英文【RMI】LC3 的商業(yè)案例

TheBusinessCaseforLC3

AGlobalSolutionforLow-Carbon,Low-CostCement

Report/December2024

AuthorsandAcknowledgments

Authors

ChandlerRandol

SwathiShanthaRaju,formerlyofRMIBenSkinner

JamesSun,formerlyofRMI

Authorslistedalphabetically.AllauthorsfromRMIunlessotherwisenoted.

Contacts

ChandlerRandol,chandler.randol@BenSkinner,bskinner@

CopyrightsandCitation

ChandlerRandol,BenSkinner,JamesSun,andSwathiShanthaRaju,TheBusinessCaseforLC3:AGlobalSolutionforLow-Carbon,Low-CostCement,RMI,2024,

/insight/the-business-case-for-lc3

.

RMIvaluescollaborationandaimstoacceleratetheenergytransitionthroughsharingknowledgeand

insights.Wethereforeallowinterestedpartiestoreference,share,andciteourworkthroughtheCreativeCommonsCCBY-SA4.0license.

/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

.

AllimagesusedarefromiSunlessotherwisenoted.

Acknowledgments

Fundingpartner:TheteamexpressesourheartfeltappreciationtotheClimateWorksFoundationforitssupportandpartnershipinfundingthiswork.

RMIcontributors:WethankAnnaGoldman(formerintern),HeatherHouse,andRadhikaLalit(formerlywithRMI)fortheircontributionstothisreport.

Externalcontributors/reviewers:WeextendourgratitudetoPeterDicksonfromCBIGhana,Dr.Karen

ScrivenerfromécolePolytechniqueFédéraledeLausanne,CraigHargisandKasFarsadfromFortera,AmithKalathingalandRemiBarbarulofromHolcim,FernandoMartirenafromUniversidadCentraldelasVillas,andYosraBrikifromVicatforgraciouslyofferingtheirinsightstothiswork.

Inclusiononthislistdoesnotindicateendorsementofthereport’sfindings.

TheBusinessCaseforLC3:AGlobalSolutionforLow-Carbon,Low-CostCement/2

AboutRMI

RMIisanindependentnonprofit,foundedin1982asRockyMountainInstitute,thattransformsglobalenergysystemsthroughmarket-drivensolutionstoalignwitha1.5°Cfutureandsecureaclean,

prosperous,zero-carbonfutureforall.Weworkintheworld’smostcriticalgeographiesandengage

businesses,policymakers,communities,andNGOstoidentifyandscaleenergysysteminterventionsthatwillcutclimatepollutionatleast50percentby2030.RMIhasofficesinBasaltandBoulder,Colorado;NewYorkCity;Oakland,California;Washington,D.C.;Abuja,Nigeria;andBeijing.

TheBusinessCaseforLC3:AGlobalSolutionforLow-Carbon,Low-CostCement/3

TableofContents

ExecutiveSummary 5

KeyStudyResults 5

KeyStrategicInsights 6

Introduction 7

CementandConcreteProduction 8

DecarbonizationPathways 9

StrategiesforReducingClinkerinCement 10

ClayCalcination 11

TheBusinessCaseforLC3inDierentMarkets 12

NorthAmerica 14

Europe 15

LatinAmerica 16

Africa 17

StudyApproach 19

Methodology 19

LC3CementPlantCaseStudiesandModelScenarios 19

Assumptions 20

Plant-SpecificConsiderations 20

ComparativeAnalysisofLC3andBenchmarkCements 20

ResultsoftheSevenCaseStudies 23

EconomicBenefitsofLC3forCementProducers 24

ClimateImpactofLC3 28

BarriersandChallenges 29

1.MaterialsSourcing 29

2.AdherencetoStandards 29

3.PhysicalProperties 32

4.CapitalExpenses 32

KeyAnalyticalFindings 33

ImplicationsofLC3ontheCementMarket,ActionsNeeded,

andWhatComesNext 34

Conclusion 36

Endnotes 37

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ExecutiveSummary

Themomentisnowforlimestonecalcinedclaycement(LC3).Asthecementindustryseekstocutcostsanddecarbonize,LC3offersascalable,cost-effectivesolutionthatisprimedandready.Thisreportanalyzes

LC3’sfinancialandenvironmentalbenefits,ultimatelyshowingthatLC3isatransformativeopportunityforcementproducersworldwide.

