The Arup team, in collaboration with smart infrastructure solutions company, Costain, the University of Edinburgh, and Newcastle University, will explore the use of biochar for storage of carbon within soil and enhanced rock weathering.
While both these technologies have already proved effective for direct capture of CO2 in agriculture settings, this project aims to demonstrate these technologies can be upscaled for application to UK infrastructure schemes.
The team will assess the challenges and benefits of this technology application and engage with industry stakeholders through consultation. It will also design pilot schemes for demonstration on a live infrastructure project and identify potentially suitable sites.
The Arup-led team was awarded the funding, made available from the government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, through submission of a proposal to Phase One of the BEIS Direct Air Capture and other Greenhouse Gas Removal technologies competition.
Dan Raynor, Associate Director at Arup, said: “Our team will be focusing on two technologies known to be effective for direct carbon capture, but which have not previously been applied at scale in an infrastructure setting. This is an exciting opportunity for us to explore how these innovative technologies could be used globally as a sustainable application in the built environment to contribute towards carbon reduction targets.”We are delighted to have been awarded this funding by BEIS and look forward to delivering this work together with our collaborators, Costain, the University of Edinburgh and Newcastle University. ”
