In 2025, Smiths Hire began investing in Instagrid’s portable battery solutions to meet growing market demand and deliver cutting-edge technology to its extensive client base. These units are now deployed on long-term hires across the Northwest, including a high-profile project: the refurbishment and upgrade of Liverpool’s world-renowned museums.
We spoke with their client, F Parkinson, a key contractor on the site, to find out how Instagrid is transforming the way power is delivered on complex projects.
The Challenge
Two large, listed buildings on Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock are undergoing extensive refurbishment. One building has seven elevations with ten lifts of scaffolding, and the other has four elevations with ten lifts - that’s 110 different working scaffold levels across a huge footprint.
Running hardwired power to all these areas would be extremely costly and disruptive and the site operate a strict no (fossil fuel) generators rule. The team needed portable, long-lasting power that minimizes environmental impact and avoids inconvenience to the public.
The Solution
Instagrid’s portable battery units provide clean, quiet, and reliable power exactly where it’s needed - without fuel, trailing cables, or noise. The units charge quickly and can power a full day’s work, making them ideal for construction environments.
On this project F Parkinson’s were the main contractors for the external renovations, needing power for angle grinders (5” and 9”), rotary drills, diamond core drills, vacuums and medium-duty breakers.
Across the 12-month project F Parkinson's hired up to 10 Instagrid units at any one time to power the restoration work, recharging the units when needed from the site compound - which had mains power.
The Impact
By switching from petrol and diesel generators to Instagrid, the team eliminated noise and emissions and long cable runs – improving safety and site well-being for all.
Chris Howard, Site Manager at F Parkinson sums the performance and impact up perfectly “Instagrid is a game-changer. It’s versatile, reliable, and gives us power exactly where we need it - without fuel, noise, or trailing leads. Quick charging, long-lasting, and perfect for complex projects like this.”
While David & Thomas Smith Joint Managing Directors Smith Hire added “At Smiths Hire, our investment in Instagrid reflects a deliberate shift toward smarter, cleaner power solutions for modern construction environments.
We’re seeing increasing demand for low-noise, zero-emission alternatives - particularly on heritage, public-facing, and urban projects where traditional generators simply aren’t viable. Instagrid allows us to offer customers reliable, high-performance power without compromise.
Projects like Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock demonstrate how portable battery technology can improve safety, reduce disruption, and support sustainability targets while still delivering the output contractors require. This isn’t just about adding a new product line - it’s about future-proofing our fleet and leading the transition to cleaner site power across the Northwest.”
Smith’s Hire and F Parkinson are leading the way in sustainable construction practices, proving that innovation can deliver both performance and environmental benefits.