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
Start-up scorecard development
Ranked 11 companies across metrics including constructability, IP defensibility, and feedstock availability.
Decarbonization lever evaluation
Benchmarked five major options (CCUS, alternative fuels, clinker substitutes) by abatement potential and adoption readiness.
Production cost benchmarking
Analyzed cement price trends and the economic impact of CO2 capture on final product margins.
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.
More insights
Article
Record RFS mandates strain biofuel supplies
The EPA’s recently finalized Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2026–2027 raise Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandates to record levels, marking a step-change in required blending volumes. This shift increases demand across the system and leaves less buffer between required volumes and available supply, tightening overall market conditions. Key dynamics shaping supply requirements: These dynamics suggest […]
Premium content
Oil & gas midstream: 2026 mid-year trends and supply chain impacts
The midstream sector in the first half of 2026 is moving at a breakneck pace, driven by a strategic pivot toward “wellhead-to-water” natural gas liquid (NGL) integration, severe high-horsepower compression supply-chain constraints, and a massive power-generation super-cycle spurred by AI data center expansion. Rather than relying on speculative mega-projects, major pipeline operators are maximizing fee-based […]
SAF Tracker
2026 June SAF Tracker highlights – #87
Here are the latest highlights from ADI’s SAF Tracker: The full newsletter along with archives and databases are available to SAF Tracker subscribers.