{"id":515447,"date":"2025-02-28T12:45:51","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T12:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=515447"},"modified":"2025-03-04T10:26:06","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T10:26:06","slug":"hydrogen-powered-plant-to-be-allowed-on-roads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/tech\/hydrogen-powered-plant-to-be-allowed-on-roads-28-02-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Hydrogen-powered plant to be allowed on roads"},"content":{"rendered":"

The government will allow hydrogen-powered diggers, mobile cranes and other construction machinery to operate on public roads.<\/p>\n

Transport minister Lord Peter Hendy told Parliament that the Labour government would move ahead with the law change, which was first proposed in 2024 by the previous Conservative administration.<\/p>\n

Hydrogen-powered non-road mobile machinery cannot currently be used on public roads unless their operator has obtained a special exemption.<\/p>\n

According to a 2024 consultation<\/a>, manufacturers highlighted this as a barrier to the wider uptake of low or zero-emission plant.<\/p>\n

Hendy said the Department for Transport was developing an amendment to The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to allow hydrogen machinery to drive on public roads across Great Britain.<\/p>\n

\u201cLegislation is expected to be introduced alongside publication of the government\u2019s response to the public consultation in April,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Reacting to the announcement, Troy Aharonian, head of public affairs at trade association Hydrogen UK said: \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled the government has confirmed they\u2019ll be allowing hydrogen-powered machinery to be moved on UK roads.<\/p>\n

\u201cHydrogen has a pivotal role to play in decarbonising industries like construction, which require off-grid power to operate heavy machinery that is ill-suited for electrification.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis announcement is a positive step towards properly regulating hydrogen use and enabling the UK\u2019s construction sector to achieve net zero.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Construction Equipment Association (CEA) was among those surveyed for their views on the issue prior to the public consultation.<\/p>\n

Viki Bell, its director of operations, said: “With the UK construction industry facing stringent decarbonisation targets, our sector must balance the transition to greener technologies with economic viability.<\/p>\n

“Meeting these goals requires innovation and investment in alternative power solutions, such as electric machinery, hydrogen, and hybrid equipment.<\/p>\n

“Our focus is on embracing all viable options rather than prioritising one over another. Whether it\u2019s hydrogen, electric, hybrid, or biofuels, every pathway has a role to play. By championing this inclusive approach, we aim to equip our members and their customers with the tools they need to navigate evolving environmental demands in a rapidly changing industry.”<\/p>\n

In a report this week, the Climate Change Committee \u2013 the government\u2019s official advisory body on reducing emissions \u2013 said that by 2040 hydrogen would play a \u201csmall but important role\u201d in moving away from carbon.<\/p>\n

It singled out non-road mobile machinery as one of many subsectors where hydrogen would play a meaningful role in lowering industrial emissions, alongside chemicals, glass and other minerals, and iron and steel.<\/p>\n

It added that electrification would deliver 52 per cent of the required reduction in emissions for non-road mobile machinery by 2050 \u201cvia both battery electric and tethered equipment\u201d, and hydrogen would account for 22 per cent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The government will allow hydrogen-powered diggers, mobile cranes and other construction machinery to operate on public roads. Transport minister Lord Peter Hendy told Parliament that the Labour government would move ahead with the law change, which was first proposed in 2024 by the previous Conservative administration. Hydrogen-powered non-road mobile machinery cannot currently be used on …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43915,"featured_media":352262,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[565,556,579],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n