Molson host ‘Decarbonizing Heavy Mobile Equipment’ event
Company hosts SevernNet breakfast meeting on the drive towards alternative fuel use in construction equipment
AS a member of the SevernNet community, Molson Group were pleased to host one of the social enterprise scheme’s monthly breakfast meetings, on the theme ‘Decarbonizing Heavy Mobile Equipment’ at their flagship Avonmouth service centre.
SevernNet is a not-for-profit social enterprise run by and for businesses, the community, and other stakeholders across Royal Portbury Dock, Avonmouth, Severnside, and Western Approach – one of the largest industrial areas in Northern Europe – to encourage co-operation and collaboration on subjects such as climate, travel, biodiversity, and the circular economy.
Following an introduction by SevernNet director Kate Royston, Molson Group chief executive officer Robin Powell welcomed more than 100 attendees from local businesses and the community to the event, which focused on the technology and drive towards alternative fuel use in construction equipment.
Mr Powell gave an introduction to the Molson Group’s activities in the UK and the US, highlighting the work they have undertaken with their suppliers in designing and delivering electric-powered recycling equipment for more than a decade. With non-road mobile machinery emitting 2.7% of the UK’s total greenhouse emissions, there is an urgent requirement for manufacturers, dealers, and end users to look at their operations and endeavour to change wherever possible.
The event commenced with Plantforce chief executive officer Sam Mercer speaking about the company’s journey to deliver sustainable solutions and the innovations that are being worked on to achieve this. Starting with the company’s focus on meeting clients’ requirements for machines on site to be no more than three years old, he went on to discuss Plantforce’s drive to reduce carbon emissions with driver training and alternative fuel testing, and their journey as part of the Element 1 project, which is designing and delivering the first of two new dual-fuel hydrogen powered Kobelco excavators, one of which was unveiled at the event.
Molson Group commercial director Henry Moore was next to speak, talking about the company’s work with customers and suppliers to reduce emissions in construction equipment. Speaking openly about the critical need for equipment and the role it plays in society from building homes and power stations to processing waste, Mr Moore spoke about the efforts Molson Group are going to in the analysis of data collected from equipment for use in delivering efficiencies across the board.
The event concluded with Chris Adams, director of engineering at Bristol Port Company; Derek Healey, technical manager at Suez; Paul Lowndes, programme director at Gravity; Rhianydd Griffith, stakeholder lead at SevernNet; and Chris Matthew, commercial director at Plantforce, taking part in a panel event, each focusing on their own company’s steps towards addressing carbon emissions.
Whilst each company faced different hurdles in its efforts to reduce its own carbon impact, the joint message was that these hurdles can be crossed with co-operation between suppliers. Whilst the use of alternative fuels plays a major part in the decarbonization of projects and equipment, each panel member was keen to point out the distinct lack of government legislation and lack of financial incentive to help justify investment in upgrading technology such as heavy equipment. The challenge of securing access to the power networks, especially at a viable cost, was also identified as a critical hurdle holding back companies looking to go green.
The meeting was closed by Kate Royston, who thanked everyone involved in organizing the event, which highlighted the collective push towards a sustainable and greener future for construction equipment.
