Development and implementation of the technology for the application of the concrete that fixes CO2 to the building interior, civil engineering structures, and general building structures

Asunaro Aoki Construction Co., Ltd.

Outline

Asunaro Aoki Construction Co., Ltd. participated in the project named “Developing CARBON POOL Concrete with advanced use of CO2 and implementation in Pavements and Structures” (hereinafter referred to as this project), which was adopted as New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (hereinafter referred to as NEDO) in fiscal 2021 under the Green Innovation Fund Projects “Development of Technology for Producing Concrete and Cement Using CO2”.

The aim of this project is by 2030 to achieve maximized levels of CO2 emissions reduction and CO2 fixation during the production and transportation of materials, as well as establish a manufacturing system for “CARBON POOL Concrete” produced with maximized volumes of CO2 emissions reduction and CO2 fixation that realizes costs that are less than or equal to those of existing products.

Furthermore, we will ensure the workability and durability of “CARBON POOL Concrete” and implement it not only in pavements but also in buildings and civil engineering structures.

In this project, Asunaro Aoki Construction Co., Ltd. will be in charge of “development of CARBON POOL Concrete for structures” and contribute to a decarbonized society through the social implementation of “CARBON POOL Concrete”.

Description

1. Macro trend recognition based on carbon neutrality

The concrete is an essential material for human activities, said to be “the second largest consumer after water in this world”. On the other hand, greenhouse gas emissions from the cement and the concrete industries as a whole account for more than 7% per year of anthropogenic emissions, and their reduction is a must-achievement target, which is why countries and companies are rushing to develop Carbon dioxide Capture, Usage and Storage (hereinafter referred to as CCUS).

Although Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (hereinafter referred to as CCS) is being developed worldwide, which is not sufficient to achieve carbon neutrality, CCUS are necessary. But CO2 recycling has yet to make innovative progress. In Japan, there are concrete technologies that are gaining prominence as CCUS, but they are limited to small-scale plant products, so we need to expand into the concrete for on-site construction.

2. Development, social implementation, and evaluation of “CARBON POOL Concrete”

The goals of this project are to develop and implement the concrete that fixes CO2 (CARBON POOL Concrete) as a construction material that contributes to the de-carbonized society. And we lead to (1) the development of “CARBON POOL Concrete”, (2) design and construction technology for “CARBON POOL Concrete”, and (3) environmental and CO2 emission assessment of “CARBON POOL Concrete”.

3. Development and implementation of “CARBON POOL Concrete” in structures

After this project will develop “CARBON POOL Concrete”, Asunaro Aoki Construction Co., Ltd. will be committed to “development and implementation of the technology for the application of the concrete that fixes CO2 to the building interior, civil engineering structures, and general building structures” and “development technologies to maximize and accelerate CO2 fixation in CARBON POOL Concrete for general structures”, for the purpose of implement it in general structures.

●Outline of the Green Innovation Fund Project “Development of Technology for Producing Concrete and Cement Using CO2”

The aim of this project is, in the concrete field, to promote the development of technologies for reducing CO2 emissions, increasing CO2 fixation, and cost reductions. And, in the cement field, the aim of this project is to promote the establishment of efficient CO2 separation and capture technologies for the manufacturing process, and the development of technologies to convert the recovered CO2 into raw materials for cement.