Mobile battery energy storage systems offer an alternative to diesel generators for temporary off-grid power. Alex Smith, co-founder and CTO of US-based provider Moxion Power looks at some of the technology''s many applications and scopes out its future market development.
Diesel generators have long served as the stopgap power source for industries that rely on off-grid temporary power, such as construction, live events, film, utilities and disaster relief. Unfortunately, generators come with unwelcome side effects including noise, fuel and maintenance costs, and – most concerning of all – millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
On top of carbon emissions, diesel generators in California''s South Coast and Bay Area communities alone emit an annual 20 tons of fine particulate matter, 62 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nearly a thousand tons of nitrogen oxide, the single most significant ozone-depleting emission.
Exposure to diesel exhaust has been linked to lung cancer and is classified as carcinogenic to humans by the World Health Organization.
As a result, industry and regulatory pressure has mounted for cleaner temporary electricity alternatives that address the shortcomings of diesel generators and protect the planet. Net-zero targets have been set by more than 140 countries and the private sector is following suit. More than 9,000 companies have pledged to halve global emissions by 2030.
Fortunately, an innovative, cleaner solution is gaining traction to replace dirty generators: mobile battery energy storage systems (mobile BESS).
Mobile BESS products provide mobile, temporary electricity wherever and whenever it''s needed. By storing low-cost off-peak grid power and dispatching it onsite as needed, mobile storage provides operators with emissions and noise-free electricity – often for days or weeks without having to recharge.
For certain applications, where swapping or recharging is difficult, hybrid operation with a generator is an option. This method can still deliver 50-80% fuel savings and emissions reductions, while providing a learning period for customers to get accustomed to the new technology. From remote construction sites to disaster response hubs, mobile BESS products are delivering reliable, affordable power everywhere generators can.
And the world is listening. In 2023, one of Time Magazine''s Best Inventions was a mobile battery system.
Compared to diesel generators, the benefits of mobile batteries are clear. Diesel generators emit carbon dioxide, harmful particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants. In contrast, mobile batteries produce no exhaust fumes, improving local air quality and worker health. Unlike loud diesel generators, mobile battery storage systems operate virtually silently. By eliminating disruptive noise, batteries facilitate clearer communication between workers on construction job sites or disaster relief efforts, better experiences at live events and more productive environments for film production.
Replacing fossil-fuel-burning generators with zero-emission battery storage also reduces projects'' carbon footprints. This helps companies follow emissions regulations, achieve their decarbonisation goals, and align with global efforts to reach net zero emissions. Operators can also avoid costly diesel fuel markups since mobile batteries charge from cheap off-peak grid or microgrid power.
Generators need to idle to be ready to dispatch electricity. This constant operation wastes energy, fuel and money. On the other hand, mobile batteries simply wait on standby and provide immediate power when it''s needed.
As demand surges for cleaner temporary power, this definitive guide provides an overview of how battery systems are transforming access to sustainable off-grid energy.
Mobile battery systems typically use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. They plug into grid or microgrid connections for charging when available, then disconnect for dispatch onsite. This allows them to provide emission-free electricity anywhere, anytime, without relying on continuous generator operation and diesel delivery. Some batteries can be even charged using standard EV charging infrastructure.
Mobile BESS come in all shapes and sizes. For example, Moxion Power houses battery hardware in rigorously engineered shells mounted on all-terrain trailers. The units can be towed by a standard truck over vast distances, then manoeuvred into place on-site. They withstand challenging on- and off-road conditions such as construction sites and rough dirt roads. Other mobile BESS are built into standard shipping containers for easy transport. Mobile storage systems range in capacity from 200 kilowatt-hours (kWh) to over 1,000kWh. To put those figures into perspective, there is enough energy in the 530kWh Moxion MP-75/600 to power a Tesla Model 3 for over 2,200 miles.
By providing silent, affordable, grid-charged power, mobile storage solutions are transforming industries that rely on diesel for off-grid energy.
During recent construction at a Moxion facility, mobile BESS powered a concrete grinding crew''s battery-powered tools for one week on a single charge—far exceeding typical runtimes expected of batteries. Mobile batteries also helped power the 2023 PGA Tour Championship, providing reliable electricity for the hospitality tent and scoreboard for the tournament''s four days of competition. And when supporting an electric excavator pilot, portable batteries enabled the machine to operate eight hours daily with overnight charging. These examples show that mobile storage runtimes pack enough on-demand power for even the most enduring loads.
