Kennington Tube station has seen the installation of Off Grid Energy’s largest and most powerful temporary power hybrid – the gridtogo™ – a battery that helps tackle air and noise pollution levels in construction. The installation is part of the Northern Line Extension plans, which will extend the London Underground
Energy Assets Group has appointed Jayson Whitaker to head-up its recently-launched Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) business – and to extend the utility offer to housebuilders, developers and contractors to include fibre-to-the-home. He joins one of Britain’s leading independent metering, asset management and utility network construction companies as Managing Director
Misconceptions around advanced technologies often lead to the emergence of urban legends. This is currently the case for the integration of smart electric meters. Here, Jonathan DiGiacomandrea, applications engineering manager at battery specialist Ultralife Corporation, explains some of the truths behind powering the energy saving devices. With a global consciousness
The £2.6 million contract with Redrow Homes for the design and build of the energy solution for the Padcroft development in West Drayton has been awarded to Vital Energy. Following the submission of a variant design proposal, Vital Energi joined the energy infrastructure design team and were able to add
Today, HS2 set out plans to deliver a ‘green corridor’ consisting of new wildlife habitats, native woodlands and community spaces to help integrate the new line into its surrounding landscape and environment. The scale of planned works will be largest ever undertaken by an infrastructure project in the UK, with
Vital Energi have been awarded the £2.6m contract with Redrow Homes to design and build the energy solution for the Padcroft development in West Drayton. Following the submission of a variant design proposal, Vital Energi joined the energy infrastructure design team and were able to add value from an early
Thames Water’s directors were found to not have enough oversight and control of the company’s leakage performance, with the company losing approximately 25% of all water that it treats and puts into its system. For its mistakes, Thames Water agreed to pay £65 million back to customers on top of
Cabinet ministers have backed initial proposals for a new runway at Heathrow Airport, claiming it is an “historic moment”. As MPs prepare to vote on the plans ahead of the July 11 deadline, Paul Meagh, electrical and instrumentation services director at engineering solutions provider Boulting Ltd, explores how a modular
Construction and utilities specialist Develop Training Ltd (DTL) is opening the doors of its Midlands and Scotland based centres throughout July to promote skills in the energy sector. The company, which is a strong advocate for greater investment in training and apprenticeships by industry and the government, is running three
GRAHAM’s rail teams worked around the clock over the Bank Holiday weekend to deliver crucial upgrades to South East London’s rail network. The essential bridge replacements and supplementary works took place under abnormal track possessions at Bellenden Road Underbridge (Southwark) and Westdown Road Underbridge (Lewisham). Both projects involved the replacement
Kennington Tube station has seen the installation of Off Grid Energy’s largest and most powerful temporary power hybrid – the gridtogo™ – a battery that helps tackle air and noise pollution levels in construction. The installation is part of the Northern Line Extension plans, which will extend the London Underground (LU) network from Kennington to Battersea Power Station via Nine Elms. “Our hybrid power system delivers a cost saving, cleaner solution that also significantly reduces noise pollution in a sensitive residential area and is the biggest hybrid system for temporary power we have supplied,” said Danny Jones, CEO at Off Grid Energy. The gridtogo™ battery storage solution has a power output of 195kVA, which reduces generator running hours, which consequently results in an improvement in fuel efficiency and a substantial reduction in polluting emissions, CO2 and noise pollution. Its storage capacity of 350kwhrs also sets the bar for energy storage technology in temporary power. “With a power output of 195kVA and storage capacity of 350kWhrs it is conceivably the most powerful temporary power hybrid unit in the UK with the largest battery storage capacity in the UK for temporary power. The added flexibility that comes from dual power supply and improved power quality means that the solution delivers a multi-layer win: lower cost, cleaner air, less CO2, elimination of noise and greater power supply resilience,” said Danny. When the battery located inside the unit is charged and the demand for power is low, the generator can automatically turn off and the energy stored in the battery is used to supply the load. The features of the gridtogo™ help considerably cut running costs, CO2, noise pollution, and air quality levels while simultaneously reducing carbon footprint. Due to the residential location of the station, the contract required a silent solution in order to continue construction work during unsociable hours. By implementing the Off Grid Energy silent high power gridtogo™ system along with a modern super silent generator it allowed full power demand to be met 24/7, reducing the need to run the generator, enabling construction work to continue.
