ABSTRACT
Sustainable Hydrogen peroxide-based emulsion (HPE) explosives have emerged as an alternative to conventional commercial explosives. HPE is devoid of nitrates and ammonia, eliminating post-detonation toxic gases and nitrate leaching. Production is significantly less carbon-intensive hence aligning with scope 3 emission targets. Implenia Sverige and Hypex Bio Explosives Technology implemented HPE technology for the first time at scale in a commercial tunnelling project in Stockholm, Sweden, 2023. HPE Environmental, operational, and performance characteristics were assessed. HPE was compared to traditional explosives, collecting performance data such as round performance, usage, and perimeter quality. Identical drill patterns and means of initiation were applied to both techniques. 93 HPE blasts and 133 standard rounds have been executed and evaluated, with the project still ongoing. The result of the implementation shows that HPE is a viable, high performing, bulk explosive with substantial environmental and operational potential. Performance consistently matches or exceeds that of traditional explosives.
