Friday Roundup: JCB’s Hydrogen Breakthrough | Aggreko Invests in Solar

The last equipment rental week, from 4 to 10 July 2024, saw the first demonstration of JCB’s new concept hydrogen generator.

The G60RS H, unveiled at the Hillhead show in the UK last month, is powered by JCB’s hydrogen-fuel combustion engine, which is said to deliver the same power, performance and efficiency as its diesel counterpart, but with zero exhaust emissions.

The UK-based hardware manufacturer has announced that “Another important step” taken in the process of assessing hydrogen as the fuel of the future. Unveiled at the Hillhead show in the UK last month, the G60RS H is powered by JCB’s hydrogen combustion engine, which is said to deliver the same power, performance and efficiency as its diesel counterpart, but with zero emissions.

Also to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, Aggreko Energy Transition Solutions (ETS), a division of Aggreko that builds and operates large-scale solar and battery storage plants in the U.S., acquired US solar energy company Infiniti Energy from its private equity owner, Upper Bay Infrastructure Partners.

The transaction expands Aggreko’s solar operations and asset base, adding 12 MW of solar assets and 22 MW of construction-ready projects. It also brings Infiniti’s expertise in solar engineering, procurement and construction (EPC). Infiniti is headquartered in Hamilton, New Jersey, USA.

Another American rental company, Herc Rentals has acquired US general rental company Industrial Rental & Sales.

Founded in 2016 by JD Miles, the independent equipment rental company serves the residential, industrial and heavy civil construction markets in Alabama and surrounding states from its headquarters in Guntersville.

Meanwhile, there has been more consolidation in Europe as French company Kiloutou announces expansion into the German market with the opening of a new branch in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.

French company Kiloutou has announced its expansion into the German market, opening a new branch in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.

The Oberhausen-based branch specialises in the rental of various equipment, including scissor lifts, telescopic boom lifts and telescopic boom forklifts.

At the end, The European Rental Association (ERA) has published comprehensive sector guidelines for rental companies on reporting of carbon dioxide emissions by companies in Scopes 1, 2 and 3.

This document presents a unified framework for determining the carbon footprint of an equipment rental company, as compliance with the EU Directive on Corporate Sustainability Reporting is an unavoidable issue for large European companies and will soon become a matter of concern for small and medium-sized enterprises.