Henry Boot has completed a successful trial of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel at its plant hire business, Banner Plant, as part of its commitment to improving fuel resilience and achieving net zero carbon by 2030.

The land promotion, property development, construction and homebuilding group confirmed it is now preparing for a wider rollout of HVO fuel across its operations following the pilot scheme’s strong results.

During the trial, Banner Plant ran part of its fleet on HVO supplied by Certas. The renewable, drop-in diesel alternative is made from waste fats and vegetable oils through a hydrotreatment process, which produces a stable fuel capable of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared with conventional diesel.

Unlike first-generation biofuels, HVO does not rely on virgin crops and can be used in existing engines without compromising performance. Henry Boot’s trial reported carbon savings of 95 tonnes while maintaining reliable operational output.

-- Advertisement --

The company said it will now integrate HVO into suitable areas of its business, helping reduce Scope 1 emissions and enhancing fuel security across operations. Alongside the wider rollout, Henry Boot will continue exploring long-term sustainable energy alternatives, such as electric vehicles and emerging technologies.

Serena Lang, Non-Executive Director at Henry Boot, said: "As a business operating in real estate, we must reckon with the high energy requirements of our operations more than most. A significant portion of the greenhouse gas emissions of any business in this industry comes from the vehicles and heavy machinery required to deliver projects. This is why it's imperative that we invest in alternative energy sources for our fleets now.

"The success of our HVO trials will see it become a vital element of our journey towards decarbonisation. The cost efficiency, fast implementation potential, and immediate carbon savings make it a practical solution that we can deploy and scale now, while also continuing to explore and evaluate a broad range of decarbonisation strategies.

"We recognise that no single solution will deliver on our net zero, energy security and business resilience goals – HVO is just one tool in our decarbonisation toolkit and is one of several important steps we're taking on our sustainability journey. We hope that in sharing our progress, we encourage others to join us and push for transparency and ultimately collaboration."