A competition involving Costain and Anglian Water is offering four small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) up to £60,000 each if they think they can prove that diesel-free equipment and systems can work on water infrastructure sites.
They say that while alternative power sources, electric plant and sustainable fuels are becoming available, such systems struggle to move beyond individual projects because clients need stronger evidence that they can work in real-world conditions.
UK-registered SMEs developing such systems can apply for the funding between now and 12pm on 7 September.
If they’re successful, they can trial their solution over a four-month period on live infrastructure sites working with Anglian Water and Costain through the Strategic Pipeline Alliance.
The competition is being run by the Connected Places Catapult in partnership with Costain and Anglian Water, and is funded by Innovate UK.
Applicants must have proven, deployment-ready systems that address one or more of the four challenge areas, which are:
1. Going diesel-free on the move
Water sector construction moves as pipeline lays progress or as work shifts between static assets, and battery storage and charging gear must move with the work. In this regard, electric alternatives to diesel generators are as yet unproven, so the challenge is to prove they can work.
2. Renewable alternatives to diesel
Can battery-electric and solar-hybrid systems work on remote water projects? Clients need evidence they can deliver the power required even in low-sunlight periods and seasons.
3. Zero-emission and sustainable fuels
Hydrogen and sustainable biofuels might work for applications where battery technology isn’t mature enough yet, but they’re expensive and hard to source. Or are they? Can you supply the evidence clients need to commit?
4. Battery electric plant
Operatives hesitate to use electric plant because they’re unsure about battery life and reliability. They worry that battery electric plant will leave them stranded. Can you provide field evidence that batteries hold charge for full working days, and that your system is easy to use, understand and manage?
‘Stabilising the climate’
“At Anglian Water, we have set ambitious goals to reach zero fossil fuel construction by 2030 and zero emission construction by 2035, and achieving them will depend on working with partners to test, prove and adopt new solutions at pace,” said Phil Buckingham, Anglian Water’s head of research and innovation.
“By supporting SMEs to demonstrate diesel-free technologies in live construction environments, we can build the evidence and confidence needed to accelerate low-carbon construction across the sector.”
Rob Cairns, head of innovation at Costain, said: “Decarbonising the UK’s infrastructure system is essential to stabilising the climate, strengthening economic and environmental resilience, and enabling communities, nature and the economy to thrive. Scaling-up diesel free sites is therefore a critical enabler of making decarbonisation a reality.”
Interested SMEs can find out more and apply on the Diesel Free Sites Adoption Programme webpage.
An application support webinar will also take place on 11 August 2026.
