EllisDon will be taking a step to tackle the climate-warming emissions created on its construction sites by deploying its first hybrid generator in Ottawa.

Rather than a generator powered purely by diesel, a hybrid generator with a battery pack and primarily powered by a solar array made by Etobicoke, Ont.-based Hybrid Power Solutions Inc. will be tested by the Mississauga-headquartered construction firm.

The hybrid generator could help EllisDon overcome the challenge of sustainably powering its equipment at off-grid construction sites, Lee Hyland, a construction manager at the company, told Sustainable Biz Canada in an interview.

“The technology is evolving regularly. Ten years ago we wouldn’t have done this. But now we’re seeing there’s a big push to electrify by the federal government and all over. So we’re trying to follow in suit with that. I think it’s just becoming more and more economical from a technology standpoint.”

EllisDon is one of Canada's largest construction companies, with projects including hospitals, civic infrastructure and Toronto's Rogers Centre among its notable endeavours.

Powering its construction with hybrid technology

Portable diesel generators are frequently seen on construction sites, necessary to power lights, tools and trailers. The boxy equipment contributes to the overall pollution from the construction industry, which is responsible for over a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UN Environment Programme.

EllisDon’s impetus to reduce its construction site emissions comes from its 2050 net-zero target, which covers its operations, the materials it employs and projects it builds.

The company identified diesel consumption on construction sites as an area of focus, as over 50 per cent of its emission profile is from fuel, mostly used for construction.

“Some of the low-hanging fruit for us was when we start up a project, we might deploy a trailer or two to start construction and we don’t have a hydro connection yet to a grid line, so we would be running on a diesel generator for months," Hyland said. “We wanted an off-grid solution that was portable with deployment that would help our diesel reduction or elimination, possibly get battery storage. Durable and low-maintenance.”

A hybrid generator was selected as the best fit for EllisDon. It is equipped with a portable 24-kilowatt battery bank and solar array to recharge the battery, with a five-kilowatt diesel generator as backup when the sun is not shining.

A site in Ottawa has been set up as a trial, Hyland explained. Canada’s capital was chosen because the city does not have a large number of skyscrapers, so sun exposure will be abundant. EllisDon will monitor the generator over the next 12 months to understand the output and how much diesel is needed.

Unlike the diesel generators which it often rents, EllisDon will be purchasing the hybrid generator, Hyland added. Though it costs more up front, he said the company save in the long run by eliminating fuel use and rental fees.

The efficiency improvement was noted: diesel generators are often selected for peak load, so at low to idle situations they do not run efficiently. Batteries only take the power that's needed for charging and run at the same efficiency level regardless of demand.

The company says the hybrid generator is expected save $2,800 in costs and eliminate 1,333 litres of diesel consumption per month compared to an equivalent diesel generator. It cuts carbon by 3.6 tonnes in the same period as well.

EllisDon hopes to use more hybrid generators going forward, Hyland said.

How EllisDon is reducing its construction emissions

In its latest impact report, EllisDon outlined the actions it is taking or considering to meet its net-zero target from on-site operations.

Current steps are:

• using more fuel-efficient equipment;
• considering alternative and low-carbon fuels such as biodiesel;
• advocating for grid connections on construction sites;
• and more rapidly linking to the grid.

In 2025, additional steps are to include improving winter heat hoarding, finding opportunities for producing renewable energy and storage on-site, and using hybrid generators.

For 2030 and 2035, EllisDon plans to look at using fuel cells and electrifying its vehicle fleet, processes and equipment.

The company’s goal is to reduce its Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent by 2030, and 90 per cent at minimum by 2050.