The construction industry is working towards reducing its reliance on fossil fuels as part of global efforts to reach net-zero emissions. A key step towards this is cutting back on using traditional diesel.
One solution being trialled by the METRONET Byford Rail Extension Project is a HYDI unit that can be retrofitted to existing diesel equipment to produce hydrogen on demand for engines, with a lifecycle of around 20 years.
Developed by South Australian hydrogen technology company HYDI, the compact, self-contained unit uses proton exchange membrane cells to produce hydrogen from distilled water without any additional chemicals.
The big win for sustainability – hydrogen has around three times more energy value than diesel and produces fewer pollutants when burned.
Trial details
- A HYDI unit was installed on a CAT 962 loader.
- Before the unit was installed the loader used 8.18 litres of diesel per hour. After installation, fuel consumption improved to 6.56 litres per hour – a 19 per cent increase in fuel efficiency.
- Over 130 hours, the unit saved approximately 210.6 litres of diesel and used only 3.5 litres of distilled water.
What’s next?
- The HYDI unit will be tested on more equipment to confirm its benefits. The project team is aiming for a minimum of 10 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency across various equipment.
- Data will be tracked monthly and results will be shared with the industry to encourage adoption of this technology.
Overall benefits of the HYDI unit
- Reduces diesel use by 10 to 20 per cent, cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
- Lowers exposure to diesel fumes, reducing the risk of asthma, headaches and lung irritation for workers and nearby communities.
- Supports government carbon reduction goals
- Encourages innovation and creates demand for new technologies and is helping industries that are hard-to-electrify sectors transition to net zero.
The HYDI unit trial aligns with the METRONET Sustainability Strategy to identify and implement practical ways to reduce the carbon footprint of METRONET projects.