Overview & background
Balfour Beatty, the UK’s largest construction and infrastructure provider, use the latest techniques and technologies to deliver right first time, sustainable solutions for their customers.
‘Sustainable’ is one of Balfour Beatty’s five core values. As the company delivers on their sustainability commitments and targets in a dynamic environment, they recognise adaptability and innovation are key to achieving success.
A major area of focus for Balfour Beatty is identifying cleaner energy alternatives to replace traditional fossil-fuelled power sources. This commitment to reducing environmental impact led Works Manager Darren Brelsford to explore Instagrid’s portable power solution. Recognising its potential, Darren initiated a trial at Balfour Beatty’s A61 Old Mill Bridge - Main Works project in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. This site provided an ideal setting to evaluate how Instagrid’s innovative technology could address Balfour Beatty’s temporary and remote power requirements while advancing their sustainability goals.
The challenge
The A61 Old Mill Bridge - Main Works project involved Darren and the site team upgrading an existing bridge structure to double its lane capacity, alleviating traffic congestion on the overstressed, aging infrastructure. Working over and around water, near sensitive natural habitats, and in proximity to residential areas, the team encountered common, yet complex challenges in sourcing portable off-grid power for various applications.
Whilst larger power solutions like Energy Management Systems and Battery Energy Storage Units are well-established, widely endorsed, and utilised by contractors like Balfour Beatty, they are used to power large site infrastructure such as site offices, welfare units, and vehicle charging stations, with fewer viable alternatives existing in the smaller portable power category.
Portable power solutions are crucial for operating mobile equipment such as pumps, welders, and hand tools, which are often needed at dispersed site locations far from the main power hub. Addressing this gap, Instagrid provides an innovative and effective solution to meet these critical on-site power needs.
The solution: portable, clean, and efficient power with Instagrid GO
Instagrid GO 36 LV is a cutting-edge portable battery-based power pack designed specifically for the demands of the UK construction market. Weighing just 21kg, with 2.1 kWh capacity (scalable for larger needs); an impressive 18.0 kW peak power, and a 110V output voltage, the units are silent, IP54 rated, quick to recharge, and easy to use. And with zero tailpipe emissions, Instagrid GO is an ideal solution on construction sites worldwide.
Darren Brelsford, Works Manager, Balfour Beatty:
“Instagrid’s portable battery-based power pack provides a viable alternative to small, portable generators, eliminating a reliance of fossil fuels and plant nappies, whilst providing a silent and emission-free solution to smaller power loads.
During the A61 Old Mill Bridge - Main Works project, Darren and the team utilised Instagrid GO units to overcome a range of power challenges:
Powering submersible pumps
The team relied on the GO36 LV to power submersible pumps used for drainage and pumping out manholes. Unlike traditional generators, the Instagrid units operated without noise or the need for refuelling. This meant that a single unit was able to support a two- inch submersible pump for a full working day. It also did not introduce any additional fumes into the excavated trench like a traditional generator could potentially do.
Powering hand-held breakers and power tools
Powering tools on site is an everyday necessity, from breakers to grinders, the need for suitable power sources that are easy to use and move around is a critical one. The team on the project needed to break concrete pile caps located close to the water’s edge. Instagrid’s portability and instant power made it indispensable. Easy to carry, a single unit could be transported to the work site and switched on instantly, powering handheld breakers as the team worked on removing excess concrete from the pile caps. No generators, fossil fuels or plant nappies needed.
It also reduced noise outputs compared to a generator, especially when the breaker was idling, as the battery unit produced no background noise.
Powering water monitoring stations
Due to the site’s location, water monitoring stations were installed to record and monitor environmental impact. Instagrid powered these stations efficiently, eliminating the need for long cables or small, fuel-powered generators near the water’s edge in sensitive areas. With wildlife like otters, bats and mink present in the vicinity, the silent and emission-free operation proved invaluable for maintaining compliance and minimising disruption.
Charging solar-powered CCTV units
A later-stage discovery highlighted Instagrid’s versatility in supporting solar-powered CCTV units. During the darker winter months, when limited daylight hindered the CCTV units’ ability to recharge, Instagrid provided a reliable backup. The team used the portable batteries to top-up the on-board batteries of the CCTV systems, ensuring uninterrupted overnight surveillance without reverting to fuel-powered systems or deploying complex and cumbersome cable setups.
Recharging
Recharging the Instagrid units became a straightforward routine. At the end of each day, the team easily transported the units back to the compound for overnight charging, ensuring they were ready for the next day’s operations.
Results, ongoing trials and shared learnings
Instagrid power packs proved incredibly effective due to their portability and reliability, as well their ability to minimise impact on the surrounding environments. This was especially evident in the local wildlife surveys, a fundamental requirement for the project’s successful continuation. As previously mentioned, the site’s proximity to a bat colony meant work could only proceed if measures were put in place to protect the colony. Instagrid’s silent powering of the water monitoring stations, CCTV and other equipment close to the water’s edge ensured minimal disruption to the surrounding areas and subsequent surveys proved the bats had successfully reproduced, with healthy bat-pups recorded in the area.
These trials and use cases highlight Instagrid’s potential to reduce reliance on portable fuel-powered generators, lower carbon emissions, and mitigate challenges related to noise, emissions, spills, and trailing cables – particularly in environmentally sensitive areas.
Throughout 2024, Balfour Beatty teams across the UK have been trialling Instagrid GO battery-based power solutions on multiple sites, with excellent feedback. The A61 Old Mill Bridge - Main Works project team are eager to share their insights both internally and with the wider industry, helping drive the adoption of cleaner, more efficient portable power solutions.
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