KlimaGrunn: profitable and environmentally sound

- "Instrumentation is a key to the green shift. This is shown in the report from Oslo Economics, which has calculated the effect of KlimaGrunn," says Atle Gerhardsen of Cautus Geo.

Cautus Geo, Heidelberg Materials, Argeo and Multiconsult have developed the KlimaGrunn method, which is a climate-friendly method for securing and reinforcing quick clay foundations. The key to the method is instrumentation. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration, Bane NOR and Statsbygg are the clients.

The recent report on the KlimaGrunn effect is featured in an article in Anbud365. It states that innovative success can save tens of millions of kroner and thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

The supplier development programme (LUP) writes on its website that companies can save NOK 40 million a year with a new environmentally friendly solution.

- Documenting the ongoing effect of ground reinforcement is only possible by having actual knowledge of what is happening underground. This is ensured by means of instrumentation and data capture. The method provides continuous data in real time. The results are summarised in the report from Oslo Economics," says Gerhardsen.

Two projects

Oslo Economics has analysed the effect that could have been achieved in connection with two projects carried out by the clients. These are the Norwegian Public Roads Administration's E6 Megården-Sommerset project in Nordland county and Bane NOR's Sandbukta-Moss-Såstad (SMS) project in Østfold county. The result is reduced costs of NOK 5-7 million and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 600 tonnes of CO2 equivalents.

- The KlimaGrunn method actually provides information about the strength of the lime cement columns throughout the curing process because it is measured continuously throughout the period. This makes it possible to optimise the use of binders in a safe way. This cannot be achieved by using theoretical calculations and destructive tests, as has traditionally been done," says Gerhardsen.

Innovative

The KlimaGrunn method is innovative. The acquisition value was NOK 9.5 million in addition to purchase options. Innovation Norway was behind the financing with a total of NOK 10 million.

Oslo Economics has performed impact analysis of the KlimaGrunn project on behalf of the Supplier Development Programme (LUP).

- KlimaGrunn could set a new industry standard. "We're talking tens of millions of kroner saved in construction costs," says Oslo Economics in its report. The report estimates the potential savings in greenhouse gas emissions at between 2,000 and 3,500 tonnes of CO2 equivalents annually.

- The report shows the effect of knowledge based on real-time data from instrumentation," says Atle Gerhardsen, CEO of Cautus Geo.