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Laing O’Rourke’s specialist plant hire business Select has bought the world’s largest capacity batter-powered drilling rig.

Liebherr’s LB 30 unplugged drilling rig claims to offer the same performance as its diesel-powered counterparts, whether unplugged or plugged in.

The machine can drill diameters of up to 3.4m. The optional rear support and the new design of the modular rear counterweight ensure higher stability and longer service life. The LB 30 can be tracked off remotely and the battery has a working time of four hours in Kelly operation.

Select said that 80% of its fleet is now electric and includes six battery-powered crawler cranes.

Select’s business unit leader Alex Warrington said: “Clients are asking our customers how they can construct and deliver in a more sustainable way, and it’s becoming a point of difference in work winning decisions.

“Thanks to our partnerships with innovators like Liebherr, we can now offer plant and equipment to our customers that dramatically reduce carbon emissions. 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.”

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