This study, commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, examines the societal benefits that can be achieved through zero-emission construction in public procurement. Where possible, we estimate the scale of these benefits and express them in monetary terms. We consider a situation in which all non-road mobile machinery, rail-specific construction equipment and hydraulic engineering (vessels only) become zero-emission at an accelerated pace through 2035. We compare this with a reference situation in which fleet renewal reduces emissions, but no additional policy is introduced.
The results can inform policy decisions on support for zero-emission construction. Zero-emission construction can, for example, involve the use of electric or hydrogen-powered construction equipment. Considerable information is already available on the additional costs of using zero-emission equipment compared with conventional technologies such as diesel equipment. The benefits have received less attention, but are important for a more complete picture of the societal value of the transition to zero-emission construction.