Case Study: National Highways M2 J5 Deployment
Customer: GRAHAM
As part of their commitment towards Net Zero, GRAHAM used hydrogen to power the entire site compound for the M2 J5 project, which was being delivered for National Highways. For 4 weeks, a zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell generator replaced two traditional diesel generators. Hydrologiq deployed and monitored the generator via our industry-leading hydrogen operating platform.
As part of the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative program supported by Innovate UK and delivered via Connected Places Catapult, the pilot champions a cleaner alternative to diesel. The use of diesel generators has been the common way of providing off-grid power to construction sites. However, they are estimated to be responsible for 3.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in the UK alone annually.
GRAHAM, like the rest of construction industry, is under intense pressure to decarbonise, as around 40% of CO2 emissions are linked to the built environment. However, to achieve Net Zero, there are lots of challenges.
Green hydrogen can help to overcome some of those. The only by-product of using a fuel cell to generate power on site from hydrogen is water. Zero tail-pipe emission means it does not eliminate just CO2, but also pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matters, protecting the health of the site workforce and the local communities.
Before transitioning to hydrogen, GRAHAM needs to understand the health and safety process, the potential impact to their site operations, as well as the performance of the generator and the supply chain.
But how do end users like GRAHAM access this solution?
What carbon impact could adopting hydrogen have in the real world?
And what operational impact would it have to current and future projects?
Job Details
Characteristics: Continuous, variable load.
Typical Generator Size: 100kVA
Job Length: 30 Days
What Was Powered: 20 site cabins, 2 EV charging points
Job Scenario
Site Preparation: 8 Hours
Commissioning: 8 Hours
Decommissioning: 8 Hours
Job Requirements
Base kW: 4.9
Peak kW: 32
Hydrogen (kg): 282
Diesel Comparison
Diesel Used (litres): 2662
Avg Diesel Generator Efficiency: 15%
CO2 Diesel Emissions (kg): 9,018
The Impact
CO2e Saved
Litres of Diesel Avoided
Watch this video from GRAHAM to hear about their experience, and learn about the wider potential of using green hydrogen to decarbonise the construction industry.
What next?
Explore Potential
Hydrogen has the potential to decarbonise large portions of heavy-duty off-grid power in construction by replacing diesel.
Paving the way for large-scale replacement of a fossil fuel.
Scale Green Hydrogen
Groups like GRAHAM have the scale of demand to secure lower cost supplies of green hydrogen generated by emerging UK hydrogen producers.
Working Together
Learnings from this deployment will be shared within GRAHAM, as well as disseminated across the wider construction industry, to help identify opportunities to improve supply chain efficiency, and to accelerate hydrogen adoption.
More Trials
Longer trials where hydrogen is directly replacing diesel can showcase the positive carbon impact of using hydrogen.
"The need to move towards net zero and prepare for global climate imperatives is now widely recognised and currently there is significant political support for green hydrogen technology. We have been working in partnership with Hydrologiq and a wider consortium to advance this technology’s application on construction sites by testing and learning in real time."
Lianne Taylor
Head of Environmental Sustainability, GRAHAM Group
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