For today’s construction industry, sustainable and efficient power isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” It’s a growing necessity – one that can make or break the success of a project depending on location, applicable laws, and a company’s ESG targets.
A decade ago, most construction teams would probably have been more concerned about the cost of materials than the cost of powering their site. Construction sites have always demanded a significant amount of power – but, in times when energy was more affordable, that cost was relatively manageable.
But that’s no longer the case. In 2022, energy prices rose by 15.8% compared to the previous year – the biggest increase in 41 years.
The result? You’re probably seeing more and more of the budget for your construction projects being spent on energy.
But it’s not just the financial cost of energy that’s having an effect – construction companies now also have to grapple with the environmental costs of their projects. More and more clients are setting ambitious targets designed to reduce emissions and waste on their projects – which puts construction companies under pressure to find more sustainable energy solutions.
The problem is that construction sites have substantial energy requirements – large enough to make a complete shift to renewable energy sources difficult or sometimes impossible.
Renewable energy sources like solar or wind, by their very nature, can be unpredictable. Sometimes, they generate more than enough energy to keep a construction site’s machinery running, the lights on, and workers comfortable. But if the weather changes or the sun goes down, the amount of power a renewable energy source generates can drop drastically, leaving construction companies struggling to keep essential processes running.
But this doesn’t mean that companies need to abandon renewable energy sources – or their energy transition – entirely.
There is a way for construction companies to cut costs and meet environmental targets, while still getting the energy they need to keep everything running smoothly.
At Aggreko, we have introduced an innovative new hybrid power solution, perfectly designed to keep construction sites of any size firmly on track.
This innovative approach integrates traditional diesel or renewable energy sources with battery energy storage systems (BESS). By combining these elements, we optimize energy delivery throughout the entire lifecycle of a construction project.
For construction teams, batteries can balance the unpredictability of energy sources.
As we mentioned above, the amount of energy generated by a renewable energy source can fluctuate greatly over time. At midday when the sun is high, a series of solar panels might generate huge amounts of energy – even more than your construction site needs. But if you don’t use all of that energy, it just goes to waste.
That can be frustrating, because there are other times when your solar panels might not be generating nearly enough power to keep your site running. Perhaps a cloud passes over the sun, or a panel is obscured by dirt and debris – either way, the amount of energy generated drops sharply.
This is one of the ways that our batteries come in useful. Available in various sizes, these units leverage state-of-the-art electrochemical technology to capture, store, and release energy efficiently.
This allows you to capture any excess energy when it’s plentiful, hold on to it, and use it when your renewable energy source is producing less power.
Of course, this solution doesn’t just work with renewable energy – our battery storage systems also work with traditional generators. You might choose to generate and store more energy during off-peak periods to save on utility bills, or “save up” extra energy so that your generators aren’t overloaded in the event that your energy needs spike. We’ll talk more about this in the next section.
So, no matter the setup, our batteries serve as a hub of stored energy ready to be deployed during periods of peak demand. And when demand is low enough you can switch to just using battery power, saving your generators for when they are needed.
Incorporating a battery gives your construction site enhanced flexibility when it comes to managing energy needs. Stored energy is deployed strategically in response to fluctuations in demand to ensure you always have a stable power supply. Our flexible rental contracts run from as short as six months and also give you full flexibility to adapt as your requirements change.
The synergy between traditional generators and battery storage leads to optimized fuel consumption. By intelligently utilizing stored energy during periods of lower demand, construction sites can reduce their reliance on constant generator operation, resulting in significant fuel savings.
Adopting hybrid power facilitated by a battery delivers a substantial reduction in carbon emissions by minimizing continuous generator operation and thus the amount of fuel used. This helps construction sites align with environmentally friendly practices to reduce their overall carbon footprint and meet their sustainability goals.
One of the problems with power demand on construction sites is that it is not constant. Oversizing generators ensures they are never overloaded but is very inefficient and uneconomical. Peak shaving is a process where energy is stored by a battery and deployed during periods of high demand. This means no energy is wasted, additional power sources are not required, and reliable power is delivered in a cost-efficient way.
We have a proven track record as a reliable partner for meeting the power requirements of any construction site.
With a diverse range of equipment that can be tailored to suit projects of any size, combined with our extensive experience in delivering hybrid power solutions, Aggreko is committed to providing cost-effective and reliable power applications for construction.
Get in touch today to speak to our expert consultants and discover how our innovative technology can benefit your project.