Osprey Group is delighted to work with Orbital Marine Power to aid in the final planning stages of its ground-breaking tidal turbine, the Orbital O2 2MW. Orbital’s marine technology has the potential to unlock a new source of clean, predictable power for millions of people, homes, and businesses around the
Leading renewable bioenergy specialists Fleetsolve has signed a partnership with Dutch engine company MAN Rollo BV to supply the growing UK combined heat and power market as part of their ambitious growth plans. Under the new partnership Fleetsolve becomes the UK distributor for MAN Rollo’s engines, parts and services for
Work to deliver the £170m of infrastructure which will make the £6bn Meridian Water project a reality took a huge step forward on Tuesday 16 March with the appointment of the first contractors. Enfield Council was awarded the money by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government last year
According to research from energy consultancy Energy Management LLP, NHS Trusts spend an average of half a billion pounds each year on gas and electric. Powering patient care is a costly exercise, however there are solutions that can deliver power generation in a cost-effective way. One example is combined heat
One in three responders to cross-industry survey say payment delays are threatening viability of business Government facing mounting pressure to address administrative failings A survey of industry members involved in the installation of technologies eligible under the Green Homes Grants scheme has reinforced claims that administrative delays are behind the
BigChange, the mobile workforce management technology company, today announced that EDF has selected its pioneering JobWatch system to support the delivery of metering and energy services in the UK. EDF’s Energy Solutions division will use BigChange’s JobWatch system to manage the activities of field engineers serving business customers. Jobs will
UK Power Networks has announced a major programme to kick start the ‘Green Recovery,’ by cutting the cost of green energy projects. The energy network, which keeps the lights on for more than 18 million people across London, the East and South East of England, is investing up to £80m
If substations are the delivery vehicles of the energy transmission network, then transformers are their engines, quietly humming away to ensure homes and businesses receive a constant supply of power. Given the cost to replace these vital assets, there is an ongoing maintenance requirement to ensure they remain in prime
Barriers and insulating components on strategic locations can help you reduce the impact of wildlife on your power system. When specified and installed correctly, power components can reduce fire risk, lower power outage instances and safeguard the environment for over four decades. Industrial power distributors and utility companies have to
Brickfab, a leading manufacturer of prefabricated products for the UK House Building industry, is building itself a greener future. The innovative business, based in Pontypool, which employs sixty people designs, manufactures and supplies prefabricated arches, brick specials, chimneys, GRP canopies and panels to the major house builders throughout the UK. Brickfab Managing Director, Nigel
Osprey Group is delighted to work with Orbital Marine Power to aid in the final planning stages of its ground-breaking tidal turbine, the Orbital O2 2MW. Orbital’s marine technology has the potential to unlock a new source of clean, predictable power for millions of people, homes, and businesses around the world. Moored via anchors in powerful tidal stream or river currents, the tidal turbine’s underwater rotors capture the hugely dense, predictable, renewable energy that flows in the world’s ocean and river currents. As a team, Osprey’s 25-year marine heritage provides the transferrable skills necessary to deliver an end-to-end project plan incorporating inland water, onshore, and offshore specialist logistics. The Orbital O2 turbine itself is being assembled in Dundee. A line-configuration of Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) will be used to move the equipment from its construction site to a launch site, where it will be loaded onto a barge. In a world’s first, the barge will then be taken to the float-offsite and submerged to a depth of seven metres, from which point the O2 will be floated off and tugged out into position. Nigel Fletcher, CEO, Osprey: “The innovation behind our logistics lets us develop new methods of logistics’ deployment, and it enables us to transfer those techniques from one sector to the next. We’ve been working with all kinds of renewables’ clients for 25 years. We’re thrilled to win this contract and be delivering these services to a client that has the same shared ethos and values – validating the benefits for the planet of combined engineering expertise and a commitment to delivering cleaner energy.” The O2 tidal turbine will be installed in Spring, 2021 at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. Images and footage will be available.
