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In an innovative approach to the business challenges of climate change, Australia's largest building and construction materials suppliers, Boral Ltd, has undertaken a trial across its concrete transport fleet designed to cut fuel costs - and abate greenhouse emissions.
Under the trial, five of the company's concrete agitators have been turned into "hippie trucks", using compressed natural gas technology (CNG), rather than diesel.
Preliminary results reveal that fuel costs for the trucks involved have been cut by almost 60%, while greenhouse gas emissions have dropped by more than 7%. |
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Boral uses sustainable alternative fuels & reduces greenhouse emissions
Boral's Managing Director and CEO, Rod Pearse, said the technology had the potential to help the business move to more sustainable alternative fuel sources and to reduce the company's (Boral's) greenhouse emissions.
"We're committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible across our operations, including emissions from our transport activities, and this CNG technology is proving extremely successful in the trials we have conducted to date," said Mr Pearse.
"While the technology is used as an alternative transport fuel source in a number of industries across Australia, most notably in some bus fleets, we believe this is the first time anywhere in the world that CNG has been used to power concrete agitators.
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"Programs like this are vital if we are to improve our understanding of the technology and enable us to develop a sustainable alternative to diesel fuel. The success of the program is not solely about realising fuel savings but our commitment to the environment and sustainability."
Environmental sustainability initiative makes business sense
"Businesses such as Boral can make a contribution to the climate change challenge, and we can also benefit financially by reducing energy and fuel costs. The CNG trial that we are currently conducting in Sydney is just one example of an emissions abatement initiative that can deliver environmental benefits and business benefits," said Mr Pearse.
Mr Pearse said that Boral had made a conscious decision over the past decade to make the company more sustainable, with Boral participating in a range of voluntary energy efficiency and emission reduction schemes.
As a result, Boral's greenhouse emissions from its most emissions intensive part of the business- the cement business - have reduced by 14% per tonne of cement since 1990.
"Sustainability makes sense, not just in terms of the environment but certainly, in terms of financial benefits for business," he said.
The trial of CNG technology has found that the trucks experienced no loss of performance and had the added social benefit of a significantly quieter idling engine, making the enhanced vehicles particularly suitable for metropolitan operations. |
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Boral Concrete Agitators - Happily powered by (Compressed) Natural Gas
Boral is currently trialling the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to fuel five of its concrete agitators. The five vehicles have been in operation for over 12 months on this new technology from Boral's Enfield Concrete Plant.
The use of CNG is delivering solid environmental and efficiency benefits for Boral's concrete business in Sydney. |
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The CNG vehicles emit approximately 7% less greenhouse gases than the equivalent diesel engine and the trucks are also far quieter than their diesel engine counterparts.
Natural gas is highly attractive as an alternative transport fuel source due to its clean burning properties relative to diesel. It is already being used as an alternative transport fuel source in a number of industries, most notably in some bus fleets.
The use of compressed natural gas for concrete agitator vehicles is certainly a first for Australia and Boral is not aware of any other concrete suppliers using this technology world wide.
To highlight this achievement and Boral's commitment to creating better solutions to the challenges of modern living, a new promotional design has been installed on Boral's CNG vehicle barrels.
The new images are designed to appeal to a broad cross section of the community. With the artwork featuring birds, flowers and a multitude of colours they are sure to receive positive comments wherever they travel. Key to the new image is the catchphrase "Happily powered by Natural Gas".
The continuation of the trials is important to further assess and overcome some of the limitations of the CNG trucks.
Current limitations include limited refuelling stations to support the vehicles; slightly heavier vehicles so they cart less; and the CNG engine does not have as much power so the driveability is different. (To support the current trial Boral has built its own refuelling station at its Enfield site in Sydney.)
For further information please email Kylie FitzGerald
General Manager, Corporate Affairs & Investor Relations
Boral Limited
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