Market Scenario
Power rental market size was valued at USD 13.58 billion in 2025 and is projected to hit the market valuation of USD 39.44 billion by 2035 at a CAGR of 11.25% during the forecast period 2026–2035.
Key Findings
The power rental market has evolved far beyond its traditional role as a temporary emergency measure to become a structural pillar of global industrial resilience. By the end of 2025, the sector displayed exceptional financial maturity, reflected in the record performance of its leading players. United Rentals—the global industry benchmark—recorded USD 15.35 billion in annual revenue, supported by an adjusted EBITDA of USD 7.16 billion. These results reflect not temporary gains but sustained proof of a mature, deeply entrenched market.
Scale and operational reach further validate this status. United Rentals manages assets worth USD 20.59 billion in Original Equipment Cost (OEC) across 1,686 locations worldwide. Ashtead Group (Sunbelt Rentals) delivered USD 10.86 billion in revenue, while Herc Rentals achieved USD 3.57 billion. The magnitude of capital circulating through these firms confirms that temporary power is no longer peripheral—it functions as a critical utility layer supporting grid stability, industrial continuity, and modern infrastructure development.
What are the Primary End‑Users and Applications Driving Demand Across Power Rental Market?
Although construction remains a core segment, the most rapid expansion now comes from utilities and large‑scale industrial users. Utilities increasingly depend on rental fleets to maintain service continuity during grid upgrades and post‑disaster recovery. During the 2024–2025 storm seasons, for example, CenterPoint Energy managed an USD 800 million mobile‑generation program, securing 500 MW of capacity to prevent regional blackouts.
Meanwhile, specialty power applications in the power rental market such as climate control and engineered energy systems are delivering the highest margins. United Rentals earned USD 5.1 billion from its specialty segment in 2024, underscoring customer preference for engineered, turnkey solutions rather than basic generator rentals. Disaster recovery and large event logistics are also major contributors. Following Hurricane Beryl, damage exceeding USD 1.3 billion drove extended rental deployments lasting months. As a result, industry practice is shifting from short‑term “drop‑and‑go” rentals toward strategic, long‑term power partnerships embedded in customers’ operational planning.
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How the Rapid Expansion of AI Data Centers Reshaping Power Rental Dynamics?
Artificial Intelligence is now the most transformative force within the power rental market landscape. The global data‑center construction market, valued at USD 240.97 billion in 2025, is expanding at a pace that far outstrips grid connection capacity. Hyperscale developers—facing grid access delays of three to five years—are increasingly commissioning power rental providers to deliver immediate, scalable energy solutions. Northern Virginia alone absorbed 407.4 MW of capacity in Q1 2024, creating localized power deficits that only mobile generation could meet.
Rental companies in the power rental market have responded with unprecedented speed and precision. Duos Technologies installed a 100 MW backup system within 10 days—timelines unimaginable for permanent grid projects. Individual hyperscale facilities now demand around 125 MW each, prompting APR Energy to deploy a 100 MW mobile gas‑turbine fleet for a single AI client in early 2025. This ongoing “AI Arms Race” ensures that rental power providers will remain integral to data‑center operations for years to come.
Which Geographic Regions Dominate the Consumption of Temporary Power?
North America remains the power rental market’s largest revenue base, fueled by aging infrastructure, industrial re‑shoring, and rising weather volatility. The demand concentration is evident in regions like Chicago, where data centers absorbed 218.7 MW in early 2024. The Middle East, however, is rapidly emerging as the global hub for mega‑project power needs. Projects such as NEOM in Saudi Arabia require thousands of generators to sustain off‑grid construction over hundreds of kilometers of desert terrain.
Developing economies across Southeast Asia and Latin America represent additional high‑potential markets, albeit driven by structural grid deficits rather than peak load. Manufacturing productivity in these regions increasingly depends on rental power as a stabilizing utility. Nonetheless, capital outlays remain concentrated in North America, where Ashtead Group committed USD 1.235 billion in growth investments to seize expanding U.S. industrial opportunities.
How Competitive Has the Power Rental Market Become as of 2025?
