Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Industrial  -  October 29, 2024

Furno Materials Receives DOE Grant

Furno Materials announced the company was selected to receive a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC). 

The company’s first of a kind modular cement plant was selected along with 12 other projects across the U.S. to strengthen domestic supply chains and eliminate harmful emissions.

Located in Chicago, Illinois, Project OZ will showcase a new model for low carbon cement production, powered by Furno’s technology and supported by Ozinga, one of the largest independent concrete producers in the U.S. 

“Furno Materials’ vision is to make cement production accessible for everyone anywhere. We do this by building plants that are standardized, decentralized, and decarbonized,” said Gurinder Nagra, CEO of Furno Materials, in a statement. “Project OZ brings this vision to life by combining our advanced kiln technology with Ozinga’s industry expertise to produce the same high-performance cement, but with far fewer emissions. This plant will demonstrate how we can rapidly onshore production and drive down carbon emissions at scale. The Department of Energy’s funding accelerates our vision, and we look forward to working with the DOE on this project to produce clean cement directly at the demand site.”

Furno, a Silicon Valley-based startup, developed modular production units that can be built in a factory and deployed where needed. Project OZ will demonstrate that small, repeatable, standardized plants can be scaled quickly to meet market demand. This approach drives down costs and increases flexibility, making sustainable cement production more accessible.

Project OZ will show that by decentralizing cement production, Furno can reduce transportation costs and carbon emissions while improving the supply chain’s responsiveness to shifts in demand.

Furno’s technology reduces CO2 emissions by replacing traditional coal-fired kilns with high-efficiency gas-based combustion, cutting fuel emissions by 70%. Additionally, Furno replaces up to 44% of limestone with up-cycled calcium-rich waste, which further reduces emissions. By 2030, Furno aims to replace 80% of traditional raw materials, achieving an 82% emissions reduction.

Furno will manage the construction and operation of the plant, ensuring that it meets sustainability, operational and community-focused goals.

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