The UK’s digital revolution in energy markets will lead to significant and additional demand for physical services, according to Jon Parr, Managing Director of Lowri Beck, one of the country’s largest independent meter installers and data collection specialists. He predicts that digitalisation will quicken product innovation for energy technology, such
Concrete is just about everywhere in city infrastructure, from the paving slabs at our feet to the skyscrapers that tower above us. The trouble is, this overuse means that concrete is rarely appreciated for its many benefits as a building material. In fact, thanks to its association with certain architectural
Somers Town Energy is on course to provide further benefits to the London Borough of Camden following the installation of new plant equipment as the project moves into its second phase. Vital Energi and Camden Council originally began working on the £3.4m project in 2014 when we provided the retrofit
Hundreds of stakeholders call for urgent action to stabilise UK solar Proposal leaves UK consumers with much weaker rights than other European citizens The STA today publishes an open letter to Energy Minister Claire Perry calling on her to urgently confirm the continuation of the ‘export tariff’ from next April.
Flexenergy’s specialist prefabrication expertise has played a key role in a modular village providing a hotel-style living environment for workers at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station site. The company, one of the UK’s leading pre-insulated polybutylene pipe specialists, has manufactured bespoke pipe components for heating and hot water
The £5 million contract to deliver phase one and two of the East Leeds Orbital Route has been awarded to Balfour Beatty by Leeds City Council. Works will include improvements to a number of existing Outer Ring Road junctions and the widening to three junctions along the A6120 Ring Road.
Tekmar Group has signed a sale and purchase agreement for the acquisition of Subsea Innovation Ltd, subject to shareholder approval. The proposed acquisition represents the Group’s first transaction since its successful AIM admission in June 2018, launching the Group’s strategy to acquire offshore energy businesses which have a clear technology
ZF Services Nottingham Off-Highway centre increases capacity through workshop expansion and engineer recruitment More customers to benefit from “complete range of transmission and axle solutions” Expansion reflects recent full year growth of world’s top 50 construction equipment manufacturers* ZF Services UK has expanded its capacity to remanufacture and repair transmissions,
SHARC Energy Systems, a UK-based green energy firm, has secured the support of the ENGIE Regeneration teams to collaborate on developing opportunities for integrating SHARC technology into their established heat network portfolio, as well as creating new opportunities to partner on the development of standalone low carbon district heating networks.
An official ‘kettle switching on’ ceremony has been held by Independent Connections Provider Matrix Networks, to mark the completion of its utility infrastructure works at the SEGRO Logistics Park in East Midlands Gateway, at M1 Junction 24. Attending the event were key project personnel from Matrix Networks, Independent Distribution Network
The UK’s digital revolution in energy markets will lead to significant and additional demand for physical services, according to Jon Parr, Managing Director of Lowri Beck, one of the country’s largest independent meter installers and data collection specialists. He predicts that digitalisation will quicken product innovation for energy technology, such as smart meters, and lead to new opportunities for physical services providers. Lowri Beck currently installs and exchanges around 500,000 domestic meters annually, collects data from another 5million for Big 6 and Tier 2 suppliers, and is heavily involved in the nationwide smart meter roll-out. “Some might question the value of physical services in an increasingly digital era, but I believe that digitalisation will actually increase demand way beyond the current smart meter programme,” says Jon Parr, who is leading a strategy for growth focused on the next 20 years. “Energy suppliers, in common with every area of business, are investing heavily in the digital systems that will drive operational efficiency and enhanced customer engagement, but digital will also accelerate innovation in product development – as with smart meters – and in emerging markets, such as EV charging and home energy storage. In 10 years’ time, meters could be 100 times more sophisticated than they are today, working in real time to the minute, and at the same time facilitating load switching. “All these developments require skilled installation and maintenance people, and when you add in regulation such as the incoming 24/7 commitment to restore power when vulnerable households go off-supply, demand for accredited technical support from providers such as Lowri Beck is set to increase significantly.” Based in Wigan, with additional offices in London, East Kilbride, Wrexham, Dunstable and a dedicated training centre in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lowri Beck was formed by Bob Vernon over 20 years ago and today employs 2,000 people across