Startup Firm Promises Multibillion-Dollar Solution To Carbon Emissions In Cement Production

Buildings, car parks, roads and homes all rely on concrete, one of the most widely used substances in the world. 

Concrete's ubiquity and necessity come with the high cost of carbon emissions required to produce it. Creating cement, the primary component of concrete, involves creating what's known as "clinker," a mixture of limestone and minerals heated in a kiln. The heating, which releases massive amounts of CO2 as a byproduct, requires massive amounts of energy that typically come from fossil fuels. 

Brimstone Energy Ventures, a California-based startup, is among the pioneers working to mitigate the carbon footprint associated with cement manufacturing, which contributes significantly to the world's total carbon emissions. And green concrete is big business. The market reached $24.68 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at an 11.9% compound annual growth rate to reach $48.46 billion in 2028, according to Market Growth Reports.

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Brimstone's new approach uses calcium silicate rock and integrates patented technology for calcium extraction. According to the company's website, carbon-free calcium silicate rock is 100 times more abundant than limestone, alleviating any concerns about availability or scaling.

Unlike limestone, this silicate rock does not contain CO2 so associated emissions are eliminated during production. In July, Brimstone received certification attesting to the equivalence of its product with ordinary Portland cement, the most common type used around the world. 

Another startup firm tackling construction sustainability issues is ZenniHome, a developer of a range of innovative prefabricated homes suited for a variety of settings.

Brimstone Co-Founder and CEO Cody Finke said the transition to the company's product is seamless for construction professionals because it aligns with existing building and specification practices, minimizing safety concerns. 

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"People already know how to build with it, so construction will not be delayed," Finke said. "People already know how to specify it, that way there are not safety concerns."

The calcium silicate rock employed by Brimstone emits zero carbon, it also actively sequesters it. It accomplishes both of these feats because it uses carbon-free calcium silicate rock instead of limestone, which contains a considerable amount of CO2, and Brimstone's process also creates magnesium as a byproduct that reacts with CO2 and pulls it out of the atmosphere, turning it into a solid form that is then sequestered within the concrete. 

While Brimstone is in its early stages with a pilot plant in development, Finke asserts that its cement will ultimately be more cost-effective to produce than the current standard.

"Our long-term vision is to establish a significantly more cost-effective method for large-scale Portland cement production. Consequently, our process has the potential to supplant 100% of cement production facilities worldwide, leading to a fully decarbonized system,” said Finke.

The prospect of revolutionizing cement production methods garners substantial interest from investors who see an opportunity for a zero-emissions yet cost-effective solution. There is a significant investment opportunity presented by replacing the approximately 3,000 existing cement plants worldwide with a new carbon-neutral approach. 

Brimstone has secured investment from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, DCVC, Collaborative Fund, Fifth Wall, S2G Ventures and Amazon.com Inc.'s Climate Pledge Fund, accumulating $60 million in funding so far. 

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