Future Biogas, a leading developer of anaerobic digestion (AD) plants and biogas producer in the UK, has agreed to acquire a 51% stake in a portfolio of six gas-to-grid AD facilities. The transaction, valued at £68.1 million, is being funded with £30 million from 3i Infrastructure plc, while the remaining
Multimillion-pound FEED project will enable new hydrogen distribution network in Teesside. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been awarded a multimillion-pound front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract by bp for a new hydrogen pipeline network in the Teesside area. Costain’s multi-disciplinary in-house engineering team will deliver the FEED to enable
GTC is continuing to advance domestic heating solutions with the delivery and installation of its innovative Community Heat Hub at The Gateway, the Vistry Bexhill development in Sussex. The transformative replacement for gas meets the requirements of the 2025 Future Homes Standard (FHS) and is set to revolutionise the heating
New nuclear capacity may not be ready in time to provide the required increase in baseload electricity, according to a recent report from the National Engineering Policy Centre. As a result, the UK may need to approve new gas-fired power stations to decarbonise its electricity systems by 2030, presenting a
A Warwickshire manufacturer of solar-powered lighting that does not need to be connected to the grid is hoping to grow its team following advice from a business support programme. Ryton-based Solar Vision Lighting Technologies (SVLT) designs green street lighting and CCTV solutions for main roads, residential developments, industrial sites, and
The call for solar continues to be strong, with more efficient panels being demanded by homeowners, housebuilders and contractors. In response, Marley has launched a new panel option in its SolarTile® range – the SolarTile® 410. The new panel delivers a peak power of 410W to increase total power from
The Castle Street sustainable energy centre is at an exciting stage in its development with bespoke bronze cladding being applied to its facades. The new building skin has been designed by LDN Architects as a subtly symbolic saltire and diamond pattern that reflects the heritage, colours and patterns of its
British solar heat and power scale-up Naked Energy announced today that it has secured £17m ofnew equity as part of a Series B first close to supercharge its global expansion and the adoption of its cutting-edge solutions to decarbonise heat. The round was led by E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions (E.ON
Engineering and infrastructure specialist Spencer Group has been appointed to play a key role in the development of a pioneering new energy plant which aims to reshape the future of renewable energy. Spencer Group will deliver a £23m contract to design the site layout and deliver the enabling works and
A new online PV Configurator from BMI Redland is set to streamline the solar PV project design process as the UK continues to see a record growth in installations. The Redland PV Configurator has been developed to address a growing need for support in cutting through complexity and getting accurate
Future Biogas, a leading developer of anaerobic digestion (AD) plants and biogas producer in the UK, has agreed to acquire a 51% stake in a portfolio of six gas-to-grid AD facilities. The transaction, valued at £68.1 million, is being funded with £30 million from 3i Infrastructure plc, while the remaining amount will be financed by Future Biogas through committed debt facilities. These six facilities have a combined gas output of 333GWh. Future Biogas has a deep familiarity with these assets, having originally developed five of the six plants and operated them for an average of eight years. As the new majority owner, Future Biogas plans to implement investment-driven enhancements identified by its management team. The acquisition also provides the company with immediate scale, enhancing its attractiveness to potential future acquirers. Since 3i Infrastructure’s initial investment in Future Biogas in 2023, the company has successfully transitioned from being a third-party plant operator to an asset owner and developer, with a pipeline of new sites totalling 1.3TWh. Additionally, construction has commenced at the Gonerby Moor site, which will operate on an unsubsidised basis under a 15-year green gas offtake agreement with AstraZeneca. Philipp Lukas, Chief Executive Officer of Future Biogas, commented: “We are very pleased to acquire a stake in this portfolio of anaerobic digestion plants from JLEN, with whom we will continue to work constructively. We are well-acquainted with these assets, having developed and managed them for an average of eight years. This transaction is a critical step in building a scalable AD platform under Future Biogas, allowing us to upgrade the plant portfolio and extend their operational lives beyond the current RHI subsidy. Importantly, it supports our Project Carbon Harvest mission to generate and supply green gas, contributing to the decarbonisation of UK farms and industry.” Scott Moseley and Bernardo Sottomayor, Managing Partners and Co-Heads of European Infrastructure at 3i Investments plc, added: “It is increasingly evident that biogas will play a significant role in the UK’s energy transition. This acquisition is a key milestone, firmly establishing Future Biogas as the leading independent owner and developer of AD plants in the UK.