Rockfuel launches carbon negative cement process

RockFuel reveals carbon negative cement process to cut emissions

RockFuel, a UK-based company specialising in energy and industrial processes, has unveiled a new method of producing carbon negative cement. The innovation, said the company, aims to help the cement industry reduce its environmental impact and is seen as a key solution for meeting global sustainability targets.

The cement industry is responsible for approximately 8% of global CO2 emissions. However, RockFuel’s new process offers a climate-positive alternative to traditional methods. The company’s patented carbon neutral lime kiln captures CO2 emissions during production, which are then repurposed in the cement-making process. Once the cement is used in construction, it absorbs CO2, making the overall process carbon negative.

At the core of the innovation is RockFuel’s closed-loop lime kiln, which operates on renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. This technology produces quicklime (calcium oxide) while capturing CO2 emissions. The CO2 is stored in dedicated tanks and later used in the cement production process.

“The key to our process is not just reducing emissions but actively reversing them,” said Robert Cowan, partnerships director at RockFuel. “By using the captured CO2 in cement, we can create a material that not only reduces emissions in its production but continues to absorb CO2 throughout its lifecycle.”

RockFuel’s new cement process could have significant applications in the UK’s construction sector. With projects like wind farms playing a major role in meeting the country’s Net Zero goals, the use of RockFuel’s carbon negative cement could dramatically lower the CO2 emissions associated with infrastructure development. For example, the 650 to 1,000 tonnes of concrete used in each wind turbine’s foundation could be made using this new cement, potentially saving thousands of tonnes of CO2.

The technology has already been validated through independent assessments, according to Robert Cowan, showing its viability for large-scale industrial adoption.