Executives from CRH sign an agreement with Caterpillar President Denise Johnson at the company鈥檚 headquarters in Irving, Texas, US. (Photo credit: Caterpillar)

CRH is a leading aggregates producer in North America and the first company in that sector to sign such a pact with Cat.

The electrification strategic agreement is reported to advance the deployment of Caterpillar鈥檚 zero-exhaust emissions solutions, the company said.

鈥淲hen it comes to sustainability, the quarry and aggregates industry requires diverse solutions,鈥� said Caterpillar Resource Industries Group President Denise Johnson.

鈥淥ur collaboration with CRH is an exciting opportunity to learn together and gain valuable insights into how our products can best support CRH鈥檚 long-term objectives to decarbonize its operations.鈥� 

According to Caterpillar, the agreement is focused on accelerating the deployment of the OEM鈥檚 70 to 100-ton-class battery electric off-highway trucks and charging solutions at a CRH site in North America.

CRH will participate in Caterpillar鈥檚 Early Learner program for battery electric off-highway trucks, testing and validating the units in on-site applications. CRH will also provide customer feedback to address safety, performance, operational and compliance requirements for the aggregates industry, according to Cat.

Scott Parson, president of CRH Americas Materials Solutions, said, 鈥淭hrough this partnership with Caterpillar, we will advance the use of sustainable equipment in our operations and build on our shared commitment to a low-carbon future.鈥�

CRH stated the collaboration assists the firm鈥檚 climate-related objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing more sustainable equipment. The company has set a target to deliver a 30% reduction in absolute carbon emissions (from 2021 to 2030) and a goal to be a net-zero business by 2050.

Electric construction equipment 

For Caterpillar, the electrical agreement keeps up with initiatives from recent years into 2024.

In December of 2023, (a US-based mining company).

That demonstration came roughly one year after Caterpillar unveiled its 793 electric surface-level mining truck (in November 2022).

In May of 2023, USA Today named the OEM to its inaugural America鈥檚 Climate Leaders List, which recognised companies that cut their carbon footprint and made a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The paper reviewed US companies that achieved the greatest reduction in emissions intensity 鈥� called 鈥淪cope 1鈥� and 鈥淪cope 2鈥� greenhouse gas emissions (relative to revenue) 鈥� between 2019 and 2021.

Caterpillar announced its first sustainability goals in 2006, which were refined in 2013 to include a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2鈥疓HG emissions intensity from 2006 to 2020. A 51% reduction was achieved against this goal.鈥嬧€�

In 2021, seven new sustainability goals were. Among them is a goal to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG鈥痚missions by 30% between 2018 and 2030.鈥� The 2022 Sustainability Report announced a 33% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from 2018.

鈥淐aterpillar has a long-standing commitment to sustainability,鈥� stated Dr. Lou Balmer-Millar, Cat鈥檚 chief sustainability officer. 鈥淎s we support our customers in their sustainability journey, we remain focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions within our own operations.鈥�

Caterpillar and Newmont employees gather at a demontration of Cat鈥檚 new battery electric mining machines. (Photo credit: Caterpillar)