Power Shaving for Tower Cranes on Irish Construction Sites: My Journey with ECOYoke and Smarter Site Energy

By Mark Roache, Founder of ECOYoke

Growing up in rural Australia, I learned early that energy wasn’t something you could waste. We had to make it count. Whether it was using solar to run water pumps or charging batteries to keep a welder going, the lessons were the same: efficiency, planning, and respect for the power of nature.

Now, after more than 30 years in the industry—and having worked extensively with Liebherr Cranes across Europe and the Middle East—I’ve brought those lessons to bear on one of construction’s biggest headaches: how to run tower cranes reliably on power-limited sites. That’s why I founded ECOYoke and built a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) that delivers smart, site-ready power shaving (also known as peak shaving) right here in Ireland.

What Is Power Shaving?

Let me explain it plainly: Power shaving means using stored battery power to take the pressure off your main power source during peak demand.

On construction sites, this demand usually comes from tower cranes. When they start up or lift heavy loads, the power spike can be enormous. If you’re running on a limited ESB connection or a small genset, that surge can push your supply past its limit—causing outages, tripping, or worse.

ECOYoke’s BESS solves this by charging off-peak, then discharging precisely when your crane needs that boost. It keeps everything running smooth and efficient, without blowing your power budget or burning unnecessary fuel.

Tower Cranes Are Hungry Machines

I’ve spent decades working with Liebherr, and I can confidently say I know more than most when it comes to crane technology and the demands they place on power infrastructure.

Tower cranes are brilliant pieces of engineering—but they’re also greedy. When they lift, they demand energy fast and hard. That kind of surge plays havoc with traditional power setups, especially in Irish cities where sites are already pushing the limits of their grid connection.

Without a solution like ECOYoke, most contractors are forced to:

• Oversize their diesel generators just to handle occasional surges (which wastes fuel and increases emissions), or
• Take a risk and let the grid overload every time the crane swings into action

Neither of those options are acceptable in 2025. Sites need to be lean, clean, and reliable. That’s exactly what ECOYoke delivers.

How ECOYoke Delivers Smarter Site Power

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Charge When You Can

Our BESS charges during low-demand periods—either from the grid or, ideally, from solar panels. This can happen overnight or anytime the crane is idle.

Step 2: Support When You Need It

When the crane calls for power, ECOYoke responds in milliseconds. It supplies the extra kilowatts needed to complete the lift—without tripping your system.

Step 3: Save While You Operate

Because ECOYoke smooths out those power spikes, you can use a smaller generator or stay within ESB limits. That means less diesel, less maintenance, and far fewer headaches.

And yes—we monitor all of it remotely through Victron’s Blue Power Platform, giving you full transparency and control.

We Built ECOYoke for Ireland

When I first came to Ireland, I saw the same issues playing out again and again:

• Sites waiting on grid upgrades for months
• Generators running all day at 20% load
• Cranes stalling mid-operation because there wasn’t enough juice

That’s why we engineered ECOYoke to be plug-and-play, containerised, and solar-ready. It fits neatly on any site and does its job without fanfare.

Real Case: Dublin 8 Residential Build

One of our first Irish clients was working a tight site off Clanbrassil Street. The grid connection allowed just 100 kW, but the Liebherr crane needed 160 kW at peak.

Rather than bring in a 300 kVA generator, they hired an ECOYoke BESS from A-Z Hire and paired it with a smaller 90 kVA genset.

The results?

• Crane operated flawlessly
• Generator runtime reduced by over 70%
• Fuel savings were immediate
• No ESB penalties or project delays

They told us afterward, “This thing paid for itself in the first two months.”

Solar? Absolutely

You can’t spend your early years in outback Australia and not believe in solar. Every ECOYoke unit includes built-in charge controllers so you can hook up PV panels straight away.

In fact, I encourage clients to mount panels on welfare units or containers. Even in Irish weather, you’ll generate enough DC power to make a difference.

More sun = more free power = less diesel. Simple.

Hire or Buy? A-Z Hire Has Both

Not every site wants to purchase long-term. That’s why we’ve partnered with A-Z Hire in Dublin to offer ECOYoke units for hire or sale.

Whether you’re:

• Running a short-term tower crane job in Tallaght,
• Working on a multi-phase development in Galway,
• Or looking to reduce genset emissions in Cork,

A-Z Hire can get you set up fast with expert support on the ground.

Why Power Shaving Isn’t a Buzzword

The days of overspending on energy are over. Power shaving isn’t a gimmick—it’s the future. It lets you:

• Use smaller gensets
• Cut carbon output
• Stay within grid limits
• Run cranes reliably
• Save thousands on fuel and downtime

And all of this is available today, right here in Dublin, thanks to ECOYoke and A-Z Hire.

Final Thoughts from the Crane Yard

I’ve stood under cranes in 40° heat in Doha and freezing wind in Dundrum. I’ve helped troubleshoot energy failures in the middle of concrete pours and seen what happens when a genset gives out at the wrong time.

Planning for power is not optional.

That’s why I built ECOYoke. So that no contractor in Ireland has to choose between reliability, sustainability, and cost. With peak shaving from a Battery Energy Storage System, you can have all three.

What You Gain with ECOYoke

If you’re searching for a solution for power shaving for tower cranes on Irish construction sites hire or sale in Dublin, you’ve found it.

ECOYoke BESS units:

• Deliver reliable peak power during crane operation
• Cut diesel use by up to 80%
• Integrate with solar to lower your carbon footprint
• Work with small generators and limited grid supply
• Are available now for hire or purchase from A-Z Hire

Reach out today to book your ECOYoke BESS and let your crane lift smarter, not harder.