Archive for category: Latest News

Earth Friendly Concrete has already saved the equivalent of 29 return flights from London to Melbourne in CO2 emissions on the HS2 construction project

The revolutionary ultra-low carbon concrete called Earth Friendly Concrete (EFC) has supplied more than 2,000m3 to the UK’s flagship High Speed 2 rail project – a total reduction of nearly 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide compared to if traditional Portland Cement-based concrete had been used. This is the equivalent to an individual taking 29 return flights from London to Melbourne. EFC is being poured for HS2’s construction conveyors which will be in place for the next decade at least on the eastern and central London sections of HS2 from Euston to Acton.

With the built environment accounting for 25% of the UK’s carbon emissions, HS2 is mitigating its carbon footprint by using EFC because it typically emits 75% fewer carbon emissions than traditional concrete. If Earth Friendly Concrete was used for the whole of HS2, it would reduce its carbon footprint by 2.5m tonnes of CO2 – the same in weight as 38 of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers.

At the heart of the HS2 works is EFC’s collaborative business dynamic. The only way to secure the UK’s net zero future is by industry members working alongside each other to achieve goals that are in everybody’s interests. To provide our ultra-low carbon concrete to HS2 we have worked closely with SCS Railways at Acton, John F Hunt at Euston and Keltbray at Maria Fidelis, where EFC has been used for various applications including conveyor foundations, crane mats, piling mats and deep raft foundation slabs.

The core of EFC ultra-low carbon technology is the EFC Activator Solution; a geopolymer system that binds industrial waste to make zero-cement concrete. EFC is the only zero-cement concrete technology that has been proven at scale on real life commercial projects globally. Every cubic metre of Earth Friendly Concrete recycles around 400kg of waste materials and is, therefore, a major contributor to the circular economy. This contrasts with traditional concrete, which uses mainly Portland cement and water.

Concrete is the most widely used resource on the planet after water and contributes 8% of total world emissions. According to Chatham House, if the cement industry were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of carbon dioxide after the United States and China. With current housing targets and other infrastructure planned, such as HS2, over the next decades, EFC will be a key component to the UK achieving its net zero goal by 2050.

Andy Izod, UK Regional Manager for EFC said:

“EFC could drastically reduce the UK’s carbon footprint and accelerate the drive to net zero by

2050 – HS2 is a great example of a project that wants to build using high structural performance concrete, but needs it to be as environmentally friendly as possible. We are very grateful to our EFC delivery partner, Capital Concrete, and to the Integrated Project Team at Skanska-Costain-Strabag for their support.”

Kiro Tamer, Head of Environmental Sustainability at Keltbray said:

“Keltbray has been using EFC for temporary works elements since 2019 with great success and we have been leading the way in supporting EFC becoming a ‘go to’ construction product in the future for customers demanding more sustainable delivery. Together, materials and construction processes account for 11% of all carbon emissions globally. To decarbonise the sector we must eliminate both operational and embodied carbon emissions. EFC is particularly suited for permanent works use within piled foundations and this is a brilliant milestone to have reached at Maria Fidelis and for construction in the UK in general.”

Daniel Sweeny, Group Sustainability Manager for John F Hunt said:

“We have made significant progress in lowering our operational carbon within the Group; however, our greatest challenge now is working with our supply chain to reduce our embodied carbon. Collaborating with Capital Concrete to pour Earth Friendly Concrete at our HS2 Euston project, allowed us to save over 30t CO2e as a direct result. The consequence of this saving is being applied throughout John F Hunt, and we will increase our use of EFC, viewing it as a necessary product to help the construction industry achieve net zero.”

SaxaVord Spaceport announces partnerships with Lerwick Engineering and Fabrication and T12 Consultancy to deliver Rocket Launch Rail 

 Ahead of the UK’s first commercial satellite vertical launch, SaxaVord Spaceport has today announced it has retained contracts with Lerwick Engineering and Fabrication (LEF) and T12 Consultancy. LEF, which holds the manufacturing contract, and T12, specialists in project engineering, will design and construct the launch rail for SaxaVord on the Lamba Ness site in Unst, Shetland. A launch rail is a critical component for directing suborbital launch vehicles. 

 LEF and T12 Consultancy will engineer, design and provide technical services to build the launch rail. The system will be able to support different rockets with a total gross lift-off mass of up to three tonnes. It will be operated remotely in order to adjust azimuth and elevation in response to weather conditions in real-time.  

Installing the launch rail, which is being supported by £378,000 of funding from the UK Space Agency, marks another milestone in the spaceport’s development.  

