Kier becomes the UK’s first business to switch to the use of Battery Storage Units (BSUs) to reduce carbon emissions across its sites
Working in partnership with its supplier, Sunbelt Rentals, Kier has become the first UK business to mandate the use of Battery Storage Units (BSUs).
A BSU works alongside a generator as the main source of electricity to site operations.
Generators are widely used to provide temporary power on sites across the construction industry; however, they create significant greenhouse gas emissions from the fuel consumption.
Battery Storage Units save fuel and reduce costs and carbon
When the battery is running low, the generator automatically starts and recharges it, turning off once fully charged, meaning the generators can be downsized.
Chris Lilley, Kier Group health, safety, wellbeing and sustainability director, said: “This is a positive step forward for us to achieve the commitments laid out in our Building for a Sustainable World framework.
“It will help us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in line with our pathway to net zero, outlined in our carbon reduction plan. Not only that, but it will allow us to significantly lower our fuel costs.
“We are grateful to be working alongside Sunbelt Rentals on our combined business journey to create a cleaner future within the construction industry.”
Kier has saved seven tonnes of carbon per month
Following a trial of ten battery storage units on sites, Kier has established a monthly saving per unit of seven tonnes of carbon, an overall reduction in generator run time of 59%, and a cost saving of over £2,000.
Mark Bown, national account manager at Sunbelt Rentals said: “This BSU agreement between Sunbelt Rentals and Kier dovetails with our on-going strategic capital investment in clean energy solutions.
“It also allows us the scalability to be able to provide cost-savings for our customers while lowering noise and carbon emissions.
“As a business we have the desire, the belief and the evidence to demonstrate that our clean energy solutions are not only market leading, but commercially, environmentally, and operationally successful. The agreement with Kier certainly aims to deliver just that.”
