Visitors to the Perkins stand at bauma can find out the latest about Project Coeus. (Image source: Alain Charles Publishing)

The Perkins pre-bauma press event in London provided a taste of what the power solutions company will be showcasing at bauma, which takes place from 7-13 April in Munich

At the event, delegates heard about Perkins’ initiatives to provide smarter, more sustainable solutions to support its customers with their diverse needs through the energy transition, and how its latest developments align with its focus on ‘strengthening the core, pioneering the future’.

In line with this, at bauma, Perkins will showcase the latest off-highway power system technologies, from fuel flexible optimised engines to products and services to support the transition to electrification, such as its hybrid-electric telehandler, where a 75 kW diesel-powered telehandler was converted into a hybrid machine, utilising a Perkins 48V battery system to enable electric-only operation.

Taking centre stage will be the 2606 diesel engine, scheduled to go into production in 2026, a new 13-litre engine platform designed to achieve best-in-class power density, torque and fuel efficiency for a wide range of heavy-duty off-highway machine and applications, from screeners , grinders and material handlers to compressors, pumps, construction machinery, mining equipment and tractors. It provides 340-515 kW rated power and up to 3200 Nm peak torque.

The engine supports quality, reliability and easier maintenance through numerous design enhancements, including the integration of components and a reduction in the number of leak joints by more than 45%. Together, the upgrades result in low fluids consumption and extended oil and fuel filter service intervals as long as 1,000 hours, reducing operating costs and downtime. The engine is HVO/renewable diesel and biodiesel compatible, and is compliant with EU Stage 5, US EPA Tier 4 and all other global emissions standards.

Also on display will be the 904J engine. Available in 2.8 and 3.6 litre variants, the 904 series offers a power range from 50 to 106 kw with agricultural, industrial and electric power variants. As of October 2023 more than 100,000 engines had been built and shipped. The 904J-E36TA, which comes into production in March 2025, the 106kw variant of the 3.6 litre engine, offers increased power versus the current 3.6 litre. With a torque of 566Nm and rated speed of 2200 rpm, it is certified to EU Stage 5 and US EPA Tier 4 Final.

Project Coeus update

Visitors to bauma can expect to find out the latest about Project Coeus, a partnership between Perkins Engines, Loughborough University and UK-based engineering specialist Equipmake, designed to support OEMS through the energy transition. An advanced hybridised alternative-fuel power-system to decarbonise the off-highway industry, it involves the development of a multi-fuel ‘drop-in’ hybrid powertrain. The project seeks to overcome a number of key performance challenges faced by the industry and OEMs as they look to adopt alternative fuels, providing the same performance as they would get with diesel and the ability to flexibly use different fuels, such as ethanol, methanol, biomethane and hydrogen. At the heart of it is a spark-ignited engine platform with an integrated hybrid system alongside the combustion engine to mitigate performance differences in the various alternative fuels.

“These advanced drop in power units are going to be key for helping our customers adopt future technologies required for their energy transition, delivering them a robust plug and play power, maintaining the same user experience, minimising the amount of design integration and minimising the amount of violations,” said Paul Moore, head of Powertrain System Integration at Perkins at the press event.

Augmenting the customer experience

Augmenting the customer experience is an important focus for Perkins. At the press event, delegates heard about Perkins Connectivity and Condition Monitoring. Seamlessly linking the user to their Perkins powered applications, Perkins Connectivity provides access to critical real-time data, enabling the user to make informed decisions with insights tailored to support proactive maintenance and maximise efficiency. It also enables access to Perkins comprehensive service network.

“You might find that the service network knows there’s an issue before anyone on site does. Minor issues can therefore be picked up when they are easier, quicker and cheaper to fix, before they become major issues,” said Jessica Langley, senior marketing consultant at Perkins.

“It’s about strengthening relationships with OEMS and its customers, and empowering them to be manage their costs, reduce their downtime and work more efficiently. Perkins Connectivity really redefines reliability, efficiency and sustainability. It’s more than just technology, it’s a support to our customers, whether they be end users or OEMs, every step of the way.”

Throughout the briefing, Perkins representatives emphasised the company's focus on collaboration with customers to understand and address future challenges and address the demand for smarter solutions that provide full life-cycle support. With the current uncertainties over future emissions regulations and the direction of alternative fuels, Perkins is a trusted partner offering flexible solutions and an agile response to the evolving conditions of the energy transition.

"Our customers and their customers now have a global footprint," said Andy Curtis, customer solutions director at Perkins."How do they develop machines with very different technologies and very different challenges around the world? There is no one size fits all. What we are here to do is really listen to our customers and provide that agile support."

bauma is the world's leading trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment. Perkins will be exhibiting at Stand A4.336

PPC and Yellow Door Energy sign a 24.5 MWp solar PPA, advancing renewable energy and sustainability in South Africa. (Image source: Yellow Door Energy)

PPC Ltd, a leading cement and related products supplier in Southern Africa, has partnered with Yellow Door Energy (YDE), a renewable energy independent power producer (IPP) in the Middle East and Africa, to sign a 24.5 MWp (20 MWac) solar power purchase agreement (PPA)

Under a solar wheeling arrangement, YDE’s solar facility in Leeudoringstad, North West Province, will supply clean electricity to four PPC operations through the Eskom grid. These facilities include PPC Slurry in North West, PPC Dwaalboom in Limpopo, and PPC De Hoek and PPC Riebeek in the Western Cape. The project will deploy more than 20,000 solar panels, generating 57.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable electricity in its first year and reducing carbon emissions by 59,800 metric tons.