The competitive environment in 2025 is defined by rapid consolidation and capital intensity. The sector is effectively evolving into an oligopoly where operational scale dictates survival. Atlas Copco executed 33 acquisitions in 2024 to fortify its power and specialty rental portfolio, while United Rentals’ USD 1.1 billion cash acquisition of Yak Access extended its dominance in utility logistics. Such “buy‑and‑build” strategies enable the largest players to control logistics, pricing, and service coverage, raising formidable entry barriers.
Parallel to consolidation, fleet modernization has become the new arena of competition across global power rental market. United Rentals invested USD 3.76 billion in gross capital expenditure to maintain a high‑efficiency fleet, while Ashtead surpassed that with a USD 4.3 billion outlay. Herc Rentals expanded its fleet value to USD 7 billion. The intensity of rivalry is driving operational optimization across the board—from maintaining younger fleets (Ashtead’s average age 45 months) to enhancing digital customer engagement and service delivery.
Which Manufacturers Are Benefiting Most from Rental Demand?
Soaring rental fleet demand in the power rental market has translated into substantial gains for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).Caterpillar remains the principal beneficiary; its Energy & Transportation division generated USD 28.9 billion in 2024 revenue. To serve escalating data‑center demand, the company invested USD 725 million to expand its Lafayette engine facility, while its after‑sales services arm contributed USD 24 billion—highlighting the deeply symbiotic relationship between OEMs and rental operators.
Generac also leveraged the rental surge in the power rental market, recording USD 1.39 billion in net sales from its Commercial & Industrial segment. Meanwhile, Atlas Copco’s Power Technique division posted USD 2.8 billion (29.6 billion SEK) in sales as demand for portable generators and compressors soared. Beyond hardware sales, OEMs are now collaborating directly with rental firms to co‑develop hybrid and hydrogen‑powered systems aligned with evolving sustainability goals.
What Emerging Markets Hold the Strongest Potential for Future Growth?
The Middle East—especially Saudi Arabia—represents the most promising frontier in the power rental market, driven by the scale and ambition of Vision 2030 projects.Hyundai E&C’s USD 145 million contract to construct NEOM transmission lines exemplifies the magnitude of upcoming demand, encompassing 450 towers and 200 kilometers of high‑voltage infrastructure—all reliant on remote temporary power.
Simultaneously, Europe’s accelerating energy transition is opening a new category of “green grid support” rentals. Aggreko’s USD 140 million investment in its Greener Upgrades portfolio directly targets this opportunity. As coal‑based power assets retire faster than renewable stability can replace them, temporary power plants are increasingly bridging the reliability gap across transitional economies.
What Key Trends Are Shaping Power Rental Market Growth in 2025?
Sustainability has shifted from rhetoric to operating strategy. The industry is rapidly diversifying from diesel toward hybrid configurations that integrate Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Aggreko, for instance, allocated USD 200 million to expand its BESS fleet—an essential component of the 26 GW of grid‑connected battery capacity in the U.S. and an additional 19.6 GW planned for 2025. These hybrid solutions are redefining rental economics by enabling emissions reduction without sacrificing reliability.
Hydrogen power sits at the next frontier in the power rental market. GeoPura raised USD 75 million to scale production of Hydrogen Power Units (HPUs) and plans to deploy 3,600 units globally. Additional debt financing of USD 28.5 million underscores investor conviction that clean rental power is commercially viable. Collectively, these advancements show that the future of the power rental market will rest on providers’ ability to deliver dependable, low‑carbon energy solutions that meet stringent industrial and environmental standards alike.
Segmental Analysis
By Application, Uninterrupted Operations Drive Continuous Load Segment Dominance
In 2025, the continuous load segment captured the largest market share of the power rental market, primarily due to the inability of utility grids to sustain heavy industrial operations in developing and remote regions. Unlike standby power—which activates only during outages—continuous load generators function as the main power source for uninterrupted 24/7 operations. This distinction has become increasingly critical as industries across Southeast Asia and Africa expand manufacturing bases amid unstable national grids. Chronic grid breakdowns in markets such as South Africa have further accelerated demand for large-scale continuous rental power units, enabling consistent industrial uptime despite infrastructure constraints.
