Mott MacDonald, Stantec and The University of Sheffield’s Dr. Kamal Birdi have partnered to help UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) better understand options and approaches for integrating capital and operational carbon emissions across the whole life of asset investment.
Over the last 15 years the water industry has been developing tools for different aspects of its carbon footprint. Mott MacDonald and Stantec are drawing on their extensive experience in whole life carbon appraisals in water and other sectors, to carry out a high-level review of the tools currently in use; consider the potential for integrated TOTEX carbon calculation; and assess the appetite amongst potential end users for whole life carbon planning tools of this type.
Research includes broad engagement with industry stakeholders across the UK and Ireland through interviews and a workshop with carbon accounting practitioners, design engineers and asset managers, regulators and those involved in standards setting. The team is also looking at evidence from other infrastructure sectors to understand where carbon assessments have been applied and to what ends.
The project will provide clarity on the value of quantifying whole life/TOTEX carbon and using it in decision-making and engaging the sector with a common approach. The project will deliver an outline framework setting out the value of, as well as some objectives and principles for, quantifying whole life carbon as an aid to investment decision-making and to delivering low carbon outcomes.
Maria Manidaki, global technical lead for net zero, Mott MacDonald said, “we are delighted to be supporting UKWIR and the wider sector on the important topic of carbon quantification. Consistency and transparency in this area will be key to give companies and the wider value chain important insights on how to reduce whole life carbon in future capital investment plans while aligning water company efforts with their Net Zero commitments.”
Commenting on the appointment, Dr Lynette Dollar, Stantec project leader added, “this is a really exciting project to deliver a carbon quantification approach with a collaborative vision, objectives and principles for assessing whole life/TOTEX carbon to enable the water sector and its supply chain to choose solutions that deliver a low carbon future.”
Adrian Johnson, Stantec technical director, agreed; “now is the time to get this right. Once the sector achieves consensus on this, water companies can really get on with the business of driving carbon out of their capital programmes in ways that maximise benefits for customers and the environment."