There is a significant and growing risk of severe drought impacts arising from climate change and population growth, and concerted action is needed now to build resilience of supply, a report by Water UK has concluded. The first-of-its kind research modelled the possible effects of climate change, population growth, environmental protection measures and trends in water use to produce a wide range of future scenarios. It deployed new modelling techniques to look 50 years ahead across the whole of England and Wales. The results suggest that, in some scenarios, we are facing longer, more frequent and more acute droughts than previously thought. Drier areas of the country (the south and east of England) face a higher risk of more severe droughts than those experienced in the past, while English regions further to the north and west are also more exposed to the prospect of future water shortages. The modelling shows that extensive measures to manage demand as well as enhance supplies of water are needed to contain the risk of drought. Demand management initiatives – including the promotion of more efficient water use in homes and businesses, improved building standards and widespread use of smart metering – must be used in tandem with ambitious plans on the supply side, such as moving more water from one region to another through existing waterways and new pipelines, building new reservoirs, treating more water for re-use and building desalination plants to make use of sea water. The report’s authors conclude that, by adopting a step-by-step approach, the additional cost of making the supply of water more resilient to severe droughts would be equivalent to about £4 per annum per household. By contrast, the impact on the economy of inaction could be very high, costing an estimated £1.3 billion per day during the most widespread situations of severe drought modelled in the report. Water UK chief executive Michael Roberts said: “Since privatisation, the industry has invested billions of pounds in securing the nation’s precious water resources, but we all need to do more in the face of current and future pressures on those resources. We are publishing this ground-breaking research today so that water companies, government, regulators and other agencies can together raise their game in how we plan to keep homes and businesses supplied over the next fifty years.” Anglian Water regulation director Jean Spencer, who chaired the project, said: “The threat of drought is already with us – were it not for the unprecedented rainfall in the spring of 2012, we might have suffered significant problems with water supply that summer. This is world class research that will support companies and government in planning for resilient water resources in the future.” The industry research was funded by Water UK and was led by a steering group, comprising water companies, regulators and UK and Welsh Government representatives. The research was conducted by a team including Atkins, Mott Macdonald, Nera Economic Consulting, HR Wallingford and the University of Oxford Environmental Change Institute.   A version of this story first appeared on WWTonline. Source link

Robinson & Lawlor believe their skills add real value to projects that will allow them to continue their growth into 2016 and beyond, despite the unpredictable future of renewables. The renewable energy sector continues to experience highs and lows with a reduction in costs being been offset by the withdrawal of government subsidies for green energy. With further subsidy reductions expected in 2016, how will the renewable energy sector remain competitive? Electrical contractors, Robinson & Lawlor feel they can use their expertise to weather the storm in this continuously changing landscape. 2015 has seen the company diversify their skill set; having worked on one of the largest solar farms in the UK, helping complete one of the few UK gas-to-grid anaerobic digestions systems and installing hydro power to the iconic Cragside House. Although they’ve diversified, creating value for clients through quality workmanship at affordable prices has been a focal point throughout, regardless of the type of project, from 50MW solar farms to testing commercial properties. This focus on providing real value has resulted in a 35% jump in turnover from the previous year, with profit margins mirroring this. Like many businesses within the sector, Robinson & Lawlor have felt first hand the impact of the Government’s decision to cut subsidies with many partners now struggling to find funding for projects. This is particularly frustrating as countries such as Germany and Denmark are setting records for meeting their national energy demand through renewable energy alone on certain days. Energy Secretary, Amber Rudd is set to cut subsidies for renewables once again, with wind and solar being hit the hardest. In spite of this, there are still huge opportunities in the renewable energy sector. Robinson & Lawlor’s ability to work with a number of different technologies has meant they’ve naturally adapted to the way the market has shifted and been able to take advantage. Peter Robinson, Director at Robinson & Lawlor, said: “We completed work on one of the largest solar farms in UK as recently as March, but since the election, things have changed drastically. The government wants to stop onshore wind farms while also cutting back on solar. As frustrating as this is, we don’t see it as a negative and instead we’re focusing on the positives and the opportunities it creates for other renewables. We’re taking on a lot of Hydro and Anaerobic Digestion work now, that’s why it has been so important to be able work with a number of different renewable technologies. We’ve made sure all of our eggs aren’t in one basket.” Working with a vast range of local and international partners, the Blackburn based firm can offer a full range of electrical engineering expertise from 33,000 volts to extra low voltage, high contestable works to balancing of the plant. They offer a full service package that has the expertise to undertake all electrical aspects of a clients project. They provide complete design, supply, install, management and certification in all types of complex electrical installations for the renewable sector. Originating from the North West, Robinson & Lawlor have over 58 years experience in industrial electrical engineering and are supported by a wealth of knowledge that their staff have gained from working with long term clients such as Rolls Royce, Michelin and Smith & Nephew. Over the last 7 years they have made a gradual transition from industrial engineer to renewable engineer. Their history as electrical engineers gives them a distinct advantage over their rivals in the renewable energy sector. This has been an important factor in their recent successes as many new businesses have identified opportunities in sustainable energy and looked to exploit them without the necessary experience that is crucial with this type of work. Steven Robinson, Managing Director at Robinson & Lawlor, was initially surprised by the standard in the industry: “The renewable sector seems to have all the prerequisites for our industrial electrical engineering experience. Being able to work on the full range of systems from high voltage to process control means we are confident we can offer clients high quality, reliable services together with cost reductions. We were initially surprised on some of the larger projects by the amount of unskilled and semi skilled staff employed, and by the lack of quality control and management expertise exhibited by a lot of sub contract companies working in the sustainable sector. We feel its important when investing in renewable energy that reliability and quality are primary goals, as these are long term projects that need to stand the test of time in order to be beneficial and profitable. With our long-term experienced staff we are able to offer quality whilst also driving down costs for this client. This is something we feel is currently missing and one of reasons we’ve won contracts on some of the largest scale projects in the UK.” The electrical engineering specialists have continued to take advantage of gaps that have appeared in the renewable energy market. They’ve gone on to secure 15 solar projects across the UK, ranging from 4MW up to 19MW, all to be completed before March 2016. How have they managed to secure such a large volume of work in a ‘slowing’ market? By identifying what their clients need and providing a solution, in this instance acting as the engineering procurement contractor, EPC. Being an internationally recognised EPC means that Robinson & Lawlor can oversee all electric and civil engineering aspects of large scale projects, with so much at stake their clients want reassurance from a trusted contractor to oversee fundamental elements. Robinson & Lawlor have benefitted from partnering with leading experts in the renewable energy sector such as Biogas Hochreiter and Anaergia, both world leaders in the biogas sector who design and install anaerobic digestion plants. Partnering with world leaders requires working to the highest possible standards in the industry. As a direct result, Robinson & Lawlor recently secured work on 11 solar farms across the country due to the impeccable work they’ve previously