TheanalysiscomparesthecostsofLC3,normalizedtoUSdollarsperton(US$/t),withlocalcement

benchmarksacrossfourregions:NorthAmerica,Europe,LatinAmerica,andAfrica.ModelingresultsofLC3andconventionalcementinvestmentsshowcapitalandoperatingexpensesacrosseachstep,includingkilnretrofits,energyuse,grinding,mixing,andmore.Keyfinancialmetrics—paybackperiod,internalrateof

return(IRR),andCO2emissionsavoided—provideaclearviewofLC3’seconomicpotential.ModelscenariosbuiltusingtheLC3toolfromUniversidadCentraldelasVillas,Cuba,exploreoptionsforproductionthroughintegratedplantsandgrindingstations,offeringarealisticpathtoindustry-wideadoption.

KeyStudyResults

LC3demonstratesacompellingroutetodecarbonizationwithstrongfinancialperformanceandsignificantemissionsreductions:

?OperationalCostSavings:LC3productioncanreduceoperatingexpensesbyupto33%.Lowercalcinationtemperaturesforclay,reducedfueluse,andtheabsenceoflimestonemasslossintheprocesscontributetothesesavings,especiallyinregionswherefuelcostsarehigh.

?RapidPaybackandHighReturns:LC3’slowerproductioncostsandemissionscreatefinancial

advantages,withpaybackperiodsasshortasafewmonthsinfavorableregions.Onthehigherend,paybackperiodscanextendupto10years,dependingonregionalfactorsandcapitalrequirements.IRRsareespeciallyhighinareaswithlowclaycostsandhighclinkerimportcosts,althoughlower

returnscanoccurinmarketswithhigherretrofitandtransportationexpenses.

?ResiliencetoTransportationCosts:Evenwithclaysourceslocatedupto200kmfromtheplant,LC3remainsmoreprofitablethanordinaryportlandcement(OPC)becausecalcinedclaysarefarcheaperthanclinker.Thisgeographicflexibilitysupportswidespreadadoptioninvariedmarkets.

?CO?EmissionsAvoided:LC3avoidsemissionsupto32%comparedwithtraditionalcementblends,andover40%comparedwithOPC.Thisavoidanceisachievedthroughhighclinkerreplacement(upto50%)andcalcinedclay,whichemitssignificantlylesscarbonthanclinkerproduction.

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KeyStrategicInsights

LC3unlocksopportunitiesfornewtechnologiesandbusinessmodels,supportingashifttowardmoreadaptable,efficient,andsustainablecementproduction:

?ConvertingClinkerKilns:AsthemarketadaptstolowerclinkerratioswithblendslikeLC3,reducedclinkerdemandmayacceleratetheclosureofinefficientclinkerplants;however,companiescan

proactivelyplantoconvertthesekilnsforclaycalcination.

?ElectrifyingClayCalcinationKilns:Calciningclayrequireslowertemperaturesthanclinkerproduction,potentiallyenablingtheuseofelectriccalcinerspoweredbyrenewableenergy.

?NewBusinessOpportunities:Calcinedclayscanpromotenewbusinessmodelstoemergesuchasmodularkilnscolocatedonclaymines,potentiallyopeningthelow-carboncementmarkettonew,smaller-scaleproducers.

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Introduction

LC3isalow-carboncementblendthatcombinescalcinedclay(kaoliniteclayheatedatlower

temperatures)andlimestonetosignificantlyreducetheneedfortraditionalclinker,themostcarbon-

intensivecomponentofcement.Byreplacingupto50%ofclinkerwiththesematerials,LC3dramaticallylowerstheenergyconsumptionandCO2emissionsassociatedwithcementproduction.TheemissionsreductionpotentialofLC3issubstantial,withestimatessuggestinga30%–40%reductioningreenhouse

gas(GHG)emissionscomparedwithordinaryportlandcement(OPC)canbeachievedanddeployedtoday.1

Thisreductionisvitalbecausethecementindustryisresponsibleforapproximately8%ofglobalGHG

emissions,makingdecarbonizationeffortsinthissectorcrucialformeetingglobalclimatetargets.2Cementistheprimaryingredientinconcrete,whichistheworld’smostwidelyusedconstructionmaterialdueto

itsstrength,durability,andcost-effectiveness.Astheworldcontinuestourbanize—particularlyinrapidlydevelopingregionssuchasAsia,Africa,andLatinAmerica—thedemandforcementisexpectedtogrow

significantly.Accordingtoestimates,by2050,morethan70%oftheglobalpopulationwillliveincities,anddevelopingnationswillneedtobuildvastamountsofinfrastructuretoaccommodatethisshift.3

TheenvironmentalimpactofthisconstructionboomcouldbeenormousiftraditionalcementcontinuestodominatethemarketbecauseitsproductionishighlyenergyintensiveandemitslargeamountsofCO2emissionsduetothecalcinationoflimestone.Thismakesthedecarbonizationofcementproductiona

criticalclimateactionthatisessentialtomeetingthegrowinginfrastructureneedsofanurbanizingworldwithoutexacerbatingclimatechange.

