Hybrid Generators: Constant Power with Lower Fuel Costs

Date: 01/12/25

The construction industry’s dependence on diesel-powered generators has been under strain for some time now. The combination of rising fuel costs, changing legislation banning red diesel on construction sites, and the tightening of emissions regulations has put real pressure on operators. 

What’s more, the endless uncertainties of the geopolitical stage mean that there could be an unexpected price spike at any time. No wonder so many companies are looking for more sustainable and more reliable sources of energy to reduce their operating costs and put them back in control.

This is where hybrid generators really come into their own, delivering constant, dependable, low-cost power with significantly lower emissions. In this article, we’ll take a look at the smart power solution of hybrid generators, how they work and how they can save you money on every job, delivering benefits for your company, your site, your team and your environment.

What is a Hybrid Generator? The Smart Power Solution Explained

Hybrid generators combine renewable energy with a backup generator to deliver the power you need in the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly way possible.

Think Hire hybrid generators, such as the industry-first Solartainer Versatile, which include state-of-the-art solar panels to harvest energy from the sun. This is stored in an efficient lithium-ion battery unit, so it is available for use whenever you need it, night or day. Whenever the battery charge drops below a set level, the backup generator kicks in to top it up.

Solartainer is the only adaptable and scalable solar hybrid power solution in the UK and is available to hire or buy to suit your budget and your long-term plans. 

How Hybrid Generators Drastically Reduce Fuel Costs and Emissions

With a hybrid generator, you no longer need to run your diesel generator all day and night, burning fuel and wasting money. This can cut diesel use by as much as 80% as well as significantly cut emissions such as CO2 and NOx.

This is no idle boast. Think Hire hybrid generators have been proven in the field, as you can see in our many case studies from delighted customers. For example, Cora Homes cut fuel use by 89% and operating costs by 58%, while Miller Homes achieved even greater savings, cutting fuel use by 96% and operating costs by 71%.

Additional benefits of hybrid generator hire

Hiring a hybrid generator system from Think Hire not only delivers big savings on fuel, it also provides a number of other benefits, including:

• Innovative energy management to save even more

Our industry-leading energy management system, Think Energy Panorama, can fine-tune your system to be even more efficient through AI-backed load sharing and peak shaving, as well as finding and fixing faults fast to reduce expensive downtime.

• Alternative fuels reduce for even lower emissions 

Think Hire hybrid generators also offer a number of alternative fuel options to cut out diesel use completely. These include HVO and LPG, and we have recently developed a cutting-edge glycerine-powered Solartainer.

• Relocatable, renewable energy

Hybrid generators from Think Hire can be deployed almost anywhere to supply power for almost any use. This includes off-grid sites with no external power, inner city sites with noise and emission restrictions, and evolving sites like housing developments, where you need relocatable renewable energy solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hybrid Generators

Q. How much fuel can a hybrid generator actually save? 

A. Think Hire clients have cut their diesel use by as much as 97% by using a hybrid generator. Most customers easily cut fuel costs by around 80%

Q. Are hybrid generators completely silent? 

A. Not completely. They operate silently when providing power from the lithium-ion battery; however, when the charge gets depleted, and the backup generator operates, this will make some noise. However, hybrid generators can be set for silent operation overnight in residential areas if the battery is fully charged during the day.

Q. Is a hybrid generator hire more expensive than a standard diesel generator? 

A. Yes and no. Hybrid generators cost a little more to hire, but when you factor in the reduced overall running costs, they deliver significant savings over the operating period. Since the back-up generator is running far less, the cost of maintenance, servicing and repairs is also greatly reduced.

Q. What size hybrid generator do I need for my project? 

A. Every project is different, and it depends on the equipment you are using. For example, site lighting requires constant, low-level power, while tower cranes need short bursts of high power. The team at Think Hire will work with you to design a hybrid generator system that meets both your peak and average power demands. Multiple Solartainer Versatile units can be linked to deliver whatever power you need, wherever you need it. 

Make the smart switch to low-cost hybrid generators

Why worry about the rising cost of diesel and the ever-changing demands of environmental rules, when you can have clean, dependable renewable energy from a bespoke hybrid generator system?

Talk to the team at Think Hire today and see how much you could save on operating costs, emissions and stress in running your site. 

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