- Hakkers and Paebbl Partner on Low-Carbon Infrastructure.
- 15% Cement Replaced With CO₂-Storing Material in Quay Project.
- Project Sequesters 500kg of CO₂ Using Innovative Mix.
The Port of Rotterdam is making waves with its new carbon-storing harbour infrastructure, thanks to a collaboration between the Dutch construction company Hakkers and the carbon technology firm Paebbl. This partnership is a significant leap forward in minimising the environmental footprint of maritime construction by incorporating carbon-storing materials into anchoring systems, reports Ship Technology.
Ditching Cement for CO₂-Storing Alternatives
Cement has long been a major contributor to CO₂ emissions in anchoring systems. However, in a recent quay wall project, Hakkers took a bold step by replacing 15% of traditional cement with Paebbl’s innovative carbon-storing product. This move resulted in an impressive sequestration rate of 110kg of CO₂ per tonne, adding up to a total of 500kg for the entire project.
“We’re always on the lookout for innovative ways to minimise our carbon footprint at industrial scale. Traditional anchoring systems rely heavily on cement, which generates considerable CO₂ emissions,” said Jeroen Kuup, Hakkers Foundations commercial manager. “Partnering with Paebbl on these maritime infrastructures allows us to explore a more sustainable approach without compromising on the scale, reliability and performance that our clients expect.”
Scale of Hakkers’ Cement Use
Hakkers is using about 5,000 tonnes of cement each year, which makes up nearly 20% of the anchoring market in the Netherlands. By incorporating Paebbl’s innovative technology, they’re making real strides in lessening their environmental impact.
Electric Drilling: A Step Towards Cleaner Construction
The project also showcased the use of fully electric drilling equipment, which completely removes direct exhaust emissions and greatly cuts down on air pollution during the construction phase. This move is in line with the ongoing efforts in both the maritime and construction industries to embrace low-emission technologies.
Cement’s Role in Carbon Emissions
Cement production is responsible for 8% of global CO₂ emissions, searching for alternatives more urgent than ever. Paebbl’s product presents a promising solution by transforming captured CO₂ into stable mineral forms, enabling construction projects to function as carbon sinks.
Significant Carbon Savings and Industrial Opportunities
Each tonne of Paebbl’s material can sequester up to 300kg of CO₂ and has the potential to reduce embodied carbon in construction by as much as 30% when it replaces a portion of traditional cement.
“Carbon sink building solutions can be scaled up to industrial applications and we are delighted to see our product deployed in the field,” said Ana Luisa Vaz, Paebbl’s vice president of products. “Working with leading engineering firms such as Hakkers, and building Port of Rotterdam’s critical infrastructure, shows that carbon sink building solutions can be scaled up to industrial applications. We’re very excited for our shared future with Hakkers, expanding our collaboration and identifying additional use cases.”
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Source: Ship Technology
