Banks Renewables is expecting to invest over £100 million to develop Pond Energy Park, which will see a section of an industrial park near Bathgate re-designed into a two-hectare battery site. Plans are expected to be submitted later this year and Pond Battery Storage will have an export capacity of
Pryme Group, an innovative engineering collective that designs, creates and delivers solutions to diverse global industrial markets, has launched two specialist tooling systems for offshore wind installations, via Caley Ocean Systems. The tools have been launched to the global market, furthering the company’s commitment to innovative engineering solutions for a
Green power replaces natural gas and coal in process heat generation (high-pressure steam, thermal oil, hot air) with the use of the power-to-heat storage Green Heat Module Together with the Solar Institute Jülich and industrial partners, Kraftanlagen Energies & Services has for the first time researched, developed and demonstrated an
One of Kirklees Council’s key carbon reduction projects reached another milestone in its journey today. Approval of the outline business case by councillors at Cabinet will now enable the Heat Network project to progress to the next phase, which will include how the Council can achieve successful delivery of the
Glaston Group has signed a contract for five flat tempering lines for solar panel tempering with Chinese Kibing Glass. The order is the first win for Glaston’s new tailor-made concept for the solar industry. In Glaston’s updated strategy, the solar industry is identified as a growth-capturing customer segment. Amid rising
Conrad Energy, the UK’s market leading flexible power company, has recently secured planning consent for a 50MW 2-hour battery energy storage system in North Petherton, Somerset. The approval demonstrates Conrad Energy’s commitment to enabling the UK’s ambitious net zero plans and reflects their continuing investment in energy storage. Conrad Energy’s
The Government has committed to hydrogen heating for UK homes in a landmark speech by one of the key ministers responsible for energy strategy. In a debate on the potential for hydrogen and a new HyNet Hydrogen Village trial at Whitby near Ellesmere Port, which is running alongside the Hy4Heat
Over three quarters (77.7%) of Brits would support the UK generating and distributing alternative, low-carbon gas through the existing grid to replace the imports of natural gas from countries such as Qatar and Russia, a survey has found. The research of 2000 UK consumers, conducted on behalf of trade association
With energy efficiency ranking as a key consideration for homeowners, REHAU is advising the fenestration industry to emphasise the thermal properties of their portfolios to meet these shifting consumer priorities. The recommendation follows a recently published survey from the Home Builders Federation (HBF), in which almost three quarters of 2,000
The Heat Pump Federation and its members welcome the Chancellor’s decision to reduce VAT to zero rate on energy savings materials, including heat pumps. Bean Beanland, the HPF’s Director of Growth & External Affairs said: “We, in concert with others in the sector, have long argued that the tax regime
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Banks Renewables is expecting to invest over £100 million to develop Pond Energy Park, which will see a section of an industrial park near Bathgate re-designed into a two-hectare battery site. Plans are expected to be submitted later this year and Pond Battery Storage will have an export capacity of 200 megawatts over two hours. When fully charged, this project will be enough to supply the average demands of 600,000 homes for that two hour period – more homes than Edinburgh and Glasgow combined. The new site is set to deliver opportunities for local businesses in areas like construction, groundworks, civils and remediation; with Banks’ flagship ‘Connect2Renewables’ initiative prioritising local businesses as much as possible when awarding contracts on their sites. The responsible developer is renowned for its onshore wind projects in South Lanarkshire – including the construction of the UK’s tallest and most efficient onshore wind turbines at its Kype Muir Extension site near Strathaven. Gordon Thomson, projects director at Banks Renewables said: “The proposed Pond Battery Storage project in West Lothian marks a very exciting time for us here at Banks Renewables. “Battery storage projects like this are becoming increasingly important in Scotland’s push for net zero. When it’s not sunny or windy, battery energy storage can allow us to dip into the reserves by using pre-generated energy in the batteries to supply to the national grid and reducing our reliance on energy derived from imported fossil fuels.” The first in-person consultation events will occur on 12 October, from 2pm – 7pm, at the Jim Walker Partnership Centre in Bathgate. Here, members of the community will be invited to give their thoughts, help shape the proposals and highlight key local priorities which could be addressed using community benefits. Battery storage, or battery energy storage systems (BESS), are devices that store and enable energy from renewables, like solar and wind farms. Natural fluctuations in weather conditions mean that renewable electricity generation can often be out of step with demand and batteries can address this by storing surplus generation when demand is low and releasing it when demand is higher – maximising the efficiency of renewable energy. Batteries are set to play a huge role in the country’s push for net zero, reducing the reliance on large fossil fuelled power stations. If approved, the site will be based at Pond Industrial Estate on Whitburn Road to the south-east of Bathgate. