Date: 19/11/25

Think Hire Powers George Leslie Innovation Day. Sustainably.

100% Renewable, Zero Generator Use.

When George Leslie set out to host their Innovation Day on 21 August, they wanted the event to reflect their sustainability ambitions, powered entirely by clean energy.
Traditionally, temporary events like this rely on diesel generators, but this time they chose a different path. That’s where Think Hire came in as a sustainable energy supplier.

Delivering a 100% Sustainable Energy Event

Arriving first on site, our team deployed three fully charged Solartainer Versatile solar hybrid generators, strategically positioned to power event facilities and exhibits.

 

 
From laptops, TVs, and catering outlets to live demonstrations, every watt of energy used on the day came from solar and battery power, with zero generator runtime.

To support additional demonstrations, we provided an X45 Hybrid Battery Generator System, part of our SiteGrid battery range. This unit supplied power directly from its battery storage, with no generator required.

All systems were monitored live through the Think Energy Panorama, powered by Galooli, giving both real-time visibility of energy generation and consumption.

Technical Performance

Despite overcast skies, the system performed above expectations, proving that off-grid renewable power is efficient and reliable for large-scale events.

Out of 52.6 kWh consumed during the day:

• 29.7 kWh (56.5%) came directly from solar generation
• 22.9 kWh (43.5%) was supplied from battery storage

That’s a 100% renewable power supply, zero fossil fuel use, and zero emissions.
To put it in context, that’s the equivalent of powering a UK home for an entire week.

In Action

Across the site, Think Hire’s systems supported:

• Cube inflation and equipment demos powered entirely from solar and batteries
• Holemaster’s Brokk robotic demolition unit and Osso’s control panels powered by the SiteGrid X45
• All AV, catering, and exhibit power drawn directly from Solartainer units

    

Logistically, the system was deployed in less than two hours and operated seamlessly throughout the event without refuelling, noise, or emissions. This shows how clean energy technology simplifies site setup and operation.

Learning for the Future

This collaboration demonstrated that even temporary, high-demand events can run fully on sustainable energy without compromising reliability. Having been validated across hundreds of deployments, the technology continues to demonstrate reductions in emissions, noise, and operating costs. The results from this one-day event reaffirmed its reliability under varied conditions and its ability to deliver immediate performance benefits.
The data gathered through Think Energy Panorama provided detailed insight into energy generation, storage, and usage. It confirmed zero fuel use, consistent system performance under variable loads, and strong solar contribution even in cloudy conditions.

These results offer valuable guidance for optimising renewable power at future construction sites, community events, and other off-grid applications.

“We wanted Innovation Day to reflect our ambition for the construction industry, to be forward-thinking and environmentally responsible. Working with Think Hire showed that it’s completely possible to run a complex event on clean energy alone.”
– Gavin Pick, Sustainability and Innovation Manager, George Leslie

“Collaborating with George Leslie for their Innovation Day was a natural alignment for Think Hire in Scotland. It was a privilege to work closely with Gavin and the wider George Leslie team to help deliver a truly unique event focused on advancing product innovation. The occasion provided an excellent platform to demonstrate the tangible benefits of integrating Think Hire’s hybrid power systems, which can significantly enhance project performance. We were also pleased to establish several valuable new connections, some of whom have since adopted our systems on projects across Scotland.”

– Stephen McEwan, Country Manager, Scotland, Think Hire

Innovation Day was about new viable construction technologies and what is already possible today.
By replacing traditional generators with renewable hybrid power systems, Think Hire and George Leslie proved that clean, off-grid energy is ready for real-world use today.

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