on this page
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Markets
Transportation
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Location
Exeter / Devon
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Client
National Highways
Michael Wright
Technical Director, United Kingdom contact form+44 1223 81 4097
National Highways aims to achieve net zero for construction and maintenance activities by 2040. To achieve this, it needs to decarbonise asphalt, which covers 96% of the Strategic Road Network.
National Highways commissioned AtkinsRéalis to undertake a research programme into the future of asphalt. Specifically, the emerging technologies of biogenic binders (bio-binders), which are produced from or incorporate natural biogenic material. Biogenic materials absorb or store atmospheric CO2, which is then ‘locked’ into place and not released back into the atmosphere. When biogenic material is used in asphalt it remains locked in even when the asphalt is later recycled. This effectively turns the road into a carbon sink. Typical examples of biogenic materials include lignin, tall oils, timber oils/wastes, bio-fuel by-products, microalgae, animal wastes or waste vegetable oils.
Two innovative low carbon asphalt products containing polymer modified bitumen (PMB) bio-binders were installed on the A30 Cutteridge to Alphington scheme (near Exeter in Devon) in February 2023.
The trial found the bio-binders could reduce asphalt’s carbon footprint by up to 23% throughout material extraction and processing and manufacturing. It is estimated that 77,300 tonnes of CO2e were produced using asphalt on the Strategic Road Network in 2020, meaning substantial carbon savings could be realised by bio-asphalt.
This trial incorporated two of the latest PMB bio-binders and a control section to enable the carbon footprint and performance to be directly compared. Based on the total production (1,200t) of bio-asphalt, it is estimated that the trial on the A30 delivered a potential saving of 18 tonnes of CO2e.
This was the first formal trial of its kind on the Strategic Road Network. It required extensive collaboration with National Highways. Heidelberg Materials led the production and installation of the material, while testing was undertaken at state-of-the-art laboratory testing facilities at Heidelberg Materials and the University of Nottingham. The first trial used Nynas’ biogenic binder Nypol RE and the second used Shell’s Cariphalte CarbonSink.
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The information provided by Virtua Research cited herein is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. Use of any Virtua Research data is at a user’s own risk and Virtua Research disclaims any liability for use of the Virtua Research data. Although the information is obtained or compiled from reliable sources Virtua Research neither can nor does guarantee or make any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, validity, sequence, timeliness, completeness or continued availability of any information or data, including third-party content, made available herein. In no event shall Virtua Research be liable for any decision made or action or inaction taken in reliance on any information or data, including third-party content. Virtua Research further explicitly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
The consensus estimate provided by Virtua Research is based on estimates, forecasts and predictions made by third party financial analysts, as described above. It is not prepared based on information provided by AtkinsRéalis and can only be seen as a consensus view on AtkinsRéalis' possible future results from an outside perspective. AtkinsRéalis has not provided input on these forecasts, except by referring to past publicly disclosed information. AtkinsRéalis does not accept any responsibility for the quality or accuracy of any individual or average of forecasts or estimates. This web page contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by third parties. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between AtkinsRéalis' actual future results, financial situation, development or performance, and the estimates given here.
The trial found the bio-binders could reduce asphalt’s carbon footprint by up to 23% throughout material extraction and processing and manufacturing.
“This innovation trial is part of our Asphalt Roadmap journey towards Net Zero for pavement maintenance and construction activities by 2024. The collaborative engagement in delivery shown by AtkinsRéalis with our supply chain has optimised joint learning within the pavement community and will inform future specification updates to enable the use of lower carbon materials, while keeping considerations around whole life performance at the forefront of decision making.”
- Catherine Wilkins, Category Management Group Lead – Pavement, National Highways
“Bio-binders are an innovative technology which has significant potential to decarbonise asphalt production and to deliver net zero targets. The trial on the A30 provides a key opportunity to assess the performance of some of these innovative low carbon materials under real-world trafficking. Collaboration between various industrial and academic parties has been key to the success of this innovative trial. The state of art testing at the University of Nottingham will enable the performance of these system to be assessed to realise the whole life benefits of this emerging technology.”
- Professor Gordon Airey, Director of the Nottingham Transportation Engineering Centre - University of Nottingham.
Please note that you are now leaving the AtkinsRéalis website (legal name: AtkinsRéalis Group inc.) and entering a website maintained by a third party (the "External Website") and that you do so at your own risk.
AtkinsRéalis has no control over the External Website, any data or other content contained therein or any additional linked websites. The link to the External Website is provided for convenience purposes only. By clicking "Accept" you acknowledge and agree that AtkinsRéalis is not responsible, and does not accept or assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the data protection policy, the content, the data or the technical operation of the External Website and/or any linked websites and that AtkinsRéalis is not liable for the terms and conditions (or terms of use) of the External Website. Further, you acknowledge and agree that you assume all risks resulting from entering and/or using the External Website and/or any linked websites.
BY ENTERING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE, YOU ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU COMPLETELY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS AND CLAIMS AGAINST ATKINSRÉALIS, AND RELEASE, DISCHARGE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS ATKINSRÉALIS, ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS AND AGENTS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIABILITY FOR LOSS, DAMAGES, EXPENSES AND COSTS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH ENTERING AND/OR USING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE AND/OR ANY LINKED WEBSITES AND ANY DATA AND/OR CONTENT CONTAINED THEREIN.
Such waiver and release specifically includes, without limitation, any and all rights and claims pertaining to reliance on the data or content of the External Website, or claims pertaining to the processing of personal data, including but not limited to any rights under any applicable data protection statute. You also recognize by clicking “Accept” that the terms of this disclaimer are reasonable.
The information provided by Virtua Research cited herein is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. Use of any Virtua Research data is at a user’s own risk and Virtua Research disclaims any liability for use of the Virtua Research data. Although the information is obtained or compiled from reliable sources Virtua Research neither can nor does guarantee or make any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, validity, sequence, timeliness, completeness or continued availability of any information or data, including third-party content, made available herein. In no event shall Virtua Research be liable for any decision made or action or inaction taken in reliance on any information or data, including third-party content. Virtua Research further explicitly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
The consensus estimate provided by Virtua Research is based on estimates, forecasts and predictions made by third party financial analysts, as described above. It is not prepared based on information provided by AtkinsRéalis and can only be seen as a consensus view on AtkinsRéalis' possible future results from an outside perspective. AtkinsRéalis has not provided input on these forecasts, except by referring to past publicly disclosed information. AtkinsRéalis does not accept any responsibility for the quality or accuracy of any individual or average of forecasts or estimates. This web page contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by third parties. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between AtkinsRéalis' actual future results, financial situation, development or performance, and the estimates given here.
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