2DLowC: Low carbon concrete for wear and frost-resistant infrastructure

Cement is the most widely used construction material ever developed. Meantime, cement production process is highly energy demanding and inherently releases CO2. Around 6–8 percent of the world’s total CO2 emissions are estimated to come from cement manufacturing, making it a significant contributor to global warming. Reducing the CO2 emissions in cement production is critical to achieving the carbon neutrality by 2050.

Low carbon concrete uses binder systems that are ultimately free from traditional high carbon footprint binders. Unfortunately, it counters the challenge of meeting the strength and other standardized requirements. 2DLowC concrete project aims at strengthening low carbon concretes’ wear and frost resistance performance by introducing 2D additives, thus reduces the consumption of traditional high carbon footprint materials in infrastructures. Together with Norrlandsnavet, we are working on making the latest technology available to the northern companies and societies.

Benefits for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Through the 2DLowC concrete project, we want to help small and medium-sized enterprises in Norrland to:

• Reduce their carbon footprint through
  
  • Integrating new low carbon materials in the design, construction and renovation of infrastructures.
    
  • Using high strength and more endurable materials to reduce the consumption of traditional high-carbon emission materials.
    
• Share experience, encourage cooperation and promote development.

We work with small and medium-sized construction material manufactures and construction companies in the Norrland region to identify their needs, develop easy-to-follow solutions and help them to strengthen their competences by integrating newly developed technologies in the products.

The results will be disseminated through webinar, online videos and articles.

We are also holding workshops for small and medium-sized construction companies so that they can further express their peculiar needs and receive handy training for applying the new technology in their production

Goals for the 2DLowC concrete project

The overall goal of this project is to evaluate the newly developed 2DLowC concrete products, develop cost-efficient production processes, and guidelines for upscaling that will allow the use of the new technology in critical Swedish infrastructure projects.

We aim to establish a technology center for the new generation concretes in Norrland, so that the local construction material manufacturers and construction companies will not only maintain highly competitive and but also become pioneer in the sustainable construction market.