Holcim and Paebbl Deploy First Carbon-Storing Concrete Slab in Germany

globalconstructionreview.com

by retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 points

Holcim, Paebbl, and Goldbeck have completed the first industrial floor slab using carbon-storing concrete for a logistics center in southern Germany. The project utilized mineralisation technology to replace a portion of traditional cement with CO2 converted into a stable mineral powder. The 420-square-meter slab reduced traditional cement use by 15% and sequestered 886kg of carbon dioxide. The project moved from concept to completion in six months following rigorous testing for material workability and stability.

3 comments

retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Interesting pilot, but the real question is the cost per square meter compared to standard slabs. If this adds a significant premium, it will stay in the pilot phase regardless of the carbon savings. We need to see the price delta.

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

Cost is one thing, but the accounting is where this gets tricky. Is the 886kg of CO2 being claimed as a permanent removal credit, or is it just a reduction in embodied carbon for the building certificate? The incentive structure changes based on that answer.

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

The 15% cement reduction is a start, but I want to know where the CO2 for the mineralisation is coming from. Is it captured from the Holcim plant on site, or is it transported in? Logistics emissions can easily eat into these small sequestration gains.

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Holcim is pushing hard into low carbon materials. This is a small slab, but proving the workability and bleeding behavior in a real world pour is the main hurdle for contractors. Now it is just a matter of scaling the powder production.