ecoLocked, a German climate tech company founded in 2021, develops biochar-amended concrete admixtures to turn buildings into carbon sinks. Their innovative approach uses biochar produced from biomass residues and makes biochar-amended concrete admixtures for carbon-negative buildings. ecoLocked’s technology contributes to the decarbonization of the construction industry.
Challenges: carbon emissions
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions are a significant contributor to climate change, primarily resulting from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes like cement production. It is the primary greenhouse gas, accounting for about 76% of total emissions. Over 1.5 trillion tons of CO₂ have been emitted globally. This results in an increase of CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere by 50%. The rise in CO₂ levels leads to global warming, ocean acidification, and poses risks to both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
The cement industry is a significant contributor to global CO₂ emissions, accounting for approximately 8% of total emissions worldwide. In 2022, cement production alone generated about 1.6 billion metric tons of CO₂. From 2022 to 2024, the cement industry's emissions intensity has remained relatively stable, with slight increases attributed to higher clinker-to-cement ratios. This trend indicates that while efforts are being made to reduce emissions, the overall output of CO₂ has not significantly decreased.
ecoLocked Technology
ecoLocked has developed biochar-based concrete admixtures to reduce the reliance on cement and also sequester carbon.
Biochar is a form of charcoal produced through the pyrolysis of biomass residues in low-oxygen conditions. It is a stable carbon-rich material that effectively sequesters CO₂ from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. The conversion of biomass into biochar for carbon removal and storage is called Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS). Different from Direct Air Capture (DAC), BiCRS lets plants do the hard work of scrubbing CO₂ out of the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
ecoLocked uses biochar to enhance concrete performance in terms of strength, durability, and insulation properties. This approach also transforms concrete into carbon sinks, effectively turning a major source of emissions into a solution for climate action.
ecoLocked biochar-amended concrete
ecoLocked’s biochar-amended concrete mixtures contains the following key components:
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