Hydrogen technology company ULEMCo has announced the launch of a collaborative, C02 reduction research and development project called HyConstruct.
The project aims to highlight the methods to reduce emissions from heavy-duty off-highway equipment used on construction sites.
GeoPura, Plantforce, BAM and BRE will work to develop and demonstrate an advanced control system to increase the proportion of energy coming from the company’s globally innovative hydrogen dual-fuel technology, and to accelerate the decarbonisation of the UK construction sector.
The year-long project is supported by funding from the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) via its Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator 4 (ARMD4) programme.
HyConstruct will develop and demonstrate the control system designed to substantially increase the hydrogen substitution rate in heavy machinery, and make investment in the transition to low-carbon in construction more commercially viable.
It will also focus on applying advanced control algorithms and AI to enable hydrogen consumption to be boosted to a level where the scale of use on site further improves the business case for wholesale plant upgrades – and be competitive to diesel supply costs.
Hydrogen supply and logistics partner GeoPura will supply low-carbon hydrogen, off grid refuelling capability and zero emission power for the project via its HPU technology, enabling the safe and practical use of hydrogen-powered construction equipment, and creating a commercial foundation for large-scale hydrogen deployment in the sector.
BRE will be responsible for learning capture and industry dissemination. The project will further test onsite refuelling and hydrogen supply options to ensure the whole-site feasibility of dual-fuel plant upgrades.
Amanda Lyne, Managing Director of ULEMCo, said:
“Decarbonising construction plant is essential to support the UK’s net-zero goals, particularly as new energy infrastructure and construction investment is planned to drive economic growth.
“Converting existing equipment to run on clean hydrogen points the way to saving the carbon from these machines now, as well as saving the embedded emissions from the actual construction phase itself.”
Alistair Gemmel, Chief Business Development Officer at GeoPura added:
“HyConstruct is a significant next step in developing technology that demonstrates that zero-carbon fuels can power heavy machinery without disrupting productivity. By supplying and managing the hydrogen used on site, we’re helping the consortium prove how hydrogen can be safely and efficiently integrated into construction operations, which will ultimately bring the construction sector closer to being both commercially and environmentally sustainable.”
Image courtesy of ULEMCo
