Consortium explores CO2 removal in concrete manufacturing

The concrete industry is responsible for 8% of global CO2 emissions. Image: Adobe Stock

Carbonaide, a startup that enables the manufacturing of carbon-negative concrete will mineralise captured CO2 and store it permanently in concrete. The CO2 is supplied by ARC, a Danish waste-to-energy plant capable of capturing up to four tonnes of CO2 daily directly from flue gas.

As part of this initiative, Carbonaide will mineralise a total of 90 tonnes of CO₂ by the end of 2024.

The concrete industry is responsible for 8% of global CO2 emissions and legislation around construction material emissions is tightening.

With Carbonaide’s technology, approximately 100g of CO₂ can be mineralised and permanently stored per m³ of concrete. The company says this results in a 20–50% reduction in cement volumes and associated emissions.

“This proof-of-concept demonstration fosters much needed collaboration in the nascent field of technological carbon removals and showcases the complexities most projects in this field face,” says Tapio Vehmas, CEO of Carbonaide.

“Permanent carbon removal on an industrial scale requires joint efforts from several industries. By working together, we can demonstrate the potential for industry decarbonisation via permanent carbon removal in concrete on an industrial scale.”

Concrete CO2 removal process

The process to be carried out by the consortium is that, once the CO2 has been removed, it is sold to outdoor clothing and climbing gear brand Mammut via a carbon removal marketplace operated by the Danish tech start-up Klimate.

The Logistics company Bofort is responsible for safely transporting the liquefied CO₂ before it is mineralised by Carbonaide.