The Eco-Generator Debate: Can Backup Power Ever Be Carbon-Free?

Backup power generators are necessary in extreme circumstances, and traditional gasoline and diesel generators can be significant emitters of harmful pollutants. Eco-friendly power generators must gain momentum to achieve a more sustainable future. However, many aspects of eco-generators are not carbon-free. While this reality makes it challenging to argue for their implementation, solutions are available to address the concerns.

The Importance of Moving Toward Sustainability

The renewable energy transition has sparked controversy among fossil fuel shareholders and concerned environmentalists. Eco-generators, including solar panels, biomass stoves and energy storage solutions, all have drawbacks. Due to factors like intermittency, land use and lack of available infrastructure, the sustainable alternatives still emit carbon, albeit in much smaller amounts compared to conventional energy and fuel.

Eco-friendly options remain the best choice for reducing global carbon emissions, but oversights in their impact hinder more widespread implementation. Eliminating opposing arguments is critical to encourage sustainable practices, among other reasons, including:

• Preserving ecosystems
• Improving public health
• Bettering climate change resilience
• Raising commitment to innovation
• Boosting energy security
• Supporting international climate goals

Additionally, embracing innovation to reduce carbon footprints in backup power may also yield other positive benefits for the planet — including improved generator technologies, even those based on diesel. For example, one case study examined how the careful installation of a generator reduced noise pollution and saved costs when installing electrical breakers, among other benefits. Observing advancements from all energy solutions will inspire better carbon-free alternatives.

The Carbon Associated With Eco-Generators

The operational and mechanical aspects of renewable energy and backup power technologies are the reasons they are not truly carbon-free.

Manufacturing and Transportation

Creating energy backup equipment requires resources for construction and transportation. Every aspect of this produces a carbon footprint. Most battery storage relies on lithium, which requires destructive and energy-intensive mining processes. Additionally, processing silicon for related technologies, such as solar panels, requires extremely high temperatures.

These are just a few examples of activities that produce emissions, despite their long-term carbon benefits. Generators, such as wind turbines, are a prime example of this. Over its lifetime, a turbine can save 50 times the carbon that it needed to be made, built and maintained. This also offsets emissions associated with connected backup generators.

Intermittency Trends

Some technologies are inherently intermittent, relying on resources such as wind or sunlight. This puts additional pressure on backup assets, pulling from them more frequently than a more reliable source of energy. Overreliance on backup generators could deplete energy storage regions faster than they can be replenished, especially in microgrids where generation is lower than in utility-scale operations.

Additionally, hybrid power grids, which still incorporate fossil fuels like natural gas, may trigger during periods of lower renewable generation. This means emissions are still produced, even if backup resources are available.

Changes in Land Use

The construction of renewable energy projects is often associated with occupying land, depending on the type of generator used. Additional space is necessary to house backup energy storage. The process produces carbon emissions from the use of heavy machinery and displaces natural resources and wildlife.

For example, establishing dams produced 5.2% of global methane emissions in 2020, primarily through flooding areas to create reservoirs. Installing energy backup on-site can mitigate some climate impacts, but cannot directly mitigate methane.

Maintenance and Decommissioning

Transporting resources to distant sites where energy farms are located can be a significant source of fossil fuel use, especially if fleets are not utilizing electrified vehicles. Sunsetting backup power assets and renewable energy generators also has an unexpected environmental impact. Batteries can end up in landfills, polluting the planet with chemicals and hazardous components and contributing to a carbon footprint.

The Methods for Decarbonizing Backup Power Tech

Several strategies are available for companies to advocate for and experiment with in their operations to make energy solutions more eco-friendly.

Using Eco-Friendly Power in Production

Companies that manufacture eco-generators can offset some of their emissions by utilizing on-site renewable energy sources to produce the machinery. The change will lower the embedded carbon associated with the products, making their life cycle assessments more ideal. A recent study suggested that the lithium-ion supply chain could reduce its emission intensity by 16.3% through consumer-oriented recycling, incorporating it into the energy mix.

Researching and Developing Energy Storage

Energy storage could be designed and engineered to better compensate for some of the unavoidable carbon-emitting behaviors in manufacturing or construction. If their capacities improve, it will also discourage the use of hybrid energy mixes and cut fossil fuel reliance further.

Some advanced models are incorporating smart load-shifting technologies to make them more efficient at distributing power, minimizing residual energy waste. These next-generation products incorporate optimization tools like artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data and sensors to continually improve energy manipulation and maximize efficacy.

Modifying Designs for Existing Renewables

Increasing the energy efficiency of solar farms and reducing methane emissions from dams would help backup power solutions, reduce carbon emissions and facilitate optimal operations. For example, dams could pull water from closer to the surface to minimize drilling and methane release. Additionally, biomass generators could have better thermal capture to repurpose heat.

These renewable enhancements directly impact how well green generators perform, as they undergo less stress over their lifetime. This means storage equipment will require less maintenance and fewer repairs, which also has a lower associated carbon footprint.

Refining End-of-Life Management and Battery Recycling

The storage industry must create technologies with a circular mentality. This will keep parts out of landfills, cutting carbon emissions associated with disposal. Energy experts must consider the potential of their products based on how they will be transformed at the end of their life cycle, which will inform future designs to be more considerate of reusability.

The change requires a two-step process — reimagined designs and enhanced recycling infrastructure. Recyclers are better-equipped to handle batteries and other components if they are compatible with the machinery and processing solutions they already use.

According to researchers, recycling batteries could slash emissions from the product’s entire life cycle — not just disposal. Adapting the recycling industry to incorporate renewable resources necessitates collaboration among private and public stakeholders, particularly government entities that provide services to their constituents. While manufacturers can adjust designs to try and fit existing infrastructure, some enhancements will be necessary in their facilities to deal with the demand increase.

Cleaning Up Clean Energy

Renewable energy and backup solutions can become even more sustainable with numerous opportunities for organizations to innovate. Using these techniques to further reduce the impact of generators is vital because it convinces stakeholders to believe in a future with low-carbon energy. It is possible to alleviate many of the concerns surrounding it if companies advocate for more research and the adoption of these decarbonization methods.