Trials Begin for Potential Replacement of Portland Cement

With an interest in providing the concrete construction industry an alternative for portland cement almost entirely for everyday concrete applications, Terra CO2 has launched trails for OPUS ZERO, further underscoring the company's commitment as the industry transition to a net-zero industry. 

DJ Lake, Terra's founder and Chief Scientific Officer sees OPUS ZERO as a pivotal moment in concrete construction's trip toward sustainability. "Of the very few non-carbon-capture solutions to decarbonizing cement, with none proven at scale, OPUS ZERO stands above the rest for being inherently cost-efficient, practical, and scalable for the industry," Lake says. "Today, OPUS ZERO represents a zero-clinker cement that can be produced with abundant feedstock around the world, does not require opening new mines to scale, and aims to seamlessly fold into the current industry landscape."

Concrete professionals place OPUS SCM for a Porsche dealership in Houston.Terra CO2 TechnologyAccording to the company, the production of OPUS ZERO isn't constrained by feedstock availability and would be producible in the same plants as other supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) from Terra. The company has agreements across the US with various construction materials companies for production. The release states that Terra's OPUS ZERO cement efficiently reduces carbon emissions by using just one-fifth of the calcium equivalent of conventional cements, further enhancing its environmental benefits and demonstrating a commitment to full decarbonization from source to deployment.

The trails are planned to continue most of the year (2024) and are expected to include extensive testing, batching, test slabs, vertical concrete, as well as pumping. Early results have been reportedly promising with the product meeting or exceeding existing specifications for strength.  

Quoted in the release: "By launching the full-scale trials of OPUS ZERO, we're setting new benchmarks for environmental responsibility and material performance in construction," says Bill Yearsley, Terra CO2's CEO. "Our OPUS ZERO alternative to legacy cement has been in development since day one at Terra, and we are excited to begin full concrete trials as a final step toward commercial readiness. The trials mark a significant milestone in our mission to build a sustainable future for all."

In the last year, Terra has secured agreements for the operation of commercial-scale plants in different US markets, including DFW and Denver. Additionally, Terra further validated its products with the pour of its SCM alternative in the construction of a Porsche dealership in the Houston area. With the successful trial of OPUS ZERO, Terra is well on its way to achieving its mission of driving the transition to a net-zero economy.