Novacem Uses Autodesk Design Software to Produce Zero-Carbon Cement

By DE Editors

Autodesk, Inc. has announced that Novacem, a carbon-negative cement company based in London, is using its AutoCAD Plant 3D software to optimize its plant design and production process, enabling it to develop a new magnesium silicate-based cement that will offer carbon-negative production.

Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program provides software for emerging clean tech companies in North America, Europe and Japan. It offers digital prototyping software licenses to clean technology companies, helping them innovate more rapidly.

“Being able to develop the process using state of the art layout design tools allows Novacem to effectively and efficiently scale up the technology,” says Howard Simons, Novacem vice president of engineering. “This approach enabled us to explore different concepts by giving our design team more freedom to be creative, while pioneering new and innovative production techniques. This helps Novacem optimize the process design of its plant technology, as well as provide vital information associated with costing and visualizing the technology for investors. We value the opportunity to be part of the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program.”

Novacem developed a new generation of carbon-negative cement. It is based on magnesium oxide produced from magnesium silicates and is a scalable, transformational alternative to current carbon-intensive cement production, according to the company. Current technology creates an average of 800 kilograms of carbon dioxide per metric ton of cement. Novacem says it can achieve up to 50 kilograms net absorption of carbon dioxide per metric ton of cement.

To help increase production and improve efficiency in its pilot plant, Novacem is using AutoCAD Plant 3D software to digitally design and visualize the performance of the plant’s planned automated control systems under simulated real-world conditions, all before the systems are physically built and installed.

For more information, visit Autodesk.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.