Prysmian Group op weg naar volledig emissievrij wegtransport
Eerste kabelleverancier met elektrisch zwaar transport.
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Het wegtransport van Prysmian Netherlands moet in 2050 volledig emissievrij zijn. Om dat te bereiken, is zij een pilot gestart met elektrisch zwaar transport voor tonnages van 20 tot 25 ton. De resultaten van de pilot, waarmee de Nederlandse vestiging wereldwijd voorop loopt, zijn zeer hoopgevend voor de organisatie én de hele bouwsector. De kooldioxide-uitstoot die Prysmian Group met de logistieke verduurzaming bespaart, zal geleidelijk oplopen tot 900.000 kilo well-to-wheel per jaar.
Nul emissie in 2050 is een grote ambitie. Niet alleen doordat Prysmian Group in een sector met een hoge CO2-uitstoot opereert (de bouw), maar ook vanwege haar eigen CO2-uitstoot. Op jaarbasis vervoeren logistieke dienstverleners voor Prysmian Netherlands circa 65.000 ton goederen naar klanten, bouwprojecten en distributiecentra. Dit transport vindt geheel plaats met dieseltrucks en gaat gepaard met een kooldioxide-uitstoot van 900.000 kilo well-to-wheel. Die milieu-impact tot nul reduceren, is even ambitieus als haalbaar, zo blijkt uit een lopende pilot.
Wereldprimeur
Afgelopen zomer vond het eerste elektrische bouwtransport van Prysmian Group plaats. Breytner B.V. vervoerde acht volle kabelhaspels van de kabelfabriek in Delft naar de locatie van netbeheerder Stedin in Rotterdam. De proeflevering met de vrachtwagencombi was de zichtbare aftrap van een driejarige pilot (2022-2024) met emissievrij zwaar transport. Een unieke operatie voor Prysmian Group én de sector. “Wij zijn, voor zover ik weet, de eerste kabelleverancier met elektrische aandrijving voor zwaar transport”, zegt Dennis Schuten, supply chain director van Prysmian Netherlands.
Hoopgevend
De pilot stemt Schuten erg hoopvol. “Er blijkt veel meer met elektrisch zwaar transport mogelijk dan we aanvankelijk dachten. Operationeel zijn de logistieke processen voor ons identiek. We kunnen het dus eenvoudig voor meer klanten in de nutssector en in andere marktsegmenten inzetten.” Hij is zich bewust van de ketenverantwoordelijkheid in de bouwlogistiek: “Om grote stappen te zetten, willen we samenwerken met andere ketenpartners. We zijn momenteel in gesprek met diverse klanten en leveranciers om de transitie verder voort te zetten. Hiermee hopen we op zeer korte termijn een aantal toonaangevende projecten aan onze pilot toe te voegen.” Naast navolging in de Nederlandse markt hoopt hij ook de hele Prysmian Group organisatie mee te krijgen.
Belangrijke voorloper
De motivatie om emissievrij transport te realiseren, is volgens Schuten tweeledig. “Ten eerste willen we als Prysmian Group onze carbon footprint reduceren en het SBTi-doel van nul uitstoot in 2050 halen. Daarin willen we bovendien een voorloper zijn, zowel qua implementatie als prestaties.” De pilot is onderdeel van een corporate strategie waarmee Prysmian Group haar uitstoot in de hele waardeketen wil verminderen, dus zowel in producten en productieprocessen als transport. Daarvoor ondersteunt zij de klimaatwetenschappelijk onderbouwde doelstellingen van het Science Based Targets initiatief (SBTi). Binnenkort publiceert Prysmian Netherlands een duurzaamheidsstrategie voor outbound logistiek waarin de resultaten van de pilot zijn verwerkt.
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Prysmian Group pioneers with emission-free transport
Prysmian Group is particularly motivated to reduce CO2 emissions in its value chain. As the largest cable manufacturer in the world, it wants to lead the way in this, for example with emission-free transport. In that respect, Prysmian Netherlands' pilot with electric heavy transport is very hopeful. Both for the organization and the entire construction sector. Towards zero emissions in 2050!
