Multidimensional Comparative Assessment of Decarbonization Technologies for Cement Production: Evidence from China

Rapid urbanization and escalating demands for pollution and carbon reduction pose significant challenges to the cement industry in China, characterized by high energy consumption and emissions. However, a multidimensional framework to assess the synergies and trade-offs between environmental, carbon, and economic effects for various decarbonization technologies in cement production is still lacking. Here, six application scenarios of new suspension preheater dry process cement production were developed and evaluated using a life cycle assessment (LCA) framework to quantify environmental impacts, synergistic reduction of pollution and carbon emissions (SRPC), and economic performance. A multi-attribute decision-making model, Analytic Hierarchy Process–entropy–TOPSIS (AHP–entropy–TOPSIS), was applied to assess environmental–economic trade-offs. The results indicate that biomass fuel substitution and high grinding efficiency achieved the best SRPC and environmental–economic trade-off scores (S norm : 0.17–0.22). Alternative raw materials moderately reduced carbon but increased pollutant emissions and economic uncertainty (S norm : 0.14–0.20). Mono-ethanolamine absorption and calcium looping provided substantial carbon reduction but weaker overall performance due to environmental trade-offs and higher costs (S norm : 0.12–0.16). These findings provide quantitative guidance for prioritizing and combining decarbonization strategies to support the green transition and sustainable development of the cement industry.