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Thefindingsshowthatreplacing

OPCwithLC3

inconcrete

canreduceCO2

emissionsover40%whilemaintainingorimproving

performance.Theplantanalysis

alsorevealsup

to30%reductioninoperational

costsonaveragecomparedwithOPCforthe

modeledscenarios.

LC3offersascalable,profitablealternativetoOPCthatcanmeetincreasingcementdemandwhilereducingthesector’scontributiontoglobalemissions,thusplayingapivotalroleinbuildingamoresustainable,resilientfutureforbothdeveloping

anddevelopedregions.TheabilitytoreduceemissionswithoutmajorchangestoexistingproductioninfrastructuremakesLC3anidealsolutionforwidespreadadoption,particularlyinregionswithhighgrowthpotential.

NewRMIanalysis,showcasedinthisreport,exploresthepotentialofLC3to

decarbonizethecementindustry,drawingoncasestudiesandinterviewswith

earlyadopterstoassessthefinancialviabilityandemissionsreductionsacross

sevencementplantscenariosinNorthAmerica,Europe,LatinAmerica,and

Africa.ThefindingsshowthatreplacingOPCwithLC3inconcretecanreduce

CO2emissionsover40%whilemaintainingorimprovingperformance.The

plantanalysisalsorevealsupto30%reductioninoperationalcostsonaverage

comparedwithOPCforthemodeledscenarios,withpaybackperiodsranging

fromlessthan1yearto10yearswithoutacarbonprice,andfromlessthan1yearto4yearswithacarbonprice.

ThereportalsobeginstoexamineLC3’sbroaderpotentialimpactontheindustryanditsfuturetrajectory.Withcompellingevidenceofsignificantcostsavings,

swiftpaybackperiods,andsubstantialemissionsreductions,thisreportmakesaclearbusinesscaseforLC3asacriticalsolutionforthecementindustry.Toremaincompetitiveandleadinthetransitiontosustainableconstruction,nowisthetimeforstakeholderstoinvestinandscaleLC3.

CementandConcreteProduction

TheindustrystandardforcementisOPC,whichismadefromtwoinputs:clinkerandgypsum.Attheheartofthisprocessistheproductionofclinker,thekey

ingredientinOPC,whichisformedbyheatinglimestone(calciumcarbonate)tohightemperaturesinakiln.Thisheating,orcalcination,causesthelimestonetobreakdownintolime(calciumoxide)andreleasessignificantamountsofCO2intheprocess.Theclinkeristhencooled,ground,andmixedwithgypsumto

producecement.

AsshowninExhibit1,theclinkerproductionphaseisresponsibleforaround

85%–90%ofcement’stotalCO2equivalent(CO2e)emissions.4Dependingonplantageandefficiency,roughly35%–40%ofclinkerproductionemissionscomefromtheenergyrequiredtoheatthekilns,traditionallysourcedfromfossilfuelssuch

ascoalandpetroleumcoke(petcoke),andtheremaining60%,knownasprocessemissions,derivefromtheconversionoflimestoneintolime.5Theremaining10%–15%ofcement’stotalCO2eemissionscomefromtheenergyrequiredtoheatthekilns,traditionallysourcedfromfossilfuelslikecoalandpetcoke,forphasesafterclinkerproduction.6

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Exhibit1Emissionsfromthefullconcreteandcementvaluechain

PercentageoftotalCO2emissionsoftheconcreteandcementsector

Valuechainincludedinanalysis(Scope1and2)ProcessemissionsEnergyemissions

Clinker

Construction

Concrete

Cement

Rawmaterials

Recarbonation

5%1%

5%

–10%

35%

53%

1%

Productioncycle

Ready-mix

Rawmill

Natural

recarbonation

Rawmaterialextraction

Cyclone

preheater

Application

Crusher

Rotarykiln

Logistics

Blendingbed

Clinkerstorage

Bags

andmixing

Rawmaterial

extraction

andpreparation

Cementgrinding

ConcreteConstructionNatural

Clinkerproduction

recarbonation

Cementmill

Note:ThisillustrationcoversScope1and2emissionsandincludestotalrawmaterialextraction.Otherconstructionmaterialsarenotconsideredinthisanalysis.RMIGraphic.Source:MissionPossiblePartnership,CementandConcreteSectorTransitionStrategy

