Eaton’s mission for emission-free construction site planes

Eaton, the Irish-headquartered global power management company, is taking part in new research to develop a blueprint for emission-free construction sites that could have far-reaching implications for utility companies, as well as construction companies.

In collaboration with Norwegian energy company BKK, Eaton has designed a transportable version of its xStorage Container technology that the construction industry can use repeatedly for flexible power management, simply by moving it between sites. In research testing, the unit will power electric cranes on a construction site in Bergen, using low-cost, off-peak electricity to reduce pressure on the grid during peak day-time hours.

The shift in demand could help utilities to manage daily loads more effectively if the test findings encourage the construction industry to use energy storage more extensively. In Norway, electricity from the grid is fully renewable, but in countries where this is not the case spreading the load helps utilities to make use of all available renewable power instead of switching to fossil fuel power when demand peaks.

The research project, called PILOT-E, is partly funded by the Norwegian government, and aims to reduce carbon emissions from construction sites to zero. The findings will be shared widely in Norway by PILOT-E, and internationally by project participants.

The traditional approach to providing power to construction sites comprises a mix of extra permanent cable to the grid, over-dimensioned supply, and using diesel-powered equipment, which obviously has a very high carbon footprint. Eaton’s transportable container design will save the time, cost and materials involved in establishing extra permanent cable, which often becomes redundant because the construction process uses more power than the completed building needs, and there is no need to over-dimension supply.

Eaton’s static xStorage Container technology with well-proven peak-shaving capabilities, will make the innovative design of the container economically viable for construction sites to access the low-cost, off-peak power they need to switch to non-diesel equipment.

Head of Energy Storage at Eaton, Fabrice Roudet said: “The container we have designed for this research project is robust, compact and it can be moved safely without dismantling cabling or removing the batteries. It houses converters, batteries, lights, fire suppression, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), so it can be operated in all climatic conditions. It will be tested throughout the year at temperatures which are likely to vary between 30 degrees Celsius and minus 15 degrees Celsius.”

Camilla Moster, Leader of Mobile Energy at BKK, said: “We hope this battery test will provide valuable insights that will encourage more project leaders to consider battery technology when dimensioning energy solutions on construction sites. In Norway, we have an almost 100% renewable energy system, but in countries where this is not the case using a battery can help prevent the use of fossil fuel power when demand peaks during the day.”

Additional benefits of the project, which will run until the mid-2020s, are expected to include a reduction in noise pollution because electrical construction equipment is quieter than diesel equipment, and zero particulate emission due to the absence of fossil fuels.

For more information, visit http://www.eaton.com.