Displaying items by tag: Alternative raw materials

World: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has named the 15 anticipated deliverers of low-CO₂ cement and concrete production shortlisted for participation in its second Innovandi Open Challenge. The association chose the start-ups based on their potential to deliver CO₂ emissions reduction in the global cement and concrete sector in line with its Concrete Future 2050 Net Zero Roadmap. The applicants are presenting their pitches to GCCA members on 30 June 2023. All those accepted will gain access to members' plants, labs, networks and expertise. The following start-ups made the Innovandi Open Challenge 2023 shortlist:

GCCA cement director and innovation lead Claude Loréa said “We received more than 70 quality applications, so drawing up a shortlist was challenging." Loréa continued "Our essential industry needs something easily scalable and affordable. Those start-ups on the list demonstrated the most potential, and we look forward to hearing more about their ideas. But we’ll also be keeping in touch with other start-ups who didn’t make this year’s shortlist, with future projects in mind.”

UK: Breedon Cement commenced a 24-hour trial of graphene-enhanced cement production at its Hope Cement plant in Derbyshire on 28 June 2023. The trial advances the work of a consortium led by Australia-based First Graphene. It is using existing grinding aid dosage lines, with minimal adjustment required. Breedon Cement and its partners aim to produce 2000t of graphene-enhanced cement, using 1.2t of PureGRAPH 50. Graphene-Info News has reported that Breedon Cement will supply concrete produced under the trial to Morgan Sindall Construction for use in its building projects. The University of Manchester is also participating in the consortium.

Breedon Cement managing director Jude Lagan said “The role graphene can play in helping to decarbonise the cement industry could be significant, and we are keen to contribute to this process by facilitating what is set to be one of the largest global trials of this kind.”

France: Ireland-based Ecocem has partnered with CB Green to launch a joint venture to scale up production of 70% reduced-CO₂ cement based on Ecocem's ACT technology. The technology combines widely available alternative raw materials into a product with enhanced strength and durability compared with ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The new joint venture will build a grinding plant in Dunkirk, Nord Department. The plant will produce 600,000t/yr of limestone filler for use in alternative cement production with ACT technology. The partners expect to invest Euro60m in the plant's construction, with commissioning scheduled for mid-2025.

Ecocem managing director Donal O’Riain said “This long-term cooperation agreement with CB Green marks a major milestone in our work to scale ACT, our low carbon cement technology, and deliver on our commitment to help the cement industry cost-effectively decarbonise by 50% by 2030. It secures production of fillers and access to high quality limestone, and is an important next step to ensuring that our ACT technology can be distributed at scale and start delivering on its potential to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 70%. Technology is no longer the issue, scale and speed are what matters now."

Saudi Arabia: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies (HGCT) and property developer Shurfah Holding have signed a letter of intent to conclude a licensing agreement for use of HGCT’s technology by the state-owned construction firm. BusinessWire News has reported that HGCT plans to build four new units to produce its clinker-free alternative cement in Saudi Arabia. Construction will begin in 2024. Shurfah Holding said that the partnership signals progress towards the development of smart cities under the state’s Vision 2030 economic plan.

HGCT co-founders Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann thanked Shurfah Holding and said that the partnership represents an acceleration in the producer’s international development.

Indonesia: Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa has engaged Japan-based environmental consultancy Amita Holdings to support a two-year feasibility study to investigate ways to make its cement production carbon neutral. The study will commence with trials of industrial wastes as alternative raw materials and municipal solid waste as refuse-derived fuel. Amita Holdings says that it is in the process of building a recycling-based society in Indonesia, in partnership with Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa.

Amita Holdings supported the establishment of the community-led Meguru waste sorting facility in Central Java. Two of Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa’s cement plants – the 18Mt/yr Citeureup cement plant and 4.1Mt/yr Paliman cement plant – are situated in neighbouring West Java.

Germany: Heidelberg Materials has celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding with a ceremony under the slogan 150 Years of Progress. Throughout its existence to date, the company has grown from 35 employees in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, to 51,000 employees across 50 countries.

CEO Dominik von Achten said “150 years of progress, innovation and expertise are both an incentive and an obligation to help shape a more sustainable future for generations to come.” He added “We also want to make this a tangible experience here in Heidelberg where our company is based. That is why today marks the start of our anniversary campaign New Meeting Points of Innovation for Heidelberg. In the coming weeks and months, meeting places will be created in the Heidelberg city area to encourage exchange and innovative discussions. For this purpose, we want to set up a total of 150 benches made of sustainable building materials, and plant trees.”

US: Heidelberg Materials North America inaugurated its 2.4Mt/yr Mitchell cement plant in Indiana on 14 July 2023. The plant is equipped with a 3600 bag/hr rotary packer, and also boasts a 154,000t-capacity clinker storage dome. It will produce Heidelberg Materials North America's EcoCem Portland limestone cement (PLC), alongside other products. The producer said that the new plant will help to address US cement supply chain constraints amid a planned US$110bn infrastructure overhaul.

Heidelberg Materials North America president and chief executive officer Chris Ward said "The plant will reduce CO₂ emissions per tonne of clinker by almost 30%, mainly through operating on natural gas. Our investment in the Mitchell facility helps us lower our carbon footprint, while serving the growing demand for more sustainable products in this key market.”

Europe/India: Finland-based Betolar has secured EU-wide and Indian patents for a new waste-based alternative concrete produced without cement and capable of storing energy. Betolar said that the material, which is already patented in Finland, is especially suited for use in renewable energy infrastructure, where it can provide a storage solution for dealing with short-term peaks. Chief commercial officer Ville Voipio said that the company will now seek to establish a partnership for commercialisation of its new alternative building material.

Betolar produces and markets the Geoprime additive used to produce cement-free concrete from supplementary cementitious materials, including ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), in regions that include India and the EU.

Philippines: Holcim Philippines introduced Holcim Optima, a blended Portland limestone cement (PLC), on the Philippine market on 8 June 2023. The Business Mirror newspaper has reported that Holcim Optima cement offers 10% reduced CO₂ emissions compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC).

President and CEO Horia Adrian said that Holcim Optima cement 'delivers the same strength, workability and durability as OPC and remains compatible with other cement additives such as slag and fly ash. The new product is best used in large building projects and available in bulk.' Adrian added "It is a timely product for the Philippines, as infrastructure building accelerates and green demand grows."

Europe: 12 decarbonisation-focused companies from across the European cement and concrete sector have launched the Alliance for Low-Carbon Cement & Concrete (ALCCC). The alliance has called on policymakers to change building standards to help low-carbon alternatives to enter the cement and concrete markets. It further said that green procurement and targeted financing instruments would help to reduce sectoral CO₂ emissions. It said that a progressive decline in clinker factor to 60%, 50% or 40% by 2050 will reduce CO₂ emissions by over 50%. The ALCCC says that it is ready to lead the sector towards a swift, low-cost and viable decarbonisation pathway. Participants in the alliance include France-based Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies, Ireland-based Ecocem and US-based Fortera.

Fortera's Europe director Thierry Legrand said "Climate action is a global priority, and collaboration is essential to advancing emissions-reducing technologies and policies. This alliance represents collective action by scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and environmental advocates to reduce CO₂ emissions from cement production."