Energy Assets Group has appointed Jayson Whitaker to head-up its recently-launched Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) business – and to extend the utility offer to housebuilders, developers and contractors to include fibre-to-the-home. He joins one of Britain’s leading independent metering, asset management and utility network construction companies as Managing Director of Energy Assets Networks, which is licensed to own, adopt and operate ‘final mile’ electricity networks. The move coincides with Energy Assets’ plans to add fibre infrastructure to the Group’s network design and operator portfolio. Mr Whitaker brings with him considerable experience in the Competition in Connections (CiC) market, having worked in leadership roles for network operators and supply chain providers. Most recently, he was responsible for the start-up and strong organic growth of Utility Power Systems and Utility Fibre Systems, now part of Wolseley UK Infrastructure. He is also a well-known industry figure, sitting on the Ofgem CiC panel alongside DNOs, IDNOs and customer groups, and is active in the Metered Connections Customer Group, which lobbies for greater market place competition. Jayson Whitaker commented: “I am excited to be taking the lead at Energy Assets Networks at a time of considerable opportunity, given the scale of Britain’s house building plans and the structural changes underway in the UK utility market. With the projected growth in electric vehicles and increasing demand for fibre services, we need design solutions that will future-proof our local networks, embracing the technological advances that will drive operational efficiency.” Since its launch earlier this year, Energy Assets’ electricity network business has grown strongly through partnerships with independent utility construction contractors and residential and commercial developers, thanks to innovations in asset-based finance and in network design, compliance and management. Colin Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of Energy Assets Group, commented: “We are delighted that Jayson will be leading our IDNO and Fibre business. He brings a demonstrable track record of delivering organic growth, which combined with his industry insight and prominence in stakeholder relationships creates exciting opportunities for our network asset expansion across Britain.” www.energyassets.co.uk
Misconceptions around advanced technologies often lead to the emergence of urban legends. This is currently the case for the integration of smart electric meters. Here, Jonathan DiGiacomandrea, applications engineering manager at battery specialist Ultralife Corporation, explains some of the truths behind powering the energy saving devices. With a global consciousness to reduce carbon emissions, utility companies across the UK are rolling out smart meters in an attempt to help consumers take greater control over their energy consumption. Smart meters provide near real-time energy usage information, which can be closely monitored so that consumers can conserve energy and reduce costs as a result. This motion is part of the UK Government’s plans to have every eligible home in the UK fitted with a smart meter by 2020. While electricity users will be able to reap the benefits of the modern electrical grid, the introduction of smart meters is expected to save utility companies around £300 million a year, according to research from Which? Of course, it’s not just the UK investing in smart meters. In 2016, 70.8 million smart meters were installed across the US, but the smart electric meter is currently the most mature in China and accounted for 70 per cent of the total smart meter shipments in 2016. With forecasts expecting this figure to increase across the world, many consumers are concerned over the safety, reliability and functionalities of the devices, particularly for domestic use. Fears over the safety of smart meters have emerged because of the devices producing a small amount of radio frequency (RF) energy while in operation. Research from the Federal Communications Commission shows that the level of RF emitted by smart meters is below that of mobile devices and so does not hold a significant threat to human health. Another concern for smart meters is the accuracy of the data recorded. In comparison to traditional analogue meters, which require users to submit the meters readings to the utility company to find out the usage and expenditure, smart electric meters feature their own dedicated and secure communications system. This automatically transmits the information to the utility provider, eliminating the practice of estimated bills. Smart meters are required to meet stringent regulations before going into service. In fact, manufacturers are expected to supply independently certified testing results, demonstrating that the meter can generate accurate readings. Often, the meters are still subjected to further tests prior to installation by utility companies, to mitigate the chances of a meter that clocks the consumption too fast. To transmit information back to the utility provider, smart meters require short bursts of power. This means that the batteries installed in the device must support high continuous discharge, offering high-pulse current for wireless and programmable logic controller (PLC), bidirectional transmissions. In addition to this, manufacturers tend to integrate non-rechargeable batteries into their smart metering applications. This reduces the maintenance required, but means manufacturers require batteries that have a long service life. In comparison to traditional chemistries, Ultralife’s Lithium Manganese Dioxide (Li-MnO2) and Lithium Thionyl Chloride (Li-SOCI2) battery chemistry has proven performance in servicing metering applications for up to ten years. This increases the reliability and convenience of smart meters but as they work as part of the smart grid, the devices also offer greater efficiency and service to consumers. With the ability to electronically report the location of any power outages, utility providers can quickly locate and restore power to the affected area. To help overcome the myths surrounding smart meters, manufacturers need to ensure they are employing the most appropriate power sources for their devices. By considering the characteristics needed for smart meter applications, utility companies can offer consumers a simpler method to managing their utility costs and provide more efficient energy as a result.
