An initiative to reduce emissions from diesel-powered railway maintenance equipment has earned Balfour Beatty recognition in the 2026 International Green Apple Environment Awards.

The infrastructure group was selected from more than 700 entries worldwide for its partnership with Engine Carbon Clean, which uses hydrogen-assisted cleaning technology to remove carbon deposits from combustion engines. The award will be presented at a ceremony in the House of Lords on 23 November.

The initiative follows a trial conducted in 2025 on a Plasser & Theurer compact tamper, a machine used to maintain railway track alignment. Balfour Beatty said the treatment produced emissions reductions of up to 15.79% across tested engine operating modes, with the company subsequently announcing plans to extend the service across its tamper fleet.

The technology uses an on-demand hydrogen generator to introduce hydrogen-containing gas into an engine’s air intake, helping remove accumulated carbon deposits. Its developer says the process can improve combustion efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions of pollutants including carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, as well as CO₂.

Balfour Beatty’s 12-week trial involved emissions measurements before and after treatment, using calibrated monitoring equipment. The company has presented the approach as a means of addressing Scope 1 emissions from existing diesel-powered equipment without requiring engine replacement or disrupting established maintenance schedules.

Organised by The Green Organisation, the Green Apple Awards recognise environmental improvement initiatives internationally. Balfour Beatty has also been offered Green World Ambassador status, with its winning submission due to appear in the organisation’s Green Book collection of environmental best-practice examples.