Aggreko has announced its ambition to be net-zero by 2050 or sooner, aligning with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5° Celsius.

Aggreko also commits to offering cleaner technologies and fuels to support its customers through their energy transition. By 2030 Aggreko will reduce the amount of fossil fuel used in customer solutions by at least half, but offering cleaner technologies and fuels that guarantee the same or better level of reliability or competitiveness. It will also reduce local air quality emissions of their diesel, gas and other solutions by 50%.

The company wants to achieve net-zero emissions across all its own business operations by 2030. And, by 2050, or sooner if possible, Aggreko wants to be a net-zero business, across all the services it provides.

It plans to do so by accelerating investment in lower-carbon technologies and by shifting its global generator fleet towards more gas and green drop-in liquid fuels. Aggreko will also invest in other clean energy alternatives such as e-fuels, hydrogen-ready engines, and fuel cells, in preparation for rapid exploitation as the technology becomes available at scale, whilst also closely monitoring and investigating future technologies.

The temporary energy company will accelerate its offering of more efficient solutions through temperature control, energy recovery, co- or tri-generation. Simultaneously Aggreko will continue to grow its portfolio of mobile and modular solar power and battery storage, which when combined with its generator fleet helps customers to successfully reduce their carbon emissions and costs.

Aggreko will continue to enhance the use of connected systems, remote monitoring, and data analytics to increase efficiency and track performance against its own and its customers’ emissions reduction targets.

Achieving net-zero emission in Africa comes with its own issues

Chris Weston, Aggreko CEO, pointed out the energy transition is fundamentally changing the way power is generated and delivered as their customers seek to reduce carbon and air quality emissions. “With our expertise in hybrid solutions and efficient thermal generation, we are already supporting them across the world through the energy transition. Our industry-leading net zero commitments are ambitious but achievable and put us on the path to reduce both our own environmental footprint and that of our customers as we look ahead to a greener future,” said Weston.

According to PWC, most African countries have ‘greening’ policies in place, but are struggling with a lack of implementation, low domestic market momentum and are grappling with the investment required or incentives put in place by the developed world.

John Lewis, Aggreko Africa MD: “The African continent is struggling to strike a balance between increased demand for energy and reducing its carbon emissions. While the continent has the second-lowest carbon emissions around the world, it is the most exposed region to the effects of climate change. While we have seen countries such as Kenya, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa proactively develop progressive and clear policies, they remain short of their initial renewable energy installation targets. It is important to note, however, that each territory faces its own unique challenges as they struggle to balance an increased demand for energy, with reducing carbon emissions.”