Cemex invests in tech that reduces carbon emissions in cement by up to 30%
Cemex has announced that Cemex Ventures, its corporate venture capital and open innovation unit, is investing in Carbon Upcycling Technologies, a Canadian startup and global leader in developing carbon utilization and grinding technologies for the cement industry.
Carbon Upcycling’s proprietary solution infuses carbon into a grinding process for industrial residues, such as slag and fly ashes, to produce a more reactive supplementary cementitious material. These materials can then be used to replace clinker in cement production. The blended cement and concretes resulting from this process can achieve CO2 reductions of up to 30%.
The production of clinker, the main component of cement, is the most carbon-intensive part of the cement manufacturing process. The addition of clinker substitutes without compromising the strength attributes of cement is a critical challenge to the industry’s decarbonization effort in the short term.
This investment will facilitate the continued development and scaling of Carbon Upcycling‘s technology and business roadmap to reduce reliance on clinker in cement production. The investment will also fund the rollout of its commercial carbon utilization solution across cement facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Cemex and Carbon Upcycling have worked together since 2020 as part of Cemex’s Future in Action program. The companies agree to test and scale up the startup’s technology in Cemex’s R&D facilities and develop industrial-scale projects across cement and ready-mix operations.
The Future in Action program focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of Cemex’s operations and products to become a net-zero CO2 company by 2050. Through Cemex Ventures, the company is discovering and investing in companies that will provide proven, scalable technologies to achieve carbon neutrality.