Britain. Jon Parr, who joined Lowri Beck in October last year, believes that the fast evolving mix of conventional and renewable power generation, and innovations in areas such as home power generation and battery storage, will inevitably lead to technology churn and create new infrastructure requirements. “Take the electric vehicle market, for example, which will grow rapidly in the years to come, driven in part by environmental concerns but also by the much-heralded government ambition to phase out of conventional combustion engine vehicles by 2040. “Not only will EV demand more power capacity, charging technology and payment systems, it will need network infrastructure. Lots of people talk about software and data management but at the end of the day, it still needs screwdrivers, cable clips, skilled resources and capacity to make it happen. “At Lowri Beck, we have over 1,000 flexible, trained and accredited engineers and technical people operating in the field every day, providing vital technical support and management services. It’s our USP and it will be even more relevant in the future.” www.lowribeck.co.uk
Concrete is just about everywhere in city infrastructure, from the paving slabs at our feet to the skyscrapers that tower above us. The trouble is, this overuse means that concrete is rarely appreciated for its many benefits as a building material. In fact, thanks to its association with certain architectural styles (Brutalism, we’re looking at you), concrete is often downright hated. This is a shame because concrete is cheap, durable, environmentally friendly and readily available – everything you need in a perfect building material. Even when a concrete building gets demolished or a concrete barrier is dismantled, its component parts can easily be reused and recycled into something new. Here are just five ways in which concrete constructions can be given a new, imaginative lease on life. Flexible traffic control Traffic management might seem like one of the most obvious uses for concrete barriers, but have you ever seen it used like this? Thanks to the innovative “Barrier-Transfer” machine, the concrete road-blocks that are typically considered a permanent fixture can be moved between lanes to accommodate for heavier traffic travelling in one direction. Perhaps it’s not the most creative use for the blocks themselves, but it’s certainly a refreshing way to update a very conventional scenario! Cinder blocks as shelving Eponymous with industrial interior design, cinder blocks can be used in a number of DIY furniture projects for a quirky, edgy and practical result. If you’re in need of a new bookcase, try balancing a plank of wood across two blocks, then stacking another two blocks and a plank on top of that. Just be careful about stacking them too high in case they fall – try to keep the top of your shelves below waist-height. Cinder blocks are often used in a similar way for other pieces of furniture, such as bed frames, coffee tables and seating arrangements. A quick online search will give you plenty of ideas. Concrete pipes as micro homes At the beginning of this year, an architecture firm in Hong Kong revealed its prototype design for stackable micro-homes made from giant sections of pipe. These “O Pods” were thought up as a solution to the limited space and high-demand within the city’s housing market, and offer a low-cost, temporary housing option for young people. It might sound extreme, but these cosy little tunnels actually look quite attractive inside and would make an ideal space for commuters, tourists or minimalism enthusiasts! “Lego” blocks for underground bunkers The robust nature of concrete as a construction material hasn’t just been noticed by housebuilders, with concrete blocks also being a popular choice for people creating storm shelters and underground bunkers. These aren’t just survivalists and Doomsday Preppers, but for households that live in high-risk areas for hurricanes and tornados. Pre-fabricated concrete “lego” blocks are extremely durable and lock together to create a secure barrier that can be used as a defence against landslides, flooding and extreme weather. Whether you use them to build a surface-level shelter or lower them into a dug-out hole in the garden is up to you. Jersey blocks as an obstacle course Capable of withstanding extreme force and all-weather conditions, concrete can be used indoors and outdoors to create a challenging terrain for vehicles and people. Jersey blocks are particularly ideal for creating rugged hurdles or flat-topped ledges to skate along, while poured concrete is typically used to form into smooth ramps and bowls. In fact, just about every type of concrete block can be inexpensively re-worked into a sturdy support or obstacle. The durability and versatility of concrete means that, the next time you need something for jumping over, scrambling up or dragging a certain distance, it’s your perfect material. For more information on the typical uses of blocks and barriers see quality barriers suppliers, Maltaward. The fact is, although concrete may be ugly and uninspiring at a first glance, it’s a cheap, environmentally-friendly and robust material that can be used in countless applications. If you’ve got a construction or engineering problem, why not see if you can get creative with concrete blocks to solve it?
