Greener upgrades for construction

The UK is planning to invest heavily in major infrastructure, including the HS2 rail network and the eight new nuclear reactors recently proposed by the Government. These ambitious projects can cause friction when considered against the country’s ongoing decarbonisation plans. With the UK set to become carbon-neutral by 2050, the question must be asked – how can we complete this work while remaining on track with green goals?

Green construction is not a new idea, and the industry has already made significant progress on decarbonisation. However, the scale of these projects means more innovative approaches and sustainable technologies are required to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Aggreko is a global equipment supplier specialising in the provision of hired power, cooling and temperature control solutions and recognises that the future demands sustainable energy, and that the transition to greener sources will affect us all. This is why the company is leading in the development of bespoke solutions to meet future electricity, heating and cooling needs.

Considering the size of upcoming national projects, these efforts are vital. Different approaches will be necessary if long-term climate goals are to be achieved. Fortunately, there are clear opportunities for the sector to make progress on this issue, even as huge feats of construction create demand for equipment. 

HS2, for example, is using two 170m tunnel boring machines to make 10-mile-long tunnels in the Chilterns. These machines will proceed at a speed of 15 metres per day and followed by a crew of roughly 100 people. All these workers will need access to reliable, on-demand power. 

This is only one part of a much larger construction project, but gives an idea of the scale and how much energy is required over large stretches of the UK for works of this size. But power is only one part of the puzzle – all civil infrastructure projects are now under pressure to show how they are limiting pollution.

Given this situation, Aggreko has developed its own greener strategy and invested in equipment and processes. The company is therefore able to fully support the construction industry and supply businesses with greener, more efficient technologies that can meet power demand while lowering emissions.

As part of these efforts, Aggreko has pledged to cut the amount of diesel fuel used in its fleet by at least 50% by 2030. Local air quality emissions from its equipment will also be reduced by 50% in this period, with the overall aim of reaching net zero across all business operations by 2050. 

New, practical technologies and services are required to assist this transition. One such barrier is that generators supplied to sites have been oversized. Specifically, the power load they can offer does not suit the work they are being used for. Hired generators, for example, typically run at 30% of their possible load. This is highly inefficient and removes opportunities to make significant savings in fuel, carbon and local emissions. 

Aggreko’s consultative approach means this is not an issue. By bolstering smaller generators with greener technologies, fuel and emissions savings can be made. This includes supplementing equipment with batteries, which can store energy and take over power demand at quieter times, including after hours. 

Generators are only turned on when needed most in these ‘hybrid’ set-ups, meaning fuel savings of up to 75% can be achievable. When replicated across large infrastructure sites, it is easy to see how these solutions can hugely benefit the environment while also reducing company costs.

Importantly, hire also gives businesses access to sustainable power technologies, which might otherwise have been too expensive to purchase. Aggreko is therefore well-placed to kickstart greener construction and lower emissions across the board.

Outside of equipment, Aggreko is also committed to exploring the potential of alternative fuels. By looking at what actually powers a generator, and shifting away from more pollutive options including diesel, further emissions savings can be made.

This is why Aggreko has developed a range of generators that can easily use biofuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). Using these sources reduces fossil fuels needed to run equipment, and in HVO’s case, can limit CO2 emissions by up to 90%. 

Once more, if these fuels are adopted at scale on larger projects across the UK, it is not hard to see the enormous environmental benefit.

Put simply, there’s no one silver bullet to achieving the energy transition, and this article has only scratched the surface of Aggreko’s efforts. By working together and combining technologies such as batteries, alternative fuels, and right sizing methods, significant savings can be made in fuel consumption, carbon local emissions, and help reduce the industry’s impact on climate change. 

To find out more about Aggreko’s greener upgrades initiative, click here.