HS2's move towards diesel free construction sites took a step forward this month with three fully electric crawler cranes arriving at HS2 sites in London.

This follows the UK's first trial of an electric crawler crane at HS2’s Curzon Street Station site in Birmingham last year.

There are only five of these 100% emissions-free, giant Liebherr cranes in the world and three are being used for the first time in the UK at HS2's Old Oak Common site and Canterbury Road vent shaft site. They will cut carbon, improve air quality and reduce noise, making sites cleaner and safer for site workers and local communities.

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HS2 recently announced that the project aims to be net zero carbon from 2035, with the target of achieving diesel-free construction sites by 2029. To achieve this, HS2 is collaborating with the industry and its supply chain to accelerate innovation in low carbon technologies, such as fully electric machinery, alternative fuels and renewable energy solutions.

HS2 Minister, Andrew Stephenson said: "HS2 is paving the way for greener and cleaner practices by working towards being net zero carbon from 2035, having diesel-free construction sites by 2029 and committing to trains running on zero carbon energy from day one.

"Having the UK's first fully electric crawler cranes begin work on HS2 is the latest step in making these commitments a reality and aligning the country’s biggest infrastructure project with the Government’s ambitions for a greener transport."

Expanded, a Laing O'Rourke specialist business working for Balfour Beatty, VINCI SYSTRA joint venture (BBVS), has taken two of the UK's first giant battery-powered electric crawler cranes onto HS2's Old Oak Common Station site in West London.