Somers Town Energy is on course to provide further benefits to the London Borough of Camden following the installation of new plant equipment as the project moves into its second phase. Vital Energi and Camden Council originally began working on the £3.4m project in 2014 when we provided the retrofit energy centre into an under-used car park and connected four housing estates via a 581m district heating network. This has been providing 339 homes with low carbon heat and hot water from the three 1.3MWth boilers installed. The project is now at its exciting second stage which sees the installation of a 1MW CHP engine, four 9,000L and three 11,000L thermal stores which will reduce carbon emissions even further. The units were delivered over a two day period which saw us complete all traffic and pedestrian access management to ensure safety, with the deliveries completed between working hours to minimise disruption as much as possible. Once this phase of the project is complete, Somers Town Energy will provide savings of over 1,000 tonnes per annum and will deliver financial benefits to Camden Council through the sale of electricity generated by the CHP. As the heat network begun operation in 2015, there was limited historical operational data to determine detailed demand patterns, which led the Council to request a period of study in order to understand the network’s performance. This led Vital Energi to provide a dual phased solution, allowing for a period of heat study to generate operational data before deciding upon the best matched CHP engine size. An implementation plan like this allowed us to overcome challenges of the unknown usage levels and provide an accurate solution that best suited the client. Vital Energi’s Project Manager, Derek Culver, commented, “It is always an exciting time when a project reaches its next phase, and having been operating Somers Town Energy for almost four years we are incredibly pleased to be involved with this latest development. The additional CHP engine and thermal stores will maximise the financial and carbon savings for the borough with work connecting the next estate set to begin at the end of the month.” Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Improving Camden’s Environment added, “Somers Town Energy is Camden’s flagship low emissions project. It shows how a forward-looking council can deliver projects that are both good for the environment and save money. I look forward to seeing the project develop further over the coming months.” The next phase of Somers Town Energy will see extensions to a new community centre, the redesigned Edith Neville School and a further housing block. To support Camden’s Community Investment Programme visit www.camden.gov.uk/cip. If you’d like to know more about Vital Energi and the work they do, please visit www.vitalenergi.co.uk
Hundreds of stakeholders call for urgent action to stabilise UK solar Proposal leaves UK consumers with much weaker rights than other European citizens The STA today publishes an open letter to Energy Minister Claire Perry calling on her to urgently confirm the continuation of the ‘export tariff’ from next April. The ‘export tariff’ is not a subsidy but a mechanism that works alongside the Feed-In Tariff to ensure small solar generators are paid at a fair market rate, for the power they feed into the grid. The letter has been signed by over 200 diverse organisations, representing cutting edge ‘smart’ technologies, innovative suppliers, academics, major NGOs, youth groups, city leaders, faith groups, farmers & land owners, as well as leading lights in the solar & battery storage industries. STA Chief Executive Chris Hewett said; “The latest Government proposals for solar power are creating shock waves well beyond the solar industry. Nobody can fathom how Government can contemplate leaving households and small organisations as the only generators left unpaid for the valuable power they put into the electricity network. We are asking the Energy Minister to act quickly and promise to maintain the export tariff & to uphold the basic rights of a market.” The letter is published as the Government closes one of its consultations on the Feed-in-Tariff. The solar industry currently faces huge policy uncertainty when the FiT ends next March. That is despite a recent survey by Client Earth, one of the signatories to the letter, showing 62% of UK homes want to install solar & 60% want to install battery storage. [1] The proposal to remove the fair export payment flies in the face of new EU legislation that will enshrine the rights of ‘prosumers’ (households & organisations that generate, as well as consume power) across Europe to be paid at a fair market rate for the clean solar power they inject into the electricity network. If the UK removes this payment, UK homes, farmers, community organisations and small businesses will be the only groups generating electricity who are not paid for their power. Other generators spilling onto the network have been paid at a higher rate that the export tariff in 2018. If small generators are forced to spill their energy onto the grid for free they will effectively be subsidising the big players in the power industry – a scenario that even major suppliers, like E,On and Ovo Energy have rejected as signatories to the letter. James Watson, Chief Executive of SolarPower Europe said; “We are astonished that the UK could propose ending payments to