Leading renewable bioenergy specialists Fleetsolve has signed a partnership with Dutch engine company MAN Rollo BV to supply the growing UK combined heat and power market as part of their ambitious growth plans. Under the new partnership Fleetsolve becomes the UK distributor for MAN Rollo’s engines, parts and services for the combined heat and power (CHP) sector from its Wirral headquarters and its five regional service centres. This partnership also creates 20 new jobs in the North West. MAN Rollo BV is a global player and has been supplying diesel and gas engines to the industrial and maritime sectors across 9 countries for over 100 years. The engines are used in power and heat supply, agricultural machines, cranes and trains, work vessels, coastal and inland vessels. “This partnership is a significant milestone in the Fleetsolve journey. We’re proud to partner with such a prestigious global company as MAN Rollo and relish the opportunity to work together to support the existing and new customer markets that are out there. We both have ambitious plans for growth and continue to buck the trend of the pandemic by expanding and recruiting more people to support this opportunity,” said Keith O’Connor, CEO of Fleetsolve. “It not only future proofs the supply of MAN parts and service for the UK market following Brexit, but it also supports our plans to supply all industry sectors with all fuel types and all sizes of power generation, ranging from 5KW to 2.5MW.This partnership is a significant first in providing a seamless customer journey helping UK businesses transition from gas and diesel engines that need to be maintained in a sustainable way, to a carbon-zero future in line with legislation,” he added. Although Fleetsolve is best known for its ‘green’ biofuel CHP systems, the UK CHP market is dominated by a range of complementary technologies including natural gas, methane and diesel which need to be supported and maintained efficiently for the next 10 years as the market moves to renewable fuels of the future. Rather than customers abandoning their legacy heat and power equipment, Fleetsolve understands that in the short term these engines will need to be expertly maintained and serviced. The partnership with MAN Rollo is a logical step next step for Fleetsolve and sees their ambitious growth plans develop opportunities to support a full range of CHP systems powered by gas, methane, biopropane (bio-LPG), biofuels and diesel. For CHP units nearing the end of their engine life, Fleetsolve’s hydrogen-ready engine swap service will see these units operating into a low carbon future to meet the 2050 Carbon Commitment. “We believe that Fleetsolve is in the position to fulfil customer demand for premium industrial solutions. Their knowledge, experience and customer relations make them a powerful partner. We welcome them to our team,” Michel van Gulik, General Manager MAN Rollo concluded.
Work to deliver the £170m of infrastructure which will make the £6bn Meridian Water project a reality took a huge step forward on Tuesday 16 March with the appointment of the first contractors. Enfield Council was awarded the money by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government last year (2020) from its Housing Infrastructure Fund. It will be used to build the roads, bridges, cycle lanes and parkland, as well as the water, gas and communications networks required to deliver the flagship 10,000 home, 6,000 job Meridian Water scheme. Today, Tuesday 16 March, Enfield Council can announce that it has entered into a Framework Agreement with Vinci Taylor Woodrow, BamNuttall and VolkerFitzpatrick to support the delivery of £90million of the works following a competitive procurement process. Furthermore, the Council has today appointed Vinci Taylor Woodrow, as the first ranked framework contractor, to provide pre-construction services. Construction works are due to start on site later this year. The scheme is expected to generate 150 jobs that last for a year or more, with at least 30 of those roles going to local people, and supporting 10 skilled apprenticeships. In addition, there will be an anticipated boost to Enfield’s construction sector, with at least £4 million of contracts with Enfield construction companies, supporting further local jobs. The Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Nesil Caliskan, said: “This is a major step forward for Meridian Water, the delivery of infrastructure on the site will pave the way for the 10,000 homes and 6,000 jobs we will be creating in this development. “Successfully delivering the infrastructure on the site will be a major step forward in what will be a transformational plan for the area, providing homes, jobas and parkland for the lasting benefit of our borough’s residents. “We are proceeding with pace on this ambitious programme which transform the face of Enfield and play a major role in tackling