View source for Cutting 30% of CO2-emissions in constructions - while improving quality and lowering cost


'''<u>Cutting 30% of CO<sub>2</sub>-emissions in constructions - while improving quality and lowering cost&nbsp;</u>'''

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= Introduction: New Cement Composition developed =

''The Swiss university École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) developed the revolutionary cement composition “LC<sup>3</sup>“ which has the potential to lower global CO2-emissions by 1-2%. The environmental benefits come together with improvements in durability and strength characteristics compared to conventional Portland cement. Very importantly, the innovation is also up to 25% cheaper in production because of energy cost reductions and waste material utilization.<ref>References missing.</ref>''

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== '''Why are sustainable solutions in cement technology very important for development and climate protection efforts?''' ==

With 4’199 million tons of consumption per year, cement is the most produced material in the world and second most consumed item after water. Thereby, the majority of demand comes from fast-growing economies which have high growth rates and strongly invest in construction projects such as China and India. The demand is expected to further increase up to 5’000 million tons per year in 2050.&nbsp;<ref>References missing.</ref>

&#x5B;&#x5B;File:|211x158px|alt=Textfeld: Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) is a climate-friendly solution to cut 30% of CO2-emmissions in constructions. It is a solution for: 1. Climate protection goals 2. Sustainable development efforts 3. High quality ambitions 4. Easy applicability 5. Low-cost aims &#x5D;&#x5D;Considering the availability of resources on earth and the magnitude of worldwide demand for building materials, there is no feasible alternative compared to cement. Moreover, it is also a relatively climate-friendly construction material compared to other materials.&nbsp;

However, the global cement industry is still one of the largest producers of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) due the large production figures. In total, it accounts for 5% to 10% of worldwide man-made emissions.&nbsp;

Hence, viable solutions for sustainable development efforts need to focus on reducing the emissions of cement utilisation itself.&nbsp;<ref>References missing.</ref>



== '''Potential of LC<sup>3</sup>- Low Carbon Cement&nbsp;''' ==

In cement, the production of clinker is energy- and CO<sub>2</sub>-intensive. Firstly, clinker needs to be burnt at very high temperatures between 1400 and 1500°C. Secondly, CO<sub>2</sub>embodied in limestone is released during production.&nbsp;<ref>References missing.</ref>

[[File:Conventional cement vs LC3.png|border|right|280pxpx|alt=Conventional cement vs LC3.png]]A joint research team from EPFL Switzerland, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Delhi and Madras, Development Alternatives/TARA and the Cuban institute CIDEM has developed and tested an innovative cement, which is called Limestone Calcined Clay Cement, or LC<sup>3</sup>for short. This new cement reduces the clinker content to 50% and replaces it with widely available and often waste or second grade materials. These are limestone and clay which can be calcined to activate.&nbsp;<ref>References missing.</ref>

Clays are burned at a lower temperature at around 700 to 800 °C and they do not release embodied CO<sub>2</sub>. Limestone is used as is without burning. In conclusion, CO<sub>2</sub>-emissions of the new Limestone Calcined Clay Cement are 30% lower and energy consumption 15 - 20% lower compared to conventional Portland Cement.&nbsp;<ref>References missing.</ref>


== '''LC<sup>3</sup>is a technically feasible and financially attractive solution''' ==

LC<sup>3</sup>is also very competitive in performance and economic terms. It shows very similar performance characteristics compared to conventional Portland Cement and even outperforms traditional cement in some regards such as resistance to chloride and alkali–silica reaction (called ASR or “concrete cancer”). Apart from the laboratory testing at EPFL and the IITs, several applications have been constructed and they showed very positive results.&nbsp;

Finally, LC<sup>3</sup>is also up to 25% cheaper in production due to the reduction of the energy-intensive clinker content with widely available and less energy-intensive materials. Investment costs are also low since already existing technologies can be used for the production of LC<sup>3</sup>. Moreover, this existing economic attractiveness can be further increased by governments through incentives such as tax-reductions in order to accelerate the production of LC<sup>3</sup>.&nbsp;




== '''Using LC<sup>3</sup>to achieve Nationally Determined Contributions (Paris Agreement)''' ==

LC<sup>3</sup>can make a difference regarding national CO2-emissions for any country. Especially in developing countries, there is large potential because 80% of cement demand comes from quickly growing economies in Asia, Latin America and Africa.&nbsp;

[[File:BAU vs mitigation.png|border|center|400px|alt=BAU vs mitigation.png]]<br/>

[[File:|273x23px|alt=Textfeld: Colombia’s goal for 2030: Reduction of 67m tons of CO2

]]In a first step, calculations were made for several Latin American countries. In its [[Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC)|Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)]], Colombia expressed its commitment to reduce its CO<sub>2</sub>-emissions by 20% until 2030 (''see graph'').

&#x5B;&#x5B;File:|235x80px&#x5D;&#x5D;As aresult, the NDC- or Mitigation-scenario compared with the Business as usual scenario (BAU) binds Colombia to reduce its national CO<sub>2</sub>-emmissions by 67 million tons until 2030. A share of approximately 9,3 million tons shall be achieved in the industrial field.&nbsp;&nbsp;[[File:Calculation 1.png|border|right|250px|alt=Calculation 1.png]]

By replacing Portland cement with LC<sup>3</sup>production, Colombia could easily achieve a large proportion of its climate protection commitment. The higher the percentage of LC<sup>3</sup>-use, the greater the contribution to the NDC goals.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Even in a conservative scenario of 50% LC<sup>3</sup>-use by 2030, the Low Carbon Cement could already make a third of the expected savings within the industry sector and 5% for the overall NDC-commitment. With 100% LC<sup>3</sup>-use this impact could be doubled.<br/>

[[File:Calculation 2.png|border|center|400pxpx]]



= '''Global impact''' =

On a global level, it is estimated that the utilization of LC<sup>3&nbsp;</sup>instead of regular cement can save up to 400 million tons of CO<sub>2&nbsp;</sub>per year by 2050. This amount equals France’s entire yearly carbon dioxide emissions or the 1-2% of global CO<sub>2</sub>-emissions.&nbsp;

When looking at LC<sup>3</sup>in terms of frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), its potential to contribute to climate action efforts becomes clear. Among other contributions, LC<sup>3</sup>-Low Carbon Cement can be directly associated with 5 of the [[Energy and the Sustainable Development Goals|17 Sustainable Development Goals]], as shown below:&nbsp;

[[File:SDGs.png|border|center|400pxpx]]<br/>


= '''Conclusion''' =

Climate protection and development efforts often conflict but LC<sup>3</sup>means that we do not have to choose between these objectives anymore. In fact, LC<sup>3</sup>is the answer to both of these important goals together. Similar constructions projects can now be realised with a more efficient material which thereby saves 30% of CO<sub>2</sub>-emissions. Hence, LC<sup>3</sup>is a solution well-adapted for sustainable development ambitions.<ref>References missing.</ref>

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= Further Information =

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limestone_Calcined_Clay_Cement Limestone Calcined Clay Cement]
*[https://www.lc3.ch Homepage www.lc3.ch]<br/>


= References =

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