Page 53 - Magazine December 2022

Sustainability

ACCIONA introduces cutting-edge

construction materials in its works to cut

emissions by 36%

‘GREEN’ STEEL AND CONCRETE

The company is currently working on two projects The building is being constructed on a 9,000m2
in Spain with such pioneering techniques that will municipal plot of land, which will have a floor area
prevent the emission of almost 980 tonnes of CO2 of 4,500m2 and 3,200m2 of landscaping, sports
into the atmosphere. facilities and porches.
ACCIONA will reduce by 36% the carbon footprint All these measures will reduce emissions from the
generated by two construction projects—a public public school’s construction by 365 tonnes, 38%
school in Torrevieja (Alicante) and a submarine dock fewer than with the use of the sector’s traditional
in the Naval Base of Cartagena (Murcia)—thanks materials and techniques.
to the use of state-of-the-art, low-emission green Green concrete is also being implemented in the
concrete and steel, as well as the implementation of construction of a submarine dock in the Cartagena
other measures such as the use of electric machinery, Naval Base. This project includes the dredging of the
local raw materials and renewable energy. With these current submarine pits and the lengthening of the
two projects, ACCIONA will prevent the emission of central pier, in addition to the construction of another
almost 980 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. dock, perpendicular to the North dock, with enough
For the construction of the Amanecer Public School capacity for the berthing of two S-80s. It will be 105
for Nursery and Primary Education, ACCIONA has meters long and 18 meters wide.
designed a comprehensive sustainability project that Thanks to the use of 6,500m3 of CKLEEN concrete,
will turn this educational center into a benchmark for supplied by Hormicruz, it is estimated to prevent
decarbonization and the promotion of the circular more than 615 tonnes of CO2 emissions, with 34%
economy in the infrastructure sector. fewer emissions than traditional concrete.
Among these initiatives, the use of Vertua® concrete The increasing use of sustainable construction
stands out. This is a green concrete provided by materials is part of the company›s 2025 Sustainability
CEMEX, which produces 40% fewer emissions than Master Plan, which includes the implementation of a
conventional concrete, while maintaining the same «zero-carbon» model in its corporate purchasing policy.
structural properties.
The steel, supplied by CELSA Group®, generates
36% less CO2 in its fabrication process than the
industry average. Furthermore, 93% of the materials
used in its production are recycled. The combination
of both materials will result in one of the first «low-
carbon footprint structures» to be built in Spain. This
technique is replicable and scalable.
ACCIONA recovers the materials extracted in the
excavation phase and reuses them for on-site
backfilling. It also minimizes waste and leftovers,
using most of them in these or other works carried
out by the company.

40