Carbon Mineralization: Reducing Carbon Footprint in Construction
Faced with steep environmental challenges, it is no secret that there is mounting pressure and urgency across the international community to tackle decarbonization. As governments around the world set goals to reach carbon neutrality, industries and businesses are seeking measures to curb carbon emissions and contribute to achieving Net Zero. However, simply reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) is no longer enough. Instead, efforts are needed to actively remove CO2 that has already been released.
This has brought carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) under the limelight as it is considered to be one of the most practical methods to achieve deep decarbonization. Consequently, carbon mineralization has emerged as a key technology in answering the question to safely storing CO2 in a way that does not produce additional environmental damage and does not get re-released back into the atmosphere. It builds on nature’s way to sequester CO2 through mineralization, making use of a naturally occurring reaction between peridotite and CO2 which results in the formation of minerals that remain stable for millions of years.
DL E&C has secured original technology for this innovative method that captures carbon from cinder released from power plants and waste concrete generated from construction sites for storage and utilization. Aiming to complete resource circulation, especially in the construction sector, the company has partnered with the ‘Carbon Mineralization Flagship Project’ which is an initiative launched by Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) along with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and Ministry of Environment in order to recover carbon and reduce GHG emissions. A carbon-reducing special cement developed by the project group has been recognized as a global technology with the UNFCCC approving it as a new clean development mechanism (CDM). Taking advantage of such experience and technology accomplishments, DL E&C plans to strengthen its position as a total CCUS solution provider that also produces sustainable construction material, not only reducing the company’s carbon footprint, but also helping it cut costs.?
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DL E&C is also ready to develop relevant new business models and take them beyond Korean borders. As a first step, the company and CARBONCO signed an MOU with Vietnamese state-owned enterprises in January of this year to promote the ‘Carbon Mineralization Flagship Project’ in Vietnam and apply green technology in the local market. In line with the agreement, active cooperation is expected for technology transfer, collaboration, and commercialization of carbon mineralization to mitigate carbon and assist the transition of industrial waste into usable resources.