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- Title
The climate benefits from cement carbonation are being overestimated.
- Authors
Van Roijen, Elisabeth; Sethares, Kati; Kendall, Alissa; Miller, Sabbie A.
- Abstract
Rapid decarbonization of the cement industry is critical to meeting climate goals. Oversimplification of direct air capture benefits from hydrated cement carbonation has skewed the ability to derive decarbonization solutions. Here, we present both global cement carbonation magnitude and its dynamic effect on cumulative radiative forcing. From 1930–2015, models suggest approximately 13.8 billion metric tons (Gt) of CO2 was re-absorbed globally. However, we show that the slow rate of carbonation leads to a climate effect that is approximately 60% smaller than these apparent benefits. Further, we show that on a per kilogram (kg) basis, demolition emissions from crushing concrete at end-of-life could roughly equal the magnitude of carbon-uptake during the demolition phase. We investigate the sensitivity of common decarbonization strategies, such as utilizing supplementary cementitious materials, on the carbonation process and highlight the importance of the timing of emissions release and uptake on influencing cumulative radiative forcing. Given the urgency of determining effective pathways for decarbonizing cement, this work provides a reference for overcoming some flawed interpretations of the benefits of carbonation. The time-dependent effects of cement production emissions and CO2 uptake through carbonation of hydrated cement at a global scale were quantified. The results show the climate benefits of the CO2 uptake by cement are being significantly over-estimated.
- Subjects
CARBONATION (Chemistry); RADIATIVE forcing; CEMENT industries; CLIMATE change conferences; CARBON dioxide mitigation
- Publication
Nature Communications, 2024, Vol 15, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2041-1723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41467-024-48965-z