Calor powers up UK’s first LNG-fuelled asphalt plant

Aggregate Industries’ Colemans Quarry site has become the first asphalt plant in the UK to make the switch to Liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Based in North Somerset, the plant has been supplying the construction industry with building material for more than 60 years. It uses large quantities of gas to heat and dry the 250,000 tonnes of asphalt produced each year, and as the site is active 24/7, maintaining a constant, reliable supply of fuel plays a vital role in hitting production targets and meeting customer demand.

The site is located off the mains gas grid, and until recently the plant’s burners were fuelled with kerosene. After seeing an opportunity to reduce both emissions and fuel bills, Aggregate Industries approached Calor about working together on a new heating solution.

“We made the switch to LNG because it is a cleaner source of energy,” says plant manager Simon Evans. “We were previously using kerosene, but LNG is a more cost-effective product to burn. It also produces a lot less carbon, and reducing our carbon footprint is very important for Aggregate Industries.”

As well as substantially cutting fuel costs, the project has reduced the amount of CO2 emitted per tonne of asphalt produced at the site by 17%. This cuts Aggregate Industries’ annual emissions by 1,800 tonnes.

The site is the first asphalt plant in the UK to use LNG and only the second in the entire world.