UK transport operator Go-Ahead will only have zero-emission buses by 2035

Posted: July 17, 2021

With a fleet of 5,000 vehicles, the company aims for carbon neutrality by 2045

Alexandre pelagi

“Public transport is part of the solution to climate change. This strategy defines how we will be a net zero emissions company by 2045“

The phrase is one of the key strategic pillars of Go-Ahead, an international transport conglomerate and one of the UK’s leading public transport providers.

Rather, achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 tends to convert the entire 5,000 bus fleet in the UK to zero emission vehicles by 2035. This would represent a 75% reduction in the operator’s emissions. transport. PLUS: If the targets were met they would be five years earlier than those set by the UK government.

In a statement, the group defines its demand targets as the most ambitious in the region, and specifies that they will be achieved through a combination of investments in zero-carbon technology, the fight against waste and the recycling of materials. There will be a significant increase in use and recycling.

In addition, the Go-Ahead business transition will be accompanied by initiatives that encourage active travel.And the company is now calling on the government to promote the switch from the car to walking, cycling and public transport.Says the text.

strategy

The technology at the heart of Go-Ahead’s strategy will be a complete shift from diesel power to zero carbon modes of transport, including electricity and hydrogen.

The benchmarks on Go-Ahead’s path to decarbonization include a number of actions, starting with converting its entire fleet of 5,000 UK buses to zero-emission vehicles by 2035.

The group also promises a low-carbon rail fleet by 2035. Yes, because in addition to operating bus services in the UK as well as Ireland and Singapore, Go-Ahead is also active in rail operations in the UK. United, where it accounts for over 30% of all passenger train trips. Internationally, it operates rail contracts in Norway and Germany.

By 2025, the company will seek to improve air quality through a 17% reduction in carbon monoxide emissions, 49% in hydrocarbon emissions, 63% in nitrogen oxides and 55% of vehicle particles.

Another point put forward by the carrier is to achieve a 25% reduction in water consumption by 2025.Through a significant reduction in leaks, with responsible management in all operations.

Completing the list of references that constitute the strategic pillars of Go-Ahead is a significant improvement in the energy efficiency of all its facilities by 2035, and a reduction in the total volume of waste and 60% of recycling of waste by 2025.

o CEO of the Do Go-Ahead group, David Brown, Destaca: “Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing society and to deal with it we need to radically change the way we travel. If we are serious about protecting the health of our planet, companies like ours must show leadership.“

David Brown adds: “Our climate change plan is ambitious but achievable, and in line with international targets of limiting any increase in global temperature to 1.5 ° C. We will play our role by decarbonizing our business and investing in environmentally friendly technologies. We hope our engagement will be in line with sweeping changes in public transport policy, encouraging people to ride bicycles or cars whenever possible, using buses and trains as an alternative, but using a car only if this is absolutely necessary.“

advanced technology

In its statement distributed this week, Go-Ahead says it is committed to investing in cutting-edge technology with environmental goals. “The group operates the UK’s first air-filtered buses, which remove air pollution when traveling the streets of Southampton. Buses with geofencing technology automatically switch to zero carbon as soon as they enter Brighton city center, and we are testing solar panels on buses in the UK and Singapore..

This summer, Go-Ahead plans to deploy “bus to grid” electricity at the Northumberland Park depot in north London. Bus to Grid (or Bus2Grid) is a smart technology that provides a two-way load capable of feeding the electrical grid. The energy stored in the battery of an electric vehicle is fed back to the grid, recharged when demand is low, and is fed into the grid when demand is high.

The project, in partnership with SSE Enterprise, BYD, University of Leeds and UK Power Networks, will transform the bus depot into a virtual power station, with electric bus batteries capable of powering the grid at peak times.

Northumberland Park is the largest electric bus depot in Europe. A preliminary test will use the batteries of 28 double-decker buses, capable of returning more than one megawatt of energy to the grid.