Low Carbon Solutions - Decarbonising backup power: Innovative solutions to eliminate diesel generator use in critical services

The building for pilot deployment is equipped with diesel generators to provide backup power to essential services, such as fire protection systems, emergency lighting, and fireman lifts, during emergency situations. These generators are tested monthly to ensure operational readiness, resulting in diesel consumption and contributes to Scope 1 emissions under the GHG Protocol.

JTC is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and advancing sustainability efforts, with a focus on decarbonising operational processes. However, the current reliance on diesel-powered backup systems for critical safety functions presents a challenge to achieving these sustainability objectives. There is a need to preserve operational resilience while transitioning to a more environmentally sustainable, low-carbon alternative. 

The industry is challenged to develop a solution that:

• Can replace or optimise the monthly generator testing process to maintain the reliability of essential services, or
• Can provide a backup power solution that meets authority requirements without using diesel generators for essential services in emergencies.
• Is cost-effective, scalable, and reliable, ensuring that safety and compliance requirements for critical systems are met while mitigating Scope 1 emissions.

The solution must maintain the same level of backup power availability, reliability, and performance of safety-critical services.

Key challenges to be addressed by the proposed solution:

• At least 50% reduction, ideally near-zero, in Scope 1 emissions by minimising the need for diesel consumption in backup power generation 
• Maintains the same level of backup power availability, reliability, and performance for safety-critical services, in line with authority requirements
• Eliminates or significantly reduces the use of diesel fuel for backup power generation
• Ensures uninterrupted power supply to critical systems (e.g. fire protection systems, emergency lighting, fireman lifts) during both emergency events and testing, with full compliance to safety standards
• Is scalable and adaptable across buildings of similar size, complexity, and critical service requirements, enabling deployment across diverse setup

• Hybrid backup power system, e.g. battery energy storage or renewable-powered systems that can support both routine testing and emergency backup functions without reliance on diesel
• Innovative approaches to system testing that eliminate diesel consumption, such as remote diagnostics, digital testing methods, or long cycle life energy storage solutions

Trial site information will be confirmed on a later date. Interested parties are encouraged to participate in the site visit organised by JTC, kindly register via the link to access further details.