Emission-free transport will spread like ripples on water. That's what Dennis Schuten, supply chain director of Prysmian Netherlands, expects. He embodies the organization's far-reaching ambitions in terms of sustainable logistics. "Our target is to have the fast majority of our goods transported with zero emission transport by 2030." According to him, based on an ongoing pilot, this is certainly achievable.
Unique pilot
On June 9, 2022, a truck combi from the Dutch company Breytner B.V. drove with eight cable reels from the cable factory in Delft to the location of grid operator Stedin in Rotterdam. A unique transport because not a drop of diesel was involved and because this was Prysmian Group's first electric construction transport worldwide. "We are, as far as I know, the first cable supplier with electric drive for heavy transport," Schuten says proudly. The trial delivery is the visible kickoff of a three-year pilot (2022-2024) with emission-free heavy transport for tonnages of 20 to 25 tons.
Major ambition
Prysmian Netherlands does almost all transport by road and outsources it to logistics service providers. On an annual basis, they transport around 65,000 tons of goods to clients, construction projects and distribution centers. This transport takes place entirely with diesel trucks and involves a carbon dioxide emission of 900,000 kilos well-to-wheel. Reducing that environmental impact to zero is a major ambition. To achieve it, Schuten contacted Breytner which, unlike existing logistics service providers, has a fully electric fleet.
Zero CO2 emissions
According to Schuten, the motivation to achieve emission-free transport is twofold. "First, as Prysmian Group we want to reduce our carbon footprint and achieve the SBTi goal of zero emissions by 2050. In this, moreover, we want to be a forerunner, both in terms of implementation and performance." He is convinced that his organization can play a crucial role in the transition to a carbon-free economy. Not only because Prysmian Group operates in a sector with high CO2 emissions (construction industry), but also because of its own CO2 emissions. There are many environmental benefits to be gained here.
Working with supply chain partners
Prysmian Group supports the climate science-based goals of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to reduce its emissions throughout the value chain: in products, production processes and transportation. The pilot with emission-free transport in the Netherlands is part of that corporate strategy. Its results are also reflected in the specific sustainability strategy for outbound logistics that Prysmian Netherlands will implement by early 2023 at the latest. At the same time, Schuten is aware of the chain responsibility implied by his measures in construction logistics: "To make big steps, we also want to cooperate with other chain partners. We are currently in talks with various customers and suppliers to continue the transition. We hope to add some leading projects to our pilot with zero emission transport in the very near future."
Plenty of opportunities
The pilot makes Schuten very hopeful. "It turns out that much more is possible with electric heavy transport than we initially thought. Operationally, the logistics processes are identical for us. So we can start to deploy it for more customers in the utility sector. We are also going to offer it in other market segments." Ultimately, he hopes it will be emulated in other sectors. "The European Green Deal commits all of Europe to a 55 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from 1990 levels by 2030, and by 2050 the entire continent must be climate neutral." So, there is much to be gained in Europe alone.
Great potential
That scaling up emission-free transportation will not happen by itself, Schuten realizes very well. "The charging infrastructure needs to be greatly expanded, just based on our cable deliveries in the Netherlands." He hopes this will happen soon. He is more optimistic about battery technology. "We have about 2,000 pounds less payload because of the battery. Moreover, the autonomous range is 150 kilometers for a single trip. But fortunately, battery technology is improving exponentially." He is now exploring other opportunities to electrify their transport activities. "In any case, there is great potential, because 50 percent of our deliveries from Delft take place within 150 km travel distance."
Other transport modes
Prysmian Group is not betting on one horse, by the way. "We are now working on electric transport, but emission-free transport includes more options, which we are also following. I think hydrogen is going to play a big role in heavy transport." However, waiting is not an option. "Another short term solution that we are researching is HVO diesel. Before starting the deployment of HVO diesel, we want to finish our research on possible implications for longer term.” Eventually I expect fuel prices to move closer and closer in favor of electric, or even hydrogen." Then emissions-free transport will become the new normal; the convoy will be unstoppable.