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Energy has to come from somewhere, be it electricity or fossil fuels. But while electricity can be generated sustainably, this is not the case for fossil fuels such as diesel. “The energy supply for a project ultimately has to provide sufficient energy without costing (mental) energy,” according to Chris Dirx, Manager Operations, Boels Power & HVAC. “That’s where monitoring and control come in. This approach allows you to see how a particular set-up is actually performing at any given time and why it is or isn’t working according to the agreements made.”
As a rental partner, Boels Rental provides power supplies for a wide range of projects. From building sites to construction work; for both the short and long term. Whereas fossil fuels used to be the main option, demand is increasingly shifting towards sustainable and electric. Companies want and need to continue taking steps towards becoming greener. This change is not only the responsibility of the (local) government. Companies are also recognising that things must – and can – be done differently.
Data allows us to keep track of everything remotely. For example, is there a surplus or is a battery pack not running at full capacity?
A win-win for everyone
There is not always someone at a construction site to check and maintain all of the energy equipment. That is why monitoring and control, in addition to real-time insight into performance and consumption, contribute to increased efficiency, and ultimately to greater sustainability. “Data allows us to keep track of everything remotely. For example, is there a surplus or is a battery pack not running at full capacity? These kinds of insights improve our follow-up actions, such as sending in a technician or switching off any unnecessary activities”, explains Dirx.
Being able to respond efficiently to monitoring insights comes with a host of advantages. Just considering for the work technicians do. They are only sent to a site when they are actually needed and remote control cannot provide a solution. This leaves them with time for tasks with a higher priority. And when technicians work on site, they immediately have all the information they need at hand, transmitted by the monitoring solution. All of this also contributes to sustainability: energy supplies can be used optimally, only when needed, and the number of trips is drastically reduced.
Thinking beyond price
In the past, the combination of diesel and electricity was enough to tackle a project. However, there are still countless steps that can be taken to do business more sustainably. Across the globe, various institutes are researching the application of new energy sources. Boels is also continuing to study these technologies more in depth in order to advise its customers even better. “You can’t just stand still and watch.”
Energy sources such as hydrogen and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) diesel, biogas and AdBlue are being tested. Renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar power should also not be forgotten here. “It is crucial for us to keep testing. Not every machine responds in the same way to the various energy sources,” says Dirx. “In addition, the price tags on the sources are different, so we have to assess whether it is profitable for our customers. As long as the use of sustainable alternatives is not mandatory, the overall price tag often has the upper hand.”
Data as the strongest foundation
Having the right knowledge and expertise is crucial here. Because when a project has a certain energy demand, a surplus of energy is a waste. This is extremely costly and has a bigger impact on the environment. At the same time, energy supply is unique to each project and there can be many differences among them. “There is no ‘one size, fits all’ solution. You can say that hydrogen is the solution, but that really has to be in line with the demand and conditions of the specific project.”
Likewise, it is also possible for more and more solutions with different energy sources to come together in a project. Whereas this used to be two or three sources, nowadays it can be eight or nine. Dirx: “It is therefore important to look at the total project and the energy demand required. Boels is the ideal partner to help make targeted choices in advance.”
There is no ‘one size, fits all’ solution
According to Dirx, monitoring and control offer the ideal support. Based on all the available data, it is instantly clear whether the energy demand is being met, whether everything is working properly and where potential problems could arise. “It also gives end users the evidence they need to support their sustainability efforts. And for us it is a way to provide our partners with complete peace of mind. Then their energy demands no longer cost them any (mental) energy.”