BAM joins first wave of signatories backing Government’s commitment to next-generation low-carbon concrete
BAM joins first wave of signatories backing Government’s commitment to next-generation low-carbon concrete
BAM has joined the first cohort of signatories to a new Advance Market Commitment (AMC) aimed at accelerating the development, commercialisation and adoption of next-generation low-carbon concrete in the UK.
Launched by Innovate UK and Carbon Limiting Technologies, and announced in the Government’s Autumn Budget, the AMC will unlock investment, support innovation and create the market conditions needed for innovative low-carbon concrete technologies to scale from prototype to full commercial use. BAM joins Scottish Water, Heathrow, AtkinsRealis UK, Derwent London, Ramboll, JN Bentley, Mott MacDonald and Buro Happold as early supporters of the scheme.
Funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the programme aims to secure commitments for up to 500,000 cubic metres of new, low-carbon concrete. The approach will enable earlier carbon savings and faster cost reductions, positioning the UK as a world leader in next-generation construction materials and techniques.
For BAM, participation in the AMC is a key enabler of its strategy to reduce whole-life carbon across infrastructure and building projects. Concrete remains one of the most carbon-intensive and difficult-to-abate materials in construction, responsible for around 8% of global emissions. The AMC will act as a critical mechanism for bringing viable low-carbon concrete solutions to market and progressing towards a net zero built environment.
“Concrete is one of the highest-emitting materials we work with and one of the most challenging to decarbonise. BAM already lead in providing low-carbon concrete options to our clients but we need more consistent availability and better price certainty in the marketplace to accelerate adoption throughout our business.
“Very few technologies currently exist at scale that can deliver the level of reductions needed for a net zero future. The AMC gives industry the collective leverage required to accelerate innovation, support suppliers and bring credible low-carbon concrete technologies into mainstream delivery.”
Zebrina Hanly Director of Environmental Sustainability, BAM
Dr Stafford Lloyd, Innovation Lead, Clean Growth Strategy at Innovate UK, said: “This Advance Market Commitment exemplifies Innovate UK’s mission to drive economic growth by supporting businesses to develop new ideas. It is a bold, collaborative effort to create a market for sustainable solutions before they are fully commercialised, sending a clear signal to innovators that their efforts will be met with demand and providing an essential component in unlocking investment in scale-up companies.”
Addressing delegates at the launch event, Industry Minister, Chris McDonald commented: “We want to make the UK a world-leading producer of reliable, low-carbon cement and concrete. While demand is uncertain and risks are high, we need to do more to back innovation and scale up these new technologies. That’s where Advance Market Commitments are so useful.”
BAM is supporting the trialling of innovative low carbon concretes on various projects, including through the Environment Agency Decarbonisation Technology Accelerator. Under this programme BAM will work in partnership with the Environment Agency to trial various technologies with the ambition of accelerating the adoption of low carbon concrete innovations including calcined clay, ternary mixes and basalt fibre reinforcement.
