Supporting a Lower-Carbon Future

Cat Machines at work
Cat Machines at work

Sustainability Report

Helping Our Customers Build a Better, More Sustainable World

Now more than ever, our customers rely on us to provide diverse products, services and technology that help lower GHG emissions, improve efficiency and productivity and deliver energy flexibility. We are here to support our customers’ needs in their sustainability journey.

Over the past 20 years, we have invested more than $30 billion in R&D to deliver best-in-class innovation, including autonomy, alternative fuels, connectivity and digital, and electrification (AACE) technologies. We integrate the energy technologies developed by our Energy & Transportation (E&T) segment into machines manufactured by our Resource Industries (RI) and Construction Industries (CI) segments, providing an advantage to our customers as we help them achieve their objectives. Going forward, we will continue to invest in these areas as we work with customers to help further their sustainability objectives.

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2030 Goal

100% of new Caterpillar products through 2030 will be more sustainable than the previous generation through collaborating with customers, reduced waste, improved design for rebuild/ remanufacturing, lower emissions or improved efficiency.

 

100%
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100%

 

new products introduced in 2022 were more sustainable than previous generations

 

Autonomous Technology

Caterpillar leads the industry in autonomy. We have the largest autonomous truck fleet in the world, with over 580 machines and more launching every year. Autonomy drives operations consistency for our customers — resulting in zero reported lost-time injuries, productivity improvement of up to 30% over staffed fleets, enhancing fuel efficiency, and reducing associated GHG emissions. Today, our autonomous portfolio goes beyond haul trucks to include water trucks, drills, dozers, wheel loaders and underground loaders — all of which can be operated remotely from thousands of miles away.

Using expertise gained from Caterpillar’s collaboration with customer Rio Tinto to develop the Cat 789 at its Gudai-Darri iron ore mine in Western Australia, Caterpillar introduced the fully autonomous Cat 777G water solutions truck in 2022. The 777G integrates a truck, tank and water delivery system with Cat technology to help manage the site with enhanced safety and productivity while using less water to control dust at mining and quarry sites. 

 

25+ YEARS OF MINING AUTONOMOUSLY
5B+ tonnes moved
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5B+ tonnes moved
25 sites
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25 sites
14 customers
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14 customers
0 lost-time injuries
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0 lost-time injuries
~30% productivity improvement
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~30% productivity improvement
202M+ kilometers of autonomous driving
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202M+ kilometers of autonomous driving
3 continents with 24/7 operations
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3 continents with 24/7 operations
777 Truck
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777 Truck

Alternative Fuels

Fuel choice is one way that customers can reduce lifecycle GHG emissions today. Many Caterpillar products operate on lower-carbon intensity fuels, including biodiesel, renewable diesel and biogas. These fuels reduce lifecycle GHG emissions in the fuel value chain; GHG emissions at the tailpipe are essentially the same as traditional fuels.

For example, all Caterpillar diesel engines can operate on 100% HVO. This includes the Cat C-Series engines a Swedish commercial and industrial equipment supplier uses to power its mining and construction equipment. In 2022, the supplier completed testing its range of machines to confirm they can operate with HVO without modifications to the engines or the fuel tanks.

In addition, Caterpillar engines operating on natural gas blended with up to 100% hydrogen are being demonstrated in power generation projects today; turbines can operate on up to 100% hydrogen. These and other projects are helping to demonstrate the viability of potential fuel sources like hydrogen while the infrastructure to support availability of renewable hydrogen is being developed.

In the maritime industry, we’re committed to supporting our customers’ climate-related objectives through methanol-powered solutions, which are efficient, cost-effective, and meet Caterpillar fuel standards.

Accordingly, Caterpillar Marine joined the Green Maritime Methanol consortium in 2022, teaming up with other companies to streamline the adoption of methanol as a maritime transport fuel. Green methanol, an important candidate as a future fuel for the shipping industry, is easily stored aboard ships and can provide lower carbon intensity.

Caterpillar’s investment in lean burn natural gas technology, microgrid controls, and energy storage has provided our customers flexibility to utilize alternative energy technologies and the opportunity for customers to reduce their carbon footprint. Exploration drilling has historically been powered by diesel or dynamic gas blending (DGB) technology, which consumes diesel and natural gas. Now with a fully integrated solution, Caterpillar can provide customers with a 100% natural gas solution, combining the best from its lean burn engines and microgrid technologies. Drilling rigs powered by Cat natural gas generators, such as the G3512, paired with an energy storage system provide customers with the same industry leading responsiveness experienced with Cat diesel engines. The benefits include a reduction of up to 80% nitric oxide, 11% CO2, and up to 30% engine runtime. With the ability to run on field gas, this gas hybrid solution can reduce the need for flaring while creating a fuel cost savings of up to 85% and reducing operational GHG emissions.

 

Employees in Office
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Employees in Office

 

Connectivity

For more than 20 years, Caterpillar has been connecting machines and using telematics to create machine insights. The data from 1.4 million connected assets helps customers operate their fleets more efficiently to optimize productivity and conserve resources such as fuel.

We added to our software portfolio in 2022 with the acquisition of Tangent Energy Solutions, which provides customers turnkey solutions for reducing energy costs, monetizing electric grid support, and providing resiliency for customer operations. Tangent Energy’s proprietary software solutions monitor patterns from grid and client facilities, analyze opportunities in energy markets, and dispatch resources to maximize returns without disrupting normal business operations.

