Dr Myers has won a prestigious ERC grant towards his work in decarbonising cement production.

Dr Rupert Myers, a senior lecturer in the Materials cluster, is one of several beneficiaries within Imperial to receive an ERC starting grant, in order to pursue ‘ambitious research ideas’.

The project for which Dr Myers has been awarded the grant involves the production of zero carbon cement. Cement production is one of the most difficult-to-decarbonise industrial sectors – it contributes around seven per cent of global anthropogenic CO₂ emissions.

It has also not been possible historically to recycle old cement into new cement.

However, emerging science and technology can cost-effectively produce new cement by carbonating end-of-life concrete, which offers a way to overcome these environmentally and industrially important issues.  
 
Dr Myers said: “This project will deploy several new ideas and approaches to develop the material and process chemistry and engineering underpinning this technology, to enable the production of zero emissions cement and functional recycling of end-of-life concrete at the market scale, including in Europe and globally. 

Dr Myers added: “It’s a real privilege to be recognised by my reviewer colleagues and the funding panel through this Starting Grant. I’m grateful that the ERC has funded this important research area.” 

This project comes hot on the heels of another recent project within the Materials department, which centred around the production of zero carbon concrete. Thanks to these projects, Imperial College remains at the forefront of the ongoing challenge of combatting carbon emissions.