How Kier Group Accelerated Carbon Reductions by Opting for HVO Fuel

Kier Group, a UK-based construction, services and property group, is renowned for delivering major infrastructure projects and providing facilities management services nationwide.

With a substantial fleet of diesel-powered vehicles, they recognised an opportunity to advance their sustainability ambitions by seeking more sustainable fuel options, accelerating their journey towards net-zero emissions.

The Challenge

Between November 2024 and November 2025, Kier Group have committed to transitioning vehicle and plant from diesel to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), estimating a total usage of approximately 3 million litres. HVO is a cleaner alternative that’s proven to cut emissions by up to 90%.

With such substantial volumes of HVO required nationwide, they needed a reliable and competent partner with the sustainability credentials to match, so Sunbelt Rentals was the ideal choice.

The “Responsible Sourcing of HVO – A Comprehensive Guide”, released in the summer of 2024, established guidelines to be environmentally responsible in the procurement of HVO. Developed by Action Sustainability for the Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS), Kier and Sunbelt Rentals were part of twelve SCSS partners to support this guidance to address the sustainability challenges associated with HVO fuel.

As the first rental provider accredited by the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS), we provide the full chain-of-custody for our HVO, allowing Kier Group to accurately validate their emission reductions as a result of the switch.

The Solution

Considering that Kier Group have sites nationwide, each with different refuelling needs, we designed a fully managed solution that would keep their sites and equipment topped up 24/7 for a full calendar year.

This solution sees 250,000 litres of HVO delivered each month, mainly refuelling Kier’s on-site fuel tanks; however, in some cases we deliver the fuel in our own fully-bunded fuel tanks if required.

Each of our fuel tanks is fitted with telemetry capabilities, allowing us to accurately predict when they’re likely to need refuelling based on site demand, scheduling subsequent deliveries as necessary on a site-by-site basis.

When engaging with Kier Group, we identified the varying requirements for each of their sectors, each needing a unique approach. This would ensure that regardless of specific site requirements, we have a tailored solution as necessary to meet their individual demands.

Full project management and collaboration has been key to successful engagement across each of Kier Group’s sites, providing tailored reports that enable them to track and communicate business-wide the success of the project to date.

The Results

Although the project is still ongoing, it’s a significant step towards accelerating their carbon reduction goals. By helping Kier Group to switch from diesel to HVO fuel, we are set to eliminate 500 tonnes of carbon emissions each month, and over the course of 12 months that’ll surmount to a whopping 6,000 tonnes!

Not only does this stand as a great success for Kier Group, but it also serves as a perfect example to the rest of the construction industry in how they can easily begin driving down their emissions and actively contribute to a greener future for us all.

“This partnership is a major milestone in our sustainability ambitions. The use of HVO fuel will serve as a transition fuel while developments continue in electrified solutions and other zero-carbon fuels. Working with Sunbelt Rentals, an industry leader with a proven track record, will support our near and long-term carbon reduction targets, recently validated by the UN-backed organisation, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).”

— Louisa Finlay, Chief People Officer at Kier Group

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