Ainscough Crane Hire has become the first crane company in the world to commit to using Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel across its entire fleet
The company hopes that the adoption of Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel will reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%, saving in excess of 14,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
A combination of this and wider environmental initiatives means that Ainscough will become carbon neutral from April 2022 – the first crane company in the world to do so.
The wider environmental initiatives include:
- Increasing the number of Stage V engines in Ainscough’s fleet
- Encouraging sustainable life choices amongst staff
- Smart lighting and upgrades to heating systems
What is HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil)?
HVO is made largely of recycled vegetable oil and can be used as a direct replacement for diesel – meaning Ainscough will not have to make any modifications to its fleet.
It offers enhanced burning efficiency while delivering the same benefits and robustness as traditional fossil fuels. It also has a storage life over ten times that of traditional diesel.
Ainscough will source HVO through a guaranteed sustainable supply chain.
Peter Gibbs, chief executive officer, Ainscough Crane Hire said: “As the UK’s leading crane hire company we have a responsibility to lead by example in the challenge of preserving the planet for future generations.
Net zero construction targets
“Our move to HVO fuel across our crane and transport fleet is not just a breakthrough moment for the domestic crane hire market – it’s a global first for a national company too.
“Our fuel usage is the most significant aspect of our carbon footprint, accounting for the vast majority of the business’ carbon emissions.
“By achieving this 95% reduction and undertaking offsetting we have been able to make sure our company will be a carbon neutral business within the first months of 2022.
“Everyone working in construction needs to be bold in order to ensure we can reach our collective net zero targets, and we feel this announcement will be of great benefit to our partners throughout the industry.
“This adoption has been made possible thanks to the sheer breadth of our depot network, meaning our team will have easy access to refueling locations across the country.
“Ainscough has a long and proud history of pioneering to the benefit of the construction industry and the communities in which we work.
“It has taken a phenomenal amount of research and effort to get us to this point, but I’m confident that this latest step is our company’s most important innovation yet.”
Paulo Eapen, European head of Blackstone Credit, said: “We are proud to be Ainscough’s partner, and becoming carbon neutral puts the company at the forefront of sustainable leadership in its sector.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Ainscough to innovate and grow the business sustainably.”