the housing crisis locally and providing a new, state of the art development which will provide the good quality jobs and homes our residents need.” Enfield Council has made major strides forward in the delivery of Meridian Water, a brand new £46million station was funded by the local authority to improve transport links to the site and the first homes – on the first phase of the development – which will provide circa 950 homes – are due to achieve first completions in 2022. In terms of job creation, the Council has struck a deal with Troubadour Theatres that will provide jobs and increase skills to build film and television studios at its £6bn Meridian Water development. The complex will be known as Troubadour Meridian Water Studios and will assist with the economic regeneration of the Edmonton and Enfield. Work on converting the former VOSA building on the Meridian Water development, to create workspace for Building BloQs to provide to thousands of freelance designers, makers and small businesses, started in December last year. The new workshop will provide 30,000sq feet of workspace and support up to 1,000 makers and creators across a range of departments – engineering, wood, metal, digital and additive technology, paint finishing, and a fashion studio for many years to come. For more information contact Andrew Golder, Press and New Media Manager, Enfield Council. Tel: 020 8379 5147. Email: Andrew.golder@enfield.gov.uk
According to research from energy consultancy Energy Management LLP, NHS Trusts spend an average of half a billion pounds each year on gas and electric. Powering patient care is a costly exercise, however there are solutions that can deliver power generation in a cost-effective way. One example is combined heat and power (CHP). Here Jason Harryman, UK Sales and Business Development Manager at energy and transportation expert Finning UK & Ireland, the exclusive distributor of Cat® equipment in the UK and Ireland, explains the benefits of using CHP in hospitals. Keeping medical equipment like ventilators running, as well as providing light and heating for large facilities, means hospitals typically have very high baseloads. The outbreak of COVID-19 has put added pressure on healthcare facilities, due to larger numbers of patients in intensive care. One major use of energy is heat, which is at the heart of every hospital — it is used for sterilising tools, heating water and for keeping wards warm. Conventional electricity generation is typically only around 40 per cent efficient and the heat generated by the equipment is wasted. This can lead to high energy costs as hospitals must consume more energy to compensate for what is lost. One way to reduce energy costs in hospitals is combined heat and power. As well as generating electricity, CHP systems use waste heat to generate steam and hot water for medical hygiene purposes. This means that hospitals can achieve energy efficiency gains and cost reductions in one. While the efficiency of traditional power generation is around 40 per cent fuel effective, CHP means hospitals can increase efficiency to over 75 per cent. For example, Finning supplied Rotherham Hospital with a Cat® G3516B gas generator that had an electrical output of 1.1 M We, alongside heat recovery modules and an external radiator cooling system. The CHP solution produced heat as a by-product and fed it back into the hospital’s heating system. After only 30 days, the hospital achieved an efficiency rate of 90.2 per cent. Two for the price of one It is easy for hospitals to end up paying for energy twice — for electricity to power the hospital and for gas to heat it. Using a CHP system means they will only need to pay for the gas to power the system. Meanwhile, it will produce electricity and heat simultaneously at effectively half the price of coal and gas-fired plants. CHP systems can run in periods of low thermal demand so that hospitals can benefits from cheaper power. According to a report by NHS England and Public Health England, it was suggested that CHP could save the NHS £26.4 million per year by 2020. Cleaner energy As more hospitals commit to reducing their carbon footprints, CHP can help management teams meet sustainability goals. Because CHP captures the heat that would otherwise be lost from power generation, less fuel is required to produce the same amount of energy. Less fuel means less carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide is produced from the combustion process — hospitals can reduce emissions by at least 20 per cent by using CHP. With hospitals spending an average of half-a-billion pounds a year on gas and electric, CHP provides a way for management teams to recovering costs while achieving cleaner and more efficient energy. To find out how you can get more out of your electric power generation, visit https://www.finning.com/en_GB/industries/electric-power-generation/chp.html.
