Middle East & Africa Power Rental Market Outlook, 2029

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) power rental industry thrives amidst a backdrop of unique socio-economic factors, geographical diversity, and evolving energy landscapes. Power rental companies play a pivotal role in addressing this demand by providing temporary power generation equipment, such as generators, transformers, and distribution panels, to cater to a wide array of applications across industries. From supporting large-scale construction projects and industrial operations to facilitating temporary events, festivals, and emergency response efforts, power rental services are indispensable in ensuring uninterrupted power supply in diverse settings.

Moreover, the MEA region's dynamic energy landscape, characterised by a mix of conventional and renewable energy sources, presents additional opportunities for power rental companies to support energy diversification initiatives and provide innovative solutions tailored to the evolving needs of customers. With the growing focus on renewable energy and sustainability, power rental companies in the MEA region are incorporating renewable energy solutions, such as solar hybrid systems and battery storage, into their offerings to meet the evolving needs of customers and support energy diversification initiatives. The MEA power rental market offers lucrative investment opportunities for both domestic and international investors, driven by the region's growing energy demand, infrastructure development projects, and favourable regulatory frameworks in some countries. Public-private partnerships are playing an increasingly important role in driving infrastructure development and power generation projects in the MEA region, creating opportunities for collaboration between governments, private sector companies, and international investors in the power rental sector.

According to the report “Middle East and Africa Power Rental Market Outlook, 2029,”, the Middle East and Africa Power Rental market is anticipated to grow with more than 6% CAGR from 2024-2029. Infrastructure in the building, energy, transportation, and telecommunications sectors is developing quickly in the MEA area. Temporary power solutions are necessary to support construction activities, site operations, and temporary facilities on infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, airports, ports, and utilities.

In order to satisfy the transient power requirements of infrastructure development projects around the area, power rental firms are essential in delivering dependable and scalable power solutions. Furthermore, the MEA region has a growing demand for electricity due to population growth, urbanisation, and industrialization. Power rental services are essential for meeting this increasing demand, particularly in remote areas or during peak demand periods. Power rental companies provide temporary power solutions for new construction projects, remote communities, industrial operations, and emergency backup power, ensuring reliable access to electricity where permanent infrastructure is lacking or insufficient. Throughout the year, the MEA area holds a large number of business conventions, festivals, concerts, and temporary events. Power solutions that are dependable and expandable are needed for these events in order to sustain stage sets, audio systems, lighting, and other electrical equipment. In order to ensure smooth operations and continuous performance, power rental firms specialise in offering temporary power solutions for events of all sizes. The mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, and construction sectors are among the expanding industrial sectors in the MEA area. For these businesses to function, especially in remote locations or during scheduled maintenance shutdowns, they need dependable and effective power solutions. In order to promote regional industrial growth and development, power rental firms provide temporary power solutions for industrial projects, equipment testing, and isolated sites.

Major Drivers

• Temporary Events and Festivals: The Middle East and Africa (MEA) power rental business is mostly driven by transient events and festivals. Numerous events are held in the area, such as concerts, festivals, athletic activities, and business get-togethers. To support lighting, sound systems, stage sets, and other electrical equipment, dependable and scalable power solutions are needed. In order to ensure smooth operations and continuous performance, power rental firms specialise in offering temporary power solutions for events of all sizes. Events' seasonality leads to surges in energy consumption, which makes power leasing services necessary to supply event organisers' short-term needs and guarantee the success of events across the MEA area.
• Energy Demand: Rising energy demand is a major driver of the Middle East and Africa (MEA) power rental market. The region is experiencing population growth, urbanisation, and industrialization, leading to increased electricity consumption across various sectors, including construction, manufacturing, telecommunications, and infrastructure development. Power rental companies play a crucial role in meeting this growing demand by providing temporary power solutions for new construction projects, remote areas, and temporary facilities. Whether it's supporting industrial operations, construction sites, or emergency backup power for essential services, power rental services help bridge the gap between demand and supply, ensuring reliable access to electricity where permanent infrastructure is lacking or insufficient.

