Ex-Deep Sky science chief co-launches cement decarbonization startup Cura – BetaKit

Report on Cura Climate’s Initiative to Decarbonize Cement Production

Executive Summary

A new cleantech startup, Cura, has been established to address significant carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from the cement industry, a critical challenge for achieving global climate targets. Founded by Phil De Luna, Sabrina Scott, and Erin Bobicki, the company is developing an innovative electrochemical technology. This initiative directly aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Technological Innovation for Sustainable Industrialization

Cura’s core technology, developed from research at the University of British Columbia, aims to fundamentally alter the cement production process, which is currently responsible for approximately 8% of global CO₂ emissions. The company’s approach is designed to support sustainable industrial practices and foster innovation in a foundational sector.

Alignment with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Cura’s process promotes sustainable industrialization by replacing the fossil fuel-intensive heating of limestone with an electrochemical method. This innovation contributes to upgrading infrastructure and retrofitting industries to make them sustainable.

• Electrochemical Process: An electrolyzer is used to split limestone (calcium carbonate) into lime (calcium oxide) and pure CO₂ using electricity.
• “Pre-Calcination Carbon Capture”: This method captures CO₂ before it is released, unlike traditional point-source capture systems.
• Cost-Effectiveness: The technology is projected to produce cement at a lower cost than conventional methods, removing the “green premium” and accelerating the adoption of sustainable practices.

Addressing Global Climate and Sustainability Goals

The company’s mission is intrinsically linked to global efforts to combat climate change and build a sustainable future. By targeting the cement industry, Cura’s impact extends across multiple interconnected SDGs.

Contribution to SDG 13: Climate Action

The primary objective is to take urgent action to combat climate change. Cura’s technology offers a direct pathway to mitigate industrial emissions.

• The solution is capable of reducing CO₂ emissions from cement production by up to 85%.
• The captured pure CO₂ can be sequestered or utilized, contributing to a circular economy and further supporting climate goals.

Supporting SDG 11 and SDG 12

By decarbonizing a fundamental building material, Cura’s work is vital for developing sustainable cities and promoting responsible production patterns.

1. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Providing a low-carbon “glue” for concrete enables the construction of resilient and sustainable infrastructure, which is the foundation of modern cities.
2. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The technology facilitates a shift towards sustainable production methods in the construction sector, reducing the environmental footprint of a globally consumed material.

Strategic Roadmap and Market Positioning

Cura has outlined a clear, phased approach to scale its technology and integrate it into the existing cement industry, positioning itself as a critical enabler of decarbonization.

Development and Deployment Plan

The company is currently fundraising to advance from its initial prototype to commercial-scale operations.

1. Pilot Facility: A 100-tonne per year pilot facility is planned for deployment within the next 12 to 16 months.
2. Demonstration Plant: A 10,000-tonne per year demonstration is targeted for launch within the next three years.
3. Large-Scale Integration: Full deployment at a large-scale cement plant is envisioned within five years.

Strategic Vision

Cura’s strategy involves collaboration with key industry players to ensure market adoption and impact. The company has already formed a partnership with an international infrastructure developer to test and deploy its sustainable cement. This approach aligns with Canada’s national goals for building large-scale energy and transportation infrastructure, presenting an opportunity for the nation to lead in sustainable development and demonstrate a commitment to global climate targets, irrespective of shifting international policies.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • The article focuses on Cura, a cleantech startup that has developed an innovative electrochemical technology. This technology is a direct application of scientific research (“Spun out of UBC research”) to solve a major industrial challenge. The goal is to retrofit the cement industry, a key component of infrastructure, to make it more sustainable and environmentally sound.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • The core purpose of Cura’s technology is to combat climate change. The article explicitly states that concrete is responsible for “eight percent of global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions” and that Cura’s solution aims to reduce these emissions significantly. The discussion about Canada’s “net-zero by 2050 goals” and the need to both “reduce emissions and remove them” directly connects the startup’s mission to national and global climate action strategies.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • The article discusses a fundamental shift in the production pattern of cement. By using electricity instead of fossil fuels to process limestone and capturing the resulting CO₂, Cura’s technology promotes a more responsible production method. It aims to reduce the waste (CO₂ emissions) generated during the manufacturing of a globally consumed material, thereby lessening its environmental footprint.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The article highlights that cement is “the literal foundation of infrastructure.” By decarbonizing cement, Cura’s technology contributes to building more sustainable cities and communities. Future infrastructure projects, from buildings to transportation networks, can be constructed with a significantly lower carbon footprint, reducing the overall environmental impact of urban development.

5. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Cura’s process is described as “taking the CO₂ out of limestone using electricity rather than fossil fuels.” This represents a shift in energy consumption for a major industrial process, moving away from direct fossil fuel combustion towards electrification. The environmental benefit of this technology is maximized when the electricity used is sourced from clean and renewable energy, thus promoting the integration of clean energy into industrial sectors.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries for sustainability

   • Cura’s technology is designed to be integrated into cement plants to “power their manufacturing.” This directly addresses the goal of retrofitting a major industry (cement production) with a clean and environmentally sound technology to make it sustainable. The claim of reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 85% is a clear effort to upgrade this industrial process.

2. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research and upgrade technological capabilities

   • The startup itself is an example of this target in action. It was “Spun out of UBC research” and is now working to scale up its technology from a “first prototype” to a “100-tonne per year pilot facility” and eventually to full-scale deployment. This process of research, development, and commercialization enhances the technological capabilities of the industrial sector.

3. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into policies and planning

   • The article mentions that Cura’s approach is a necessary “lever in tackling climate change” and can help Canada achieve its “net-zero by 2050 goals.” This shows how a technological solution can be a practical measure to implement and achieve national climate policies and strategies.

4. Target 12.4: Environmentally sound management of waste

   • The technology is designed to manage the primary waste product of cement production: CO₂. By capturing “pure CO₂ that can be stored or used for other purposes,” the process achieves environmentally sound management of this gaseous waste, preventing its release into the atmosphere.

5. Target 11.6: Reduce the environmental impact of cities

   • By creating a low-carbon cement, the technology helps reduce the embodied carbon in buildings and infrastructure. This directly contributes to reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, as the materials used for their construction become more sustainable.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Indicator for Target 9.4: CO₂ emission per unit of value added

   • The article provides specific data points that can be used as indicators. It states that cement production accounts for “eight percent of global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.” A key performance indicator for Cura’s technology is its ability to reduce “the CO₂ emissions from cement production by up to 85 percent.” This percentage reduction is a direct measure of progress in decarbonizing the industry.

2. Indicator for Target 9.5: Investment in research and innovation

   • While not a formal national indicator, the article implies progress through investment in scaling the technology. The company is “fundraising to build a 100-tonne per year pilot facility” and aims to launch a “10,000-tonne per year demonstration over the next three years.” These planned increases in production capacity serve as tangible indicators of investment in and progress of this new industrial technology.

3. Indicator for Target 12.4: Hazardous waste generated per capita

   • In this context, CO₂ is the waste product being managed. The amount of “pure CO₂ that can be stored or used” per tonne of cement produced is a direct indicator of how effectively this waste is being managed and prevented from entering the atmosphere. The goal is to capture and sequester or utilize the maximum amount of CO₂ generated.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: betakit.com