Decarbonising Construction Equipment: Management Practices and Strategies for Net Zero in UK Infrastructure Projects

Efficient management of construction equipment (CE) is crucial for the successful and compliant delivery of infrastructure projects due to their significant impact on productivity and emissions. As the UK advances towards its net zero strategy by 2050, reducing emissions from CE has become a priority for various stakeholders, with estimates suggesting annual emissions from CE in the UK amount to nearly 10 MtCO2e, approximately 2% of the country's total emissions. However, there is a significant lack of academic research investigating these transformative developments within the UK infrastructure industry aimed towards CE decarbonisation. Hence, this research aims to fill this gap by interviewing industry professionals and reviewing industrial and governmental reports. The contribution of this study is threefold: identifying key technologies and processes employed in managing and decarbonising CE within UK infrastructure projects; mapping the different decarbonisation strategies and measures adopted across the supply chain; and highlighting the current progress and challenges associated with these strategies on the path to net zero. The findings recognise various decarbonisation measures, including adopting alternative biofuels, introducing electric and hydrogen-based equipment, establishing CE-specific requirements and standards, integrating telematics and machine control technologies, and setting project and organisation-specific net-zero targets. Challenges identified were related to alternative fuels, supply chain coordination, technology adoption, and data management which all require attention to fully realise the potential of decarbonisation efforts. Addressing these challenges presents opportunities for industry-wide collaboration and innovation to achieve net zero emissions.