Abstract Manager

The Cement Association of Canada (CAC) and Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) are partnering to present insights and learnings from scaling innovation in the concrete industry across four main technology pathways: (1) fuel-switching, (2) carbon capture, (3) carbon utilization and (4) novel clinker materials. These pathways are directly related to the immediate steps being taken by industry to address industrial emissions and have the potential to allow the cement industry to reach net zero or potentially become carbon negative by 2050.

As the world’s most ubiquitous building material, concrete will play an important role in mitigating climate change. Concrete is the world’s third-largest industrial energy consumer and the second-largest industrial CO2 emitter — representing 7% of CO2 emissions globally, and 1.4% in Canada.

The CAC has developed a Canadian specific action plan called “Concrete Zero” to reduce concrete emissions by up to 40% by 2030, 67% by 2040, and achieve net zero by 2050. These aggressive targets are made possible by the existence of net zero compatible technologies that have proven effective today and will not require the use of offsets. For example, ERA has invested over $68M with a total value of $275M+ on scale-up projects across the entire concrete value chain, resulting in world-leading commercial-scale projects that can lead the way for Canada’s cement and concrete industry’s goal of net zero. Continued collaboration between CAC, ERA and other stakeholders across the value chain can help de-risk innovation and offers opportunities for transferability to other industrial sectors. This will further position Alberta’s heavy industries as North American leaders in climate change mitigation.

While technology is advancing quickly, Government also has a key role to play through: (1) regulation changes to allow use of alternate fuels; (2) green procurement practices and use of carbon accounting tools; and (3) changes to codes and standards, including specifications to allow use of lower carbon cements / concrete.

This presentation will outline the cement industry’s plan to achieve net-zero by 2050 including the incremental milestones that will be reached along the way, using real-world examples of projects from ERA’s collaboration with heavy industry across the value chain. The presentation will also discuss learnings applicable to other heavy industries, as well as gaps & recommendations for policy makers based on industry experience.