DecarbonizationPathways

Totackletheseemissions,severalkeydecarbonizationpathwayshavebeenidentified:reducingthe

clinkerfactor,improvingfuelefficiency,developingalternativebinders,andimplementingcarboncapture,utilization,andstorage(CCUS).Whileeachofthesestrategiesoffersuniqueopportunitiestocutemissionsatdifferentstagesofthecement-makingprocess,thisreportfocusesonhigh-impactpathwaystoreduceclinkerincement.

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StrategiesforReducingClinkerinCement

Clinkerproductionisthemostcarbon-intensivestepincementmanufacturing;thus,reducingtheratioofclinkerincementcanhaveamajorimpactonoverallemissions.OneofthemosteffectivestrategiesforreducingCO2emissionsincementproductionisloweringtheclinkerfactorbyusingblendedcements.Loweringtheclinkercontentincementproductioncanalsobeimplementedinthenearterm,whereasdecarbonizationstrategiessuchasCCUSoralternativebinderswillbecomeavailableinthemedium-to-longterm.

Blendedcementsareproducedbypartiallysubstitutingclinkerwithsupplementarycementitiousmaterials(SCMs),whichcontributetothecement’sfinalpropertieswhilesignificantlyreducingtheemissions

associatedwithclinkerproduction.SCMscanreplaceasubstantialportionofclinker,offeringacriticalpathwayforemissionsreductionsbyleveragingmaterialswithlowercarbonfootprints.Moreover,mostSCMscanoffersignificantcostsavingscomparedwithclinker,makingtheiruseanattractiveoptionforreducingbothemissionsandproductioncosts.7

TraditionalSCMs

SeveraltraditionalSCMshavebeenusedfordecadestocreateblendedcements:

?FlyAsh:Aby-productofcoalcombustioninpowerplants,flyashhasbeenwidelyusedasanSCMduetoitspozzolanicproperties,whichhelpimprovethestrengthanddurabilityofconcrete.Flyashcanreplaceupto30%–35%ofclinkerincement.8However,itsavailabilityisdecliningduetotheglobal

phaseoutofcoalpowerplantsandconcernsexistaboutitssustainabilityasafossil-derivedmaterial.

?GroundGranulatedBlastFurnaceSlag(GGBFS):AnothercommonSCMisGGBFS,aby-productof

thesteelmakingprocess.Ithasthepotentialtoreplace45%–95%ofclinker,makingitoneofthemosteffectiveclinkersubstitutesintermsofemissionsreduction.9However,thesupplyofGGBFSislinkedtotraditionalsteelmanufacturing,leadingtoconcernsabouttheavailabilityandstabilityofGGBFSasalong-termsolutionasthesteelsectordecarbonizes.Additionally,itcanbemoreexpensivethanotherSCMsduetoitsprocessingrequirementsandlimitedavailability.

?Limestone:Limestone,whenfinelyground,canbeusedasanSCMinsmallquantities(5%–15%)toreducetheclinkercontent.10Althoughitdoesnothavethesamepozzolanicpropertiesasflyashorslag,itsabundanceandrelativelylowprocessingcostsmakeitanattractiveoption.However,thesubstitutionrangeforlimestoneisrelativelylow.

EmergingSCMs

AsthesupplyoftraditionalSCMsfacesconstraints,theindustryisincreasinglylookingtoemergingSCMssuchascalcinedclaysandnaturalpozzolans.

?CalcinedClays:Calcinedclays,especiallywhencombinedwithlimestone,offerahighlyscalable

andimpactfulsolution.LC3canreplace30%–40%ofclinker,makingitasignificantcontributortoemissionsreductions.11LC3isparticularlyattractivebecausebothlimestoneandclayareabundantrawmaterials,whichmeansthistechnologyhasthepotentialtobewidelyadoptedacrossdiversegeographies.12Calciningclaysrequireslowertemperaturesthanclinker,reducingtheoverallenergydemandandassociatedproductionemissions.13

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?NaturalPozzolans:Naturalpozzolans,suchasvolcanicashandothersiliceousmaterials,canreplace30%–40%ofclinker.14Likecalcinedclays,theyhavebeenusedhistoricallyinconcreteproductionandareincreasinglybeingexploredasasustainableSCM.However,theavailabilityofqualitypozzolansislimitedinmanygeographies.

