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United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI) has unveiled tower crane battery energy systems for its North American rental fleet. Developed in collaboration with Termaco, this technology offers clean, sustainable power, empowering contractors to curtail fuel usage and equipment downtime while fostering quieter, eco-friendly worksites.
Adaptable to capacities of up to 500kW, the system operates in tandem with a generator, furnishing reliable power for tower crane operations. By storing energy in batteries and utilizing battery power whenever feasible, it slashes generator runtime. Additionally, for smaller-scale applications, the battery unit can harness solar energy, delivering a completely emission-free solution. This allows contractors to substantially reduce generator size, runtime, and emissions, all while meeting peak power requirements.
“Battery energy systems for tower cranes provide a great application of practical sustainability on the jobsite by helping contractors address their economic and environmental goals,” said Larry Worthington, region vice president, power and HVAC, United Rentals. “This solution demonstrates United Rentals’ commitment to bringing innovative products to market that deliver outstanding value to our customers.”
Field-Proven Success
Award Construction, a general contracting firm in Alberta, Canada, spearheaded the utilization of United Rentals' battery energy system to fully power an 8-ton, 70-meter-tall tower crane at Riverbank Landing, a 20-acre planned mixed-use community under construction in Edmonton.
At the site, Award Construction transitioned from operating a 300kVA T4 generator around the clock to charging the battery energy system with a 100kW generator for just two and a half hours daily, running the crane solely on battery power thereafter. This led to a staggering 91% reduction in generator runtime, translating to an approximately 80% decrease in fuel consumption and emissions.
“Sustainable building aligns with our company’s core values. We are proud our Riverbank Landing construction site is making history as one of the first in Canada to fully power its site tower crane entirely by battery,” said Brian Hennessey, construction manager, Award Construction.
