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 cells, as a means to store electric power, JCB is one of very few to use the potentially green fuel in internal combustion.

The hydrogen generator works in tandem with JCB’s three-phase Powerpack to create on-site microgrids utilising both battery-electric and hydrogen combustion technology.

The system is designed, JCB says, for real worksite demands. With energy supplied to the Powerpack from renewable sources, the generator, powered by hydrogen, effectively becomes a battery charger, only running for short periods when the battery needs topping up, or at peak load points. This reduces fuel consumption and offers long periods of silent or quiet hours operation.

It joins 155 JCB Stage III and Stage V generators in the Dawsongroup fleet, ranging from 20kVA to 500kVA. This includes an investment of more than £4 million in Stage V models in the last 12 months alone.

Dawsongroup Energy Solutions MD Paul Ridley, said: “In the temporary power industry, reliability and efficiency are critical. Energy technologies are evolving rapidly, and hydrogen is widely seen as a key part of the future energy mix. By investing in this generator, we are enabling our customers, who have already shown strong interest to explore this technology, to adopt it at an early stage.

“The first hydrogen generator in our fleet will be installed as standby power for a data centre customer. With growing demand driven by AI and digital services, data centres require reliable power while also facing increasing environmental scrutiny. Hydrogen offers a lower carbon alternative without compromising performance.”

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