Standby Generators in Canada

Standby diesel generators are a top choice for industrial and commercial applications where reliability and efficiency are critical. Diesel engines are robust, durable, and capable of operating under heavy loads, making them ideal for harsh industrial environments and remote locations. 

Advantages of Standby Diesel Generators: 

• Cold Weather Performance: Diesel engines are available with a cold-weather kit designed to perform in freezing temperatures, making them well-suited for Canadian winters. 
• Fast Load Acceptance: Diesel standby generators boast excellent load acceptance, making them ideal for applications that demand immediate power for heavy-duty loads. 
• Reliability and Durability: Built to withstand demanding conditions, diesel generators are perfect for industrial use. 
• High Power Output: Capable of supporting heavy machinery, manufacturing equipment, and critical systems. 
• Accessibility: Diesel fuel is widely available across Canada, even in remote areas.
  

For businesses and factories connected to natural gas infrastructure, natural gas standby generators provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative. These generators deliver consistent performance with fewer emissions compared to diesel options. 

Advantages of Natural Gas Standby Generators: 

• Eco-Friendly Energy: Produces lower greenhouse gas emissions, supporting sustainability goals. 
• Uninterrupted Fuel Supply: Access to natural gas lines eliminates the need for on-site fuel storage and fuel delivery. 
• Cost-Effective Operation: Natural gas is often more affordable and stable in price compared to diesel or propane. 
• Quiet Operation: Reduced noise levels make these generators ideal for residential and urban areas.
  

When natural gas isn’t an option, propane-powered standby generators offer a versatile and efficient solution. Propane is clean-burning and easy to store, making it suitable for remote locations and off-grid applications. 

Advantages of Propane Standby Generators: 

• Cold Weather Reliability: Performs consistently in freezing temperatures, ensuring power during Canadian winters. 
• Clean Energy: Emits fewer pollutants, making it a greener choice compared to diesel. 
• Storage Flexibility: Propane can be stored on-site, providing a reliable fuel source in areas without pipelines. 
• Quiet and Efficient: These generators are quieter than diesel models, ideal for noise-sensitive environments.
  

For apartment building and condo owners, standby generators offer peace of mind by ensuring uninterrupted power during outages. These systems keep essential devices like heating, refrigeration, and lighting operational, providing safety and comfort. 

Key Benefits for Condos and Apartment Buildings: 

• Seamless power restoration during outages. 
• Preservation of perishable food and electronic devices. 
• Reliable operation of heating and cooling systems during extreme weather. 
• Built to CSA-C282 Standard for Life Safety Generators
  

In business, downtime equals lost revenue. Commercial standby generators ensure your operations remain uninterrupted, maintaining productivity and customer satisfaction during power failures.

Applications in Commercial Settings: 

• Retail Stores: Keep lighting, payment systems, and security equipment operational. 
• Offices: Maintain critical systems, including IT infrastructure and HVAC systems. 
• Restaurants: Ensure refrigeration, cooking, and sanitation systems continue to operate.
  

For large-scale operations, industrial standby generators provide the high-capacity power needed to support heavy equipment, production lines, and essential safety systems. 

Key Industries Using Industrial Standby Generators: 

• Manufacturing: Ensures continuous operation of machinery and production lines. 
• Construction and Mining: Powers heavy equipment, ventilation and site lighting in remote or off-grid locations. 
• Agriculture: Supports irrigation, processing, and storage systems critical for food production.
  

Hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities depend on standby power generators to safeguard life-saving equipment and ensure patient safety during power outages. 

Key Benefits for Healthcare Facilities: 

• Reliable backup power for medical devices, lighting, and HVAC systems. 
• Compliance with health and safety regulations. 
• Continuous power to ensure patient care is not disrupted. 
• Built to comply with CSA Z32 Standard for emergency power at health care facilities.
  

In the digital age, even a brief power outage can result in data loss and operational disruptions. Standby generators are essential for maintaining uninterrupted power in mission-critical data centres and IT facilities. 

Benefits for Data Centers: 

• Protects against costly downtime and data loss. 
• Provides stable energy to support high-performance servers and networking equipment. 
• Can maintain seamless power when combined with an uninterruptable power supply (UPS).
• Scales with growing energy demands in technology-driven industries.  
  

A standby generator is a power system that automatically provides electricity during a power outage. It’s connected to your building’s electrical system and starts within seconds of detecting a power failure, ensuring seamless operation of essential systems like HVAC, lighting, and appliances. Standby generators typically run on natural gas, diesel or propane.

Standby generators for industrial and commercial use come in a wide range of power outputs to meet diverse energy needs. These generators typically range from 10 kW for smaller commercial facilities to over 2,000 kW for large-scale industrial and institutional operations. The appropriate power output depends on the size of the facility, the type of equipment being powered, and the load requirements during outages.

