Domestic solar is often supported by battery storage. The new chapter covers stationary secondary batteries, responding to the rapid growth of energy‑storage technologies and their increasing deployment both with and without solar PV systems. It sets out requirements relating to system design, power conversion equipment, bidirectional or hybrid inverters and the suitability of protective devices for two‑way energy flow, an essential consideration as battery systems are increasingly used for...

The work will be led by Rolls-Royce’s power systems division, branded MTU and based in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The MTU energy pack system installed at Falkirk’s Bankside project will have a capacity of 86MWh and an output of 43 MW—enough to power ten thousand homes, or a large industrial facility. It will be connected to the grid this year, and come online in 2027, ready to store energy during periods of high renewables availability, and feed it back into the grid during peak demand. The...

David Phipps, head of power generation at Watling JCB, Paul Ridley, MD at Dawsongroup Energy Solutions and Paul Mabey, major accounts manager at JCB. The brand new G60RS H genset delivers the same power, performance and efficiency as its diesel equivalent, but without carbon emissions at the point of use. The hydrogen combustion engine powering the system was developed as part of a £100m programme to develop alternatives to diesel. While many manufacturers have looked to hydrogen to power fuel...

The units are designed to be charged off of the grid, or by using their built in diesel generator. This can also be used to provide peak power when needed. The company also offers solar panels to keep batteries topped up. The new QHS integrated hybrid generators are, the manufacturer says, designed to enable rental fleets to deliver reliable, lower-emission power without adding operational complexity, by combining diesel engine and battery technology into a single, all-in-one canopy unit. They a...

The new Hitachi ZX135-7EB The new Hitachi ZX135-7EB model is designed to meet growing demand for emission-free operation, particularly in urban and residential environments where noise and exhaust emissions are regulated. According to Hitachi, the electric 13-tonner is not only quieter and cleaner than its diesel-powered ZX135-7 but also brings lower downtime, because of the reduced maintenance requirements. The excavator can operate in two modes: battery-powered operation using 198 kWh lithium-...

Atlas Copco’s B-Air 185-12 is battery operated Atlas Copco introduced the B-Air 185-12 in 2024 as the world’s first battery driven portable air compressor. Eighteen months later it now has a demonstration unit in the UK. The B-Air 185-12 features five to 12 bar of pressure, a stable flow rate of 5.4-3.7 m3/min and 55 kWh battery storage capacity. With power delivered from its onboard power pack, in operation a fully charged unit needs no fuel or  local power source to plug into. Atlas C...

The Komatsu PC26E-6 The Komatsu PC26E-6 (2.5-tonne) is coming to the European market to join the smaller PC20E (2-tonne) and larger PC33E-6 (3.5-tonne) in the Japanese company’s line-up of electric mini-excavators. The PC26E-6 has a 15.8 kW engine, an operating weight of 2,655 kg and a buck capacity of 0.035 to 0.085 cubic metres (35-85 litres). Emanuele Viel, product marketing manager at Komatsu Europe, said: “As demand for electric compact machinery continues to rise, particularly in urban...

Falco found that the Takeuchi TB20e ran for five days between charges After trialling a pair of all-electric Takeuchi TB20e mini-excavators, Falco Construction has ordered 15 of the machines, with delivery expected within the next few weeks. Falco teamed up with to UK Power Networks for a 16-month trial of two TB20e diggers. Feedback from site teams was that performance surpassed expectations, with batteries lasting five days without re-charging. And they are back to capacity within a few hours....

One of Murphy’s two new Sany SY215E battery-powered execavators Murphy has purchased two Chinese-made Sany SY215E excavators that are powered by cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate batteries, manufactured by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) According to Sany, the battery can last six to eight hours with a one-hour charging capability to 80%. Murphy’s plant and transport managing director, Brendan Sugrue, said: “At Murphy, we are dedicated to improving operational efficiency...

According to the Unite union, more than 30 construction workers have been suspended from the Johnson Matthey’s hydrogen gigafactory construction site in Hertfordshire for refusing to accept worsening conditions. More than 30 workers have been suspended from the Johnson Matthey’s hydrogen gigafactory construction site in Hertfordshire for refusing to accept worsening dangerous conditions. Johnson Matthey’s contractors, BGEN and Bilfinger, are also accused of disregarding mental as well as p...