OtherSCMs

ManyinnovatorsareexploringsyntheticandengineeredSCMstofurtherreducetheclinkerfactor,andevenusingSCMsasamechanismtostorecarbon.15Althoughtheyholdsignificantpotentialtofurtherreduce

clinkerusageandemissions,theseSCMsfacechallengesrelatedtotechnologyreadiness,cost,market

adoptionandscalability,andlimitedreal-worldapplication.Theirfutureroleindecarbonizingcementwilldependonovercomingthesebarriersandprovingtheireffectivenessinlarge-scaleuse.

ClayCalcination

Twoprimaryequipmentoptionsexistforthecalcinationofclay:theflashcalcinerandtherotarykiln(seeExhibit2).Thesesystems,alreadyavailableintoday’smarket,catertodifferentproductioncontexts.Theflashcalcineroptionrequiressmallergranulatedclay,whereastherotarykilnapproach,atechnology

alreadyusedatcementplantsfortheclinkerizationprocess,canaccommodatealargergrainsizeand

offersthepotentialtorepurposeexistingclinkerkilns.Ultimately,thenecessaryadjustmentsandadditionsforincorporatingcalcinedclaydependonaplant’suniqueinfrastructureandequipment.

Exhibit2DepictionofLC3productionprocess

ProcessemissionsEnergyemissions

Grindingunit

Claycalcination

Grindingmill

Homogenizedclayfeedstock

Calcinedclay

CO?

Flashcalciner/

rotarykiln

700°C–800°C

LimestoneGypsum

Clinkerproduction

CO?

Cyclonepreheater

RawmaterialCrusher

extraction

BlendingRaw

bedmill

CO?CO?

RotarykilnClinker

RMIGraphic.Source:RMIanalysis

1,450°Cstorage

TheBusinessCaseforLC3:AGlobalSolutionforLow-Carbon,Low-CostCement

LC3

concrete

/11

TheBusinessCaseforLC3

inDifferentMarkets

Asthecementindustryexploresvariousdecarbonizationpathways,LC3standsoutasakeysolutionthatalignswiththeindustry’simmediateandlong-termgoals.Amongthestrategiesaimedatreducingclinkercontent,LC3offerssignificantadvantagesintermsofscalabilityandeaseofintegration.UnlikeotherSCMs,whichfacesupplyconstraints,LC3reliesonabundantrawmaterials—limestoneandclay.ThisscalabilityandaccessibilitygiveLC3aclearbusinessadvantageforbroadimplementation,particularlyinregions

wherelimitedlimestonedepositsdriveupclinkerimportcosts,suchasAfrica.16ByadoptingLC3,these

regionscouldsignificantlyreducecostswhilealsoachievingsubstantialenvironmentalbenefits,makingitafinanciallyandenvironmentallysoundinvestment.

LC3israpidlybecomingmarketreadyglobally,withColombiashowcasingthemostextensiveuseduetoitsadoptionbyColombiancementproducerArgosCementos.LC3hasbeenappliedinhigh-risebuildings,highways,andtunnels,demonstratingitsviabilityinlarge-scaleinfrastructure.Full-scaleproductionis

underwayinahandfulofcementplants(seeExhibit3),withadditionalprojectsrecentlyannouncedintheUnitedStates,supportedbyDepartmentofEnergy(DOE)funding.

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Exhibit3FeaturesoffourcementcompaniescurrentlyproducingorplanningtoproduceLC3andcalcinedclayblends

Plant

Location

Startof

Operation/Production

LC3orOtherCCB*

KeyFeatures

CBI

Ghana

Tema,Ghana

2025

LC3

?ExpansionofanexistingOPCplant

?Cementblendswith60%–70%clinkercontent

?30%–40%CO2emissionsreductionperton

Holcim

Macuspana–

Tabasco,Mexico

2023

LC3

?Cementblendwith50%clinkercontent

?50%CO2emissionsreductionincombinationwithalternativefuelsandwasteheatrecovery

Saint-Pierre-la-Cour,France

2023

CCB

?50%CO2emissionsreductionincombinationwithalternativefuelsandwasteheatrecovery

LaMalle,France

2021

CCB

?FirstcalcinedclaycementlineinFrance

?30%CO2emissionsreductionincombinationwithalternativefuelsandwasteheatrecovery

Fortera

Redding,CA,US

2023

CCB

?Reactivecalciumcarbonate(vaterite)canbeusedtoformCCB:45%clinker,5%gypsum,25%vaterite,25%calcinedclay

