Terra CO2 Technology, a Golden-based concrete decarbonization firm, has revealed plans to begin the permitting process for its first commercial plant located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The groundbreaking is scheduled for late 2024.
As the construction sector combats increasing regulatory pressure to lower its carbon footprint, solutions like Terra’s OPUS SCM product hope to address industry-wide demands. The product allows cement manufacturers to expand capacity to satisfy the growing market for cement while reducing overall emissions, promoting a more sustainable future for the industry.
“There are many well-positioned cement plants across North America that have been filling the needs for basic infrastructure for decades,” said Chance Allen, Terra CO2’s Chief Operating Officer. “Terra’s OPUS SCM can greatly extend these existing plants’ capacity while reducing direct costs. This is especially true in Texas, where infrastructure, residential development, and mega projects are all dependent on these limited sources of material.”
Industry benefits of Terra’s OPUS SCM extend to cement and ready-mix concrete (RMC) producers. The solution not only extends the life and improves the ROI of existing cement plants, but also meets the rising demand for cement. OPUS SCM is capable of increasing plant capacity by up to 50% which materially affects the carbon footprint and cost of RMC plants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area using high substitution levels of OPUS SCM in concrete.
For the past six months, Terra has been rigorously researching and developing at its concrete materials laboratory, validating concrete mix designs incorporating 50% substitution levels of OPUS SCM for the inaugural Texas plant. The Texas Advanced Processing Facility will make OPUS SCM at prices competitive with standard coal-derived SCMs.
“OPUS SCM produces a much lower CO2 and air quality impact than Portland cement production. By replacing up to half of your usual cement with OPUS SCM, you can extend the existing Portland cement supply as far as possible and reduce the environmental impact of each yard of concrete,” notes DJ Lake, the Founder and Chief Science Officer of Terra CO2.
The unique process employed by Terra’s technology activates a wide range of locally sourced clays and shales, producing high substitution levels without the performance challenges common in calcined clays. The engagement with industry in multiple states is intended to align Terra’s technology with local aggregates, aiming to deliver the same 40-50% of substitution level widely.
In the previous year, Terra tested its OPUS SCM in concrete used in the construction of a Porsche dealership in Houston. Terra is presently evaluating OPUS ZEROTM, a complete cement substitute projected to nullify greenhouse emissions linked to concrete production. As the industry explores ways to reduce cement’s carbon footprint and meet its escalating market demand, cost-efficient cement extenders like OPUS SCM present a valuable transition.
About Terra CO2: Headquartered in Golden, Colorado, Terra is the forerunner in cement decarbonization. Their mission is to enable partners in creating a real zero cement from source to deployment as cement, a critical component in manufacturing concrete, is responsible for 8% of the world’s CO2 emissions. The CO2 and NO2 emissions of cement make finding an alternative solutions for climate imperative. Terra’s materials have been validated by third parties, showing performance equal to or better than traditional cementitious products.