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§ Private Profile · Cambridge, United Kingdom
Develops a zero-emissions process to recycle demolished concrete waste into new cement clinker for construction.
Based in Cambridge, UK, Cambridge Electric Cement develops a zero-emissions process that recycles demolished concrete waste into new clinker by utilizing it as flux during steel recycling. This proprietary technology eliminates emissions from traditional cement production, addressing seven and a half percent of global carbon output. The enterprise is currently conducting 75,000-tonne industrial trials to scale its net-zero recycled cement for the broader construction sector. To support these commercialization efforts, the company secured 2,250,000 pounds in pre-seed funding during July 2024 from lead investor Zero Carbon Capital and Legal and General. The firm has also established strategic partnerships with major industry players, including Balfour Beatty, AtkinsRéalis, and Tarmac, to deploy its demonstrator projects. Cambridge Electric Cement was founded in 2022 by Cyrille Dunant, Pippa Horton, and Professor Julian Allwood to transform sustainable building materials.
Cambridge Electric Cement has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round.
Cambridge Electric Cement has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Cambridge Electric Cement has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Seed in July 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2024 | $3M Seed | Zero Carbon Capital | — | Announced |
Cambridge Electric Cement has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Cambridge Electric Cement's investors include Zero Carbon Capital.
Cambridge Electric Cement (CEC) is a University of Cambridge spin-out developing the world's first process for producing low-carbon, recycled cement by repurforming demolition waste in electric arc furnaces (EAFs) used for steel recycling.[2][3][4] The technology serves the construction and steel industries, solving the massive carbon emissions from traditional cement production—responsible for ~8% of global CO2—by creating zero-emission clinker that matches Portland cement performance without new raw materials or calcination.[3][4][5] With £2.25m seed funding raised in July 2024 and 75,000-tonne industrial trials underway via the 'Cement 2 Zero' project with partners like AtkinsRéalis, Balfour Beatty, and Tarmac, CEC shows strong growth momentum toward commercialization in non-structural applications.[2][4]
Founded on 29 July 2022 as a private limited company (number 14263992) in Cambridge, UK, CEC commercializes research by academic co-founders Professor Julian Allwood, Dr. Cyrille Dunant, and Dr. Pippa Horton from the University of Cambridge.[1][2][4] The idea emerged from Dunant's insight that used cement paste chemically mirrors lime flux in steel recycling; heating it in EAFs reforms clinker without emissions, bypassing calcination chemistry.[5] Early traction came from pilot-scale trials producing Portland-equivalent cement, supported by £2m EPSRC funding and ongoing university research at Cambridge, Warwick, and Imperial.[4][5] Pivotal moments include the 2024 seed round led by Zero Carbon Capital and the 'Cement 2 Zero' demonstrator for certification.[2][4]
CEC rides the industrial decarbonization wave, targeting cement's gigatonne-scale emissions amid net-zero mandates and circular economy pushes.[2][3][4] Timing aligns with rising EAF steel production (powered by renewables) and demolition waste from global infrastructure renewal, amplified by EU CBAM tariffs on high-carbon imports.[5] Market tailwinds include steelmakers' flux needs and construction's sustainability regulations, positioning CEC to disrupt a $400bn+ industry while boosting steel recycling efficiency.[4][5] It influences the ecosystem by coupling steel-cement loops, inspiring hybrid material processes and enabling emissions-free building in developing economies.[5]
CEC (now Reclinker) eyes industrial-scale rollout post-2025 trials, with 'Cement 2 Zero' certifying products for market entry and potential expansion to structural uses.[2][3][4] Trends like electrified recycling, AI-optimized slag chemistry, and policy-driven waste mandates will accelerate adoption, though supply hinges on demolition volumes and EAF access.[3][5] Its influence could evolve from niche innovator to sector standard-setter, slashing gigatonnes of CO2 and redefining sustainable construction—proving spin-out science can electrify hard-to-abate industries.[4][5]