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Tunnelling towards low carbon construction – demonstrated through a case study of tunnel lining materials
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DOI：10.1016/j.tust.2026.107990.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Tunnel construction materials significantly influence the embodied carbon of infrastructure projects. Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) is used as a case study to identify the embodied carbon hotspots within tunnels and current best practices in embodied carbon reduction measures. Tunnels embodied carbon is mainly attributed to precast concrete, annulus grout, reinforcement, and material transport, with CEM I in concrete and grout being the largest contributors. LTC seeks to achieve carbon reductions by up to 45 % by using 65 % GGBS replacement in cement for precast concrete, procuring low carbon steel with a lower carbon factor than UK average, and utilising river transport for bulk material delivery. To explore further potential carbon savings, a sensitivity analysis was conducted on various tunnel components, to investigate the implications of different choices: lowering cement content or increasing GGBS content in precast concrete; using blended cements or geopolymers for precast concrete; different annulus grout formulations and types; and alternative reinforcement types and materials. Depending on maturity and confidence the different choices were grouped into either “easy to apply strategies” or “most effective strategies”, which could further reduce the embodied carbon by 12 % and by 60 %, respectively. This reduction has a direct relationship with the greenhouse gas emissions values – ‘carbon value’ – which is a monetary value that society places on one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (£/tCO2e). This study demonstrates the potential for significant embodied carbon reductions in tunnel construction through material specification, formulation, and selection, highlighting the importance of considering alternative materials.
Keywords:
Embodied carbon
Lower thames crossing
Tunnel lining
Annulus grout
Reinforcement
Carbon cost
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