Sizewell C joins industry pledge to decarbonise construction
- Sizewell C signs Construction Leadership Council’s Five Client Carbon Commitments
- Commitments encourage major organisations to turn carbon ambitions into practical action
- Latest milestone builds on Sizewell C’s action to minimise emissions throughout design and construction
Sizewell C has strengthened its ongoing commitment to low-carbon construction by signing up to the Construction Leadership Council’s Five Client Carbon Commitments.
Some of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects have signed up to the commitments, which aim to drive practical action to reduce emissions across the construction industry.
The commitments focus on five key areas where major organisations can accelerate decarbonisation: procuring for low-carbon construction, measuring and managing carbon consistently, phasing out fossil fuels on site, and reducing the use of the most carbon-intensive concrete and steel products.
For Sizewell C, the pledge reinforces the project’s ambition to reduce emissions not only through the clean electricity it will generate, but through the way the power station is designed and built.
Bertrand Michoud, Sizewell C Chief Operating Officer, said: “Sizewell C will deliver clean, safe and reliable energy for generations, but how we deliver is as important as what we deliver. We have a unique and exciting opportunity to set a new benchmark for the nuclear industry and for major British infrastructure.
“Through the Five Client Carbon Commitments, Sizewell C is committing to practical actions that will reduce emissions across our project and supply chain, from low-carbon procurement and materials to a future without diesel-powered construction activities.
“These commitments reflect our vision to lead the way on nuclear, demonstrating how the sector can deliver the clean power Britain needs while driving innovation, reducing emissions throughout the supply chain and leaving a lasting legacy for sustainable construction.”
The Five Client Carbon Commitments encourage infrastructure clients to take practical action to reduce emissions across the construction sector by:
- Procuring for low-carbon construction
- Measuring and managing carbon consistently by adopting PAS 2080 as a common carbon management standard
- Phasing out fossil fuel use in construction activities
- Reducing the use of the most carbon-intensive concrete products
- Reducing the use of the most carbon-intensive steel products
Launched in 2024, the initiative is backed by the Construction Leadership Council, Infrastructure Client Group, Infrastructure and Projects Authority, and the Major Projects Association.
Organisations and projects that have signed the commitments include the Environment Agency, Lower Thames Crossing, National Highways, and Transport for London.
Matt Palmer, Industry Sponsor for Net Zero and Biodiversity at the Construction Leadership Council, and Chief Executive Officer, Lower Thames Crossing, said: “By signing up to the Five Client Carbon Commitments, Sizewell C joins some of the biggest clients in the country in driving change in the way the UK builds the infrastructure the country needs. These commitments are giving UK businesses the confidence to invest in low carbon innovation, boosting jobs and skills, and reducing the sector’s reliance on imported energy.
“There is a misplaced assumption that low carbon construction means more cost, but the Five Client Carbon Commitments are helping the sector deliver efficiently and innovation is driving down low carbon costs.”
Reducing the project’s construction footprint is a key priority for Sizewell C.
Last year, Sizewell C worked with neighbouring site Sizewell A to reuse concrete from decommissioning activities – reducing waste, cutting the demand for new materials, and supporting a more circular approach to construction.
Joining the Five Client Carbon Commitments is the latest step in a wider programme aimed at reducing carbon throughout the project’s supply chain and construction activities. This includes working with contractors and suppliers to identify lower-carbon materials, embrace innovative construction techniques, and embed carbon reduction into decision-making across the project lifecycle.
Once operational, Sizewell C will generate low-carbon electricity for up to six million homes for at least 60 years, helping to strengthen the UK’s energy security.