Co2-free production of artificial pozzolans, in particular from clay

A method for thermally activating fine-particle mineral raw materials for generating artificial pozzolans, comprising:

• conducting a flow of material by way of a preheater and through a thermal treatment apparatus;
• heating the gas flow in the first gas flow heater before the gas flow is supplied to the thermal treatment apparatus;
• and
• generating energy for the first gas flow heater regeneratively;
• wherein energy for the first gas flow heater or the heat generated by the first gas flow heater is at least partially stored temporarily in a storage apparatus;
• wherein in the first gas flow heater, the gas flow is heated to 800° C. to 1800° C.

A plant for thermally activating fine-particle mineral raw materials for generating artificial pozzolans, comprising:

• a drying apparatus;
• a preheater;
• and
• a thermal treatment apparatus;
• where the fine-particle mineral raw material is conducted from the drying apparatus by way of the preheater to the thermal treatment apparatus,
• where a gas flow is supplied to the thermal treatment apparatus and supplied from the thermal treatment apparatus to the preheater,
• wherein a first gas flow heater is arranged ahead of the thermal treatment apparatus along the gas flow, the plant being connected to an apparatus for generating regenerative energy, and the plant including an energy storage apparatus.