Major Challenges

• Political Instability :Political instability is a significant challenge facing the Middle East and Africa's (MEA) power rental market. Some countries in the region experience political unrest, conflicts, and geopolitical tensions, which can disrupt business operations, impede investment, and affect the security of power rental equipment and personnel. Power rental companies operating in such environments must navigate complex political landscapes, assess and manage political risks, and adapt their business strategies accordingly to mitigate risks and ensure the safety of their assets and personnel. Political instability can also impact regulatory frameworks, market dynamics, and customer confidence, posing challenges for power rental companies seeking to establish and maintain a presence in the region.
• Logistical Challenges: Logistical challenges are another significant obstacle facing the Middle East and Africa (MEA) power rental market. The region encompasses vast geographic areas with diverse landscapes, challenging terrain, and limited transportation infrastructure in some areas. Power rental companies may encounter logistical challenges related to equipment delivery, installation, and maintenance, particularly in remote or hard-to-reach locations. Limited access to roads, ports, and airports, as well as customs clearance procedures and border regulations, can further complicate logistics operations. Overcoming logistical challenges requires careful planning, coordination, and investment in transportation and logistics capabilities, including fleet management, supply chain optimisation, and strategic partnerships with local suppliers and service providers.

Based on the fuel types, they are segmented into diesel, natural gas, and others. In terms of equipment, it is bifurcated into generators, transformers, load banks, and others.

In the MEA region, natural gas significantly contributes to the market. The region is rich in natural gas reserves, with several countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria, among the key producers and exporters of natural gas. The availability of abundant natural gas resources creates opportunities for power rental companies to leverage this fuel source for temporary power generation, offering a cleaner and more cost-effective alternative to diesel generators. Furthermore, natural gas is considered a cleaner-burning fuel compared to diesel and other fossil fuels, emitting lower levels of pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.

With increasing awareness of environmental issues and regulations aimed at reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, there is growing demand for cleaner and more sustainable power solutions in the MEA region. Power rental companies are responding to this demand by offering natural gas-powered generators as an eco-friendly option for temporary power generation. Furthermore, generators are leading the market; generators are renowned for their reliability in providing temporary power solutions. In regions like the MEA where power outages are not uncommon, generators offer a dependable source of electricity, ensuring uninterrupted operations for various applications, including construction projects, industrial facilities, events, and emergency backup. Generators are available in many sizes and capabilities, ranging from small portable devices to massive megawatt generators. Because of its scalability, power rental firms may customise their offerings to meet the unique requirements of any client, whether they need a fleet of generators to support a large construction project or industrial operation or just a small generator for a neighbourhood gathering.

According to the report, the power ratings are categorised on the basis of below 75 kVA, 75-375 kVA, 375-750 kVA, and above 750 kVA. In terms of application types, they are segmented into base load, standby power, and peak shaving.

In the Middle East and Africa, 75-375 kVA generators significantly contribute to the market because of their adaptability. Generators with power ratings between 75 and 375 kVA are used in a variety of sectors and industries. These generators can support events, festivals, and emergency backup in addition to powering commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and construction sites. They can also satisfy the various temporary power demands of consumers in the MEA area. Power rental companies in the MEA region often maintain a large inventory of generators in the 75-375 kVA power rating range, ensuring availability and quick deployment to meet customer demand.

The widespread availability of generators in this segment enables power rental companies to respond promptly to customer needs and provide timely solutions for various projects and applications across the region. Furthermore, the generators in the 75-375 kVA power rating segment offer a cost-effective solution for temporary power generation in the MEA region. Compared to larger generators, which may have higher upfront costs and operating expenses, generators in this power range strike a balance between affordability and performance, making them an attractive option for customers seeking reliable and cost-efficient power rental solutions. Further Standby Power leads the market; standby power solutions offer reliable backup power in case of grid outages or unexpected power failures. In regions like the MEA where power reliability can be a challenge due to infrastructure limitations or environmental factors, standby power solutions provide assurance to businesses, industries, and communities that critical operations can continue uninterrupted, minimising downtime and mitigating potential losses. Standby power is crucial for supporting essential services such as hospitals, data centres, telecommunications networks, and emergency response facilities in the event of power disruptions. These facilities require continuous and reliable power supply to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of individuals and communities, making standby power solutions indispensable in the MEA region.

