Carnell have received confirmation from The Green Organisation, that their EcoSite initiative has been chosen as a winner at the International Green Apple Environment Awards 2024.

This achievement demonstrates their continuing commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimising the impact that their operations have on global warming. It comes four years after winning the same award for ‘StoneMaster’ their innovative filter drain recycling technique.

In 2021, National Highways set out ambitions to decarbonise their operations through their Net Zero Highways plan. This included a commitment that all construction plant and compounds would be zero emissions by 2030, which is now just over five years away.

For highway maintenance providers, it is often the case that schemes work out of compounds which are in relatively remote locations, mobilising at short notice and for periods typically measured in weeks rather than months or years.

Despite the aspiration to get compounds connected to ‘the grid’ this is rarely feasible. While continuing to use traditional generators and fuel would produce volumes of greenhouse gases that would be impossible to ‘offset’.

Carnell rose to this challenge by adopting several low-Carbon alternatives to traditional construction site plant and compound setups. Initiatives include the use of both solar power generators and battery storage units (BSU), energy management systems, low-voltage lighting and HVO fuel.

Implemented in collaboration with manufacturers of the innovative equipment, each site is adapted depending on factors including the compound location, workload and scheme duration. Since it was introduced to Carnell operations teams three years ago, the EcoSite concept has evolved, as more efficient and effective solutions are developed and sourced.

As part of Carnell’s Green Apple submission, equipment details and quantitative results were provided:

• Solartainers contain a solar panel, battery storage unit and generator alongside a management and control system. This means the generator only needs to be in operation when the demand is high, and the battery is low, with any excess power being used to charge the battery. During the first six months of 2024, these units were deployed at eight sites where Carnell were principal contractor, saving in excess of 169 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide – enough to fill 39 hot air balloons or 17 million footballs.
• HVO fuel is a renewable alternative to diesel that has been approved for use by several plant and equipment manufacturers. Using DEFRA conversion factors it produces 98% less CO2e emissions. HVO comprised 38% of the fuel used in Carnell compounds for cabins, lighting and plant in 2024, providing a significant reduction in greenhouse gas production.

Lee Gill, Plant & Transport Director at Carnell who was instrumental in the development and deployment of EcoSite remarked, “Achieving the International Green Apple Environment Award is fantastic recognition for the efforts we have made on the road to Net Zero. We are proud to have worked with some truly innovative suppliers, helping them to grow and improve their solutions for the benefit of the industry and the environment. We will continue to evolve the EcoSite concept as we look to further decarbonise our construction activities and achieve our own target of being Carbon neutral by 2040.”

The Green Apple Awards will be presented at a ceremony held at Kensington Palace on 18 November 2024.

PIC-CARNELL