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Pryme Group, an innovative engineering collective that designs, creates and delivers solutions to diverse global industrial markets, has launched two specialist tooling systems for offshore wind installations, via Caley Ocean Systems. The tools have been launched to the global market, furthering the company’s commitment to innovative engineering solutions for a net zero future. Pile Fixation Tool (PFT) and PileProp are designed to support the installation of monopile and jacketed foundations for offshore wind, by providing a localised, rigid deflection constraint – and in the case of the PileProp system independent of vessel interaction or station – prior to the critical grouting process of securing the foundations. “Pryme Group is dedicated to developing the tools, technology and equipment for the energy transition. Our offshore wind capabilities have been significantly bolstered by these two innovative solutions, successfully operating in the field, and we are eager to work with existing and prospective partners to implement them across the world. We are dedicated to delivering solutions along with our partners to support current and future rapid growth opportunities within the offshore wind market,” said Kerrie Murray, CEO at Pryme Group. PFT is a bespoke monopile foundation installation support solution, designed to address the stabilising issues involved with monopile foundations being placed in pre-drilled boreholes, due to challenging seabed conditions. This proven technology has been used to support DEME with the foundation installation on the St Nazaire offshore wind farm. PileProp has been designed to aid securing the fixing of jacket foundations over pre-installed pile pins. This solution was designed to comply to DNV regulation ST-0126, which advised minimising movement in all planes to 1mm, prior to grouting. PileProp is currently being deployed in support of foundation installation work on St Brieuc offshore wind farm, with Caley’s client, Ailes Marines, being the developer. These systems were developed as part of Caley’s collaboration with engineering design specialists Houlder, which covers a wide range of engineering design and installation tooling for offshore wind farm projects. Both tooling systems minimise early age cycling and reduce weather and wave limitations to installation. This results in minimised downtime due to severe conditions, therefore lengthening the installation window, increasing efficiency and speed of the installation process, limiting risk of early failure of grouting and reducing initial project and through life costs. Pryme Group has broad capabilities supplying engineering products, services and solutions to diverse markets from oil and gas to nuclear to defence and marine to offshore wind and renewables. The group comprises five businesses with a total of 260 staff operating over 12 sites across the UK. Each business operates under its own brand name as part of the Pryme Group. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Green power replaces natural gas and coal in process heat generation (high-pressure steam, thermal oil, hot air) with the use of the power-to-heat storage Green Heat Module Together with the Solar Institute Jülich and industrial partners, Kraftanlagen Energies & Services has for the first time researched, developed and demonstrated an experimental plant operating at 1000 degrees Celsius in the multiTESS project Focus on CO2-free and base-load-capable heat and power supply from regional sources Green Heat Module The reliable and CO2-free supply of heat and electricity from regional renewable energy sources is a complex problem in industry. Kraftanlagen Energies & Services solves it as a general contractor with its new Green Heat Module (GHM) product. In order to decarbonise an even greater number of industrial processes, Kraftanlagen Energies & Services, together with the Solar Institute Jülich of Aachen University of Applied Sciences (SIJ) and consortium partners Otto Junker and Dürr Systems, developed a so-called power-to-heat storage system in the multiTESS project, which operates at a temperature level of 1000 degrees Celsius. This allows energy to be stored in the form of high-temperature heat (“loaded”) and this heat to be converted back into electricity when needed (“unloaded”). In addition, external heat sources – such as waste heat from industrial processes – can also be included. It is also conceivable to use the stored heat not only to produce electricity, but also to feed it into public district heating networks or to provide process heat for (heavy) industry. To make this possible, the test facility has now been opened in Jülich. At the opening ceremony, Oliver Krischer, Minister for the Environment and Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, said that the multiTESS technology could become a model for many residential areas as well as commercial and industrial zones. The energy supply of the future must be based on renewable energies. Jeanette Lemmes (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action) affirmed that the common goal must be to ensure security of supply, prosperity and climate protection. The centrepiece of the plant in the Jülich Brainergy Park is a six-metre-high chimney extension painted bright blue. Inside are several layers of ceramic honeycomb bricks that have vertical ventilation channels. Air flows through these stones – when they are loaded, 