BAM to reduce emissions from construction machinery by 90%

BAM has committed to running all of its UK construction machinery using recycled cooking oil, contributing to goals focused on reducing carbon emissions from its activities

In 2020, as part of its work delivering construction and infrastructure schemes across the UK, BAM consumed 7.1m litres of red diesel, around 70% of the company’s total direct carbon footprint.

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is an advanced renewable fuel derived from waste products. While the fuel currently costs around 15% more than red diesel, it reduces net CO₂ emissions by as much as 90%.

HVO fuel will be provided through a new UK-wide contract with Crown Oil, helping to support BAM’s broader strategy to make use of sustainable innovations to reduce the CO₂ emissions related to its work.

Other measures include the phasing out of diesel generators and increasing use of alternative solutions such as photovoltaic cells to generate power at sites, the rollout of electric vehicles to all levels of the employee fleet, the increasing use of low-carbon materials, such as low cement concrete, in the design, construction and management of net-zero buildings.

BAM is working closely with construction machinery manufacturers to accelerate the deployment of electric equipment that will help power its sites more cleanly and sustainably.

BAM is also collaborating with its supply chain partners to encourage further use of low carbon fuels and diesel alternatives to its supply chain.

BAM’s chosen HVO supplier is Crown Oil. They only supply HVO which is certified to the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) and meets the UK Government’s  Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RFTO) standards.

Alternative fuels have a vital role to play

David Jarman, programme manager for Network Rail’s south-east multi-disciplinary framework, said: “We fully support sustainability initiatives on the Southern Multi-disciplinary Framework.

“The use of HVO fuel as an alternative to red diesel is a fantastic one which we hope will have a dramatic and positive effect on our carbon emissions.

“Trials that have been run on our stations portfolio have been positive and I am now excited to see it rolled out across all of our sites.”

David Oake, senior advisor from the Environment Agency’s Yorkshire area, added: “On our Kirkstall Valley Farm site, part of Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2, 46% of our carbon emissions come from construction and a further 31% from the supply chain.

“Therefore, alternative fuels have a vital role to play in reducing our carbon emissions. We have committed to switch our plant on site to HVO, reducing our related net carbon emissions by 90%.”