Sustainable Initiatives

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

We are committed to investing in Research & Development, our in-house team continues to push the boundaries of sustainable energy.

We have devised a bespoke power monitoring facility for our events. All events we work with in 2019 will have a level of this service included free of charge with further in-depth detail being available depending on the level of service requested. This information will give the event an energy efficiency rating per generator or group of generators and a way of measuring performance with relation to the power infrastructure. For repeat events this will allow you to measure any reduction or increases in carbon footprint and fuel usage. The monitoring is available in real time online, with historical data available for up to a year with your project specific login.

In-house manufactured solar powered fuel bowser recharges the battery that works the fuel pump, ensuring the unit is self-contained and negates the need for additional power sources.

SOLAR

In an event environment that is typically short term it is difficult to gain the full benefits of a solar system. Solar arrays can take up large amounts of space with little power generation return.

Power Logistics can provide solar lighting towers, however as they take up a considerable amount of space and only 4 units can fit on a truck vs 10 – 14 LED diesel powered units they are normally deemed unsuitable for short term applications when taking into account the carbon footprint and cost of transport.

In smaller applications Power Logistics make use of solar on items of equipment such as mobile fuel bowsers with light duty pumps.

HYDROGEN FUEL CELL

Hydrogen fuel cells are available for use with both small power packs and lighting towers and are zero carbon emissions and zero noise pollution.

Care needs to be taken with regards to the storage of the hydrogen gas bottles and consideration to avaliabiltiy. The hydrogen cells coupled with a small battery unit and inverter are suitable to power small remote cabins or Wi-Fi / remote comms points with a relatively known load that allows for the planning of bottle changes and fuel levels.

The Hydrogen lighting towers are a similar size to standard lighting towers however do not have additional power available for powering items such as cabins.

HYDROTREATED VEGETABLE OIL (HVO) & GREEN D+ FUEL

As an alternative to standard diesel, Power Logistics can supply HVO. HVO is a form of renewable diesel that has been produced from vegetable fats and oils. Unlike regular biodiesel, hydrogen is used as a catalyst in the creation process instead of methanol. We have undertaken independent testing with Redwing Environmental and the results are available upon request.

The cost of HVO and Green D+ fluctuates as per regular diesel and is more expensive per litre, however in some circumstances the duty can be claimed back by the end user – typically the event management company. In these situations it aligns more closely with standard diesel costs.

LOAD ON DEMAND CONFIGURATION

The data from our power monitoring can be analysed and used to specify more efficient power systems, including using generators in a load demand configuration. These load on demand systems can also be specified and used successfully without monitoring.

What is load on demand?

Previously a 300kw requirement could be delivered with a 300kw generator. Regardless of the power being required at any given point the 300kw generator would be running.

As a diesel engine has the highest level of efficiency and therefore the lowest relative fuel consumption at a load of approximately 80%, if the first generator exceeds 80% the second generator starts and so on. Therefore, a load on demand system may consist of 3 x 100kw units in synchronisation. These units when all running would be able to provide the 300kw required but would automatically switch off if they are not required. Being synchronous means that the end user will not see any interruption during this process.

For example, a production compound during the day may require 300kw of power when everyone is working and an air conditioning system is in full use, however, at night time this load may drop to somewhere in the region of 50kw before rising again the following morning. If this was powered with the 300kw generator it would be running regardless, where as the load on demand system would shut down 2 machines and leave just 1x 100kw running thus saving fuel and emissions.

BATTERY TECHNOLOGY & GENERATORS (Hybrid)

Certain event applications can benefit from generator and battery technology. This hybrid system has been widely used in construction but to be suitable for an event site must be planned and utilised correctly. Not only does the use of battery technology save fuel and CO² but also noise pollution.

A suitable event application for this type of hybrid system would be a remote security cabin for example or festoon lighting through a festival campsite.

When the generator runs it is made to work as efficiently as possible with any spare energy being stored in a battery pack. When the battery is charged and demand for power is low, the generator can turn off and the energy stored in the battery is used to supply the load. When the battery runs low or the load increases the generator is told to start up again. This process is automatic.

The success of this is reliant on the people on site and pre planning of its use as trying to draw too much power from the hybrid drains the batteries quicker, meaning the generator must start up to re-charge the unit. If too much power is consumed, then the generator would never switch off rendering the battery unit useless.

Power Logistics can supply generator and battery hybrid systems. Units available include the Cygnus and Ingenium units.

NON-ROAD MOBILE MACHINERY (NRMM)

Power Logistics’ generators currently conform to the NRMM regulations (as per the practical guide issued in September 2017)

The next step in the NRMM emission requirements is due from 1^st September 2020 on all sites within greater London. At this time all generators of a certain size will need to meet a set tier rating. It is currently unclear how this will impact short term projects such as events and further guidance is awaited.