At a time when environmental protection is a priority, the ageing of concrete infrastructure poses a major challenge. The corrosion of steel within concrete is one of the main causes of this deterioration, weakening structures and jeopardising user safety.
The collapse of the Carola Bridge in Dresden in September 2024, following that of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa in 2018, serves as a stark reminder that these structures do not last forever. Given this reality, demolition and reconstruction are not viable solutions: the costs are considerable and the environmental impact disastrous.
🌱 Why preserve rather than rebuild?
The reconstruction of a structure has a significant environmental impact, in particular through:
- Massive waste generation: The collapse of the Morandi Bridge required the removal of nearly 4,500 tonnes of concrete and steel debris.
- The carbon footprint of cement: Cement production accounts for approximately 7% of global CO₂ emissions, exceeding those generated by the entire global aviation industry.
- Excessive sand consumption: Sand is becoming an increasingly scarce resource, and its extraction contributes to coastal erosion and excessive water consumption.
- New environmental regulations: Programs aimed at achieving “Zero Net Land Take” require a significant reduction in new construction projects and encourage the preservation of existing infrastructure.
In response to these challenges, cathodic protection of infrastructure has emerged as the most effective solution for extending the service life of existing concrete structures while significantly reducing their environmental impact.
✨ How does cathodic protection help reduce the carbon footprint?
Did you know that reinforced concrete naturally captures part of the CO₂ present in the atmosphere? On average, 10 kg of CO₂ per cubic meter of concrete is absorbed throughout its service life, helping to offset a portion of the emissions generated during its production.
However, this phenomenon also reduces the alkalinity of the concrete, creating conditions that promote the corrosion of steel reinforcement.
Cathodic protection plays a dual role in addressing this challenge:
- Stopping active corrosion and extending the service life of structures.
- Realkalizing the concrete, allowing it to continue capturing CO₂ without compromising its long-term durability.
✨ An environmentally friendly and energy-efficient solution.
Unlike other concrete rehabilitation methods, cathodic protection has a low environmental impact:
- Minimal power consumption: approximately 1 W for every 10 m² of protected surface, which is less than the energy used by a household refrigerator.
- Solar-powered operation: the system can be supplied by solar energy for an even more sustainable solution.
- Extended service life: structures can remain in operation for up to 50 additional years, significantly reducing the need for reconstruction.
🚀 BlueSpine: sustainable and responsible technology to extend the life of concrete infrastructure.
At BlueSpine, we are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our solutions:
- Material optimization: Reduced cabling requirements help minimize the overall carbon footprint.
- Plug-and-play technology: Fast installation limits emissions associated with construction and rehabilitation works.
- Local manufacturing: All components are sourced exclusively from Europe and assembled in France at our workshop in Reims.
In this context, BlueSpine has joined the Coq Vert community, a network of companies committed to environmental responsibility. We are proud to contribute to these important challenges through our innovative solutions and sustainable approach.
Why choose cathodic protection for your infrastructure?
Cathodic protection is not only an effective solution against corrosion, it is also a key factor in reducing the environmental footprint of concrete infrastructure.
In a world where infrastructure sustainability is a necessity, it is time to rethink how we maintain it. At BlueSpine, we support you with innovative and responsible solutions.
📢 Want to find out more?
Contact us today to find out how we can extend the life of your infrastructure whilst reducing its environmental impact.