AN innovative project led by Heriot-Watt University is accelerating efforts to decarbonise the energy-intensive cement industry.
In a collaboration with industry and government, the university will share technological solutions to support the decarbonisation of cement – the source of around 8% of global carbon emissions.
Dr Gillian Murray, deputy principal of business and enterprise at Heriot-Watt, said the university’s research in sustainable construction was already changing the landscape.
“Our spin-out company has launched a revolutionary brick made of 90% recycled construction and demolition waste,” she said. “By re-using valuable recycled materials from construction and demolition waste, Kenoteq has achieved a circular economy exemplar, and we are confident it will lead to a circular economy revolution for the construction sector.”
READ MORE: HSBC slammed for 'unbelievable' fossil fuel investment despite 'warm words' at COP26
Construction and the wider built environment accounts for around 40% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and the global construction market is expected to grow by $4.5 trillion US dollars up to 2030 – to reach $15.2trn – with China, India, US, and Indonesia expected to account for 60% of this growth.
“During the global transition to net zero, the construction sector needs to dramatically reduce the amount of carbon embedded in new infrastructure and buildings, ultimately reducing its wider impact on the environment,” said Dr Anas Bataw, director of Heriot-Watt’s Centre of Excellence in Smart Construction (CESC).
READ MORE: Scottish whisky distillery goes green with new cleaning technology
The university’s research on decarbonising the cement industry is being led by CESC, which is based at its Dubai campus.
“As we develop advanced material, technological solutions and educational initiatives that will support the cement decarbonisation journey for the UAE, we’ll be sharing these insights on a global scale to support worldwide decarbonisation efforts,” said Dr Bataw.
“As a university with a global footprint, collaborating with global industry partners, we are perfectly placed to share this research.”
The university is hosting a 48-hour global student Hackathon event during Expo 2020 Dubai [October 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022] as part of its support to the UK Pavilion. The Sustainability in Construction Hackathon on February 23 and 24 will bring together students and experts to tackle climate change issues and will include keynote speeches and workshops.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here