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Multimillion-pound FEED project will enable new hydrogen distribution network in Teesside. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been awarded a multimillion-pound front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract by bp for a new hydrogen pipeline network in the Teesside area. Costain’s multi-disciplinary in-house engineering team will deliver the FEED to enable the construction for a new, 31km onshore pipeline distribution network that will deliver purified and dehydrated hydrogen from bp’s new hydrogen production facility to industrial end users. Costain is expected to complete the FEED project in 2025. Operated by bp, as part of the East Coast Cluster, H2Teesside (H2T) is aiming to be one of the biggest blue hydrogen production facilities in the UK and will produce approximately 160,000 tonnes of low carbon hydrogen per annum. The blue hydrogen that H2T creates will ultimately displace natural gas consumption by industrial end users, establishing the hydrogen economy and enabling decarbonisation across the region. Earlier this year, Costain successfully completed the FEED for the onshore CO2 pipeline and associated utilities and was recently selected by bp to continue the work to the next stage and oversee and manage the engineering, procurement and construction of the CO2 system. Detailed engineering design and preparatory works will commence later this year, subject to final investment decisions. Sam White, managing director of natural resources at Costain, said: “This exciting project is a step change for UK decarbonisation. Our in-house engineering expertise will design a world-leading network that will safely transport hydrogen to provide industrial users with an alternative to natural gas, a key step in the development of the hydrogen economy. “In addition to the environmental benefits, this is a project that will be transformative for Teesside and its people, creating jobs and developing skills throughout the region. In transportation, water, and energy, we’re committed to delivering critical infrastructure that improves lives and prosperity across the North-East of England.” In addition, Technip Energies has been selected by bp to deliver FEED for the H2Teesside hydrogen production site. This will include establishing the execution methodology, a robust schedule and project cost. It is expected to complete FEED in 2025. Andy Lane, VP for hydrogen and CCUS at bp, UK, said: “These agreements mark further critical milestones for H2Teesside as the project continues to move towards EPC contracts and then construction. The project could play a critical role in decarbonising industry on Teesside, helping to transform the region into a leading hydrogen hub and kickstart the UK’s low carbon hydrogen economy.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GTC is continuing to advance domestic heating solutions with the delivery and installation of its innovative Community Heat Hub at The Gateway, the Vistry Bexhill development in Sussex. The transformative replacement for gas meets the requirements of the 2025 Future Homes Standard (FHS) and is set to revolutionise the heating of new builds across the UK. The Vistry Bexhill development marks the second UK site to deploy GTC’s efficient and sustainable centralised heat network solution, following the successful trial of the Community Heat Hub last year at Taylor Wimpey’s Westfield Heath’s site in Suffolk. When assessed under the FHS, which comes into effect next year, carbon savings of 81% are predicted for the Vistry Bexhill development, when compared with individual gas boilers. Vistry, one of the UK’s largest housebuilders, will use the GTC heat network solution on the Bexhill site to provide heat and hot water from a central source on the development, owned and maintained by a specialist company. Over a two-phase build, this will serve 801 houses, as well as a primary school, sports pavilion, community centre and retail units. While networked heat solutions have long been utilised in urban areas, the Community Heat Hub is the first product of its kind that is commercially viable and practical for low-rise, low-density sites. Building on the proven methods from its sister company, Metropolitan’s, extensive experience in high-density developments, GTC has committed to rolling out the innovative solution to low-density sites. John Marsh, COO at GTC, said: “Homeowners within the new Bexhill development will have a reliable supply of heat and water, all while having the peace of mind that their energy usage is at net zero. We are always looking for innovative solutions to decarbonise domestic heating, and the Community Heat Hub has proved to be incredibly effective in new developments. We look forward to welcoming our new customers to the net zero heat network.” Brendan Evans, managing director at Vistry Kent, said: “The installation of the Community Heat Hub at The Gateway is a significant step not only for residents living at the development but also for the wider goal of achieving net zero. “At Vistry, we are committed to achieving a 75 to 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions in new homes by 2025 compared to 2021. Cutting-edge low-carbon technologies such as this will play a key role in meeting that target. “We are proud to become only the second site