New step toward a sustainable future

The previous edition of Concrete & Steel Construction featured an article on the European approval for Ecocem's revolutionary ACT cement technology. This marks an important step in the commercialization process of this cement. An important next step has now been taken in the Benelux. At Port of Moerdijk, Ecocem is going to occupy three empty concrete storage silos with a combined capacity of 30,000 tons. For this purpose, a long-term agreement was concluded with Overslagbedrijf Moerdijk (OBM).

"With the long-term lease of the three silos, Ecocem can greatly expand the production capacity of the Moerdijk plant because our storage capacity will be quadrupled," said Paul Roos, managing director of Ecocem Benelux. "We have deliberately opted for leasing. With this we avoid having to build ourselves. This saves time and money on the one hand, but is also a sustainable choice. Because the silos can be used immediately, this step brings the commercial market introduction of our low-emission ACT cement in 2026 much closer."

Patented technology

The expansion of Ecocem in Moerdijk is part of an overall plan in which all of Ecocem's plants in Europe are being expanded to increase production and storage capacity. It also includes the construction of an Ecocem plant on the west coast of the United States. It should enable Ecocem to market ACT cement independently by 2026. In addition, the company is working on a system of licenses and partnerships to enable interested parties worldwide to produce ACT cement. This will intensify the fight against the cement industry's huge carbon footprint as ACT cement saves up to 70% of CO2 compared to traditional cement. "ACT uses a number of patented technological innovations to make a low-emission cement based on raw materials that are widely available worldwide," said Roos. "The chosen strategy of both producing its own cement and having others produce it under license makes ACT scalable worldwide. Especially since ACT uses SCMs (supplementary cementing materials) that are available locally."

Stronger and more durable

The production of ACT offers additional advantages. First of all, the production of concrete with this innovative cement requires significantly less water. This also makes ACT particularly suitable for production in areas with large periods of drought. Practical tests show that concrete made on the basis of ACT cement scores better on both strength and service life than conventional concrete mixes. Finally, the process of making this low-emission cement requires 30% less energy. When this energy is also generated sustainably, it creates a reduction in emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. The European Commission wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% from 1990 levels by 2040. If Ecocem's ACT technology is used to reduce CO2 emissions and any remaining emissions are captured by carbon capture (CCS), then a "netzero" ambition for the cement industry is within reach. The recent expansion of Ecocem in Moerdijk brings this sustainable future prospect for construction one step closer.