New innovations that will transform your projects
Innovation News
GEOTECHNICS
HS2 trials low carbon dual fuel piling rig on London site
Four 30m deep piles were installed on a London High Speed 2 site as part of a trial by dual fuel technology specialist Ulemco and Cementation Skanska, working with building research body BRE. A dual fuel system enables diesel and biofuels to be mixed with hydrogen, resulting in a reduction in fuel use and lower CO2 emissions.
Ulemco and Cementation Skanska converted a medium-sized CFA piling rig so that it could operate using energy from on-board hydrogen tanks. Now that it has been shown that the technology can work in a real world scenario, Ulemco and Cementation Skanksa are looking at how the technology can be used more widely to cut carbon emissions.
PORTS
Tidal-powered container terminal for the Wash
Work on Centre Port UK, the world’s first tidal-powered deep-sea container terminal, could commence in 2025. Centre Port is an 18km, £2bn tidal barrage across the Wash in East Anglia.
It will feature the world’s first tidal energy-powered deep sea container terminal and will handle 400M containers a year, as well as acting as a flood defence barrage.
It will include rail and road connections and have facilities to produce hydrogen. A key feature of the barrage is a hydro-electric dam capable of powering 500,000 homes.
CONCRETE
Power tunnels claim record low carbon concrete pour
National Grid and its London Power Tunnels contractor Hochtief-Murphy Joint Venture have claimed the world’s biggest continuous pour of Earth Friendly Concrete, cutting 82t from the project’s embodied carbon.
The cement-free product uses a binder of ground granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash geopolymer chemically activated by industrial waste products instead of cement. Supplier Wagners said the material produces around 64% fewer carbon emissions, saving an estimated 111kg of CO2 2/m3.
STRUCTURES
Network Rail to build accessible footbridge with passenger lifts
Network Rail has released an artist’s impression of the “Beacon” accessible footbridge which it will install at Garforth station.
Designed by structural engineers Davies Maguire, it is known as the Beacon bridge because of the design of the lift shafts at each end. The structure was the result of a Network Rail competition launched in 2019.
The £6M investment comes from the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme. Work starts later this month with completion due in April 2024.
- More news newcivilengineer.com/innovative-thinking