Carbon capture in a box for Vicat Group
Carbon8 Systems to deploy pioneering ACT carbon capture and use technology at French cement plant
CARBON8 Systems, the UK company that invented and owns a process that combines industrial waste residues or by-products with captured CO2 emissions to produce high-value, lightweight construction aggregates, are to deploy their award-winning technology at the Vicat Group’s Montalieu cement plant, near Lyon, in France, next month.
The agreement represents Carbon8 Systems’ first commercial deployment of their CO2ntainer system – a modular, containerized solution – in Europe and follows successful demonstration projects at cement plants in the UK and Canada.
The CO2ntainer will be deployed directly on site at Montalieu and integrated into Vicat’s existing industrial processes. Crucially, it will capture CO2 directly from the plant’s flue gas emissions, which will be used to convert cement bypass dust into lightweight aggregates through the use of Carbon8 Systems’ patented Accelerated Carbonisation Technology (ACT) solution.
In its first phase of operation, Carbon8 Systems’ CO2ntainer will process and convert up to 12,000 tonnes of cement bypass dust into valuable construction aggregates that Vicat can commercially repurpose in various applications, such as lightweight concrete blocks.
Dr Paula Carey, co-founder and technical director of Carbon8 Systems, said: ‘Securing a commercial agreement with Vicat, a family-run cement company that has been in business for more than 150 years and has a strong commitment to process innovation and sustainability, is a massive endorsement of our technology and the R&D work that we have carried out over recent years.
‘We are delighted that Vicat have chosen Carbon8 Systems to help reduce their carbon emissions and, at the same time, create a potential new income stream for their business.’
Dr Laury Barnes-Davin, Vicat’s scientific director, said: ‘As part of our commitment to limit our environmental impact, we have looked at a number of innovative ideas to reduce our carbon emissions.
‘We were attracted by Carbon8 Systems’ two-part technology proposition: capturing the CO2 that Montalieu emits and using it to produce an aggregate that can be marketed to industry. We are excited by its potential for our operations elsewhere in France and around the world.’
With the cement industry being responsible for 5–7% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, Carbon8 Systems say they are in advanced discussions with other cement companies around the world to deploy their CO2ntainer solution.
