Sewer separation project in Viby near Aarhus utilizes cement-free IG pipes

Aarhus Vand, a utility company, provides drinking water and manages wastewater for 350,000 private business customers in the Aarhus area. The company aims to reduce its carbon footprint and meet the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on climate and environmental initiatives. This commitment extends to the construction of new pipelines.

For a 600-meter pipeline installation for sewer separation project on Lykkeholms Allé in Viby, just outside Aarhus, Aarhus Vand chose IBF's Eco2 IG pipes. these pipes more than halfe the CO2 footprint compared to standard concrete pipes without compromising on strength

Morten Østergaard Nielsen, project manager at Aarhus Vand, discusses the project:

"Reducing CO2 emissions in construction work is generally challenging due to the use of large, diesel-powered machinery and concrete, which has a high CO2 footprint. The cement-free concrete pipes from IBF are an innovation that supports the entire movement Aarhus Vand is part of to reduce our carbon footprint. It's a vary welcome contribution."

Morten Østergaard Nielsen also mentions that the utility is implementing a strategy in various locations to manage water on the surface to reduce the CO2 footprint.

"However, in many placea, we still need to install new pipes underground, and the project with the cement-free concrete pipes demonstrates that we can achieve a concrete and significant Co2 saving," says Morten Østergaard Nielsen, project manager at Aarhus Utility.

How can concrete pipes be manufactured without using cement?

By using the product Geoprime®, which replaces cement as the binder in concrete. Geoprime® is sourced from the Finnish supplier Betolar and is based on blast furnace slag, a by-product of steel production. These concrete pipes also contribute to a larger global trend towards a circular economy.

Historically, cement has been an indispensable ingredient in the recipe for concrete, acting as the binder in the mix of sand, stone and water. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the cement industry accounts for about 7% of global CO2 emissions.

There is not yet an EU standard for cement-free concrete, but with the help of independent testing institutions, IBF has obtained documentation of the necessary requirements for the concrete pipes.

The CO2 savings with the cement-free pipes are more than 50% compared to concrete pipes containing cement.

No changes in the production or installation phases

For IBF, the introduction of cement-free concrete pipes does not result in significant changes to the production process, and superficially, these pipes are nearly indistinguishable from conventional concrete pipes. However, the eco-friendly change is not entirely invisible; the pipes exhibit a slight yellowish hue and are also stamped with the text ''IBF Eco2'', marking the name f IBF's new product line taht achieves at least a 50% CO2 reduction compared to 2021 emissions. Similarly, for the executing contractor Arkil, which installed pipes of diameters Ø500 and Ø600 in the ground on Lykkeholms Allé, there has been no alteration in methodology of working with these pipes as opposed to traditional concrete pipes.

Construction manager Flemming Holm from Arkil, who actively contributed to launching the project, sees it has a significant advantage that the construction work can become more environmentally friendly without needing to alter work processes. ''Aside from the color, there's no difference at all in storing and laying the cement-free concrete pipes. They require no additional training or instructions, so you can just start laying them in the ground,'' says Flemming Holm.