Cambridge Electric Cement (CEC) is reshaping the cement industry by recycling concrete waste into a new, low-carbon cement. Backed by £2.25 million in recent funding, the company is scaling up operations to prove that sustainable alternatives can work at an industrial level.
Founded in 2022 as a spin-out from the University of Cambridge, CEC has developed a way to recover cement from demolished concrete and reuse it in steel recycling. The process replaces traditional lime flux in electric arc furnaces (EAFs) with recovered cement paste. The result is a new clinker that functions like Portland cement but with a much lower carbon footprint.
To better understand how CEC’s process works, check out this video explaining their zero-emission cement production:
In July 2024, CEC secured £2.25 million in seed funding led by Zero Carbon Capital, with contributions from Legal & General, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, Parkwalk Advisors, Delph25, and Almanac Ventures. The funding will help scale up production at CELSA UK’s EAF facility in Cardiff, support real-world construction trials, and establish offtake agreements.
CEC is also part of the “Cement 2 Zero” project, a £6.5 million initiative funded by Innovate UK. This project aims to validate recycled cement on an industrial scale with partners including AtkinsRéalis, Balfour Beatty, CELSA UK, Day Group, Materials Processing Institute, and Tarmac. After successful pilot trials at a 7-tonne EAF, the company is now moving forward with industrial-scale tests at CELSA UK’s 150-tonne EAF.
Led by CEO William Yost III, COO Poppy Brewer, CTO Dr. Cyrille Dunant, and Advisor Dr. Philippa Horton, the team is focused on reducing emissions in the construction sector while promoting a circular economy. Their goal is to scale up production and bring this low-carbon cement to the mainstream.
With global demand for cement continuing to rise, CEC’s innovation could be a game-changer for sustainable building practices. By turning construction waste into a valuable resource, the company is proving that sustainability and industrial performance can go hand in hand.
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