Due to a brief warning issued by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) yesterday, Aggreko is pushing the warning that the heatwave can affect the power supply
Construction site energy supply could be at risk during the heatwave, as strain on the grid is increased.
The NESO noted that, due to increased use of fans, air conditioning, etc., coupled with the number of people watching the World Cup and a lack of moving air to generate wind energy, all on top of sky-high fuel prices, the country came dangerously close to running out of energy.
Energy storage must be considered, say Aggreko
In their latest report, Building in Resilience, Aggreko states that more than 70% of UK construction professionals have experienced major delays due to changing weather conditions, and that extreme heat is considered the most significant weather-related risk by UK respondents.
As such, Aggreko are urging site managers and developers to consider employing Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) alongside more traditional energy generation to improve resilience and reduce the risk of running out of energy.
BESS systems will store electricity when on-site energy usage is low, and then discharge it when demand peaks, effectively reducing the amount of time generators need to be ran for and improving system efficiency.
Tom Adlington, sector sales manager for building services and construction at Aggreko, said: “We’ve seen how soaring fuel prices have impacted the operational budgets of construction sites in recent months. This level of heat adds another layer of complexity by increasing the potential for reliance on back-up power strategies, which are often diesel-led.
“Integrating BESS into the on-site energy mix can reduce dependence on diesel, gain greater control over energy spend and avoid downtime due to high temperatures. Using them alongside Stage V generators running on hydrotreated vegetable oil also offers a route to energy-efficient emission reduction, helping the sector in its decarbonisation efforts in the process.”
Read Aggreko’s full report here.
Is policy failing to keep up with the heat?
In our latest iteration of the Editor’s View, we delve into how the rapid rise in heatwave frequency and intensity is affecting the UK’s built environment and how our buildings are ill-equipped to handle the resulting temperatures.
We also explore how the government’s policy may well be focusing too much on keeping homes warm in the cold months, when people are at risk of heatstroke or death during the hot months, when the heat is inescapable.
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