The £2.6 million contract with Redrow Homes for the design and build of the energy solution for the Padcroft development in West Drayton has been awarded to Vital Energy. Following the submission of a variant design proposal, Vital Energi joined the energy infrastructure design team and were able to add value from an early stage in the project development. Vital Energi will build the energy centre that will consist of two 750 kW gas boilers, a 90 kW CHP engine, a 5000L thermal store and boosted cold water services, as well as over 150m of district heating pipework, risers and laterals in the apartment blocks, and 330 hydraulic interface units. “We’re delighted to be working with Redrow Homes again following the successful delivery of the energy solution at Chiswick High Road. Being involved in the early stages of the project with the infrastructure design team has helped to identify cost savings which will now be incorporated into the construction phase,” said Rob Callaghan, Vital Energi’s Regional Director for London. A new residential development in West Drayton, Padcroft will be a mixture of one, two and three bedroom luxury apartments. By 2019, residents will benefit from the completion of the West Drayton Crossrail station, enabling them to reach the centre of London within 30 minutes. Work is expected to be completed by November 2018. Vital Energi provides sustainable and renewable energy solutions in the public and private sectors and is responsible for many of the UK’s most prestigious energy projects. Vital Energi can deliver all aspects of a project from energy management, generation and distribution along with metering and billing and long-term asset management or ESCo partnership. With projects throughout the UK and offices in Blackburn, London and Scotland we specialise in helping clients lower their energy spend and carbon footprint through sustainable and viable solutions.
Today, HS2 set out plans to deliver a ‘green corridor’ consisting of new wildlife habitats, native woodlands and community spaces to help integrate the new line into its surrounding landscape and environment. The scale of planned works will be largest ever undertaken by an infrastructure project in the UK, with a network of environmental projects stretching from London to the North of England. Along the Phase One route, which covers 216km from London to the West Midlands, the green corridor will encompass: 7 million new trees and shrubs, including over 40 native species, specific to each location. The new native woodlands will cover over 9 square kilometres of land. Over 33 square kilometres of new and existing wildlife habitat – equating to an area the size of 4,600 football pitches. That’s an increase of around 30% compared to what’s there now. Tailor-made homes for wildlife, ranging from bat houses to 226 new ponds for great crested newts and other amphibians. Earthworks and landscaping which will re-use around 90% of the material excavated during construction. The potential to support community projects and develop amenity spaces such as access routes, public parks, open spaces and nature reserves. Work on the pioneering initiative is expected to set new standards for how Britain and the rest of Europe builds the next generation of major infrastructure projects. As the corridor is being delivered, HS2 is encouraging local people and organisations to get involved in everything from landscape design to tree planting. This includes supporting local environmental projects through its various community funds. In a related announcement today, the Government confirmed a £2 million extension to the HS2 Woodland Fund, so it can cover Phase 2a of the railway, from the West Midlands to Crewe. The fund is designed to help landowners near to the route directly create new native, broadleaf woodlands and restore existing ancient woodland sites. This is in addition to the extensive green corridor plans and community funds that are already in place along the wider route. Mark Thurston, Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd said: “Alongside improving connectivity, boosting the economy and unlocking new jobs and opportunities, I’m determined to ensure that HS2 also works for the environment and local communities. “This starts by doing everything we can to reduce our environmental footprint and minimise the expected impact of our construction work. Longer-term, we’ll be leaving behind a network of new wildlife habitats, woodlands, and community spaces, helping to create a lasting legacy along the route. “We’ve already got to work by supporting a range of community projects and creating a series of new habitats, including planting over 230,000 trees so far. We’ll be calling on local people and organisations to get involved as the green corridor starts to take shape” Nusrat Ghani, HS2 Minister, said: “Our unique and beautiful countryside is one of our nation’s greatest assets. As we deliver the