CranePower, a company based in New Zealand, has introduced the E-Gen, a battery-based mobile power system aimed at reducing construction sites’ dependence on diesel generators.
Early use of the system in New Zealand and Australia has resulted in operational fuel costs dropping by up to 85%, according to the company.
Construction firms using the E-Gen have reported an increase in hourly profits, citing reduced downtime and removal of refuelling requirements as significant factors.
The E-Gen operates as a compact Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and incorporates CranePower’s Adaptive Power Platform for real-time energy management.
This platform manages input from generators, mains power, and onboard battery storage, allowing immediate response to fluctuations in power demand.
Sites equipped with the system may operate smaller generators or connect to existing three-phase outlets without the need for transformers, which is intended to streamline energy delivery.
Traditional diesel systems on construction sites typically maintain low operating loads in anticipation of sudden high-power events, often leading to inefficiencies.
The new system is designed to balance energy use during these peak periods and aims to reduce downtime related to generator malfunctions or lack of fuel.
It occupies only a tenth of the ground area required by standard containerised battery setups and can be transported using a standard pickup truck. Up to eight units can be linked for larger operations.
The device is equipped with 4G-based remote monitoring, giving users access to updates on usage, charge status, and operational conditions.
By providing zero-emission site power, CranePower’s E-Gen offers a measurable reduction in on-site carbon output while allowing users to monitor energy consumption and emissions avoided.
This data is designed to support both economic performance and compliance with environmental targets.
CranePower founder and engineer Elliot Peacocke said: “The E-Gen system is an efficiency multiplier. It saves time, space, and day-to-day operational costs.
“Even before factoring in reduced maintenance over its 15-year lifespan, the fuel savings alone are enough to recoup the purchase cost in its initial 20 months of use.
“Aligning this operational efficiency with its immediate reduction of construction emissions and embodied carbon makes it a powerful tool for a sector facing both new challenges and rapid growth.”
For more on Battery Energy Storage Systems, specifically to power tower cranes, see the feature in the latest issue of Cranes Today magazine here.
