Diesel generators used on construction sites and film sets pump out 4.8 million tonnes of CO₂ in the UK each year, and a new project aims to replace them with hydrogen-powered alternatives small enough to fit in a shipping container. The problem is that most hydrogen generators on the market are large—60 kVA and above—yet 65% of generator CO₂ emissions come from smaller 3–30 kVA machines. These smaller units are too big for batteries but too small for existing hydrogen solutions, leaving a gap in the market. Hydrologiq, a UK company, already manages medium-to-large hydrogen generators with software and hardware, but that system does not work for the smaller, more common class of generator. This project adapts Hydrologiq’s platform to work with compact, modular hydrogen generators from Singapore, creating an integrated power system for the 3–30 kVA range. If successful, it could decarbonise off-grid power for construction, events, and film production—industries that quietly keep infrastructure and entertainment running—while positioning UK hydrogen technology as an export to global markets.
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CO2 emissions created by diesel generators are a significant contributor to climate change, accounting for 4.8m tCO2e annually in the UK alone. Generators are utilised in off-grid applications such as construction sites or film sets, which are often remote locations with high energy demands that are too big for batteries to be suitable. Hydrogen-powered generators, as a diesel replacement, provide a solution for powering sites and BEVs. They are a proven technology for decarbonising off-grid sites in the construction industry and have been deployed on a number of projects across the UK and abroad in recent years. However, hydrogen comes with inherent challenges making it harder to utilise than diesel. This forms a significant barrier to entry for hydrogen projects. Hydrologiq provides a range of services to solve these issues for customers, with a software and hardware monitoring and management platform, regulatory experience and operational expertise, but these are tailored to medium to large generators, which this is reflected also by the offerings from most generator OEMs, with the vast majority of hydrogen generators available on the market today being in the 60kVA+ range. However, 65% of generator CO2e actually comes from the 3-30kVA asset class. A solution is needed for the 3-30kVA space that combines affordable, effectively-designed assets with the necessary systems for deploying hydrogen, integrated together to prioritise efficiency and ease-of-use. This project will adapt Hydrologiq's solutions used for large-scale deployments in the UK market, integrating cutting edge modular generator technology from Singapore to create, test and refine an integrated hydrogen power platform that targets an unserved sector of the UK market, preparing and tailoring it to be scaled to the international markets. This will enable hydrogen cleantech as a UK export and support the government's commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower. Together we will improve accessibility of truly clean power from hydrogen, for not just the UK but Singapore and other global markets.
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