Generators, Batteries & Energy

Create a generator or pair

Open Power Sources > Generators and choose Add generator / pair. Choose an individual generator, synchronised parallel pair or duty/standby pair and select its output phases. Select a library model or enter a project custom generator. Models are listed in kVA order; library hardware ratings are read-only, while the generator name remains editable. Project custom generators allow your own kVA, kW, duty, derating and fuel data.

• Use ratings appropriate to prime, continuous or standby duty; the rating label does not validate permitted operating hours.
• Engine kW, alternator kVA and phase-current limits are assessed separately.
• Workspace custom energy libraries replace the standard libraries when enabled. Admins manage generator and battery models, output connectors and battery input connectors in the Energy Library.

Library outputs and charging connections

When a workspace model has configured outputs, the planner offers to create each output as a power source, named from the generator or battery and its output number. The sources are assigned to the generator group automatically, and the corresponding model hardware is locked to keep these outputs consistent. Models without outputs retain the normal manual assignment workflow.

With custom energy libraries enabled, select the battery charging input from an output assigned to the same generator group. A specified battery input connector filters compatible choices. This is a physical charging-feed reference, not an additional outgoing load assignment. Missing feeds, phase mismatches and inadequate nominal charging capacity produce warnings. Confirm charging PF, protective-device limits and actual installation suitability separately.

System Overview presents a generator and its assigned sources as one expandable group, with the source-to-distro trees beneath it.

Hybrid batteries

Add a battery to a generator group to forecast battery-first supply and generator recharge. Library capacity, inverter, charging and discharge ratings remain read-only. Starting charge, required charge at project end, Start generator below, Stop charging at, and minimum generator run/off times remain editable for every battery, including locked library models.

Minimum run/off times default to 30 minutes. The forecast runs on 15-minute boundaries; charging permissions come from operating timeline blocks. Reserve and output constraints can force generator operation despite minimum off time. Battery discharge is distinct from charging input; peak-assist and transient performance are not established by this forecast.

Operating Schedules and Energy Forecast

Create build, show, strike or other sequential periods under Power Sources > Operating Schedules. Edit load blocks on the timeline, with load-percentage sliders and 15-minute snapping. Group sources to share a timeline across different generators, or retain project defaults. Charging permission is set on each timeline block.

Energy Forecast shows scheduled demand and total kWh, fuel rate and litres, battery state of charge, generator output and charging input, and the battery/charging timeline. Unassigned power sources show their own scheduled energy; sources assigned to generators are included in the group rather than repeated individually. No operating periods means no scheduled forecast; add periods first. Hover charts for point values.

Energy is design kW multiplied by expected load percentage and hours. PF affects kVA and current, not kWh. Low-load, missing fuel data, battery reserve and end-charge issues remain explicit warnings.

Emissions

The Emissions subtab shows operational CO₂e for diesel generators, unassigned UK-grid supplies and the battery's initial grid charge, using the stated DESNZ conversion-factor version. Hybrid savings compare the hybrid forecast with generator-only operation; savings are green and increases red. A lower final battery charge does not suppress the comparison, but the different starting and ending charge is disclosed.

The cumulative chart shows generator-output contributions and the project total. Supplies downstream of a battery are grouped under its charging output, rather than appearing again as separate emissions contributions. Diesel emissions are allocated by the branch's scheduled kWh; each battery's initial grid charge is attributed to its own charging branch, including idle branches. This is a planning allocation, not metered output-by-output fuel measurement. These are operational estimates, not lifecycle emissions or carbon offsets. Unknown fuel or battery data must not be treated as zero.

Export Power Sources PDF

The dark Export Power Sources PDF button is available across Power Sources subtabs when you have Engineering access. Choose source information, operating schedules and energy forecasts, then select the sources to include. Each selected source starts on a new page with its related information grouped together.

The separately selectable Emissions Report always covers all project sources, independently of the individual source-report selections. It follows the source reports and includes totals, battery comparisons and a titled cumulative emissions graph. Assumptions and warnings appear last. Selections are saved with the project and shared with Export Documents, so changing settings in either location changes the same configuration.

Standard-library generator and battery connections

In workspaces using the standard energy libraries, supplies assigned to a generator are treated as that generator's outputs. Schematics show the generator as their parent.

Adding one battery assumes it is connected directly to the generator and moves all assigned supplies to that battery's outputs. No physical generator output or charging cable is selected. The schematic shows a connection line between generator and battery without a presumed cable type or an empty cable-label bubble.

With multiple batteries, use Output assignments on Generators to choose which battery feeds each supply. Existing supplies stay on the first battery until reassigned. Removing a battery reassigns its supplies to the remaining default battery; removing the last battery returns them to generator outputs. For a single-phase battery connected to a three-phase generator, select its generator phase on the battery; its supplies inherit that phase.

