Low-carbon cement adoption in the Pacific

Project description

Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) is a family of composite cements containing Portland clinker, calcined clay and limestone. The LC3 technology promises a sustainable growth of economies around the world by reducing CO2 emission up to 40% compared to Ordinary Portland Cement at lower investment and production costs. LC3 uses raw materials and technologies that are already used by the cement industry. The production process is similar to the way normal cement is produced. Thus, LC3 provides a practical, viable solution to improve sustainability in the cement industry.

This project is supported by an existing research partnership between UQ and IITD to assess the feasibility of the introduction of low-carbon LC3 cement technology to the cement industry in Pacific Small-Island Development States (SIDS), focusing on the cement industry in Fiji.

Project Objectives

• Analyse the potential of the LC3 technology to reduced energy use, cost, and CO2 emissions when implemented in Pacific SIDS.
• Evaluate the suitability and availability of local Kaolinite clays and limestone resources needed to produce LC3 cement through technical analysis of samples and field research.
• Assess the technical potential of existing facilities to produce LC3 and the costs entailed.
• Establish linkages with local stakeholders including verifying government cement product technical standards.
• Engage with local industry and government stakeholders to identify any barriers to the uptake of the technology.
• Analyse the market, production costs and suitable process designs given local constraints.
• Expand Australia and Indo-Pacific technical and applied research engagement, which is a priority for Australia and partner governments in the PSIDS region.

Outcomes

Pacific Small Island Developing States are heavily dependent on the import of key cement materials such as clinker from countries outside of the region in order to meet their increasing construction material needs. At the same time, inconsistent supply of materials commonly leads to acute cement shortages that impede the ability of Pacific Island States like Fiji to rebuild following natural disasters such as cyclones and floods, which regularly impact the region. LC3 technology has the ability to address these shortages by substituting large quantities of imported clinker with locally available kaolinic clays. This has the added benefit of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 40% compared to Ordinary Portland Cement – a high priority in climate-change vulnerable island states – while also generating new employment opportunities and reducing energy costs.

This research project has the potential to generate the following benefits:

• Mitigate shortages of construction materials: PSIDS require significant resilient infrastructure development in the coming decades yet face acute shortages of construction materials such as cement. The proposed project seeks to bring greater self-sufficiency in the production of critical construction materials.
• Reduce energy use and costs: LC3 uses local resources and is less energy intensive, meaning reduced costs of production, therefore has the potential to reduce the cost of infrastructure development in PSIDS.
• Carbon emissions reduction: Reductions in energy use has the added benefit of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 40% compared to Ordinary Portland Cement – a high priority in climate-change vulnerable island states – while also generating new employment opportunities. This is especially crucial as Fiji is committed to action on climate change and is a strong advocate for the issue at the international level.
• Replacement of imported clinker: PSIDS are heavily dependent on the import of key cement materials such as clinker from countries outside of the region in order to meet their increasing construction material needs. LC3 technology has the ability to address these shortages by substituting large quantities of imported clinker with locally available kaolinic clays.
• Disaster resiliency: Inconsistent supply of materials commonly can lead to acute cement shortages that impede the ability of PSIDS like Fiji to construct resilient infrastructure and rebuild following natural disasters such as cyclones and floods, which regularly impact the region. Sourcing key inputs (e.g. Kaolinite clays) locally will build resiliency into supply chains by reducing the time taken to source materials, costs of transport (e.g. shipping), and improving reliability of supply.
• Local enterprise development: The introduction of new technologies and building self-sufficiency in construction materials may result in resilient job creation, up-skilling of local workers and will also stimulate development of local enterprise, thereby contributing to local economic development in the Pacific. These benefits will be of particular importance in efforts to rebuild and diversify Pacific economies following the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Advanced theory and practice: The study will advance the theory and practice of the uptake of sustainable construction materials with potential to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Essential capabilities

Knowledge of cement and concrete technology, sustainable development, and environmental engineering.

Desireable capabilities

Understanding of cement chemistry, low-carbon cements, design of concretes, geochemistry of clays.

Expected qualifications (Course/Degrees etc.)

Masters in Civil Engineering, Chemistry or Geology, related to cement or concretes.