Industrial property managers and owners often need to rely on customized back-up power supply because it’s a good investment. If you lose power, it can cause dangerously unsafe working conditions on your plant or factory and that’s the last thing you need. Power outages could also affect your electronic equipment, overall productivity and your production or manufacturing capability. In some cases, your mine or plant is in a remote area that’s far from overhead and underground power sources. Then maybe, back-up isn’t what you need but a more stable, consistent power source. That means that reaching into your pockets to empty them for a generator in the short term, that will ultimately save you from financial losses in the future. In the long-term, we advise that you budget for regular generator servicing in Brisbane. Permanently installed standby or primary generators can keep all your critical systems up and running through outages and that’s why you need one. Especially for a property where heavy-duty work is being done to provide products or other things to Brisbane customers.
Reactive Generators is a generator service provider that’s been in the business of industrial stand-by and prime power solutions for 50 years and the most common question we receive from customers is about the cost of a generator. This short blog is a quick explanation to help guide you in the process of buying the perfect generator for your industrial property. It’s a very specific process and it’ll need a decent amount of consultation because different types of industrial properties have different needs. We wish we could give you an answer that solves the issue immediately but because of the high electrical supply and varying generator costs for different industrial properties, this isn’t quite that simple. Even a blanket figure wouldn’t help because there are no two industrial buildings that are exactly alike. The cost of installing a standby or primary power source on your property can also be affected by several external factors like the building’s age, renovation or construction changes, location, specific uses, and the layout. Reactive Generators can help with a very general estimate below so that you know how much you should put away before you give us a call for installation.
How generator placing can affect the cost ?
The first thing you should know is that the cost of installing an industrial generator is largely influenced by where it’ll be best positioned. You must consider the size of the property, which is usually much larger than residential or commercial properties and several other factors like how it’ll supply energy to all corners of your factory. When you consult an electrician, they’ll help you map out the pros and cons of doing an indoor vs outdoor installation. Once that roadblock is handled, your electrician will give you a better idea of the overall costs but before you decide, consider the following:
- Your local climate and how that affects your generator. The Gold Coast is known for being hot and humid, for instance, and this means your generator could be more susceptible to condensation build up in its parts. This means that your industrial generator will need servicing to keep up with the heat which will factor into the overall cost.You could budget to do a more complicated indoor install to avoid this or just factor in costs for more regular servicing to avoid excessive condensation build up.
- The local law on sound pollution and what that means for where you are allowed to install your generator. This could directly impact where you put the generator and what size you can use.
- The existing or renovated layout of your property. It’s best that your generator is installed as close as possible to the main electrical equipment that needs supply to minimize the conduit run. The further away it is, the more it could cost.
- The type of generator will also affect your overall cost. If it runs on natural gas, it’ll need to be installed in an area that has adequate ventilation and enough pathway space for exhaust pipes. Diesel generators, which are the most used fuel types in Australia, will need their installation to include the necessary local code guidelines for the safe storing and running of fuel lines because this is a potentially harmful fuel type. We have more information making the decision between diesel and petrol generators for your consideration.
Should I buy or rent an industrial generator?
Long-term renting is common in the construction and industrial sector in Brisbane. It’s a good idea to consider your options because you don’t have to commit to the permanency of buying an industrial generator. There are different costs to consider based on whichever one you choose. The first thing you should be clear about, is your budget and what the time length expectations are for generator use on your property. You can compare your options below
| RENT VS BUY | PROS | COS |
| Renting an industrial generator | A fraction of initial installation and purchasing costs
Available on short notice
The rental provider will handle all the maintenance requirements and limit the downtime
The ability to change the sizing of the generator based on the changing electrical supply needs |
You do not own the generator so there is a lot of admin and reporting you’ll have to do to the rental provider
If you select, renting to own option, it could be more expensive in the long run
Keeping up with rental contracts, renewals and the possibility of increases |
| Buying an industrial generator | The ‘cheaper’ option for long-term use
You are the owner of the equipment and won’t be locked into rental agreements for set time periods
You have the option to resell
Full control of the availability of power. Rental contracts are limited to terms about standby vs prime options and they may be hard to find in situations when they’re in high demand |
Very expensive initial costs for installation and purchase
You have to maintain maintenance appointment and costs
More expensive to run, because you are paying for all the fuel and repairs etc. |
Sizing and the cost of industrial generators
Industrial businesses on average need between 500 kilowatts to 1,000 kilowatts of backup power to fully operate. The typical range of prices across suppliers is $300-$450 per kW. If your property is significantly larger or has more complicated electrical fittings that need even more power than that, then the price could be doubled. That means you should factor in tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for your industrial property. You can use this calculator to help or If you’re looking for a more specific number, call us on 07 3710 8212, or visit our website, and we can get down to the REAL figure.
Reactive Generators
Reactive Generators directs every effort towards supporting our customers. We work with each client individually to establish their needs, goals, and budget before providing tailored advice and services. Operating across Queensland, we offer skilled technicians in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Ipswich. We cater to industrial and commercial clients across the region, providing a comprehensive and end-to-end service. From purchase and installation to maintenance and repairs, you can trust Reactive Generators to get the job done.
