Heavy-duty construction equipment: Dinosaurs of black energy?
2021 (English)In: Proceedings of the 37th Annual ARCOM Conference / [ed] Lloyd Scott; Christopher J. Neilson, Leeds: Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM), 2021, p. 694-703Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]
Construction equipment emissions in civil engineering are a major sustainability issue. However, the industry continues investing in diesel (and/or biodiesel) machines - which, even if compliant with EU regulations, are far from "clean". Cleaner technologies in construction equipment, like electrical engines, are considered more expensive investments; moreover, they are dependent on the available power supply while operating in confined areas. So, transitioning these machines sustainably involves changing technologies, business models, and public regulation. In Scandinavia, heavy-duty engines (over 25 tons) have only recently become (limitedly) available. Therefore, the current paper analyzes enablers and barriers for a sustainable transition of civil engineering construction equipment to onsite electrical machines in Scandinavia. The sustainable transition theory, combined with sustainable business models, serves as the framework of understanding. Empirically, a desk study of governance and regulation is combined with material from four fossil-free test building sites in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. The results highlight the importance of a public-private business model, where public client-driven transition is subsidy-supported (e.g., making electrical equipmentavailable through concession, and encouraging small innovative machine manufacturers to develop electrical equipment), while waiting for international construction equipment players to become transition-ready. Recommendations for the transition thus include strengthening public-private collaboration. © 2021 Proceedings of the 37th Annual ARCOM Conference, ARCOM 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Leeds: Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM), 2021. p. 694-703
Keywords [en]
electrical engines, heavy-duty, Scandinavia, sustainable transition
National Category
Other Mechanical Engineering
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-46010Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85118454132ISBN: 978-0-9955463-5-6 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hh-46010DiVA, id: diva2:1616322
Conference
2021 37th Annual Association of Researchers in Construction Management Conference (ARCOM 2021), Virtual, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, 6-7 September, 2021
2021-12-022021-12-022021-12-02Bibliographically approved