Curo saves 79,000 kg of CO2 using battery hybrid system

• 79,000kg of CO2 saved over the course of the project
• Battery hybrid system able to reduce fuel use by circa 29,000L
• Generator runtime reduced by up to 85%

Curo Construction Ltd was able to make CO₂ savings of 79,000kg thanks to a battery hybrid solution supplied by Aggreko for powering a tower crane.

Founded in 2013, Curo Construction Ltd has grown to become one of the UK’s leading construction companies in the past ten years, undertaking numerous high-profile fit out, refurbishment and new build projects. Most recently, the company enlisted Aggreko to provide quiet, fuel-efficient battery solutions to power a vital part of the construction process for a project at Power Road Studios in Chiswick, London.

The build spanned the construction of a new office studio and amenity pavilion, which achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating through monitoring and ensuring low embodied carbon. This was in line with Akoya ESG targets for whole life carbon, embodied carbon and operational energy intensity.

With these green ambitions in mind, the ideal system would allow Curo Construction Ltd to achieve these goals without compromising on uptime and efficiency. As such, the company called upon us to provide a bespoke battery hybrid package for the site’s tower crane.

Hybrid power generation can help create quick, scalable power that can cope with the impact of fluctuating power supply and demand. This is through flexible energy solutions that combine the reliability of generators alongside innovative battery storage. These can be tailored towards any project, with renewable sources available to help reduce emissions.

This solution aligned with Curo Construction Ltd’s goals for the project, with Stuart Thompson, Senior Site Manager at Curo Construction Ltd, saying: “The Power Road Studios project was our first time making use of a hybrid system of this kind, and turned out to be a real game-changer. We were able to have a reliable and uninterrupted power supply for the tower crane, all while achieving a significant reduction in our emissions.”

The battery hybrid solution meant that the generator only needed to run for four hours per day to provide enough power to operate the tower crane for a full 10-hour working day, as well as the aviation warning light at all times outside of working hours. On top of this, the generator was powered by Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a renewable fuel source which produces approximately 90% less emissions than diesel, giving an overall reduction of 96% emissions on a typical diesel generator set up.

Over the course of the project, Curo Construction Ltd was able to make CO2 savings of 79 tonnes, alongside reducing fuel use and generator runtime by over 29,600 litres and 70% on average respectively, while also being quiet enough to sit within local noise regulations. This was paramount as noise disruption needed to be minimised due to the urban setting, and the crane was in constant use throughout the project. Here, the efficient running of the hybrid system allowed the build to proceed without incident.

Matt Harris, Sector Development Manager for Aggreko said: “We’re thrilled with the success of our hybrid system in this project with Curo Construction Ltd and are looking forward to working with them again in the future. This project underlines our commitment to delivering innovative and sustainable energy solutions that not only meet our client’s needs but also pave the way for a greener and more efficient future. The use of hybrid power generation allows contractors to minimise the environmental impact of each build without losing uptime on plant processes. This provides both cost savings alongside carbon emission savings, making it a real win-win for everyone. Hybrid power has great potential for the wider industry, and we expect uptake of this technology to increase as its benefits are realised.”