Analysis: Working machinery powered by petrol or diesel are used in various sectors, but getting an accurate measurement of their emissions is challenging
Working machinery covers a wide range of machinery, from ones egaged on everyday use to specialised industrial machines. They are widely used on construction sites, in agriculture and forestry, as quarrying and mining equipment, and as ground machinery in airports and ports. Gardening equipment, such as lawnmowers, trimmers and hedge cutters, for example, that are used in many gardens around the country are also included in this sector.
Working machinery include an installed combustion engine; may or may not have a body and wheels and are not meant for carrying passengers or goods on the road. As this machinery is mostly powered by burning fossil fuels, such as petrol or diesel, it causes air pollution. Limited progress has been made in moving towards electrification of some of the machinery in this vast sector.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Countrywide in 2022, Noel Dunne from Irish Farmers Monthly magazine, reports from the FTMTA farm machinery show
We typically think of road vehicles when we think about the causes of air pollution from mobile sources. But road vehicles and working machinery emit different levels of air pollutants, while different types of working machinery emit slightly different pollutants too. That is why it is so important to investigate this sector more.
Particulate matter, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides are proportionally the most emitted pollutants by working machinery. The health implications of these pollutants are serious. Particulate matter consists of tiny particles (such as soot) which can affect both lung and heart health and is one of the most serious air pollution health risks in the EU.
Carbon monoxide reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen, and can cause headaches, fatigue and dizziness. Exposure to nitrogen oxides is harmful to the respiratory system and can cause coughing and wheezing as well as worsen existing respiratory illnesses, like asthma.
It is estimated that working machinery emitted 100 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in the EU in 2010 or around 2% of all greenhouse gas emissions
It's very difficult to accurately estimate the number of machines in use overall as there is no legal requirement to register them. This makes accurate estimation of their air pollutant emissions across Europe very challenging, but it is estimated that working machinery emitted 100 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in the EU in 2010, which equates to around 2% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. 75% of these emissions are come from the construction and agriculture sectors, with the remaining 25% caused by various machinery from the other sectors.
While the total figure will have doubtless changed since then, the distribution remains largely the same. It must be mentioned that the figures are currently only indicative as most EU countries are not compiling definite inventories of emissions from these working machines, but estimations gathered from many different sources produce similar results.
Since January 2017, these machines have been regulated by an EU regulation which was transposed into Irish law in 2021. It manages the emissions in the EU by putting emission limits in place for pollutants for engines of different power ranges. It also establishes rules engine manufacturers must follow to get type approval of their engines so they can be placed on the market anywhere in the EU.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's The Business, Ellen Leonard talks to the people behind self service machines, from dog washes to tanning booths
According to this regulation there must also be a strategy in place for monitoring all working machinery engines on the market. Non-compliant and outdated engines often release more emissions and need to be phased out and removed from use. Many of these type of machines have a long lifespan, and the continued use of older machines that emit more pollutants may be more harmful for the user's health, as they inhale more pollutants in the emissions from these machines. Market surveillance can help find the non-compliant machines and have them removed from the market. However, due to the lack of registration requirements and because there is so much variety in this type of machinery (ranging from large construction machinery to small handheld gardening equipment) market surveillance is a difficult task.
Ireland is in danger of missing its legally binding air pollution emissions targets which may result infines of up to €26 billion. While stricter regulations for on-road vehicles will aid in the reduction of road emissions, the relative share of air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions originating from working machinery is likely to increase as a result. Establishing an inventory of working machinery and conducting market surveillance is an important first step in tackling the emissions from this sector. It will then be possible to investigate solutions for how to reduce the air pollution they emit and in turn protect public health and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
The Environmental Protection Agency has funded research into inventory and fuel use of these machines and the results were published in July 2022. However, Covid arrived as the research project started, and restrictions hindered the collection of data. More recently, the EPA funded a research project relating to market surveillance of this machinery and this research will be published later in 2025.
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The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
