Cement and concrete sector releases report on decarbonisation by 2050

A report commissioned by the cement and concrete industry and released on Tuesday concludes that reaching net zero emissions by 2050 for the $15 billion sector is possible, though will require significant investment through technology development and market pull.

Research company VDZ’s Decarbonisation Pathways for the Australian Cement and Concrete Sector follows a declaration this month by the industry that it supported the 2050 goal, and identifies eight decarbonisation pathways:

• Zero emission electricity and transport;
• Innovation through design and construction;
• Further innovation in concrete;
• Increased use of supplementary cementitious materials in concrete;
• New CO2 efficient cements;
• Alternative fuels and green hydrogen;
• Accounting for concrete to uptake CO2 (recarbonation); and
• Capture remaining CO2 (CCUS);

The report notes that 55 per cent of the sector’s greenhouse gas impact is via emissions produced when limestone is turned into cement clinkers and carbon dioxide, followed by emissions from heat (via fuels), electricity and transport.  

A statement from the Cement Industry Federation highlights “significant financial investment” would be required for R&D, piloting and adoption of new technologies to reach zero emissions (though gives no figure,) as well as a “transition to a ‘market pull’ environment through leadership in government and private sector procurement policies and changes in regulation to safely promote the uptake of lower carbon products”  

The report was supported through money and in-kind contributions from the Cement Industry Federation, Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia, SmartCrete CRC and the RACE for 2030 CRC. An overview can be read here.

Picture: Just over half of total emissions are from turning limestone into clinkers (blog.exair.com)

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