IN Brief:
- Finning Power Rental has introduced the Cat XES120 battery energy storage system to its UK hire fleet.
- The XES120 is rated at 72 kW output with 127.9 kWh stored energy, designed for standalone or hybrid operation.
- Finning has also added new EU Stage V generator sets and expanded training for battery and hybrid power support.
Finning Power Rental has expanded its UK temporary power offer by adding its first battery energy storage systems (BESS) to its hire fleet, alongside new Caterpillar EU Stage V diesel generator sets. The move brings Cat-branded battery storage into a rental package designed to run as a standalone supply or as a hybrid system paired with conventional generation.
At the centre of the rollout is the Cat XES120 battery energy storage system. Finning states the unit provides 72 kW output with 127.9 kWh of stored energy and can be deployed either as a standalone power source or to smooth load and reduce runtime when coupled to a diesel generator. The company has also specified remote monitoring and control functionality, intended to allow adjustments to runtime schedules, voltage parameters, and alarm management without requiring on-site intervention for every change.
Cheryl Griffith, technical operations manager at Finning Power Rental, said: “This investment gives our customers access to the very latest low-emission technology.” The company has positioned the BESS addition as part of a broader portfolio shift towards lower-emission temporary power across construction and infrastructure work, with battery storage used either to displace generator hours or to reduce generator sizing and cycling in hybrid configurations.
Alongside the battery systems, Finning has added four new Cat EU Stage V diesel generator sets to its rental fleet, with capacities ranging from 20 kVA to 550 kVA. The company lists the XQP20, XQP200, XQP310, and XQP550 models, using Cat engines including the C2.2, C7.1, C9.3, and C18. Finning also notes the generator range is compatible with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel.
The fleet change is being supported with internal capability upgrades. Finning says apprentices and engineers across the business are undergoing training covering battery system safety and hybrid power operation, alongside new tooling and certification requirements intended to support BESS deployment and maintenance at scale.
The company has also linked the power transition to a leadership change, noting the appointment of Mark Albiston as director of electric power and engineering, with responsibility for Finning Power Rental. The additional role focus is intended to support the integration of battery and hybrid systems into a fleet that has historically been generator-led, with battery storage now becoming part of standard temporary power specifications for a growing share of projects.
