Solutions for Construction

THE CHALLENGE

Every day across the construction industry, tens of thousands of litres of diesel are burned by generators. Many, perhaps most, of these generators are, for much of the time, not required to generate very much electricity.

This makes for a hugely inefficient solution for generating power. Oversized, noisy, polluting and inefficient, just using a generator is a crude solution that burns money needlessly and creates emissions that could so easily be avoided.

gridtogo™ efficiently stores spare energy when the generator is running ensuring efficient generator loading. When demand reduces and gridtogo™ is charged up, the generator is turned off. This saves money, cuts CO2 emissions and improves air quality.

For projects in residential areas there is also the benefit of being able to deliver power silently so that sites can continue to operate effectively 24hours a day without causing upset to local residents.

SOLUTION

In much the same way as a hybrid car combines the use of a battery and an engine to deliver fuel efficiency and environmental benefits, hybrid power systems combine a diesel generator with an energy storage system to achieve the same result.

More often than not, diesel generators are overrated for the job and spend much of their time doing very little work. This results in poor fuel economy and the worst levels of pollution, carbon emissions and noise nuisance.

The introduction of hybrid technology means that, when there is a low demand for power, the generator can be turned off and the battery supplies the power.

Ask for our booklet “Why Hybrid?”

When the battery runs low or demand for power increases then the generator is automatically started. This way, the generator only runs when it has to and works hard when it does. What is more, the battery can “assist” the generator during short bursts of high power demand, so a smaller generator can be used.

Where the option exists, solar power can be integrated to capture free energy from the sun so that there is even less need to run a generator. In some cases, when time of year and weather conditions allow, it may be possible to run on solar power alone.

The result is a cleaner and more cost effective way of generating power with lower carbon emissions and less noise.

BENEFITS

Hybrid power systems deliver both economic and environmental benefits so you win on both fronts; save cost and save the environment.

Fuel economy improvements mean less fuel consumed that saves cost. Burning less fuel means creating less carbon dioxide. More efficient combustion from a better loaded generator means that air quality is improved through lower emissions of the nasty things in exhaust like Nitrous Oxides (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM's). Then there is noise elimination when the generator turns off and your neighbours enjoy peace and quite and you enjoy clean power.

CASE STUDY

CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS

Noise, Air Quality and Carbon Emissions were all of concern for this time critical TfL project.

Minimal CO2 emissions

Reduced Noise Polution

The project consortium had just 16 weeks to complete the refurbishment of passenger walkways underground at Kennington tube station as part of the Northern Line extension out to Nine-Elms. Close to residential properties, this was a real challenge and a different solution was needed to the option of running a generator 24/7.