on climate change, even if this effect is ignored, you need to respond to the demands of the market. There is no way to escape these practices in order to maintain your production targets. The construction sector you are in is responsible for about 40% of carbon emissions globally.
How do you evaluate Turkish cement companies in terms of technological infrastructure and investments compared to the world? Where are we in terms of sustainability?
When we examine technological developments, the Turkish cement industry is at the most advanced level to deserve all praise. Even when we examine the cement factories of the economies that we consider developed today, we see that they are still trying to maintain the process practices that the Turkish cement industry abandoned 20 years ago. Due to this characteristic of the cement industry, it has actually assumed the role of the accelerator of technological developments by being the first implementer of almost all innovative technological developments. As I have emphasized before, our sectoral deficiency in this respect stems from the fact that we have not developed our own R&D mentality or shown the same appetite for implementing technological developments. Since sustainability requires special R&D studies, our cultural deficiency in this direction leaves us a little behind, but the industry’s determination to implement technologically advanced products closes this gap to some extent. However, it is imperative that we start providing R&D- based developments in the process.