System Overview, report overviews and schematics use the same hierarchy. Each battery still has an independent forecast and stored energy; shared generator capacity limits concurrent charging. The assumed internal connection does not establish physical cable, connector, bypass or protection suitability.

Separate battery branches

A generator group can contain multiple batteries, not a parallel battery bank. Standard-library workspaces use the assumed connections described above. Workspaces with custom energy libraries retain explicit charging outputs and downstream output definitions; each physical charging output can feed one battery branch.

Configured custom-library outputs are created as project power sources owned by that battery. Project custom batteries in those workspaces can use selected existing supplies. Single-phase battery output supplies inherit the charging feed's generator phase. Output assignments remain with their battery's generator group.

System Overview, live-report overviews and schematics show the generator, batteries and downstream supplies in signal-flow order. Moving and locking battery symbols in a schematic works like other symbols. Existing single-battery projects remain supported.

Each branch tracks its own stored energy, reserve, charging limits and downstream schedule. Generator-running intervals assume bypass supply and recharge; concurrent charging is reduced against shared generator kW, kVA and phase-current headroom and, where specified, the individual feed rating. Confirm physical bypass, switching and protective-device suitability separately. Standard-library charging permissions come from the battery's assigned source schedules; explicit charging feeds can also restrict charging in custom-library workspaces.

Forecast tables show each battery's starting, minimum and final charge and charged/delivered energy. The charge chart shows a separate line for each battery; summary charge percentages are capacity-weighted, not a shared pool of energy. Fuel counts the generator once; emissions include every battery's initial grid charge. Power Sources PDFs include the separate battery specifications and branch results. Custom-library branches with missing charging feeds or downstream assignments require configuration before forecasting.

Adding timeline blocks

Select a timeline block, then choose Add Block Before Selected or Add Block After Selected in its editing controls. The selected block is split to make room without extending the operating period; the new block becomes selected for editing and starts at 50% demand.

Blocks retain 15-minute timing increments. A block needs at least 30 minutes before it can be split; lengthen a shorter block using the neighbouring divider first. Existing load and charging settings remain attached to the original block.

Using Power Sources on mobile

Power Sources contains Power Sources, Operating Schedules, Generators, Energy Forecast and Emissions subtabs when Engineering is available. Swipe the subtab bar horizontally to reach the remaining sections on a narrow screen.

Individual sections use + to expand and − to collapse on mobile. The underlined Expand all and Collapse all controls keep their full labels. Compact generator and battery fields, forecast statistics and settings windows use the same mobile text sizing as the rest of the planner. Scroll wider charts and tables horizontally within their own panels.

Collapse states remain remembered. Mobile presentation does not change generator, battery, schedule or emissions calculations, desktop layouts or PDF layouts.

Assign power sources

Use the assignment dropdown beside a manual power source to choose its generator or generator pair. There is no limit to source assignments. A source belongs to one group at a time; moving it preserves its rating and distro links. Automatic downstream sources are excluded to avoid counting the same demand twice.

• Choose the generator phase for each single-phase source assigned to a three-phase group.
• Three-phase sources map L1/L2/L3 directly. Assigning them to a single-phase group produces a configuration warning.
• Remove a source assignment without deleting the source, or remove the whole group using the in-app confirmation.

Interpret the forecasts

Demand comes from Load & Demand, including downstream distribution, diversity, power factor and manual loads. The tab displays connected kW, design kW, planning kVA, planning power factor, phase currents and headroom. Real-power-only mode is flagged because it ignores non-unity load power factor.

• Engine kW and alternator kVA/current constraints are assessed separately.
• The planning kVA is the arithmetic sum used by the planner, not a vector reactive-power calculation.
• Current imbalance is maximum deviation from mean phase current. It is not voltage unbalance or a manufacturer unbalance limit.
• Source ratings remain unchanged: a generator forecast does not reconfigure breakers, cable limits or source protection.

Parallel and duty/standby operation

Parallel pairs default to proportional sharing of design kW, planning kVA and each phase current based on available kVA. Override generator 1's percentage if required. Available capacity and headroom respect the selected split and the first machine limit reached. Actual kW/kVAr sharing and synchronising controls must be verified separately.

Duty/standby groups count only the selected duty generator as operating capacity. The standby carries zero planned operating demand and is assessed separately against full takeover demand. Select the other machine as duty without moving sources.

For parallel pairs, the surviving-alone column assesses each machine against the whole planned demand. This is a steady-state N−1 check, not proof of successful load transfer or transient performance.

Scope and limitations

Generator, battery, source assignments and schedules are saved with the project. Workspace and account Engineering permissions still control access even though the features now sit within Power Sources.

Fuel and dispatch forecasts depend on supplied curves, efficiency and operating assumptions. Motor starting, harmonics, neutral heating, generator fault-current contribution, transient voltage/frequency behaviour, synchronisation and transfer equipment need separate manufacturer and engineering assessment.