1000-degree hot air is introduced from above, which releases its energy to the stones on its way down. When unloading, cooler air is introduced from below and flows upwards, absorbing the heat energy. The actual building houses the electric heating system, which heats the air to up to 1000 degrees, and turbines to generate electricity. CO2-free base load supply The temperature range above heat pumps – i.e. between 150 and 1000 degrees – has so far posed a major technical and economic problem for CO2-free base load supply. It is precisely this problem that is being successfully addressed for the first time at 1000 degrees in the multiTESS project. This is also the first time that an electric high-performance heater is used in conjunction with a high-temperature storage tank and heat utilisation as a complete system at a nominal temperature of 1000 degrees. The process couples the electricity sector with the heat sector. In doing so, the power-to-heat storage system enables the use of cheap but volatile renewable energies for a compellingly demand-controlled industrial heat and coupled power supply. Due to the very high efficiency, multiTESS systems can make a relevant contribution to supply security and decarbonisation in connection with renewable energies. Due to the use of existing standard components that have been used industrially for decades, multiTESS systems can already be used in industry today at lower temperatures of around 750 degrees, for example, for a CO2-free process heat supply. With parallel integration to existing heat generators, storage capacities of about 1 GWhth and thermal discharge capacities of 1 to 200 MWth can already be realised at these lower temperatures. In the future, the processes will also be operated at higher temperatures. Industry and science worked hand in hand in the planning and construction of the plant. The high-temperature heating system was designed and built by Otto Junker GmbH, Dürr Systems AG built the ceramic heat storage system and an ORC plant, and Kraftanlagen Energies und Services GmbH was responsible for the overall planning. Alfons Weber (CEO Kraftanlagen Energies & Services) sums up: “We are facing a historic turning point in industrial heat supply: Increasingly, power generation from renewable energy sources is cheaper than fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. Our Green Heat Module product takes advantage of this game change. It produces and stores process heat in a way that serves the grid, namely whenever renewables are available at a favourable price, thus enabling a CO2- and emission-free base load supply. The GHM shows a high potential for reducing fossil fuels, and thus reducing import dependencies and climate-damaging emissions, because it is available now and scalable for storage capacities of gigawatt hours.”
One of Kirklees Council’s key carbon reduction projects reached another milestone in its journey today. Approval of the outline business case by councillors at Cabinet will now enable the Heat Network project to progress to the next phase, which will include how the Council can achieve successful delivery of the project. Huddersfield District Energy Network (HDEN), also referred to as the ‘heat network’, is considered key infrastructure to help the district achieve its ambitious target of net zero carbon emissions by 2038 – a target set by the council when it declared a Climate Emergency in 2019. The system, which features a network of underground insulated pipes, distributes heat in the form of hot water from a centralised heat generation plant to different buildings. These buildings are then provided with space heating and hot water from the network instead of via traditional individual gas boilers. Additionally electricity can also be delivered to buildings via a separate electricity network referred to as ‘private wire’. The existing Energy-from-Waste (EfW) plant, located in Huddersfield, presents an ideal opportunity as a central heat and electricity generation plant, harnessing the heat already produced there for the network. A separate energy centre, proposed to be located at a nearby council owned site, would house pumps (for pumping the water around the network) and vessels to store the heat, in the form of hot water, as well as helping to smooth any demand from the network. It will also contain back-up gas boilers for providing heat during periods when the EfW is offline due to planned maintenance or unexpected outages. Back-up electricity would be provided via the national grid. If the scheme is ultimately approved and constructed it is expected to achieve significant carbon emission savings of around 70% (when considered against typical individual gas boilers) over the lifespan of the scheme – as well as air quality improvements – through the removal of the need of natural gas-fired boiler plants at sites that would be able to connect to the network. Heat network piping can also last over 50 years and has the ability to accommodate different sources of heat, so if an existing energy source reaches end of life, it can be removed from the system and replaced by a new source. This makes the system even more sustainable adding to its environmental credentials. The timing of the upcoming procurement process for the Recycling and Waste contract renewal has also been recognised as an important opportunity to the council and will play a key role in the heat network project. Work will be undertaken by relevant council officers to align these two projects to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes. Additionally other significant council-led redevelopments via the Huddersfield