In a major development for Australia’s construction industry, a commercial project in Adelaide has become the first in the country to utilise an innovative low-carbon cement technology.
The new GreenCem technology, developed by Cement Australia, replaces up to 80 per cent of general-purpose cement with fly ash and/or slag while maintaining comparable concrete strength.
Cement Australia, Australia’s largest cement producer, in collaboration with concrete supplier Holcim, has implemented this cutting-edge technology in the construction of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield’s Yitpi Yartapuultiku Cultural Centre.
This marks a significant step towards reducing the carbon footprint of construction projects nationwide.
Cement Australia CEO Rob Davies highlighted the transformative potential of GreenCem for the cement industry.
“GreenCem reduces embodied carbon dioxide by 30 per cent without compromising the strength of the concrete compared with other GP cement products,” Davies stated.
The technology incorporates higher levels of fly ash and slag, sourced entirely within Australia as waste by-products from power stations and steel manufacturers.
This innovative approach not only reduces carbon emissions but also repurposes industrial waste materials.
Cement Australia chose South Australia for the product launch, citing alignment with the state government’s ambitious carbon reduction targets.
To support the initiative, the company has constructed a 60-tonne silo at its Osborne facility in Adelaide for storing raw fly ash material.
While GreenCem is currently available only for bulk distribution in commercial building projects, Cement Australia plans to introduce 20-kilogram bags for smaller residential projects and private use in the near future.
The development of GreenCem technology represents years of research and development by Cement Australia’s technical team, working in conjunction with a NATA-accredited laboratory.
This innovation is part of the cement and concrete industry’s broader goal to achieve net-zero carbon concrete by 2050.
Cement Australia’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond this project.
The company recently received a Commonwealth Government grant under the Powering the Regions Fund to support upgrades at its Railton, Tasmania facility.
These upgrades aim to further reduce emissions by enabling coal substitution and waste diversion from landfills.
As the construction industry continues to seek ways to reduce its environmental impact, innovations like GreenCem represent a significant step forward in creating more sustainable building practices.
The successful implementation of this technology in Adelaide may pave the way for wider adoption across Australia’s construction sector.
