Change of strategy for MHM Group

The company launched its MHM Eco’ brand in 2022.

UK-based lighting and generator specialist MHM Group is to undergo a change of strategy aimed at creating more sustainable sites, its director Josh Llewellyn has told IRN. 

Up until now the company has described itself as a traditional diesel lighting tower and power generation specialist, but moving forward it will focus on becoming a “complete hybrid-solar specialist,” Llewellyn said. 

Llewellyn said the focus on offering customers more sustainable units is also linked to its recent sale of Genquip to Groundhog which will enable MHM management to “focus on an emerging marketplace.”

He said, “It gives myself and the MHM and GAIA management teams more focus on what is important, sustainability, net zero and to drive the energy management and hybrid side more to the forefront.”

The move is the latest the company has made in a bid to create more sustainable construction sites, having first moved into solar-hybrid and battery power in 2013.

It invested more than £5 million (€5.5 million) in sustainable power generation for the rental industry in the second half of 2018.

Meanwhile, its diesel machinery has been compatible with Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel since 2021.

More recently, the company launched the ‘MHM Eco’ brand as part of a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030 and has added a number of low emission products to its offering in recent years.

At the same time, the company is strengthening its strategic alliance with renewable energy specialist GAIA Group, a company of which Llewellyn is also a director.

The company, founded in 2010 and led by managing director Jamie Morris, designs off-grid power supply systems for hire.

Going forward, MHM is to utilise the AI-enabled Automate energy management system (EMS) software from GAIA on MHM solar and hybrid generators, enabling users to streamline power consumption and reduce site emissions.

Speaking to IRN, Morris said GAIA has around 160 sites around the UK using the system, as well as 20 in Australia. At the time of writing, the company estimates that sites are reporting a minimum of 50% savings on energy.

This, he said, means that a sites carbon footprint is reduced and there are significant savings on diesel consumption. 

He said, “From a business perspective, we are offering the customer a freee trial, free installation and a guarenteed 50% saving. If they don’t 50% saving, we don’t charge them. 

As well as Automate, GAIA also offers Solatainer, a PV solar panel that uses integrated renewable power and storage, alongside a diesel-power back-up.

It also offers Solacube, a solar panel for off grid power and Solawedge inflatable mounting sysem that allows rapid deployment across unprepared land or water.