Hybrid Power Systems – Bite Sized Chunks Add Up

Energy needs are increasing, and so are concerns around climate change and rising diesel fuel prices. 

There’s a real need to transition from fossil fuels for power generation to cleaner alternatives. 

Enter hybrid power systems. 

A hybrid power system uses a combination of renewable and non-renewable energy sources to generate power. In comparison to a single source system, they deliver a reliable, more efficient power supply for any construction, mining or agricultural site. 

The reasons to consider hybrid power systems are simple.  

1. Reduce OpEx: Through reduced diesel fuel costs and associated maintenance 
2. Significant CO2 savings: Our customers have seen 143Tn fewer CO2 emissions over 12 months. View the case study for the the M4-M5 WestConnex Tunnels in Sydney here. 
3. Minimal noise pollution: A noise footprint 30x less than fossil fuel generators. 

We also want to introduce the concept of “bite sized chunks”. 

This is a term our head of future fuels, Tristan Yuswak uses regularly when speaking to customers looking to reduce their emissions. 

The premise is simple – bite size chunks add up. 

Most companies are looking for big projects that make a huge impact, often overlooking the little ‘bite sized chunks’ they can take. Implementing renewable technologies like battery units and solar into existing projects can quickly build up a significant impact on their net zero balance sheets.  

Hybrid power systems enable our customers to take this ‘bite sized chunks’ approach to reaching their net zero goals. There’s no need to commit 100% to renewable energy and the OpEx savings through reduced fuel & maintenance costs along the way are often significant. 

Any combination of two or more energy technologies can classify as a hybrid power system – it’s a simple, but wide-ranging definition.   

So, let’s review some practical examples from our customers in the mining & construction sectors. 

In an optimal configuration, a BESS like the POWR2 POWRBANK acts as the primary source of power on the site. A small diesel generator accompanies the BESS to charge the unit when the battery depletes.  

For a more sustainable option, we can replace the diesel generator component with hydrogen generators like the GEH2.  

A generator and BESS hybrid power package reduces generator runtime, lowers diesel fuel consumption and drastically cuts CO2 emissions. Even better, it ensures a continuous power supply to the site, preventing any costly downtime. 

In a construction project on the M4-M5 WestConnex Tunnels in Sydney, our customer used this configuration of generator + BESS and experienced a 70% reduction in generator run time and 53,091L of fuel savings. 

In this configuration, the main source of power comes from the combination of BESS and solar systems like the 5B Maverick.  

The BESS draws power from the solar panels to charge the battery and store energy for later use. Meanwhile, the generator acts only as a backup power source. 

This configuration was deployed to power up site offices during the construction of Whiteman Park Train Station. With almost a 100% push through on renewable energy, the project drastically cut on-site noise pollution, OpEx costs and diesel handling. 

For low load applications like construction lighting and small events, a BESS and solar hybrid power package is the ideal clean power solution. The BESS unit powers the load, while the solar panels kick in to charge the battery when it depletes, emitting zero emissions and zero noise. 

Blue Diamond Machinery has been powering the industries that power Australia’s economy for over a decade. Now, we’re helping them transition to an emission-free future. 

Whatever stage your business is at, we have the know-how and expertise to recommend the right solution.  

For advice on taking the first steps to reduce your onsite emissions without compromising productivity or efficiency, get in touch with the team today.