Mobile BESS are already deploying across a range of industries. One of the key features that distinguishes batteries from diesel generators is that some providers offer a fully programmable power supply which can be customised to the customers'' needs. For example, some mobile BESS can output any voltage, frequency, phase, AC, or DC out of a single unit. This versatility makes mobile BESS an attractive choice across any industry that needs temporary power.
Since global building and construction account for nearly 40% of carbon emissions, construction firms are facing rising regulations and project emissions reporting requirements. External pressures such as the proposed European Green New Deal, the revised Construction Products Regulation, and new green building codes across the US are pressuring them to reduce their carbon footprint, along with their customers who have their own ambitious ESG goals. This growing focus on net-zero targets has led the industry to seek cleaner options, including a shift to electric equipment.
While replacing gas-powered construction machinery with electric alternatives does help to reduce emissions, relying on diesel-fueled generators to charge these electric machines offsets some of the environmental gains. In contrast, mobile batteries operate emissions-free and almost silently, allowing convenient indoor operation (unlike generators) and easier on-site communication. Batteries also provide clean, silent temporary power for job site trailers, lighting and tools. They can even integrate with renewables like solar to create self-sufficient off-grid microgrids at remote sites. As portable batteries begin to replace diesel generators, construction companies can unlock the full sustainability benefits of electric equipment and decarbonise more effectively.
Music festivals have a less glamorous side: they are often powered by diesel generators that create significant emissions. In 2022, music festivals in Switzerland alone emitted 128,000 tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of powering over 16,000 households for a year. Larger festivals'' emissions are staggering.
Mobile storage batteries provide an emissions-free alternative to support events’ dynamic energy needs. The virtually silent mobile BESS enhance guests'' experiences far more than noisy generators. They''ve already reliably handled fluctuating loads like stages, lighting, LED walls, and sound systems for days, and can be operated indoors.
For example, at Austin City Limits, mobile batteries smoothly powered an art exhibit for two weekends and a hospitality tent for 12 hours daily. While two units were deployed for the art market, post-event analysis showed that just a single unit could have powered the entire area, saving almost 1,200 gallons of diesel fuel and avoiding 27,600 pounds of CO2 emissions. For the hospitality tent, almost 870 gallons of diesel and 1,900 pounds of CO2 emissions were avoided.
Mobile storage offers a reliable, eco-friendly solution to replace noisy, disruptive diesel generators on film sets. Batteries can quietly power basecamps, lighting, catering, hair and makeup trailers and device charging. Their runtime can last for multi-day shoots, and they can easily adjust output to handle shifting energy needs.
In fact, Amazon Studios recently adopted Moxion''s modular battery systems on the sets of Candy Cane Lane, a holiday special starring Eddie Murphy, Sitting in Bars with Cake, a rom-com featuring Yara Shahidi and Bette Midler, as well as the Freevee series Bosch: Legacy. The batteries reduced noise, enabled indoor operation without exhaust fumes, required no warm-up or cool-down time, and provided smoother, lower-maintenance operations compared to diesel generators.
The virtual silence of the battery systems is a game-changer for the film industry, where even minor background noise can disrupt shoots. By eliminating the constant rumble of diesel generators, mobile BESS are a perfect match for the silver screen.
As EV adoption accelerates, growing demand is outpacing available charging infrastructure. To fill in this gap, mobile storage batteries offer interim charging while permanent stations are built.
Mobile batteries can charge at sites with grid access, then disconnect to provide off-grid power for EV fleets at remote locations. This flexible deployment model allows the batteries to be quickly set up for temporary charging when needed, and later relocated as charging demands shift. By avoiding the high fixed costs of extensive permanent charging infrastructure, mobile battery storage enables cost-effective interim EV charging solutions.
Adding mobile battery capacity also allows buffering grid demand from high-power DC fast charging. By shaving peak loads, mobile storage increases charging access without costly grid upgrades.
Finally, mobile BESS provides resiliency. If the power goes out entirely, fleet operators are still able to operate their fleet moving.
Much like EV chargers, mobile batteries can also serve as bridge infrastructure for utilities. There''s often a multi-year lag between a customer requesting an upgraded utility connection, and the project''s completion. In the interim, mobile battery storage can be deployed on the same day to boost the customer''s connection.
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