The launch rail will allow SaxaVord to increasingly become the gateway for the European space industry. It will also allow SaxaVord to widen its service offerings. By making suborbital launches possible, SaxaVord aims to also support research facilities and the education sector. Suborbital launches allow, amongst others, to test, demonstrate and qualify key components for satellites and orbital launches, as well as for scientific research and experiments that require microgravity. Applications include material testing, atmospheric physics and measurements, hypersonic research, technology testing and for education within technologies that are key not only to the space industry. 

Frank Strang, CEO of SaxaVord Spaceport commented, “Construction of SaxaVord’s launch site is progressing at pace and this contract marks a significant next step in the design of our industry-leading launch facilities. By working with local Shetland-based companies we’re continuing to support local businesses and industries at every stage in the Spaceport’s progression.” 

Robin Huber, Director of Business Development for SaxaVord Spaceport added “These contracts signify an important moment in bringing the Spaceport to life. The launch rail will support the development of new technologies which in turn will influence more sustainable space-related activities.” 

Richard Latimer, Commercial Director at T12 Consultancy commented, “This is a milestone contract for our team, in a very exciting and challenging industry. We are extremely pleased that SaxaVord Spaceport has selected us, and we’re looking forward to deploying our innovation and technical experience and playing our part in SaxaVord’s mission.” 

Callum Mills, Technical Manager at LEF commented, “We are very pleased to be involved with the SaxaVord Spaceport project, we see this as a fantastic opportunity to play our part in a project which is not only significant for our company but Shetland as a whole. This has been a very exciting opportunity for LEF to apply our vast experience from our operations within the oil and gas sector for the last 30 years to a unique and exciting project in a new market. We look forward to supporting SaxaVord in their mission to deliver this project.”

Jacobs of Dallas, USA, have been awarded a contract to support the U.K.’s fusion energy research program. The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has appointed the company on all lots of its new Plant Maintenance and Operational Support Services (PMOSS) framework.

Subject to competition under the framework, Jacobs’ project delivery professionals will be embedded in client teams at UKAEA, the U.K.’s national fusion laboratory, to work on some of the world’s most advanced research into machine design, robotics, materials science and fusion fuel.

“Assisting UKAEA to realize the enormous potential of fusion for generating safe, sustainable and low-carbon electricity delivers on our commitment to a clean energy future,” said Jacobs Energy Security and Technology Senior Vice President Karen Wiemelt. “Fusion power would be a new source of safe, non-carbon emitting and almost limitless energy, which makes this endeavor one of the keys to creating a more connected, sustainable world.”

“Delivering fusion energy is a quest – one of the biggest scientific and engineering challenges of them all, but the rewards will be enormous. Putting fusion electricity on the grid has the potential to provide ‘baseload’ power, complementing renewable and other low carbon energy sources as a share of many countries’ energy portfolios,” said UKAEA Chief Technology Officer Tim Bestwick.

The PMOSS framework focuses on key UKAEA-led programs, including the Tritium Advanced Technology (H3AT) facility, which will open at UKAEA next year, aimed at to exploring fuel storage, breeding and recovery techniques for future fusion powerplants. Jacobs’ specialists will also be available to support other UKAEA facilities, such as Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE), which tests and designs robotic and remote solutions; the Material Research Facility (MRF), which researches specialist materials that can withstand extreme conditions; and Fusion Technology Facility (FTF) at Culham and in Rotherham, which will test fusion components in realistic conditions.

Jacobs has been at the forefront of fusion energy for decades, supporting UKAEA-managed Joint European Torus and ITER, the world’s largest fusion project based in Provence, France. Growth in fusion research is creating new opportunities for Jacobs’ engineers in a range of disciplines, including electrical, control and instrumentation, process plant, mechanical, chemical and nuclear; and for scientists specializing in chemistry, physics and materials. To find out more about the opportunities on offer, search careers.jacobs.com.

Jacobs are challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world’s most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With approximately $15 billion in annual revenue and a talent force of approximately 60,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector.

 jacobs.com

Foot Note:

Octopus Real Estate completes £26m loan for sustainable homes at The Climate Innovation District as part of Leeds South Bank regeneration

• 247 new homes to be delivered in prime city location
• Properties will be net-zero carbon, highly energy efficient and sustainably delivered by Citu’s on-site manufacturing facility

Octopus Real Estate, part of Octopus Group and a leading UK specialist real estate lender and investor, has provided a £26m loan facility to pioneering sustainable developer Citu as part of the second phase of Citu’s Climate Innovation District. The development is a major pillar of the Leeds South Bank regeneration scheme – one of the largest regeneration programmes in Europe.

The Climate Innovation District will deliver over 900 high quality, low-carbon, energy-efficient homes. The second phase of the development, funded by Octopus, will include 247 residential units – comprising 161 apartments, 69 houses and 17 affordable homes – as well as six commercial units. These homes will sit at the foot of the award-winning bridge that connects the banks of the River Aire, and will be set amongst multiple climate-resilient public green spaces.

