This proposal is led by Cemex and features organisations including Northumbrian Water, Galliford Try, Sika and the University of Manchester. Our project proposes an innovative approach to decarbonising concrete by integrating micronized limestone and graphene-based admixtures into the concrete mix, targeting the reduction of the carbon footprint associated with concrete production. This innovation addresses the challenge by reducing reliance on Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), which is responsible for a significant portion of concrete's carbon emissions. The use of micronized limestone as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) reduces the need for OPC, thereby decreasing CO2 emissions. Additionally, incorporating graphene, a novel 2D material, enhances the mechanical properties of the concrete, allowing for the use of higher SCM content without compromising strength development. The core innovation lies in the synergy between micronized limestone and graphene. Micronized limestone, with its fine particle size and high surface area, contributes to improved particle packing and hydration reactions in the concrete mix, enhancing strength and durability. Graphene, known for its exceptional strength and conductivity, further amplifies these properties, providing a dual approach to improving concrete's performance while significantly reducing its carbon footprint. The commercial potential of this innovation is substantial, given the urgent need for sustainable building materials in the face of global climate challenges. Our proposal encompasses a comprehensive plan from laboratory development to real-world application, ensuring the solution is not only technically viable but also commercially viable. With the support of industry partners and leveraging existing commercial relationships, the project is poised for success, offering a new standard in low-carbon concrete that meets the needs of modern construction while addressing environmental concerns.

All of the existing maritime shore power supply/charging infrastructure in the UK is either relatively small capacity and/or focused on meeting the needs of vessels drawing exclusively stable loads directly from the UK electrical distribution network. The primary objective of existing systems is to satisfy an immediate decarbonisation objective; with the related cost and sustainability aspects of electrical power delivery to ships at berth deemed to be of secondary concern. The general direction of travel of a number of emerging strands of forthcoming maritime legislation at a global (IMO), regional (EU) and national (UK) level, suggests that over time, the majority of commercial cargo vessels of 400gt or more will be required to adopt decarbonisation measures of one form or another. In general terms, based on current or recently emerging technology, due to space constraints, relative cost to revenue ratios and operational aspects, decarbonisation increases in difficulty as vessel size decreases. The objective of this project is to demonstrate through developing a practical, environmentally and economically sustainable shore-based store and release electrical energy solution; capable of providing for hotel services on board using green renewable energy, and testing, via simulations, the additional requirements to meet the fluctuating electrical load demands of commercial cargo vessels operating, in addition to vessel base loads, ship mounted self-discharging cargo equipment drawing frequent high peak transient electrical loads throughout extended duration cargo operations. Additional to the technical challenges of delivering the significant and fluctuating electrical loads necessary for ship cargo operations, the simulations will address the related issues of ensuring that: (i) to meet the needs of tidally constrained ship operations, an electrical power source can be provided to vessels decoupled from the supply on demand electricity charging structure prevalent in the UK; and (ii), that an electrical power source is available to vessels from sustainable origins to ensure that both upstream decarbonisation and ship emission regulatory compliance objectives are achieved. The project simulations of a full scale system will be crucial to understanding the importance of fitting the required high capacity shore power connection equipment to future new-builds being considered by UK aggregate dredger operators as the industry continues on a fleet renewal program. Finally, as an adjunct to the primary objectives, the project will explore the potential for supply-to-grid support for the UK electrical network when available stored energy is not required for ship or wharf operations.

Shoreham Port, since inception in 1760 has operated as a Trust Port, returning all profits to improve the area for everyone. Today it is an established industrial cluster with 175 businesses based on the 110 acre estate. Large industrial partners include Barrett Steel Ltd, ArcelorMittal, Aggregate Industries, Tarmac a CRH Company, Cemex UK, Days Group Ltd, Bartholomews Agri Food Limited and Local Fuels Ltd. This project is a collaboration to create a credible and measurable Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan for the cluster, reducing emissions and improving local air quality. Brighton and Hove City Council and Adur and Worthing Councils will be providing public sector input and policy guidance to the project. Ricardo PLC will be bringing their extensive energy, infrastructure and sustainability capabilities to undertake the options study. University of Sussex's world leading research department will be providing academic resources to capture knowledge, disseminating learning across the network of national industrial clusters, universities and government. Upon completion of the plan the collaboration will focus on deployment, delivering specific projects to achieve carbon abatement across the industrial cluster.

