Tunnel kilns and dryers run continuously and waste each other's heat when not integrated: the classic ceramics retrofit is kiln-cooling air re-used in the dryer. Process CO2 from carbonates in clay adds a floor that fuel switching alone can't remove.
| Year | Free allocation (EU) | Payable carbon cost | Annual bill (per 100,000 t product) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 97.5% | €0.48 / t product | €48,375 |
| 2030 | 51.5% | €9.38 / t product | €938,475 |
| 2034 | 0.0% | €19.35 / t product | €1,935,000 |
At EUA €77.4 (11 Jun 2026) and ≈0.2–0.45 t CO2/t (tunnel-kiln products; EU BREF). EU ETS industry schedule; exporters under CBAM follow the mirrored phase-in. Power sectors pay 100% from day one.
Indicative reduction potential of each measure against the relevant emissions share (sources: IEA industry roadmaps, sector associations — see each measure page). Measures stack but don't simply add.
Brick and tile works are small-plant territory where capital is scarce — which makes the no-capex measures decisive: kiln-car seal and insulation condition, hot-air duct lagging, dryer recirculation. EU producers face full ETS exposure with thin margins; the 2026–2034 cliff hits this sector's P&L hardest relative to profit.
Method: ASTM C680 / ISO 12241 surface energy balance — the same engine as our public calculators. Typical removable-insulation effect across hot-process plants: 2–5% of fuel-related CO2, payback up to 2 years.
Direct-emission intensities, typical published values per industry page — units differ by product; see each page for sources.
