Balfour Beatty to roll out hydrogen technology across tamper fleet

Photo: Balfour Beatty

Developed by engineering and technology firm Advanced Hydrogen Technologies, ECC uses on-demand hydrogen to clean carbon deposits inside combustion engines.

The system feeds hydrogen into the air intake so the engine burns more efficiently, helping cut fuel use, extend engine life, and reduce emissions such as CO₂, CO, NOx and N₂O.

The trial, conducted with rail specialists K2C Rail and 1stinrail, simulated a full year of operation in line with standard maintenance cycles and delivered a 15.79% reduction in emissions.

Following that, Balfour Beatty said it plans to roll out ECC across its entire tamper fleet.

According to Balfour Beatty, which said it is the first infrastructure company to apply this technology to rail-mounted plant, it has already been used in road vehicles, and has achieved fuel and CO₂ savings of up to 30%. 

George Chaplin, investment & innovation manager at Balfour Beatty, said: “ECC is a simple, non-intrusive solution that integrates seamlessly into our servicing schedules.

“By extending engine life, reducing maintenance needs and lowering fuel consumption, ECC delivers measurable carbon and cost savings while minimising downtime – a smart, sustainable investment for our fleet.”

Tony Kearns, managing director at K2C Rail Ltd, added: “We’re committed to bringing innovative, sustainable solutions to the rail sector. Partnering with ECC and Balfour Beatty demonstrates our shared ambition to reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions across the supply chain.”