In 2019, the UK became the world’s first country to set a Net Zero 2050 target into law, mandating a reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. The infrastructure sector, which collectively contributes one-sixth of the UK’s total carbon emissions, needs to dramatically reduce its emissions in order for the UK to be able to meet its decarbonisation targets. The Road to Net Zero project by HAUC and TfL was commissioned to better understand how street and road works must change to minimise emissions and contribution to climate change. To achieve this, research will be made into the current state of practice, existing and future innovation and the potential consequences of any implemented changes within the following three categories:
- Climate Change, Net Zero and Beyond
- Material / Process Innovation
- Measuring Environmental Performance
EA Technology are leading the study on Climate Change, Net Zero and Beyond category. This category focuses on the sector’s emissions and what smart solutions can be used to achieve Net Zero emissions. We are delivering this project alongside University of Birmingham who will be leading the studies on Material / Process Innovation and Measuring Environmental Performance.
We have developed a web-based Carbon Emissions Evaluator designed for utilities and highway authorities to track emissions associated with street and road works. The project is structured into three phases: Discovery, Design, and Delivery. With the Discovery and Design phases now successfully completed, we are pleased to announce the transition into the Delivery phase. This current phase is focused on enhancing the Carbon Emissions Evaluator and developing an Optioneering tool. This new tool will enable users to assess the impact of various changes to their projects, not only on carbon emissions but also on other critical factors such as noise pollution, social value, traffic disruption, and economic implications.
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As part of the Discovery phase, EA Technology conducted two studies on “Climate Change, Net Zero and Beyond.”
The first study involved a literature review that identified various emissions areas that need to be considered, challenges associated with decarbonization, and some promising innovations that can help reduce emissions. However, the literature review did not cover where and when these solutions should be implemented or the wider impact considerations that need to be made.
To address these gaps, EA Technology completed a second study that quantified sector-wide emissions, split into emissions areas and types of work. This study provides an overview of the emissions associated with street and road works, as well as the energy demand from vehicles and machinery. The study received input from industry representatives, including qualitative insights regarding work operations and quantitative data on asset utilization and variation across work types and emissions areas. The goal of this study is to provide a better understanding of the key sources of emissions, highlight areas for targeted solutions, and identify areas that require further investigation and innovation.
More details on the findings can be found on the downloadable Discovery Phase Findings report or on HAUC’s Road To Net Zero website.
As part of the Design Phase, EA Technology delivered three different Work Packages.
The first work package focussed on improving the baseline emission figure detailed in the discovery phase using further research into the sector and a wider level of sector engagement. A key realisation from the research was the inherent challenge in obtaining emissions estimates for the sector. Factors such as inconsistent data collection across regions and industries, the diverse nature of works, and the inherent complexity of tasks in the sector have all played a part. Our engagement with existing platforms, notably Street Manager and the Scottish Road Works Register, revealed valuable insights. These included an updated figure of approximately 2.5 million works per year (2022/23), along with an in-depth investigation on the types of works performed and how they differ across industries. As well as several recommended improvements to the existing platforms, this work package strengthened the argument for a sector wide Carbon Emissions Evaluator.
The second work package offered an in-depth analysis on the emission reduction targets of the Street and Road works sector and provided recommendations for reducing the emissions over the short to medium term. This was developed through rigorous research, including a review of industry targets, detailed questionnaires, and a series of one-to-one meetings, gathering insights into the challenges and potential solutions for achieving net zero emissions in the sector.
The final work package involved the development and delivery of a Carbon Emissions Evaluator for use by the sector. The Carbon Emissions Evaluator was developed to standardise the data collected and reported in the UK road and street works industry. It was also developed to obtain an accurate baseline emission of the sector, which will in turn be used in decarbonisation goals and projections.
The development of the Carbon Emissions Evaluator was supported through weekly meetings with the working group, which was comprised of stakeholders from multiple utilities and local authorities. The feedback obtained from these sessions were crucial towards ensuring that the tool developed would be accessible and relevant to its users. The Carbon Emissions Evaluator is currently live and available for use by undertakers of Street and Road works. The Delivery Phase of the project will add several key enhancements to improve tool usability and calculation accuracy of emissions.
Further detail can be found on HAUC’s Road To Net Zero website.
This is the third and final phase of the project and focusses on two main work packages.
The first work package is to productionise the Carbon Emissions Evaluator, delivering several key enhancements. These include:
- Ability to import and export data from the tool
- Contractor entry and client approval
- Increased entry options including units, green alternatives and utility assets
- Creation of a dashboard which includes datasets from national datasets such as Street Manager
- Several user interface improvements to improve usability and functionality
The second work package involves the creation of an Optioneering tool which will allow Street and Road Works undertakers to enter in details of their upcoming works and see the impact that various changes will have on its carbon footprint. This tool will also include the wider consequences of their work by integrating the University of Birmingham’s “All Consequences” framework.