The rising number of off‑grid construction projects and hyperscale data centers in the power rental market has also amplified this requirement for dependable, around‑the‑clock energy supply that public utilities simply cannot guarantee. Industry insights highlight that the “prime power” rating has become indispensable in sectors like upstream oil and gas, where even short downtime can translate into multimillion-dollar losses. The segment’s appeal has grown further with the integration of hybrid continuous systems—setups where diesel or gas generators run constantly to charge battery energy storage systems (BESS), improving efficiency and enabling steady load balancing. Overall, this trend reflects a market environment where operational reliability consistently outweighs the lower capital outlay of standby units, solidifying continuous load as the segment leader.
By End Users, Critical Mineral Demand Propels Mining Sector to Market Leadership
By end use, the mining sector emerged as the top-performing segment in power rental market, propelled by the global “supercycle” in demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and copper—key inputs for electric vehicle (EV) and battery manufacturing. Many of these deposits are found in geographically challenging areas like the Andean ranges or remote parts of Western Australia, completely disconnected from national grids. This reality has made large-scale rental power plants indispensable for sustaining round‑the‑clock mineral extraction and processing.
Insights from 2025 further reveal that electrification of mining operations, including the use of electric haul trucks and drilling systems, has ironically increased on‑site electricity needs. To accommodate this surge in the power rental market, mining firms are deploying extensive high-capacity generators, often configured for parallel operation. Moreover, volatile commodity pricing has led operators to adopt rental power through OpEx-based models, offering flexibility to match power consumption with production cycles while avoiding hefty CapEx commitments. Combined with deeper underground mining efforts requiring substantial ventilation and cooling power, these dynamics firmly established the mining sector as the leading end-user category in the global market.
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By Fuel Type, Proven Reliability and Supply Chains Secure Diesel’s Market Supremacy
The diesel segment maintained its commanding position in power rental market, accounting for more than 80% of global revenue. Its dominance stems from inherent advantages—chiefly exceptional energy density, widespread availability, and the ability to deliver high torque and instant power for heavy-duty operations. Despite growing adoption of natural gas and renewables, diesel remains the most practical solution for mission‑critical and mobile applications that demand quick response and durability. Technical evaluations show that diesel engines consistently outperform alternatives in thermal efficiency and mechanical resilience—attributes especially valued in the rental sector, where equipment endures extreme conditions and frequent relocation between sites.
Regulatory progress has further reinforced diesel’s advantage in the power rental market. The rollout of Tier 4 Final and Stage V compliant engines has sharply reduced emission levels, enabling operators to meet environmental standards without overhauling existing fuel logistics. Accessibility remains diesel’s greatest strength: even in remote territories—from Indonesian archipelagos to Middle Eastern deserts—diesel supply chains remain robust where gas infrastructure simply does not exist. Consequently, fleet owners continue investing heavily in diesel-powered units to minimize operational risk, ensuring that the segment retains firm dominance over emerging fuel categories.
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Regional Analysis
North America Seizes Top Market Share Through Aging Grid and Tech Boom
North America retained its position as the global market leader in power rental market, driven by the dual pressures of an aging power grid and a surging technology infrastructure boom. The United States’ deteriorating electrical network reached breaking point, facing not only recurring weather‑related outages but also a systemic “load‑to‑generation” imbalance. Rapid growth in AI‑driven hyperscale data centers—particularly across Northern Virginia and Texas—intensified this shortfall, creating immediate power deficits that utilities could not bridge quickly. With interconnection delays averaging 18 to 24 months, operators increasingly relied on rental generators as primary power sources to sustain operations.
This dependence in the power rental market was amplified by an uptrend in extreme weather, which pushed emergency rental deployments up by roughly 15 percent year‑over‑year across coastal states. At the same time, the resurgence of upstream oil and gas drilling in the Permian Basin added further momentum, as continuous‑duty diesel generators achieved utilization rates near 92 percent. Together, these dynamics positioned North America as the highest‑revenue region in the global power rental industry, combining critical infrastructure stress with energy‑intensive industrial rebound.
