How "Decarbonising Precast Concrete" is contributing to net zero targets

Reducing the carbon footprint in construction

PCE Ltd is delighted to be working in partnership with consultants Akerlof, Accelar, Curtins and precast product manufacturer Forterra as part of an Innovate UK funded consortium to map the embodied carbon within the existing Ministry of Justice secure accommodation designs and to identify opportunities to reduce their actual carbon footprint in the future.

 

This research project, known as ‘Decarbonising Precast Concrete’, is part of the strategic broader drive towards net zero for the delivery of UK Government assets and for the wider construction industry, responding to the climate emergency and is based on the delivery of the new build MOJ Prison at Glen Parva, Leicestershire. PCE is providing the house blocks and other structures at Glen Parva which is their second large scale prison build in just 3 years. This innovative UK project will help change the delivery strategy for future prisons to ensure that the embodied carbon created during the construction phase is minimised whilst maintaining the existing high degrees of compliance, durability and value for money.

 

Carbon reduction becoming a selection criterion

The results of the research will be published during Quarter 2 of 2021 and they will also form the catalyst for introducing carbon reduction as a key selection criterion in PCE’s approach to delivering all their innovative hybrid construction systems. Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing up to £191 million to fund single and collaborative research and development projects as part of the Sustainable Innovation Fund between 2020 and 2022.

 

Innovate UK Executive Chair Dr Ian Campbell said:

“In these difficult Covid times we have seen the best of British business innovation. The pandemic is not just a health emergency but one that impacts society and the economy.

“The Decarbonising Precast Concrete project along with every initiative Innovate UK has supported through this fund, is an important step forward in driving sustainable economic development. Each one is also helping to realise the ambitions of hard-working people.”
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