• LafargeHolcim signs long-term Collaboration Framework Agreement with Solidia
• Commercialization begins in US and Western Europe; rapid scaling planned for other European markets
• New phase marks long-term ambition toward a full-scale CO2 solution that captures CO2 from the cement plants and injects into final products
LafargeHolcim ramps up its partnership with Solidia Technologies to reduce CO2 across its value chain. With this announcement the collaboration with the US-based cement and concrete technology company, which began in 2013, is formally agreed until 2025, with an option to extend.
Together the two companies’ solutions not only emit up to 30% less CO2 during cement production, they also capture and store CO2, leading to a 70% carbon reduced concrete. Together with Solidia LafargeHolcim will continue to develop new innovative solutions focused on non-reinforced concrete structures and paving while also aiming to make it increasingly applicable for structural applications.
Marcel Cobuz, Region Head Europe: “Leading the way in low-carbon construction, we plan to facilitate a wider and faster roll-out of the innovative Solidia solution across our operations around the world. By scaling up Solidia’s solutions, we can fast forward our vision of carbon-neutral cities.”
Tom Schuler, President and CEO of Solidia Technologies, added: “By providing market access, technical expertise and market intelligence, LafargeHolcim helped us develop a better cement and concrete. Thanks to our collaboration, we are in market and expanding. Moving forward, we will advance carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies and develop solutions for the full, global concrete market.”
Key US customers have already placed orders for Solidia Cement™ to produce concrete paving blocks using the Solidia technology. In addition to delivering a low CO2 product from a low CO2 cement and permanent CO2 sequestration in concrete materials, Solidia cement can also increase precast production output from full product strength in under 24 hours (compared to 28 days for traditional concrete) and less equipment down time for cleaning. Solidia Concrete™ products are more durable and have a wider color palette and no efflorescence.
Industrial pilots are currently also ongoing in Canada, Germany, France and UK, with further pilots being prepared.
Initially the required CO2 will be supplied by third parties while Solidia supplies the required curing chambers in which the CO2 is injected into the concrete. Over the long term LafargeHolcim aims to utilize CO2 captured from cement kilns in North America and Europe.
Thanks to its efforts in the field of decarbonization – from operations to products and solutions – LafargeHolcim contributes to a built environment that will be carbon neutral, fully recyclable and with a positive environmental impact. Putting its innovation to work, more than 50% of the Group’s research resources are focused on low-carbon products and solutions, with 40% of patents currently in this area. Working across the entire construction value chain, approximately one-third of 2019 sales were in sustainable solutions and products.
About LafargeHolcim
LafargeHolcim is the global leader in building materials and solutions and active in four business segments: Cement, Aggregates, Ready-Mix Concrete and Solutions & Products. Its ambition is to lead the industry in reducing carbon emissions and shifting towards low-carbon construction. With the strongest R&D organization in the industry, the company seeks to constantly introduce and promote high-quality and sustainable building materials and solutions to its customers worldwide – whether individual homebuilders or developers of major infrastructure projects. LafargeHolcim employs over 70,000 employees in over 70 countries and has a portfolio that is equally balanced between developing and mature markets.
About Solidia Technologies
Based in Piscataway, N.J. (USA), Solidia Technologies® is a cement and concrete technology company that makes it easy and profitable to use CO2 to create superior and sustainable building and construction materials. Thanks to Solidia’s patented processes that cure concrete with carbon dioxide (CO2) instead of water, the next-generation Solidia Cement® allows the entire industrial chain to reduce the environmental footprint of concrete of up to 70% compared to traditional concrete. Solidia’s technology has recently been awarded a Solar Impulse Label promoting Solidia among the 1,000 profitable and environmentally friendly solutions.
