Back

Powering up: Hybrid solutions drive worksite cost savings

United Rentals Australia

Key Facts:

• United Rentals, the world's largest equipment hire company, is expanding its hybrid power solutions in Australia, including hybrid battery-diesel generators, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and solar platforms, to meet growing demand for renewable worksite energy.
• Combining a hybrid generator with a BESS unit can reduce fuel use by up to 80%, cut emissions by up to 50%, and reduce onsite noise by up to 90% compared to diesel-only generators.
• In a real-world case study, United Rentals partnered with a Tier 1 construction firm on a Sydney data centre project, reducing diesel generator runtime from 9,096 hours to 1,523 hours over 10 months, saving approximately $210,000 in fuel costs and reducing CO2 emissions by 159,894kg.
• The hybrid energy solutions also reduced maintenance requirements, with scheduled services dropping from 19 to just three, and enabled rapid deployment with no need for power or water connections.
• United Rentals is expanding its capabilities to serve sectors including major infrastructure, telecommunications, and solar farms, helping businesses meet ESG targets, government mandates, and investor expectations while reducing their carbon footprint.

United Rentals, the world’s largest equipment hire company by fleet size, is expanding its range of hybrid power solutions in Australia to meet demand as customers increasingly turn to renewable energy to power worksites.

“With ongoing fuel price challenges and the need to meet sustainability targets, businesses are looking for smarter ways to run sites without compromising reliability,” said Keith Simpson, United Rentals Director of Mobile Storage.  

Key United Rentals products include hybrid battery-diesel generators, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and 20-foot solar platforms that work together to power container offices, portable buildings, and industrial equipment on worksites.

“These products can help customers work towards their decarbonisation goals while also reducing running costs.”

Operational and environmental benefits

Mr Simpson said the BESS units were changing how contractors and worksites generate and use power, with the energy storage system helping to reduce fuel and electricity consumption, cut operating costs, and minimise greenhouse gas emissions.

“BESS stores power from the grid, solar or generators and delivers it when it's needed. 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.”

Compared to a diesel-only generator, combining a hybrid generator with a BESS unit can help to:*

• Reduce fuel use by up to 80%
• Cut emissions by up to 50%
• Reduce onsite noise by up to 90% for more comfortable environments
• *Figures are maximum results based on [insert source, e.g. manufacturer testing/United Rentals site data] and will vary depending on site conditions, load and usage.

The portable 20-foot solar platforms – also known as solar skids – integrate with BESS and hybrid generator systems to deliver up to 2.5 kW of power.

“With up to eight skids per BESS, that provides up to 20 kW of solar power. So they help to achieve many key worksite goals, from cutting running time and fuel consumption to reducing site noise.”

Powering smarter

In Sydney, United Rentals partnered with a Tier 1 Construction Firm to provide an alternative to traditional diesel power on a large data centre construction site. The goal was to reduce fuel consumption and engine running time while ensuring the site stayed operational 24/7.

The company used United Rentals’ hybrid energy range to power a multiple-container worksite setup, including site offices, lunchrooms, and ablutions with peak power demand reaching 400kW per day. As the project progressed, the scope expanded to include power supply to two additional site compounds.

Across a 10-month period, diesel generator runtime was cut from 9,096 hours to just 1,523 hours, resulting in significant fuel savings of approximately $210,000 and delivering a CO2 reduction of 159,894kg.

Additional savings were made with the reduced runtime lowering service and maintenance requirements from 19 scheduled services to just three.

“As well as cost savings, harnessing renewable energy with solar-powered systems and hybrid technology also helps companies to accelerate project timelines by enabling rapid deployment with no need for power or water connections,” said Mr Simpson.

Meeting demand, positioning for the future

As the hire industry continues to evolve, United Rentals is expanding its capability to meet current customer demand and support a growing range of sectors in the future.

“From major infrastructure projects to regionally focused construction like telecommunications and solar farms, more and more companies are adopting a renewable energy ethos,” said Mr Simpson.

“Meeting ESG and compliance targets is key for businesses, and ensuring these goals align with government mandates and investor expectations is essential.”

“Reducing emissions contributes to cleaner air and a healthier environment for our communities. That’s why United Rentals is working to reduce our carbon footprint, and we’re helping our customers do the same.”

ENDS

About us:

United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world. The company has an integrated network of 1,658 rental locations in North America, 44 in Europe, 46 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand. In North America, the company operates in 49 states and every Canadian province. The company’s approximately 27,900 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers a fleet of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $22.59 billion USD. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the Barron’s 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index® and is headquartered in Stamford, Conn. Additional information about United Rentals is available at unitedrentals.com.

Contact details:

Robert Halsey, Vice President, Marketing

O: +1 203-274-4516 | E: [email protected]