Net zero vs reality: New research highlights alternative fuel disconnect

Maintenance and supply are preventing an increased uptake of alternative fuels, despite industry appearing to fully embrace environmental targets according to a new report, Bridging the Gap to Net Zero: Solutions towards the net zero challenge, from Aggreko.

In an effort to help industry reach net zero targets effectively, Aggreko continues to question energy professionals about their use of on-site equipment.

The latest insights come via 200 energy professionals, throughout industries including construction. Specifically, Bridging the Gap to Net Zero sets out to gauge corporate appetite for change and uptake of alternative fuels.

Unsurprisingly, an emphatic 96% of respondents said their company’s environmental impact was a ‘medium- to high-priority’, however green issues were found to be a more important factor than price when purchasing fuel.

However, while 82% of respondents confirmed their use of alternative fuels as a way of reducing corporate impact, 85% still identified diesel as their fuel of choice for powering on-site equipment, casting any notion of progress into doubt.

Chris Rason, MD at Aggreko, commented: “The report highlights the contradiction between ambition to make changes in line with net zero versus the reality.

“We ourselves are on a journey to become greener so want to understand how we can help our customers get there as fast as possible.”

The report then advises on the immediate changes that businesses can make in order to inch closer to net zero. Solutions explored include Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), Gas-to-liquid (GTL), Combined Heat and Power (CHP), battery and raising the efficiency of existing technologies.

Chris added: “Achieving net zero is far from simple and pragmatism will be central to success. As such, this report does not attempt to define one path but instead discuss the different options businesses can use to instigate change.”

As Aggreko continues to explore and invest in new greener technologies, the report also reveals early results of emissions testing of HVO and GTL in in its Stage IIIA generator fleet.

The analysis was undertaken by an independent engineering and environmental consultancy, in compliance with ISO 8178 D2. Both fuels were tested and compared to EN590 diesel.

Chris concluded: “Some results in the report confirmed suspicions, whereas others surprised. What’s certainly true is that grand targets require a steady and sustained effort. We hope our report can play a part in that process.”

Download the full report at www.aggreko.com/netzero

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