Bredenoord's new hybrid genset 'offers 40% fuel savings'

Netherlands power rental company Bredenoord has partnered with contractor Dura Vermeer to develop a hybrid power generator that they claim will reduce fuel use and CO2 emissions by up to 40%.

The ESaver – ten of which are now being rented by Netherlands-based Dura Vermeer – is a 400 V battery pack which, when combined with a standard 15 kVA genset, will provide a maximum output of 30 kVA.

Bredenoord said it was the first “large scale” application of hybrid technology in the power rental market.

The battery pack, which is in a separate enclosure and linked to one of Bredenoord’s standard rental gensets, provides quiet and efficient power when charged and is then recharged when the diesel genset resumes operation. The generator will only operate at its optimal rating, which also increases fuel efficiency.

Bredenoord said two trials of the system had demonstrated fuel savings of 40% as well as similar reductions in CO2 emissions. The system gets its official launch on 24 September.

The rental company will offer customers an online system to monitor the operation of the hybrid unit, showing how much fuel is being saved over traditional alternatives. The rental price will offer a saving over the cost of the alternative solution, in this case a standard 30 kVA genset.

Peter Garritsen, manager of Bredenoord’s rental division, said the ESaver was more than a technical innovation; “The way in which both partners have developed this product is a first in our line of business. Such a launch can only be achieved with visionary partners with operational clout, like Dura Vermeer.

“For them it was also important that the ESaver also offered an advantage with regard to the overall rental- and fuel costs when compared to the use of existing generators.”

Age Vermeer, director of Dura Vermeer’s Infra division, said the collaboration with Bredenoord had allowed the rapid development of the product; “Because of our volume-promise to actually purchase ten ESavers, this innovation is now already in the market at this scale and Bredenoord helps us to realize our sustainability ambition.

“It is easy to come up with and realize an innovation on your own, however doing it together guarantees a much better result. This is the way to achieve a sustainable society. And that is our goal.”

Bredenoord is now developing a further batch of ten ESavers, possibly with some different size units. The company is open to selling units for stationary, non-rental applications and would also consider selling the units to non-competing rental companies.

Bredenoord has long been at the forefront of developing energy efficient power sets. In the past it has offered small fuel cell powered units and also a combined battery and solar hybrid unit, although at much smaller outputs than the new ESaver.

Bredenoord’s general manager Jaap Fluit, said its commitment to efficient energy sources reflected society’s greater focus on natural resources and emissions. And he said there was a particular benefit of the ESaver solution; “In making existing technologies more sustainable we create a win-win situation: fuel-savings by means of using our current machinery.”

The Esaver unit weighs 1450 kg and is 2.33 m high, 1.2 m wide and 0.8 m deep, and uses a 48 V – 660 Ah battery pack.