Is net-zero feasible: Systematic review of cement and concrete decarbonization technologies

Moncef L. Nehdi, Afshin Marani and Lei Zhang

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2024, vol. 191, issue C

Abstract: Cement and concrete are hard-to-abate industrial sectors for decarbonization due to growing demand driven by rapid urbanization, population growth, and the considerable need for the rehabilitation of aging infrastructure. Cement production accounts for 8 % of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions. If considered a country, the cement and concrete industry would rank the world's third largest carbon emitter just after China and the USA. Since over 120 countries committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, whether net-zero cement and concrete would be achievable needs to be examined. This systematic review scrutinizes pertinent emerging cement and concrete carbon saving technologies and evaluates their short- and long-term potential, benefits, and limitations. Critical analysis reveals that most emerging technologies are at an early stage of development, while rigorous life cycle assessment is necessary to appraise their carbon-saving promise. The findings suggest that adopting circular economy tactics through the utilization of various sources of by-products, unwavering stakeholder commitment, and breakthrough technologies are key to attaining net-zero aspirations and United Nations sustainability goals. A multi-faceted approach coupling materials innovations, alternative fuels, and efficiencies across various sectors is needed to reach the net-zero goal. The review identifies promising technologies, knowledge gaps, the need for future research, and recommendations for best practices towards the net-zero goal.

Keywords: Carbon emissions; Net-zero; Clinker; Cement; Concrete; Circular economy; Recycling; Carbon sequestration; Alternative fuel; Supplementary cementitious materials; Alkali-activated materials; Biomineralized cement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032123010274
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:rensus:v:191:y:2024:i:c:s1364032123010274

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 600126/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2023.114169

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews is currently edited by L. Kazmerski

More articles in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().