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Since its invention, the diesel engine has been re-invented and developed vastly to improve on its performance and efficiency, while simultaneously increasing its range of applications. One of its most common uses today is in diesel generators used to provide backup or standby power to facilities and systems in case of power failure. Generators can be power source for the establishments and machineries in remote areas where grid supply does not reach or the grid is unable to supply the required power continuously. 

Construction operations may take place in a location that is remote or that is not convenient to plugging into reliable power. Diesel generators are commonly used to power construction equipment and other site facilities. Construction projects often stall because of interrupted power supply or lack of power supply in some construction sites. Constant power interruptions can result in delayed project completion time, as well as costly expenses because of being behind schedule. Diesel generators provides the much needed uninterrupted power to carry out the construction activities 24/7.

Construction sites utilize a variety of equipment needed to carry out different types of construction activities. For instance, road construction requires a set of equipment which differs from that required for building construction. Typically, construction equipment such as excavators, backhoes, bulldozers and road rollers are self-powered and don't need generators. However, there are other machinery and tools that require motive power. Generators supply this motive power. Some of the machinery and tools required at a construction site include crushing plants, concrete plants, asphalt plants, air compressors, hand drills, chain saws, battery chargers, circular saws, electric welders etc. Each of these has a power requirement that is different from one another.

Another important requirement at construction sites is lighting. Often, contractors undertake construction work during night time and sufficient light is a necessity. Further, contractors carry out a number of administrative tasks through computers, laptops and mobiles. Construction sites often provide temporary accommodation to working staff which needs electric energy to power various appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, fans and kitchen appliances. Thus dedicated generators are required to supply electricity to these applications.

Construction activities take place in various forms from small bridges, small houses, small commercial shops and rural roads to large bridges, large bungalows, large commercial establishments including malls and national highways. Various types of industries such as housing, mining, road construction, railways and metro rail, building construction, oil and gas, shipping, waterways and aviation undertake various types of construction activities unique to those industries. Each type of activity requires specific power and there are all kinds of generators available in the market to suit any requirement in the building & construction industry.

There are high powered generators that provide huge amounts of power required at large construction sites. For instance, material handling equipment, crushers, asphalt and concrete mixing plants are all part of construction activities requiring a large amount of power. For such kind of applications, generator manufacturers offer heavy duty generators that can provide power output in the range of 200 kW to 2500 kW. Medium powered generators that can produce power in the range of 5 kW to 200 kW are required for smaller construction activities such as building single houses, small capacity mixing plants, low rise apartments, temporary construction jobs and repair works. Some medium to small sized construction sites would require electric equipment and tools such as circular saws, concrete mixers, tile cutters, vibrators, compressors and temporary lifts or elevators. Medium powered generators can provide the required power at such construction sites. Portable generators, with wheels for mobility, able to produce various power levels, depending on the size of the generator are great for large construction sites where a single large generator can't reach all the construction areas. They can be easily moved from one work area to another work area within the same construction site.

Diesel generators are widely used in mining operations all over the world. They provide over 70% of all the power needed in mining operations by heavy duty equipment such as excavating machinery, drillers, conveyor belts and cranes. Whether its gas, coal, iron, or precious metals being mined, diesel generators are always the number one option because they are portable and can be easily used in far-fetched mining zones with extreme conditions. Diesel's low volatility rate also makes it a safer option than gasoline in mining fields. Diesel generators are known to provide the ultimate muscle, durability, and capacity in mining operations, making them the perfect power source and backup/standby option for all the heavy duty activities in mining fields.

Diesel powered generators are also an integral part of oil and gas industry as they are used to provide power for all activities in the oil and gas fields including drilling, pumping and loading. In most cases oil and gas exploration takes place in remote locations with tough conditions. Without on-site diesel generators, working in these areas would be quite impossible because they are mostly far away from power grids. Modern drilling machines also require powerful, efficient, and reliable generators on site whenever they are operating; and only diesel generators fit this bill.

Although the purpose of the power generator has remained unchanged, its features have improved over the years. The rated output, maximum output, and runtime of generators have improved allowing for greater efficiency. Rated output refers to the wattage a generator is able to produce continuously, while maximum output refers to the wattage a generator is able to produce for a brief time at full power. Runtime refers to the amount of time the generator will run before it needs to be refuelled. Generators are now able to meet greater load requirements throughout a typical workday.

The generators market has changed significantly over the years. Today, customers get multiple fuel option in generators, which are budget-friendly. While conventional generators continue to have amazing sales, inverter generators, solar power generators are also catching up, especially in the construction market.

Other innovations that have come in are related to the increasing “Power Density” of the generator sets. “Power Density” can be loosely defined as the KVA produced per litre of engine capacity. From a user point of view, this would mean that they can generate the same amount of power with a much smaller engine than before.

Another feature in power generators which is gaining momentum is environmental friendliness and compliance. Thanks to design innovations and energy efficiency improvements, generators now consume much less fuel than was possible a few years ago.

Generator customization and control features are becoming more prevalent. User can customize a generator set that is specifically suited to his load requirements, thus avoiding wastage and additional costs. Generators can be fitted with Automatic Voltage Regulators (AVR) and Automatic Idle Control for specific use cases such as cold-weather climate. Control systems can offer the ability to remotely start and program the machine, display warnings, for instance, low fuel and other performance issues, in addition to delivering a broad range of analysis data. This helps to better utilize the efficiency of the generator while providing a valuable overview of how it is being used.