Blueprint and Station to Stadium schemes where possible would also connect to the network. Councillor Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Environment and Councillor Will Simpson, Cabinet Member for Culture and Greener Kirklees said: “District Energy Networks are recognised by central government as one on the most effective ways of decarbonising the local heat supply in urban areas. “We recognise the challenges of a changing climate facing the district and are making changes to meet the important target of net zero in 2038 for the benefit of Kirklees residents, its wildlife, landscape and biodiversity. “The scheme – managed by the Council’s Air Quality, Energy and Climate Change Team – would make a considerable dent in the decarbonisation of Huddersfield Town Centre and contribute significantly in making our district greener and carbon neutral by our 2038 target. We would like to thank officers for all the work that has gone into the project to date to gain approval for the next stage of project.” Now approved, additional funding is required to progress the project to the next stage which the team hope to raise through a bid to the Green Heat Networks Fund (GHNF) – launched by the government in March this year. The council have previously benefitted from funding for the various stages of the project including £300k for the delivery of the outline business case from the BEIS Heat Network Delivery Unit who have since shown their written support of the scheme to progress to the next stage. With Cabinet approval the team await the outcome of the bid to the GHNF due later this year, and if successful officers would start work on developing the full business case.
Glaston Group has signed a contract for five flat tempering lines for solar panel tempering with Chinese Kibing Glass. The order is the first win for Glaston’s new tailor-made concept for the solar industry. In Glaston’s updated strategy, the solar industry is identified as a growth-capturing customer segment. Amid rising concerns over climate change and energy security, significant growth in renewable energy is expected. In China, the solar market is booming and the new installed solar capacity was up 148% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the corresponding period in 2021 (Source: China National Energy Administration, April 2022). Reflecting these growth numbers, the output of solar glass in China has increased thereby driving demand for solar panel glass processing equipment. Glaston’s long-term customer, Kibing Glass is an innovative high-technology company, specializing in float glass, energy-saving building glass, low-iron ultra-white glass, photovoltaic glass, and pharmaceutical glass. Currently, Kibing Glass invests heavily to expand its photovoltaic glass production base in China and Malaysia and the number of photovoltaic glass projects has been accelerating. Kibing Glass already operates close to 20 Glaston insulating glass lines. Glaston’s technological advantage, service capabilities and strong brand name contributed to the positive outcome when the customer was looking for a technology supplier for their growing solar business. “Kibing Glass is a highly valued customer and we are honored to support their growth initiatives in the solar business. Glaston’s tailor-made solar concept, which combines huge volumes and high-quality thin glass, is a perfect choice”, says Sasu Koivumäki, CSO at Glaston Corporation. The CHF Solar line is designed for high volume and operates 24/7 with an automatic setup. The cycle time per glass is only 15 seconds. As the line is running continuously, the daily throughput is approximately 250 tonnes. The order, valued at close to EUR 5 million, is booked in Glaston’s Q3/2022 order book. The CHF Solar lines will be delivered to the customer’s facility in Malaysia during the first half of 2023. With total assets of RMB 19 billion and more than 10,000 employees, Kibing operates from six glass processing plants located throughout China and Malaysia. The company also has 26 high-quality float glass lines in production. Since 2011, the company is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Conrad Energy, the UK’s market leading flexible power company, has recently secured planning consent for a 50MW 2-hour battery energy storage system in North Petherton, Somerset. The approval demonstrates Conrad Energy’s commitment to enabling the UK’s ambitious net zero plans and reflects their continuing investment in energy storage. Conrad Energy’s largest battery storage project to date will use local topography and innovative design to conceal the scheme within the landscape. Additional planting and landscaping will boost the local habitat with an estimated biodiversity net gain score of 22.3% and 100% for hedgerow units, enhancing the local landscape and providing shelter for birds, animals and insects. “With biodiversity gain built into the design for this site from the start, we are delighted to have successfully achieved planning permission,” said Chris Shears, Conrad Energy’s Chief Development Officer. “Battery energy storage projects like this one are vital to the energy transition. Contributing to the local ecological system is just one of the ways we work with communities to ensure our projects can facilitate the rapid transition to renewable energy which the UK needs to achieve.” This announcement comes as Conrad Energy’s 15MW 4-hour battery energy storage system in Plympton, Devon recently achieved planning approval. The company’s first significant strategic solar development at Larport in Herefordshire was awarded planning approval in May.
