Investor from the U.S. private sector contributes $20 million towards coastal resilience initiatives
In a significant stride towards sustainable construction materials, Pegasus Capital Advisors, a private markets firm focused on climate solutions, has pledged to invest $20 million in green materials company Partanna Global. This investment is aimed at supporting climate solutions, particularly in the realm of carbon-negative cement.
The Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), a multi-partner initiative established to support the resilience and restoration of coral reefs globally, includes member countries such as Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Ecuador, Mozambique, and the Maldives. While the GFCR's investment in Partanna Global is not explicitly mentioned, the alignment of aims suggests a potential synergy between the two organisations.
Carbon-negative cement technologies are transitioning from research to scalable innovations, with AI and tribochemical methods at the forefront. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute, for instance, have developed an AI-based model for rapidly simulating and optimising cement recipes that maintain mechanical strength while drastically reducing CO2 emissions.
One such innovative technology is CILANTRO, a tribochemical process that bypasses traditional high-temperature calcination by using mechanical shearing combined with hydrogen to react limestone and silica at ambient temperatures without CO2 emissions. This process produces calcium silicate compounds critical for Ordinary Portland Cement and can potentially scale using tribo-reactors akin to existing milling equipment.
The market for low-carbon cement alternatives is expanding rapidly, valued at $8.5 billion in 2024 and expected to grow to $30.3 billion by 2034 at a 13.7% CAGR. This growth is driven by urbanization, regulatory pressure, and demand for sustainable construction materials. Blended cements incorporating industrial byproducts (fly ash, slag, silica fume), alkali-activated materials, and carbon curing technologies are increasingly adopted, especially in North America and Europe.
Adoption of tools like the Global Cement and Concrete Association’s Low Carbon Ratings system helps standardize and verify carbon emissions of cement and concrete products, informing procurement decisions aligned with carbon-negative goals. This transparency is critical for investors and builders prioritizing sustainability.
While direct references to coastal resilience and coral reef protection applications in the search results are limited, the carbon-negative cement technologies under development have significant potential to support coastal infrastructure. Concrete structures utilizing carbon-negative cement can be engineered for coastal resilience, providing durable, low-impact materials for seawalls, breakwaters, and reef restoration frameworks. The net CO2 sequestration properties of some technologies (like CILANTRO’s) could further mitigate local ocean acidification, indirectly benefiting coral ecosystems.
Investments are channeling into technologies compatible with carbon curing and supplementary materials that may be tailored for marine environments, enhancing durability and environmental integration. The investment in Partanna Global, a company specializing in carbon-negative cement, underscores this trend.
Continued interdisciplinary efforts and integration with renewable energy sources, along with focused investment in marine-adapted formulations, will be key to realizing the full potential of carbon-negative cement for coastal resilience and coral reef conservation. The investment in Partanna Global, made on the sidelines of the UN Ocean Conference taking place in Nice this week, marks a significant step towards this goal.
[1] Paul Scherrer Institute, "AI for the development of climate-friendly cement," 2021. [2] University of California, Berkeley, "New carbon-negative cement process could greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions," 2021. [3] Grand View Research, "Low-Carbon Cement Alternatives Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Alkali-Activated Materials, Blended Cement, Calcium Carbonate, Others), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2030." [4] Global Cement and Concrete Association, "Low Carbon Ratings System," 2021.
Scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute are developing an AI-based model for climate-friendly cement, which plays a crucial role in reducing CO2 emissions in environmental science. The Global Fund for Coral Reefs, despite not explicitly mentioning an investment in Partanna Global, shares similar aims in supporting climate solutions, potentially fostering a synergy between the two organizations in the realm of finance and investing.
