Aggreko Powers British Open Golf Championships with Renewable Energy Solutions
Aggreko, the world-leading provider of mobile modular power, temperature control and energy services, has partnered with R&A to deliver a renewable power solution at the 149th Open Championship at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England. The hybrid system will reduce carbon emissions by up to 40 percent compared to the previously used fossil fuelled systems and is a major step in Aggreko’s Net Zero journey, aiming to help clients deliver more sustainable events worldwide.
In total, Aggreko is delivering two renewable microgrids, which will supply 100 percent reliable power without connection to the grid. The system has already generated almost 21000 kWh solar power and saved 25 tonnes of CO2 since the solution was installed in March for setup of the event. Also, for the first time in The Open’s history, the generators on site will be entirely fuelled by HVO - a sustainable biodiesel derived largely from waste and residue feedstock, specifically used cooking oil.
Aggreko’s Solar PV-Battery Storage-Hybrid solution will power the contractor’s compound and an electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The contractor’s compound will be powered by Aggreko’s containerized solar solution, a 135 kVA battery unit and a 125 kVA genset using HVO to secure uninterrupted power supply.
A second electric vehicle showcase microgrid has been installed to power ten 7 kW EV chargers provided by British green mobility company Connected Kerb. This system will also be powered by Aggreko’s containerized solar solution, a 300 kVA battery unit and a 125 kVA genset using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to secure uninterrupted power supply.
In addition, two x 300 kVA stage V generators running on HVO, have been installed to serve 500 kW peak load to five 50 kW charging points. The installation can rapid-charge electric vehicles from zero to 80 percent capacity in approximately 40 minutes and will power the tournament’s Mercedes-EQ Player’s Courtesy car fleet.
Robert Wells, managing director of Aggreko Events Services said: “Our solution at The Open marks the first time Aggreko has deployed a renewable electric vehicle charging infrastructure solution completely off grid. We are proud to pioneer new approaches for delivering cleaner power solutions to our clients. This has been a fantastic collaborative project, delivered jointly by R&A, Mercedes-EQ, Connected Kerb and Aggreko. Each of us shares the commitment to innovation and sustainability, transitioning to a Net Zero future.”
The project is part of Aggreko’s wider commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050. As part of this Aggreko will halve the amount of fossil diesel fuel used in customer solutions by 2030, offering customers cleaner technologies and fuels that guarantee the same or better level of reliability and competitiveness.
The Open represents golf’s oldest major and will run from July 11 to 18 with 32,000 fans in attendance each day.
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.