TOTAL ENERGIES
“ We have an ambition and that is to help with the world ' s energy transition , to reinvent the production and use of energy ”
GARR CHAU HEAD OF SUPPLY CHAIN , TOTALENERGIES MARKETING UK LTD .
National Highways , who manage the motorway and trunk road networks , also estimate that an increase in shift outputs of 20 % could be provided by using this technology on its network , saving up to £ 70mn a year . ( Citation – Report , The All- Party Parliamentary Group on Highways : Working for better roads Warm Mix Asphalt : reducing carbon emissions and improving efficiencies .)
“ Society needs to focus on ways to reduce energy consumption and it ’ s the case with prolonged road works and wasted energy if using conventional hot mix asphalt . We know our low temperature energy saving ECO2 products stop this waste .”
Asphalt is the most recycled material globally and , like its hot mix equivalents , TotalEnergies ECO2 is also 100 % recyclable back into asphalts in the future , giving further embodied CO2 reduction benefits , helping to prevent waste and conserving natural resources as less aggregate needs to be quarried .
Styrelf ® is one of TotalEnergies ’ premium products . The name comes from adding a cross-linked polymer into bitumen , called styrene .
“ It ’ s historically been used in high profile sites like at the Monaco Grand Prix
Circuit and the Mersey Gateway Bridge . We perform a huge amount of research and development , both here in the UK and in Europe , and the last 30 years have seen continuous improvement for these products ,” explains Ashton .
A new grade in development , Styrelf ® Long Life , aims to delay the onset of roadworks . Historically , highways engineers have to predict how long a road will last before potholes begin to form and a road needs to be repaired .
“ It ’ s oxidation that makes the surface more brittle , and eventually it cracks . As it cracks , water gets into the cracks , they get bigger - then you ' ve got a pothole , which somebody needs to repair . To do that , you ’ re going to have to cause disruption .”
TotalEnergies is working with local authorities and those responsible for maintaining roads on this matter . To get things moving , Ashton is involved in a number of industry bodies such as being a branch Chairman of The Institute of Asphalt Technology ( IAT ).