National Highways is actively seeking ways to reduce its carbon emissions and has initiated a trial for a carbon-negative aggregate on a segment of the M11. This trial is part of a broader effort to fund innovative solutions through the Low Carbon Innovation Competition.
- The innovative material produced by Low Carbon Materials is being tested with support from Skanska and Tarmac.
- Real-world conditions on the M11’s northbound carriageway in Essex will determine the material’s performance against conventional aggregates.
- Four companies received significant funding to progress their projects, with Low Carbon Materials being the first to trial its product on a highway.
- Successful collaboration between National Highways and its partners has accelerated the development and testing process.
National Highways has embarked on a groundbreaking trial of a carbon-negative aggregate on a section of the M11 motorway in Essex, spearheading efforts to reduce carbon emissions. This effort is part of the Low Carbon Innovation Competition, which seeks to support projects that align with the organisation’s carbon reduction goals. Low Carbon Materials, the company behind this innovative product, secured funding through the competition and has progressed to real-world testing.
The trial involves replacing a section of the asphalt concrete binder course with the carbon-negative aggregate, alongside a control section using conventional materials. National Highways will monitor the performance of these materials under typical traffic conditions. Joanna White, Director of Research, Development and Innovation at National Highways, emphasised the importance of such solutions for meeting carbon reduction targets. She noted that collaborative efforts with partners like Skanska and Tarmac were crucial in realising the trial.
The competition supported several innovative companies with funding ranging from £15,000 to £80,000, allowing their concepts to advance rapidly. Low Carbon Materials’ aggregate has been developed with the support of industry giants Skanska and Tarmac and is now subjected to rigorous tests on the strategic road network. According to Natasha Boulding, CEO of Low Carbon Materials, this trial represents a major step forward in adopting carbon-reducing alternatives in road construction.
Skanska’s chief engineer, Paul Cole, highlighted the rapid progress of the National Highways’ Accelerating Low Carbon Innovation programme, which facilitated the collaboration between various partners. He commended the programme for achieving significant milestones within an eight-month period, reflecting on the feasibility of bringing new products to market expediently. The programme’s success underscores the potential for large-scale adoption of these materials in the future.
In addition to Low Carbon Materials, three other firms are advancing their innovative products through the competition. PRG (Scotland) is transforming waste tyres into a bitumen-like substance beneficial for roadworks, Circular11 focuses on maintenance-free fencing derived from low-grade plastics, and Asset International Structures is developing advanced polymer bridge beams with integrated monitoring technology.
The successful implementation of carbon-negative aggregates on the M11 could pave the way for wider adoption across National Highways, significantly contributing to carbon reduction goals.
