THE GREEN SCENE

A look at what’s happening on the sustainability side of Ireland’s construction industry

Kingspan introduces Mineral Wool Pipe Insulation
Kingspan Technical Insulation has launched Kingspan K-Roc Pipe Insulation, an A2L/A2-s1,d0 rated pipe insulation suitable for use on HVAC and building services pipework.

The product comprises a mineral wool insulation core with a reinforced aluminium foil facing and is available in a range of sizes for various pipe diameters. The insulation core features longitudinal fibres which provide both rigidity and thermal performance, allowing the product to achieve a thermal conductivity of 0.033 W/mK at 10 °C.

The technology used to shape the pipe sections ensures the round shape of the internal diameter is maintained and adheres closely to the pipework. The shape of the internal diameter is unaffected by loss of material at the assembly cut line — helping to maintain a continuous layer of insulation around the pipe and preventing potential thermal bridges.
The product has been designed to allow easy handling and installation. It is supplied in 1.2m lengths – allowing large sections of pipework to be insulated in a single fix. Its reinforced aluminium foil facing and wide self-adhesive closing lap also makes the assembly process both quick and secure.

In addition, the product is supported by Kingspan’s Technical Advisory service providing guidance for designers, specifiers, consulting and mechanical engineers, mechanical and electrical M&E contractors, thermal insulation contractors as well as building services and facilities managers.

Cunningham awarded €19 million education project

Cunningham has secured a €19 million education contract on behalf of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education & Training Board, which is known as Gaelscoil na Camoige, Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcain, Colaiste Chillian. The 18-month project, contained within one site, involves the construction of two new 16 classroom primary schools, Gaelscoil na Camoige and Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcain and the construction of a new PE hall for Colaiste Chillian. The project also included an element of refurbishment work to the existing Colaiste Chillian. The site, which is located on existing school playing fields at Colaiste Chillian on the Old Nangor Road, will be constructed over three phases. Part of the site is currently occupied by Colaiste Chillian which will operate as normal over the course of the project.

The state-of-the-art education facility for the children in the Clondalkin area will incorporate a concrete frame structure, curtain walling, roof lighting, PV panels and a Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) inclusive of a rainwater harvesting tank.

Tim Cunningham, CEO, Cunningham, said: “We are delighted to secure this education project which will make a real difference and a lasting impact to the whole school community, whilst fulfilling the school motto, ‘Ár nDúchas Slán’ (Our Heritage in Safe Hands). Our experienced team look forward to delivering an exceptional education setting and implementing innovative solutions to ensure the highest quality expectations, with safety at the forefront.”

First ACT production facility from Ecocem
Ecocem has announced the construction of its first production facility dedicated to ACT, its low carbon, globally scalable cement technology, at its Dunkirk site. This new production line will be operational by 2026 and will initially provide an annual production capacity of 300,000 tonnes of ACT. This expansion and upgrade to capacity will significantly increase the Dunkirk plant’s production capacity overall – to in excess of 1 million tonnes per year – and strengthen the company’s position in Northern France, the Paris area and export regions.

This new ACT production line at Dunkirk, a world first, is a joint venture between Ecocem in France and CB Green, a division of Groupe CB. It will deliver a 70% reduction in the CO2 footprint of cement (compared to the average footprint of cement in Europe) produced at the plant and will accelerate cement decarbonisation for Dunkirk, the Hauts-de-France Region, France, and the European Union by up to a decade, based on current industry forecasts. The focus in the first half of 2025 will be on installing the key component of the facility, the mill, which will produce the required fillers, as well as expanding blending and storage facilities for ACT. Construction will begin in early 2025, with a view to delivering ACT to the market in the second half of 2026.

Commenting on this significant step forward, Donal O’Riain, Founder and Global Managing Director of Ecocem Group, said: “The industrialisation of our ACT technology marks an historic turning point for the cement industry. Cement manufacturing processes have remained unchanged for 200 years; ACT represents a true technological breakthrough and an opportunity to rapidly decarbonise what is one of the world’s most polluting industries – responsible for almost 8% of global emissions – without compromising quality and performance, or significantly increasing costs. In 2026, we will be able to offer the market a low carbon solution deployable on an industrial scale. This advancement, supported by major industrial players and public authorities, positions France and more broadly, Europe at the forefront of cement decarbonisation.”

Developed over nearly a decade of intensive research, ACT is a major advance in cement decarbonisation. It enables a 70% reduction in CO2 emissions compared with the European average for cement emissions. ACT achieves this by maximising the use of locally available alternative materials, known as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), while ensuring the required performance characteristics for any concrete made with it – namely durability, workability, mechanical strength and cost-performance.

10 new wind farms approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2024
In 2024, An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for 10 new wind farms with a combined capacity of 717 MW. This is approximately 42% of the volume of wind energy needed to keep Ireland on track for the Government’s targets in the Climate Action Plan. That’s according to the first annual planning report published in January by Wind Energy Ireland at the association’s Annual Conference in Dublin. The report details the number of wind energy projects that passed through the planning system in 2024. Last year, An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for 10 new wind farms with a combined estimated capacity of 717 MW.

Wind Energy Ireland estimates that, to achieve the 9,000 MW of onshore wind energy by 2030 target in the Climate Action Plan, An Bord Pleanála would have needed to approve 1,720 MW during this period. The Board also rejected planning applications from 12 wind farms with an estimated combined capacity of 677 MW, while 30 projects totalling 1,598 MW were awaiting decision at the end of 2024.

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said: “Irish people want clean, affordable and secure energy. That is what wind farms deliver but we will need more of them to provide the power Irish families, businesses and communities demand. Before we can build new wind farms, we need to first get them through the planning system and we are simply not seeing enough new projects to enable us to reach our 2030 targets.”

Industry did welcome the increase in the number of decisions made in 2024, which was up by 16% when compared to 2023. Noel Cunniffe added: “The extra resources that Government has put into An Bord Pleanála, the NPWS and other planning authorities are very welcome. We are starting to see the effect of that in the number of decisions being made and particularly towards the end of last year.

“Despite a positive end to last year, today’s report shows that Ireland is still falling behind with just 717 MW of new wind energy projects approved for planning in 2024 when we needed more than double that. To meet the needs of our growing economy, we need to accelerate the delivery of new onshore and offshore wind farms and reinforce the electricity grid in just a few short years.”

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Michael McDonnell Managing Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine

Email: michael@irishconstruction.com      WWW.MCDMEDIA.IE