Grounds for Change and Creos-out Show and Tell webinar

CREOS-OUT is a tar-based wood preservative used to protect utility poles, but it is also an environmental contaminant that can leach into soil and water, posing serious health and ecological risks. The UK energy and telecommunication network utilises creosote-treated poles for overhead line distribution due to their long service life. This project explores the natural enzymatic capabilities of certain microbes to break down  creosote contaminants. CREOS-OUT's bioremediation approach offers an eco-friendly alternative to costly incineration, enabling safer reuse of infrastructure while reducing public and environmental risks.

In the session we will share the objectives and outcomes of our Discovery project including the key findings and insights from literature and laboratory assessments, economic feasibility of the product and the regulatory landscape review of creosote use.

Grounds for Change is an innovation project exploring faster, less disruptive, and lower-carbon ways to install underground electricity cables. As demand grows from technologies like EVs and heat pumps, traditional construction methods are becoming too slow, costly, and disruptive for communities.

The Alpha phase focuses on understanding the challenge in detail and identifying practical alternatives to conventional open-trench digging. This includes developing a “toolbox” of new delivery methods—such as smaller excavations and trenchless techniques—and assessing their feasibility, cost, environmental impact, and acceptability to customers.

Through early trials and real-world testing, the project aims to demonstrate how network upgrades can be delivered more efficiently—reducing installation times, minimising disruption, and supporting the UK’s transition to net zero.