Green Groundhogs

13 October 2023

Genquip Groundhog’s efforts in addressing sustainability issues relating to its own carbon footprint as well as helping customers and suppliers to do has been recognised by the company having been shortlisted for the Green Energy Product of the Year at the recent National Sustainability Awards. 

The company had nominated its i550 welfare cabin, which is powered by a low-emission 2kVA engine-driven battery charging system driven by a 1200W inverter and backed up by four roof-mounted solar panels. The unit can also be run on HVO fuel.

The i550 incorporates a remote monitoring system that alerts the operator to potential anomalies. 

Having a battery system means that the onboard generator operates typically for only a third of the time compared against a traditional welfare cabin. 

Working in collaboration with the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures at the University of Sheffield, Genquip Groundhog has developed a comprehensive set of environmental data covering its entire product range, relating to the three emissions Scopes and guided by the international standard ISO14067. 

This has involved obtaining data from the company’s own operations relating to direct emissions from fuel used in manufacturing, purchased electricity and other emissions from the entire supply chain, including information from outside suppliers. 

“We’ve effectively calculated the carbon footprint of every single component and process we use, from manufacture to delivery,” MD Peter Beach told me. “It’s taken more than two years of hard work and shows our commitment to sustainability.” 

On its website, Genquip Groundhog has added exploded parts diagrams of cabins so that the carbon footprint of individual components can be assessed. 

This initiative is an ongoing process and one which will clearly delivery benefits not just for Genquip Groundhog, but also for other companies it deals with - and, indeed, the planet. 

Photo: Alan Guthrie