A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Cement and carbon emissions
Abstract Because of its low cost, its ease of use and relative robustness to misuse, its versatility, and its local availability, concrete is by far the most widely used building material in the world today. Intrinsically, concrete has a very low energy and carbon footprint compared to most other materials. However, the volume of Portland cement required for concrete construction makes the cement industry a large emitter of $ CO_{2} $. The International Energy Agency recently proposed a global $ CO_{2} $ reduction plan. This plan has three main elements: long term $ CO_{2} $ targets, a sectorial approach based on the lowest cost to society, and technology roadmaps that demonstrate the means to achieve the $ CO_{2} $ reductions. For the cement industry, this plan calls for a reduction in $ CO_{2} $ emissions from 2 Gt in 2007 to 1.55 Gt in 2050, while over the same period cement production is projected to increase by about 50 %. The authors of the cement industry roadmap point out that the extrapolation of existing technologies (fuel efficiency, alternative fuels and biomass, and clinker substitution) will only take us half the way towards these goals. According to the roadmap, the industry will have to rely on costly and unproven carbon capture and storage technologies for the other half of the required reduction. This will result in significant additional costs for society. Most of the $ CO_{2} $ footprint of cement is due to the decarbonation of limestone during the clinkering process. Designing new clinkers that require less limestone is one means to significantly reduce the $ CO_{2} $ footprint of cement and concrete. A new class of clinkers described in this paper can reduce $ CO_{2} $ emissions by 20 to 30 % when compared to the manufacture of traditional PC Clinker.
Cement and carbon emissions
Abstract Because of its low cost, its ease of use and relative robustness to misuse, its versatility, and its local availability, concrete is by far the most widely used building material in the world today. Intrinsically, concrete has a very low energy and carbon footprint compared to most other materials. However, the volume of Portland cement required for concrete construction makes the cement industry a large emitter of $ CO_{2} $. The International Energy Agency recently proposed a global $ CO_{2} $ reduction plan. This plan has three main elements: long term $ CO_{2} $ targets, a sectorial approach based on the lowest cost to society, and technology roadmaps that demonstrate the means to achieve the $ CO_{2} $ reductions. For the cement industry, this plan calls for a reduction in $ CO_{2} $ emissions from 2 Gt in 2007 to 1.55 Gt in 2050, while over the same period cement production is projected to increase by about 50 %. The authors of the cement industry roadmap point out that the extrapolation of existing technologies (fuel efficiency, alternative fuels and biomass, and clinker substitution) will only take us half the way towards these goals. According to the roadmap, the industry will have to rely on costly and unproven carbon capture and storage technologies for the other half of the required reduction. This will result in significant additional costs for society. Most of the $ CO_{2} $ footprint of cement is due to the decarbonation of limestone during the clinkering process. Designing new clinkers that require less limestone is one means to significantly reduce the $ CO_{2} $ footprint of cement and concrete. A new class of clinkers described in this paper can reduce $ CO_{2} $ emissions by 20 to 30 % when compared to the manufacture of traditional PC Clinker.
Cement and carbon emissions
Barcelo, Laurent (author) / Kline, John (author) / Walenta, Gunther (author) / Gartner, Ellis (author)
2013
Article (Journal)
English
| Online Contents | 2014
| Online Contents | 2013
| British Library Online Contents | 2014
| Springer Verlag | 2013