By Lynda Myer
In order to decreasing CO2 on water projects on opposite sides of the globe, Ghella is using EVs.
Benefiting three on-road electric tipper trucks, Ghella is advancing New Zealand’s Central Interceptor project, whereas in Norway, the Ghella-AF Gruppen JV constructing Oslo’s Clean Water Tunnel has introduced the country’s first electric dump trucks.
Considering that switching to electric vehicles particularly effective in reducing emissions, Ghella says electrification is a key lever in its ESG strategy, particularly in countries where the share of renewables in the grid is high.
The responsibility of transporting excavated material from tunnel and shaft sites to Puketutu Island, is up to e-trucks working on Auckland’s Central Interceptor.
With capacity of transporting up to 13 tonnes of material, each truck can travel 200km on a single charge and as Ghella says in the nearly 12 months the fleet has been used, 83 tonnes of carbon emissions have been saved, nearly 40% higher than expected.
According to Ghella: “These electric trucks represent a significant step forward in reducing carbon emissions in construction. Other benefits include fewer particulates going into the atmosphere, lower maintenance requirements of electric engines and a better air quality in the underground working environment through emission reduction from combustible engines in the tunnels.”
While the electric dumpers are responsible for transporting rock inside the tunnel system in Oslo, electric wheel loaders and an electric grader are also in operation on the Clean Water Tunnel project. The grader is the first of its kind in the world. In addition, electric locomotives will be used to move materials, tunnel segments and personnel to the TBM.
Use of electric vehicles in the tunnel drops down power consumption of the fans and the risk of fire, as Ghella says.
