Laing O'Rourke introduces new emissions reduction standard in Australia

Working towards our goals to be an operational net zero company by 2030, Laing O'Rourke has implemented a new standard to reduce emissions from off-grid site facilities in Australia.

Under this initiative, all Laing O'Rourke projects across the country must achieve a minimum 40% reduction in typical diesel consumption for off-grid site facilities achieved by using hybrid generators as opposed to using a standard diesel generator. This is supplemented by a commitment to exploring opportunities for reductions exceeding 75%, which can be achieved through battery and solar solutions.

Hollie Hynes, General Manager – Sustainability and Environment said, “Construction offices and facilities that have no access to electricity, or are positioned in a location with limited space, are commonly powered by diesel generators. The problem is that each diesel generator consumes on average 50,000 litres of diesel per year. Introducing this standard is expected to save a minimum of 500,000 litres of diesel annually, mitigating 1,300 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.”

Over the past two years Select Plant Australia, a subsidiary of Laing O’Rourke, has integrated hybrid and solar-powered solutions into Laing O'Rourke projects, demonstrating effectiveness in reducing emissions and resource consumption.

Nathan Mitschuinig, Select Business Unit Leader said, “We know these new standards are possible because we have seen significant emission reductions from using solar power for our off-grid sites in Western Australia and Victoria.”

Select has invested in ten hybrid generators and various state-of-the-art solar technologies to support these goals.

These solutions have been tried and tested across our projects. As part of the Princes Highway East, Kilmany upgrade, Select and Laing O’Rourke worked together to deliver a solar-powered site compound. The site’s 85kW of solar power generation capability and 203kWh of battery energy storage has avoided a total of 89,087kg CO2 emissions to date.

Over in the West, Laing O’Rourke’s MELconnx Alliance, delivering the METRONET Morley to Ellenbrook Line, implemented a 45kW solar farm with battery to mitigate the need to use a standard diesel generator. This was modelled to save an estimated 45,000 litres of diesel, equivalent to 128 tonnes Co2e, but has been performing better than expected.

This new standard and stretch target builds on our existing carbon abatement minimum standards, including purchasing 100% renewable energy for on-grid site offices, depots and head offices, installing smart energy metering on all main site facilities to help identify and adopt energy reduction initiatives, continuing our investments in electric and hybrid plant, and use of greener fuels in replace of traditional diesel.