Calgary-based CURA has raised US$10 million to advance its electrified process for making low-carbon cement. The round brings back existing investors Zacua Ventures and Amplify Capital, with new participation from Sandpiper Ventures and Vantage Futures. The company says its technology can produce cement with up to 85% less CO2 than conventional methods by replacing the limestone decomposition step with an electrochemical process powered by renewable electricity. The funding will support construction of a 100-tonne-per-year pilot plant in Alberta with partner Grand Forks Concrete, plus engineering design for a 30,000-tonne-per-year commercial demonstration facility. Cement production accounts for about 8% of global emissions, so scaling alternatives at this level matters for industrial decarbonization. The company also plans to use the capital for hiring and commercialization.
