Northumbrian Water has paved the way for increased renewable energy thanks to a significant solar power instillation at one of the country’s biggest environmental management sites. The supplier’s Bran Sands water treatment plant based in Middlesbrough will now be home to one of the UK’s largest commercial rooftop mounted solar panel installations, with 943 solar panels. The installation comes as part of the company’s ‘Power Purchase Agreement’ (PPA) with Lightsource Renewable Energy, the leading solar energy company in Europe. Lightsource will operate, design and fund the system which will provide Northumbria Water with a straightforward solution to its power requirements, while making a carbon and energy saving equal to 24 cars being taken off the roads per year. Bran Sands data can then be used to gauge the potential for installing more solar panels in other sites owned by Northumbrian Water. In its first year, data shows that the instillation is on target to reach its projected savings target of £6,353, while long-term projections show that costs could be reduced by in excess of £386,000 over the course of the next 20 years. Steve Coverdale, Plant Manager at Bran Sands, said that the installation of solar energy at the site will enable the water supplier to continue its move towards reaching parity of importing energy, with the long-term hope being that it can become an exporter of energy. He said that Northumbrian Water are always on the lookout for methods to improve its energy efficiency and sustainability, while also caring for the environment and cutting down on costs. He added that the results they have seen thus far have shown reason for optimism that the solar installation is having the desired effects and that the company will keep reassessing what will be achieved in order to establish the role of solar energy. The panels were installed within two weeks so that both Lightsource and Northumbrian Water could meet the government’s deadline for reduced ‘Feed-in Tariff’ support.

The Construction Industry Trading Board is trying to provide work experience and career insights in order to secure the best available talent for the industry. Go Construct, the newly formed recruitment campaign for the industry, has launched the ‘Experience Matching Service’, which gives people the opportunity to experience the construction industry first hand. Employers in the industry have been signing up to provide project placements, careers talks, site visits and work experience to anyone with an interest in a career in the construction business, as well as conducting mock interviews and taster days. The idea behind the scheme is to enable young people to experience for themselves how the construction industry works and provide good, clear information about a career in the sector. The companies are trying to make sure that there is a clear correlation between what they say it is like to work in construction and the reality of it. They are saying that even one or two weeks spent working with them will be of huge benefit to young people considering taking their first step into the business and could even become their first break into it. There are also many benefits to the industry and employers by offering work experience as they could come across some special talents who they want to join their team through a positive experience for both parties. Businesses are also showing pride that they work in the construction industry by offering these opportunities and presents them as forward thinking organisations who want to strengthen relationships with local colleges and schools. It is hoped that the skills gap will be reduced and the very best talent will be secured for future generations of the construction industry by providing these experiences and career insights, as well as reducing the number of people who drop out of the industry later on.

Reduced price batteries may be the solution for electric cars being purchased by the masses. The expensive price of batteries has put people off the idea of electric cars for a number of years, with the reason for their price due to the specific needs of electric car batteries. They need to be light enough for the cars not to be drained by the battery, while also being big enough to ensure the car has enough energy to drive for hundreds of miles from one charge to the next. Chairman of Faradion (a technology company that researches cheap energy store solutions), Chris Wright, admits that current battery costs are equal to the rest of the electric car, something he says needs addressing. Wright said that as a result electric car advocates are trying desperately to find cheaper batteries to supply and that the automotive industry must provide a solution to make batteries that do not rely on lithium, which is the core matter of rechargeable batteries. He says that Faradion’s solution to this problem is sodium, which has similar energy properties but is less expensive to source, meaning that electric cars may soon become a realistic option for the masses. Wright pinpoints new drivers and commuters as those who would benefit most from an electric vehicle due to their affordability and ease of use. He added that the company have made sodium materials that work as well, if not better than lithium systems in battery cells. While petrol and diesel powered cars are still outselling electric vehicles by a considerable margin, sales of electric cars have seen a sharp rise over the last 12 months. This increase is due to fewer people being scared of the car running out of battery and being stuck along with consumers realising the financial benefits of running an electric car, along with being better for the environment.

Highways England has handed Balfour Beatty a £130m contract to build the new M20 Lorry Park in Kent. The new facility will bring to an end the long-running saga of Operation Stack that turns the M20 into a lorry park every time there are disruptions at the Port of Calais, breakdowns in the Channel tunnel or storms impacting on ferry crossings. The new lorry area will have capacity for approximately 3,600 lorries. Balfour Beatty has been brought in on an early contractor involvement (ECI) basis. The government has yet to sign off the overall £250m project, although it was contained in the chancellor’s 2015 autumn statement. Highways England is looking to a summer 2017 completion date. Balfour Beatty chief executive Leo Quinn said: “Balfour Beatty’s expertise in major infrastructure projects and long standing relationship with Highways England will be crucial for the safe and successful delivery of this project. The M20 lorry area will provide much needed relief to Kent’s road networks while supporting local economic growth and development.”

The risk of winter power cuts occurring in the UK could become a thing of the past, according to a submission from the ECA to a House of Commons Energy and Climate Change (ECC) Committee inquiry. The ECA’s input focuses on three core proposals, which have the capacity to substantially mitigate against high energy demand and shift usage away from peak times, namely: Fostering an energy storage revolution across the country, allowing for this stored power from renewable sources to then be deployed at times of peak demand, but at much lower cost; Facilitating a substantial increase in the use of electric vehicles, resulting in power usage shifting primarily to overnight when the vehicles are charged; and Developing plans for a European-wide energy ‘super grid’, that would allow power to be transported across borders to mitigate against high levels of demand. The proposals involve potentially little or no public incentive, as cost savings would result from storing power at cheap rates, and then using and potentially exporting energy at high rates. According to Bill Wright, ECA Head of Energy Solutions: “The risk of power cuts, especially during the winter months, remains a genuine prospect in Britain, particularly given the gradual closure of power stations. The ECA’s vision to revolutionise the energy market could in time lead to these concerns about blackouts becoming a historic relic. “The combination of widespread energy storage, large-scale take-up of electric vehicles and a European-wide ‘super grid’ is a compelling, clean and cost effective programme which could revolutionise the UK energy market.” The submission follows a request by MPs sitting on the ECC Committee for ‘innovations which have the greatest potential to revolutionise energy markets’. The ECA’s chosen criteria for the proposals were: creating economic benefits, ensuring security of supply, scalability and providing clean energy. The proposals come as politicians consider the UK’s Fifth Carbon Budget, which legally commits the government to meet specific carbon reduction targets, as part of efforts to reduce emissions by 80 per cent on 1990 levels by 2050.

It is hoped that a survey will form a clearer picture of the UK solar industry. The Solar Trade Association (STA) has set up an online survey to gather information about the UK’s solar industry following significant changes to the UK’s solar power policy framework. The survey is available to be returned by all UK based solar companies over the course of the next two weeks, with the findings to be presented to Ministers ahead of a public report that will be published early in the summer. Respondents to the survey, which is found at www.solar-trade.org.uk/pwc-and-sta-survey, will remain anonymous and confidential. Leonie Greene, head of external affairs at STA, said that solar power has suffered the loss of a vast amount of support recently and has been knocked back significantly since it was almost on a par with fossil fuels. She said that the STA understands that several solar companies are going through difficulties at the moment, with many ceasing trading and highly skilled workers made redundant. Ms Greene added that the survey is therefore paramount in aiding their understanding of where the UK solar industry is at following the impact of the policy changes. She commented that the results of the survey will be crucial in the organisation’s discussions with Parliament and Government, where there is sure to be a keen interest in the current state of the solar industry. The industry has seen its Renewables Obligation cut short, as domestic solar deployment has fallen by 80% under the Feed-In Tariff in comparison to last year. There is also uncertainty around the extent that Corporate Social Responsibility concerns are going to maintain short-term investment, while deployment of commercial solar roofs has been capped at 15MW per quarter. The STA will also be in contact with 200 companies who responded to last year’s survey so that they can assess the progression or regression of their solar companies.

