As Singapore’s construction sector goes green, portable ‘power banks’ are leading the charge

[SINGAPORE] Electrification is greening more than just vehicles. The construction sector, too, is increasingly adopting clean energy as it seeks to reduce its impact on the environment while dealing with rising diesel prices.

Construction is among the most pollutive sectors globally, accounting for about 11 per cent of energy-related carbon emissions, World Green Building Council data shows.

Much of this comes from the burning of diesel, which has traditionally been the main source of energy for construction projects.

Home-grown clean-energy firm GoRental Global is looking to change that with its battery energy storage systems. 

The company has made a name for itself by providing clean power at major events from the National Day Parade to the Singapore River Festival.

Through its portable energy solutions, it has prevented 1.5 million kilograms of carbon emissions thus far.

GoRental’s “micro-grid” for industrial sites, the EH-ONE+, can help save around 223 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent a year compared with the diesel-powered generator sets – gen-sets for short – that are typically used in construction projects.

Founder Colin Peh explained that because work on site often begins before permanent grid access is fully available, most projects must rely on temporary power solutions.

However, gen-sets tend to run at low load factors of between 30 and 50 per cent, which means a large amount of diesel is burned without the power generated being used.

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The EH-ONE+ can be charged with solar energy, power from the grid or diesel power.

Peh noted that when it comes to the latter, gen-sets can be used much more efficiently with a lower runtime, so less diesel is wasted.

“Instead of leaving them on for 10 hours, you can have them on for just two hours to charge the batteries.”

Given recent spikes in fuel prices, making the switch means construction companies can also cut their costs substantially, he added. 

Data from the Consumer Association of Singapore’s Price Kaki app shows that diesel at five retailers – Caltex, Esso, Shell, Sinopec and SPC – cost between S$4.31 and S$4.32 a litre on Tuesday (Jun 16).

Prices were S$2.65 and below before the Middle East conflict broke out in late February.

Construction companies are therefore adopting electrification faster, Peh said, adding that switching from gen-sets to the EH-ONE+ can “lead to cost savings of 40 to 50 per cent” – all while maintaining uninterrupted power supply on site.

Created in collaboration with Energy Revolution Engineering, the EH-ONE+ was made to comply with Singapore’s safety and regulatory standards. GoRental lists the solution for both rent and purchase.

To close the affordability gap for companies looking to go green, the company offers flexible options, including leasing and subscription models, through its financing arm, GoRental Technology. This was launched in 2025 through a collaboration with financial institution GB Helios.

“Practical, deployable and dependable”

Already, GoRental has found demand for its solution; Peh shared that the EH-ONE+ has been used in major projects from the construction of the upcoming Jurong Region Line to Changi Airport’s Terminal 5.

Engineering and heavy equipment company Hiap Heng Group started using the EH-ONE+ about one year ago.

Joyce Foo, the company’s director, said that the solution offers a “promising pathway” to reduce carbon emissions while enhancing operational flexibility.

“GoRental had something that we were thinking of and trying to get,” she said. While she and chief commercial officer Kenny Lim had seen other companies, “none were as practical, deployable and dependable”.

Key to this dependability, she said, lies in GoRental being a local company, which means Hiap Heng can get support at any time when needed.

Foo added that Hiap Heng has observed other benefits from switching out some of its diesel gen-sets and going electric.

“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.”

Cabling, in particular, poses significant challenges in construction projects. 

Peh explained that because sites typically use just one or a few diesel gen-sets, many workers are needed to pull heavy power cables up to 50 metres out from each gen-set to individual work areas. 

Weighing around 80 kg and movable on wheels, the EH-ONE+ removes the need for such extensive cabling entirely, he added. “It’s portable, basically like a power bank, so each worker can get one.”

That portability and decentralisation also allows for better productivity tracking, thanks to GoRental’s proprietary software – linked to a mobile app – that allows users to view how power is being used from each EH-ONE+ unit.

Lim said the app is particularly useful for tracking operational efficiency on the ground, as well as determining the fuel savings achieved 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.”

Hiap Heng is looking to electrify more of its fleet, which includes cranes, boomlifts and scissor lifts. It most recently acquired an electric crane, which Lim described as the first of its kind in Singapore.

For him, the company’s push to go electric goes beyond a box-ticking exercise.

“Sustainability is an ecosystem,” Lim said, noting that while regulatory requirements are a good guideline, change must be implemented from a whole-of-operations perspective to be truly effective.

“We believe meaningful progress can only be achieved through strong industry partnerships,” he added. 

“By working closely with technology providers and solution partners such as GoRental, we are able to better evaluate emerging innovations and identify practical solutions that can support the industry’s transition towards a greener and more sustainable future.”

Electrification for safety, efficiency

Other construction companies are getting in on the action, too.

Samwoh, for instance, turned to battery energy storage systems as part of a wider push to reduce the environmental impact of its operations “without compromising productivity, safety or reliability”, said deputy project manager Shawn Yeoh.

Adopting the solution has allowed the company “to lower emissions, reduce fuel consumption and minimise noise levels, creating cleaner and more conducive working environments for our teams and surrounding communities”, he added.

Whereas gen-sets can generate sound levels of around 70 to 80 decibels – enough to cause hearing damage with prolonged exposure – the EH-ONE+ emits less than 20 decibels while in operation.

One advantage of this, Peh said, is the potential to have more active work hours.

A quieter site, he added, means it is more feasible to continue work later into the evening, when noise concerns, especially in residential areas, can lead to operations being shut down once the sun sets.

That quietness was put to good use by China Harbour Engineering Company in the construction of Singapore’s first private assisted-living development.

The Parry Avenue site, located in a residential neighbourhood, necessitated low noise levels and emissions to ensure minimal disruption to residents.

Deputy managing director Ong Eng Hwa shared that using the EH-ONE+ helped create “a safer and more flexible work environment” for both those working on its construction projects and those living in neighbouring areas.

Deploying battery energy storage solutions on site has also allowed the company to “improve the way construction projects are delivered with greater safety, efficiency and environmental responsibility”, he said.

Ong added that the partnership with GoRental has allowed China Harbour to “explore practical innovations that can be applied directly on site”. 

“As the industry continues to move towards more sustainable construction practices, such collaborations will play an important role in helping companies adopt new technologies with confidence.”