householders for their clean power just as Europe moves to secure the rights of all its citizens to fair payment. Such poor treatment of British small scale energy consumers will harm public engagement in solar, at a time when we need to increase the uptake of clean energies, and will put the UK public at a huge disadvantage compared to other EU countries.” The proposal also comes when UK solar deployment is at an eight-year low and the industry urgently needs Government to provide a fair and level playing field for the technology. Deployment of solar in the UK has fallen by 95% in 2018 compared to 2015, as it has been hit with a series of damaging tax changes alongside the removal of support. Leo Murray, Director of Strategy at 10:10 Climate Action said: “The Feed in Tariff has been the most popular and successful British climate change policy ever implemented, empowering hundreds of thousands of citizens and communities to help tackle the defining challenge of our time. Scrapping it with no form of replacement doesn’t just mean locking the public out of the renewables revolution, it risks derailing it altogether.” The letter instead asks Government to not only maintain the fair export tariff, but remove a series of regulatory barriers which are currently preventing a market for local flexibility services and exported power to flourish. Chris Hewett added, “It is vital for Government to ensure households and small businesses are taken on a clear & secure journey in the emerging smart energy system. It is not too late for some really positive policies given the potential of smart homes and businesses to save the system and our economy billions of pounds compared to business as usual. Removing illogical barriers to the 830,000 solar homes in the UK to installing battery storage and smart meters is also an easy win. “Let’s be clear; we are not asking for subsidy. We are asking for fair treatment for the everyday people and businesses who want to invest in clean power to do something really meaningful to help tackle climate change. Government must support their efforts.”
Flexenergy’s specialist prefabrication expertise has played a key role in a modular village providing a hotel-style living environment for workers at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station site. The company, one of the UK’s leading pre-insulated polybutylene pipe specialists, has manufactured bespoke pipe components for heating and hot water distribution systems for the 44 blocks of accommodation, with ensuite bedrooms, housing almost 1,500 operatives on the Hinkley Point C construction site and in Bridgewater, Somerset. For Flexenergy the project involved providing coiled pipe and prefabricated sections to connect air source heat pumps to the accommodation blocks on the two sites, supplying 110 ‘U’ shaped and 16 ‘L’ shaped fabrications as well as 400 metres of pipe. The sections were assembled and tested before being shipped in batches in line with construction schedules. Flexenergy’s Sales Director, Sandy Fairley commented: “This has been a significant project, underlining our capabilities for bespoke prefabrication, in this case linked to the provision of heating and hot water to the modular accommodation blocks. The ease of installation, coupled with the pipe’s high thermal efficiency and recyclability, made for an attractive and flexible proposition for the contractors.” www.flexenergy.co.uk
The £5 million contract to deliver phase one and two of the East Leeds Orbital Route has been awarded to Balfour Beatty by Leeds City Council. Works will include improvements to a number of existing Outer Ring Road junctions and the widening to three junctions along the A6120 Ring Road. Balfour Beatty will also be responsible for the design of the £87 million 7km East Leeds Orbital Route. The initial highway work forms a part of the wider East Leeds Extension (ELE) programme, which on completion will be the largest road scheme in the city since the 1970s. “We are delighted to have been awarded the initial contract to commence improvement works to the East Leeds Orbital Route,” said Thomas Edgcumbe, Balfour Beatty Managing Director for its North and Midlands regional business. “We are looking forward to working in partnership with Leeds City Council and making a significant and sustainable contribution to the local economy and community. We have a wealth of experience in the design and delivery of highways schemes and this award is testament to the success of our work across the UK,” he continued. With work due to commence next month, phase one and two are expected to be completed next summer. Through the project, Balfour Beatty will make a significant and sustainable contribution to the local economy, engaging with Employment Leeds to deliver employment and skills workshops for the surrounding community. This contract award follows the robust contingency measures taken by Leeds City Council to deal with the original supplier, Carillion, being unable to deliver the work. The East Leeds Orbital Route is being been financed through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s ‘West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund’. The Fund is part of the Leeds City Region Growth Deal, a £1 billion package of Government investment through the Combined Authority and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) that will accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.
