22 June 2021
•
3 min read
Carbon8 Systems infrastructure at a cement plant in France | Credit: Carbon8 Systems
Deal will see engineering firm promote UK start-up’s carbon capture solution to to its global network
FLSmidth is to work with UK carbon capture start-up Carbon8 Systems to develop projects that enable the decarbonisation of the emissions-intensive cement sector, under the terms of a deal signed yesterday between the two firms.
The partnership, which comes into effect immediately, will see the Danish engineering giant work to expand the reach of Carbon8 System's carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) solution across its extensive network of clients and partners.
Carbon8 System's technology takes carbon dioxide directly from process gasses emitted by industrial plants and combines it with bypass dust from production processes to manufacture a lightweight aggregate which can then be used in construction. The solution is currently installed at a cement plant near Lyon owned by French cement manufacturer Vicat.
The start-up's CEO John Pilkington said the tie-up would accelerate the firm's growth and reach across the cement sector. "FLSmidth's strong reputation in the global cement industry, combined with their international presence, will facilitate our growth and place Carbon8 System's (C8S) at the heart of the cement industry's efforts to reach net zero," he said.
The cement industry currently accounts for more than seven per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but its production process is notoriously difficult to decarbonise. As such efforts to capture carbon emitted at production plants for reuse and long-term storage are seen as a key solution that could align the energy-intensive sector with global climate goals.
Cement president for FLSmidth, Carsten Riisberg Lund, emphasised how CCU technology had "massive potential" to reduce the sector's carbon footprint, arguing that the solution had now reached "commercial maturity".
"The combination of C8S advanced carbonation technology and our extensive process knowledge will make a significant contribution to the cement industry's net zero ambitions," he said. "FLSmidth will work closely with C8S to accelerate the implementation of its technology and we will draw upon our in-depth know-how, our products and our global presence."
Riisberg Lund added the tie-up marked a "significant leap forward" in the two firms' joint mission to make the global cement industry more sustainable.
News of the deal came the same day as the UK government announced backing for a study for a CO2 storage testbed project that could help de-risk future industrial carbon capture and storage schemes, as part of a £50m funding package for research and innovation announced yesterday.
The government has also pledged £17m from the funding round to kickstart the launch of a ‘national digital research infrastructure' project that would allow researchers to gain access to cutting edge digital platforms, tools and techniques, including net zero computing systems.
A further £260,000 has also been allocated to a project to investigate the requirements for new flood and drought resilience infrastructure that would allow the researchers to better monitor and understand the water cycle, according to the update.
"If the last year and a half has taught us anything it's that new challenges can arise from anywhere at any time," Science Minister Amanda Solloway said. "By investing millions in the UK's research infrastructure, we are putting science and innovation at the heart of our efforts to build back better while ensuring that we can respond to challenges now and in the future - from pandemic preparedness to tackling climate change."
