Cemex unveil their first HVO-powered vehicle in the UK
Company’s first vehicle powered by hydrogenated vegetable oil now working out of Tilbury cement plant
CEMEX have unveiled their first ever HVO-powered (hydrogenated vegetable oil) vehicle in support of their Future in Action programme – which acts as the driver for Cemex to become a carbon net zero business by 2050.
Hydrotreated vegetable oil is a diesel-like biofuel that can be produced without fossil resources by processing renewable waste. HVO is now one of the leading alternative renewable fuels available to the construction industry, producing up to 90% less CO2 emissions than traditional diesel fuel; and will act as a transitional fuel, helping to lower CO2 emissions whilst the industry moves towards more longer-term solutions such as electric or hydrogen power.
The vehicle will be operating out of Cemex’s Tilbury cement plant, which lies on the river Thames and serves the London and south-east building and construction markets. Cemex’s Tilbury cement plant has achieved the ISO14001 environmental accreditation, and the addition of the new HVO-powered vehicle is another example of the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Cemex aim to lead the industry in their approach to creating a more sustainable future through their Future in Action programme, which sets out a combined approach to tackling climate change by reducing carbon emissions, introducing circularity into the company’s operations, and increasing biodiversity.
Alongside their continued progress to decarbonize operations in order to reach net zero by 2050, Cemex are also taking innovative approaches to creating lower-carbon building and construction materials through their Vertua range, increasing biodiversity through vital restoration work at their quarry locations, and finding ways to reduce carbon emissions across their supply chain through increased rail activities and the use of alternative fuels such as HVO.
Dave Hart, Cemex director of supply chain for the UK, said: ‘The introduction of the new HVO-powered vehicle at our Tilbury plant is another important step on our journey towards reducing carbon emissions within our HGV fleet.
‘Electric and hydrogen powered alternatives are either still in development or do not yet have the range or the infrastructure to be supported across our larger vehicle fleet.
‘HVO biofuel, therefore, provides us with the opportunity for us to reduce carbon emissions, acting as a transitional fuel, whilst we continue to assess other emerging technologies such as electric and hydrogen power.’
