Costain has signed a contract supporting National Highways to deliver multi-million pound investment in energy storage systems.
It says electric vehicle drivers using England’s motorways will benefit from the government-owned company’s investment in the high-powered charging infrastructure that will be rolled out at a number of motorway service areas where the electricity grid cannot be easily upgraded. Costain’s support is helping National Highways meet the government aim that all motorway service areas will have at least six high-powered, open access charge points by the end of 2023.
During 2022, Costain supported National Highways with a procurement process that has seen leading renewable energy company Ameresco appointed to deliver the energy storage systems. Ameresco will upgrade seven motorway service areas where the grid supply is not enough for high-powered charging infrastructure.
Costain will continue to support the client during the construction phase in 2023, and is now working on further projects with National Highways to help meet its 2030 target for using renewable electricity to power its operations.
Rob Middleton, Costain’s lead on the project, said: “Costain has worked in a ‘one team’ model with colleagues from National Highways, providing a range of services across technical, procurement, commercial and health & safety disciplines to support this crucial procurement. This will help deliver UK Government targets for EV charging, and will improve road users’ lives by making it quicker and easier to recharge their electric cars”.
Costain’s highways director Simon Ellison added: “The transition to Net Zero represents an enormous challenge for all of Costain’s clients and the entire country. With projects like this, Costain is demonstrating how we are helping National Highways deliver the innovative solutions that are required to drive the transition to zero emissions mobility”.
(Picture – Yay Images)
