Using generator technology for reliable and sustainable energy

Generator insights

• Generators can be paired with other technologies to create reliable and sustainable power sources
• The global energy crisis is forcing countries to come up with innovative ways to supply energy

With the global energy crisis, there are threats of power cuts, alongside unbearably high energy bills as many countries struggle to guarantee sufficient energy supplies.

So, what are the underlying factors at play? At the basic level, it’s a supply and demand issue. Put simply, demand is far outpacing supply, and supply has restrictions placed upon it that hinder growth. Demand is increasing rapidly with technologies related to electrification, the need to power smart devices, data centers and electric vehicles. Utility providers are struggling to keep up with an aging infrastructure that requires maintenance and expansion.

The other side of the equation is supply. Multiple sources, including coal, gas and crude oil, wind and solar, biomass and nuclear power are needed to power the grid. However, conflicts can disrupt fuel supplies and force countries to find alternatives, which may be pricier and have lower availability.

On top of the supply and demand challenges, there are regulatory restrictions, typically focused on emissions. These may increase costs due to the mandatory addition of equipment (such as catalysts).

Finally, the climate crisis is creating weather extremes that cause further damage to the grid infrastructure and increase demand, both for heating and cooling.

Energy alternatives

These issues mean that governments and businesses need resilient systems to cope with energy outages and ensure a 100% reliable power supply. Countries can increase the overall capacity of their power grid to reduce the impact of demand peaks.

Solar and wind power are boosting capacity without increasing emissions, but both are inherently variable – when there’s no wind or sun, there’s no power. There need to be ways to cope with inevitable short-term fluctuations in power supply, meaning countries need stored energy that can be called upon quickly.

Batteries are appealing, but the technology is still at a relatively early stage, with high costs. To provide the large amounts of power needed for grids, batteries are too expensive at this point in time.

Figure 1: For mission-critical back up power, diesel generators are a proven and popular option. Additionally, most generator suppliers offer well-established maintenance and spares support, giving end users long-term peace of mind. Courtesy: Kohler Power Systems

Another promising energy storage technology is hydrogen. It’s been around for years, but is still in the early phases of adoption, for two main reasons. Firstly, there needs to be a low-carbon way to make hydrogen based on renewable energy sources. Secondly, power generation products are needed to consume the hydrogen, either adapting internal combustion engines or using fuel cells.

Dealing with outages

While new technologies like hydrogen and batteries have great potential, a backup generator is still the go-to resilient energy solution. Generators traditionally use diesel, but it’s a fossil fuel that generates high emissions. So, how can generator technology help in the move towards net zero?

The most frequent solution today is to use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in place of diesel – which delivers significant environmental and performance advantages. HVO is a renewable fuel made from waste products and residues such as vegetable oils, animal fats, and used cooking oils. Since it is obtained from organic material from waste streams, HVO—unlike many first-generation biodiesels—does not contribute to deforestation. It is 100% fossil-free and 100% renewable.

For generator users, HVO provides several key benefits. In terms of its technical characteristics, it is a high-cetane fuel, which can mean better cold start and combustion, and lower emissions. It is also very stable, with no bacterial growth, making it easier to handle and store than other fuels. And it can be kept for up to ten years without any notable degradation, while performing in harsh conditions down to -32°C.

Operational advantages support these technical characteristics. The HVO production process ensures that the final product is similar in grade and quality to fossil diesel. Crucially, this means it can be used as a drop-in fuel in existing generators without modification or impact on maintenance schedules. The final payoff is its environmental credentials: HVO can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 90% compared to diesel across the lifecycle, so it provides end users with a pathway technology to net-zero.

Innovation in practice

Proven technologies, such as generators operating with HVO, might also be combined with newer innovations. For example, pairing solar and batteries with a generator – so, if the sun does not shine and the batteries are depleted, you still have resilient power.

To implement such methodologies, it is worth looking to adjacent industries to de-risk new technologies. For instance, as batteries are adopted in vehicles and mobility, their safety and performance improve and cost decreases, making them more viable.

Figure 2: Hydrotreated vegetable oil is a fully renewable fuel that has become popular in generator technology. Courtesy: Kohler Power Systems

Whatever the chosen solution, detailed development and extensive field testing are essential. Generators have a proven track record for providing sustainable and resilient back-up power built on many years of experience. When a new generator range is launched, it must meet stringent emissions standards within a compact footprint, including ultra-low NOx and particulate matter levels. New designs are proved internally, then deployed into prototypes and finally into product samples that are field tested. This process means only reliable products for mission-critical applications are ever launched. The same rigorous approach to qualification – ensuring resiliency and sustainability as a given – must be deployed for any emerging technologies that might perform back-up roles in the future.

A combination of technologies

Ultimately, the global energy crisis will demand ever-more innovative ways of guaranteeing reliable and sustainable mission-critical power. Generators will continue to play a central role in support of emerging solutions such as renewables and batteries.

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