Heidelberg is trialling CarbonCure technology in ready-mixed concrete at its Greenwich plant. This is the first plant in England to use the technique that involves injecting carbon dioxide into fresh concrete as a means to reduce the amount of cement within the concrete

Co2 Nozzle in mixer[3]

Source: Heidelberg

Carbon dioxide is added to the mix

The CO2 undergoes a chemical reaction to become permanently mineralised. This makes hydration more efficient, delivering stronger concrete as well as permanently locking in the CO2. Although the technique doesn’t cut carbon dramatically – it allows producers to use an average of five percent less cement within the concrete mix, reducing the CO₂ associated with concrete by around 7-11kg/m3 – it is an additional technique that could have a part to play in decarbonisation on some projects.

The CarbonCure technology is easily integrated into the concrete production process and has no impact on the performance of the finished material. It is already available at various concrete works in Wales and Scotland

Daniel Clayton, concrete technical director at Heidelberg Materials UK said, “This is another example of our commitment to innovation and decarbonising our business, to deliver lower carbon construction materials to our customers. We are continuing to invest in a range of innovative technologies to enable this.”

The trial at Greenwich reinforces the reputation of the firm’s Thameside plant as a lower-carbon concrete hub. The Greenwich-peninsular plant also offers calcined clay (a lower-carbon alternative to traditional clinker), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) cement substitute, crushed concrete, accelerators and carbon-captured cement.

The CarbonCure process was first developed more than a decade ago in Canada and it is gaining traction globally particularly in North America. High profile projects built with concrete using the CarbonCure include Amazon’s HQ2 in Virginia and General Motors manufacturing plant in Tennessee.

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