Moving beyond the lab, Terra CO2 demonstrates performance parity with traditional SCMs in terms of durability, strength, and functionality – unlocking construction decarbonization at scale
HOUSTON, Aug. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Terra CO2 Technology, the scalable low-carbon alternative for cement production, announced today the successful use of their OPUS Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) during a demonstration pour in Houston. Terra's material was used as part of the construction of the Porsche Sugar Land dealership, owned by the indiGO Auto Group, further illustrating their commitment to sustainability at their dealerships and across the value chain of the vehicle.
Material testing conducted by Alpha Testing confirms that Terra's product performs on par with traditional SCMs in terms of durability, strength, and functionality. The successful incorporation of Terra's OPUS SCM, tested by third parties, is just the latest confirmation that underscores the industry's confidence in the product and its potential to revolutionize sustainable construction. Terra's product is field-ready for construction applications.
Terra's proprietary process uses widely available silicate-based raw materials, which are among the most abundant materials on Earth. By locating plants on or near existing aggregate mines broadly found across large urban centers, Terra is reducing transportation costs and leveraging existing infrastructure, eliminating the need to permit new mines to source raw materials and the expense of transporting raw materials across long distances.
To reach scale, Terra CO2 has developed an advanced processing facility ("APF") that produces precisely engineered supplementary cementitious materials (OPUS SCMs). For every ton of cement replaced by Terra's OPUS SCM, it results in 70% lower CO2 emissions and 90% lower NOx emissions than original Portland Cement without impacting mix designs, batching, delivery, and placement of concrete.
"Our work at Terra CO2 is about forging a viable path for sustainable construction. We're set on creating a blueprint for the future where performance, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability coexist seamlessly across projects," said Bill Yearsley, CEO of Terra CO2. "We're moving beyond the lab, beyond the processes that have held us back as an industry, and introducing a sustainable solution to real-world applications."
OPUS SCM can be substituted for up to 40% of Portland cement for use in concrete and directly replace fly ash as an economically superior SCM.
"We are thrilled to be the first pour in Texas, and we look forward to using Cement for Humanity™ in our future projects. Reducing our carbon footprint is at the top of mind for indiGO Auto Group and finding innovative ways to do it is part of our culture," said Kelly Wolf, CEO of indiGO Auto Group.
With Christensen Building Group as the General Contractor, Odi & Son, and A.G.E. Construction worked together to batch and place the concrete with Dally and Associates, the structural design firm, collaborating to ensure the project met the required specifications. The initial pour was successfully batched, placed, and finished like conventional concrete.
"Pioneering the use of a supplementary cement in Texas, like Terra's OPUS SCM, is monumental because it not only matches the performance of traditional SCMs, like fly ash, but also significantly reduces environmental impact without any changes to the conventional workflows of concrete batching and placement," said Mark Christensen from Christensen Building Group. "Decarbonizing construction is a climate imperative, and we're excited to have partners like Terra and indiGO that are committed to making a real impact in Texas and across the industry."
Terra's team of industry veterans is led by Bill Yearsley, with over 40 years of experience in the construction industry, and by Founder and Chief Science Officer DJ Lake, an expert in alternative cementitious materials. Their team recently expanded with the addition of several industry veterans from the building materials sector. Terra was founded in 2015 and has raised $61M in venture capital.
To learn more about Terra CO2, please visit: https://terraco2.com/
ABOUT TERRA CO2
Terra CO2 is the scalable low carbon alternative for cement production. Responsible for 8% of the world's CO2 emissions, cement is used in producing concrete, the world's second-most used material after water. Their unique technology allows Terra to create cementitious materials from a wide variety of feedstocks or waste products, dramatically reducing the greenhouse gas emissions caused by cement production. Terra's proprietary Opus suite of cementitious materials is a proven supplement and alternative to Portland cement. Validated by third parties, Terra's materials perform equal to or better than traditional cementitious products.
Media Contact
Juan Avila, Jones-Dilworth, inc, 512-589-4486, [email protected]
SOURCE Terra CO2
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