Ending the vertical integration of the energy and water companies is the best way to ensure that customers are protected from poor deals, according to former shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy. Former shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy Speaking to Utility Week at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Nandy said that completely removing the link between the wholesale and retail arms of the energy and water companies will “make the market genuinely competitive and transparent”. Building upon her “democratisation of energy” speech from last year when she was a member of the shadow cabinet, Nandy said ending the connectios between the wholesale and retail elements of the utilities would deal with the issue of a lack of competition. “One of the problems is that we say we have a competitive market but we haven’t. “If you look at the direction of travel across Europe, the answer is not pulling power back in – whether through states or private monopolies – it is about handing real power to customers.” Nandy stated there needs to be an influx of genuine independent retailers which are not associated to the incumbents, as well as the development of social and cooperative energy companies to ensure customers get a good deal. “It is not enough for ministers to stand up at the dispatch box and urge people to switch when actually the offer on the table is not good enough in the first place.” Nandy also called on re-elected Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the government to ensure that the UK develops for the “job of the future” in green jobs, be encouraging research and development into new and renewable technologies. Source link

William Sinclair Horticulture Limited, has been fined over two separate incidents that occurred at their Ellesmere Port and Lincoln sites. The incident at Ellesmere Port resulted in serious injuries to a worker as he fell from an unsecured ladder. On the 8 January 2015, Darren Taylor, aged 40, was assisting in a deep clean of conveyor belts, at the Ellesmere Port site, and used a ladder so that he could remove guards for access. As he ascended the ladder it moved, causing him to fall 1.75 metres to the ground. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the company did not have a risk assessment or safe system of work for the cleaning of the conveyor belts or for the safe use of ladders. None of the workers involved in cleaning the conveyor belts on the day of the incident had received training in the safe use of ladders Bolton Magistrates’ Court heard that from February 2014, William Sinclair Horticulture Limited had previously received two formal HSE warnings that there was an issue on site in relation to unsafe work at height, but the company failed to take adequate action. The Court also heard that William Sinclair Horticulture Limited failed to heed the advice of an HSE Inspector by not providing adequate guarding on machinery at their Lincoln site. Following a proactive visit by the Inspector on 28 January 2015, an Improvement Notice was served to improve the guarding of the conveyors that fed products into the machines. Subsequent visits on 4 March 2015, resulted in an additional Improvement Notice being served in relation to guarding on the sand line. A third visit on 9 June 2015 the Company still had significant issues with machine guarding, despite previous formal enforcement action. HSE inspector Helen Jones said after the hearing: “William Sinclair Horticulture Ltd failed to act on the advice they were given to improve safety standards at both their Ellesmere Port and Lincoln sites. “Because the company had failed to ensure adequate control measures were in place to reduce the risk of falling from height, Mr Taylor suffering serious injuries when he fell from the ladder. “A fixed platform had already been identified as a better way to control the risk of falling from height, but the company had failed to act to ensure the risks were significantly reduced. ” William Sinclair Horticulture Limited of Firth Road, Lincoln, LN6 7AH, (currently in administration) was found guilty of breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, and was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £7,071. Notes to editors                                                                    The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/ More information on safe use of ladders can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/ladders.htm More information on machinery guarding can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery/faq-general.htm Journalists should approach HSE press office with any queries on regional press releases. Source link