On October 9, 2020 the CLEANKER pilot plant will be inaugurated at Vernasca. 
Thanks to this new plant it will be possible to “capture” the carbon dioxide generated during the cement production cycle, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere. The goal is to reduce carbon dioxide by  90%.
After the first year and a half dedicated to engineering and the second used for the construction of the prototype, this kick-off launches the project towards the phase of experimental campaigns and analysis of the results which will take place in 2021.
The research is being funded by Horizon 2020, a 7-year Framework Program through which the European Commission supports the most promising research and innovation activities in Europe.
The initiative, which involves 12 European and one Chinese partners, is coordinated by LEAP (Energy and Environment Laboratory Piacenza), a consortium operating in the energy and environment sector and supported by the Polytechnic Institute of Milan, the Catholic University of Milan and companies involved into the energy sector.
The European Union has invested over 8 million euros in this project.