new high speed railway our country needs, for economic growth and better journeys for passengers, it is imperative we set a new standard for preserving, protecting and enhancing our diverse woodlands and wildlife. “HS2’s green corridor is one of the most significant tree-planting and habitat creation projects ever undertaken in this country. To support that vision, the government is providing an additional £2 million for the Woodland Fund, to support native species and help more people enjoy more new green spaces than before.” The appearance of the green corridor will be tailored to the surrounding environment, with native tree species used to ensure that the new woodlands reflect the unique landscape and ecology of the different regions the line passes through. As the corridor is gradually delivered, HS2 is encouraging local people and organisations to get involved. This includes supporting local environmental projects, through its various funds including the £45m Community & Environment Fund and Business & Local Economy Fund. Full details are covered in HS2’s official ‘More Than a Railway’ booklet and animation – both published on its website today.
Vital Energi have been awarded the £2.6m contract with Redrow Homes to design and build the energy solution for the Padcroft development in West Drayton. Following the submission of a variant design proposal, Vital Energi joined the energy infrastructure design team and were able to add value from an early stage in the project development. As part of their contract, Vital Energi will build the energy centre containing two 750kw gas boilers, a 90kW CHP engine, a 5000L thermal store and boosted cold-water services. In addition, they will also install over 150m of district heating pipework, risers and laterals in the apartment blocks, and supply 330 hydraulic interface units. Rob Callaghan, Vital Energi’s Regional Director for London, commented, “We’re delighted to be working with Redrow Homes again following the successful delivery of the energy solution at Chiswick High Road. Being involved in the early stages of the project with the infrastructure design team has helped to identify cost savings which will now be incorporated into the construction phase.” Padcroft is a new residential development in West Drayton which will be a mixture of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom luxury apartments. By 2019, residents will benefit from the completion of the West Drayton Crossrail station, enabling them to reach the centre of London within 30 minutes. Work is expected to be completed by November 2018. If you’d like to know more about Vital Energi and the work they do, please visit www.vitalenergi.co.uk
Thames Water’s directors were found to not have enough oversight and control of the company’s leakage performance, with the company losing approximately 25% of all water that it treats and puts into its system. For its mistakes, Thames Water agreed to pay £65 million back to customers on top of £55 million in automatic penalties leakage. Moreover, the company has committed to getting its leakage performance back in line with what it has previously promised it will deliver for its customers in 2019-2020. It will publish its performance each month in tackling leaks, appoint an independent monitor to certify the information in its monthly leakage reports and make addition reductions of 15% by 2025. “High leakage creates unnecessary strain on the environment, excess costs for customers and increased risk of water shortages. A well-run water company will have a good understanding of the condition of its pipes and will be able to reduce leakage over time. Ofwat has set all water companies a target of bringing down leakage by at least another 15% up to 2025 and expects further reductions beyond this date. Thames has assured us that they now have a grip on the leakage situation, but this should serve as a catalyst for the company to improve how it delivers on its wider commitments to customers,” said Ofwat chief executive, Rachel Fletcher. Thames Water will be now investing record amounts in personnel and infrastructure to find and fix leakage, including using the latest technology. However, the company pointed out that big water companies are in no better of a situation, with United Utilities having leakage rates of 25%, Severn Trent of 23% and Yorkshire Water of 23% as well. “Reducing leakage is really important to us and to our customers. We met our leakage targets for a decade but our recent performance has not been good enough. We let our customers down and for that we’re sorry. We have taken more control of how we manage the network and are investing significantly more in people and resources to tackle leakage, get back on track and then go beyond. Thanks to these changes already in place, our current leakage repair performance is our best ever at around 1,000 a week,” said Steve Robertson, Thames Water chief executive.
