Low-carbon cement technology and start-up landscape

This study assessed 11 early-stage startups and five decarbonization pathways, including CCUS and clinker substitution, to reach net-zero cement by 2050. ADI modeled CO2​ reduction costs, technology readiness, commercial maturity, adoption outlook, and growth potential across North America and Europe.

The client

Venture capital firm

The situation

Strategic ambiguity regarding which low-carbon cement technologies to invest in given long adoption cycles and lack of standards.

ADI’s contributions

Contribution icon 1

Start-up scorecard development

Ranked 11 companies across metrics including constructability, IP defensibility, and feedstock availability.

Contribution icon 2

Decarbonization lever evaluation

Benchmarked five major options (CCUS, alternative fuels, clinker substitutes) by abatement potential and adoption readiness.

Contribution icon 3

Production cost benchmarking

Analyzed cement price trends and the economic impact of CO2​ capture on final product margins.

Contribution icon 4

Regional regulatory mapping

Evaluated the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and EU ETS on the commercial viability of CCUS-based cement.

Key outcomes

  • Risk diversification across multiple technologies and a recommended focus on startups with secured feedstock access.
Client Results
Unlike firms that provide recycled information, ADI delivers targeted data and real customer feedback. They focus exactly on what we care about rather than simply giving us what they think we want to hear.
Riley Hagan CEO, Ethanext

Industry experience

Carbon dioxide conversion pathways techno-economic assessment

ADI prioritized nine CO2​-to-value pathways, ranging from carbon mineralization for cement to electrochemical routes for circular fuels. The work assessed the energy intensity and technology readiness of photocatalysis and chemo-enzymatic conversion. Analytical modeling of breakeven costs was conducted to identify the most commercially attractive products in the near-term. The client Global investment firm The situation […]

Read now

Corrosion monitoring technology assessment

This assessment by ADI evaluated a fixed, wireless sensor network designed for continuous corrosion monitoring across hazardous upstream, refining, and chemical assets. Analytical modeling incorporated scale-driven reductions to project revenue over a 10-year period. The study surfaced trade-offs between system mobility and the high installation costs of competing fiber optic or electrical resistance probes. The […]

Read now

Hydrogen electrolyzer cost benchmarking and outlook

ADI assessed the cost competitiveness of alkaline, proton exchange membrane (PEM), and solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) electrolyzers, focusing on the capex variations globally. The work detailed the cost outlook of stack components like bipolar plates and catalyst-coated membranes over a 10-year period. Levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) modeling was used to demonstrate variations in […]

Read now

Large stand-off magnetometry (LSM) market assessment

ADI conducted detailed market research for a non-destructive testing (NDT) technology, analyzing its application in difficult-to-pig subsea flowlines. The work evaluated the competitive landscape between established tools like pulsed eddy current and startups using magnetometry tomographic methods. Global asset growth rates and ROV inspection speeds were modeled to estimate a market size and develop an […]

Read now

Sustainable aviation fuel technology and supply outlook

ADI explored the recovery of global jet fuel demand post-COVID-19. The study analyzed seven ASTM-approved SAF pathways to identify the pathway that will dominate supply and/or offer the greatest decarbonization potential over the long term. Cost analysis was conducted to assess drivers of SAF costs compared to conventional jet fuel. The client Venture capital firm […]

Read now

U.S. upstream oil and gas production IoT market

ADI evaluated the adoption of predictive analytics and IIoT offerings among independent North American operators. The research identified factors impacting adoption and growth and critical solutions to drive adoption in high-producing assets. The client Venture capital firm The situation Need to discern between re-branded automation products and differentiated, value-added IIoT offerings for investment. ADI’s contributions […]

Read now

More insights

Browse all insights
A large container ship featuring the European Union flag, symbolizing the EU's CBAM policy
Article Icon Article

CBAM puts a new price tag on emissions

On April 7, 2026, the European Commission announced the first official Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) certificate price for Q1 2026 at €75.36 per tonne of CO2 equivalent (~$88/t CO2e), marking the EU’s first explicit carbon price applied to imported goods. This rate will be applied to the embedded emissions in CBAM-covered imports and is […]

Read now
Data centers
Article Icon Article

Cooling fluids are becoming a constraint in AI data centers

Immersion cooling fluids are taking on more importance as data‑center operators deploy higher‑power artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) systems. Rack densities are increasing faster than traditional air systems can accommodate, and liquid cooling is now part of the design discussion for many new builds and retrofits. In that context, fluid properties affect reliability, […]

Read now
implications on upstream midstream refining chemicals and petrochemicals because of UAE exit from OPEC
Premium content Icon Premium content

Implications of UAE’s exit from OPEC

Part of ADI Analytics’ ongoing coverage of the implications of the Iran conflict across oil & gas, LNG, refined products, and chemicals. The UAE’s exit from OPEC (see our prior blog) in late April 2026 reflects a decisive shift toward a volume‑driven strategy focused on monetizing its hydrocarbon resource base ahead of the global energy […]

Read now
Browse all insights