Net zero carbon plan published

HS2 has published its plan for achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2035, which includes a commitment to procure electricity to power the trains from 100% zero carbon sources.

The project intends to stop using diesel power on all of its construction sites within the next seven years, with the first due to go ‘diesel free’ this year.

Redesigning work has already taken place to reduce the project’s carbon footprint in the use of steel and concrete. The south portal of the Chilterns tunnel, the roof at Old Oak Common station, Wendover Dean Viaduct, and paving at Curzon Street station are among the locations where specification changes have resulted in significant reductions to the quantities required of both materials.

HS2 aims to make the reduction of carbon as important to the project as cost and safety, as well as offsetting emissions that cannot be eliminated during the construction process.