Tekmar Group has signed a sale and purchase agreement for the acquisition of Subsea Innovation Ltd, subject to shareholder approval. The proposed acquisition represents the Group’s first transaction since its successful AIM admission in June 2018, launching the Group’s strategy to acquire offshore energy businesses which have a clear technology focus, have complementary customer bases and can leverage Group support. Subsea Innovation, which currently operates largely in the global oil and gas market will bring world-class engineering in the design, development and manufacture of back deck equipment and subsea pipeline repair clamps (“EPRC”) to Tekmar’s portfolio, along with a blue chip client list and a skilled engineering team. “When we floated on AIM we promised investors a dynamic business with a clear plan for the future. Today is just one part of the implementation of that plan and we are delighted to welcome Subsea Innovation into the Tekmar Group,” said James Ritchie, CEO of Tekmar Group plc. “As we continue through into 2019, you will continue to see us work towards our vision to become the partner of choice for the supply and installation support of subsea protection technology to the global energy markets. We will continue to put clients first and continue to innovate to remain at the forefront of the world’s offshore energy industries,” he continued. As a world leader in the design, manufacture and supply of complex engineered equipment and technology used in the offshore energy market, Subsea Innovation has products that range from large equipment handling systems which operate on the back of installation vessels, pipeline repair clamps which protect major oil and gas pipelines, and equipment for the construction of offshore oil and gas projects. The business also has an extremely skilled engineering design team who develop world-leading concepts for some of the world’s most challenging and exciting projects. Subsea Innovation will continue to trade under its own name and remain as a separate legal entity. There will be no disruption or change for its customers.
ZF Services Nottingham Off-Highway centre increases capacity through workshop expansion and engineer recruitment More customers to benefit from “complete range of transmission and axle solutions” Expansion reflects recent full year growth of world’s top 50 construction equipment manufacturers* ZF Services UK has expanded its capacity to remanufacture and repair transmissions, axles and gearboxes for off-highway applications, covering construction, agriculture and material handling. In response to an upsurge in market demand, the company’s Nottingham-based repair centre has been developed to ensure customers further benefit from a complete range of support solutions from repair and remanufacture, to parts and technical support. The expansion includes a dedicated axle repair and remanufacture work area, with additional technicians recruited to meet the increased demand, now trained to deliver ZF OEM standard transmission and axle workshop repair and reman solutions. The centre also stocks and distributes genuine ZF parts, as well as providing a non-ZF gearbox remanufacture and reverse engineering service. The recent expansion has also led to further recruitment in other areas, with growth in the sales team. Boosted field service support Field service support has also been boosted by the recent expansion, allowing more certified ZF trained technicians to carry out diagnosis, health checks and commissioning of gearboxes in many demanding, often extreme off-highway environments. This enables even more ZF Aftermarket customers to gain full advantage from improved service performance, efficiency and cost reductions, through simplified access to service, repair and maintenance of gearboxes, as well as product support and technical advice, all in one place. Larger capacity, stronger offering Fully ISO accredited, the ZF Aftermarket Repair Centre is a dedicated, modern facility and boasts a 6500m² workshop area to further underline the company’s position as a leading industry specialist. Its industry-dedicated workshops with multi-brand capabilities uses only industry trained technicians who are multi-skilled and work to OEM standards. Every component is tested to original ZF factory specification, with ZF product updates made on every remanufactured production, all backed by a 12-month, 1500-hour warranty for off highway applications. Each part is remanufactured to original specification and upgraded to the highest level where possible. Gavin Donoghue, Business Manager – Off-Highway, said: “The top 50 construction equipment manufacturers experienced significant growth in 2017 and nearly all OEMs reported double digit growth*, which is reflected in our own aftermarket business, in particular in Off-Highway at the moment. “The recent expansion of ZF Services ensures we’re more than primed to keep up with this demand.” For more information about ZF Services UK, please visit www.zf.com/uk.