The majority of currently existing maritime electrical supply/charging infrastructure in the UK is either relatively small scale and/or focused on meeting the needs of electrical consumers drawing relatively stable loads directly from the UK electrical distribution network, on a supply-on-demand basis. The primary objective of the above type of supply is to satisfy an immediate decarbonisation objective; with the related cost and sustainability aspects of electrical power delivery to ships at berth, if they are considered, potentially deemed to be of secondary concern. The general direction of travel of a number of emerging strands of forthcoming maritime legislation at a global (IMO), regional (EU) and national (UK) level, suggests that over time, the majority of commercial cargo vessels of 400gt or more will be required to adopt decarbonisation measures of one form or another. In general terms, based on current or recently emerging technology, due to space constraints, the relative cost to revenue ratios and operational aspects, decarbonisation increases in difficulty as vessel size decreases. The objective of this project is to undertake a study to determine the feasibility of developing, in a practical, environmentally and economically sustainable manner, a shore-based store and release electrical energy solution; capable of meeting the fluctuating electrical load demands of commercial cargo vessels operating, in addition to vessel base loads, ship-mounted self-discharging cargo equipment drawing frequent high peak transient electrical loads throughout extended duration cargo operations. Additional to the technical challenges of delivering the significant and fluctuating electrical loads necessary for ship operations, the study will address the related issues of ensuring that: (i) to meet the needs of tidally constrained ship operations, an electrical power source can be provided to vessels decoupled from the supply on-demand electricity charging structure prevalent in the UK; and (ii), that an electrical power source is available to vessels from sustainable origins to ensure that both upstream decarbonisation and ship emission regulatory compliance objectives are achieved. The study will further consider the related aspect of serving the needs of multiple vessels from a single shore-based infrastructure installation, thereby, to a degree, avoiding replication of similar decarbonisation technology in multiple vessels; with the associated reduction in materials usage and cost for ship operators. Finally, as an adjunct to the primary objectives, the project will explore the potential for supply-to-grid support for the UK electrical network when available stored energy is not required for ship operations.

The rapid decommissioning of coal power plants in the UK has inadvertently created a supply chain crisis in the construction industry, as most cement and concrete producers use coal fly ash as a staple supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in cements. The lack of local SCMs from the coal power and steel industries has led to increased imports from mainland Europe and elsewhere, further exacerbating the carbon emissions associated with the UK construction industry. Carbon Upcycling Technologies UK (CUT) is a subsidiary of Carbon Upcycling Technologies, an award-winning Canadian startup (e.g., Carbon X-Prize winner and Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label owner) scaling a carbon utilization technology that can activate a range of abundantly available waste materials such as landfilled ash, glass, clays, and volcanic rocks to permanently store CO2 and produce reactive low carbon cements. For this project, CUT will bring together a consortium of partners from two critical foundation industries: the glass industry--represented by Glass Technology Services and MKD32--and the cement industry, represented by CEMEX. This consortium will create a first-of-a-kind circular economy solution that converts local low-grade, contaminated glass cullets into high-performance SCMs. CUT and its project partners will work together to produce a first-of-its-kind CO2-enhanced glass pozzolan that will lower the carbon footprint of cement and concrete while simultaneously upcycling contaminated post-consumer glass into cementitious materials, diverting it from its current use as an inert filler in precast blocks. This CO2-enhanced glass pozzolan will be blended into cement at the CEMEX Rugby plant and used in ready-mix and precast concrete for sidewalks, curbs, gutters, driveways, foundations to lower the carbon footprint of UK built infrastructure. The glass-derived pozzolan will reduce the amount of cement in a concrete mix by over 25% through superior strength activity performance, and improve concrete durability by up to 45%; improving infrastructure resilience against environmental impacts of climate change. This project will directly facilitate the UK's aspiration to move towards a more circular economy \[1\] and will help support the UK's commitment to achieving an 80% reduction in its carbon emissions by 2050\. With the infrastructure sector having control over almost one-sixth of total emissions, it will play a key role in contributing to the national reduction.\[2\] Currently, low carbon cement and concrete are projected to be responsible for a 12% reduction towards reaching net-zero \[3\]. \[1\]Policy paper: Circular Economy Package policy statement, 30 July 2020 \[2\]HM Treasury: Infrastructure Carbon Review, November 2013 \[3\]thisisukconcrete.co.uk/TIC/media/root/Resources/MPA-UKC-Net-Zero-Roadmap\_Summary2pp\_October-2020.pdf