Cabinet ministers have backed initial proposals for a new runway at Heathrow Airport, claiming it is an “historic moment”. As MPs prepare to vote on the plans ahead of the July 11 deadline, Paul Meagh, electrical and instrumentation services director at engineering solutions provider Boulting Ltd, explores how a modular build will benefit the £14 billion project. Modularisation is not a new concept and has been used by construction and engineering firms for several years as a way of reducing the complexity surrounding the build or refurbishment of a project. For many years, modular construction was thought to be largely box-type structures, providing a bare frame to accommodate construction site workers, large classrooms and residential homes. While the concept still provides benefit for these uses, more and more engineering projects, including the expansion of Heathrow airport, are incorporating the concept into their build as a way of minimising both cost and disruption to the client and end user. The recent announcement by the UK cabinet about the proposed expansion of Heathrow airport has been welcomed by many, including ourselves. The expansion is estimated to create 60,000 new jobs and generate £70 billion in total economic benefits by 2050. While the site itself is in London, Heathrow plans to use the expansion to drive growth in off-site construction across the country. If the vote is successful, a total of four offsite construction and manufacturing hubs will be established across the country, allowing for pre-assembled components to be constructed prior to installation at the new runway. These sites will create thousands of new jobs outside of London, ensuring that more than just the capital city benefits from the expansion. At Boulting, we have 15 years of experience working with modular builds, part of which includes the design, fabrication and installation of the rail station services at Heathrow’s terminal 5. A total of 75 per cent of the project was modularised, enabling us to remove a vast amount of site activity to the controlled environment of a workshop. In addition to minimising disruption to the airport, modularisation improved the overall quality of the project and site safety while reducing the number of site man hours required and total time of the project. Constructing on a dedicated fabrication site, such as Boulting’s facility in St Helens, overcomes these issues as the infrastructure is already in place. Experienced labourers are also at hand to build, test and commission a facility before shipping and erecting in its final location, ensuring a quicker and more cost-effective solution. If the expansion of Heathrow airport is given the green light, its use of modularisation will be one of the largest in the UK. While the concept does have multiple benefits, the decision to use it should not be rushed and all factors should be carefully considered. Working with a leading provider of prefabrication and modularisation services, such as Boulting, can ensure the right decision is made for the project in the most efficient way possible.
