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.
 

The Byford Rail Extension Project is also the first construction project in Western Australia to trial the use of renewable diesel known as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). Made from waste cooking oils and fats, HVO is currently powering four on-site machines. Fuel efficiency, emissions reduction and engine performance will be studied throughout the trial. Read more about the HVO trial here.