The latest Investing Matters Podcast episode featuring financial educator and author Jared Dillian has been released. Listen here.
Exactly my thoughts Halfshell.
I didn't have any joy with our North East division so I don't think we use the pods up here yet and not sure how many actors the board although it seems to be rolling out more frequently.
But regarding the diesel rebate, a commercial manager said it basically equates to an increase of 55% in fuel cost for our sites and I imagine that cost increase in fueling our contractors machinery will be passed onto the house builder at tender stage.
Regardless of whether these solar pods do decent job, the back up generator needs to be fueled so it's in the builders growing interest to source an entirely diesel free method.
Very good point Halfshell, the storage of ammonia is something I hadn't thought about (or even appreciated tbh). I imagine it will become similar to storage of gas canisters on sites where you have a separate storage area/shed especially for it which goes with you from site to site with the rest of the compound. Initial outlay but ultimately built into your prelims.
We tend to use diesel generators mostly when we are unable to power from the grid at an early stage of site set up. Either due to delays in power on dates or logistically when building in a remote area with no immediate access to power (which seems to be happening more and more nowadays)
I am based in Newcastle so I could not really comment on our use on the high rise developments in London. Although I imagine grid connections are easier in those built up areas.
Barratt released a case study (below) trialling solar generators with smaller diesel generators inside on some sites (link below), I imagine once the pressure ramps up to reduce emissions further, the Great British weather will not be reliable enough to power sites alone and back up diesel may not be an option environmentally.
https://www.barrattdevelopments.co.uk/sustainability/taking-action/case-studies/reducing-diesel-use
Totally agree that the big boys needing to drive these advancements in technology with Government and to be fair my experience in house building has always been that if the technology works and helps meet the targets, businesses are proactive and taken on as soon as it is financially viable.
Good Morning All, my first post here but I've been invested quite a while now and didn't want to pipe up unless I could contribute in some way. Thanks to the more knowledgeable people for their contributions and keeping me on the positive side of AFC's future during the dips.
While I think the work with Extreme E is rightly taking any AFC headlines currently, I believe the partnership with Mace has the potential to pick up pace very quickly in the background.
I work for Barratt Homes and we had a trading and sustainability update last week. High on the agenda was our reduction of site emissions. Not least because of the reform of red diesel and the impending fuel duty rise in April '22 but also our own target emission reductions. It was stated that we are looking into alternative means of powering our site cabins, generators and machinery via renewable methods, Hydrogen fuel cells (as well as solar and wind power) were mentioned as potential alternatives being researched.
As the UK's largest house builder with around 300+ live sites at any given time there it highlights that there is huge potential across the residential sector alone.
Reducing space on site compounds is essential for build routes (especially in London) and I believe if the costings are competitive for AFC/Mace systems then it will be far more suitable to use our generators than any alternative energy methods out there. If the target remains to roll out to first sites in early '22 we can hit the market with our shop windows systems at the perfect time.
Bit long winded but just wanted to give my thoughts.