The loan provided by Octopus covers the refinancing of existing debt, and will fund the remaining construction costs, professional fees and associated costs required to complete and sell the units.

All the properties will be delivered using Citu’s own on-site manufacturing facility that produces a timber-framed component system of building, originally designed in collaboration with local Leeds Beckett University.

The completed units will include a Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) system which captures and recycles heat from the home. The properties will also benefit from green roofs, rainwater collection, photovoltaic solar panels, and fully electric heating, with no gas boilers. Citu estimates that on average each home will save 4 tonnes of CO₂ per year compared to traditionally built homes, plus around 60 tonnes of embodied carbon per home.

Nick White, Head of Development Origination, Octopus Real Estate, commented:

“This is exactly the kind of loan we want to be doing more of at Octopus Real Estate; supporting a regional housebuilder pushing the boundaries of sustainable development to deliver real change. Citu’s Climate Innovation District is a model of how to economically build zero carbon neighbourhoods that create greener, healthier, smarter and better-connected cities.

“At Octopus we are on a mission to reimagine real estate investment to create much-needed sustainable housing that is fit for the future and provides real social value to local communities. The team at Citu are fully aligned with our goals, and we’re thrilled to help them realise the next phase of this innovative development.”

Chris Thompson, Founder, Citu, concluded:

“It’s essential that we change the way we live in our cities. At Citu we develop places that encourage and enable bold change, so we look for long-term funding partners that share this vision. We are pleased to be on that journey with Octopus. Together, we’re building a legacy for the city of Leeds and proving that essential change is both achievable and deliverable for a better, lower carbon future.”

Global modular building specialist, Volumetric Building Companies (VBC), has announced ambitious plans to expand in the UK.

VBC is on track to become a $1bn modular construction company over the next three years and is now targeting the UK build-to-rent, affordable housing, student accommodation, and hotel sectors.

This follows VBC’s merger with Polish modular manufacturer Polcom earlier this year to extend its reach into Europe, and strategic acquisitions, which include the assets of the modular business Katerra, to facilitate efficient servicing of projects across the US.

Led by Vaughan Buckley and headquartered in Philadelphia, VBC is one of the world’s largest modular businesses. It offers advanced steel-framed modular and innovative timber construction technologies. Both solutions are highly efficient, cost-effective and have significantly less environmental impact than in-situ construction.

With proven capabilities in the multi-occupancy residential and hotel sectors worldwide, VBC uses a technology-enabled design and engineering model and precision manufacturing to deliver higher quality, highly sustainable offsite building solutions which reduce build programmes by up to 50 per cent. This approach is helping to address the chronic undersupply of housing globally.

Andy Smith, UK Director of VBC, “Residential – both build-to-rent and affordable housing – is one of the fastest growing segments of the offsite sector, driven by the high cost of private rental, the lack of affordable housing, and changing demographics. There is a critical need to increase the housing stock in high density urban areas and to radically improve the productivity of UK construction.”

“We now have a dedicated management team in place in the UK and there are plans to have an offsite manufacturing facility for VBC here, in addition to our existing and extensive modular production resources in mainland Europe.”

“Our aim in the next three years is to secure a strong order pipeline in our target sectors in the UK – student accommodation, build-to-rent, affordable housing, defence, custodial, and hotels – and to raise the profile of VBC here, ahead of our expansion into Western Europe. We are already in advanced discussions with a number of hotel groups, private developers, major contractors, and social housing providers.”

“VBC has the resource and proven expertise in the industrialisation of construction, using a Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) approach and data intelligence to drive continuous improvement. We have dominated the hospitality and affordable housing spaces in other countries with our innovative timber volumetric and steel-framed offsite solutions. We also manufacture ‘components’ inhouse – such as bathrooms and cabinets for kitchens and bedrooms – giving us complete control and security of supply for fixtures, fittings and finishes from design to manufacture, installation and handover.”

Vaughan Buckley, CEO of VBC said, “VBC is set to become the leading provider of optimised, cost-effective, sustainable solutions for modular buildings around the world. We have tremendous capabilities in the engineering and delivery of advanced modular solutions and buildings which are fully finished and even furnished offsite. Having technology-led production facilities on multiple continents, we are now well placed to drive change, transform construction, and address the housing crisis in the UK, Europe, US, and globally.”

With strong financial backing and investment in place, VBC now has more than 500 employees and over 1.25m sqft of manufacturing space in the US and Europe. Its board has decades of experience gained from blue chip organisations including Google, BP, Harley Davidson, and PIMCO.

VBC also has more than 50 designers in its globally integrated multi-disciplinary design team and its highly innovative data-driven approach means its customers benefit from reductions in waste, faster design and build, and improved energy efficiency.

www.vbc.co