A Scotland-based manufacturing facility that will enable the production of lower carbon cement products has received a £500,000 award from Zero Waste Scotland’s Circular Economy Investment Fund.
The new location is being kicked off by innovative Ash Solutions, a 50/50 joint venture between Levenseat Limited, Scotland’s leader in waste and resource management, and Organic Innovative Solutions Limited. The grant will support the development of an industrial-scale facility, capable of processing up to 20,000 tonnes of combustion ash, cyclone and boiler ash into a sustainable pulverized fuel ash (PFA) form. The main part is used in cement.
IAS secured final status of waste from SEPA earlier this year for this innovative PFA alternative, developed in partnership with the University of Strathclyde Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the Center for Innovation. new Scottish Construction (CSIC). The product has also been shortlisted as a finalist for the National Recycling Awards 2021.
Utilizing this new IAS patented process, which diverts waste from landfills and avoids the use of virgin sand, produces a product that is cheaper and will reduce the environmental impact of the manufacturing process concrete compared with the use of imported PFA.
IAS has secured letters of interest for more than 60,000 tons of its new product and a contract for additional raw materials. The production facility, which will be located at Levenseat’s site in South Lanarkshire, is due to be operational by the end of 2022. When fully operational, the new facility will enable carbon savings of up to 6,104 tonnes CO2e per year. , which equates to 2,847 commercial flights or 3,260 cars on the road.
Over the next five years, IAS intends to build three full-scale industrial plants that will produce up to 54,000 tonnes of PFA replacement annually and reduce CO2e emissions by 500,000 tonnes. The entire project will create an estimated 20 new green jobs and also sustain additional construction jobs in the construction of the facilities.
Creative Ash Solutions director Robert Green said: “We are delighted to receive this important award from Zero Waste Scotland’s Circular Economy Investment Fund. It will allow us to scale up the production of the innovative PFA alternative developed in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde and CSIC.
“Our product not only provides a cheaper concrete option but also means lower emission concrete using a safe, recognized waste end treatment solution made from materials diverted from the landfill. This provides a win-win scenario for construction companies that are facing increased costs and additional pressure to reduce their carbon footprint.”
Commerce Secretary Ivan McKee jointly announced the Circular Economy Investment Fund award today. He said: “Today’s award highlights the Scottish Government’s support for business-academia collaboration to achieve Scotland’s sustainable building and supply chain development solutions.
“I applaud IAS and its partners for developing an innovative carbon-reducing PFA alternative. This is a tribute to the innovation and adaptability of businesses. We want to work with them and others to build an economy for all by delivering greater, greener and more equitable prosperity.
“This funding award from Zero Waste Scotland will help transform this idea into a viable business, which will further support Scotland’s pure ambition.”
Jill Farrell, Director, Customer Engagement and Disclosure, at Zero Waste Scotland, said: “To really end our contribution to the climate crisis, we need to address the situation. overconsumption and move from a linear waste economy to a circular economy. Building is largely based on finite resources, which is why we are committed to helping businesses, such as Creative Ash Solutions and its partners, in developing solutions bold, ingenious and sustainable construction to reduce the need and waste of raw materials.
“Innovative companies in Scotland are truly leading the way in finding solutions to some of our biggest challenges in the construction industry. I am delighted that the support from the Circular Economy Investment Fund will enable IAS to continue building a more environmentally friendly future while contributing to Scotland’s transition to a circular economy. . ”