SHARC Energy Systems, a UK-based green energy firm, has secured the support of the ENGIE Regeneration teams to collaborate on developing opportunities for integrating SHARC technology into their established heat network portfolio, as well as creating new opportunities to partner on the development of standalone low carbon district heating networks. ENGIE UK & Ireland announced a ‘Call for Projects’ in February saying it was looking to identify innovative projects and solutions for the recovery of heat from wastewater / sewage and SHARC was confirmed as one of two successful bidders in May. SHARC Energy Systems has already started discussions with ENGIE about projects and opportunities within ENGIE’s asset portfolio. The announcement comes at a time when the appetite for decentralised energy services in the UK is growing, with more focus being placed on the use of renewable technologies that continue to de-carbonise the energy supply for UK residents and businesses. Earlier this month the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) issued its infrastructure assessment report https://www.nic.org.uk/assessment/national-infrastructure-assessment/executive-summary/ which states that “the UK must take decisive action to have world-class infrastructure” and carries a core principle that half of the UK’s power will be provided by renewables by 2030. Alongside the NIC report, the recently published UNESCO report – “Waste Water: The Untapped Resource” http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/water/wwap/wwdr/2017-wastewater-the-untapped-resource/ shows how the macro market surrounding SHARC’s energy solutions is developing and how the value of this sustainable resource can be harnessed for the benefit of future generations. Russ Burton, SHARC’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are delighted to have won the support of the ENGIE Regeneration team and are looking forward to working with them to develop our service and solutions with them. “The team at SHARC have been tireless in their efforts to champion and promote the value of the waste heat that runs through our sewage lines every day and we are encouraged by the vision and enthusiasm that ENGIE is demonstrating in supporting our activities.” Ben Watts, Innovation and Solutions Director at ENGIE, said: “The Call for Projects process provides ENGIE with access to a wealth of start-ups and SMEs in the UK and globally in areas of strategic importance to the UK business unit. The decarbonisation of heat is a nationally important issue which ENGIE is looking to solve at a local level. We are delighted that SHARC entered this call and we look forward to developing projects together.”
An official ‘kettle switching on’ ceremony has been held by Independent Connections Provider Matrix Networks, to mark the completion of its utility infrastructure works at the SEGRO Logistics Park in East Midlands Gateway, at M1 Junction 24. Attending the event were key project personnel from Matrix Networks, Independent Distribution Network Operator UK Power Distribution, as well as development directors from Roxhill and SEGRO. The official task of boiling the kettle to prove the electricity connection was fully up and running was carried out by Roxhill Senior Development Director, kate Bedson. The multi-utility project, designed and installed by the Warrington-based business to provide power, heat and water for the 700-acre development, was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule. Over the past 12 months, Matrix Networks has worked to excavate a 12.5 km route to the nearest Western Power Distribution connection point – the furthest distance the Company has ever had to negotiate. It has also designed, installed and commissioned a new 33/11kV primary substation to supply 28MVA; designed, installed and commissioned the on-site 11kV infrastructure with secondary substation to supply on-street lighting; and provided a medium pressure gas main and a water main. “SEGRO Logistics Park – East Midlands Gateway is a significant project both regionally and nationally. From our initial conversations around contract and design, through to installation and ‘power on’, I’m proud of the professionalism, commitment and passion the Matrix Networks team has shown. Throughout the project, we’ve worked to respect the wishes of our client and have delivered our brief ahead of schedule, without risk to them and on budget. We aim to exceed our customers’ expectations through uncompromised service and delivery, and I hope through bringing this development to life, we’ve achieved that,” said Matrix Network Managing Director, Rob Sparkes. Matrix Networks was appointed for this development by Roxhill due to their long-standing relationship and its past success on multi-utility contracts. “Today’s site visit marked a significant milestone for the site. Our thanks go to all at Matrix Networks who have worked so incredibly hard over the past 12 months and beyond, to provide the connections we need. This was a complex, detailed brief to deliver which wouldn’t have been achieved so proficiently without the commitment of their expert team,” said Senior Development Director, Kate Bedson.
