Cutting-Edge Materials

The different projects working along this line are seeking the development of new products to replace those which have conventionally been used in the construction industry, which will be more sustainable, and the manufacture of which will entail a considerable reduction in CO2 emissions. 

Prometeo project. New materials at the service of more sustainable buildings

This project is focused on researching cutting-edge materials applied to building construction and is comprised within the framework of Spain's Strategic National Consortia for Technological Innovation (CENIT) program funded by the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI) operating under the Ministry of Science and Innovation. ACCIONA is the company spearheading this project, in which 15 partners and 35 technological centers are also taking part.

Prometeo's prime objective is to facilitate the transition from building in brick and concrete to building in another much more modern, energy-efficient and environmentally-respectful way. This is being achieved thanks to the adaptation of materials of a high technological content (many of which have already been used in industries such as the aeronautics industry) to the needs of building construction.

Composite bridges

ACCIONA successfully showed building bridges employing composite materials to be technically and economically feasible by way of the Cantabrian Expressway bridge between the Tamón (Carreno) and Otur (Luarca) sections.

These materials make it possible to shorten construction time, reduce maintenance needs and CO2 emissions as a result of using other materials in lieu of cement.

This bridge totals 45 meters in length and was built using beams fabricated using carbon fiber-reinforced polymers.

This unique feature makes it the longest bridge in the world built employing latest-generation materials which will withstand heavy vehicle traffic. This bridge has therefore earned the 2005 Construction Innovation Award. Anew bridge has also been built on the M-111 highway in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, in which cost cuts of around 30% were achieved

Applying nanotechnology to bulding materials

ACCIONA is incorporating nanotechnology into developing new building materials for the purpose of improving their properties by means of their modification on a nanometric scale.

Introducing nanofibers and nanotubes is making it possible to increase the structural properties of cement by up to 20% and endow it with electromagnetic properties that speed up its curing and pouring, lengthening its durability due to its lesser corrosion resistance.