In a groundbreaking development, Cleanco2, a leading CCUS technology company, has successfully applied its solid carbon precast concrete with carbon sequestration properties in the construction of China's first large-scale commercial zero-carbon substation.
As part of the 2023 pilot project for the new power system in Zhejiang Province, the State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Company has incorporated this innovative concrete into the construction of the zero-carbon substation in Anji Development Zone, achieving more than a 20% reduction in carbon emissions per cubic meter compared to traditional products. This remarkable milestone not only marks the "first-of-its-kind" CO₂ mineralization technology within the State Grid system but also represents a significant breakthrough for CCUS technology in China's precast concrete industry.
The First Demonstration Base for CO₂ Mineralization
Since 2022, Cleanco2, in collaboration with Zhejiang University's National Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, has been actively involved in establishing a demonstration base for CO₂ mineralization in precast concrete building materials in Huzhou, Zhejiang. The primary objective of this initiative is to use precast concrete and related products as carriers to permanently sequester CO₂, thus addressing the escalating climate change challenges. The solid carbon precast concrete utilized in the construction of the zero-carbon substation originated from this very base.
How does solid carbon precast concrete work
The principle behind solid carbon precast concrete lies in utilizing regular precast concrete as a carrier and injecting captured CO₂ from industrial emissions into it. The injected CO₂ undergoes microcrystalline mineralization, becoming permanently stored within the concrete. Simultaneously, this process enhances the workability and compressive strength of the concrete.
By sequestering CO₂ in precast concrete, it achieves two benefits: firstly, the CO₂ undergoes carbonation, ensuring permanent storage once the concrete has hardened, and secondly, the carbonation products fill the concrete's micropores, enhancing its structural integrity. This means that achieving the same compressive strength would reduce cement usage by 5% to 10%, effectively offsetting the additional carbon costs. This environmentally friendly concrete offers both economic and environmental benefits, with the potential to generate additional carbon tax value in the future.
Demonstration Base Production Capacity
The demonstration base's independent research and development of the "CO₂ Microcrystalline Mineralization Technology System for Precast Concrete" have resulted in the transformation and upgrading of raw material formulas and production equipment.
At present, the production line at the demonstration base can produce 800,000 cubic meters of solid carbon precast concrete annually, meeting various specifications ranging from C20 to C50. This line reduces carbon emissions by approximately 59,000 tons per year compared to traditional methods, with a CO₂ sequestration capacity of around 3,000 tons annually.
The innovative carbon removal technology employed by Cleanco2 in this application provides a direct method for reducing carbon emissions related to building materials' production and transportation. This technology can be seamlessly integrated into concrete mixing stations without interrupting operations. Building contractors, engineering companies, and developers can now reduce building-related carbon emissions without compromising construction quality.
Promising Future for CCUS Technology
The project conducted an official carbon footprint assessment in accordance with the "PAS 2050:2011 Specification for the Assessment of the Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Goods and Services" by CTI HuaCe, a reputable testing organization. The report revealed that compared to precast concrete produced by traditional methods in the Ecoinvent 3.9.1 database, each cubic meter of solid carbon precast concrete could reduce CO₂ emissions by nearly 70 kg, equating to over 20% reduction in carbon emissions during the production stage.
Scaling Up the Impact
With China's annual precast concrete production reaching 3.293 billion cubic meters in 2021, the CO₂ sequestration potential through this technology is estimated to be around 12 million tons per year.
The successful large-scale commercial application of solid carbon precast concrete in the zero-carbon substation construction signifies a major breakthrough in CCUS technology's application in precast concrete. This achievement has established a "dual-carbon" industry chain, connecting the energy, industrial, and construction sectors.
Furthermore, it opens up more possibilities for the development and commercialization of CCUS technology, presenting a new pathway to reduce building-related carbon emissions in the future.
This pioneering initiative at the Anji North Substation, a pilot project under the Zhejiang Province new power system, exemplifies the collaborative efforts between Zhejiang University, Cleanco2, State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Company, and Huzhou Power Supply Company.
Project Manager Jin Ye highlights the significance of this success: "The successful application of solid carbon precast concrete in this project serves as a demonstration for the future application of carbon-sequestering concrete technology within the power grid system and other infrastructure projects."
Original press release in Chinese here.
