In 2019 Keltbray rolled out energy training to its 1600 employees. This didn’t just train its teams, it also connected them to the company’s energy management initiatives, which is how the conversation started.

Keltbray’s Energy Division set the objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, which in turn became the start of the company’s ambition to achieve Net-Zero by 2050.

As a result, a small working group was created and has been working hard for the last 14 months assessing the operations of Keltbray Energy, with the sole aim of reducing its carbon footprint where possible.

What happened next?

Word spread of the work and benefits gained, simultaneously, clients from across the built environment and infrastructure divisions released their own strategies and carbon targets. What started as a divisional project quickly became a Keltbray wide objective: to achieve Net-Zero by 2050.

In 2019 the UK became one of the first countries to set a legal goal of becoming Net-Zero by 2050. The Net-Zero target will require the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

Every house and building that is currently being built will still be operational and will need to be Net-Zero by 2050. This requires developments to be designed and built with Net-Zero in mind from now on.

So where are we now?

The project that started with a small team has developed into a group objective; there is no denying that the objective is unprecedented and will require all processes at Keltbray to change by 2050.

What have we achieved so far?

  • All fixed locations are now powered by 100% renewable power
  • Keltbray is also rolling out electric charging points to all fixed locations
  • The business is carrying out the feasibility of installing a wind turbine at its Bathgate site to power the site and the future electric fleet
  • Within the Energy Division the business has carried out detailed analysis of its fleet and has identified that circa 100 vehicles do less than 100 miles per day – this finding has been created into an objective to introduce electric vehicles to cover the smaller journeys within the business
  • Keltbray has started trials of alternative fuel which can reduce emissions by 90%
  • Started a trial of battery powered equipment which replaces fuel powered units such as circular saws
  • Via the introduction of its carbon management initiative via the stand downs, several individuals volunteered to become advocates. They are now an integral part of rolling out the company’s plans. Brian McKeown who is the Stores Manager at Keltbray’s Castle Douglas depot, has been key in the organisation and rolling out of the planned trials. If these trials turn out to be as successful as planned, HVO, battery powered and low carbon technologies will become the standard throughout Keltbray
  • To empower its teams with the required skills Keltbray is working with its training department to design learning material to be rolled out to all levels of staff

Why are we doing this?

At Keltbray managing its carbon impact has never been so important or meaningful, not only to increase the company’s efficiency and reduce its impact to the environment, but because it now wins the business work.

Keltbray has a unique position within the industry as its clients can only achieve their own Net-Zero objectives through support and collaboration.

In order to help the government and clients to achieve Net-Zero Keltbray believes we all have to engage and drive the industry forward.

Group Energy and Carbon Manager, Kiro Tamer, has been working in the industry and trying to make it more efficient for over ten years. He attended one of the stand downs Keltbray’s Energy division carries out periodically where he presented its Carbon Management Commitment, “In my career so far I have never had such great feedback from such a varied audience (clients, contractors, operators, directors). In part this is down to climate change being more understood within our society, but I also think it’s heavily down to the simple fact that if we do this right we will win more work, which in return will ensure all of our future jobs.”

Rodney McDowell works as a Senior Authorised Engineer on Keltbray’s contract with Scottish Power and was instrumental in getting the working group established over 12 months ago, “As the UK faces the enormous challenge of becoming net zero, national infrastructure will require upgrading and the way businesses operate will need to change drastically. I believe that companies are either part of the problem, or part of the solution, and Keltbray has proved to be the latter. Through innovation and sustainable development, we can be industry trailblazers and demonstrate that we care about the environment.”