One in three responders to cross-industry survey say payment delays are threatening viability of business Government facing mounting pressure to address administrative failings A survey of industry members involved in the installation of technologies eligible under the Green Homes Grants scheme has reinforced claims that administrative delays are behind the low deployment of a £1.5billion worth of vouchers, with more than 100,000 vouchers applied for and millions of pounds worth of work already undertaken by installers. To date, only 20,000 vouchers have been issued and even fewer payments for completed work have been made. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), Solar Energy UK, Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd (REAL) and the Home Insulation and Energy Systems Quality Assured Contractors Scheme (HIES) are calling on the Government to implement a four-point plan to address the issues in the scheme: Immediate acceleration of payments and processing of vouchers to address installers’ cashflow concerns and increase pace of installations for consumers A greater administrative role established for the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, which has the expertise and existing relationships with installers, auditors and established consumer bodies in the zero-carbon home retrofitting market Greater transparency of the auditing process – particularly the cost criteria of products and installation works should be made visible A commitment in the upcoming Budget to use all of the underspent 2020/21 budget in future years through a longer-term programme of zero-carbon retrofitting until the end of this parliament, applying lessons learned from the successful Local Authority Delivery scheme The four industry bodies surveyed 194 members, yielding the following results: Almost three-quarters (73%) of survey responders have completed work under the Green Homes Grant. The remaining installers identify concerns with the operation of the scheme as their main reason for not participating Of this group who are yet to be convinced to take part, the majority (72%) state that they are waiting to see if improvements can be made to the turnaround of payments, before they will reconsider their involvement Of those installers already working under the scheme, over three quarters (76% are ‘concerned about the time it takes to receive voucher payments’ Over a third (35%) of responders state that delays to scheme payments, is now threatening the viability of their businesses Over half (51%) of installers state that they have hired new people, given an expectation that the scheme would generate a significant volume of new enquiries Over a third (34%) said they were unlikely to retain these new staff, unless significant improvements are made to the operation of the scheme, including the flow of payments A further fifth (17%) of installers state that they have already let their recent new hires go as given issues with working with the voucher scheme MCS chief executive Ian Rippin said: “The Green Homes Grant has good intentions, but it has been over-engineered to the point where it is now significantly affecting how our installers operate. Delays to payments are especially damaging and we are calling for consumer incentives like this to be simplified to enable renewable energy businesses to do what they do best, without worrying about their financial health.” Solar Energy UK chief executive Chris Hewett said: “We are keen to see the Green Homes Grants scheme made a success. The government needs to work with industry to make the process simpler and clearer for installers and consumers alike. Payments for completed work must be made without further delay, and any unspent funds recommitted in following years. If this government is serious about driving a green economic recovery it has to put its money where its mouth is.” REAL CEO Virginia Graham said: “The Green Homes Grant scheme has successfully piqued the public’s interest and has great potential to deliver green home upgrades at scale. But installer confidence is essential if this is to be realised. We therefore urge Government to take heed of these survey results by simplifying and rationalising the voucher redemption process and by rolling over any unspent funds.” HIES chief executive Faisal Hussain said: “The results of the survey are a real concern because of the delay in customers receiving vouchers and installers getting paid for completed work. Furthermore, consumers who have paid a deposit could be in danger of losing it if their chosen installer ceases to trade. We want to work with the government and the scheme administrator to help ensure that consumers and installers are not severely impacted and would welcome a meeting to discuss the findings and potential solutions in more detail.” The government has faced mounting pressure to address the administrative failings of the scheme in recent weeks from both industry and politicians, with the Environmental Audit Committee’s 3rd Parliamentary report calling for the scheme to “be urgently overhauled and extended to provide greater long-term stimulus to the domestic energy efficiency sector.” [2]
BigChange, the mobile workforce management technology company, today announced that EDF has selected its pioneering JobWatch system to support the delivery of metering and energy services in the UK. EDF’s Energy Solutions division will use BigChange’s JobWatch system to manage the activities of field engineers serving business customers. Jobs will be scheduled and automatically dispatched through JobWatch, with activities allocated to the most appropriate engineer after considering a range of factors including their location and skills. Field engineers will be provided with their schedules, optimal routes, job information and worksheets through a BigChange app on their existing Android devices. With details of each job recorded on the app as it is completed, EDF’s back-office team will gain a real-time view of their mobile workforce operations and how each job is progressing. Tony Rabone, Senior Manager for Energy Solutions Delivery at EDF, comments: “We are excited by the potential of BigChange’s technology to improve our field service activities for commercial customers. This new way of working should allow us to be even more responsive to customer needs, while reducing the administrative burden of managing field operations and improving our employees’ experience.” Martin Port, founder and CEO of BigChange, comments: “The ease with which JobWatch is deployed at scale and integrated into third-party ERP systems means BigChange is increasingly chosen by large organisations to replace legacy infrastructure and ways of working. We’ve invested heavily in innovation, integration and achieving ISO27001 information security accreditation to meet the demands of larger customers. We are thrilled that EDF has rewarded these efforts by selecting JobWatch.” BigChange’s pioneering mobile workforce and job management solution, JobWatch, provides organisations of any size with a paperless means of planning, managing, scheduling, and tracking their mobile workforce operations. It is used by 50,000 mobile workers and back-office personnel at over 1,500 organisations worldwide, primarily working in the construction, facilities management, field service, transport, logistics and waste management sectors.
