Abstract

Roadmap for low-carbon concrete has been prepared in Finland. The aim of the roadmap was to identify different options to reduce CO₂-emissions of concrete. Totally 16 different options were analysed. As expected, the largest emission reductions can be achieved in the cement production. Carbon capture will give the biggest reductions followed by the use of blended cements and green energy & electrical calcination. However, the introduction of the carbon capture will take time and therefore it is very important to utilize other possibilities to reduce CO₂-emissions of concrete in the short term. Potential options for a concrete producer are for example more extensive use of blended cements, green transportation of cement and aggregate, improvements in the energy use as well as mix design optimization. Depending on the production type, an individual producer has several additional options for emission savings.

The roadmap also reveals that concrete will be low-carbon or even zero-emission material in future. As the emissions of the cement can be reduced close to zero, it will be possible to produce concrete with very low CO₂-emissions. However, this will take time and there will be significant cost effects.

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