Displaying items by tag: Alternative raw materials
US: The Department of Transportation has announced a US$5m initiative to investigate the use of steel slag in cement and concrete. This will take the form of a collaboration between the Department of Transportation and a selected US-based steel producer and university partner. The initiative seeks to reduce CO2 emissions in the production of building materials. Prospective participants may view the grant opportunity here.
Transport secretary Pete Buttigieg said "We're proud to make this funding available to help develop the next generation of construction materials so that the future of our transport infrastructure is more resilient, more sustainable and made in America.”
Robert Hampshire, deputy assistant secretary for research and technology and chief science officer, said “This funding initiative will develop and advance innovative materials and technologies that support the nation’s goals to decarbonise the transportation sector by 2050, strengthen resilience of the nation’s transportation infrastructure, and address adverse environmental impacts created by the transportation system.”
Titan Cement International buys Vezirhan pozzolana quarry
30 January 2024Türkiye: Titan Cement International (TCI) has acquired concession rights to the Vezirhan pozzolana quarry in East Marmara. The quarry will help TCI to expand its low-carbon cement production capacity. By 2030, the company aims to reduce its CO2 emissions by 35% from 1990 levels, and include 50% green products in its portfolio.
Titan Group Eastern Mediterranean regional director Christos Panagopoulos said “Access to Vezirhan quarry’s strong reserves potential and high-quality material will allow Titan to further broaden the portfolio of low-carbon cementitious products available to its customers. The quarry has access to a deep port and railway transport, facilitating both land and seaborne distribution across Titan's global locations.”
Group chief sustainability and innovation officer Leonidas Canellopoulos said “Being future-ready for a net zero world is more than just an ambition for Titan, and the acquisition of concession rights in Vezirhan is part of our solid roadmap that entails over 100 initiatives, covering the entire scope of our geographic operations and span of our value chain.”
Cementos Portland Valderrivas' Alcalá de Guadaíra cement plant to raise alternative raw materials and alternative fuels use
30 January 2024Spain: Cementos Portland Valderrivas' Alcalá de Guadaíra plant has secured environmental clearance to use more alternative raw materials and alternative fuels (AF) in its cement production.
The company said "This achievement is a further boost to our sustainable work practices, respecting the environment and contributing to combatting climate change."
TopWerk Group endorses Partanna Global's carbon-negative binder
23 January 2024Germany/US: Concrete production equipment supplier TopWerk Group has formally endorsed Partanna Global's carbon-negative binder as a replacement for cement in the production of concrete using its equipment. Partanna plans to install TopWerk equipment at its four upcoming production plants, under an exclusive three-year agreement. The endorsement is intended to help shift TopWerk's global customers from using cement to using Partanna Global’s binder.
Partanna Global CEO Rick Fox said “TopWerk's endorsement of Partanna represents a major vote of confidence in our technology from one of the most respected names in global construction. We’re humbled and proud that one of the world’s leading concrete machinery producers has given us their backing. We hope this signals to the industry that Portland cement is no longer the only solution in town, and that the days of burning rocks are fast coming to an end.”
TopWerk CEO Robert Gruss said "We believe our exclusive partner Partanna has come up with a truly impressive solution that can contribute to putting this polluting practice to an end. The company’s carbon negative binder is one of the most exciting innovations we have witnessed in our industry for decades. It is the most advanced alternative binder solution in the market and the only credibly carbon negative solution that has the potential to scale globally. Over the last two years, we have rigorously tested their formula and have validated its application as a direct replacement solution for Portland cement. In many ways, their binder actually performs better than the legacy solution.”
The endorsement follows Saudi Arabia-based property developer ROSHN's announcement of an upcoming carbon-negative concrete plant that will use Partanna Global's technology earlier in January 2024.
Nepal Cement Manufacturers Association signs memorandum of understanding for limestone calcined clay cement technology
23 January 2024Nepal: The Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Department of Mines and Geology and non-governmental organisation Technology and Action for Rural Advancement (TARA) for the adoption of limestone calcined clay (LC3) cement in Nepal. The parties say that LC3 cement can reduce CO2 emissions by 40% and reduce coal consumption in cement production. Enewspolar News has reported that the Swiss Development Cooperation has previously supported the diffusion of the technology in the global cement sector.
Adani Group to establish cement plant in Santhal Pargana
22 January 2024India: Adani Group has announced plans to build a new cement plant, possibly at Godda, in Jharkhand’s Santhal Pargana Division. The Times of India newspaper has reported that producer recently established a 1.6GW power plant in Godda.
The group said “In keeping with our group’s expansion plans, we are conducting a feasibility study to set up a cement factory, most probably in Godda. A proposal will be sent to government soon. The proposed plant will further boost the economy of Godda and Santhal Pargana. The proposed plant will utilise fly ash from our existing power plant here as raw material. At present, the fly ash is being sent to the ACC cement plants in Jhikpani and Sindri.”
10 sustainable cement and concrete technology developers launch the Decarbonized Cement and Concrete Alliance
18 January 2024North America: A new coalition for the scaling and deployment of low-carbon building materials, the creation of new clean cement and concrete jobs and the promotion of environmental justice launched earlier in January 2024. Called the Decarbonized Cement and Concrete Alliance (DC2), it comprises alternative cement developers Biomason, Brimstone, Chement, Fortera and Terra CO2, sequestration company Blue Planet Systems, circular concrete producer CarbonBuilt, biogenic limestone producer Minus Materials, hydrothermal processing technology developer Queens Carbon and electrified cement production technology developer Sublime Systems. DC2’s areas of engagement in policy will include tax credits, standards, ecolabeling and subsidisation, in line with the US Department of Energy’s Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Low-Carbon Cement strategy.
CarbonBuilt’s government and community affairs manager Sal Brzozowski said “DC2’s platform of robust policy, standards and incentives to scale innovative solutions will not only accelerate deep decarbonisation, but also transform the concrete industry from one of the world’s largest CO2 emitters to one of the world’s largest carbon sinks.”
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne recognised as Energy Transition Changemaker for LC3 limestone calcined clay cement project
19 December 2023Switzerland/UAE: The COP28 UAE Presidency named École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) among its Energy Transition Changemakers in the Heavy Emitting Sectors category. EPFL won the prize for its LC3 limestone calcined clay cement, which replaces 50% of clinker content with calcined kaolinite clay and limestone. LC3 cement reduces CO2 emissions by 40% compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), and is a readily available solution that can be scaled worldwide. EPFL noted the special importance of LC3 cement for CO2 reduction efforts in developing countries, and sees it as having the potential to eliminate 500Mt/yr of global CO2 emissions by 2030. In a post to LinkedIn, the LC3 Project said that nine plants around the world currently produce LC3 cement, with a further 20 planned before 2025.
Spain: Holcim España has committed to reaching 50% reduced-CO2 cement production at its Sagunto cement plant in Valencia. The cement comes under its ECOPlanet range, which offers emissions reductions of up to 30%. General manager Lucas García said that the company relies on supplementary cementitious materials, including recycled raw materials, and alternative fuels in producing the cement.
The El Mercantil Valenciano newspaper has reported that the Sagunto plant’s environmental manager, Carmen Orts, said that its application of 29 different best available techniques ‘ensures the protection of the environment with a holistic vision.’
Adani Cement to use 60% renewable energy by 2028
07 December 2023India: Adani Group says that it will power 60% of its cement production using renewable energy by 2028. In a post on X, the group noted that its Adani Cement business uses fly ash or slag in cement production at 90% of its plants.