What are the benefits of using carbon captured cement?

Decarbonising cement is one of the most complex tasks in the transition to net zero. Traditional cement production requires clinker, which is the most carbon-intensive component of concrete. Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) like GGBS, and more recently, calcined clay, are a popular alternative to clinker content in cement. After decades of research and development, we’re proud to be pioneers of decarbonising cement using carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology with evoZero, our carbon captured cement.

The decarbonisation challenge

The UK construction sector is tied by legally binding net-zero greenhouse gas emissions targets by 2050. It also needs to meet the interim target of reducing emissions by 81% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2025. To balance demand with sustainability targets, it’s imperative that the construction sector chooses more sustainable products such as carbon captured cement.

What is carbon capture and storage?

To support the construction sector’s transition to net zero, Heidelberg Materials has developed carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions for cement production. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology captures CO₂ emissions from the manufacturing process using proven amine technology. The carbon emissions are then stored safely in existing geological formations under the seabed. This process does not alter the cement produced, it simply prevents the emissions entering the atmosphere and therefore dramatically reduces its carbon footprint.

To find out more about carbon capture and storage, visit our Padeswood website .

Can CCS be applied to cement production?

Yes, by building a CCS plant on a new or existing cement plant, carbon capture technology can be applied to cement production.

CCS in action in Norway

Since 2005, we’ve been developing the world’s first industrial-scale carbon capture and storage facility in the cement industry at our Brevik plant in Norway.

The facility started operating in 2025 and will capture 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions from clinker production, which equals half of the plant’s emissions.

How CCS at our Brevik plant works

Approximately 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ from cement manufacturing is captured annually via amine-based CCS technology.
The CO₂ undergoes liquefaction for transport.
Purpose-built ships transport the liquid CO₂ at -26°C for 30 hours from Brevik to Øygarden.
The CO₂ is then pumped 2.6km below the North Sea for permanent storage, via a 110km pipeline.

Carbon capture and storage technology in the UK

Using the knowledge and learnings from our Brevik plant, in Norway, we are starting construction on the world’s first carbon capture facility to enable fully decarbonised cement production at our Padeswood site in north Wales. Once operational, it will capture and store around 800,000 tonnes of carbon each year. This means we can produce evoZero carbon captured cement in the UK, a world and a UK first, which represents a groundbreaking move towards net zero for the construction industry.

Environmental benefits of using carbon captured cement

Compared to regular CEM I, evoZero carbon captured cement offers a significantly reduced embodied carbon footprint. CCS technology doesn’t change the chemical composition or performance of the cement produced, meaning it can be used for all construction applications that traditional portland cement is used for. These range from large construction projects (e.g. bridges and motorways) to specialised applications, such as road building and foundations. evoZero carbon captured cement can also be used to produce lower carbon ready-mixed concrete and mortar.

Using carbon captured cement over traditional CEM I provides construction businesses with opportunities to work towards sustainability commitments and meet reporting requirements around greenhouse gas emissions. These include:

The GHG protocol - provides frameworks for businesses, governments, and organisations to measure, manage, and report greenhouse gas emissions. It’s the world’s most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standard.
Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) - a corporate climate action organisation that sets science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
GCCA Global Low Carbon Ratings for Cement and Concrete - a standardised low carbon rating system for cement and concrete to support reporting, procurement and comparison of products.

Become a sustainability pioneer

Choosing the world’s first carbon captured near zero cement turns any construction project into a sustainability flagship. For more information about evoZero, please contact us via evozerouk@heidelbergmaterials.com or by completing the contact form below.

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