More intensive use and lifetime extension can enable net-zero emissions in China’s cement cycle

Abstract

<p>Demand-side material efficiency strategies could play a key role in decarbonizing the cement cycle as conventional supply-side measures leave little room for improvement and emerging <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/science-and-technology" title="Learn more about technologies from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">technologies</a> are still in their infancy and expensive. This study quantitatively evaluates CO₂ reduction opportunities through China’s cement cycle by more intensive use and lifetime extension during 2023–2060. More intensive use and lifetime extension can cumulatively save cement consumption by ∼58 gigatons (Gt) during 2023–2060, resulting in CO₂ emission reductions of ∼33.8 Gt without considering supply-side actions and cement <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/carbonation" title="Learn more about carbonation from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">carbonation</a>. If supply-side measures and cement <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/carbonation" title="Learn more about carbonation from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">carbonation</a> are considered, China’s cement cycle could achieve net-zero CO₂ emissions by 2060 or even mid-century. Besides, it is important to assess social implications, opportunities, and challenges of lower per-capita stocks and longer service-life, when we aim to realize these emission reductions. Also, trade-offs between CO₂ fluxes should be considered in cement decarbonization road mapping because more intensive use and lifetime extension can lower CO₂ uptake by cement carbonation.</p>