in the UK to utilise this energy efficient heat network and look forward to working in partnership with GTC to roll out this technology to more of our new developments across the region.” The Community Heat Hub at Bexhill is estimated to save around 850 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually in comparison to individual gas boilers in homes. If you’re looking for a heat solution that already meets the proposed standards outlined within the FHS and you want to partner with a company with innovation and market-leading expertise at its core, then please contact GTC via https://www.gtc-uk.co.uk/contact-us/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New nuclear capacity may not be ready in time to provide the required increase in baseload electricity, according to a recent report from the National Engineering Policy Centre. As a result, the UK may need to approve new gas-fired power stations to decarbonise its electricity systems by 2030, presenting a challenging decision for the Labour government. The report indicates that maintaining the electricity supply for the rest of the decade and beyond will necessitate additional baseload power, which new nuclear power stations will not be able to provide in time. While the UK’s existing gas-fired power stations are expected to continue operating as long as possible, more will likely be needed. Although wind and solar generation are poised for significant expansion, the country’s nuclear reactors are ageing, and coal is nearly phased out. Nilay Shah, a professor of process systems engineering at Imperial College London and a co-author of the report, stated: “There is a reasonable chance that we will need new gas-fired power stations.” However, he emphasised the importance of ensuring these stations are genuinely ready for the attachment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, potentially by locating them near underground carbon storage sites. The number of new stations required will depend on factors such as the construction of new interconnectors between the UK and overseas electricity grids. Simon Harrison, head of strategy at the engineering company Mott MacDonald and co-chair of the committee that authored the report, added that having a small number of gas-fired power stations would enhance the UK’s resilience, even if they produce some carbon emissions. “We have to not be purist about unabated gas,” he remarked. This situation presents a tough decision for Ed Miliband, the energy and net zero secretary, as he strives to meet the ambitious target of decarbonising electricity generation by 2030. Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit think tank, noted: “Keeping a supply of unabated gas plants in 2030 – some new as older ones are planned to go offline before then – in reality would probably mean they are only on for short, infrequent periods of time. These plants will probably be expensive to run, and gas prices are predicted to remain volatile, so it is in consumer interests to keep their usage low as well as in the interests of our energy security and, of course, climate change.” Labour acknowledged in its manifesto the likely need to maintain some “unabated gas” – that is, without CCS – for supply security. The Committee on Climate Change has also stated that some gas-fired electricity could be necessary even as the UK aims for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Miliband will also face significant challenges in updating the UK’s ageing electricity grid and constructing new pylons required for power transmission from new onshore and offshore wind and solar farms. The report highlights the need for substantial work on transmission infrastructure, including new pylons. Although local objections are expected, the upgrade promises nationwide benefits, such as job creation, regional economic revitalisation, cleaner air, better health, and reduced climate crisis impacts. Protests against new pylons have been organised by local groups and supported by Green and Liberal Democrat politicians. While the Conservative party manifesto promised to bury pylons, this method is more expensive than using overhead cables. “We need to show people the benefits,” Harrison said, calling for a robust public debate on the plan. He urged Labour to engage more effectively than previous administrations: “There needs to be a different level of engagement than we have seen in recent times.” The report also advises caution regarding the future of biomass power in the UK, recommending that ministers make “stop-go decisions on future support” for it. Ministers face pressure to approve substantial new subsidies for large biomass-burning power stations like Drax, which provide baseload power but are controversial due to their reliance on wood burning. “Biomass generation is only worth supporting if the emissions savings are genuine and based on sustainable feedstocks, which is contested for biomass pellet imports to the UK,” the report said. A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero stated: “We are taking immediate action implementing our long-term plan to make Britain a clean energy superpower. This is the only way to guarantee our energy security and protect bill-payers permanently, which is why we will double onshore wind, treble solar, and quadruple offshore wind by 2030. We will also maintain a strategic reserve of gas power stations to guarantee supply security.”