UK Power Networks has announced a major programme to kick start the ‘Green Recovery,’ by cutting the cost of green energy projects. The energy network, which keeps the lights on for more than 18 million people across London, the East and South East of England, is investing up to £80m to supercharge projects that contribute towards the UK’s commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050. The programme follows the Government’s announcement in November 2020 of a Ten Point Plan to kickstart the ‘Green Recovery’ and enable the country to reach its target of Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050. Now the network company is inviting bids from shovel-ready low carbon energy projects that require a high or low voltage electricity connection to its networks in the next two years. The programme will support successful bidders who can demonstrate their project helps enable the low carbon transition. This could include installing rapid electric vehicle charging stations in local communities, energy generators looking to connect more renewable energy to the electricity network, local heat networks or community energy projects. To be successful, projects will need to demonstrate how they meet both the Government’s Net Zero objective and the Ten Point Plan. They will also be assessed to understand their contribution towards improving air quality, creating jobs and alleviating fuel poverty. The programme will focus on funded projects that can be delivered in 2021 or 2022 to make sure it has immediate impact. The programme will enable UK Power Networks to increase power capacity in areas identified, to significantly reduce the cost of connection. Successful applicants will still need to apply for an electricity connection in order to use this increased capacity. To support this work, UK Power Networks is also exploring a range of innovative solutions, including a new compact substation design, to enable new connections to be delivered more quickly and at a lower cost. It hopes this new solution can be delivered by any authorised body. Sul Alli, director of Strategy and Customer Service at UK Power Networks said: “Electricity networks are the front line of enabling Net Zero. That’s why we’ve taken this decision to make a significant investment to kickstart the Green Recovery and help get projects that are going to make a real, tangible difference to people’s lives off the drawing board and into development. “The clock is ticking – in less than a decade there will be 36 times as many electric vehicles connected to our network as there is now, and that’s why we have to take action now. Electricity networks have a vital public role to play in enabling the Net Zero revolution, and it’s a role we are 100% committed to.” To find out more email Green.Recovery@UKPowerNetworks.co.uk or see https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/green-recovery
If substations are the delivery vehicles of the energy transmission network, then transformers are their engines, quietly humming away to ensure homes and businesses receive a constant supply of power. Given the cost to replace these vital assets, there is an ongoing maintenance requirement to ensure they remain in prime working condition. And so, as the population of transformers across the UK gets older with every year, so the risk of them failing increases. Alongside this, there is the constant risk of oil escaping as a result of a failure. With some estimates putting the average age of a distribution transformer as high as 63 years, it is understandable that facilities managers are continually exploring ways to limit their exposure to such a potentially dangerous scenario. Enabling environmental compliance MIDEL-type oil is non-toxic and fully biodegradable, meaning it is becoming increasingly sought after for its environmental benefits. At a time when industry is stepping up to tackle an increasingly urgent sustainability agenda, this is in contrast to the potentially harmful polluting impact that high-toxicity mineral oils can have if they escape into the watercourse. The combination of these reasons makes it easy to see why MIDEL-type ester oils have grown in popularity. It is important to note, however, that being a more environmentally sound option compared with mineral oil does not mean that the environmental risks are totally eradicated. It remains essential for any site using MIDEL to consider the wider ramifications – and particularly the cost implications – for managing this different kind of spill risk. When it comes to pollution-prevention methods for transformers, bunds are the primary option, ensuring compliance with the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001. Bunds can be a trap for rainwater, particularly in a climate such as the UK’s, where our already saturated winters are expected to become up to 30% wetter within the next 50 years. Safely managing the removal of this water while guaranteeing its separation from pollutants can be a costly task when carried out on a regular