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Revolution in construction! CO2-SUICOM captures carbon and reduces emissions. Discover how this innovative concrete is changing the industry for the better!
The construction sector is undergoing a true revolution with the development of more sustainable and less harmful materials to the environment. One of the most notable advances is CO2-SUICOM concrete, the world’s first concrete capable of capturing carbon in its manufacturing process. Developed through a collaboration between companies including Kajima, The Chugoku Electric Power Co., Denka and Landes Co., this innovative material promises to drastically reduce carbon emissions in construction and could become a milestone on the path to carbon neutrality.
A new approach to sustainable construction
CO2-SUICOM concrete’s main feature is its ability to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) during its production process, replacing traditional cement with industrial waste and other more environmentally friendly materials. Each CO2-SUICOM mix reduces cement use by more than 50%, resulting in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, mainly associated with the conventional cement manufacturing process. In addition, instead of water, the concrete uses CO2 as a mixing agent, allowing carbon to be captured and trapped while the concrete hardens.
This new production process stands out because it allows concrete to be manufactured directly on construction sites, capturing CO2 emissions released by industrial plants and other sources of exhaust gases. This approach not only reduces emissions, but also transforms concrete into a material that helps clean the air by capturing carbon dioxide, going beyond the concept of net zero emissions and achieving negative emissions.
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Environmental impact of CO2-SUICOM in civil construction
The environmental impact of CO2-SUICOM is impressive. While the traditional concrete manufacturing process generates around 288 kilograms of carbon emissions per cubic meter, CO2-SUICOM has the ability to capture 18 kilograms of carbon per cubic meter. This represents a total reduction of 306 kilograms of emissions per cubic meter of concrete, leading to negative carbon emissions (-18 kilograms), meaning that the concrete captures more carbon than it emits.
According to estimates, Japan consumes 91 million cubic meters of concrete annually. If this amount were replaced by CO2-SUICOM, it would be possible to reduce carbon emissions by 27,84 million tons. This amount is equivalent to approximately one-third of the amount of carbon dioxide that Japanese forests capture in a year. In addition, concrete would capture approximately 1,64 million tons of carbon, making a significant contribution to the Japanese government's carbon neutrality strategy, which aims to achieve this goal by 2050.
The technological innovation behind CO2-SUICOM is also a major advance in industrial waste management. By using byproducts generated by other industrial sectors instead of traditional cement, this concrete not only reduces carbon emissions but also the demand for natural resources, promoting a circular economy.
The future of construction with carbon capture
With increasing urbanization and the need for infrastructure in many parts of the world, the concrete materials market is expected to reach a staggering $364 billion by 2028. However, rather than eliminating the use of concrete, CO2-SUICOM’s innovation offers a viable and more sustainable alternative for the construction industry. By capturing carbon dioxide and reducing the use of cement, this material not only minimizes environmental impact, but also offers a practical solution for the continued construction industry in a world that seeks to reduce its carbon emissions.
The hardening process of CO2-SUICOM is another interesting factor. Unlike conventional concrete, which hardens through a chemical reaction between cement and water, CO2-SUICOM uses a material called γ-C2S, which reacts with carbon dioxide in the air to harden. This means that the concrete can be exposed to locations with high levels of CO2 emissions, such as thermal power plants, where carbon-rich gases can be redirected to a capture chamber, trapping the CO2 in the concrete as it hardens.
Prospects for the use of CO2-SUICOM in global construction
CO2-SUICOM’s innovation opens the door to the future of sustainable construction on a global scale. As governments and businesses around the world seek to reduce their carbon footprints, this new concrete could be an important ally in the fight against climate change. Countries that are committing to carbon neutrality goals, such as Japan, are already implementing strategies to incorporate carbon-capturing building materials into their sustainability policies.
Furthermore, with the potential to be used in large infrastructure projects such as bridges, buildings and roads, CO2-SUICOM has the potential to become a standard solution for civil construction in the near future. The combination of carbon capture, emissions reduction and the use of industrial waste positions this concrete as one of the most important innovations in the sector in recent years.
The world is increasingly aware of the need to reduce carbon emissions and minimize the environmental impact of human activities. With CO2-SUICOM, the construction sector, one of the largest carbon emitters, can finally take a significant step towards a greener and more sustainable future.
Source: www.kajima.co.jp