A Warwickshire manufacturer of solar-powered lighting that does not need to be connected to the grid is hoping to grow its team following advice from a business support programme. Ryton-based Solar Vision Lighting Technologies (SVLT) designs green street lighting and CCTV solutions for main roads, residential developments, industrial sites, and more, which customers can either buy outright or rent as needed. The lighting can be used without a grid connection and is charged by a solar wrap during the day, and the process is much more eco-friendly and simple to use compared to permanent lighting. SVLT is hoping to get equity investment and grow its team from four to eleven in the next 12 to 18 months – following advice on a number of commercial topics from Rod-Roberts Dear at the University of Warwick Science Park’s fully funded business support service Business Ready – saw its order book balloon overnight. Rod worked with Greg to rework the company’s business plan and value proposition to be as attractive as possible to potential investors and then went on to overhaul its website and approach to SEO. Greg Ketteridge, Managing Director of SVLT, said: “Before working with Business Ready, we simply did not realise how many potential customers we were missing out on. I do not have a background in marketing, so working with Rod was a real eye-opener for me and the company. “We weren’t measuring where the money was going and how it was working for us. Rod encouraged us to better track that data, which showed us we ought to be focusing much more on B2B sales, such as housebuilders and local authorities involved in roadworks and open space areas. “Our approach to our website also changed to ensure our SEO ranking enabled us to appear on the first page of Google. “This new strategy has really boosted our sales growth, and it means we can now look at growing our core team of four by hiring some of our contractors full-time – something that was simply impossible before. This will allow us to take on more work and grow even further.” Rod is also hopeful that SVLT’s new business plan and value proposition could take it to greater heights. “SVLT’s original business plan was somewhat loose, which is not what investors are after,” he said. “We worked with Greg to tighten up the plan, and really dig into the data to work out what is worth presenting to possible investors. “In the past the sector has faced some issues of poor product reliability and so we helped them come up with the succinct and slightly challenging tagline ‘off-grid solar products that actually work’. We then helped them to make their website more attractive and streamlined. “It’s great to see the strategy working for SVLT, and I’m confident its new business plan could see even more external investment come its way.” Councillor Martin Watson, portfolio holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “We are delighted that the Business Ready programme has supported Solar Vision Lighting Technologies to improve order numbers, their website and approach to SEO, all with the intention to position itself for equity investment which will enable them to create additional job opportunities and grow their team. “Supporting Warwickshire’s businesses is a key priority, and the Business Ready programme can provide businesses in need of support with free, tailored advice, expertise, business workshops and much more to help them grow and develop.” Cllr Louise Robinson, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for growth, investment, digital and communications, said: “The expert advice on offer from Business Ready aims to help businesses in the borough develop robust plans for growth, creating new jobs, securing investment and supporting the borough’s economy. “Solar Vision Lighting Technologies has really benefited from the holistic approach taken by Business Ready, from strengthening the company’s business plan and identifying new markets to maximising the opportunities online. It’s delivered immediate results with an influx of new orders and plans to create more full-time roles, putting in place a business strategy which can support SVLT’s growth in the future.” Business Ready forms part of the Business Growth Warwickshire programme. It is delivered by University of Warwick Science Park on behalf of Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire’s five District and Borough Councils. The support is part funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (via the District and Borough Councils), and Warwickshire County Council. Find out what other support is available to your business by calling Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747 or visit the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The call for solar continues to be strong, with more efficient panels being demanded by homeowners, housebuilders and contractors. In response, Marley has launched a new panel option in its SolarTile® range – the SolarTile® 410. The new panel delivers a peak power of 410W to increase total power from a roof area, while allowing for the installation of fewer solar panels to achieve the desired output. By adding a more powerful 410Wp panel to the SolarTile® range, alongside the existing 335Wp solution, specifiers, housebuilders and contractors can benefit from increased versatility depending on project size and output requirements. The new Marley SolarTile® 410 offers simple roof integration with a clean, low-profile aesthetic making it a desirable and efficient solution for new