“We are excited to announce the signing of a solar power purchase agreement with YDE, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership. This agreement is our second partnership to secure renewable energy which further demonstrates PPC’s commitment to reducing reliance on traditional energy sources. The project is another step towards achieving our strategic objectives to rebuild a profitable and sustainable company,” said Ernesto Acosta, chief operating officer at PPC.

Forbes Padayachee, CEO of YDE South Africa, said, “We are proud to sign this monumental long-term power purchase agreement with PPC. Through this solar wheeling arrangement, PPC is able to secure access to clean, affordable and reliable electricity without further physical constraints on their premises. At YDE, we remain dedicated to advancing renewable energy solutions for commercial and industrial entities, creating local jobs and contributing to South Africa’s energy security and Just Energy Transition.”

A 43 km overhead power line will be installed to link the solar park to an Eskom substation, strengthening the grid and increasing accessibility to clean energy.

As the independent power producer, YDE will handle the financing, design, construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of the Naledi Ya YDE Solar Park for the duration of the PPA. The power purchase agreement model is gaining popularity among businesses seeking to transition to solar energy, allowing companies to reduce energy costs without upfront capital investment or operational risks, while maintaining their focus on core activities and benefiting from reliable, cost-effective clean electricity.

Angola's Luena solar park. (Image source: MCA)

MCA Infrastructures SA, a subsidiary of the Portuguese contractor, M.Couto Alves, S.A. (MCA) Group, has secured additional funding support for the purchase of various mobile construction equipment to continue work on one of its flagship Angolan energy projects

UK Export Finance (UKEF) has agreed to support MCA Infrastructures in respect of its purchase of mobile construction equipment worth £12.5mn (US$16.2mn) via supply and logistics experts, Dints International Ltd.

The equipment list includes items such as excavators, stackers, diggers and generators, as well as cars, trucks, vans and trailers.

MCA Group acts as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor on multiple projects, including a flagship rural electrification programme in Angola, where the equipment will initially be deployed before being utilised elsewhere in the region.

A loan guarantee issued by UKEF to Apple Bank means that the Portuguese contractor operating in Angola can now access finance to purchase the new equipment through Dints.

Established 18 years ago, Dints is a London-based project integrator bringing together buyers, suppliers, logistics providers and funding partners.

Among the the UK-based suppliers to the project are Energy Group, Yorpower, and transport specialist, Kings Trailers.

“It is an honour to be supporting the energy transition in Angola, which is a new territory for us,” said Stephen Peal, Yorpower’s group managing director.

The rural electrification scheme that the machinery will be deployed on is an integral part of plans to expand energy access across Angola and will ultimately supply sustainable power to more than a million people.

The financing behind the electrification drive is also being supported by lender Standard Chartered Bank and Export Credit Agency Euler Hermes.

In May 2024, MCA announced that around 44,000 solar panels had been put into operation at the Luena Solar Park in Angola to bring clean energy to more than 55,000 people.

Located in Angola’s Moxico province, it marked the fourth solar park out of seven that the Portuguese company is building.

At the time, MCA said that, in conjunction with a new interconnector between a Wartsilla thermal power plant and Luena SE, the new solar park would help to make better use of renewable production and improve the stability of the system, as well as reduce overall fuel consumption.

Working in a consortium with a US company, Sun Africa, on behalf of the Angolan government, MCA’s solar roll-out project will eventually have a total capacity of 370 MW.

Read more:

MCA delivers solar plants in Angola

The Republic of Congo plans to double power generation, prioritising renewable energy and partnerships to boost electricity access. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The Republic of Congo has announced plans to double its power generation capacity to 1,500MW by 2030, prioritising renewable energy projects to expand electricity access and support industrial development

Speaking at the Congo Energy & Investment Forum in Brazzaville, Congolese Minister of Energy and Water, Émile Ouosso, emphasised the initiative’s goal of improving energy access for the country’s six million citizens.

A significant component of this strategy involves partnerships with the World Bank and the Rockefeller Foundation through Mission 300, an initiative launched in April 2024 to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030. The World Bank and the African Development Bank are key financial supporters, aiming to address the continent’s energy deficit.

Ouosso underscored the role of international collaboration, stating, “With the support of international initiatives like Mission 300, we are poised to make significant strides in electrifying our nation and improving the quality of life for our citizens.”

To achieve this, the Republic of Congo is leveraging its domestic renewable energy potential. The country has an estimated 27,000 MW of hydropower capacity, though only 1% has been developed. Several projects focusing on water diversion and storage techniques are being planned to optimize hydropower generation.

“Our most valuable energy resource is water. With proper investments, we can unlock this potential to generate more electricity, foster industrialization and electrify rural communities,” Ouosso stated. He further highlighted that 4,000MW of hydropower potential has been identified in the Brazzaville region, with projects aimed at delivering clean, reliable energy for both residential and industrial use.

Solar energy is also part of the country’s energy diversification strategy. AMEA Power is currently assessing the feasibility of a 5 MW solar farm in the Brazzaville region. Additionally, the government is incorporating natural gas into its energy mix, with Chinese firm Wing Wah developing a 400MW gas-fired power project, 200MW of which will be integrated into the national grid.

“If we modernise our power transmission infrastructure, we can transition away from fuel entirely,” Ouosso concluded.