The state of adoption among energy solutions

State of Adoption Among Energy Solutions

Energy diversification has created the possibilities of a healthier environment, stronger communities, and robust and inclusive economies. Cleaner, more sustainable sources of energy that use fewer of the world’s resources promise a decarbonized economy — which is critical to both our future and current way of life.  

Across the power generation and industrial markets, including mining, marine and rail, Cummins customers continue to show interest in and dedication to reducing their environmental footprints. Although they share this common goal, their needs along this journey can be quite different.  

As power generation and industrial markets move toward the widespread adoption of zero and low in-use emissions equipment and processes, Cummins continues to invest in these solutions to power a more prosperous world. 

State of Adoption Among Solutions 

Innovations in the areas of advanced diesel, natural gas, electrification, fuel cells, alternative fuels and other energy solutions are making a future with low carbon emissions possible. The Cummins portfolio of power options — including internal combustion engines, battery-electric and fuel-cell technologies — is broad because our customers’ power needs and capabilities are expanding. 

Battery-electric solutions — which produce no direct carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases (GHGs) while in use —  could be a sustainable, emissions-cutting option for mobile-wheeled mining equipment, marine shoreline vessels, short distance rail applications in the near term, for example.  

As electrification becomes more economically viable and widely adopted in industrial applications and markets, Cummins remains invested in the improved efficiency of engine-based solutions — understanding that customers may opt for cleaner diesel and other alternative drop-in fuels such as hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) and biodiesel, as the infrastructure is developed across the country for electrified power. Cummins emphasizes the significance of taking action now to begin reducing carbon emissions, rather than waiting for a perfect solution. This urgency arises from the fact that once carbon is released into the atmosphere, it becomes irreversible, posing greater challenges for the world to reach its climate goals. 

A decarbonized future is one that has engine options which can make the transition from diesel and natural gas to renewable equivalents. The positive impact of advanced solutions is significant. For example, a sewer district in Northern Utah switched from generators driven by gasoline engines to generator sets designed by Cummins to run on methane gas, a by-product of wastewater treatment (biomethane). But instead of flaring or emitting the methane into the atmosphere, the sewer district uses the excess gas to supply 60% of the facility’s electrical needs. 

The sewer district had struggled to meet Utah’s air quality requirements. By investing in the latest Cummins generators that use biomethane for fuel, the sewer district lowered its nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from 19g/hp-h to 0.5g/hp-h and now meets emissions standards. And excess heat from power generation is harnessed to keep wastewater treatment processes within required temperature ranges. 

Short line railroads are another example of how advanced engine solutions can meet urgent needs for decarbonization and efficiency. Railroads want cleaner-running locomotives but do not typically have the engineering resources to repower a locomotive themselves. Cummins developed a pre-engineered retrofittable power module that simplifies installation.  

By upgrading the power modules, railroads can reduce NOx and particulate matter (PM) emissions, which are key contributors to smog, by up to 93% compared to conventional engines. They also can lower operating costs because the Cummins power modules consume 90% less lube oil and 18% less fuel. 

In other applications, fuel cells can be used as energy converters; but unlike batteries, they do not require recharging. As long as fuel is continuously supplied to the fuel cell, electricity will be produced, making it a source of cleaner energy.  

Cummins has deployed more than 2,000 hydrogen fuel cells. These have powered a number of global firsts, including a fleet of hydrogen-powered passenger trains with Alstom Coradia iLint. Leading Europe’s rail industry into a new era of sustainability, the fleet of zero-emissions passenger trains runs on a completely hydrogen train route and emits only steam and condensed water while in service. 

The need to reduce global GHG emissions is more important than ever and Cummins has established the company’s Destination Zero strategy to guide its effort. Alternative fuel solutions will be part of the answer for power generation and industrial markets. Alternative fuel internal combustion engines benefit from familiar technologies and experienced maintenance professionals.  As the adoption of alternative fuels becomes mainstream, refueling infrastructure and supply chains will become more robust.  

Destination Zero  

As a global leader in power systems solutions: internal combustion engines, battery, fuel-cell and hydrogen-production solutions, Cummins is powering the success of our customers through a growing portfolio of options designed to meet their needs at every point of their journey to low and zero emissions. Follow the link for more information on cleaner energy solutions for a decarbonized economy. 

Cummins Office Building

Cummins Inc.

Cummins, a global power technology leader, is a corporation of complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. The company’s products range from internal combustion, electric and hybrid integrated power solutions and components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, electric power generation systems, microgrid controls, batteries, electrolyzers and fuel cell products.

Cummins Custompaks are being used for water management as Thailand struggles with its water crisis

CustomPak on site

Water crisis

Sixty Cummins Inc. CustomPaks are in service in Thailand as part of a critical water management plan aimed at easing the country’s water crisis – a crisis that has caused enormous economic and social damage and stirred conflict among communities.

