Select buys world’s biggest battery drilling rig

Laing O’Rourke’s plant hire specialist Select has become the first firm in the world to take delivery of Liebherr’s new innovative battery-powered drilling rig.

The Liebherr LB 30 drilling rig produces zero emissions. Plus, it boasts the same performance as its diesel-powered counterparts, whether unplugged or plugged in. The LB 30 battery has a working time of four hours.

The rig is currently undergoing operator and technician familiarisation ahead of its deployment to work on a major project.

Select is now targeting kits investment at an emission-free plant. In fact, this now makes up 80% of its fleet and includes six battery-powered crawler cranes.

Select’s Business Unit Leader Alex Warrington said: “Our customers are asked by their clients, how they can construct and deliver in a more sustainable way, and it’s becoming a point of difference in work winning decisions. Our zero emissions equipment for hire includes a wide range of electric crawler and tower cranes, passenger and material hoists, concrete pumps, MEWPS and now our brand new unplugged piling rig.”

Select has also invested in low power consumption hoists, fitted with telematics to monitor usage, and solar and hybrid power solutions, such as Punch Flybrid, to reduce the requirement for large diesel generators.

Watch the LB 30’s arrival and setup in Select’s depot:

SELECT LB 30 drilling rig – The world’s largest capacity battery-powered drilling rig – YouTube

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