THE GREEN SCENE
A look at what’s happening on the sustainability side of Ireland’s construction industry
Protecting biodiversity in the built environment
The Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) celebrated Ireland’s National Biodiversity Week recently with the launch of the first set of Irish case studies to protect and enhance biodiversity within the built environment. “Integrating biodiversity into planning and development presents a powerful opportunity to create healthier, more resilient communities. The case studies highlight how this can be successfully implemented in Ireland,” said Susan Vickers, Chair of IGBC’s Biodiversity & Built Environment Community of Practice. “I hope they will inspire meaningful action across the industry.”
The construction and built environment sectors are deeply linked with nature, but also significantly contribute to biodiversity loss through land-use changes, pollution, climate change and the spread of invasive species.
Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, Chair of the Advisory Committee for Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan, said: “In line with the EU Nature Restoration Law, Ireland is beginning to draft its Nature Restoration Plan and engagement from all stakeholders will be critical to meeting our national, legally-binding targets. Urban ecosystems are hugely important to Ireland’s biodiversity, and it is extremely encouraging to see such engagement from industry with this topic.”
The set of case studies includes the National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMH) project by Scott Tallon Walker in Portrane, Co. Dublin, which focuses on avoiding biodiversity loss and improving the health and well-being of patients. Another case study focuses on the transformation of a green roof to a more biodiverse living roof in a Dublin city centre location by Hibernia Real Estate.
Patrycja Kochaniuk, Sustainability Lead at Scott Tallon Walker Architects, who contributed to the NFMHS project, said: “The National Forensic Mental Health Service illustrates how collaboration between architects, contractors, ecologists and the local community can achieve successful outcomes for nature and people. One such instance in this project was the restoration of a wetland by diverting surface water instead of using an underground attenuation tank – a solution made possible through the early involvement of an ecologist. I hope this case study demonstrates the importance of appropriate early involvement and active engagement and inspires other building professionals.”
The case studies can be accessed at https://www.igbc.ie/resources/biodiversity-and-the-built-environment-irish-case-studies
SEAI announces project funding call
The Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) has announced a new round of Government of Ireland funding for energy research and innovation projects. The call welcomes novel proposals for energy research, development and demonstration (RD&D) which will help accelerate Ireland’s transition to a clean and secure energy future. Through support from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, SEAI will invest around €19 million in a multi-year pipeline of energy RD&D projects.
The National Energy RD&D programme has operated for more than 20 years and is a critical component of SEAI’s role in coordinating and supporting energy research in Ireland. More than 240 projects have been successful under funding calls over the last six years to a total funding of over €100 million. These projects drive innovative solutions in wind energy, bioenergy, energy systems integration, energy efficiency, energy markets, smart grids, transportation, energy policy, community engagement and geothermal energy.
Coinciding with the funding call, SEAI has launched the first impact report for the SEAI National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) funding programme. The report provides details on the outputs and early impacts from completed projects funded through previous calls.
With €3.2 million co-funding leveraged through partnerships, these projects led by industry and academia provided widespread benefits for society and the economy supporting skills, knowledge and insights to accelerate the energy transition in Ireland. The inaugural impact report clearly demonstrates the value of this funding and how research makes a difference in our energy transition journey.
Margie McCarthy, Director of Research and Policy Insight of SEAI said: “SEAI supports for research, development and demonstration aim to drive advancements that will benefit our communities and contribute significantly to Ireland’s national strategy for a sustainable future. Our commitment to energy research underscores our dedication to supporting Ireland’s goals of reducing carbon emissions, enhancing energy security and promoting economic growth through innovative energy research projects. We invite researchers and innovators to join us in this crucial endeavour to shape a resilient and sustainable energy landscape for generations to come.”
Self-healing concrete closer to commercial reality
A report from independent research firm IDTechEx has shown that self-healing materials are showing growing commercial promise, with concrete recognised as a key early adopter thanks to its widespread use and pressing need for long-term durability. IDTechEx has estimated that industrialised nations lose around 3% of GDP annually to issues such as corrosion and material degradation. Concrete, used in everything from roads to tunnels, suffers in particular from freeze-thaw cycles and microcracking that lead to structural damage and expensive repairs. The report highlights bio-based systems, especially those using dormant bacteria, as the leading route to market. These systems activate when water enters a crack, prompting bacteria to consume calcium lactate and excrete limestone, effectively sealing the damage. Alternative approaches in development include geopolymer concrete using fly ash and bacteria-coated fibres, which act as structural reinforcements to hold cracks closed. These solutions are gaining interest in both the precast and cast-in-situ markets. The report suggests a phased adoption path, beginning with slab applications before expanding to vertical structures like walls. This staged approach could help boost confidence in the technology’s performance and long-term viability.
A new era in sustainable construction
Irish engineers have discovered a way to transform biomass ash, a common industrial byproduct, into high-quality concrete. This innovative process is not just a minor improvement; it dramatically reduces carbon emissions by over 50%. In 2022 alone, the cement sector was responsible for almost 5% of Ireland’s total national emissions. This new technique has the potential to significantly lighten that environmental burden.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have successfully converted an industrial waste product into high-performance, low-carbon concrete. This achievement provides a compelling blueprint for sustainable construction practices across Ireland. The pioneering research was spearheaded by Prof. Sara Pavia and Dr. Zehao Lei from Trinity’s School of Engineering. Their team has developed novel methods for utilising biomass ash; this ash is a relatively new solid byproduct generated by BnM’s Edenderry Power Station, which stands as Ireland’s largest renewable dispatchable energy facility. Significantly, it transitioned to 100% biomass energy generation in late 2024. This power plant utilises sustainable forestry and agricultural residues. Its operations supply clean energy to over 150,000 homes. Widely recognised for its pivotal role in Ireland’s renewable energy sector, the Edenderry Power Station represents a critical milestone in the nation’s journey towards achieving carbon neutrality.
“Biomass is inherently carbon-neutral,” Prof. Pavia says. “However, the disposal of the resulting ash byproduct represents a considerable challenge.Our approach not only solves this issue but turns the ash into a valuable resource.” The sheer volume of ash produced presents significant handling and disposal challenges. Consequently, the development of engineered repositories becomes necessary, which can be both expensive and environmentally unsustainable.The pilot project received funding from Enterprise Ireland’s Construct Innovate initiative and is nearing its successful completion. Given the proven success of this initial phase, both Trinity College and FLI Precast are actively engaging with other industries. Their aim is to explore avenues for further research and they also seek to broaden the adoption of this transformative technology across Ireland.
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Michael McDonnell Managing Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine
Email: michael@irishconstruction.com WWW.MCDMEDIA.IE