The emission reduction measures presented in the recently completed Low Carbon Concrete Roadmap will make concrete a very low-emission or even zero-emission building material in the future.
The Finnish Concrete Industry Association has commissioned a Low Carbon Concrete Roadmap at Aalto University, together with the Concrete Association and Finnsement. The roadmap will help us better specify practical emission reduction measures.
The roadmap identifies a total of 16 different ways to reduce emissions from concrete. They are divided into three groups: cement production, concrete production and structures.
A large stream is made up of small streams, as in this case. Some of the emission reduction measures are small but cheap, such as using a longer strength assessment period. Others are massive in their impact but expensive, such as carbon dioxide capture from a cement plant, as an extreme example.
The roadmap includes emission reduction scenarios for 2030, 2040 and 2050. According to them, concrete emissions will fall by 16 percent from current levels by the end of the current decade. By 2040, concrete emissions will be reduced to less than half of current levels, and by 2050, only 7 percent of the original emissions will remain. The latter is largely based on the assumption that carbon capture will be in place in all cement plants by 2050.
Looking at carbon dioxide emissions per cubic meter of concrete
The unit of measurement for emission reductions is carbon dioxide emissions per cubic meter of concrete. Achieving these figures has required a variety of analyses, as some of the emission reduction measures are not related to reducing concrete's specific emissions, but, for example, to more efficient utilization of concrete in construction.
Carbonation of concrete, in which carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is bound to concrete structures, has also been included. It is not an active measure, but occurs automatically. However, the inclusion of carbonation in emission reduction measures is justified by the fact that the phenomenon is real and measurable, and has not been included in any other national emission reviews. Therefore, there is no risk of so-called double counting, and it is fair to include this form of carbon sequestration in the discussion.
The roadmap states that different product sectors and individual companies are able to utilize emission reduction measures with slightly different emphasis. For example, energy efficiency and low-emission energy are mainly measures of the element industry, because in other product groups the importance of energy is minor. Therefore, the exact same recipe for emission reduction measures will not suit everyone. Carbon dioxide capture is unlikely to wipe all other emission reduction measures off the table, as more affordable emission reduction measures are likely to be used alongside it, for economic reasons.
Builders sit on the church's crest
The roadmap shows that the industry can achieve significant emission reductions through systematic and targeted action. However, it cannot do it alone, and reducing emissions requires active cooperation with the cement industry, contractors using concrete, designers and those investing in construction. The latter are in the "head of the church" in this regard, as emission reductions do not come for free.
Although the current construction downturn often forces clients to choose the cheapest solution instead of a low-carbon product, it is expected that as the economy improves, the demand for low-carbon solutions will grow strongly.
See also
Jussi Mattila
CEO, Betoniteollisuus ry
jussi.mattila@rt.fi + 358 40 063 7224Construction product industry RTT ry, Betoniteollisuus ry
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