Simplifying generator set rental

Renting a holiday cottage in the countryside is a great way to escape for couple of weeks — there is no need to find, buy and maintain a second holiday home. Similarly, renting a generator set, rather than buying it outright, provides the site with energy required for successful operation, without the need to invest in equipment that may not achieve a good return on investment. Here Barry Hughes, Applications Manager at Energyst UK & Ireland, shares some factors to consider when renting a genset.

Construction sites have a large range of power requirements, depending on the site’s size, number of employees and how many pieces of equipment require electricity. If the site is in a remote location or has difficulty accessing the grid, it may require additional electricity from a different source, such as a genset, to subsidise or fully power the site. In these circumstances, you have two choices, buy the genset outright or contact a rental company to hire a solution. When doing so, there are several considerations to weigh up to give your project the best chance of success.

Business considerations 

The project term will define the time a genset is needed; for short term projects, there is usually an obvious business case for a rental package to avoid a large initial investment. However, many long-term projects can also benefit from rental solutions, as the partner can offer flexibility, services and management tools that you would not get from purchasing alone. You may also be able to negotiate a discount from a rental provider for a longer period of rental, which can provide better return on investment for the overall project. 

For example, as the construction project progresses, power requirements may change. With a rental agreement you can easily swap the existing genset with a larger or smaller version. Rental agreements allow more flexibility and scalability throughout a project and allow you to easily meet the changing requirements of your customers.  

Purchasing a genset comes with additional aftermarket support costs, such as servicing and monitoring its condition to prevent clogged filters and reduced efficiency. By renting a genset, you can leave the maintenance schedule to the providers. When the genset is due a service, the rental business can notify you to agree a service window. Engineers will visit the site to carry out safety checks and servicing, with no unexpected downtime or disruption to business. 

Practical considerations

Once you have determined that rental is for you, there are four main points to consider before contacting a genset rental company. 

Produce a load profile that explains your power usage at different times and identify a pattern. If you are not able to determine a load profile or fully assess your site conditions in-house, you can contact a full-service turnkey provider that can complete a site survey and create a custom solution for you.

Evaluate the proposed space available on site for your generator footprint. A small footprint can restrict the size and capacity of the generator you are able to rent and consequently the amount of power that is supplied. 

Consider the environmental impact to your business. Diesel engines emit several polluting gases and matter, so if you are more environmentally minded or have made commitments to becoming carbon neutral, you may wish to consider alternative fuels, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). HVO is a direct ‘drop-in’ replacement for diesel that is odourless when burnt, 100 per cent renewable, results in a large decrease in emissions and does not cause any risk if it is spilt.

Finally, you should consider how you want your fuel refilled. A generator, for example could use around 300 litres of fuel an hour, so can need daily refills. Practically managing this refuelling process can seem daunting, but there are some solutions to consider. You can rent an external fuel tank to avoid the constant refills and possible spillages, which will improve the overall practicality and reduce the risk to safety that diesel spillages and regular refuelling can cause. Alternatively, rental companies may offer fuel management programmes, so you do not have to worry about refilling or sourcing the fuel yourself.

Researching for the perfect holiday rental is always an enjoyable task and, with the right genset rental provider, so is finding a genset to suit your requirements. From a single unit to a multi-megawatt power application, Energyst can find a solution for you. To get more advice about renting gensets, visit our website today www.finning.com/Energyst.