2023 Best Use of Technology: Carbon Reduction

Reducing embodied carbon on the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier

AtkinsRéalis

Atkins, with the support of the Environmental Agency (EA), have developed a carbon analytics tool to reduce the environmental impact of the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier project, which will protect over 13,000 homes and businesses from flooding until 2125.

Site set up improvements

JN Bentley

MMB are increasingly using ‘products’ in terms of our permanent works designs. We do this because they are lower cost, quicker to design and procure, more sustainable and consistent quality. Following this process on temporary works makes mobilisation less complicated and by reducing time, more cost effective. Capturing actual carbon on site will support our path to Net Zero and PAS 2080 - An EPC A rated cabin reduced primary energy costs by 73% and 84% C02 reduction - Hybrid power will deliver 50% reduced generator hours, 50% fossil fuel reduction and upwards of 80% CO2 reduction. Noise pollution reduced by 90% and reduced fuel usage by up to 50% when combining battery storage with correctly sized generator (for temporary connections). We will significantly improve circular economy credentials, minimise waste, maximise resource efficiency and promote the reuse of materials.

Eco-friendly interlocking brick

Arena Recycling Industry

Through the development of our eco-bricks, we have successfully substituted conventional bricks and reduced reliance on cement-based mortar construction. With Tanzania's low plastic collection and recycling rates, our initiative has made a significant impact by recycling over 500 tons of plastic waste, offsetting approximately 1,400 tons of CO2 emissions. Our use of advanced technology throughout the production process ensures efficiency, precision, and minimal waste. By providing a sustainable solution for construction, our eco-bricks contribute to carbon reduction while offering exceptional durability and strength. We are proud to be at the forefront of driving positive change in the industry and addressing the challenges of plastic pollution and carbon emissions.

Hexham Flood Alleviation Scheme

Tarmac in partnership with the Environment Agency, Bam Nuttall and Arup

In a UK first, Tarmac developed two low carbon concrete mixes for use on the Hexham Flood Alleviation Scheme, a project delivering 600m of flood defence walls, in partnership with the Environment Agency, BAM Nuttall and Arup. More than half of the Environment Agency’s carbon footprint comes from the construction of flood defences. Trials of the new ultra low carbon concrete will now enable future Environment Agency flood defences to be built more sustainably and will also support the delivery of new sustainable concrete products across the wider construction industry. The flood defence project shows the clear sustainability benefits which can be achieved when clients and contractors work in partnership to achieve sustainable solutions. These mixes mark another important step for the UK concrete and cement industry in the journey to net zero.

The I-System and Eco Lync

Invisible Systems

Eco Lync is an energy management system that collects data and information on construction sites and uses it to control energy and reduce waste. An Energy Management System like Eco Lync reduces peaks in energy demand automatically, enabling a reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Eco Lync is able to manage both the demand and supply across sites. When multiple energy supplies are available, such as a generator or direct grid power, Eco Lync will select the most efficient. Selected loads are automatically shed, meaning action is taken within seconds.

Embsay water treatment works (WTW)

Mott Macdonald

Moata Carbon Portal (MCP) is Mott MacDonald’s decarbonisation tool, designed to empower non-carbon specialists in the infrastructure industry to reduce carbon emissions. Anyone in the value chain can measure carbon impact from the earliest stages through to detailed design through the Portal. This was used by Mott MacDonald Bentley on a Yorkshire Water project to improve the water quality and resilience of a water treatment works. By embedding carbon reduction hierarchy within project delivery and using MCP, the scheme reduced estimated embodied carbon by 78% from 2189 to 495 tCO2e and operating carbon by 130 tCO2e per annum.

Zero Bills Homes

Octopus Energy

Such is the magic of renewable energy: once the infrastructure is paid for, clean energy is abundant and completely cost-free. So when outdated carbon-emitting energy systems are taken out of the picture, it only makes sense that costly bills come down too. The end goal? For every new home in the UK to eventually be built to the zero carbon, zero bills spec. As this incredible technology becomes cheaper and more accessible, the responsibility falls on innovators like us to demonstrate to both the government and developers how feasible and effective this option truly is - changing the way we live and making Net Zero a reality.

Strategic pipeline alliance

Anglian Water

The Strategic Pipeline Alliance (SPA) is delivering one of the biggest UK infrastructure projects. Its capital carbon baseline (309,413 TCO2e) is larger than the whole of Anglian Water’s 2015-2020 programme. Hundreds of kilometres of underground, large-diameter, interconnecting pipelines will stretch from North Lincolnshire to Essex – allowing Anglian Water to move millions of litres of water from ‘wetter’ to ‘drier’ areas of the region, combatting the future risk of droughts. The team, using a Digital Twin and innovation, has led a disruptive challenge process to optimise the design while not compromising on outcomes, to enable the project to be on track for an industry- leading capital carbon reduction of 65% (2010 baseline) and significantly exceeding the 27% operational carbon target. All of which is supporting Anglian Water’s net zero 2030 ambitions.

Low Crosby Flood Risk Management Scheme using Flood Modeller

Jacobs in partnership with the Environment Agency, Volker Stevin and M.H. Farm

Jacobs Flood Modeller is an industry leading hydraulic analysis and design application that enables the detailed quantification of multiple benefits to aid the planning and delivery of flood risk management solutions. In this specific project application, Jacobs took the application a step further, as it was used to quantify the whole-life carbon impacts of flooding and the associated benefits of reducing its likelihood of occurrence. To do this, the monetised flood damages outputs from Flood Modeller were input into a newly developed model for calculating an equivalent carbon cost of flooding. This was combined with other quantified carbon sources (capital, operation, maintenance, land use change) to model the project’s whole life-cycle carbon and inform the choice of preferred solution. The scheme has now been constructed, and as a direct result of this use of technology, has been proven to sequester up to 30,000 tonnes of carbon.

All-electric ready-mix concrete mixer

Tarmac, Renault Trucks and TVSI

Tarmac, Renault Trucks and TVSI have worked in partnership to develop and deliver the UK’s first all-electric ready-mix concrete mixer, which is now in operation in Birmingham. In the first three months of its phased introduction, the e-mixer saved over five tonnes of CO₂ from being released. The e-mixer features seven patented innovations which will have wider applications for other types of mixers and other vehicle types, offering improved safety, operational efficiency and reduced noise pollution. With 100% of Tarmac’s site electricity procured from clean energy sources, it now operates as a part of a sustainable delivery model.   Tarmac is now looking at opportunities to introduce more e-mixers – this innovation is a significant step towards net zero construction and logistics.

CRISP: Community Resource Information Support Platform

Balfour Beatty VINCI

CRISP platform enables BBV to - Realise circular economy benefits through keeping resources in use if possible, minimising the use of virgin materials, stopping useable materials from going to waste and promoting resource efficiency - Lower our environmental impact, particularly by reducing CO2 emissions through waste reduction and improving materials efficiency - Reduce costs by realising the value of existing materials and reduce costs of purchase and disposal · Help identify cost savings and enable better management of materials supply - Benefit local communities through improved engagement and streamlined donations to charities Success Story - CRISP Trial at Sublot 8 BBV CRISP had a pilot run at Sublot 8 with 28 active users across the Sublot and identified 123 assets. These were successfully reused across different sites within the sublot. This has brought in cost savings of £3200.