Site with no power or water services brought to life by renewable energy
At first, it was a little unnerving for Rob van der Geest to be relying on solar power to run a large-scale work site in Canterbury.
But, says the Cook Brothers Construction (CBC) Site Manager, the benefit of Royal Wolf’s solar-powered Site Hub was the efficient and quick set-up on a site which had no access to power and water services.
“Having the Site Hub made all the difference to this project because power connection was going to take around 60 days – that was time we didn’t have,” says Rob.
The Site Hub is a fully self-sufficient worksite performance solution designed to provide site facilities where there is no, or limited access to services such as power and water.
For CBC, once delivered, the Site Hub was operational within minutes which meant Rob and his team was able to reduce set-up time, make significant cost savings, and meet tight timeframes associated with the project.
“The Site Hub is performing incredibly well and half the time I forget it’s solar powered,” he says.
A game changing container
Graham Allison, United Rentals Australia/New Zealand District Manager – NZ, says the CBC project highlights how the Site Hub is a true game changer for the construction and infrastructure industries.
“From a planning perspective for customers the Site Hub is a unique product because it takes away the reliance on key elements like power and waste-water connections that often create long and costly delays.”
The Site Hub has created more opportunities for CBC, enabling the business to start projects earlier and undertake work in remote areas where the lack of utilities and infrastructure creates challenges.
The use of renewable energy also supports companies to meet sustainability requirements and reduce carbon emissions.
“We are committed to meeting environment and sustainability needs for every project we undertake and the Site Hub certainly helps in that area,” says Rob.
Site Hub convenience
Split into three separate rooms with a storage / Office area, lunchroom with kitchenette, and toilet, the Site Hub is fully kitted out with sustainable elements, including a 1000 litre water tank, solar panels, solar battery back-up, and grey water storage.
“We have had up to 14 workers on site at any given time utilising the Site Hub for its lunchroom and toilet facilities,” says Rob.
“It’s functional, efficient, and on colder days, we’ve had the heat pump cranking, people working inside using the appliances, and all the power points, and had absolutely no issues.”
