Decarbonizing Cement with Electricity Cuts Emissions up to 98%

Researchers including Curtis Berlinguette published a method in ACS Energy Letters using electrochemical reactors to convert limestone and silica at 60°C instead of 1,450°C, reducing energy use by 70%; when powered by renewable electricity and fed recycled waste cement, the process cuts emissions to ~20 kg CO₂ per tonne of clinker versus ~1,000 kg for conventional Portland cement—a 98% reduction.