OPINION. For players in the construction equipment sector, the adoption of alternative solutions to high-carbon-emitting engines and energy sources requires planning at the sector level. On the basis of ecological and financial impact studies of the equipment cycle (manufacture, maintenance, use, end of life), rental companies, manufacturers, building and public works majors and professional federations – FNTP, FFB, DLR, SEIMAT and EVOLIS – are working to bring tomorrow’s solutions to the fore and scale them up.
A few weeks ago, newly re-elected, the President of the Republic reaffirmed his intention to entrust the head of the next government with the mission of ecological planning. The signal sent to citizens and businesses alike is clear: the effort to achieve energy transition and ecological transition in the territories has been placed at the top of the agenda. The objective of transition must guide the major arbitrations and strategic orientations and the new governmental organisation is working to anticipate the needs, consider the multiple interests and ensure the fair distribution of the effort between the different actors involved.
The accelerating climate crisis is a large-scale test of the resilience of our business models, and the construction industry is no exception. They must now make a major transformation effort to bring their activity into line with this new sustainable economy, which produces wealth while preserving the environment. The sector knows that it is an infinite source of solutions for developing, building and reinventing territories that protect the environment by means of low-emission construction sites. On civil engineering sites in France today, 20% of CO2 emissions are linked to the operation of equipment (1). Our responsibility as an industry is to act with an awareness of the leverage we represent to reduce the environmental impact of this major sector of the economy. Our responsibility as a sector is also to overcome the divisions that may exist between the different links in the chain that we form, by inventing a new way of working together.
At this stage of our transition, the facts are clear: each stakeholder has initiated a dynamic that must be radically accelerated to be in line with the trajectory set by the Paris Agreement. The guarantee of this acceleration is the increased convergence of our efforts. No one party would have the means to act in isolation to finance innovation, make it accessible and generalise its use, in a model that creates value. We must act resolutely as a chain, and in turn reap the benefits of this approach. Today, more than one vehicle out of 10 sold in France is electric (2): this is the result of dialogue and concerted action by the automotive industry, which can only invite the equipment industry to structure itself. Investment in construction equipment, which is so important, is at the heart of our challenges. The lifespan and the cost of purchasing equipment do not leave much room for random choices. We must define together the major directions we take.
The latest studies comparing the CO2 emissions of an excavator according to its different engines and energy sources are unequivocal. From its manufacture to its end of life, including its use and maintenance, equipment with an electric engine recharged on the network, green hydrogen or biogas, allows a reduction of up to 60% in CO2 emissions compared to diesel engines (3). We know the solutions.
Nevertheless, the energy and environmental transition requires a rapid increase in power in line with the commitments made by the players in the sector: this is our final obstacle. In an economic context that is becoming more complex, the sector’s will alone cannot support the additional cost of development, production and therefore purchase and rental of these materials. The production volumes are still too small to generate economies of scale. Yes, the concertation of our choices aims to curb this first difficulty. Beyond that, our sector will have to work with the State: without incentives, we will lack the leverage to convince our value chain, right up to the very last link, i.e. the final customers and, above all, the contracting authorities, to follow us in these choices.
Hirers, equipment manufacturers, construction and civil engineering majors, and professional federations, we are convinced of the relevance of this planning work at the level of the sector in order to invest more effectively and thus meet our commitments in terms of carbon neutrality.
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(1) National Federation of Civil Engineering
(2) Automotive platform
(3) Carbone4
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(*) List of signatories:
- Pascal MEYNARD, Managing Director, ACCES INDUSTRIE
- Fabrice BONNIFET, Sustainable Development Director, GROUPE BOUYGUES
- Jean-Luc BARAS, Purchasing Director, EIFFAGE
- Alexandre SAUBOT, Managing Director, HAULOTTE GROUP
- Philippe GIRARD, Managing Director, JCB S.A.S. & JCB Sales, Director, JCB Africa North & Africa West, JCB
- Olivier COLLEAU, Chief Executive Officer, KILOUTOU
- Michel DENIS, President & CEO, MANITOU
- Jean-Sébastien GUIOT, Chairman, SALTI
- Davy GUILLEMARD, Chief Executive Officer, VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT FRANCE