Construction and utilities specialist Develop Training Ltd (DTL) is opening the doors of its Midlands and Scotland based centres throughout July to promote skills in the energy sector. The company, which is a strong advocate for greater investment in training and apprenticeships by industry and the government, is running three open days in Derby and Linlithgow near Edinburgh. The free-to-attend events are designed for organisations with an interest in training for gas, mechanical and electrical engineering, smart metering, mechanical and electrical engineering training. Open day visitors will be given a tour of the company’s top-of-the-range facilities in Derby and Linlithgow with live demonstrations of the company’s control rig, medium pressure apparatus and smart metering equipment. Visitors will also have the opportunity to give their views on the content of DTL’s extensive range of training courses in gas/energy. There has been strong interest in the events already from DTL’s customers, who include household names in the utilities and construction sector, with spaces filling up quickly. Further details with information on how to book can be found here. www.developtraining.co.uk About Develop Training Develop Training Limited (DTL) is the UK’s leading accredited provider of compliance, technical, and safety training, supporting thousands of firms with their training needs. Clients include some of the UK’s largest and best-known organisations from the utilities and construction to the defence, healthcare, facilities management and telecommunications sectors. Training programmes cover water and environmental, gas and energy, safety, electrical and mechanical, apprenticeships and management development delivered at DTL’s seven dedicated training centres in Linlithgow near Edinburgh, Romford, York, Derby, Bolton, Swindon and Lisburn near Belfast, or onsite at clients’ premises. DTL also provides bespoke and consultancy services, tailoring training programmes and initiatives to the requirements of individual clients. www.developtraining.co.uk
GRAHAM’s rail teams worked around the clock over the Bank Holiday weekend to deliver crucial upgrades to South East London’s rail network. The essential bridge replacements and supplementary works took place under abnormal track possessions at Bellenden Road Underbridge (Southwark) and Westdown Road Underbridge (Lewisham). Both projects involved the replacement and reinstatement of two underbridges within a restricted 72-hour rail possession. The railway closures began at 01:20 on Saturday 26th May and finished at 04:00 on Tuesday 29th May. The bridges carry National Rail, London Overground and Thameslink commuter services, as well as providing a busy thoroughfare for railway freight services. The works were part of Network Rail’s overall £78m investment in key asset maintenance and upgrades to more than 600 infrastructure schemes throughout the country. Successful completion Commenting on the successful completion of the bridge projects, Leo Martin, GRAHAM’s Managing Director – Civil Engineering, stated: “Both schemes underline the technical expertise of our staff and supply chain, and their ability to deliver complex rail projects safely and to the highest standards within possession constraints. “When working in these challenging rail conditions, safe and timely project delivery is only possible through close collaboration between ourselves, Network Rail, our supply chain partners and stakeholders. This was a real team effort and everyone pulled together to ensure the successful completion of these projects.” Works As part of the Bellenden Road Underbridge upgrade, the GRAHAM team replaced the existing 12m single span deck with two new Network Rail standard U decks, which were 66t each. The Westdown Road Underbridge project also centred on the replacement of the existing 12.5m bridge with two new Network Rail standard U decks, which were 74t each. It included the replacement of new station platforms. Both projects featured propping to restrain the existing abutments from potential overturning, the removal of tracks and ballast, the demolition of the existing bridge and the installation of the new superstructure decks. New pre-cast concrete cill slabs were placed at each location. Additionally, the reinstatement and re-tamping of the tracks were completed before reopening to rail traffic. Complexity The works involved setting up heavy lift cranes, including a 350t crawler crane and a 500t mobile crane, on the roadways below each bridge location in advance of the railway closures. The complexity of the works was made even more challenging by the severe weather conditions over the bank holiday weekend, with heavy thunder and lightning hampering crane lifts at critical times, and the team having to resolve a number of unforeseen issues as the project progressed. At its peak, over 100 people were on site to deliver each respective project. Meticulous planning GRAHAM’s rail experts have been meticulously preparing for the works over recent months in conjunction with a specialist supply chain, stakeholders, TOCs / FOCs and Network Rail. GRAHAM’s Rail Director, Jonny Kerr, believes this advanced planning and teamwork was the key to the success of both projects. “These complex bridge replacements were completed by our teams through their meticulous planning and technical expertise. The team worked closely with our various supply chain partners, stakeholders and Network Rail and their partners to ensure that there was minimal disruption to the rail network,” said Jonny. “There was a tremendous amount of planning done in advance, which allowed us to progress each project smoothly even with the challenges presented. Additional factors, such as operational High Voltage and S&T cable routes, required support and protection during the works.“ “It’s a tremendous achievement and I’m very grateful to everyone who rose to the challenge. “We would like to thank the public for their patience during the closures.” Rail expertise GRAHAM has completed a broad portfolio of award-winning work within the rail sector. Examples of GRAHAM’s expertise in delivering complex construction within an operational railway include the “Live Launch” of a 55m span, 515t bridge structure over ten railways lines in South London, slope stabilisation works in South Wales and the construction of a new railway station in the Midlands.
