Singapore construction goes green with portable power banks
Singapore’s construction industry, long reliant on diesel generators, is beginning to shift toward battery-powered alternatives as companies look to cut costs and emissions. Home-grown clean-energy firm GoRental Global is supplying portable battery energy storage systems — essentially large power banks — that offer a quieter, cheaper substitute for traditional diesel generator sets, known as gen-sets. Construction accounts for about 11% of global energy-related carbon emissions, according to data from the World Green Building Council. Much of that comes from burning diesel, which has been the default power source on building sites for decades.
Its “micro-grid” system, the EH-ONE+, weighs roughly 80 kg and can be charged using solar energy, grid power, or diesel. The company says it has already prevented 1.5 million kilograms of carbon emissions through its portable energy solutions, which have been used at events from the National Day Parade to the Singapore River Festival.
Founder Colin Peh said most construction projects need temporary power because work begins before permanent grid access is available. But gen-sets typically run at low load factors — between 30% and 50% — meaning a lot of diesel gets burned without the power being used.
“Instead of leaving them on for 10 hours, you can have them on for just two hours to charge the batteries,” he said.
Related: Dow surges to record high on Iran deal
With diesel prices climbing — data from the Consumer Association of Singapore’s Price Kaki app showed diesel at five retailers cost between S$4.31 and S$4.32 a litre on June 16, compared with S$2.65 or less before the Middle East conflict escalated in late February — the financial case for switching has strengthened. Peh said moving from gen-sets to the EH-ONE+ can lead to cost savings of 40% to 50% while maintaining uninterrupted power.
It was developed in collaboration with Energy Revolution Engineering and complies with Singapore’s safety and regulatory standards.
GoRental offers the system for both rent and purchase, and through its financing arm, GoRental Technology — launched in 2025 with financial institution GB Helios — provides leasing and subscription models to close the affordability gap.
The system has been deployed on the construction of the upcoming Jurong Region Line and Changi Airport’s Terminal 5, according to the founder. Engineering and heavy equipment company Hiap Heng Group started using it about a year ago.
Joyce Foo, Hiap Heng’s director, said the company had looked at other options but found the firm’s solution “practical, deployable and dependable.” She credited the fact that it is a local company, which means support is available whenever needed.
Related: Powell’s Fed legacy takes shape as term ends
Foo noted other benefits beyond emissions reduction. “They offer important benefits from a safety and workplace perspective, including reduced noise, the elimination of exhaust fumes and a lower reliance on extensive cabling and temporary power infrastructure,” she said.
Cabling is a particular headache on construction sites.
He explained that sites typically use one or a few diesel gen-sets, requiring workers to pull heavy power cables up to 50 metres from each generator to individual work areas. The unit, which moves on wheels, eliminates that need entirely. “It’s portable, basically like a power bank, so each worker can get one,” he said.
The company’s proprietary software, linked to a mobile app, lets users monitor how power is being used from each unit. Hiap Heng’s chief commercial officer, Kenny Lim, said the app is useful for tracking operational efficiency and determining fuel savings versus using only gen-sets. “How much power you’ve used, how much has been done… it’s all in a database there in the app,” he said.
Hiap Heng is looking to electrify more of its fleet, which includes cranes, boomlifts and scissor lifts. It recently acquired an electric crane, which Lim described as the first of its kind in Singapore. For him, the push goes beyond meeting regulations. “Sustainability is an ecosystem,” Lim said, adding that change must come from a whole-of-operations perspective. “We believe meaningful progress can only be achieved through strong industry partnerships.”
Other construction firms are also adopting battery storage. Samwoh turned to the systems as part of a broader effort to reduce environmental impact “without compromising productivity, safety or reliability,” said deputy project manager Shawn Yeoh. The company has been able to lower emissions, reduce fuel consumption and minimize noise levels, creating “cleaner and more conducive working environments.”
While gen-sets can generate sound levels of 70 to 80 decibels — enough to cause hearing damage with prolonged exposure — the EH-ONE+ emits less than 20 decibels while operating. Peh said that quietness opens up the possibility of longer work hours, since noise concerns in residential areas often force sites to shut down after sunset.
China Harbour Engineering Company used the EH-ONE+ during construction of Singapore’s first private assisted-living development on Parry Avenue, a residential neighbourhood where low noise and emissions were critical. Deputy managing director Ong Eng Hwa said the system created “a safer and more flexible work environment” for workers and residents alike. He added that the partnership with GoRental allowed the company to “explore practical innovations that can be applied directly on site.”
