Peak power tower crane: this is how to work emission-free without grid problems
Tower cranes require extreme power for only a few seconds. That brief surge causes most of the problems on the construction site: downtime, rejected connection requests, waiting time for grid reinforcement, and forced diesel generators.
Yet that is not necessary.
With Neargrid battery systems, you buffer peak power and run tower cranes emission-free, quietly and reliably, even on a small 32A-63A-80A connection.
Without diesel. Without noise. Without waiting time on the grid.
Why peak power is the cause of 90% of power problems on construction sites
Although a tower crane can demand peak power of 120-160 kW, the actual continuous consumption is often only around 20-25 kW.
That difference is huge.
And exactly that short peak provides:
- rejected grid connections
- waiting months for wholesale consumption
- emergency generators of 100-200 kVA
- risk of downtime at net dips
How Neargrid solves peak power (without grid reinforcement)
Neargrid battery systems capture tower crane peaks as well as stabilize voltage thanks to our proprietary microgrid platform.
Here's how it works:
1. The Neargrid unit is located between the grid connection and the yard.
2. During hoisting, the battery provides the extra power.
3. During rest periods, it automatically recharges to the grid.
4. Everything is monitored through the Neargrid Portal (power, CO₂, alarms).
Benefits for contractors:
✔ Yard starts right away, without grid reinforcement
✔ Up to 85% CO₂ reduction compared to diesel.
✔ Mouse quiet → no neighborhood complaints or sabotage
✔ UPS function → no downtime in case of mains failure
✔ Less wear on cranes due to stable tension
Case: 3 tower cranes on 80A grid connection - City Hall Amersfoort
Contractor: Dura Vermeer
Location: Amersfoort, NL
Tower cranes: 3 × Liebherr 280 EC-H
Grid connection: 80A only
Solution: 3 × Neargrid Boost 200
What was resolved
No grid reinforcement available
Too small connection for 3 heavy tower cranes
Inner-city environment → no diesel allowed
Deadlines → yard had to start immediately
Result
All three tower cranes run stably at 80A
No diesel
No waiting time
100% uptime thanks to microgrid stability
Quiet yard → no complaints from local residents
Monitoring & alarms via Neargrid Portal
This project has become the Dutch reference case for emission-free operation in grid-congested areas.
Read more about this project
Peak power that Neargrid can accommodate
Up to 360 kW per unit (Force-range).
Autonomy in the event of grid failure
4-8 hours for typical tower crane load
Up to 20 hours before the Force
Compatibility
Works in parallel with the grid
Captures voltage dips
Active genset control (hybrid possible)
Monitoring
Via Neargrid Portal:
real-time power
historical trends
CO₂-saving
event text alerts
The ROI: why Neargrid is cheaper than diesel AND than grid reinforcement
Many contractors underestimate the total diesel cost:
Fuel → 4× more expensive than electricity
Rental generator → 100-200 kVA
Maintenance & downtime
Noise pollution → risk of sabotage
Inefficiency (5% conversion)
With Neargrid:
⚡ Yard runs on cheap grid electricity rate
⚡ No maintenance
⚡ No downtime
⚡ No CO₂ emissions
⚡ No grid reinforcement required.
Each liter of diesel saved = 2.6 kg of CO₂ less emissions.
Calculate your savings in 1 minute
Compare directly: Start your calculation
1. Your savings compared to a heavy wholesale connection
(CAPEX + fixed charges + connection costs) : Start your savings calculation
2. Your savings vs. diesel generators
(fuel, rental, maintenance, downtime) : Start your savings calculation
Find out why Neargrid is in most cases a lot cheaper than a wholesale connection, with no waiting, no hassle, only profit. Calculate your savings with a Neargrid battery
Compare with wholesale and diesel and find out immediately your profit in euros and CO₂.
Conclusion: Construction doesn't have to wait for power, neither does your project
With Neargrid, you start your construction site immediately, even when the grid is weak or overloaded.
No peak problems
No downtime
No diesel
No noise
No waiting time
Just reliable, emission-free power. Always.
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Curious what Neargrid means for your construction site?
Contact us for a consultation
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