Waterford research facility chosen for ambitious carbon emissions research project
The team at South Eastern Applied Materials (SEAM). Photo: George Goulding
The South Eastern Applied Materials (SEAM) research centre at South East Technological University, in partnership with Mannok and Boliden (Tara Mines), has announced that they will engage in a two and half year research collaboration focused on reducing carbon emissions in the cement industry.
SEAM has been awarded over €700k from Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Partnership Project (IPP) and Capital Funding programme to work on the ambitious project.
The partnership will explore using shale as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) to lower clinker content, thereby reducing CO2 emissions during cement production.
Additionally, the research will investigate carbonation curing of Cement Paste Backfill (CPB), which could improve strength and capture CO2 in abandoned mine areas, addressing climate change challenges.
The project will also investigate synergies between the cement manufacturing and mining industries, which could enhance the sustainability of both industries.
Speaking with the Waterford News & Star, Dr Ramesh Raghavendra, Centre Director of SEAM and Project Co-ordinator for this multiparty IPP, said, “The cement industry have very stringent emissions guidelines, they have to reduce their carbon emissions by 30% by 2030 and be carbon neutral by 2050, so it is a challenge.
“Our centre at SEAM are working to help the cement industry to meet their carbon emissions guidelines.
He added, “We are pleased to expand our research centre offerings to construction sector in tackling their sustainability challenges associated with carbon emission reductions.
“To achieve global decarbonisation of the cement industry at speed and scale, collaboration and innovation is indeed essential and we look forward to play our part through this partnership project.”
Dr Ken Thomas, Head (Waterford) Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, SETU, said that "this project is very welcome and congratulations to all involved. It will be an exciting addition to our broad range of innovative research and education activities to advance sustainability in the built environment."