The Government has committed to hydrogen heating for UK homes in a landmark speech by one of the key ministers responsible for energy strategy. In a debate on the potential for hydrogen and a new HyNet Hydrogen Village trial at Whitby near Ellesmere Port, which is running alongside the Hy4Heat programme, the Rt Hon George Freeman, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, welcomed the trials as a vital first step towards gathering the necessary evidence for a wider roll-out. “We want to make sure that the trials lay the foundation for a wider nationwide roll-out.” He continued: “The BEIS-funded Hy4Heat programme has shown that the use of 100% hydrogen can be made as safe as natural gas when used for heating and cooking in the types of houses that were studied.” “[The trials] are designed to provide the Government with the necessary evidence to take big strategic decisions on heating within a matter of two or three years. I know the ambition that colleagues have shared today to go further and faster is shared by the Secretary of State, The Minister for Energy and the Prime Minister. It is not lack of political will that is holding us back.” Responding to the Minister’s comments, Mike Foster, Chief Executive of the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), commented: “The government’s endorsement of a hydrogen future using our world-class gas distribution network is a tribute to the hard work of the heating industry in developing hydrogen technologies.” Mr Foster also praised the commitment of boiler manufacturers to provide hydrogen boilers at no greater cost than current technologies – a commitment that was brokered by the EUA. “The Big Four boiler manufacturers price promise was noted by BEIS and has proven to be a decisive factor in the government’s commitment to a hydrogen future. The benefits for the climate, consumers and the heating industry have been made very clear and the government has responded.” He continued: “This is also very good news for the UK’s installer base, whose knowledge and expertise will be needed to roll-out the installation of hydrogen boilers across the UK. I am glad that the EUA’s representations to government about the importance of having a ready-made workforce, skilled in the installation of gas technologies, has won the argument.” Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Over three quarters (77.7%) of Brits would support the UK generating and distributing alternative, low-carbon gas through the existing grid to replace the imports of natural gas from countries such as Qatar and Russia, a survey has found. The research of 2000 UK consumers, conducted on behalf of trade association the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), has also found almost three quarters (73.8%) of people would support development low carbon gas boilers that could be easily swapped with existing boilers to help deliver the UK’s climate change targets. Almost two thirds (64.3%) of respondents also said they would choose a low carbon boiler if replacing their heating system. Amid increasing cost-of-living concerns, 82% of respondents also believed the government should prioritise affordability in the development of renewable technologies for heating homes in the UK. However only 6.2% of those asked would be willing to pay £8500 for a new heating system, the average additional expense of retrofitting a heat pump. Almost two-thirds would be unwilling or unable to pay this much for a new heating system, leaving hydrogen heating as the only way to decarbonise their homes. Mike Foster, CEO of the EUA explains: “It is clear that Brits back action on climate change however, with the cost-of-living crisis causing concern for pretty much everyone, the Government have got to commit to a more affordable route. The vast majority of UK residents cannot afford the price tag for a heat pump, nor do they want to switch away from some kind of low carbon gas. “The gas grid is gearing up for hydrogen, and boiler manufacturers have already made promises around price for consumers. Now it is up to the Government to pull their finger out and prioritise UK people and their finances by progressing hydrogen as part of the UK’s energy mix.” With Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng alluding to hydrogen playing a role in the Government’s upcoming Energy Strategy, the UK public have made it clear an alternative to natural gas is their choice. 71% of respondents believed the Government should make a clear statement that, in future all gas, supplied to UK homes through the gas grid is low or zero carbon. Mr Foster adds: “Mr Kwarteng and the Prime Minister have a decision to make with this Energy Crisis. Either they continue with an electrification of heat, imposing large bills on the public and pushing more people into fuel poverty. Or they can start prioritising the financial wellbeing of the British public and listen to their demands when they say they want an alternative to natural gas, which can be found in hydrogen.” “We have to make progress to Net Zero but this cannot be at the cost of the British people. We have all seen energy bills rise, hurting people in their pockets. The Government must get this call right or risk making a huge political blunder which will see them out of office at the next election.” For more information, visit www.eua.org.uk
