Pipes & fittings
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Don’t forget pipework in Net Zero drive
Steve Richmond, BPF Pipes Group president examines the role pipes will play in delivering Net Zero
B
efore we can look at the role plastic pipes will play in delivering Net Zero, we need to look at what Net Zero is: the balance
between carbon emitted into the atmosphere and carbon removed from it. The first step is to reduce emissions as close to zero as possible and then to offset any remaining carbon, we either change how we currently use land (for example by growing more trees) or use technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS). The UK Government has legislated to meet Net Zero by 2050 and as a country, we are going to need to change how we heat our building stock.
In the UK, the highest carbon emissions currently come from transport and buildings at 30% each
followed by business and industry at 24%. According to Heat and Buildings Strategy 2021, heating in buildings and industry equates to 23% of all total UK carbon emissions created, with heating homes at 17% of that total. Heating, cooling, water use and wastewater are all areas where pipework is crucial and where plastic pipes are already making a significant positive contribution towards Net Zero.
Reducing carbon emissions
How can pipe manufacturers achieve Net Zero? If we look at scopes of emissions in pipe manufacturing, Scope 1 is direct emissions from
company controlled assets and resources, such as diesel for company vehicles or forklifts, or gas used in manufacturing or heating buildings. Scope 2 is the indirect emissions for purchased energy (eg. electricity) for the site. Scope 3 is also indirect, but these are emissions not owned by the company, and
Above: Steve Richmond, BPF Pipes Group president
Left: Heat is produced centrally in a district heating system and transported via an underground insulated pipe network
Right: Plastic pipes have a vital role to play in low- carbon technologies due to their inherently good thermal, chemical and mechanical characteristics
16 January 2022
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