build and retrofit projects. Compatible with Marley’s existing range of concrete and clay tiles, and including special fixings for different batten thicknesses, the 410 panel is accompanied by a complete family of colour-coded flashing kits, for ease of installation. The 410 panel achieves exceptional fire performance, wind resistance and weather tightness, making it an ideal solution for solar roofing projects. Stuart Nicholson, Roof Systems Director at Marley, comments: “Since launching with 270Wp and 310Wp solar panels in 2021, Marley has continued to focus on pushing for enhanced solar panel efficiency. Alongside the current 335Wp panel, the new SolarTile® 410Wp panel widens specification choice for the market. “It is further evidence of our continued commitment to delivering an ever-improving, complete renewable package – which now includes battery storage, inverters and EV charging solutions – to support the construction industry in its drive to build more energy efficient properties. Solar panel specification on roofscapes is increasing as regulatory changes look to improve housing stock, provide access to renewable energy and make homes more energy efficient ahead of the 2050 net zero target. “The new Marley SolarTile® 410 panel allows specifiers, housebuilders, and contractors to incorporate fewer panels to attain a desired power output. It also reduces installation timescales to optimise resource planning and further reduce cost. The Marley SolarTile® range integrates perfectly with our full roof system, meaning specifiers, housebuilders and contractors can also benefit from the reassurance of Marley’s 15-year warranty. Additionally, Marley’s team of experts are also on hand to offer complete technical support for the roof design and panel installation.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Castle Street sustainable energy centre is at an exciting stage in its development with bespoke bronze cladding being applied to its facades. The new building skin has been designed by LDN Architects as a subtly symbolic saltire and diamond pattern that reflects the heritage, colours and patterns of its surroundings. This includes the bastion walls of the castle and the sandstone buildings that are predominant in Inverness city centre. The system is being installed by Bancon Construction and its specialist cladding contractor Maple. When complete, the building will act as a distinctly contemporary gateway to the Inverness Castle Experience and will supply the building with all its heating demand through renewable technology. Cllr Ian Brown, Leader of Inverness City and Area and Co-Chair of the Levelling Up Fund Programme Board, said, “We need to create a greener, more sustainable future for all our Highland communities.” “The three projects being refurbished in the Highland capital, supported by UK Government funding, will provide, on completion, immense benefits for locals and visitors alike.” Cllr Ken Gowans, Chair of Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee said: “Everyone is aware of the necessity to reduce our carbon footprint. As a Council, we have a crucial role to play in this challenge and it is only by prioritising renewable technologies within projects in the Highlands that the path to net zero can be achieved. It is great to see this project taking shape as the castle project comes together.” Three projects along the River Ness in Inverness are being supported with almost £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund. The projects – Castle Street Energy Centre, Northern Meeting Park refurbishment, and upgrades to Bught Park – will boost the city’s sporting and cultural attractions, preserve key heritage assets, help attract more tourists, and assist in achieving net zero carbon targets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
British solar heat and power scale-up Naked Energy announced today that it has secured £17m ofnew equity as part of a Series B first close to supercharge its global expansion and the adoption of its cutting-edge solutions to decarbonise heat. The round was led by E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions (E.ON EIS), a provider of integrated, sustainable energy solutions for cities and industries. E.ON EIS is part of the E.ON Group, one of Europe’s largest operators of energy networks and infrastructure, and a strategic partner to Naked Energy. The partnership was initiated by E.ON Group Innovation through the global accelerator programme Free Electrons, in which E.ON’s innovation team identified the advanced Naked Energy technology. The strategic partnership was founded in October 2023 and enables the partners to continuously expand the collaboration and scale the solution. The series was supported by co-investment from existing investor Barclays through its Sustainable Impact Capital. The investment is a strong endorsement of Naked Energy’s growth plans, enabling the company to accelerate the international distribution of its award-winning solar heat and power technology with the adoption of innovative new business models. Naked Energy’s Virtu solar collectors have a modular design and the world’s highest energy density solar technology, proven to be up to four times more impactful at offsetting CO2 emissions than conventional solar PV panels. E.ON EIS will benefit from access to the innovative Virtu product range for its commercial and industrial customers. The relationship between E.ON and Naked Energy will facilitate the provision of Naked Energy’s technology