A disused clay mine in what was once a barren landscape in the heart of southwest U.K. may be an unlikely base for one of the world's largest indoor rainforests. A lot of work is needed to maintain this attraction. That work is done by electric construction equipment.
Home to stunning covered biomes that replicate the natural worlds of tropical rainforests and the Mediterranean, the Eden Project in Cornwall, U.K., is a testament to what can be achieved by working with nature and not against it. So it made an ideal location to show the power of electric construction solutions in eradicating emissions across landscaping applications.
A three-month project with Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) saw the zero-emission ECR25 Electric compact excavator and the L25 Electric compact wheel loader work across a variety of applications inside the biomes and a new nursery. These machines have helped the project save three tons of CO2 and proved the potential for electromobility to transform the sector.
When it comes to influencing societal change – and in this case a move towards widespread industrial decarbonization – collaboration is needed. And there is no better platform to accelerate change in the landscaping sector than by showcasing sustainable action in a globally renowned site like the Eden Project.
Sowing the seeds for electric tourism
Not only is the site at the forefront of environmental care, but it brings its message of positive transformation to over 600,000 visitors a year of all ages and from around the world. It engages everyone from tourists to school and university students in this and even offers the opportunity to study for a degree in a range of sustainability and horticultural subjects.
As such, sustainability is embedded in everything the Eden Project does, having committed to be a climate-positive organization by 2030 as part of the Race to Zero, through its partner Planet Mark. Volvo CE has its own ambitions to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, a decade earlier than other industry players and a goal that has been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
"Collaborating with other like-minded organizations like the Eden Project is an essential part of accelerating the transition to electric equipment," says Mats Bredborg, head of customer cluster utility at Volvo CE. "We have zero-emission solutions that are reducing our industry's carbon footprint across sectors - and we need partners on this journey to put these solutions into action. With its commitment to working with nature in diverse ways, including reducing energy use, making soil from recycled waste, buying locally, driving electric vehicles, and supporting responsible global trade, Eden is a natural choice for landscaping."
Two electric machines from Volvo CE proved versatile, with a variety of attachments, in helping construct a 10,000-square-metre garden nursery with outdoor landscaping. The machines helped carry out repair, maintenance, and material handling tasks across the site and inside the new nursery and biomes.
The ECR25 Electric and L25 Electric together achieved a total CO2 saving of three tons over the three-month period, saving nearly 2,000 kWh of energy, while delivering the same performance as diesel counterparts. In addition, operators were impressed with the machines' ability to work smoothly and respond quickly in a highly sensitive environment – protecting both the delicate plant life and of course the wellbeing of the public – with no diesel fumes and near silence.
Maintaining the balance of nature
"Having no emissions and a lack of noise has meant being able to work while having the public in," said David Gorman, living landscapes educator at Eden Project. "Working in a closed environment like the rainforest, it's so important to protect the ecosystem and to make sure we haven't got any emissions. And with a little bit of pre-planning, we could efficiently use these machines throughout the day."
The machines were used for the morning period, requiring a quick power-up using the fast charger over a one-hour break, and were then ready to work again in the afternoon. The Eden Project has ready availability of single and three-phase power outlets across its entire site, making it easier to power not only the two electric machines but also a number of battery electric gardening tools that landscapers use in tending the gardens. There is also electric vehicle transport provided by Volvo Cars for employees across the roughly 30-acre site.
The project has helped prove the power of electromobility to transform sectors as diverse as landscaping – reducing emissions while maintaining the high productivity and performance required.
