Joins Microsoft in using Sublime’s electrochemically produced cement
Data center firm Stack Infrastructure is testing the use of low-carbon cement at one of its in-development campuses in Virginia.
Stack, in collaboration with Sublime Systems, this week announced the completion of a pilot pour of ultra-low-carbon cement at Stack’s campus in Prince William County, Virginia.
The pour marks the first use of Sublime’s electrochemically produced Sublime Cement in the data center industry.
The pilot’s cement pour covered a portion of a high-traffic loading dock to test long-term durability of the material. Performance tests results received to date, including compressive strength, have reportedly "exceeded" expected performance standards.
“With Stack among the most innovative and forward-thinking data center developers, the piloting of carbon-avoiding Sublime Cement is a powerful validation of our technology in the infrastructure that is essential for enabling the digital economy,” said Dr. Leah Ellis, CEO and co-founder of Sublime Systems.
“Across the many concrete applications in a data center, loading docks endure significant wear and stress, making this placement perfect for showcasing the superior durability of Sublime Cement.”
Sublime says it is inspired by Roman cement, electrochemically extracting reactive calcium, silicates, and other ingredients from feedstocks and blending them into its cement. The company takes low-value rocks and industrial byproducts and breaks them down into their constituent pure minerals: cementitious ingredients and critical minerals.
The company says this avoids the limestone and large heat requirements needed to produce traditional Portland cement, reducing emissions.
Microsoft recently announced it was to purchase 623,000 tons of cement from Sublime over a six-to-nine-year period, with production of the cement originating from Sublime’s first commercial factory in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
“This pilot spanned a portion of a loading dock, yet its impact extends far beyond its footprint,” said Bethany Brantley, head of sustainability, Stack Infrastructure.
“As the first deployment of Sublime’s low-carbon cement in a data center application, it marks a milestone for the industry. It sets a new standard not only in how we build, but in how we lead, with tangible benefits for the environment, our clients, and the local communities we serve.”
Stack said it is continuing to explore other ways to reduce embodied carbon, including high supplementary cementitious material (SCM) replacement and the use of mineralized carbon dioxide solutions.
“This is what innovation looks like in action,” said Trevor Johnson, deputy director of Prince William County's department of economic development and tourism. “When you see companies like Stack and Sublime Systems joining forces to tackle real sustainability challenges with practical solutions, you know you’re witnessing something special. Prince William County is proud to be part of this story.”
Several hyperscalers, including Amazon and Microsoft, are looking at developing lower-carbon concrete. Amazon has previously partnered with Holcim to use its low-carbon concrete in the US.
Meta has previously partnered with CarbonBuilt to accelerate the production of low-carbon concrete, and provided carbon finance to CarbiCrete to scale the production of cement-free concrete. The social media firm recently released a new AI model to create new optimal low-carbon concrete mixes.