Fracking in the UK still has a long way to go despite an energy company’s plans getting the green light, according to industry experts. This week North Yorkshire Councillors voted in support of Third Energy’s plan for exploratory fracking in the village of Kirby Misperton. David Cameron has been a long-time advocate of the fracking process, but his attempts to emulate the US model have thus far been thwarted by public hostility due to the industry’s suspect environmental record. The North Yorkshire scheme represents the first shale gas planning approval in Britain in five years and supporters hope other companies will follow suit. However, national fracking in the UK remains a distant prospect, partly due to changing economic situation of an industry inundated with cheap energy mainly caused by the US shale glut. Chief Executive of the UK Onshore Operators Group, Ken Cronin, said that he does not anticipate widespread extraction to take place until at least 2020. He added that what we will see prior to then is a series of ‘exploration wells’ that will give people chance to analyse the results and decide whether or not to proceed with production. However, green groups have condemned the Yorkshire vote, whose councillors came to their decision on the back of advice from planning officers. Meanwhile, Friends of the Earth are pushing for a judicial review of the decision. Energy Minister, Andrea Leadsom, spoke in support of the vote as she hailed shale gas as a good opportunity for the county and that fracking will benefit energy security, the economy and create more jobs. Although they have already received planning permission, Third Energy will now need the Oil and Gas Authority to approve its plans, as well as Energy Secretary, Amber Rudd. The company has endeavoured to reassure the local community and has promised not to drill on Sundays or at night.  

The Chartered Association of Building Engineers has appointed Benjamin Charles Bradford as its new President. Earlier this month, the Earl of Lytton played host at the Chartered Association of Building Engineers Presidential Inauguration at the Palace of Westminster. This event was held to pay homage to the departing President, David Kitcatt, before the inauguration of Benjamin Charles Bradford as the new President of CABE. Reflecting on his tenure as President, Kitcatt said he always endeavoured to get as many young people as possible to consider the possibility of a career in Building Engineering. He said this has been shown to be a successful mission as student membership of CABE has gone up by 102%, despite overall membership falling 7.7%. He said CABE’s vision is to raise standards, develop individuals and share knowledge. Mr Kitcatt’s final duty as President was to introduce his successor, Mr Bradford, who founded his specialist consulting firm, BB7, of which he is now Managing Director. The firm has gained national recognition for its specialist Fire and Security Engineering services, including major projects in Middle East and Africa. As a result, Mr Bradford has become known as a key figure in security and fire. Mr Bradford laid out his primary ambitions for the association, which included: boosting membership, increasing awareness of ethical and professional standards and encouraging communication with fellow professional groups to build thinking across different disciplines. He continued by saying that CABE’s vision is to be well known for making valuable contributions to all levels of society and to be the association of choice for progressive organisations and individuals. He also endeavours to make CABE members grasp the idea of “globally responsible building engineering”, while cementing the clear principles of public, environment and human rights which the engineering profession should always acknowledge and be working towards achieving.

Highways England has released a short video showing giant steel beams being lifted into place over the M1 near Dunstable as part of the £162m A5-M1 link road project. A Costain Carillion joint venture is building a new 2.8-mile dual carriageway to improve the east-west connection between the A5 and the M1, north of Dunstable. It includes three new junctions, including a new motorway junction, and six new bridges. During March and April 2016, the contractors lifted in 38 beams, each weighing 100 tonnes, to form a new junction 11A interchange bridge and Highways England project manager Karen Green said: “The A5-M1 Link scheme is progressing well and to plan. Lifting the beams for these two bridges was an important milestone for the A5-M1 Link Road project, which will offer motorists better and safer journeys and help reduce congestion through Dunstable as well as unlock land for new homes and businesses. “The two new bridges will be opened to traffic closer to the scheme completion in spring 2017.”

Drives specialist Danfoss Drives has won the Environmental and Energy Efficiency Award at the inaugural Motion Control Industry Awards held at the National Conference Centre. The organisers recognised Danfoss Drives for generating surplus power from wastewater treatment. The project that won Danfoss this prestigious accolade was rolled out in Marselisborg wastewater treatment plant where the focus had shifted from minimising energy consumed to maximising net energy surplus. Water and wastewater treatment processes are characterised by high load variation during the 24-hour cycle, and seasonally throughout the year. The use of variable speed drives has consistently increased in the last 25 years in order to control motorised equipment and adapt to the changing demand. And as an additional benefit, thanks to the newly installed VLT drives, processes run right at their limit but not beyond it, ensuring safety and security at all stages. This can only be achieved thanks to the outstanding precision control of the VLT drives. Danfoss VLTs were implemented in virtually every rotating application inside the plant – blowers, pumps, mixers and dewatering equipment – with over 100 VLT frequency converters installed to date. As a result, the plant has had record levels of electricity production, reaching 130% generation in 2015. This is an annual net surplus of 30% after internal consumption and excess heat production of 2.5 GWh/year.