With energy efficiency ranking as a key consideration for homeowners, REHAU is advising the fenestration industry to emphasise the thermal properties of their portfolios to meet these shifting consumer priorities. The recommendation follows a recently published survey from the Home Builders Federation (HBF), in which almost three quarters of 2,000 respondents (73%) said they were concerned about the energy efficiency of their current home. In the wake of these findings, REHAU is advocating installers and fabricators review the thermal performance of their frames, especially with upcoming changes to Approved Document L of the Building Regulations. “Energy efficiency has never been too far from consumers’ minds, and this latest survey from the HBF reaffirms this,” says Russell Hand, Head of Product and Technical for REHAU Windows. “With Part L guidelines also being tightened as part of the Future Homes Standard and wider efforts to reduce green house gas emissions, windows professionals should look into the U-Value of their current solutions to stay ahead of legislation and trends. “This latest change is likely the first of many for new and existing homes, so by taking action and futureproofing now, businesses will be well-placed to stand out in an increasingly eco-conscious market. One key way of doing this is to look for systems suitable for Passivhaus standard, which is currently the most energy-efficient specification for European and UK buildings.” According to sustainable construction experts GreenSpec, windows can represent up to 10% of total heat lost in homes. Taking this stat into account alongside steep energy prices rises expected in April, Russell is highlighting the importance of emphasising the impact energy-efficient windows can have on monthly bills. “The country is bracing itself for heating costs to soar from April, which means that as vital as consumers sees the issue of energy efficiency now, it is only going to grow in prominence,” Russell concludes. “Being able to mitigate these costs in any way will be at the forefronts of homeowners’ minds, so installers and fabricators need to stress the thermal performance strengths of their frames. “By stocking systems that can help do this, including REHAU’s TOTAL70C, which can achieve U-Values better than that required by the new Part L, tradespeople can help answer the market’s pressing needs. This combination of right choice and right emphasis will undoubtedly help fenestration businesses at this highly disrupted time, and into the future.” For more information on REHAU’s TOTAL70 windows system, click here.
The Heat Pump Federation and its members welcome the Chancellor’s decision to reduce VAT to zero rate on energy savings materials, including heat pumps. Bean Beanland, the HPF’s Director of Growth & External Affairs said: “We, in concert with others in the sector, have long argued that the tax regime in the UK has favoured the burning of fossil fuels, so this is a particularly welcome measure. We also understand that all materials and services are included. This level of simplicity is essential for the installer community, many of which are micro-businesses that struggle with overly complex tax rules.” “Setting the intervention for five years gives future visibility which will encourage investment in both skills and capacity, by the whole sector in the UK. When taken in conjunction with the new Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which also starts on 1st April, domestic scale heat pumps are going to be that much more affordable for both homeowners and landlords. “ “Capital costs are only one half of the equation, operational costs for heat pumps do still have to be addressed through the rebalancing of taxation on electricity and fossil fuels that reflects the relative carbon and other emissions. But for today, the VAT outcome is to be celebrated and the Government commended for the message that this sends to consumers and to the industry alike.” For interviews/information, please contact Bean Beanland: 07393 399685 / bean.beanland@hpf.org.uk / www.hpf.org.uk
