Friday Roundup: JCB’s hydrogen breakthrough | Aggreko buys into solar | Latest acquisitions

The past week in equipment rental, July 4-10, 2024, saw the first showing of JCB’s new concept hydrogen generator. 

Shown at the Hillhead show in the UK last month, the G60RS H is powered by a JCB hydrogen combustion engine that is said to deliver the same power, performance and efficiency as its diesel equivalent but with zero-emissions.

The UK-based equipment manufacturer announced it has taken “another major step” in the process of evaluating hydrogen as a fuel of the future. Shown at the Hillhead show in the UK last month, the G60RS H is powered by a JCB hydrogen combustion engine that is said to deliver the same power, performance and efficiency as its diesel equivalent but with zero-emissions.

Also in the interest of reducing carbon emissions, Aggreko Energy Transition Solutions (ETS), the division of Aggreko which builds and operates large-scale solar and battery storage power facilities in the US, has acquired US solar power company Infiniti Energy from its private equity owner, Upper Bay Infrastructure Partners. 

The deal expands Aggreko’s solar power business 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 based in Hamilton, New Jersey, US.

Another US-based rental firm, Herc Rentals has acquired US-based general rental company Industrial Rental & Sales. 

Founded in 2016 by J.D Miles, the independent rental company serves the residential building, industrial construction and heavy civil construction sectors in Alabama and the surrounding states from its headquarters in Guntersville.

Meanwhile, more consolidation took place in Europe as France-based Kiloutou announced its expansion into Germany with the opening of a new branch in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.

France-based Kiloutou announced its expansion into Germany with the opening of a new branch in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.

Situated in the city of Oberhausen, the branch specializes in the rental of a variety of equipment, including scissor lifts, telescopic work platforms and telescopic forklifts.

Finally, the European Rental Association (ERA) has released comprehensive sectoral guidance for rental companies on reporting corporate carbon emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3.

This document provides a standardized framework for establishing an equipment rental company’s carbon footprint as compliance with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive is imminent for large European firms and will soon be a focus for small and medium-sized enterprises as well.