Introduction Quality ash could not be more important to the construction industry. As well as providing vital technical and structural benefits in applications that range from soil stabilisation to the partial replacement of Portland cement in concrete, the fact it is a byproduct has benefitted an industry that has worked hard to improve its sustainability.
However, the shift away from high-carbon to low-carbon sources of energy generation means the main way to produce ash – coal power – is being phased out, and phased out quickly. In November 2015, Amber Rudd, then the UK Energy Secretary, announced plans that would see coal-fired power plants closed by 2025, with restrictions put in place by 2023.
