UK: World’s first hydrogen-run digger marks carbon-neutral milestone

The UK’s £10 billion Lower Thames Crossing project has become the nation’s first major infrastructure development to commit to carbon-neutral construction, marked by the deployment of the world’s first hydrogen-powered digger on site in Kent. This British-made JCB backhoe loader, operated by Skanska and fueled by hydrogen supplied by Ryze, is the first hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine machine used outside a test environment. In its first month, the digger has already reduced CO₂ emissions by over 1.1 US tons, supporting National Highways’ broader goal to eliminate diesel machinery from worksites by 2027. This initiative is backed by the UK’s largest-ever purchase of green hydrogen for construction. The Lower Thames Crossing aims to reduce its construction carbon footprint by 70% through the use of low-carbon materials such as steel and concrete, alongside innovative building methods, with any remaining emissions to be offset by the early 2030s. The project, which received planning permission in March