Industry leaders advance ESG commitments through hydrogen-powered engine cleantech
Balfour Beatty and Industrial Chemicals Ltd (ICL) are strengthening their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies through the adoption of hydrogen-powered engine cleaning technology that delivers measurable reductions in operational emissions while supporting asset longevity and regulatory compliance.
Both organisations have committed to using Engine Carbon Clean (ECC), a patented, on-demand hydrogen generator service designed to remove internal carbon build-up from combustion engines. By introducing oxyhydrogen gas into the engine’s air intake as required, the technology improves combustion efficiency and reduces harmful emissions, including CO₂, CO, NOx, and N₂O, directly addressing Scope 1 emissions from owned and operated assets.
Delivering measurable Scope 1 emissions reductions
Balfour Beatty is the first company to apply the technology to rail-mounted plant as part of its Scope 1 emissions reduction programme. A trial conducted on a Plasser & Theurer compact tamper simulated a full year of operation aligned with standard maintenance cycles and achieved a 15.79% reduction in emissions. Based on these results, the company is progressing plans to deploy the ECC service across its entire tamper fleet, supporting its wider net-zero and decarbonisation objectives.
Industrial Chemicals Ltd (ICL), a UK-based chemical manufacturing and distribution company, piloted the technology through empirical testing at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedford. Following verified improvements in emissions and fuel efficiency, ICL expanded the trial to one-third of its 90-vehicle truck fleet operating from West Thurrock in Essex. The programme delivered reductions of more than 7% in both emissions and fuel costs, reinforcing the business case for a broader rollout across ICL’s national operations.
Supporting governance, reporting, and compliance
ECC has been proven across a wide range of road vehicles and industrial engine types, typically delivering fuel and CO₂ savings of between 7% and 30%. Collaboration with specialist rail partners, including K2C Rail and 1stinrail (part of the RSK Group), ensures the service aligns with established rail safety and maintenance procedures, enabling integration into existing operational frameworks without disruption.
From a governance perspective, the technology supports audit-ready ESG reporting. ECC tracks CO₂ emissions using ISO-calibrated emissions testing equipment, recording baseline data and post-treatment performance. Because CO₂ output is directly linked to fuel consumption, emissions reductions are consistently accompanied by measurable fuel savings, supporting transparent reporting against ESG targets and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) sustainability disclosure requirements.
Asset efficiency, resilience, and long-term value
In addition to emissions reduction, ECC contributes to improved asset efficiency and resilience. The removal of carbon build-up restores engine performance, reduces maintenance requirements, extends engine lifespan, and minimises unplanned downtime. Trials indicate that while improvements are evident after two treatments, the recommended four cleans per year deliver compounding efficiency gains over time.
This approach enables organisations to reduce their environmental impact while protecting operational reliability and controlling costs, aligning environmental outcomes with financial performance—an increasingly important consideration for investors, regulators, and stakeholders.
How Engine Carbon Clean works
The ECC system generates oxyhydrogen gas on demand using tap-water electrolysers. This gas is introduced into the engine, where the interaction between hydrogen, oxygen, and heat causes carbon deposits to detach from internal components, including pre-combustion areas and the diesel particulate filter (DPF).
The process uses no chemicals or harmful additives, involves no storage of compressed hydrogen, and avoids superheating engine components. Hydrogen is non-corrosive, and the system operates safely within existing engine parameters.
As a modular solution, ECC can be applied across a broad range of internal combustion engines, from passenger vehicles and heavy goods vehicles to construction equipment, locomotives, commercial boilers, and marine engines. It is compatible with all combustible fuels, including diesel, petrol, HVO, CNG, LNG, and biofuels.
Enabling near-term ESG impact
As organisations seek practical, near-term actions to support their ESG commitments, hydrogen-powered engine cleaning technology is emerging as a valuable component of comprehensive decarbonisation strategies. By delivering verified Scope 1 emissions reductions, supporting governance and reporting requirements, and improving asset performance, ECC enables businesses to make measurable progress toward net-zero targets without the need for large-scale capital investment or operational disruption.