The project will deliver a step change in the use of low carbon alkali activated binders in UK concrete production as a direct replacement for Portland cement (PC). PC, a key raw material, accounts for approx 8% of global man made CO2. Supplies in the UK are also potentially at risk due to demands from other global markets and unpredictability of the carbon tax regime. Alkali activated binders do not require high temperature processing and utilise local by-product materials or wastes. The project brings together key members of a new supply chain needed to move alkali activated binders to commercial use in the UK. It fulfils the unmet need being demanded by customers for lower environmental impact products and manufacturer's needs to find alternatives to PC which are more predictable in terms of security of supply and price. Alkali activated binders utilise a range of materials but we need to address supply chain/process barriers for binder raw materials.

The project is a collaboration between PassivSystems Ltd, BRE and the latter’s Centre of Excellence in Energy Utilisation at the University of Strathclyde to carry out a feasibility and comparison study to deliver a grid demand response from the home. This will be achived by examining the optimisation of heat pumps and their integration with energy storage (modern generation space heaters; water heating; electrical) to deliver affordable household comfort and to provide electricity grid flexibility such that peaks on can be mitigated by using a novel feedback control approach to optimise the delivery of affordable heat in conjunction with hub-connected energy storage.

Awaiting Public Summary