Greater West Landscapes is a leading New South Wales landscaping contractor delivering projects across residential communities. Working in populated neighbourhoods means balancing operational requirements with the needs of nearby residents, particularly when it comes to noise, emissions and site impacts.
When the company began looking for a more sustainable way to power its site office, it turned to Makinex Renewables for a practical solution.
Like many contractors, Greater West Landscapes relied on a diesel generator to power its site office.
While generators provide dependable power, they can create challenges in residential environments. Noise, emissions and fuel consumption can all contribute to disruption for surrounding residents, while ongoing servicing requirements add to operating costs.
The team wanted a cleaner and quieter alternative that would reduce generator runtime without requiring a complete change to their existing setup.
Makinex Renewables supplied a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS10) paired with a Container Top Solar (CTS) array.
The BESS10 is a compact 10kVA / 15kWh battery energy storage solution designed to provide reliable temporary power on construction and infrastructure sites. Combined with the CTS solar array, the system captures and stores solar energy throughout the day before delivering power to site loads when required.
One of the key benefits for Greater West Landscapes was the ability to integrate the solution with their existing generator. Rather than replacing equipment already on site, the BESS10 and CTS provided a simple plug-and-play solution that worked alongside their current setup, allowing the business to begin reducing fuel consumption and emissions immediately.
Unlike traditional ground-mounted solar arrays, the CTS system is installed directly on top of the site office. This maximises available space and eliminates the need for additional ground area, making it particularly well suited to residential projects where site footprints are often limited.
For businesses looking to begin their renewable energy journey, the BESS10 and CTS combination offers an accessible and cost-effective alternative to larger Hybrid Power Systems while still delivering substantial environmental and operational benefits.
The results have exceeded expectations.
Over a five-month period, the BESS10 and CTS system has powered Greater West Landscapes' site office continuously, operating 24 hours a day.
During that time, the generator was required for only 10 hours in total, and only during an extended period of wet weather when additional charging was needed.
This dramatic reduction in generator runtime has helped the company:
Most importantly, the solution has delivered reliable power without disrupting day-to-day site operations.
"Makinex Renewables delivered a smooth and professional experience with the BESS10 and CTS solar setup. Their team was responsive, helpful, and easy to work with from start to finish. Any issues were handled promptly, and the overall process was efficient.
The battery and solar array have been highly effective, running 24/7 over the past five months, with only around 10 generator hours required during extended rainy periods. This has not only helped us meet our renewable energy reporting targets but has also delivered significant savings in diesel consumption and servicing costs.
We're very satisfied with both the system performance and the level of support provided."
Kyle Steinohrt, Greater West Landscapes
Not every contractor is ready to invest in a large-scale hybrid power solution, but that doesn't mean they can't benefit from renewable energy.
The combination of the Makinex BESS10 and CTS provides a practical, affordable and scalable pathway to cleaner temporary site power. By working alongside existing generators, the solution allows contractors to significantly reduce generator runtime, emissions and noise while maintaining the reliable power required to keep projects moving.
For Greater West Landscapes, the result has been a quieter, cleaner and more sustainable site office solution that continues to deliver dependable performance every day.