through a Heat-As-A-Service model to a global client base. The two companies are already working on a pipeline of projects across multiple territories. Naked Energy has sold its Virtu product range to more than 20 countries and is well-established in the UK and Europe, having signed deals with industrial and commercial clients, such as IHG Hotels & Resorts and Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London. The IEA Renewables Report 2023 projects that the share of heat from renewable energy will increase by more than 40% worldwide from 2023 to 2028. As a result of the deal, Naked Energy is well-positioned to capitalise on this growing opportunity for renewable heat technologies. The company has manufacturing bases in the UK and Europe, and is scheduled to start manufacturing in Dallas, Texas later this year in partnership with its US distribution partner ELM Solar. Christophe Williams, CEO of Naked Energy, said: “The first wave of investment of our Series B round is transformative for our journey and a great step in the wider movement to decarbonise heat. “It’s clear that both E.ON and Barclays share our sense of urgency to decarbonise heat. Heating takes up over half of all energy consumed globally, and as the demand for renewable heat continues to rise, we’re committed more than ever to supporting the commercial and industrial sectors in their transition away from natural gas. “Heat decarbonisation presents a huge economic opportunity. With investment from such major industry players, we’re confident we can capitalise on this global shift and look forward to other like-minded investors joining us on our journey to ‘change energy for good’.” Daniel Joisten, Head of Innovation Commercialization at E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions, added: “Investing in Naked Energy has been a great decision for E.ON. In just one year, we’ve progressed from scouting and assessing their capabilities through E.ON Group Innovation as part of the prestigious Free Electrons Program, to a test installation at E.ONs Silicon Valley Garage and now on to a strategic partnership with significant potential for E.ON´s Energy Infrastructure Business. “Naked Energy’s solutions have distinctive and convincing value propositions. We will utilise them to help our customers, in industries such as Food & Beverage and Hospitality, to decarbonize their businesses profitably. We are looking forward to scaling our joint business activities, both from an E.ON perspective and on Naked Energy’s board of directors.” Gavin Chapman, Co-Head of Principal Investments at Barclays, said: “To reach net zero, we need to rapidly scale new, innovative technologies to help reduce emissions in the sectors that are most difficult to decarbonise – particularly our homes and buildings. As we make our follow-on investment today, we’re excited to see and support Naked Energy’s continued growth and further deployment of their technology, supercharged by the partnership with E.ON.” Piper Sandler served as exclusive corporate finance advisor to Naked Energy on the transaction. The second close is expected to complete before the end of September 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Engineering and infrastructure specialist Spencer Group has been appointed to play a key role in the development of a pioneering new energy plant which aims to reshape the future of renewable energy. Spencer Group will deliver a £23m contract to design the site layout and deliver the enabling works and civils for the UK’s first commercial scale liquid air long duration energy storage facility, which is being developed at Trafford Energy Park in Carrington, Manchester. The £300m development by Highview Power will store surplus electricity generated from wind and solar and will be the first commercial-scale plant in the UK deploying pioneering liquid air energy storage technology. Developed by Highview Power in the UK over the past 17 years, the technology enables renewable energy to be stored for up to several weeks, longer than battery technologies. The plant will be one of the world’s largest facilities of its kind and, once complete, will have a storage capacity of 300 MWh – enough clean and green energy to serve the needs of 480,000 homes. Spencer Group Executive Chairman, Charlie Spencer OBE said: “Highview Power is a leading player in helping the UK achieve its net zero targets and is addressing the key issue of energy storage. “We’re delighted to be involved with this exciting and pioneering project, which promises to reshape the future of renewable energy. “We have a strong track record of delivering large-scale energy projects and we’re excited to expand our portfolio of works within this field with a project that will play a key role in the UK’s energy transition.” John Goldie, Highview Power, Programme Director added: “We are looking forward to continuing to build and further our relationship with Spencer Group, which we have developed over the past 24 months during the pre-execute phase of the Carrington project. We selected Spencer Group based on their expertise and experience in delivering similar type projects and providing innovative and value-added solutions in engineering and construction.” Highview Power aims to solve the question of “what do you do when the wind doesn’t blow, and the sun doesn’t shine?” Its technology will support the UK’s energy transition by making intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar more flexible, as well as cutting energy