US startup says it can fully decarbonize the cement industry: California-based climate tech startup Brimstone Energy is using magnesium rich-calcium silicate rocks instead of carbon-heavy limestone in a bid to decarbonize the global construction industry and manufacture carbon-negative alternatives as durable as Portland cement, CNBC writes. The global cement production sector accounts for 8% of the world’s total annual carbon emissions, with 60% of its carbon footprint attributable to limestone usage, Brimstone notes.

Brimstone’s approach — one carbon-capturing rock to rule them all: Portland cement — the world’s most commonly used type of concrete material — is produced using a mix of limestones and minerals which generate 825–890 kg of CO2 per ton when heated. Brimstone uses calcium silicate — which is more abundant than limestone — and absorbs carbon from the atmosphere, rendering it carbon-negative. The company’s patented construction materials received certification last July for being as “chemically and physically identical” as Portland.

They already have backing: Bill Gates-backed investment firm Breakthrough Energy Ventures, which is financing the firm alongside Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, says Brimstone’s tech presents a “multi tn USD” offer to decarbonize the cement sector given the industry’s infrastructure readiness to adopt the technology. The company has raised USD 60 mn in funding to date, including USD 500k from the US government.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• Has solar energy proliferation reached an “irreversible tipping point”? Solar made up the majority of global power generation in 2050 in 72% of energy-simulations models run by a UK study on 70 global regions to forecast how 22 different energy sources are likely to be deployed through 2060. The extent of the predicted solar expansion is so high that the world has already reached an “irreversible tipping point,” where even a slowdown in policies would not stand in the way of the sector’s domination. (Bloomberg)