Japanese construction company Obayashi announced on August 9th that it has conducted a pilot test in collaboration with Komatsu to explore the utilization of hydrogen at construction sites. The test was carried out during a slope repair project on the Oita Expressway. A portable hydrogen co-firing generator was installed to charge electric mini-excavators, allowing the identification of challenges related to hydrogen use in construction and confirming the practicality of electrified construction machinery.

For the soil loading operations, Komatsu's electric mini-excavator "PC30E-6," certified as a green construction machine, was employed alongside the company’s hydrogen co-firing generator as the charging facility. After conducting preliminary evaluations simulating the operation of each machine, they were introduced to the site in July. Hydrogen, produced by Obayashi in Oita Prefecture, was supplied as fuel for the generator. Compared to using diesel fuel alone, this approach reduced CO2 emissions during charging by approximately 40%.

Obayashi plans to systematically introduce green construction machinery starting this fiscal year to further reduce CO2 emissions during construction stages. The insights gained from this pilot test will be leveraged in future green machinery implementations.

While the introduction of electrified construction machinery is considered effective for reducing CO2 emissions during the construction phase, the challenge remains in developing power supply infrastructure in regions where the power grid is not yet well-established. (2024/08/19)