United Rentals Adds HiPower EHR Solar Battery Generators to North American Fleet
United Rentals, the world's largest equipment rental company, today announced an agreement to purchase the new HiPower EHR Solar Battery Generator for its rental fleet. United Rentals is the first equipment rental company to offer the mobile micro grid solution that boosts project sustainability by pairing a battery energy storage system with power provided by integrated photovoltaic solar panels and a propane generator.
Developed by HiPower in collaboration with United Rentals, the EHR Solar Battery Generator is a resilient, portable energy storage and distribution system that delivers reliable power while lowering noise levels and emissions on jobsites.
A self-contained microgrid that relies on the sun
A 5.0 kW peak solar array sits atop the unit and features extendable panels. The array captures the sun's energy and converts it to electric power, which is stored in the system's batteries. The unit also has a 45kVA generator that provides power running on propane, a cleaner fuel source than traditional diesel.
The hybrid power solution minimizes generator run time by storing energy in the battery system and running on battery power whenever possible. The smart grid controller turns on the generator when the batteries run low because of reduced sunlight or increased demand. Once sufficient battery charge is reached through sunlight and/or generator, the controller turns the generator off.
"The EHR Solar Battery Generator is a game-changer for companies that want to go to the next level of sustainability with higher energy efficiency to reduce jobsite emissions and fuel use," said Larry Worthington, vice president, PHVAC Region, United Rentals. "The system can reduce emissions and noise levels to zero, making it an ideal fit for various applications, including urban, noise-sensitive environments."
Addressing a wide range of applications
This EHR Solar Battery Generator can be mounted on a 20-by-8-foot trailer or a skid for transport to and from jobsites. The microgrid has many jobsite applications, including a charging station for equipment or electric tools and trucks. It can also power temporary office spaces such as container offices, mobile office trailers, guard shacks, restroom trailers and trailer complexes. For small to midsize jobsites, the generator could potentially serve as the single source of power, depending on load requirements.
"As part of its commitment to providing a more electric equipment rental fleet, United Rentals is leading the way in offering on-site, sustainable charging stations to ensure customers can easily and efficiently recharge electric equipment," said Rafael Acosta – president of HiPower. "They were an instrumental partner in helping us develop the EHR Solar Battery Generator, a cutting-edge microgrid system that has the potential to revolutionize power generation and energy management."
United Rentals has a range of low and zero emission solutions. Learn more on the Sustainability at United Rentals webpage. Additional information about United Rentals is available at unitedrentals.com.
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.