Suche
Pilot project for CO2-neutral construction crew
The new construction team from Porr and Wiener Netze wants to save up to 90 percent of CO₂ emissions using electric and hydrogen drives.
Pilot project for CO2-neutral construction crew
The Wiener Netze and Porr are pushing forward the decarbonization of their emergency service. As part of a joint pilot project, a construction team is being used for the first time that works exclusively with equipment based on alternative drives and fuels. According to calculations by the Vienna University of Technology, which is scientifically supporting the project, around 46,500 kilograms of CO2 can be avoided annually - a reduction of around 90 percent.
Porr's five-person construction team is deployed to deal with damage to electricity, gas, district heating and data networks. Instead of diesel-powered machines, he uses electric and hydrogen devices as well as a truck with a crane that runs on HVO 100. “Over the course of the year, we can reduce the CO₂ emissions of this construction crew by 90 percent,” says Karl-Heinz Strauss, CEO of Porr.
Working on the district heating network
The official project start took place on October 9th in Vienna's 6th district. The teams carried out work on a district heating pipeline in the presence of Wiener Stadtwerke General Director Peter Weinelt, Wiener Netze Managing Director Gerhard Fida and Porr CEO Karl-Heinz Strauss.
"Sustainability is a top priority at Wiener Stadtwerke. We are pursuing the city's goal of becoming CO2-neutral by 2040. Precisely because the construction sector is a large emitter, we rely on green measures - from excavation to supplying energy to the construction crew," says Weinelt. Fida also emphasizes the importance of the project: “With our construction team, which relies on hydrogen as a clean form of energy, among other things, we will be able to work almost CO2-neutrally in the future.”
Hydrogen as a key technology
The central element of the project is a hydrogen-powered backhoe loader from the manufacturer JCB - the first of its kind in practical use in the world. The device uses hydrogen directly as fuel and is intended to demonstrate its practical suitability on construction sites. Frank Zander, Director Major Accounts Europe at JCB, explains: “This pilot project shows how the decarbonization of construction sites using hydrogen as a CO₂-free fuel can become a reality in the future.”
In addition to the hydrogen excavator, the construction team's fleet includes cars, vans, power storage units, breakers, compactors and vibratory plates. Porr is already carrying out further pilot projects with alternative drives in cooperation with clients and research partners.
Gradual conversion of the machinery
As part of its decarbonization strategy, Porr sees the conversion of the vehicle and machinery fleet as a central lever for reducing direct emissions. "Small appliances are already being gradually electrified. For larger machines, we see long-term potential in the use of hydrogen," says Strauss. Porr works closely with manufacturers, research institutions and customers such as Wiener Netze to advance technical developments.
