Technological Forecasting for Commercializing Novel Low-Carbon Cement and Concrete Formulations

The cement industry is a major emitter of greenhouse gases, responsible for about 8% of the total global anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. To help avoid the 2°C rise in global temperature by the turn of the century from the preindustrial era (per The Paris Agreement, COP-21), the cement industry must reduce CO₂ emissions by 24% from the current level by 2050, taking into consideration the projected increases in cement production by 12%–23% during this period. Current and developing approaches to achieve this goal through reductions in clinker factor using Supplementary Cementitious Materials and other innovative new technologies are discussed. The cement industry must invest and innovate not only in CO₂ emissions reduction strategies but also in technologies for direct carbon capture, utilization and storage in cement and concrete production.