waste, reducing dependence on foreign gas and ensuring the UK meets net zero goals. It works by converting excess energy into liquid air, which can be easily and safely stored, through a process of cooling, compression and expansion. When power is required, the liquid air is drawn from storage tanks, pumped to high pressure and reheated, with the resulting high-pressure gas used to power a turbine and generate clean electricity on demand. The technology addresses some of the key issues of alternative storage techniques as it is more compact and can be located anywhere, has a long lifespan and can be integrated with existing infrastructure. Spencer Group’s Civils Division will begin work on site in late 2024, with the plant expected to be operational in 2026. Spencer Group’s Account Director, Richard Green-Morgan, added: “This is an area of the energy sector we’re thrilled to work in and we look forward to working with Highview Power to bring significant added value to this project and get the scheme off the ground in the most efficient way. “The uniqueness of our offering is that we have the ability to design all the elements in-house, meaning we are able to quickly and smoothly adapt the design around the client requirements. “The scale of this project means it has been several years in the making, so we’re excited to get on site early next year and begin delivering this pioneering development.” Thanks to the wide range of expertise within the business, Spencer Group has a proven track record of delivering highly successful projects within the energy sector and developing innovative solutions to aid client’s projects. Bringing together knowledge and skills from its civil engineering, mechanical and electrical (M&E) and materials handling teams, Spencer Group is able to deliver power generation projects from start to finish, from planning and designing the plant from scratch, to designing and building the access infrastructure, and commissioning the site when it is built. Highview Power recently secured backing from UK Infrastructure Bank and energy and services company Centrica, alongside a syndicate of investors including Rio Tinto, Goldman Sachs, KIRKBI and Mosaic Capital, to help fund its ambitious plans to accelerate the UK’s transition to net zero. The Carrington development is expected to create more than 700 jobs, and it is hoped that it will be the first of many similar plants around the UK, with Highview Power already planning the next four larger scale facilities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new online PV Configurator from BMI Redland is set to streamline the solar PV project design process as the UK continues to see a record growth in installations. The Redland PV Configurator has been developed to address a growing need for support in cutting through complexity and getting accurate technical information for projects – such as how the shape of the roof impacts the size of the array and the layout required, and how this relates to the desired power output. The tool is free to access on the BMI website, giving anyone planning solar PV work an easy-to-use method of producing technical designs and specifications. Damien Pooley, Portfolio Manager for Pitched Roofing at BMI, explains: “The new configurator will help to reduce overall project time. We’ve designed it to be intuitive and easy to use, and it creates a comprehensive report which clearly lists out all the component parts required for the PV InDaX Adapt system to work in an easy-to-understand specification pack. “The use of solar PV is growing rapidly in the UK – figures from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) show a rise in installations of nearly 30% last year alone. That means greater demands on the construction industry to deliver solar PV across a growing range and volume of projects. We want to help to do this efficiently, with the planning phase often cited as a bottleneck, given the technical information that must be obtained and checked. “The Redland PV Configurator has been developed specifically for ease of use so that projects aren’t held up by needless complexity at the design stage. With just a few clicks to enter project information, users can receive a bespoke Project Pack with technical details of the specific PV array requirements, and a complete list of the components needed to get started.” The new configurator is just the latest way in which Redland is making it easier to complete high quality solar PV installations. The Redland PV InDaX Adapt in-roof system itself consists of just 12 component parts and is therefore straightforward to install in comparison with many other systems. The MCS 012 and MCS 005 approved system also offers a 25-year power output guarantee and 10-year product warranty for peace of mind. When designed and built in accordance with a Redland specification, roofs using PV InDaX Adapt can also be covered by the Redland SpecMaster 15-year whole roof guarantee for design liability. Damien concludes: “Here at Redland, we have over 100 years of roofing knowledge and expertise, and we’re delighted to put this to good use in helping simplify solar PV projects. Ultimately, this helps to offer a more efficient route to full roof confidence, given all Redland products are designed to work together and backed by our expert technical team.” To find out more about the PV InDaX Adapt system, go to bmigroup.com/uk/indax or to use the new PV Configurator visit bmigroup.com/uk/pv Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
