Buildings and the construction industry account for 39% of global carbon emissions: 28% from materials and operational emissions, and 11% from construction operations. One of the main sources of those emissions during building works, is the use of diesel generators to power heavy equipment, such as tower cranes. But this equipment only needs high levels of power for a fraction of its working day. If equipment users can smooth these peaks of demand, they could work from much lower power electrical sources: the grid, or even local renewables.

In this episode, we look at two technologies—flywheels and high power output battery packs—that can supply the peak power needed by tower cranes and other heavy equipment, while only needing a trickle of electrical power to recharge them. By using these technologies, contractors and equipment suppliers in the UK and Hong Kong have been able to slash their carbon emissions by well over 90%, and to work without the use of diesel generators.

Guests

Steve Bradby, technical and engineering leader, lifting solutions, Select Plant Hire

Tobias Knichel, managing director, Punch Flybrid Ltd

Hayley Arckless, country manager (UK), AMPd Energy

Dave Shooter, group crane manager, Bowmer + Kirkland