Decarbonizing Cement: Challenges, Pathways, and a New Electrochemical Approach

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When:  Feb 12, 2026 from 18:30 to 19:00 (ET)

Description: 

Cement is one of the most widely used materials on Earth — and one of the most difficult to decarbonize. Nearly 10% of global CO₂ emissions come from cement and lime production, driven by both the high temperatures required and the inherent chemistry of breaking down limestone. This talk provides a broad overview of why cement emissions are so challenging, and the range of solutions currently being pursued across the industry.

We will explore the major decarbonization levers: supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), alternative feedstocks and clinker chemistries, and point-source carbon capture technologies. Each offers meaningful reductions but also comes with practical and technical limitations.

I will then introduce CURA’s emerging electrochemical pathway, which uses a redox-mediated process to split limestone at low temperature, separating CO₂ from calcium before the kiln and enabling deep process-emissions reductions. Finally, I will outline CURA’s roadmap for scaling this technology from lab to pilot to commercial deployment, and how electrochemistry may fit into the broader future of low-carbon cement.

Speaker: 

Dr. Phil De Luna is a climate-tech entrepreneur and scientist working to decarbonize heavy industry. He is the Co-Founder and CTO of CURA, a startup developing breakthrough electrochemical technology to eliminate process emissions from cement and lime—responsible for ~8% of global CO₂.

Previously, Phil was Chief Commercial & Science Officer at Deep Sky, where he helped raise over $120M, secured multi-million-dollar carbon removal contracts with Microsoft and RBC, and designed and built Deep Sky Alpha, a $100M direct air capture hub, within a year.

He has also advised Fortune 100 companies and institutional investors as an Expert in Sustainability at McKinsey, and was the youngest-ever Director at the National Research Council of Canada, where he launched a $57M cleantech program.

Phil has been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30, Carbon XPRIZE finalist, and Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (top 0.1% of scientists globally), and Governor General Gold Medalist.

More information

Location

Hotel Victoria*
56 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON