Five routes have been shortlisted by the Department for Transport for the proposed multi-billion pound Trans-Pennine road tunnel that will link Manchester with Sheffield. All five of the routes link the M1 north of Sheffield with the M60 east of Manchester, with four of the routes starting at the M67. The proposed tunnel could nearly halve journey times between the two cities and save about 30 minutes on journey times. Data from Trafficmaster shows that the current journey from the urban centres of Sheffield and Manchester via Pennine routes excluding the M62 is around 40 miles and on average takes an hour and 15 minutes. The distance from Sheffield and Manchester via the M62 is approximately 75 minutes and on average the travel time is just over an hour and a half. John Hayes, Transport Minister, said that the project will be the most ambitious one of its kind since the motorways were first constructed 50 years ago. In response, civil engineering contractors called on the Department for Transport to engage with its supply chain from the outset to make sure that the next wave of major road schemes are delivered efficiently. The tunnel announcement was accompanied by reports that encouraged the construction of improved connections between Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford and upgrades to important parts of the A1 in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Marie-Claude Hemming, CECA Head of External Affairs, commented: “CECA has long argued for investment in world-class infrastructure to ensure the UK remains an attractive place to live and work. “As such we welcome the publication of these long awaited reports which will deliver this growth through quicker, more reliable journeys. But in a time of economic constraint, it is imperative that these projects are completed with speed and efficiency.” Hemming added that CECA believes that the DfT and its delivery partners must engage with their potential supply chains early in the development process to make sure that the new routes are built in budget and on time.

A major new electrical industry event has been announced for 2017 at the world-renowned NEC in Birmingham. Publishing and events group All Things Media (ATM) will run the brand new national exhibition which is aimed at the whole electrical and electronics industry. Leading electrical and building service trade body, the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), is backing ‘The Electrical Design and Install Expo’ (ED&I) by being the headline sponsor. The aim of ED&I is to bring everyone involved in the installation, design, specification, inspection, manufacturing and distribution of electrical products together under one roof. The event will offer a one off chance to learn more about and interact with the latest products and innovations, listen to industry experts, and network with thousands of professionals in the industry. The show has been billed as ‘the electrical event the industry has been crying out for’ and will be shaped around discovering new services and technologies that will help companies to grow. The comprehensive seminars will offer valuable insights into the latest opportunities and trends in the industry, and the latest on legislation and policy, while a series of industry investors will show off their latest industry leading products and services on the exhibition floor. Managing Director of ATM, David Kitchener, said: “The ED&I Expo represents a real watershed moment in the electrical sector, allowing everyone involved in the industry to get together, share ideas, unearth new business opportunities and drive the industry forward. “We expect to attract visitors from all over the UK and are extremely confident that the event will quickly become the “must attend” exhibition for senior level decision makers, contractors, specifiers, consultants, architects and designers, distributors, training providers, facilities managers and other key influencers.” Meanwhile, ECA Chief Executive, Steve Bratt, said that the ECA is pleased to be working with ATM on the ED&I Expo.

With the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) to be introduced in April 2018, there has been some scaremongering regarding how the new regulations will affect businesses. Engineering consultancy firm Cundall has now given advice on how to get the most out of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Assessments, with their comments primarily aimed as asset managers and property owners who are concerned that they will no longer be able to lease their property as a result of having an EPC rating of F or G. The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England & Wales) Regulations 2015, better known as MEES, comes into effect from April 2018. They will initially stop the granting of a new lease on properties with an F or G rated EPC from April 2023 and will then stop the continued letting of a property with an EPC rating of F or G. These regulations could have a significant impact on the value of a property portfolio if they are not considered and managed in advance. For instance, an EPC commissioned today could affect someone’s ability to continue to lease a property in 2023. Cundall advises to first of all check the existing assessor’s accreditation scheme; the level and software for the assessment which is provided on the bottom of the certificate. It is most likely that the rating can be significantly improved if the software is iSBEM and/or it is not a Level 5 assessment. EPCs produced from simple Level 3 & 4 assessments using free iSBEM software can vary as much as 20% compared to a detailed Level 5 assessment using simulation tools. A 20% variation can be equal to two EPC bands, with the high level assessment generally giving better results. Furthermore, the simple assessment usually means that the assessor uses default values due to lack of time and knowledge resulting in a worse rating.

The government has approved the development of the largest offshore windfarm in the world, Hornsea Project Two. Situated off the Yorkshire coast, the windfarm will have a 1.8GW capacity and will be made up of 300 turbines. The project is owned by Dong Energy and will be developed by Smart Wind. Greg Clark, Business and Energy Secretary has now approved the plans and has given government consent for the project in its entirety, including export cables, array cables, offshore and onshore substations, foundations and turbines. Clark commented: “The UK’s offshore wind industry has grown at an extraordinary rate over the last few years, and is a fundamental part of our plans to build a clean, affordable, secure energy system. “Britain is a global leader in offshore wind, and we’re determined to be one of the leading destinations for investment in renewable energy, which means jobs and economic growth right across the country.” Meanwhile, Brent Cheshire, UK County Chairman at Dong Energy said that the development of the second phase of the Hornsea project is most welcome and will build on the company’s £6 billion investment in the UK so far, providing a further exciting development opportunity in offshore wind. The company believed that a project of this size will help them in their efforts to keep cutting the cost of electricity from offshore wind and illustrates their commitment to UK investment. Huub den Rooijen, Crown Estate Director of Energy, Minerals and Infrastructure, said that offshore wind is already on course to meet 10% of electricity demand in the UK by 2020. He added that major developments on the same scale as the Hornsea Project Two will result in a continuation of growth along with a reduction in costs that will create high value jobs and support the UK’s transition to a low carbon energy supply.

Northumbrian Water has announced that it is to embark on a £2.5 million upgrade to its sewerage network in a County Durham town next month. Working in conjunction with Natural England, the company will start the project on Monday September 12, 2016 and will run until May next year. Involved in the work will be the replacement of the existing pipework, which is currently in a poor state of repair and is at risk of causing pollution in the Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve near Peterlee. The scheme will also see Northumbrian Water remove non-native trees, which were planted in the reserve some 40 years ago. The company said that this will “maximise benefits” for wildlife by reshaping the natural environment. The project will also see entrances and exits created from Durham Way to access the land on the north side of Castle Eden Dene. Once work has been completed, Northumbrian Water will work with Natural England to restore these. Sean Barry, Project Manager at Northumbrian Water, said that the project will help to protect the Dene from future pollution risks, along with the burn that runs through it. Barry added: “As someone who grew up in the area and still lives close to Castle Eden Dene, I know how important the conservation of the site is to residents and visitors, so while this is a delicate project, it will be handled with care and I look forward to leaving the dene ready for the return and resurgence of its natural species.” Meanwhile, Chris Evans, Senior Reserve Manager at Natural England, said that the scheme is a good example of how Natural England is working in conjunction with Northumbrian Water throughout the North East. Evans continued: “We will be working closely with their team and are confident there will be real benefits for wildlife on the site once works are complete.”

London Underground’s curved track problem has been solved thanks to a new type of concrete sleeper produced by Cemex Rail Solutions. Until now, the sleepers on rail track curves have been made out of wood, but the first new concrete sleepers have recently been laid at a section of track between Aldgate East and Whitechapel. London Underground had previously found it challenging to produce the right type of sleeper that would be sufficient to guide the track around curves of less than a 200 metre radius, while ensuring that the Tube trains remain on the track. Previously, sleepers designed for curves were made out of timber, which can affect the gauge of the track as they tend to shrink over time. As a result of this design flaw, London Underground have been searching for a solution to this problem and it now seems that Cemex have come up with the solution after 12 months of development work. Cemex has said that the main challenge was how to attach the cast iron base plate to the sleeper, as this would typically be done by casting plastic dowels into the concrete to allow the base plate to be bolted down. Durham University conducted analysis into the issue, which highlighted complications when using the normal attachment methods, relating to the forces in pre-stressed concrete that may lead to more cracks. Replacement of plastic inserts normally used for attachment of conductor pots by steel inserts and reinforcement around the plastic dowels, adopted from industry practice in Germany, has significantly reduced the risk of any possible cracking. The Derbyshire-based Cemex Rail Solutions factory has now started to produce three varieties of the sleeper, with two further models in the pipeline. A further 2 variants of check rail bearer were designed (short ended at either end) at the same time to allow for drainage catch pits which are sometimes in the way trackside.

