Cement production is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 7% worldwide. Traditional cement manufacturing involves heating limestone to ultra-high temperatures using fossil fuels, releasing large amounts of CO2. Cemvision has innovated by producing cement that requires lower temperatures (around 1,200 °C) and replaces fossil fuels with cleaner energy sources such as plasma, hydrogen, and electricity. This results in substantial energy savings and emission reductions.
The company incorporates waste products like mine tailings and steel slag into their cement, reducing reliance on newly mined limestone and further cutting emissions. Their material demonstrates favorable properties for construction, including high compressive strength and limited heat generation when mixed with water. Cemvision has demonstrated these innovations at a pilot scale but faces challenges in wider adoption due to higher costs compared to conventional cement and industry conservatism.
To offset cost barriers, Cemvision depends on policy mechanisms like the European Union’s emissions pricing system and emphasizes cost competitiveness against other carbon mitigation options like carbon capture. Ahead, Cemvision is raising funds to establish a full-scale production facility by 2028 in Northern Europe, aiming to produce 500,000 metric tons annually and significantly reduce the cement industry’s carbon footprint.
👉 Pročitaj original: MIT Technology Review
