Darrington Quarries and Hargreaves team up on ELG2
Companies demonstrate environmental commitment with sustainable materials supply to Eastern Green Link 2
DARRINGTON Quarries, an FCC Environment company, and their transport partners Hargreaves Logistics have teamed up to supply crucial construction materials in a sustainable way to one of the UK’s major infrastructure projects.
Darrington secured an order from BAM to supply around 340,000 tonnes of stone for the Eastern Green Link 2 (ELG2) Wren Hall Converter Station, where BAM and Hitachi Energy are the principal contractors. EGL2 is a major new electricity superhighway connecting Scotland and England through a 505km subsea cable. Once complete, it will carry enough clean energy to power approximately two million homes.
The order consisted of various aggregate grades that had to meet stringent site-specific quality standards, which, due to the nature of the project, were over and above normal construction specifications. It was also important that they were delivered on time to meet the construction deadlines.
But the contract represents more than just raw materials; for both businesses, the contract with BAM provided a real opportunity for the teams to demonstrate environmental commitment and teamwork in delivering the perfect solution.
The teams at both FCC Environment and Hargreaves Logistics collaborated to provide an alternative fuel solution. Hargreaves Logistics, whose fleet already has a track record of operating on HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil), offered space at their Great Heck transport depot to install the fuelling infrastructure required to support the project.
HVO, the low-carbon biofuel made from waste vegetable oils, is now used in the HGVs transporting the quarried stone from Darrington Quarries. This switch from conventional diesel to HVO is expected to deliver up to a 90% reduction in direct CO2 emissions and an 80% reduction in other harmful emissions such as particulate matter.
Glyn Guthrie, Darrington Quarries’ general manager, said: ‘My team operates four sites across Yorkshire, supplying high-quality aggregates to the construction industry, and as an FCC Environment company we have a commitment to be more sustainable across our business, so we are always looking for solutions.
‘It was great to work with Hargreaves Logistics on this initiative, allowing us to collaborate in transporting vital construction materials in a way that minimizes the impact on the environment.’
Matthew Smith, commercial director of Hargreaves Logistics, said: ‘We have been delighted to work in partnership with Darrington Quarries on this project, proving our capabilities to support significant infrastructure works with sustainable transport options.’
‘It has allowed us to place strategic fuelling infrastructure at our depot in Yorkshire, ensuring Darrington Quarries and Hargreaves Logistics are well positioned to support similar future projects.
‘We have a clear path to improving our environmental practices, and it is only achievable by collaborating with our key partners, such as Darrington Quarries. Anything that minimizes the impact of our operations on the environment is a positive step.’
