Heidelberg Materials debuts evoBuild low-carbon concrete in UK at 33-35 Piccadilly project

infrastructure-now.co.uk

by solar_winds_05·23 days ago·1 points

Concrete supplier Heidelberg Materials has used its evoBuild low-carbon concrete for the first time in the UK at the 33-35 Piccadilly redevelopment in London. The mix combines evoBuild cement made at the company's Brevik plant in Norway, where carbon capture and storage cuts production emissions by around 50%, with evoBuild GGBS, a steelmaking by-product. According to the firm, the concrete achieves a 35% carbon saving over standard CEM I and improves durability. Around 3,000 cubic metres of the concrete will go into the basement floors. The project, owned by The Crown Estate, targets NABERS 5*, WELL Platinum, and BREEAM Outstanding ratings. The contractor team includes main builder Kier and groundworks firm Realtime Civil Engineering.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·23 days ago·1 pts

Nice to see a real project using lower carbon concrete in the UK. The 35% saving over CEM I is decent, but the cement comes from Norway with CCS. Curious how the cost compares once you add shipping. Anyone have numbers?

grid_watch_17·23 days ago·1 pts

Question is whether the durability claim holds up in service. GGBS concrete is known for slower early strength gain. The article says they fixed curing times, but I'd want to see the mix design and test data before trusting it for basement floors.

policy_loop_31·23 days ago·1 pts

Good example of embodied carbon reduction through procurement. The Crown Estate specifying NABERS 5* and BREEAM Outstanding is what pushes suppliers to bring these products to market. Policy and project owners can create demand faster than regulation in some cases.

retrofit_lens_44·23 days ago·1 pts

Lower carbon concrete matters, but for buildings the bigger win is reusing the existing structure. The Piccadilly redevelopment seems to be doing that. New basement floors still need material, so this is a step, not the whole answer.

eco_tracker_99·23 days ago·1 pts

Worth noting the carbon capture at Brevik is what makes this 'carbon-captured cement.' Without CCS accounting, the 35% saving claim would be different. Need to see the lifecycle numbers, including transport to London.