Powering a tower crane with Battery Energy Storage brings positive change
During the extension of the Auckland airport project, a mid-sized Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) was put into operation to power a tower crane and the construction site. This move resulted in a significant decrease in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, enabling the customer to attain their sustainability objectives.
Client: Hawkins Ltd
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Sectors: Construction
The Challenge
Sustainable power for airport construction
Hawkins, a subsidiary of the Downer Group and a leading construction business in New Zealand, was tasked with the construction and delivery of the new Auckland Airport domestic jet terminal building.
Committed to decarbonisation, Hawkins actively seeks opportunities to achieve its net zero emissions targets. For this project, they reduced energy usage by employing a highly efficient Liebherr fibre crane. To power the tower crane and adjacent construction site, they also required a sustainable, cost-effective solution to save on fuel and emissions.
Having successfully worked with Aggreko on smaller-scale hybrid solutions, Hawkins was confident in battery energy storage system (BESS) technology. However, this project presented new challenges.
A larger-scale setup was necessary to power the expanded construction site, and with the site not having any power infrastructure, there was no margin for delays in equipment delivery or on-site troubleshooting.
Hawkins needed a seamless, reliable power solution to meet sustainability goals while adhering to their tight construction timeline.
Project fact file
Services Engineer, Hawkins
Graeme Cox
The Solution
Powering a tower crane with a generator and a battery energy storage system
To power the construction site and tower crane, Aggreko delivered a tailored hybrid energy solution, including a 500 kW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), 500 kVA diesel generator and two 3,000L fuel tanks, connected via a manifold for extended capacity without manual switching.
We provided comprehensive support, from recommending an optimised layout that reduced the setup’s footprint to managing refuelling for both Aggreko and Hawkins’ equipment.
The hybrid power system was sized by Aggreko’s engineering team to maximise fuel and emissions savings, with installation and commissioning carried out by four technicians. The diesel generator, equipped with a compatible controller, seamlessly integrated with the BESS unit for efficient operation. Remote monitoring further ensured uninterrupted performance.
The Impact
Sustainable construction meets deadlines and goals
In addition to the high tech tower crane, the hybrid solution allowed the construction site to achieve a more sustainable outcome, by drastically reducing the generator running hours. This resulted in a saving of 25,855L of diesel and 69.4 tonnes of carbon emissions over 6 months.
The project was the first to use this scale of hybrid power in New Zealand providing reliable power for both the tower crane and the construction site.
By integrating battery storage with a generator, the hybrid system reduced emissions, lowered fuel consumption, and operated quietly, enhancing on-site conditions while meeting sustainability goals for cleaner and more efficient construction operations.
Aggreko’s hybrid power solution enabled Hawkins to meet tight timelines while promoting sustainability during the airport construction project.