Himoinsa develops energy transition products for rental

Spain’s Himoinsa is promoting gas powered generators and battery storage units to help rental companies reduce carbon emissions and manage the energy transition.

At an event near Murcia in southern Spain last week – attended by more than 70 rental company representatives – the company showcased LPG powered gas sets and battery storage units alongside its new Stage V genset range and lighting towers.

Himoinsa’s 60 kWh battery storage unit on show at the company’s rental meeting in May 2022.

The company already has 1000 gas powered gensets from 20 to 1000 kVA in rental applications around the world – mainly in the USA – but it thinks the technology has potential in Europe as well.

“Diesel is no longer the only possibility”, said Manuel Aguila, Himoinsa’s Global Gas Unit Head, “and those with a diesel-only fleet there will have difficulty winning tenders.”

He said gas generators had been more expensive than diesel in the past but that there is little difference now given the cost of Stage V compliance.

The company recognises that rental companies will need a reliable sourse of LPG and to that end has created a partnership with gas distributor Repsol to cover the Spanish and Portuguese markets, as well as parts of south west France. In the UK its LPG distribution partner will be Flogas. Other partnerships will follow in Europe.

The company will also expand its range of battery storage units. It already has a 60 kWH model and will introduce 500 kWh, 1000 kWh and 2000 kWh units in the coming years, with sets of up to 1 MWh likely to be of most interest to the rental sector.

“There is a need to increase the power of the battery storage sets”, said Miguel Angel Ruiz, Global Engineering and development Head; “Our portfolio will be based on four platforms. The next one will be 500 kWh, then 1 MWh and 2 MWh.”

A Himoinsa LPG genset with external gas tank in the background.

Francisco Gracia, President and CEO of Himoinsa, told International Rental News that investment in new technologies was essential for rental companies as they manage the shift to lower carbon emissions; “For me, the battery sets are going to create a new business line for rental companies, in combination with generators.

“When companies talk about zero emissions, it’s easy to say, but difficult and complicated to do. Diesel technology can still be improved, with Stage V technology, but in combination with battery technology you can reduce the carbon footprint much more. In the end, for me, battery storage is an important step.”

Gracia also said there is not enough focus on gas powered sets as a transition technology; “People are talking about hydrogen, but what about gas?... People don’t talk about gas for rental applications.

“So we need to inform people that LPG gas is a technology that is applicable in the market. They need to get the confidence to move into this technology.”

Gracia also highlighted the benefits that the business alliance with Yanmar is bringing the company. Yanamar acquired a majority stake in Himoinsa in 2015, and the company is now part of the US$1 billion revenue Yanmar Energy System division.

A full report and interview with Gracia will be published in the July-August issue of IRN.