The Silicon Valley developer of the ReCarb process, where carbon dioxide from cement or other industrial plant emissions is mineralized and converted to concrete-grade ReAct binder agents, has secured $85 million in Series C funding to pursue additional plant installations after this year’s charter facility deployment at the CalPortland Co. Redding, Calif. mill. Fortera reports participation from previous investors Khosla Ventures and Temasek plus first-time investments from Wollemi Capital, NOVA by Saint-Gobain, Presidio Ventures and Alumni Ventures. They recognize the ReAct route to commercialization, amplified by Fortera’s World of Concrete 2024 premier, coupled with market uptake prospects for a unique calcium carbonate whose production equates to a 70 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions versus portland cement.
“Due to the scale of the industry, we won’t have an impact on emissions unless we have an economic pathway to expand globally,” says Fortera Co-Founder and CEO Ryan Gilliam. “With the launch of our first plant and close of this funding round, we’re entering into the next phase of our development as a commercial project company to accelerate low- to zero-carbon cement deployment. It’s vital to have the financial means to put operations in place to commercialize our technology, and we are honored to have the backing and expertise of some of the most knowledgeable investment firms in project finance and the cement and concrete industry as we carve the path to zero CO2 cement.”
As demonstrated at CalPortland Redding, the ReCarb process bolts onto existing cement operations and mineralizes captured CO2. Since Fortera’s process integrates into established infrastructure, including feedstocks, capital investments, logistics, and sales networks, the path to wide-scale commercialization is potentially shorter and more cost-effective. The ReCarb technology entails significantly reduced kiln temperatures than portland cement clinker and is compatible with renewable energy integration, which would further reduce emissions and usher zero CO2 cement production. Building on the CalPortland Redding template, Fortera envisions full-scale ReCarb plants mineralizing upward of 165,000 tons of CO2 and yielding approximately 375,000 tons of ReAct Blend or ReAct Pure cement annually.
“Fortera does what previous green cement technologies have failed to do—it works with cement companies to provide an accessible solution to a cleaner industry,” observes Wollemi Capital Director Natalie Volpe. “The compatibility with today’s ecosystem makes us confident that Fortera’s process is the most effective technology to decarbonize cement and achieve meaningful climate impact more quickly. We are pleased to bring Wollemi’s expertise in financing next generation infrastructure to support the development of future plants.”
“Investment in Fortera aligns with Saint-Gobain’s priority toward the decarbonization of industries and our commitment to working with startups that are moving the world forward with sustainable innovations,” adds Saint-Gobain Vice President, External Venturing Basma Kharrat. “We look forward to fostering our relationship with Fortera as they continue to evolve cement technology aimed at reducing environmental impact while also reducing carbon emissions through manufacturing facility upgrades.”
Fortera’s ReCarb technology is the result of 100,000-plus research and development hours, supported by more than 100 issued and pending global patents and over a decade of real-world product testing. Third-party labs have confirmed ReAct series materials’ capacity to match the strength development and durability characteristics of portland cement. — Fortera, San Jose, Calif., www.forteraglobal.com
