RD40 Introduction Opens the Way to Decarbonized Construction--Green Flames, Burning in Concrete: From the Osaka City Site (May 2025)

RD40 Introduction Opens the Way to Decarbonized Construction--Green Flames, Burning in Concrete: From the Osaka City Site (May 2025)

In May 2025, RD40, a new environmentally friendly fuel, was introduced for the first time in Japan at a construction site in Osaka City. RD40 is an alternative fuel to diesel oil that contains 40% renewable oil-derived components and is said to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 40% compared to conventional diesel oil. The companies that introduced RD40 are Taisei Corporation and Itochu Enex, and the project is attracting attention as a pioneering attempt to realize decarbonization in the construction industry.

This project is more than just the introduction of a new fuel. Through hands-on operation in the metropolis of Osaka City, the two companies have verified the potential for social implementation of environmental impact reduction technology at construction sites, with future plans to expand the project to sites in the Kanto region and other parts of Japan. In addition, a comprehensive evaluation is underway, including practical issues such as safety training for site workers, compatibility with existing heavy equipment, and the state of supply infrastructure.

Osaka City has long been a pioneer in urban environmental measures, such as the Smart City concept and support for the introduction of EVs, but this case can be seen as a turning point in the city's decarbonization strategy in the construction sector. As skyscrapers and urban redevelopment projects are underway, the shift to environmentally friendly fuels even for the construction sites that support the "backside" of these projects demonstrates the seriousness of the city's overall commitment to sustainability.

With next-generation fuels such as RD40 entering the practical stage, effective environmental measures that go beyond mere image strategies are beginning to take effect. The Osaka City experiment was a moment when a ray of "green flame" was lit in the midst of a forest of concrete and steel frames.