The announcement comes with a target to reduce the company’s CO2 emissions by up to 90%
Glencar’s switch to hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel (HVO) will affect all active construction sites in 2025.
This includes all site set ups, welfare establishments, and on-site power generation, and will make Glencar one of the first construction contractors to make the switch.
Glencar’s oil fuel could slash CO2 emissions
HVO fuel is constructed from waste vegetable oils and animal fats, and reacting them with hydrogen. The resulting mixture acts in a similar manner to diesel fuel and can be used, with some modifications, in diesel engines.
This switch across Glencar’s work sites could result in a reduction in CO2 of up to 90%, as well as 80% of other harmful emissions, such as particulate matter.
The current rate of diesel consumption per-year means Glencar have been emitting more than 720 tonnes of CO2, the majority of the Scope 1 carbon emissions and is the company’s priority to address.
“A major strategic step change”
Glencar director of ESG, James Scott, said: “Our transition to HVO is a major strategic step change that will make an immediate difference and impact on our carbon in construction performance. We estimate a reduction in over 90% in our Scope 1 emissions when every construction site is using HVO.
“We have set ourselves ambitious targets to achieve Net Zero for Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2025 and 2045 for Scope 3 emissions and this is another important milestone on the journey.
“We will continue to monitor new technologies and innovation to ensure we are at the forefront of clean and efficient sustainable solutions.
“The switch to HVO will also give us further confidence in our emissions data that will enable us to track our reductions and performance against our ESG goals, with the knowledge that HVO itself is a sourced product that is certified through collection of feedstock, manufacturing and delivery into the UK terminal using the ISCC scheme, and thereafter using the UK’s RFAS scheme. This ensures that all feedstocks are classed as 100% renewable under the Renewable Energy Directive 2.
“Whilst we recognise the carbon reduction potential of HVO, we are also aware of the environmental impacts of HVO production and will closely monitor the sustainability of our supply chain.”
Technologies such as HVO are being touted by many organisations, such as the Environmental Industries Association (EIA), whose 40+ members are promoting the use of HVO’s, hydrogen fuels, and other carbon-friendly technologies in the construction industry.
