Techno-Economic Perspectives on CCUS Deployment for Reducing Process-Related CO₂ Emissions in Cement-Based Construction

Abstract

The construction sector, and cement production in particular, is a major contributor to global CO₂ emissions, with a significant share coming from process-related sources which cannot be fully addressed by conventional measures such as efficiency improvements or substitution of materials. As mitigation strategies are reaching their limits, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) has emerged as a key path to achieve deep decarbonisation of the cement industry, which is being seen as a representative case for the wider hard-to-reach construction sector. This study presents a systematic literature review of CCUS technologies relevant for cement and concrete, based on a screening process informed by PRISMA and drawing on peer reviewed literature, technical reports and industrial case studies. The principal carbon capture pathways include pre-combustion, post-combustion, oxy-fuel combustion, and chemical looping. These pathways are evaluated alongside CO₂ utilization and storage routes such as mineral carbonation, carbonation curing, and CO₂-based construction materials. The review finds that post-combustion capture and mineral carbonation currently exhibit the highest technological readiness for near-term deployment, while emerging approaches offer long-term potential despite higher energy and cost barriers. CCUS-enabled materials also show benefits in durability, resource efficiency, and carbon permanence, though adoption remains constrained by economic, infrastructural, and regulatory challenges. Overall, the findings indicate that CCUS is essential for decarbonizing hard-to-abate construction processes, and its effective deployment will require coordinated technological innovation, supportive policy frameworks, and standardized acceptance criteria for CO₂-modified materials.