Manufacturing processes for concretes using Portland cement (PC) are well established and account for 5-8% of global man-made CO2. End users of concrete products now demand low environmental impacts. However, reducing these impacts whilst still meeting user requirements (product performance and volume) remains a major challenge for the industry in the UK & globally. The project will address this challenge by developing and scaling up new manufacturing processes and implementing materials innovation to enable the cost effective production of low CO2 concrete products from alternative binders to PC based on waste or byproduct materials that harden by a chemical activation. The project will also assess the use of reclaimed materials (e.g. landfilled pfa) without use of conventional PC and as a partial replacement for PC in conventional concrete. It will thus address manufacturing challenges and broaden the scope of materials inputs & end user segments to create solutions scalable by UK SMEs and support them to develop new services for a large market.

RESCIND will harness the value in two continuously produced waste streams: Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA, ‘fly ash’) from coal-fired power stations and Cement Kiln Dust (CKD) from the production of cement to develop a low-carbon building product. CKD is a by-product of cement clinker production which generates significant disposal costs for the cement industry. CKD can be used with PFA, or other silicon rich material, to produce a cement replacement. . This “cementless” binder can wholly replace Portland cement in concrete production and in conjunction with recycled aggregate enables “all waste” concrete products. RESCIND will demonstrate the use of CKD as an enabling material for cementless concrete block production. Cementless concrete blocks will be manufactured and mechanically tested to demonstrate performance. Through the use of recycled demolition aggregate, “all-waste” concrete will be demonstrated

Concrete railway sleepers have high performance requirements but currently have a relatively high environmental impact. Performance requirements are currently met with concrete mixes using a high proportion of Portland cement, leading to a high embedded CO2 content (150,000 t/annum). Approximately 1 million sleepers are produced every year with a similar number reaching the end of their in-service life (this number equates to about 200,000 tonnes of concrete annually). The lack of data on the raw material base and sleeper history prevents sleepers, or their component parts, being recycled at end of life. The project will reduce lifecycle environmental impacts of sleepers whilst maintaining performance characteristics. It will achieve this objective by a) developing innovative concrete mixes to reduce embodied CO2 and b) developing ICT-based solutions using embedded sensors to reduce waste in the supply chain and enable through-life monitoring to support 'circular' reuse/recycling at the end of life. A 50% reduction in embedded CO2 and 50% recycling rate are targetted within 5 years.

The project proposes a collaborative research programme to test an innovative, algae based solution for the significant reduction of large scale industrial CO2 emissions. Represented within the project consortium is a large scale energy generators (SembCorp Utilities UK) and the process industries, including cement production (Cemex UK) and lime production (Steetley Dolomite). The project has been recently realigned following trials in which the difficulties associated with growing algae to a sufficiently high concentration and at a sufficient rate have been explored. The primary outputs this project now include:- Further development of lighting arrangements for the photo bioreactor Site testing of algae performance on actual flue gas Delivery of a scalable design Provision of a business model based on project results that will assist with partner decision-making in algae investment. The project will focus on the use of bioreactors for the growth of algae in order to present outputs substantiated by experimental results.

3D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is one of the most significant geophysical imaging developments of recent years. Despite its suitability and the potential benefits it has not been applied to sand and gravel resources. The main barrier to take-up is the lack of an appropriate data processing and presentation system, to allow knowledge relevant to commercial operations to be visualised by site personnel. The project aims to link 3D ERT, existing GIS, borehole data and other relevant site-specific contextual information to provide non-invasive visualisation and evaluation of complex sand and gravel deposits. This will provide a decision support and data management tool. This is timely as many UK sand and gravel deposits now being exploited are complex (e.g. glacial and Greensand deposits), displaying a high degree of structural and compositional heterogeneity.