A major hospital in Cambridge is being helped to cut carbon, reduce costs and save energy by Anglian Water Business. The water firm worked with Addenbrooke’s Hospital, along with consultancy company SaveMoneyCutCarbon, to replace the hospital’s inefficient and dated fluorescent lamps with 650 LED tubes and panels in the hospital. This is said to result in an overall carbon and energy reduction of 53%, while saving £15,000 a year and a return on investment in under four and a half years for the hospital. Addenbrooke’s entire wastewater treatment needs are already served by Anglian Water Business (AWB), with the LED replacement scheme forming part of its commitment to proactively identifying the best ways of providing customers with more value. Paul Vincent, AWB Account Manager, said that they are delighted to be helping Addenbrooke’s implement the significant efficiency and financial savings. Vincent continued: “At [AWB], we are committed to working collaboratively with our customers to ensure they lower costs and consumption, whether it’s water or energy. “This project was made possible thanks to our partnership with SaveMoneyCutCarbon and interest-free funding from Salix Finance.” Denis Garnham, Addenbrooke’s Hospital Energy Manager, said that the hospital’s sustainable energy development plan is based on carbon, energy and cost saving, while improving the quality of the healthcare environment on the site. Garnham believes that this latest lighting upgrade project is a prime example of how they are working towards this goal by bringing together their Salix funding stream and AWB’s progressive value added services. Holden Cook, Chief Operating Officer at SaveMoneyCutCarbon, said: “The money saved by the Trust in energy and maintenance costs can now be diverted into other essential areas, which is fantastic.” Anglian Water Business is a national water retailer which supplies over 140,000 public sector bodies and businesses throughout the UK.

The National Grid is preparing for a 400MW spike in demand this Saturday (August 13) as people up and down the country tune in to watch a huge night of Olympic action. The rise in demand is expected for ‘Super Saturday’ as viewers stay up until 3am to watch Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford go for gold. The predicted spike in demand is lower than that of the London 2012 Super Saturday but the National Grid has attributed this to the time difference in Rio. A ‘TV pickup’ occurs when demand for electricity increases during advert breaks or at the conclusion of the UK’s most popular programmes as consumers turn on lights and electrical applicances. If Andy Murray makes it to the final of the tennis event which begins at 8pm, the National Grid is expecting a 500MW pickup, while a 250MW spike is expected if Team GB’s women’s gymnastics team make the final round. When Tom Daley claimed his bronze medal on Tuesday night, Britain saw a pickup of around 169MW, however this was much below the expected 350MW spike. When the coverage switched to the gymnastics, a further 50MW increase was seen. Jeremy Caplin, Energy Forecasting Manager at the National Grid, explained that pickups during this year’s Rio Olympics have been significantly lower than London 2012, which he believes is because of the time difference as the majority of events have been taking place overnight. Caplin added: “As always our team of experts in the control room are working hard to ensure our predictions are as accurate as possible and we are expecting to see an increase in demand of 200MW overnight during ‘Super Saturday’ as people tune in to watch stars such as Jessica Ennis-Hill and Mo Farah.”

Design and consultancy company Arcadis has been appointed as the primary contractor on a £1 million project to study the railway line between Exeter and Newton Abbot. The firm has been appointed by Network Rail to conduct ground investigation studies in the cliff areas between Teignmouth and Dawlish as part of a 50 year scheme. The findings of the study will provide engineering guidelines to model failure mechanisms and inform the later phases of design where planned intervention measures could be proposed. At present, the coastal route for the South Devon Railway is prone to storm damage with the breach of the Dawlish sea wall two years ago leaving the line shut for two months. This cost the rail industry an estimated £45 million. Arcadis Project Manager, Claire Milner, said that they are using innovative GIS technology to deliver the scheme, which will help with communication and improve the quality of data analysis. Milner added: “This means we can ensure Network Rail is equipped with the information and data it needs for future investment decisions, while at the same time working closely with the local community to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.” Meanwhile, project sponsor for Network Rail, Joanna Grew insisted that her firm is committed to the long term resilience of the railway between Newton Abbot and Exeter. Grew continued: “Keeping this railway line available for local communities, as well as passengers and businesses further afield is crucially important. “This work will provide vital data to feed in to the long term resilience options for this route and allow us to better plan the works in the future.” Meanwhile, Network Rail announced last month that the line between Folkestone to Dover is set to reopen this autumn. The project to rebuild the line cost £39.8 million, with work starting on the project in December 2015.

German firm ETW Energietechnik GmbH has developed technology that can blend two gas streams of different qualities to fuel CHPs. ETW said the equipment ’precisely blends the two gases to a homogeneous fuel mixture’. This makes the technology ideally suited for landfills that struggle with shrinking heating values and volumes of biogas along their lifetime the firm said.. This shrinking heating value can be compensated by gradually enriching biogas with natural gas (NG). The blending is completely automated and designed to consume the lowest possible amounts of natural gas. Almost any CHP can easily be upgraded, ETW said. There are several advantages for the operator, ETW adds. At startups the CHP receives a perfectly balanced fuel mixture, preventing startup problems often caused by low CH4 concentration. “This enables the operation of CHPs even with CH4 concentration lower than 30%,increasing its lifetime and availability, and thus its economic feasibility. The CHP can be operated independently from the land-fill gas supply.”