It is worth noting that in response to the consultation pertaining to the non-road mobile machinery- NRMM by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Transport, the Hydrogen Energy Association- HEA has gone on to strongly advocate for hydrogen as a critical element when it comes to reshaping the construction industry’s sustainability endeavours.
The HEA, which goes on to represent 120 leading hydrogen businesses, goes on to stress that the government’s present vision for NRMM inadequately acknowledges the potential that hydrogen has in comparison to the electrification that is done. The CEO of HEA, Celia Greaves, went on to stress the need for a more comprehensive approach, thereby urging the UK government to go ahead and devise a pragmatic as well as a long-term roadmap that goes on to prioritize hydrogen, in addition to other technologies.
Greaves adds that hydrogen is indeed well-suited when it comes to the high energy output and flexibility demands pertaining to the NRMM, and both hydrogen internal combustion engines- ICEs as well as the fuel cells offer perks for NRMM decarbonization. ICEs happen to offer a decreased initial investment for the manufacturers who are looking to switch from fossil fuels along with zero carbon and minimal NOx emissions, while fuel cells happen to be offering low operational costs, reliability, and zero emissions.
The HEA, while addressing technical barriers, emphasized the unsuitability of specific technologies such as battery electric as well as tethered electric for overall NRMM applications because of harsh operating conditions as well as mobility requirements. Unlike electric solutions, hydrogen’s flexibility as well as adaptability kind of make it a viable choice even in certain transient environments, such as construction sites.
Apparently, the HEA’s response not only went on to highlight concerns but at the same time also presented concrete recommendations to the government, which include syncing well with the EU’s recognition concerning hydrogen ICE as a zero-emissions tech, drawing inspiration from subsidy schemes that have been successful in the Netherlands and Norway, and sponsoring certain dedicated trials of decarbonized NRMM solutions in order to showcase their efficacy.
The HEA’s response emphasized that the decarbonization of NRMM cannot be satisfied by just one technology. Favoring specific technologies like electrification should indeed be avoided, as this goes on to risk undermining certain other solutions and also any new solutions that would be developed in the future.
It is worth noting that the HEA’s resounding call for hydrogen’s major role in decarbonizing NRMM goes on to signal quite a massive shift within the construction industry’s approach when it comes to sustainability.
