Following the closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar, the UK’s last coal-fired power station, RCEP will provide a new source of PFA to the construction industry
Hive Aggregates will source pulverised-fuel ash from a former landfill for the circular economy project
The project will save close to one tonne of carbon for every tonne of PFA used in place of traditional cement
The RCEP will bring £30-million of investment and create up to 100 jobs
Hive Aggregates, part of the Hive Energy Group, has received planning consent for its Retford Circular Economy Project [RCEP] in Northern England. The project will extract pulverised fuel ash [PFA], from a landfill site in Retford, to be used as a sustainable cement alternative.
The project will play an important role in fighting climate change as the PFA extracted from the site will be used to decarbonise cement, saving close to one tonne of carbon for every tonne used in place of traditional cement. The construction industry is hugely damaging to the environment; if the cement industry were a country, it would be the third largest carbon emitter in the world, behind only the US and China.
PFA has been safely used in UK construction for decades, sourced from coal-fired power stations. Following the closure of the UK’s last coal-fired power plant today, an alternative source of PFA is required, which is where the landfill site comes in. This is one of Hive Energy’s core circular economy projects, turning waste into a high-quality product, while conserving natural resources, and saving carbon emissions.
As well as producing a sustainable cement alternative, the project includes plans to restore the site, promoting biodiversity and natural landscapes. Progressive restoration, rewilding, and new habitats will begin to emerge after only four to five years, replacing the current low-quality grazing land.
In addition to the environmental benefits of the RCEP, there will be a range of economic benefits, including £30+million of investment, creating up to 100 jobs, a ‘jobs for local people’ initiative, and a community benefit fund for local parish councils.
Hive Aggregates received more than 150 letters of support for the project and, following feedback, instigated numerous positive changes to the plan: including adding additional management and mitigation measures, and significantly improving the restoration scheme.
Hugh Brennan, UK Managing Director at Hive Energy, said: “I am incredibly proud to see the RCEP moving forward. This carbon-saving project has the potential to bring numerous benefits to the local area and will hopefully instigate more positive change within the cement industry. It has taken over four years of securing land, quality testing, extensive consultation with the local community and statutory consultees, extensive and ongoing environmental surveys, a very challenging and extended planning and permitting process, and dedication from a team of skilled professionals covering a wide variety of disciplines.”
