Cairn, UCD, Kilsaran and Ecocem secure funding to validate low-carbon cement technology in Ireland

A consortium comprising homebuilder Cairn, University College Dublin, concrete manufacturer Kilsaran and low-carbon cement specialist Ecocem has secured €50,000 in funding from Construct Innovate, Ireland's national Construction Technology Centre, to validate Ecocem's ACT low-carbon cement technology in an Irish context for the first time. The project represents a significant step in addressing cement's contribution to Ireland's construction sector emissions.

RTÉ reported that the funding will support a full-scale demonstration project using ACT technology alongside an independent technical assessment at UCD. Cement accounts for approximately 8% of global CO2 emissions, and Ecocem's ACT technology contains up to 70% less CO2 than traditional cement without compromising on performance or cost.

The demonstrator will provide Cairn with proof of buildability and carbon reduction, Ecocem with independent validation of its ACT technology in Ireland, and Kilsaran with a new low-carbon product stream. ACT has already been deployed commercially in the UK and France.

Ecocem is currently constructing the first production line for ACT at its new €50m facility in Dunkirk, France, due to begin commercial operation in late 2026, as part of a wider €220m investment programme.

John Reddy, director of concrete technology deployment at Ecocem, said: "Having already been successfully deployed in markets such as the UK and France, we are delighted to bring this innovation to Ireland and to see it independently validated in a real-world setting. This milestone reinforces our confidence in ACT as a scalable solution to support a rapid and cost-effective transition to low-carbon construction."

View the full story on the Cairn, UCD, Kilsaran and Ecocem low-carbon cement consortium.