NorthernCycle - Carbon capture & use in construction: A circular path for Northern Finland

NorthernCycle aims at transforming how North Ostrobothnia and Lapland approaches mining waste, construction materials, and climate action. Every year, Finland generates vast quantities of magnesium-rich mine tailings, which has untapped high potential resources. NorthenCycle aims to analyze the most environmental and economic viable approaches to recover magnesium from tailings and integrate it with carbon capture and utilization/storage in concrete, helping secure our planetary boundaries while reducing the landfill of tailings. The project applies life-cycle analysis (LCA), process modeling and regulatory framework analysis for different CCUS routes in order to identify technically feasible, environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and legally implementable routes to capture and permanently storing CO₂ in construction materials using magnesium-rich mine tailings from Northern Finland into useful products.

Combining cutting-edge process modelling, LCA, in-depth regional analysis, and opportunities and constraints embedded within the regulatory framework, NorthernCycle will identify the most feasible and sustainable solutions for Northern Finland. The project’s results will give industry, policymakers, and communities the data and confidence they need to turn industrial side-streams into climate solutions, while fostering societal acceptance of novel, circular practices.