Cabinet moves toward zero-emission construction site

More clean machines on the construction site. From next year, companies can apply for subsidies for emission-free construction equipment, for example excavators, concrete mixers or construction aggregates. There will also be a subsidy application for the conversion or modification of diesel equipment to, for example, hydrogen or electric. 

State Secretary Van Weyenberg (Infrastructure and Water Management) says: "Building emission-free saves a lot of headaches about nitrogen. And it's nice for the people who work or live on and around construction sites. Cleaner air and less noise. Converting or replacing polluting construction equipment costs a lot of money. That's why we like to give construction entrepreneurs a helping hand."

Addressing nitrogen problem and a better climate

The government wants construction to emit 60% less nitrogen and 0.4 megatons less CO2 by 2030 (nitrogen emissions are measured from 1990), as stipulated in the Approach to Nitrogen and in the Climate Agreement. This subsidy scheme contributes to this. Almost all nitrogen emissions from construction come from the use of construction vehicles and machinery on the construction site. These machines and construction vehicles, of which it is estimated that there are some eighty thousand in the Netherlands, often run all day on diesel, emitting particulate matter and greenhouse gases in addition to nitrogen.

Maximum amount per entrepreneur 
Entrepreneurs can recover up to 40% of the additional cost of retrofitting or converting to zero-emission equipment when purchasing this equipment. The government wants to give SMEs additional relief; they can therefore receive subsidies of up to 50% on the adaptation or conversion costs. This concerns the purchase of new machines and construction vehicles, for example with a battery or hydrogen. Existing equipment can also be addressed with a subsidy. Consider converting from diesel to electric, or installing catalytic converters that capture foul emissions. A good catalytic converter can reduce nitrogen emissions by more than 80%. This option is also available for large marine construction vessels.

Bouwend Nederland 
"I think it is important that the construction and infrastructure sector contributes to the goals of the Climate Accord and therefore accelerates the transition to zero emission mobile tools/(construction) equipment," stressed Maxime Verhagen, chairman of Bouwend Nederland. "This is why Bouwend Nederland, BMWT and CUMELA are working with the government on a roadmap that shows the way to completely clean construction. However, converting equipment and purchasing emission-free machines are still very expensive. Therefore it is good that the government is pulling out the purse strings, with this impulse the sector can continue to develop and this important transition will become more realistic and affordable for entrepreneurs."

View the regulation, as it went into Internet consultation last week, here: https://www.internetconsultatie.nl/subsidieregeling_schoon_en_emissieloos_bouwmaterieel