CarbiCrete lands C$1M grant to scale low-carbon concrete
What's the deal? CarbiCrete, a Montreal startup decarbonising concrete, has won a C$1 million grant from the Canadian government.
The funding comes from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the National Research Council of Canada. It backs the company's role in the second phase of the Low-Carbon Construction Materials Challenge.
CarbiCrete's technology swaps cement in masonry and hardscape products for a by-product of steel-making. Its process also captures carbon dioxide and uses it to cure concrete, locking the CO2 into the finished material.
Why now? The grant builds on Phase 1, which produced early prototypes of decarbonised paving. The new money funds an expanded range of hardscape products.
It also aligns with Canada's emission targets for 2030 and 2050. The government wants local construction firms ready for a greener economy.
What could go wrong? CarbiCrete's technology is still proving itself. It is currently deployed at just two Canadian sites: Patio Drummond in Drummondville, Quebec, and Canal Block in Port Colborne, Ontario.
Scaling from pilot projects to a large facility remains the company's biggest hurdle.
The signal: Cement is one of the world's largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Governments are now funding startups that can cut it.
CarbiCrete recently launched a production line in France, signalling that demand for low-carbon building materials is moving beyond pilots and across borders.
Read more: third-news.com