Based on the end user, they are segmented into mining, construction, manufacturing, utility, events, oil and gas, and others.

Construction significantly contributes to the power rental market; there are many building projects happening in the MEA area to fulfil the increasing demand for residential, commercial, and industrial spaces. The region is rapidly becoming more urbanised and developing its infrastructure. The need for power rental services is fueled by the fact that construction sites frequently need temporary power solutions to support a variety of activities, including site illumination, equipment operation, and power tool usage. Many construction projects in the MEA region are located in remote or off-grid areas where access to reliable grid power is limited or unavailable.

Power rental companies provide portable generators, transformers, and distribution panels to these construction sites, ensuring uninterrupted power supply for construction activities even in remote locations. As well, construction projects often have fluctuating power requirements depending on the phase of construction, equipment usage, and workforce size. Power rental solutions offer scalability and flexibility, allowing construction companies to adjust the power capacity as needed to match the evolving needs of the project without investing in permanent infrastructure.

Based on the report, the major countries covered include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the rest of the Middle East and Africa.

In the region, South Africa contributes the highest market share. South Africa has a broad economy that includes the mining, manufacturing, agricultural, telecommunications, and services sectors. The nation is a vital market for the power leasing sector due to its industrialization and economic growth, which fuels the need for dependable and scalable power solutions to support commercial, construction, and industrial operations. South Africa is undergoing significant infrastructure development across various sectors, including transportation, energy, water, and telecommunications.

Construction projects such as roadways, bridges, airports, ports, power plants, and renewable energy facilities require temporary power solutions to support construction activities, driving the demand for power rental services in the country. Furthermore, South Africa is one of the leading producers of minerals and precious metals, including gold, platinum, coal, and diamonds. The mining industry requires reliable and efficient power solutions to support mining operations, processing facilities, and remote mining sites. Power rental companies play a crucial role in providing temporary power generation equipment and services to the mining sector, contributing significantly to the power rental market in South Africa. South Africa hosts numerous events, festivals, concerts, sports tournaments, and conferences throughout the year, which require temporary power solutions for lighting, sound systems, broadcasting equipment, and temporary facilities. Power rental companies cater to the temporary power needs of event organisers and project managers, contributing to the country's vibrant events industry and driving demand for power rental services.

The increased research and development spending, as well as technological collaborations between major market players, will boost the market potential. In order to maintain their market position, the manufacturers are implementing initiatives such as mergers, partnerships, expansions, and acquisitions. Aggreko, for example, was given a contract in December 2018 to provide rental power services for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic and Olympic games. The market is influenced by major participants across the globe. Major players such as Aggreko, Caterpillar, Cummins, Inc., Atlas Copco, and Kohler Power constitute around one-fourth of the market and the remaining market is dominated by a large number of regional and local players.

Aggreko is established as one of the leading players and operates under different verticals in the power rental industry. The company offers a wide range of generator sets with different power ratings and has a global footprint with around 10,000 MW of power on hire in the year 2020. In December 2018, for instance, Aggreko was awarded a contract for providing rental power services to the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic and Olympic games. The contract is estimated to be worth around US$ 200 Million.

Considered in this report

• Historic year: 2018
• Base year: 2023
• Estimated year: 2024
• Forecast year:2029

Aspects covered in this report

• Power Rental market Research Report with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Fuel Type

• Diesel
• Natural Gas
• Others

By Equipments

• Generators
• Transformers
• Load Banks
• Other Equipments

By Power rating

• Below 75 kVA
• 75-375 kVA
• 375-750 kVA
• Above 750 Kva

By Applications

• Base Load
• Standby Power
• Peak Shaving

By End Users

• Mining
• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Utility
• Events
• Oil & Gas
• Others

The approach of the report:

This report consists of a combined approach of primary and secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list the companies that are present in it. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and government-generated reports and databases.

After gathering the data from secondary sources, primary research was conducted by conducting telephone interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this; we have started making primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting them in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us, we can start verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations, and organizations related to the Power Rental, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing and presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.