Variation Management Strategies for Future Construction Sites: A study to address role of an equipment rental business in the energy transition
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Master's Thesis
Master's Thesis
Program
Industrial ecology (MPTSE), MSc
Publicerad
2023
Författare
Blanksvärd, Ellen
Svensson, Frida
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
Construction sites are facing challenges with high power peaks due to electrification
of heavy equipment where potential consequences are increased power tariffs locally
and risk of limited power supply. Another development is an increased intermittent
power supply due to more wind- and solar power in the electricity system, which
causes price fluctuations. These two developments strengthen the incentive to look
at flexibility services. This study investigates different strategies to handle these
two challenges in an equipment Rental business and how they can contribute with
flexibility measures at construction sites for the electricity system.
The methods used in this study were an interview study and a case study where
a model of the electricity demand at a construction site was created. In the case,
the potential of using battery storage at a construction site for peak shaving and
load shifting was evaluated. This was done by optimizing the system cost at the
case to see if it is efficient to invest in a battery and be flexible with the load, or
purchase electricity directly from the grid. The interviews were a part of mapping
the challenges faced by the Rental business and construction sites related to power
supply and a changed electricity system. Further, the purpose of the interviews was
to evaluate the barriers to using different flexibility services at a construction site.
Some output from the interviews was also used for making assumptions in the model
about the use of equipment to estimate the power demand of electrified equipment.
One outcome of the interview study was that the Rental business has a role in
providing comprehensive solutions to the customer and enabling climate-neutral
construction sites. Another conclusion was that the Rental business could have an
educating role and recommending the most suitable option when electrifying a construction site, which in the future can include flexibility services such as battery
storage. The case showed that it was efficient to invest in battery storage to shift
the electricity demand. The optimal battery size was mainly affected by electricity prices during the observed time period, the magnitude of the peaks, and the
recurrence of peaks. Another outcome was that critical peak loads can occur in
an early phase of construction due to homogeneous charging behaviors of vehicles
during breaks. This suggests a selection of batteries with high discharge capacity.
Additionally, a combination with charging strategies was effective to reduce costs.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
battery storage , variation management , flexibility services , peak shaving , load shifting , demand side management , rental business , electrification , construction equipment , construction sites