Such options can also allow teams to reduce emissions and site noise. How do these specialized heavy equipment models improve workflows while simultaneously raising renewable energy adoption rates?
Those who use renewable energy equipment are not alone in their goals to transition away from fossil fuels and pursue other sustainable improvements. Society is shifting — more people and businesses prefer eco-friendly projects and processes.
Leaders in construction can respond by updating their goals, priorities and offerings, knowing those changes will keep them relevant in a competitive industry.
When a sustainability executive from Volvo Construction Equipment discussed the company’s plans, it was easy to see how technologies such as AI and the IoT fit into its renewable energy push.
The executive explained that the company identified sustainable energy, telematics and automation as crucial to furthering its clean power solutions. For example, he revealed a link between the IoT and renewable energy, mentioning that telematics solutions can gather information from all machines at a site, helping people reduce waste and enhance efficiency.
This leader also discussed Volvo’s efforts to release more battery-based machines, bringing up an electric excavator that can run for up to eight hours per charge.
As Volvo and other brands consider investing in sustainability improvements, people can expect to see IoT and AI features that keep this equipment maximally efficient. Additionally, as more electric-powered versions become available, decision-makers tasked with overseeing large projects will know they can rely on renewable energy to complete those jobs.
AI and the IoT have been instrumental in proving that technology can help people do things differently and achieve significant process improvements. Some decision-makers use smart sensors and algorithms to predict when equipment breakdowns will occur.
Such information aids planning, giving them more time to order parts or book service appointments before disruptive machine failures happen. In one case, mining site decision-makers scheduled a part replacement, which saved them 13 times the cost of waiting until after a breakdown occurred.
Trade shows are some of the best places for people to see recent developments from designers, engineers, manufacturers and others. Their efforts help attendees and those reading news coverage of the events understand what’s possible and what they should expect over the coming months and years.
AI, the Internet of Things and automation were some of the advancements spotlighted in heavy equipment used for agriculture that debuted at the CES trade show. Many of the offerings can also run on renewable energy, emphasizing the connection between clean power and other technological advancements.
Kubota brought a concept version of an electric tractor that has AI-based automation and connectivity features that communicate its current direction, job mode and other details. The brand also debuted a compact electric excavator with a built-in DC fast charger and a battery that gives up to five hours of continuous operation per charge.
Although an electric machine is not automatically a piece of renewable energy equipment, the increasing availability of these products and clean power providers should encourage people to investigate how they can benefit from the latest machinery while moving away from traditional power sources.
Emerging technologies can also convince people that renewable energy is a viable solution for those who use heavy machinery. Government leaders worldwide have established many regulations and incentives to increase green building practices. The construction crews working on those projects can consider alternative energy sources to meet important requirements and ideals.
Similarly, well-established heavy equipment companies have invested in renewable energy and advanced technologies, leading the way as early adopters. Their applications will help others feel confident enough to use these solutions, too.
In 2023, government authorities in the United Kingdom authorized the world’s first hydrogen-powered backhoe loader, giving its manufacturer the go-ahead to test and use it in future road projects. This model uses zero-carbon fuel to power the pistons in its internal combustion engines. Although people have used ICEs for more than a century, the use of hydrogen as a fuel source is a newer development.
People produce hydrogen from various resources, such as natural gas, biomass and nuclear power. However, there is a growing interest in clean hydrogen. It uses clean electricity for the water electrolysis step, and its production process is emissions-free.
Those involved in introducing this backhoe loader to the United Kingdom’s roads believe it will show how hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines can help parties reach net-zero targets more quickly while creating new jobs and bringing additional economic benefits to the construction sector.
Some heavy equipment users or manufacturers may also explore options for incorporating smart construction features into machines that run on green hydrogen. People frequently make industrial machines compatible with artificial intelligence and IoT technologies. There’s no reason they shouldn’t or couldn’t do the same in these cases.
Caterpillar, one of the world’s largest original equipment manufacturers, produces many types of heavy machinery and offers generator systems that run on hydrogen. The company also uses AI and smart sensors to improve customer experiences and its operations. Algorithms can analyze data from sensors on connected products.
Then, a generative AI tool summarizes the content and presents users with reports and relevant recommendations. Although humans give the material a final review, this approach saves substantial time during the data collection and analysis phases.
These fascinating examples illustrate why artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things will continue creating opportunities for people to create, use and optimize renewable energy machinery. Succeeding in these areas will get the construction industry — and the world — closer to a much-needed clean energy future defined by advanced technologies.
