Government-backed research has successfully developed and trialled new low carbon cements which have 60% lower embodied CO2 emissions than Portland Cement
During the Carbon Trust project, concretes containing 22 low carbon multi-component cements were tested for their durability and performance.
Cements for UK concrete production consist of two main components, which are usually Portland cement (CEM I) and limited quantities of either fly ash**, GGBS*** or limestone powder.
In this project, multi-component cements with three main ingredients were developed: CEM I-fly ash-limestone powder, and CEM I-GGBS-limestone powder.
Annual savings of 4m tonnes of CO2
If the new low carbon cements are fully adopted in the UK, up to 4m tonnes of CO2 could be saved every year.
The research has been supported by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) led by the Mineral Products Association (MPA) and managed Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA).
The MPA has recommended to the British Standards Institution (BSI) that these new cements should be included in the UK concrete standard (BS 8500).
Huge step to deliver net zero concrete and cement
Commenting on the development of the cements, Dr Richard Leese, MPA Director – Industrial Policy, Energy and Climate Change, said:
“This is a huge step forward in the delivery of the UK concrete and cement industry’s roadmap to beyond net zero.
“These new cements have the potential to accelerate real environmental savings for construction projects and complement the sector’s wider decarbonisation programme.
“Following adoption in the British Standard it is important that designers and contractors understand that these are commercially viable materials, tested on UK construction sites with the proven ability to save embodied carbon now.”
Reducing emissions across construction
Minister for Industry Lee Rowley said: “The UK is committed to reducing emissions across all sectors, including construction, and development of these low-carbon cements can have a significant impact in making a vital construction material cleaner and greener.
“Supported by the government-funded Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator programme, the MPA project is a great example of how the UK’s innovators are leading the fight against climate change.”Paul McKinney, Associate Director and IEEA Programme Manager at the Carbon Trust added:
“We are really pleased by the success of the MPA’s Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator project.
“This is a great example of an industry working together to reduce its carbon footprint, contributing to the journey towards net zero.
“The manufacture and rigorous testing undertaken for a wide range of low carbon multi-component cements will hopefully soon lead to recognition within the relevant British Standard, leading to widespread uptake across the UK construction sector.”