?36%CO2emissionsreduction

?ImprovedworkabilityversuscomparableCCBusingintergroundlimestone

Vicat

Sobradinho,Brazil

2009

CCB

?Rotarykilnusedforcalcination

?Durabilityfeaturessuchasresistancetochlorideingressandalkalisilicareaction

?Improvedearly-agestrength

?16%CO2emissionsintensityreduction

Xeuilley,France

2024

LC3

?Flashcalcinationtechnology

?SupportedbygrantsfromADEME,theFrenchnationalagencyfortheenvironment,andtheEUbecauseofitsenvironmentalbenefits

*Note:CCBiscalcinedclayblend.RMIGraphic.Source:RMIinterviews

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Anoverviewoftheregulatoryenvironmentsforeachregionisprovidedbelow,settingthestageforamoredetailedcasestudyanalysisofNorthAmerica,Europe,LatinAmerica,andAfrica,whichfollowslaterinthereport.

NorthAmerica

PrescriptivestandardsaredominantinNorthAmerica,butrecentDOEfundingisboostingmomentumforLC3intheUnitedStates.

NorthAmericaoperatesunderhighlyprescriptivestandardsthatposechallengestotheadoptionof

innovativematerialslikeLC3.TheAmericanConcreteInstitute(ACI),whichsetskeyconcretedesignand

constructionstandards,theInternationalCodeCouncil’s(ICC)InternationalBuildingCode,whichgovernsconstructionsafetyregulations,andASTMInternational,whichdevelopsandpublisheswidelyrecognizedconsensus-basedstandardsformaterials,products,systems,andservices,playcrucialrolesinshapingthecementandconcretemarkets.Whilethesestandardsensurequalityandsafety,theyalsocreatebarrierstocommercializationofmoresustainabletechnologieslikeLC3.

OnemajorspecificationgoverningblendedcementisASTMC595,whichdefinesrequirementsforvarioustypesofblendedhydrauliccementandlimitsclinkerreplacement.Incontrast,ASTMC1157representsashifttowardperformance-basedstandards,offeringmoreflexibilityformaterialsandchemicaladditionstoclinker.Forinstance,ASTMC1157allowscementproducerstotargetspecificneeds,suchashighearlystrengthorhighsulfateresistance,withoutmandatingmaterialsormixproportions.ASTMC1157,aroundsince1992,isstartingtoseemoreadoptionintheUSconstructionindustrywithsophisticatedpurchaserssuchastechnologycompaniesbuildingoutdatacenters.However,adoptioncouldbemorewidespreadasmanyengineers,contractors,andregulatorscontinuetorelyontraditionalprescriptivestandards.

Despitetheselimitations,LC3isgainingtractionintheUnitedStates.InMarch2024,theDOE’sIndustrialDemonstrationsProgramsignaledstrongsupportforLC3whenawarding$1.5billiontosixcement

decarbonizationprojects,threeofwhichfocusonproducingcalcinedclays,akeycomponentofLC3.17

Drivenbyfederalandstate“buyclean”policiesandgrowingcorporatecommitments,end-usersare

increasinglyseekinglower-carbonoptionsthatcanbespecifiedandimplementedtoday,positioningLC3asatimelysolution.18

Forteraproducesareactiveformofcalciumcarbonatecalledvaterite,whichcanbeblended

withcalcinedclayinlieuoflimestone,achievingamixturethatreplaces50%–70%ofclinker.

Thecompany’sReAct?(45%clinker,5%gypsum,25%vaterite,and25%calcinedclay)reduces

emissionsby36%comparedwithOPC.ForterausesitsReCarb?processtoproducevaterite

byrecombiningCO2emissionsfromthekilnwithcalciumoxide,resultinginahighlyreactive,

sphericalmineralthatcanreducewaterdemand,increaseearlystrength,andimproveworkabilitycomparedwithcalcinedclayblendsmadeusinggroundlimestone.Thecompanyrecently

launchedasmallcommercial-scaleplanttoproducevateritewithinanexistingcementplantinRedding,California.Aswithmanynewcementtechnologies,someofthepotentialbenefitsofthismaterial,andtheeconomicsandpracticalitiesofproducingitatscale,arenotfullyproveninreal-world