Making cement -- the most commonly used substance on Earth after water -- is responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions. It generates CO2 both through combustion of fossil fuels & through chemical processes. Sublime Systems thinks it has solved both sides of that equation. I talk with the CEO.
Fascinating interview around the technology. As someone who is generally skeptical of wild “zero carbon” claims, this was interesting enough that I would definitely go out of my way to see the process in person, just to learn more about it.
It’s exciting. Decarbonization cement (or replacing it) is going to be essential.
PLUS the end result is the same Chemistry as Roman concrete. It’s going to last forever without half the mantainence
It’s in Boston, but could be coming to a concrete plant in your town in the next 10-20 years. It’s big infrastructure so it doesn’t change often
Funny - I’m going to be in Boston in three weeks. Unfortunately I think all my time is booked from the time my plane touches down to the time I head back to BOS.
Highly recommend Volts to everyone interested.
David Roberts is EXTREMELY practical, politically. He’s very no-nonsense, but gives clear and simple reasons for why he categorizes stuff as nonsense when he does. He’s not some techno-wizard optimist, but he’s also clear about how much tech we DO have and how much is achievable on realistic timelines if we just commit. He’s also clear about what the obstacles are, and even sometimes gives useful calls to action.
His most recent episode on nuclear is an almost perfect example of this. A lot of people are VERY enthusiastic about nuclear. He had Jigar Shah from the DOE on to talk about the field extensively – the upsides and downsides, what technologies work and make sense, what technologies are just mis-advertised, what technologies are total vaporware, why it’s so hard to build nuclear in the US (hint: it’s not the anti-nuke environmental lobby), and all that. Fabulous interview.
I definitely trend towards doomerism on all this stuff, but it’s good to be reminder the tech really is there decarbonize a LOT and VERY FAST, and probably even achieve planetary net zero or even net negative within my lifetime. Just have to convince people the juice is worth the squeeze – which it undeniably is when the entire ecosystem is at stake.
Now that I’ve found a neat community here in beehaw, I plan to share and David Roberts work extensively because the stuff he puts out is what gives me hope