basis by third-party waste removal providers. A more efficient and cost-effective alternative is a bund water control unit (BWCU), which automates the dewatering process without the need for manual intervention. Rainwater, when it reaches a certain probe trigger level, is simply evacuated from the bund and into the surface water drainage system, with a guarantee that oil contaminants will not be at a level exceeding 1ppm. MIDEL compatibility Any transition to the use of ester oils, such as MIDEL 7131, should therefore be done in the knowledge that the BWCU will continue to deliver the highest pollution protection levels. At Darcy Group, we have received independent verification from a UKAS accredited testing house, that our BWCU is compatible with the use of MIDEL 7131, confirming a discharge of less than 5ppm of oil to water. As such, choosing a Darcy BWCU is a future-proof choice for those looking to use MIDEL. For our clients using MIDEL, having a compliant BWCU to manage the dewatering process not only removes ongoing waste removal costs, it also further enhances their environmental credentials beyond the choice to use ester fluids over mineral oils. As more sites consider making the transition to ester oils for their transformers, it is crucial that the bund and the dewatering process are a key element of the overall risk management plan. Only by doing this can you truly ensure that the end result is sustainable from both an economic and environmental perspective. For information on how our products and services, call us today on 01732 762338 or get in touch via the website www.thedarcygroup.co.uk/contact.
Barriers and insulating components on strategic locations can help you reduce the impact of wildlife on your power system. When specified and installed correctly, power components can reduce fire risk, lower power outage instances and safeguard the environment for over four decades. Industrial power distributors and utility companies have to face a prevalent problem where animals interfere with high voltage lines and power substations and cause bushfires that have a serious effect on the environment. Such power incidents may be a result of the following: • Fires resulting from the ignition of animal nests and other debris; fires at pole tops as well as the electrocution of animals and birds • Fire induced by vegetation when live conductors clash with vegetation • A clash of conductors, when adjacent conductors come into contact and generate travelling arcs, sparks and lead to conductor damage • Pollution flashover (airborne environmental pollutants and bird guano) where pollutants build up on insulated components. They then become conductors where the current flows through, increasing the chances of a flashover, flame tracking and arcing Vegetation and wildlife can cause phase-to-earth-faults when they form conductive paths, which connect the power equipment to the ground. They can also cause phase-to-phase faults that occur from the collision of the adjacent phases or getting connected via debris or wildlife (wire clashes or animal conduction). This often results in the production of molten metal particles that cause fires by igniting dry vegetation. These risks may be lowered by preventively installing TE Connectivity’s (TE) Raychem Wildlife Asset Protection solutions. What are TE’s Wildlife Asset Protection solutions? They are insulating barriers and covers that lower a fire risk on substation and overhead line components. They are both reliable and retrofittable. Wildlife and Asset Protection products are always at a risk of premature failure and degradation due to environmental factors, which in turn may cause fire. Thus the selection of materials used in producing these products is very important. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked at the selection stage. Particularly important is that the polymers used are formulated to endure harsh environmental conditions without material breakdown for decades. The importance of choosing the right Wildlife Asset Protection Solutions Most utility companies find investing in systems to reduce the risk of bushfire from wildlife-related causes more of a reactionary or discretionary effort. However, these components indeed help enhance reliability in power connections as well as power safety, which would result in a significant payback of the power providers as they prevent fire catastrophes. The costly and far-reaching implications include: • Injury to people and sometimes, fatalities • Extensive damage or total loss of the assets in the power grid • Power outages and service interruptions (SAIFI and SAIDI) that not only disrupt communities and residential homes, but may also lead to dangerous conditions in hospitals, learning institutions, and industrial centers, among other places • Environmental pollution that may threaten wildlife, livelihoods and power infrastructure personnel, especially if potentially hazardous components are burnt in the process • Irreparable damage to horticultural and agriculture