Cemvision has devised a greener way to make cement.

It uses by-products from industries like steel and mining instead of fresh limestone, slashing emissions.

Vattenfall plans to use the green cement in the foundations of new wind turbines and power distribution centres.

Swedish startup Cemvision cements deal with Vattenfall for greener concrete

The firm could also use it for making prefabricated concrete parts, it said.

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Vattenfall is a founder of the World Economic Forums First Movers Coalition.

cemvision-vattenfall-green-cement

It is also one of the dirtiest, responsible for 8% of global CO2 emissions.

Thats four times greater than air travel.

Heating limestone in a kiln causes calcium carbonate to break down into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide.

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Around 60% of the cement industrys total emissions are a result of this process.

By using certain industrial by-products, like slag from steelmaking, Cemvision sidesteps this chemical reaction entirely.

The other 40% of cements emissions come from the energy needed to superheat limestone in a kiln.

Siôn Geschwindt

Today most kilns are powered by coal, oil, and natural gas.

Cemvision is currently developing a kiln at its lab in Stockholm that will run on renewable electricity.

US-based Brimstone has found a way to createcarbon-negative cement.

Meanwhile, Rotterdam-basedPaebblis using a proprietary processing method to store captured CO2 in building materials.

Ex-basketball legend Rick Fox even recently became agreen cement entrepreneur.

The founder hopes his company will be well positioned to supply the demand.

The company is backed by the likes of Bill Gates Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Swedish investment firm EQT.

Story bySion Geschwindt

Sion is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy.

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