Hybrid Battery Generators Power Tower Cranes In ULEZ Zones
Date: 08/08/25
From the famous Shard to 99 Bishopsgate, from the exciting new One Undershaft to One Blackfriars, there’s no denying that London is looking up when it comes to new developments. And here at Think Hire, we’ve got everything you need to power your tower building project and still meet the stringent environmental requirements of the ULEZ.
Reaching for the sky
According to the London Tall Buildings Survey 2025, published recently, applications to build towers over 20 storeys are up more than 23%, from 47 in 2024 to 58 this year. That means more construction companies will be trying to work out how to power their tower cranes without breaking the emissions rules by relying on diesel generators.
The challenge of a larger ULEZ
The Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was expanded in 2023 to cover all of the London boroughs. That means it will not just apply to the high-profile developments in the heart of the capital, but also the residential tower block construction in the suburbs.
While Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) is not directly subject to the rules of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone, NRMM equipment, including tower cranes, must still meet Euro Stage IV emissions rules, with generators used to power them required to meet Stage V standards. This means that the standard diesel generators, which are commonly used elsewhere to power tower cranes, can no longer be used during construction anywhere in Greater London.
This is where hybrid battery generators from Think Hire really come into their own.
Hybrid Battery Generators
Think Hire’s Solartainer Versatile hybrid battery generators combine emission-free solar power with the reassurance of a back-up generator, to provide power almost anywhere for almost any application. The back-up generators are designed to only kick in when the battery becomes depleted, instantly reducing your carbon emissions.
To power tower cranes within the ULEZ area, Think Hire goes one better with the new Solartainer Versatile Glycerine. These hybrid battery generators have specially adapted back-up units that run on glycerine. The emissions from these hybrid battery generators are as much as 100 times lower than the Stage V emissions limits within the ULEZ.
State of the art energy management
Power cranes have a widely varying power demand throughout the day, with a significant start-up load and additional peaks when lifting and manoeuvring. However, they don’t need this capacity all day and this often leads to sites over-specifying their power supplies, wasting both energy and money.
With Think Hire, you can take a more controlled, and cost-effective approach. All our hybrid battery generators come with state of the art energy management, including EMS distribution boards that control peak load provision and load shedding, to ensure you always have all the power you need, without wasting any power you don’t.
Battery Energy Storage Systems
For static power cranes, direct connection to your hybrid battery generator is all that you need for consistent, dependable power. However, where this is not possible, you can still access renewable energy for your site by using one of Think Hire’s battery energy storage systems to store and distribute power across your site.
Our BESS systems range from the SiteGrid X100 BESS, delivering a 102kWh capacity at 100kVA, to the mighty SiteGrid X500 BESS, which provides 564kWh at 500kVA. Every unit in the range can be charged from a range of sources, including renewables and the mains grid, making them ideal for ULEZ sites where diesel generators are not permitted.
Built for today, protecting tomorrow
To find out more about how Think Hire’s sustainable site equipment is built for the restrictions and regulations of today, to help us all to protect tomorrow, get in touch with our team now on 0330 133 2222.
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We have over 60 years combined experience in the design, manufacture, hire and sale of innovative products, with an environmentally considerate power supply.