Over the past several decades, Thailand has continually faced water problems caused by severe drought. Water reserves in dams and reservoirs are insufficient while water resources are often contaminated with toxins caused by urban communities and the industrial and agricultural sectors.

Severe flooding is a threat, too, at a time when the realities of climate change are hanging over the country.

As a result, the allocation of precious water resources, which must be shared among various stakeholders including new and existing industry, large and small agriculture, and cities and villages has become a flashpoint.

Kittithanapat Engineering Co. (KTP), has been involved in the water management system since 1996, working closely with authorities such as the Royal Irrigation Department, Department of Water Resources, Bangkok Metropolitan Authority and others.

CustomPaks on site

600 hp CustomPaks

To help KTP meet its often urgent requirements, Cummins DKSH (Thailand) has recently supplied 60 Australian-built CustomPaks – 45 powered by Cummins’ X15 engine rated at 600 hp, and 15 powered by the QSL9 rated at 325 hp. These fully self-contained powerpacks are emissions certified to Tier 3.

The CustomPaks are coupled to hydraulically-driven, large-volume submersible water pumps sourced by KTP from US company Moving Water Industries (MWI); KTP is the exclusive distributor in Thailand for these MWI Hydroflo pumps.

Prior to Cummins’ involvement, KTP was using another diesel engine brand but service support wasn’t up to the standard required.

Long-serving KTP engineer Kittisak Thanasoot says Cummins DKSH’s reputation for technical and aftersales support along with the reliability of the Cummins product were a key reason behind KTP’s decision to specify the CustomPaks for the Royal Irrigation Department.

The ability of Cummins DKSH to respond to short delivery times was also important.

“Supplying large quantities of high horsepower diesel engines for emergency situations such as flash flooding can be a challenge for KTP,” says Kittisak Thanasoot.

“Responding to the needs of the government agencies to manage such problems in a timely manner and with least impact on communities, KTP has found the answer in our partnership with Cummins DKSH.”

Power, pride and passion

Parked semi truck

The switch back to Cummins power has been beneficial for iconic New Zealand company Uhlenberg Haulage. It's all about whole-of-life costs.

Uhlenberg Haulage is closing in on 60 years in business, having been founded in 1966 by Mike and Carol Uhlenberg.

Based in Eltham, Taranaki, in New Zealand’s North Island, the operation is today owned and operated by their sons Chris, Daryl and Tony Uhlenberg.

Describing the Uhlenbergs as “old school family truckies”, Daryl talks about the company’s time-honored journey with a definite tone of pride, especially the work of his parents in laying the foundations for what is today an iconic fleet in its own right.

Cummins Inc. made its debut in the Uhlenberg fleet in 1971 with an NH250 powering a second-hand Kenworth K923 used in logging. A second Kenworth, a new W924 with a Cummins NTC335, followed soon after hauling an LPG tanker.

The Uhlenberg operation today comprises 40 prime movers and a variety of trailing gear to cater for the myriad of a jobs the fleet is involved in.

A number of Peterbilts feature in the fleet although Kenworth is now the brand of choice with six new units to be delivered over the next 12 months to cater for business growth.

Cummins’ X15 Euro 5 engine rated at 550 or 600 hp is the preferred power specification, with 18 red engines currently in the fleet.

Uhlenberg family in front of truck

Whole-of-life support

“The switch to Cummins has been a very good experience for us. We have nothing but praise for the Cummins organization,” says Daryl.

“The whole-of-life picture is the key thing for us and we’ve got that nailed with the support we get from Cummins – parts availability, scheduled maintenance, life expectancy and in-frame rebuilds.

“So the red engines turn up, we run them to life, which is 900,000 to 1.2 million kilometers, and then Cummins does an in-frame overhaul in a timely manner. If there’s an issue, parts and support are close by.

“The support we get from Cummins Palmerston North is fantastic, second to none.”

Daryl recently looked under a Kenworth that was in the workshop for a service and was surprised to see no oil leaking from the one-million-kilometer X15. “I remember when I was a fitter we had to wear a raincoat when working under a truck,” he jokes.

Fuel agnostic

Acknowledging that the push to decarbonize is now “very real”, Daryl likes the idea of Cummins’ fuel agnostic concept where one base internal combustion engine, optimized to run on diesel, can also be customized to run on ultra-low and zero-carbon fuels like renewable natural gas and hydrogen.

“My father was a pioneer of linehaul trucking in New Zealand and he always embraced new technology. He was never scared of it,” he says.

“I tend to be a little more cautious but I can see where a 500 hp natural gas or hydrogen engine would work for us in short haul applications,” he admits. “We’re certainly willing to look closely at these alternative fuel technologies when suitable infrastructure is in place.”

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