Singapore-based GenZero, a decarbonization investment platform wholly owned by sovereign fund Temasek, has joined other global climate investors in a US$82 million Series B funding round for Terra CO2, a US-based sustainable building materials company focused on decarbonizing the cement industry.

The investment, co-led by Just Climate, Eagle Materials and GenZero, will accelerate the commercial deployment of Terra CO2’s OPUS technology, which produces low-carbon cementitious materials.

GenZero is focused on backing scalable climate solutions, and its involvement in Terra CO2 aligns with its strategy of supporting technologies that can significantly reduce carbon emissions in hard-to-abate industries such as construction.

The cement industry is responsible for 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions, the impact platform notes, making it one of the most critical sectors for industrial decarbonization.

Unlike other alternatives that require significant infrastructure changes or rely on scarce raw materials, Terra CO2’s Opus technology uses abundant materials from existing mines and integrates into traditional production methods.

With the new funding, Terra CO2 will launch multiple full-scale production facilities across North America and initiate its first European projects. The company is also making strides with Opus Zero, a 100% cement replacement solution currently in full concrete trials.

“Terra’s proprietary technology is a present-day, accessible solution that has undergone extensive testing and garnered significant commercial traction,” says Kimberly Tan, GenZero’s managing director and head of investments. “This means it can deliver immediate decarbonization benefits while addressing the demands of urban development and the industry’s stringent performance requirements.”