Asia Pacific Captures Second Spot Driven by Infrastructure Expansion and Island Power Needs
Asia Pacific secured the second‑largest share in global power rental market, propelled by rapid industrial expansion and strategic public infrastructure spending. Unlike North America’s challenge of grid repair, this region’s story is defined by aggressive growth. Major government‑backed initiatives in India and China spurred a 12 percent year‑over‑year increase in construction power demand, underpinning a strong pipeline of megaprojects.
The region’s unique geographical landscape—particularly Southeast Asia’s archipelagos—further intensified rental demand. Countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines expanded their rental contracts by 8 percent to supply power to manufacturing zones and logistics clusters beyond the reach of national grids. Meanwhile, electrification of rural communities has struggled to keep pace with industrial output, fostering a robust “stop‑gap” rental market. Over 4,000 new off‑grid industrial facilities commissioned in 2025 relied primarily on rental power as their de facto energy utility, reinforcing Asia Pacific’s ascent as a long‑term growth engine for the power rental industry.
Europe Secures Strong Market Position Amid Energy Transition and Security Pressures
Europe held the third‑largest share of the global power rental market, shaped by a blend of energy security concerns, decarbonization policies, and geopolitical recovery efforts. The continent’s “capacity market” framework became a major revenue driver in 2025, as utilities in the UK and Germany contracted large standby rental fleets to offset renewable intermittency. The frequency of grid instability incidents rose by 20 percent, underlining the critical balancing role of rental assets in maintaining reliable supply.
Reconstruction across Eastern Europe added further demand, with international aid supporting the deployment of over 500 MW of rental capacity to sustain essential infrastructure rebuilds. At the same time, Europe’s enforcement of stringent Stage V emission regulations spurred a rapid fleet modernization cycle. Though total unit volumes lagged behind Asia, the shift toward cleaner, high‑specification rental equipment commanded premium rates, allowing European providers to sustain strong profitability despite tighter environmental compliance.
Recent Developments Announced By Companies in Power Rental market
Top Companies in the Power Rental Market
Market Segmentation Overview
By Fuel
By Application
By End User
By Region
The global power rental market was valued at USD 13.58 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 39.44 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 11.25% from 2026 to 2035. This growth is driven by AI infrastructure needs, grid modernization, and severe weather resilience.
AI is the sector's most disruptive driver. With grid connection delays lasting 3–5 years, hyperscalers are renting massive capacity (e.g., 100 MW+ deployments) to bridge gaps. In Q1 2024 alone, Northern Virginia absorbed 407.4 MW of data center capacity, heavily relying on rental power for immediate operations.
By end-user, the mining sector emerged as the leading segment in 2025. The global supercycle for critical minerals (lithium, cobalt) forces operators in remote, off-grid locations (like the Andes or Western Australia) to rely on large-scale continuous load rental plants for extraction and processing.
Diesel accounted for over 80% of global revenue in 2025 due to its energy density, durability, and established supply chains, especially in remote areas where gas infrastructure is absent. New Tier 4 Final and Stage V compliant engines have also extended diesel's viability by meeting stricter emission standards.
North America leads the global market, driven by aging grid infrastructure, frequent severe weather events, and the AI technology boom. However, the Middle East is the fastest-growing hub for mega-projects, with initiatives like Saudi Arabia's NEOM requiring thousands of generators for off-grid construction.
The market is pivoting toward hybrid solutions combining generators with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to manage renewable intermittency. Companies like Aggreko invested USD 200 million in BESS fleets in 2024. Hydrogen is also emerging, with GeoPura raising capital to deploy 3,600 Hydrogen Power Units.
The industry is evolving into an oligopoly, with giants like United Rentals and Atlas Copco executing aggressive buy-and-build strategies (e.g., United Rentals' acquisition of Yak Access). This consolidation allows major players to control logistics and premium fleet availability, creating higher barriers to entry and stabilizing rental rates.
Continuous load rentals, which held the largest market share in 2025, are used as the primary power source for 24/7 operations in off-grid or unstable regions. Standby power is strictly for emergency backup during outages. Continuous units are critical for sectors like mining and manufacturing in developing economies.
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