PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Concrete is widely used because of its versatility, resilience, ease of production, low cost and durability. However, concrete production is currently burdensome to our planet as it requires large amounts of virgin materials; indicatively, 150 Mt/year of limestone is mined for EU cement production. BTE Nederland B.V. developed, together with ASCEM, circular (reinforced) concrete based on upgraded waste. The binder production technology that makes use of the low-grade recycled concrete fractions is key. In addition, upgrading a broad variety of waste streams effectively eliminates the need for primary resources. Pilot tests have delivered proof of concept of the CIRRCON technology. The partners are now taking the next, essential step to demonstrate the technology at a full commercial scale and thereby deliver proof of its potential.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of LIFE CIRRCON is to demonstrate a breakthrough fully circular technology for the built environment: a reinforced concrete with full load bearing capabilities made using recycled waste that minimises the use of raw materials.
The project team will produce circular (reinforced) concrete elements by:
- Upgrading waste streams into a binder for concrete.
- Avoiding primary material use and reducing waste.
- Demonstrating excellent technical performance of the concrete elements.
- Demonstrating different circularity aspects.
- Evaluating the feasibility of the business case.
The project partners will produce a business plan for the commercialisation of the LIFE CIRRCON technology, and a replicability and transferability plan to support its EU-wide deployment. The replication potential is high. LIFE CIRRCON can thus significantly contribute to EU circularity goals for the built environment. Added benefits are a large reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a reduction of waste streams. Within 5 years after the project, approximately 5 000 000 tonnes of waste per year will be upgraded, while CO2 emissions will be reduced by approximately 4 000 000 tonnes per year. The CIRRCON circular approach implies a reduction of raw limestone use in EU concrete production by more than 90%, potentially saving 7.3 Mt/year.
LIFE CIRRCON is a close-to-market project. The project aims to demonstrate the technology at a full commercial scale for the first time to deliver proof of its potential.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Production of 40 000 tonnes of CIRRCON binder, by upgrading 24 000 tonnes of waste (concrete waste, metal slag, incinerator waste (bottom ashes) and paper ashes or aluminium waste).
- Implementation and monitoring of the construction of CIRRCON elements (40 m of tunnel elements, 1 km of prestressed railway sleepers, 400 concrete slabs and 10 cladding elements), thereby proving CIRRCON’s excellent (short- and long-term) properties.
- Reduction of primary limestone use by 42 800 tonnes.
- Reduction of greenhouse gas (CO2 equivalent) emissions by 16 880 tonnes.