As part of the Australia-Austria Industrial Decarbonisation Demonstration Partnership Program, RHI Magnesita, MCi Carbon (MCi), the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) will receive funding for the CCUPScale project, for which Newcastle based cleantech startup MCi Carbon will receive AUD $3.29m. The funding is provided by the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund, supported by the Austrian Ministry for Climate Action, and the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). This project aims to further develop MCi Carbon’s mineral carbonation technology and support RHI Magnesita’s plans to build the world’s first CCU plant in the refractory industry in Hochfilzen, Austria.

Technological milestones for a CO₂-negative future

Since 2023, RHI Magnesita, the global leader in the refractory industry, has invested millions of dollars into the innovative Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technology developed by the Australian cleantech MCi Carbon. This technology aims to transform the refractory industry and neutralize CO₂ emissions. With the AUD $3.29m in funding, key advancements such as raw material analyses, pre-demonstration trials, low carbon product development, process engineering for scaling, and industrial integrations can now be pursued. This marks a decisive step toward the construction of the world’s first CCU pilot plant for the refractory industry in Hochfilzen, Austria, which is planned to be operational at RHI Magnesita’s facility in 2028.

The plant will capture, convert, and utilize 50,000 tons of CO₂ annually to produce CO₂-negative mineral value-added products. These new materials could be used in building materials, such as cement, and other products for the circular economy.

RHI Magnesita plans to deploy MCi Carbon’s CCU technology to significantly reduce its Scope 1 emissions. “This funding approval shows that we are on the right track with this project. For industries with unavoidable emissions like ours, CO₂ capture is currently the only viable path to achieve net-zero by 2050. However, we go one step further by not only capturing CO₂ but also converting it into products that provide solutions for us and other hard-to-decarbonize sectors, such as the cement industry,” explained Constantin Beelitz, Regional President Europe, CIS & Türkiye at RHI Magnesita.

“MCi Carbon is committed to advancing innovative, scalable solutions for decarbonising the world’s most challenging industries. RHI Magnesita is an excellent partner, investor and customer,” said Marcus Dawe, Founder and CEO of MCi Carbon.

Bernd Vogl, Managing Director of the Climate and Energy Fund: “Carbon capture and utilisation is a topic we have been addressing in our research programs for several years. By doing so, we support the domestic industry in building expertise and swiftly implementing corresponding solutions. With this project, RHI Magnesita is pioneering in Austria, and we are very proud to contribute to the realization of the pilot plant.”

Decarbonization requires international collaboration

Austria’s Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler also emphasised the importance of the project:

“This project demonstrates how innovation and international collaboration can help us achieve our climate goals. Initiatives like CCUpScale allow us to accelerate the transformation to a climate-neutral industry while advancing global solutions for CO₂ utilisation.“

Australia’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen also flagged the importance of international collaboration to drive innovation:

“Projects like this deepen and expand our international bilateral efforts to reduce embedded carbon and we value the collaboration with our Austrian partners to support innovative decarbonisation technologies and solutions. Projects such as CCUpScale will deliver real, tangible progress—reducing emissions at their source, cutting embedded carbon in our buildings, and demonstrating the value of these innovative projects”.

The ’CCUpscale Project’ was awarded Most Outstanding Project – Austria at the Mission Innovation award ceremony at COP29 in Baku which both Ministers attended late last year.

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RHI Magnesita and MCi Carbon Receive Funding for Refractory Industry CCU Plant in Austria

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