Standby generators, which are critical for providing backup power during outages, require regular maintenance to ensure they operate reliably when needed. You should always stick to the generator manufacturer’s service schedule to maximize reliability, performance, and avoid warranty issues. Common requirements for for industrial and commercial standby generators include: 

• Basic Maintenance: Oil and filter changes, along with inspections of coolant levels, air filters, and battery systems, should be performed every 200 to 400 operating hours or at least once annually if the generator is used infrequently.
• Comprehensive Servicing: More detailed maintenance, including testing fuel systems, cleaning connections, and conducting load tests, is typically recommended every 1,000 to 2,000 hours of operation or once a year. 
• Periodic Testing: Standby generators should also undergo regular exercise runs (weekly or bi-weekly) to ensure they are ready for immediate operation during an outage.

Following these intervals helps prevent unexpected failures, ensures optimal performance, and extends the life of the generator.

T&T Power Group provides comprehensive maintenance services for standby generators to keep them in peak condition. These services include commissioning, preventative maintenance, emergency repairs, remote monitoring, and fleet management. Routine maintenance is crucial for standby generators to ensure they perform reliably when needed. Contact T&T Power Group for detailed maintenance support.  

While standby generators are reliable, they do have a few drawbacks: 

• High upfront cost: Installation and equipment can be expensive compared to portable generators. 
• Fuel dependency: Natural gas standby generators require access to a gas line, and diesel models need regular refueling. 
• Maintenance: Regular servicing is required to keep the generator in working condition, including oil changes, filter replacements, and testing. 
• Limited portability: Standby generators are fixed in place and cannot be easily moved or repurposed for other locations.
  

Standby generators, which are critical for providing backup power during outages, require regular maintenance to ensure they operate reliably when needed. You should always stick to the generator manufacturer’s service schedule to maximize reliability, performance, and avoid warranty issues. Common requirements for for industrial and commercial standby generators include: 

• Basic Maintenance: Oil and filter changes, along with inspections of coolant levels, air filters, and battery systems, should be performed every 200 to 400 operating hours or at least once annually if the generator is used infrequently. 
• Comprehensive Servicing: More detailed maintenance, including testing fuel systems, cleaning connections, and conducting load tests, is typically recommended every 1,000 to 2,000 hours of operation or once a year. 
• Periodic Testing: Standby generators should also undergo regular exercise runs (weekly or bi-weekly) to ensure they are ready for immediate operation during an outage.

Following these intervals helps prevent unexpected failures, ensures optimal performance, and extends the life of the generator. 

T&T Power Group provides comprehensive maintenance services for standby generators to keep them in peak condition. These services include commissioning, preventative maintenance, emergency repairs, remote monitoring, and fleet management. Routine maintenance is crucial for standby generators to ensure they perform reliably when needed. Contact T&T Power Group for detailed maintenance support.  

Absolutely. Standby generators are designed for reliable performance in extreme Canadian winter conditions. Diesel standby generators, in particular, are well-suited for cold climates and can be equipped with optional cold-weather kits to enhance reliability. Propane and natural gas generators are also effective, with propane excelling in remote and cold environments due to its excellent cold-weather performance and fuel storage capabilities.  

Yes! T&T Power Group can assess your facility’s specific power backup needs and recommend the most suitable standby generator for optimal performance and cost-effectiveness. Their team of experts will consider factors such as your power requirements, environmental conditions, and budget to provide a tailored solution. Contact T&T Power Group for professional assistance and support.

A backup generator is a general term for any generator used to provide power during outages, which can include portable models. 

A standby generator, however, is a specific type of backup generator that is permanently installed and automatically turns on when there’s a power failure. Standby generators are more reliable and convenient but are typically more expensive than portable backup generators.

Standby generators offer several benefits, including: 

• Automatic Power Restoration: They kick in automatically during a power outage, ensuring uninterrupted operation of essential systems. 
• Reliable Fuel Source: Most run on natural gas or propane, which are readily available and eliminate the need for manual refueling. 
• High Power Output: Standby generators can power a building, including high-demand systems like HVAC, refrigerators, and industrial equipment. 
• Convenience: Unlike portable generators, there’s no need to set them up or manually start them during an outage. 
• Durability: Designed for long-term use, they are built to withstand harsh weather and heavy loads.  

The size of the generator you need depends on your building's total power requirements, including essential systems like lighting, HVAC, and critical equipment. A load assessment by a qualified professional is recommended to determine the right generator size, typically ranging from 50kW to 500kW or more for commercial buildings.

The best generator for commercial use depends on your business's specific needs, including power requirements, fuel availability, and environmental conditions. Diesel generators are often preferred for their durability and efficiency in heavy-duty applications, while natural gas generators provide a cleaner and quieter option for areas with easy access to a gas supply. Key factors to consider include the generator's power output, fuel efficiency, reliability, noise levels, and ease of maintenance. A consultation with a power solutions expert can help you determine the ideal generator for your commercial application.