ADEPT's Live Labs 2 held a sold-out Expo this week to highlight its achievements.
Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads in the UK is a three-year, UK-wide £30m programme funded by the Department for Transport that aims to decarbonise the local highway network. Seven projects, grouped by four interconnected themes, are being led by local authorities working alongside commercial and academic partners.
The Expo in Liverpool on Tuesday (25 March) which was attended by more than 200 people, was described as featuring ‘a more dynamic and fluid structure than last year’s event and including smaller, impactful discussion groups’,
It showcased the seven projects, led by local authorities and supported by private sector partners, each focusing on different solutions to reduce carbon emissions in local highways.
Attendees had the opportunity to engage in 'Live Labs Learn Ins', rotating sessions where project teams presented their progress, ideas and aspirations for the next stages of the initiatives.
The event also offered a full day of presentations, interactive sessions and networking and two hotly contested pitching sessions in the style of ‘Dragons’ Den’, where a panel of sector specialists and decision makers heard innovative presentations from small to medium sized organisations working across the decarbonisation of highways.
The ‘Dragons’ included Department for Transport’s deputy director, local highways and active travel, Rupert Furness, and chief scientific adviser, Professor Sarah Sharples, as well as Angela Halliwell, head of carbon and air quality group at National Highways and Mike Batheram, market director for local transport at Atkins Réalis.
Highly commended was awarded to Carbon IQ Carbon Management Systems and the panel awarded joint first place to both Solar Lite Road Studs and Circular 11.
The Expo featured keynote addresses by Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool City Council and former transport secretary Lord Patrick McLoughlin, now chair of Transport for the North. There was also a plenary session on the role of behaviour change in decarbonising the UK's local roads, led by Lauren Leak-Smith from the Behavioural Insights Team.
Giles Perkins, programme director of Live Labs 2, said: ‘The Live Labs 2 Expo 2025 was another fantastic success, reflecting the dedication and innovation of all the teams and partner organisations involved. It provided us all with an invaluable platform for sharing knowledge and fostering the collaborations essential for achieving decarbonisation goals.’
Neil Gibson, chair of the Live Labs 2 Commissioning Board, said: ‘March is a significant month for Live Labs 2 with our second Expo and publication of the projects’ carbon baselines.
‘This is the start of a process by which our Live Lab projects will evidence the carbon effectiveness of their interventions, as well as starting a conversation across the sector on how we address the fundamental challenges that hinder progress.’
An additional virtual Mini Expo online planned for next month will offer those unable to attend, or wishing to extend the Live Labs 2 conversations, an opportunity to hear the latest updates on the projects.
The Live Labs 2 Mini Expo will take place online on 30th April 10:00-12:00. For more information and to book your place, visit www.adeptnet.org.uk/events/livelabs2-mini-expo2025.
