CRH, Holcim commit $75M to Sublime Systems, Microsoft collaborator

Sublime Systems, Somerville, Mass. developer of an electrochemical process netting ASTM C1157-grade binder at lower carbon dioxide emissions levels than portland cement, is teaming with CRH Plc and Holcim Ltd. to advance a premier Sublime Cement facility in Holyoke, Mass. The global cement, aggregate and concrete producers’ $75 million Sublime Systems investment anchors a requisite financial commitment to the facility, which is eligible for a funding match up to $86.9 million under a Department of Energy Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations opportunity announced earlier this year.

Holyoke plant stakeholders envision 30,000 tons’ annual capacity and production start as early as 2026. Initial output tonnages will be available to the CRH/Ash Grove Cement, Holcim US and Lafarge Canada businesses. Along with the forward powder purchases, dubbed “binding cement reservations,” CRH and Holcim will individually collaborate with their new partner to develop Sublime Cement production lines in multiple geographies, all targeting “true zero” emissions operation.

“Sublime Systems is a disruptive force in cement. Its unique technology cuts across the entire production process, from the use of clean electricity to carbon-free raw materials,” says Holcim Ltd. Chief Sustainability Officer Nollaig Forrest. “This investment is fully in line with our strategy to accelerate the decarbonization of construction by scaling up the most innovative technologies.”

The partnership demonstrates a CRH commitment to “supporting breakthrough technologies and driving innovative low-carbon solutions for the built environment. Sublime’s differentiated technology and ability to scale, combined with our expertise and footprint across North America and Europe, offers significant potential to dramatically decarbonize cement production,” adds CRH Ventures Head Eduardo Gomez.

“Our breakthrough technology must be paired with manufacturing operations, logistics, and distribution—areas [where] building materials leaders excel,” concludes Sublime Systems Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Leah Ellis. “Holcim and CRH each bring unique strategic advantages and expertise in the industry, and these partnerships offer an unparalleled opportunity to scale our technology.”

MICROSOFT MODELING
Under a memorandum of understanding announced shortly after the CRH and Holcim capital commitments, Sublime Systems and Microsoft Corp. aim to negotiate a contract for the purchase of environmental attribute certificates (EAC) generated from the Holyoke and subsequent Sublime Cement facilities. The companies intend for their collaboration to inform development of a book and claim market and demonstrate how it could serve as a model supporting cement and concrete sector decarbonization. Book and claim models, Sublime Systems notes, decouple the environmental attributes from the product itself and enable low-carbon materials producers to access a customer base well beyond their immediate geographic area.

“Low-carbon cement is a critical solution not only for our work to become carbon negative by 2030, but also for the world as we look to transition to a net-zero economy,” says Microsoft Fuel and Materials Decarbonization Lead Julia Fidler. “We look forward to collaborating with Sublime and an ecosystem of industry partners to develop systems that are verifiable and held to the highest standards of integrity.” Microsoft’s use of innovative contracting structures, including purchase of environmental benefits attending Sublime Cement, she adds, heralds a faster transition to decarbonized construction.

“The collaboration unleashes powerful signals to the broader market that there is bankable demand for our low-carbon cement and that we must scale to meet that demand. We look forward to a future where there is a Sublime Cement plant in every region,” affirms Sublime Systems’ Dr. Leah Ellis.