Diesel-Free Sites Adoption Programme Opens for UK SMEs

Support offers live trials of diesel-free technologies on infrastructure sites across four challenges

Connected Places Catapult has opened applications for the Diesel-Free Sites Adoption Programme, delivered in collaboration with Anglian Water and Costain through the Strategic Pipeline Alliance and backed by Innovate UK.

The initiative is designed to help established small and medium-sized enterprises test, validate and demonstrate diesel-free solutions in real-world construction and infrastructure environments. It aims to generate evidence of performance and commercial value, reduce reliance on diesel in site operations and support participants to build relationships that may lead to future procurement and deployment.

Successful SMEs can receive up to £60,000 each to trial their solution. The support is intended to cover the delivery of a four-month live trial, with activity focused on demonstrating the technology in operational settings.

Applications are open to UK-registered SMEs with a proven solution at Technology Readiness Level 7 or above, which has already been tested in an operational environment. Applicants must provide evidence from at least one real project, show commercial potential and confirm they can participate actively throughout the four-month period.

Proposals must address at least one of four challenges set by the partners: enabling diesel-free operations on transient construction sites, renewable alternatives to diesel generators, zero-emission and sustainable fuels or battery electric plant.