United Rentals is expanding its battery, hybrid generator and solar range in Australia, backed by a ten-month case study with a Tier 1 contractor
On a large data centre construction site in Sydney, the diesel generators barely ran. Over ten months, a Tier 1 construction firm working with United Rentals cut generator runtime from 9,096 hours to 1,523, saving around A$210,000 in fuel and 159,894 kg of CO2.
That result is the core of United Rentals’ push to expand its hybrid power range in Australia, as contractors face high fuel prices and tighter sustainability targets.
The case study
The site needed power around the clock for a multi-container set-up of site offices, lunchrooms and ablutions, with peak demand reaching 400 kW per day. As the project grew, supply was extended to two more site compounds.
United Rentals supplied a combination of hybrid battery-diesel generators, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and solar platforms. Beyond fuel, the lower runtime cut scheduled services from 19 to three. Because the units need no power or water connection, they could be deployed quickly.
How the system works
“BESS stores power from the grid, solar or generators and delivers it when it’s needed,” said Keith Simpson, United Rentals director of mobile storage. “When you pair it with a generator, it automatically manages the power supply to help lower running costs and support a more reliable worksite power solution.”
The 20-foot solar platforms, or solar skids, deliver up to 2.5 kW each and integrate with the BESS and hybrid generators. With up to eight skids per BESS, a site can draw up to 20 kW of solar power.
United Rentals says that, compared with a diesel-only generator, pairing a hybrid generator with a BESS unit can reduce fuel use by up to 80%, emissions by up to 50% and onsite noise by up to 90%. These are maximum figures and will vary with site conditions, load and usage.
Where demand is heading
For contractors, the appeal is practical as much as environmental. Site welfare facilities draw power all day but rarely at full load, which is exactly where a generator wastes most fuel. Storage lets the engine run only when needed.
“From major infrastructure projects to regionally focused construction like telecommunications and solar farms, more and more companies are adopting a renewable energy ethos,” Simpson said. “Meeting ESG and compliance targets is key for businesses.”
United Rentals, the world’s largest equipment rental company, has 46 locations in Australia and 19 in New Zealand, and plans to extend its hybrid capability across more sectors.
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