After 10 years of extensive research and international collaboration with many of the world’s leading materials scientists, our groundbreaking ACT technology has obtained an ETA (European Technical Assessment or ETA) from EOTA (European Organisation for Technical Assessment) for a revolutionary, new eco-efficient cement.
This independent assessment provides Ecocem with a route to full commercialisation for its ACT technology by 2026 and creates the opportunity for the wider cement and concrete industries to do the same. There is also the potential to scale globally, since ETAs are recognised and highly respected internationally.
The technology is currently undergoing rigorous trials which are already demonstrating the carbon reduction possible using ACT – in effect, a 70% reduction in CO2 compared with the average European cement blend. The trials have also demonstrated strong performance on key criteria, including strength, durability, and concrete workability. We plan to supply the first ACT cement to customers in European markets in the course of 2024, with full commercialisation by 2026.
The European Commission’s newly proposed target of a 90% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 reinforces the need for a range of low carbon technologies. By adopting ACT clinker reduction technology, the path is now clear for the global cement industry to become the first major industrial sector to decarbonise on a trajectory compliant with the Paris Agreement to achieve a 1.5°C trajectory, without major changes to current working practices or excessive cost.
The challenge now to policy makers, investors and the industry is to accelerate the adoption of this groundbreaking technology.
“This technical assessment is a game changer for the industry. There is no longer any excuse to delay the widespread adoption of scalable, low carbon cement technologies such as ACT. We as an industry must seize this opportunity.” – Donal O’Riain, Founder and Managing Director, Ecocem
“The technology to decarbonise the cement industry in line with the Paris Agreement exists. Thanks to the ETA, we now have the assessment that proves ACT’s safety and performance. It is no longer theoretical, but a real, existing technology that can now start having an impact.” – Christian Clergue, European Standards Manager, Ecocem
“Achieving an ETA is an excellent way of making a declaration of performance for a new product… We need to adopt this technology immediately at a globally scalable level, otherwise it remains a very good technology on the shelf of the lab. We need to ACT now to decarbonise the cement industry.” – Roberta Alfani, Director of Research and Development, Ecocem
“It’s really encouraging to see the breadth of people working internationally, introducing low carbon concrete into practice. It’s a change that does need to happen.” – Dr Ciaran McNally, Civil Engineer, University College Dublin