Himoinsa and Flogas generate rapid response
27 July 2022
Generator and lighting equipment manufacturer Himoinsa reports a rapid response following the recent announcement of its partnership with the liquid gas supplier Flogas to provide machinery running on LPG, along with regular top-up deliveries, similar to traditional site setups using diesel equipment, but at lower cost.
I understand that several hirers are very interested in the concept, especially in the wake of the rising costs of diesel following the UK government’s removal of the rebate on red diesel and by the disruption caused by the Ukraine conflict.
As reported previously, Himoinsa has for some years offered an LPG generator line-up which includes 30, 40, 70 and 110kVA models, all of which have Stage V emissions approval.
The liquid gas powering them is usually contained in large certified tanks located in the base of the generators, giving running times of typically 47, 35, 26 and 15 hours respectively.
However, under the partnership agreement, Flogas and Himoinsa will provide tailored liquid gas solutions for temporary and permanent power generation requirements, with Himoinsa’s generators being kept topped up by regular liquid gas supplies from Flogas, along with customer support.
The liquid gas can be stored directly on site in tanks above or below ground and delivers consistent power. The risk of fuel theft or pilferage is virtually eliminated compared with diesel and, moreover, hirers will be able to charge for the LPG in the same way as they might for diesel, offering an additional revenue stream.
“LPG produces much lower levels of CO2 and particulate matter than diesel, and emissions are less than with HVO,” says Clive Dix, managing director of UK subsidiary Himoinsa Power Solutions. “Its carbon footprint is 20 per cent lower than fuel oil and even with the current disruption in global energy markets, liquid gas can give a 30 per cent decrease in running costs compared with diesel.”
Flogas is the single largest bulk supplier in the UK with a 48 per cent market share and 1.1 million residential and commercial customers. It claims to have more UK depots than any other LPG supplier.
Flogas, which is also exploring the use of other biofuels and energy sources, believes that the partnership with Himoinsa offers customers bespoke solutions, reliable deliveries and peace of mind as the company supplies the tank and the appropriate connections.
James Goodson, strategic partnership manager at Flogas, also tells me that the company’s telemetry systems can detect when liquid gas levels are low and automatically order a top-up delivery.
He believes that ongoing demand from diverse markets, such as aviation, shipping, farming and heavy industry, for diesel and alternatives like HVO, will create pressure on supplies. Conversely, natural gas and LPG are more readily available, he says.
Indeed, Flogas is shortly to open a major storage facility at Avonmouth near Bristol at a cost of £40 million to hold an additional 34,564 tonnes of liquid gas, giving continuity of supply. The facility will also be able to to receive deliveries directly from transatlantic tankers docking at the terminal, and it can provide training in managing and handling the fuels.
The LPG and gas generators can also be connected to a battery storage system, such as Himoinsa’s EHR units, for optimum power management.
Given the volatility and uncertainty surrounding fossil fuel availability and pricing, liquid gas is clearly an important option for energy users and the blog will continue to monitor developments.
