This commentary summarises the main issues Imperial Towards Net Zero Group member Professor Paul Fennell highlighted in a recent New Scientist discussion on carbon capture and cement:
Could we have cracked one of the world's toughest climate problems? | New Scientist
Commercial-scale carbon-capture systems for cement plants are finally moving from concept to reality – a crucial development for one of the toughest sectors to decarbonise.
Earlier this year, Heidelberg Materials switched on the world’s first full-scale carbon-capture facility at a cement works in Brevik, Norway, which is now producing “zero-carbon cement”. In Wales, construction will soon begin on a similar system at the Padeswood plant. These projects mark genuine progress for heavy-industry climate action. As Fennell told New Scientist, “It’s a good step forward.”
Why cement is so hard to decarbonise
Cement accounts for around 8 % of global CO₂ emissions. The problem lies in the chemistry itself: heating limestone to produce clinker—the main ingredient in Portland cement—releases CO₂ as part of the reaction. If you are going to make ordinary Portland cement, you cannot avoid producing large amounts of CO₂ just from the intrinsic chemistry. That means even with 100 % renewable power, the process still emits carbon. The only scalable route to deep decarbonisation is to capture and permanently store that CO₂.
How today’s systems work
At Brevik, an amine-based solvent strips CO₂ from exhaust gases, capturing roughly 50 % of the plant’s total emissions—around 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year. The gas is liquefied and stored beneath the Norwegian seabed. The upcoming Padeswood installation will use the same technology but is designed to capture about 95 % of emissions (≈ 800,000 tonnes per year) when operational in 2029. Costs are still high—€50–€200 per tonne CO₂ in Europe—but government funding is helping early projects demonstrate what is possible and drive down future costs.
The bigger picture
Carbon capture isn’t a silver bullet, but it is a critical tool for decarbonising cement—the “hard-to-abate” backbone of global construction. Paired with energy efficiency, alternative fuels, and innovative materials, it can cut emissions across the value chain.
These first-of-a-kind projects show what is achievable when industry innovation meets policy support. They also highlight the importance of continued research, as new options such as oxy-fuel combustion and improved capture processes aim to make capture more energy-efficient.
Looking ahead
Cement’s transformation from one of the world’s biggest emitters to a net-zero material is now underway. Progress like Brevik and Padeswood is encouraging—but the journey will demand continued commitment, smart policy, and sustained innovation.
Decarbonising cement isn’t optional—it’s foundational to net zero.
Professor Paul Fennell, Professor of Clean Energy (Lead author)
Professor Martin Blunt, Professor of Flow in Porous Media
Professor Sam Krevor, Professor of Subsurface Carbon Storage
Professor Niall Mac Dowell, Professor of Energy Systems Engineering
Professor Geoffrey Maitland, Professor of Energy Engineering
Professor Ronny Pini, Professor of Multiphase Systems
Professor Martin Trusler, Professor of Thermophysics
Imperial College London, Transition to Net Zero Group