Welcome to EARTHCEM

Developing low-carbon Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) systems from UK clay resources to support durable, resilient and sustainable construction.

Project Overview

EARTHCEM is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship project hosted by Cardiff University. The project investigates Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3), an innovative low-carbon cement technology that can significantly reduce the environmental impact of cement production while maintaining the performance required for modern infrastructure.

Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world, yet cement production contributes approximately 9% of global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. As countries work towards net-zero targets, the construction sector must develop more sustainable materials that reduce emissions without compromising durability, safety, or performance.

EARTHCEM addresses this challenge by exploring how locally available UK clay resources can be transformed into high-performance cementitious materials for a more sustainable built environment.

Why EARTHCEM Matters

The construction industry faces increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions while continuing to provide the infrastructure needed for growing populations and resilient communities.

EARTHCEM focuses on:

• Reducing the carbon footprint of cement production.
• Promoting the use of locally available clay resources.
• Advancing low-carbon cement technologies.
• Improving long-term durability and service life.
• Supporting sustainable construction and net-zero ambitions.

Research Focus

EARTHCEM investigates the complete pathway from clay resources to durable low-carbon cement systems:

Clay Resources and Activation

Characterisation of UK clay deposits and optimisation of calcination processes to maximise reactivity.

Cement Performance

Investigation of hydration, strength development, and microstructural evolution in LC3 systems.

Durability and Service Life

Assessment of long-term performance under aggressive environmental exposure conditions.

Sustainability Assessment

Evaluation of environmental benefits and service-life implications of low-carbon cement technologies.

Project at a Glance

Item	Details
Project	EARTHCEM
Full Title	A CEMent harnessing EARTH for a sustainable built environment
Funding Programme	Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Grant Agreement	101210513
Duration	16 January 2026 – 15 January 2028
Host Institution	Cardiff University
MSCA Fellow	Dr Deepankar Ashish
Academic Supervisor	Dr Riccardo Maddalena
Co-supervisor	Dr Diane Gardner

Funding

EARTHCEM has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship (Grant Agreement No. 101210513).

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, the European Research Executive Agency (REA), or Cardiff University.

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Follow EARTHCEM through this website for project updates, research developments, publications, conference presentations, and public engagement activities throughout the fellowship.