Electrification

Caterpillar is committed to delivering robust electrified products and solutions for our customers. We are gaining valuable experience from our initial introductions of battery-powered equipment and the additional battery-powered machines and chargers under development will help our customers achieve their climate-related objectives. Electric drivetrains and hybrid powertrains employ an electric drive transmission with power components to improve energy efficiency and productivity. The Cat D11 XE dozer, for example, harnesses the power and efficiency of an electric drive. The dozer’s electric drive system provides constant power to the ground with continuous pushing and greater maneuverability, leading to faster cycle times and improved fuel efficiency compared to previous models.

For mining customers, the electric Cat R1700 XE LHD offers 100% battery electric propulsion, producing zero-exhaust emissions and significantly less heat than a reciprocating engine powered model for underground mining operations. The new underground LHD supports customers seeking reduced-carbon opportunities.

Caterpillar designed batteries can power a variety of industrial applications. Numerous products using electrification are currently in development, including 48V, 300V, and 600V batteries and four battery electric machine prototypes — the 301.9 mini excavator, 320 medium excavator, 950 GC medium wheel loader and 906 compact wheel loader. The machines are powered by Cat battery prototypes and include an onboard AC charger. The lithium-ion battery range features a modular design that offers flexible configurations across multiple applications. The batteries are engineered to be scalable to industry and customer performance needs and maximize sustainability throughout their lifecycle, including recycle and reuse at the end of life.

Cat Machine
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Cat Machine
Employees in Office
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Employees in Office

 

Regulatory Compliance

In addition to investments in new technologies to support the energy transition, we’re committed to ensuring traditionally powered machines and equipment are as efficient as possible and compliant with stringent emissions regulations. Caterpillar provides U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 Final, European Union (EU) Stage V or equivalent products in North America, Europe, and select regions around the world. These products provide up to a 90% reduction in emissions (nitrogen oxides and particulate matter) compared to U.S. EPA Tier 3 or EU Stage IIIA emission standards. Product improvements in each segment provide customers with cost-saving benefits of improved fuel efficiency and fuel flexibility. Modular offerings allow customization of products to optimize technology.

To learn about more product highlights and recent announcements

See our Sustainability News

In support of the energy transition, Caterpillar is investing to transform our Tucson Proving Ground, located in Green Valley, Arizona, into a working, sustainable “mine site of the future” by installing and utilizing a variety of renewable energy sources. The objective is to implement the same sustainability solutions that mining companies will use at their own operations and learn firsthand what it takes to run an electrified mine site and effectively support customers through the energy transition.

The transformation of the Tucson Proving Ground allows us to better demonstrate our energy transition commitments and serve as an advisor to customers as we navigate the integration of new technologies together. The site will leverage a variety of renewable power sources, including wind and solar, capable of powering the facility and its products as they become electrified. In addition, the transformation of the facility will serve as a learning platform for optimizing charging and energy management integration.

Cat Machine
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Cat Machine

Caterpillar demonstrated its first battery electric 793 large mining truck prototype in 2022 as part of a growing portfolio of innovative electrified solutions with support from key mining customers participating in Caterpillar’s Early Learner program. The program focuses on accelerating the development and validation of Cat battery electric trucks at participating customers’ sites. This approach supports the climate-related objectives of the program’s participants, including BHP, Freeport-McMoRan, Newmont Corporation, Rio Tinto and Teck Resources Limited. A primary objective of the program is for Caterpillar to collaborate more closely with customers as the industry undergoes transformational change through the energy transition.

Prototype
2022
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2022
  • Machine technical feasibility
  • Validate technical assumptions
Early Learner
2024
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2024
  • Product and technology validation
  • Refine requirements
  • Process development
Pilot
2025
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2025
  • Fleet optimization
  • Validate production intent
  • Infrastructure learnings
Production
2027+
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2027+
  • Full production capabilities
  • Site integration

When in search of ways to sustainably provide seafood in the future, it makes sense to do so in a manner that minimizes the operation’s environmental footprint. This is why California-based Pacific6 Enterprises has turned to Caterpillar Marine to pilot a parallel battery hybrid propulsion system for a first-of-its-kind aquaculture farming vessel. Powered by a Cat C18 engine, this next-generation hybrid architecture boat will leverage proven electrical systems and integrated components from Caterpillar’s construction and mining product lines.

The vessel will be equipped with 961 kWh of battery capacity, supplied by Caterpillar to help enable zero-exhaust emissions when operating solely on battery power in both farming operations and port departure and entry. Caterpillar Marine also will provide the complete integration of the hybrid propulsion system, reducing the number of installed diesel engines from two to one.

Ship in the water
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Ship in the water

A large-scale project high in the Austrian Alps demonstrates the role of Cat construction machines in supporting the energy transition. The Kuhtai Dam project is Europe’s largest current construction site, carries a $1 billion price tag and spans two 3,000-meter-high mountains. When complete in 2026, the dam will store more than 33 million cubic meters of water that will power a hydroelectric plant to provide a significant amount of renewable energy for the region.

It’s a job for which Cat machines are uniquely suited, based on prior deployments at high altitudes and in even colder mining conditions. Caterpillar and Cat dealer Zeppelin worked closely with the customer to cover every detail and special need: from ensuring that all 16 new machines arrived at the site in a timely manner to modifying the equipment to accommodate the mountainous terrain to deploying fast fueling technology.

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