assets from the fire • Legal implications that result in litigations and penalties from the fires • Negative publicity on mainstream and social media outlets that not only damages the reputation of the company but also lowers the shareholder value. Choosing Materials for Wildlife and Asset Protection Installations The level of effectiveness of a Wildlife and Asset Protection product, and thereby its level of fire protection, varies based on the type of material it is made of. It is important that the manufacturer makes its products using materials formulations that can handle the harsh conditions substations and overhead lines are regularly exposed to for extended periods of time. These include mechanical stress, pollution build-up, high voltage stress, elevated temperatures and pollution-induced arching. If you do not select components made from the right performance material, you could end up increasing ignition sources. With this in mind, consider the following performance characteristics, as explained in selecting Wildlife and Asset Protection components. 1. Resistance to Erosion and Tracking (TERT) TERT measures the extent of tracking resistance of a material. This is its ability to resist ignition and surface arching when subject to high-stress environments. The ASTM D2303 abrasion test and a step method using 2.5kV to 3.25kV are the common methods to determine TERT. If the tracking resistance is inadequate, the material is susceptible to degradation over a given period. This, in turn, leads to the breakdown of the insulation, propagation of the flame and production of sparks. With the test standard in mind, the material with an excellent TERT resistance is one that can withstand more than a single Step TERT after the abrasion method has been applied. 2. Ultraviolet (UV) Resistance This is the ability of a material to withstand prolonged UV exposure without failing over a long period. This is because the materials will be outdoors all the time. Materials that do not have excellent UV resistance tend to degrade over time This gives a leeway to environmental pollutants to build upon the cracks, thereby increasing the chances of ignition, arcing and tracking from conduction from these pollutants. Scientists demonstrate UV resistance by the use of ASTM G154, UV-3, Cycle 3 test that takes at least 1,000 hours. However, to determine if the polymer at hand can perform for over 30 years, the materials are UV tested for at least 5,000 hours. 3. Thermal Endurance This is the measure for a material’s ability to resist deforming or melting (maintain mechanical integrity) in environments with sustained high temperatures. If a material can withstand melting, there is a reduced risk that it might drip down on dry grace or other vegetation and trigger fire. There are two methods used in testing thermal endurance in wildlife and asset protection components: 1. Thermal Index IEC 60216/IEEE 98. Here, the material is subjected to temperatures of105°C (221°F). If it can withstand these temperatures over 20,000 hours, it can last over 20 years. 2. Thermal Aging ASTM D2671that takes 750
Brickfab, a leading manufacturer of prefabricated products for the UK House Building industry, is building itself a greener future. The innovative business, based in Pontypool, which employs sixty people designs, manufactures and supplies prefabricated arches, brick specials, chimneys, GRP canopies and panels to the major house builders throughout the UK. Brickfab Managing Director, Nigel Watkins, says the firm recognises the role it must play in reducing its carbon footprint by putting the environment at the forefront of its business. It has added to its green credentials by installing 170 solar panels at its factory in Pontypool. Mr Watkins said: “We take a proactive approach to dealing with all matters relating to Brickfab’s environmental impact. To that end and to reduce our carbon footprint even further, we have installed a total of 170, 290v solar modules which will give us an installed capacity of 49kWP. We expect to make savings of 25 tonnes of CO2e per year. It helps everyone at Brickfab to have a greater awareness of the importance of looking after the planet and climate.” The business expects to recover the costs of installing the solar panels over the next few years through the energy produced by the equipment. Brickfab received an interest free loan from The Carbon Trust for the installation which had made the project financially viable. The system was installed by Hereford-based Caplor Energy. The installation comes in the wake of Brickfab’s other green initiatives which include the use of cutting-edge delivery vehicles to help reduce fuel use, streaming and segregation of factory waste with significantly less going to land fill and the recycling of plastic and cardboard. Mr Watkins said: “We have a focus on reducing energy use across the business and working towards ISO 14001 environmental standard. We could well see further solar panels installed on our other factories, in the future.”
