HS2’s pioneering move towards diesel free construction sites took a step forward this month with three fully electric crawler cranes arriving at HS2 sites in London. This follows the UK’s first trial of an electric crawler crane at HS2’s Curzon Street Station site in Birmingham last year.
There are only five of these 100% emissions-free, giant Liebherr cranes in the world and three are being used for the first time in the UK at HS2’s Old Oak Common site and Canterbury Road vent shaft site. They will cut carbon, improve air quality and reduce noise, making sites cleaner and safer for site workers and local communities.
HS2 recently announced that the project aims to be net zero carbon from 2035, with the target of achieving diesel-free construction sites by 2029. To achieve this, HS2 is collaborating with the industry and its supply chain to accelerate innovation in low carbon technologies, such as fully electric machinery, alternative fuels and renewable energy solutions.
Robert Lockwood, SCS Air Quality Lead said:
“At SCS we want to make the transition to electric plant wherever possible in order to reduce emissions and noise, which is crucial for both the environment and the communities around our sites. To keep the momentum going, we’re already looking to procure our second electric crawler crane for delivery in March 2022.”
The cranes are supplied by another Laing O’Rourke specialist trading business, Select Plant Hire, one the UK’s largest equipment suppliers.
Read more on this story on the HS2 website: The UK’s first fully electric crawler cranes start work on HS2 as the project moves towards diesel free construction sites
