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Low-carbon cement startup Queens Carbon now has around $25 million to build its first pilot plant at a cement maker's facility, the company tells Axios.

Why it matters: Industrial companies are still working on sustainability goals even if they're being quieter about it. 

Zoom in: Queens Carbon raised a seed round of $10 million and has been drawing down on a $14.5 million grant from the Department of Energy's ARPA-E program.

Clean Energy Ventures led the seed, which included Plug and Play, individual investors from Clean Energy Ventures, and cement giant Buzzi's U.S. subsidiary. 

The 2,000-ton-per-year pilot plant is expected to be built at Buzzi's cement facility in Stockertown, Pennsylvania, and to be operational in late 2026. 

How it works: Queens Carbon's tech produces cement and supplementary cementitious materials using steam and pressure at a low temperature, a low cost, and with low energy.

The process is "the Instant Pot of cement manufacturing," Queens Carbon chief business officer David Gersholowitz says. 

The tech uses traditional limestone as the feedstock and the final product can be blended with or replace traditional cement. 

Queens Carbon says its tech can produce low-carbon cement at a competitive or lower cost than traditional cement because it uses less energy and lower temperatures. The technology can also be powered by electricity. 

Zoom out: A handful of startups have emerged in recent years to develop low-carbon cement, including Fortera, Terra CO2 and Brimstone.

Most of these players have developed blends first, followed by a replacement option, and have opted to try to commercialize their tech by working with large cement makers. 

The bottom line: Low-carbon cement could be critical for slashing carbon emissions from construction, but it is challenging because construction companies are naturally risk-averse. 

What's next: Queens Carbon plans to follow its pilot plant with the first commercial-scale project of its kind and will need to raise more funding to scale.

Exclusive: Queens Carbon pulls $25M for pilot plant

Cement maker Buzzi is an investor and partner on the company's pilot plant.

A cube of low carbon cement made with Queens Carbon's technology

A cube of low-carbon cement made with Queens Carbon's low-temperature technology. Photo: Courtesy of Queens Carbon

Low-carbon cement startup Queens Carbon now has around $25 million to build its first pilot plant at a cement maker&#x27;s facility, the company tells Axios.Why it matters: Industrial companies are still working on sustainability goals even if they&#x27;re being quieter about it.

Exclusive: Queens Carbon pulls $25M for pilot plant

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