Construction temporary power
Construction site batteries
Construction sites rarely have a steady load. A battery lets you plan temporary power around what the site actually uses, phase by phase, instead of around its single biggest moment.
- Loads change with every phase of the job; plan for the phases.
- Works with a generator, a grid connection, or both.
- Units weigh several tonnes. Position and access are part of the plan.
Why construction loads suit storage
Temporary power is normally sized for the worst case: the crane lifting while the hoist runs and the pumps start. That moment may last seconds. For the rest of the day the supply is far larger than the load on it.
With a generator, that means an engine idling at a fraction of its rating for hours, burning fuel and accumulating running hours for little useful output. With a grid connection, it can mean paying for, or waiting for, a larger connection than the average demand justifies.
A battery separates the two requirements. The supply provides the energy. The battery provides the peaks.
Loads change through the job
A construction project is several different electrical sites, one after another.
| Phase | Typical loads | What it means for a battery |
|---|---|---|
| Enabling and groundworks | Pumps, lighting, welfare, small tools | Often small and steady; assess before assuming a large unit fits |
| Structure | Tower cranes, hoists, concrete plant | Peaky, with heavy short demands; the strongest case |
| Envelope and fit-out | Hoists, temporary lighting, heating, drying | Longer hours, steadier demand; energy matters more than peak power |
| Commissioning | Building services under test | May exceed the temporary supply for short periods |
A system that suits the structure phase may be oversized before it and short of energy after it. Tell us how long each phase runs. The arrangement can then be planned to change with the job, rather than be specified once for the peak.
Generator, grid, or both
If you have a generator, the battery lets it run for fewer hours and nearer its efficient load. See hybrid generator + battery systems.
If you have a grid connection, even a small one, the battery can charge from it continuously and supply peaks well above the connection limit. See limited grid site power.
If you have both, the grid usually becomes the main charging source and the generator a reserve for periods when the connection cannot keep up.
If you have neither yet, a battery on its own needs a verified plan to recharge. For most sites that means a generator on site until a connection arrives.
Quiet periods and emissions
A battery can carry a site through hours when an engine cannot run, such as overnight near housing. That works when the load in the quiet period is known and the battery is charged before it starts.
Two cautions. A battery system is not silent: its cooling equipment makes some noise, so where a limit is strict, ask for measured sound levels and the conditions they were measured in. And a battery charged by a diesel generator moves when the engine runs rather than removing its emissions. On sites with engine emission requirements, those still apply to the generator in a hybrid arrangement.
Planning the position on site
The reference units are heavy plant, not portable equipment. The Ampd 200 has a maximum wet weight of 5,500 kg and measures 2.40 × 2.15 × 2.20 m. The Ampd 400 is up to 9,000 kg and 3.0 × 2.3 × 2.4 m. Actual weight depends on the options fitted.
Source: Ampd 200 IEC brochure, Rev 1.3, dated 29 April 2026; Ampd 400 IEC brochure, Rev 1.3, dated 29 April 2026. Manufacturer-published figures for the IEC variant, not independently tested. Specifications can change, so the current data sheet for your territory is confirmed in a project proposal.
Plan for:
- Delivery and lifting. Vehicle access, a suitable lifting method, and ground that will take the load.
- A service area. Clear of traffic routes and the working area, with space for doors, cooling airflow and cable routes.
- Cable runs. Distance to the supply and to the main loads, and who provides and installs distribution.
- Relocation. Whether the unit must move as the site develops.
- Ambient conditions. The listed operating ranges differ: −30 to +55 °C (derating from 45 °C) for the Ampd 200 and −20 to +50 °C (derating from 45 °C) for the Ampd 400.
Who does what
Temporary power involves several parties: the principal contractor, a temporary electrical contractor, the plant or crane supplier and the battery supplier. A proposal should make clear who provides the unit, who installs and connects it, who is responsible for site distribution, and who supports it in service. We set that out with the supply partner in your proposal.
What to have ready
- The main loads, or the generator currently on hire and its rating.
- Any grid connection and its capacity.
- Working hours, and any hours a generator cannot run.
- The programme: start, duration and the main phases.
- Access for delivery and lifting.
A rough picture is enough to begin. The site power assessment takes a few minutes and accepts “not sure” for any technical answer.
Product figures on this page: Ampd 200 Brochure IEC Rev 1.3, dated 29 April 2026; Ampd 400 Brochure IEC Rev 1.3, dated 29 April 2026. Manufacturer-published, not independently tested.
Questions buyers ask
Can a battery power a whole construction site?
It can supply the site’s loads, but it needs a source of energy. On most construction sites that is a grid connection, a generator, or both. The battery covers peaks and low-load periods; the source provides the energy the site uses across the day.
Does adding a battery mean I can remove the generator?
Not usually. In a generator + battery arrangement the generator stays and runs for fewer hours at a better load. It can sometimes be smaller. Removing it altogether needs a grid connection or another verified way to recharge.
Do rules for generators still apply to a hybrid system?
Yes. A hybrid system still contains a generator, so any requirement that applies to engines on your site still applies to that generator. A battery reduces running hours; it is not a way around generator requirements.
Are your units suitable for site cabins and welfare?
The units in our current range are substantial industrial systems, sized for plant such as cranes. A cabin compound alone is often a much smaller load. We assess those requirements first and confirm whether a suitable system can be supplied.