HS2 digs deep with dual-fuel

28 April 2023

HS2 has installed four 30m deep piles on a London site using a hydrogen dual-fuel piling rig.

The trial, described as a world first, took place as part of work done in partnership by ULEMCo and Cementation Skanska, working with the Business Research Establishment (BRE) and funded through the BEIS (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, now known as Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) Phase 1 Red Diesel Replacement competition.

The contractors modified a medium-sized CFA piling rig, converting it so that the machine component operated using energy from on-board hydrogen tanks. Using the dual-fuel system, both diesel and biofuels (HVO) can be mixed with hydrogen, displacing the fuel with hydrogen, resulting in a reduction in fuel use and lower CO2 emissions.

Following successful yard trials simulating the technology, the rig was brought onto a HS2 site in London where it has successfully completed the piling works, demonstrating that the dual-fuel adaptation can be applied more widely across the construction sector supporting the decarbonisation of plant and machinery.

Amanda Lyne, MD of ULEMCo said: “The machines used in construction are owned and used for many years, so demonstrating a decarbonisation solution that utilises these existing assets is not only cost-effective, but also important for sustainability.”

Andrea Davidson, Head of Environmental Sciences for HS2 Ltd, added: “HS2 is continuing to drive a positive change in the construction sector and is providing an important environment to develop the real-world use of hydrogen energy technology.”