First products utilizing Carbonaide’s technology hit the market – 40% of cement replaced with CO₂
Finnish concrete product manufacturer Rakennusbetoni- ja Elementti Oy launches its first commercially available carbon-cured products on the Finnish market that utilize Carbonaide’s precision curing technology.
Carbonaide’s technology tackles two big problems at the same time – the vast emissions from the concrete industry and the need to find permanent storage for CO₂. 90% of concrete CO₂ emissions originate from cement, which also accounts for half of the concrete production cost. By replacing part of the cement with CO₂, Carbonaide’s technology helps concrete manufacturers reduce production costs and lower emissions by deploying the natural carbonation potential of the cement.
After launching industrial piloting in August 2023 together with the Finnish concrete manufacturer Rakennusbetoni- ja Elementti Oy in Hollola Finland, the first commercial product – partition wall element – is now in continuous production and commercially available from March 2024 onward.
“We are excited to be the first factory in the world to use Carbonaide’s carbon dioxide sequestration method in the production of concrete products. This innovation opens the door to significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions and minimizing the carbon footprint of our products. Carbonaide’s method not only sequesters carbon dioxide effectively, but also reduces the use of cement, which is a significant step towards more sustainable production. In addition, this method enables the production of even higher quality products, which underlines our commitment to both the environment and innovation.”, says Teemu Teno, CEO of Rakennusbetoni- ja Elementti Oy.
Offering impactful use for carbon dioxide in precast concrete production
Carbonaide’s precision curing technology controls the process by setting different parameters to maximize cement reductions or CO₂ uptake, varying between 20 – 40% cement reductions. In this first product release, a remarkable share of 40% of the cement use was reduced with CO₂ leading to approximately 40% reduction of a binder-based carbon footprint and an additional 17% carbon removal through mineralization. Consequently, the first products present an excellent example of Carbonaide’s potential in releasing both the utilization and storage potential of CO₂.
“I was especially pleased to see how Carbonaide’s technology was able to significantly reduce carbon footprint by both pathways, improving the curing process efficiency and mineralizing CO₂ into concrete. With these particular products, significant emissions reductions were possible to obtain with carbon curing optimized mix designs that fulfilled EN-197 standards.”, says Tapio Vehmas, Carbonaide’s CEO and co-founder.
In addition to improving factories’ cost reduction potential, Carbonaide’s technology increases the resilience of concrete manufacturers to face the changes in the construction industry. For example, blended cements are increasingly becoming more popular on the market, and with Carbonaide’s technology, they can be used in a similar way as Ordinary Portland Cement. Carbonaide’s precision curing process increases the strength and homogeneity of the products and improves the productivity of the plant by reducing the curing time of the products. The company is aiming to enable carbon-cured concrete at the same or lower price level as conventional concrete.
The concrete industry is responsible for 8% of global emissions and by 2050, volumes of concrete will double, while emissions must reach net zero. Thus, concrete manufacturers have an important role to play in climate change mitigation. Early adopters of decarbonization technologies will instantly benefit economically from cost reduction and will be well-prepared for future regulations and emission reduction targets.
More info on a webinar:
We are organizing a webinar on April 5, 2024 (9-10 AM EET) together with Rakennusbetoni- ja Elementti Oy, where Carbonaide’s CEO and co-founder, Tapio Vehmas, will tell more about the first commercial products and results achieved. To attend this free webinar, register here. The webinar is held in Finnish.
If you are interested in exploring more about Carbonaide and how we can help you decarbonize your precast concrete business or find a storage solution for your CO₂, we would like to hear from you.
For further information please contact:
Carbonaide Oy:
Tapio Vehmas, CEO
tapio.vehmas@carbonaide.com
tel. +358 40 591 1589
Rakennusbetoni- ja Elementti Oy:
Teemu Teno, CEO
teemu.teno@rakennusbetoni.fi
tel. +358 40 755 6977
About Carbonaide:
Carbonaide, a spin-out company from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, provides carbon dioxide (CO₂) utilization and storage technology (CCUS) for the precast concrete industry, enabling cost-efficient decarbonization. Carbonaide’s technology helps concrete product manufacturers reduce the amount of cement they use in their products while finding impactful permanent storage for CO₂. For more information visit our website.
