It’s well-known that the construction sector, not only in the UK but around the world, is one of the most carbon-intensive industries we have.
According to the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), just under 40 per cent of global emissions come from the built environment. This is a combination of the construction, operation and maintenance of our buildings.
The UK has set a target of achieving net zero by 2050, which means we need to find ways of decarbonising every part of the process, from the construction itself to the overall maintenance and operation of our built environment.
There are many policy recommendations to help achieve this goal, from encouraging more retrofitting and renovation rather than demolition and rebuilding, to encouraging construction organisations to consider the embodied carbon of the built environment.
It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the task, but it’s important to notice when the industry is making progress in reducing its carbon emissions.
One such example is the shift away from diesel-powered plant machinery to biofuel-powered construction vehicles.
Why switch to biofuels?
The Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) highlighted at the end of last year how the UK’s construction sector is relying more on fossil fuels than it has in the past, which is driving up its emissions.
This is in contrast to elsewhere in the economy, where fossil fuel reliance is falling. According to the BCIS, this is because the focus from the government so far has been on decarbonising buildings once they are operational, rather than focusing on their construction.
However, this presents an opportunity in the construction industry, which could begin making a shift away from diesel and gas towards more sustainable alternatives before there is regulatory pressure to do so.
Although carbon-based fuels are still the most commonly used in construction, the BCIS analysis also noted that there has been a noticeable increase in the use of renewable and waste energy in the sector.
This shows that there is an appetite for alternatives to fossil fuels.
How can the construction sector use biofuels?
Developing plant machinery and other vehicles that can use biofuels instead of diesel is one option – and it’s one that some of the biggest names in construction are exploring.
JCB recently announced that it has launched a range of tracked excavators that operate solely on renewable biofuels, rather than diesel.
More specifically, JCB now offers models that can run on B100 – a completely renewable form of biodiesel. This means it has a much bigger impact on carbon emissions than some of the other biofuels available, like B10 or B20, which are a blend of regular diesel and biodiesel.
Given the fluctuations in oil prices around the world this year, and by association the fluctuations we’ve seen at the pumps, this could also be welcome news for those in the building industry who are looking to get their costs under control.
This is not the only example of a big name in construction turning to B100 fuel as a way of decarbonising.
Speedy Hire revealed earlier in August that it will now use B100 across its entire power fleet, which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and give construction firms the chance to take advantage of full fuel duty relief.
One of the major advantages to these announcements is that this fuel works in machinery that is already being used on construction sites across the UK. Therefore, it gives building firms a chance to reduce their emissions immediately, without having to change the equipment they are using.
What’s more, when the biofuels being used in construction vehicles are made from waste sources, like used cooking oil, they become even more eco friendly and have a more significant impact on emission reductions.
However, if more organisations are going to start using biofuels in their plant machinery, there needs to be a steady source of these fuels in the UK.
This means more biofuel plants will be required to meet the growing demand for these kinds of fuels so that more construction firms can make the switch.
In fact, a briefing from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology published in July suggested that the UK’s capacity to produce biofuels will need to increase tenfold by 2050 to meet demand not only for use in vehicles, but also within the power grid.
If you operate a biofuel plant and are looking to up your capacity, or simply to upgrade your components, make sure you have the highest quality pressure relief valves at your site to ensure the safety and quality of your fuels.
