SPRING 2022
THE ENERGY REVOLUTION AN INSIGHT FROM CLIVE DEADMAN
RAPID GROWTH FOR WEG ALTERNATOR MANUFACTURER SEES EUROPEAN EXPANSION
PROXIMITY BIAS THE DANGERS OF HYBRID WORKING
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with Charles Chetwynd-Talbot
06: ENGINEERING MADE THE WORLD Bernard Gospel takes a look at The Spear
09: FORTHCOMING EVENTS AMPS dates for your diary
10: THE ENERGY REVOLUTION Clive Deadman shares his thoughts
12: POWERING ALTERNATIVE FUELS & THE HYBRID REVOLUTION 14: TECHNICAL COMMITTEE UPDATE 16: UKCA INFORMATION & UPDATES
Useful information on the latest UKCA requirements
18: THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING Female opportunities are on the rise says Laura Wilks
20: WEG GENERATES GROWTH IN EUROPE’S ALTERNATOR MARKET Manoj Kakaya examines WEG’s European alternator business expansion
CONTENTS
04: A VIEW FROM WESTMINSTER
WELCOME TO SPRING 2022 Welcome AMPS Power In this first issue for 2022 we have decided to give AMPS POWER a bit of a makeover which will be part of a number of planned changes and will also take the magazine into the digital world. I appreciate that, as with any change, it is likely to be a potential ‘Marmite’ moment but bear with us and please feel free to send us your comments and let us know what other changes you would like to see. We also listen to what our members are asking for and in this issue we have included articles relating to diversity and inclusion (D&I) and Women in Engineering which we know are topics that are important to you. We also have an article titled ‘The Energy Revolution’ by Professor Clive Deadman from Cranfield University who interestingly talks about his involvement with AMPS back in its early inception. Our aim is to provide the most up to date and relevant information to our members but we can’t do it without your help. Thank you to all those who continually keep us updated with articles, send us news of their awards and shout out about their great employees. Keep up the good work and send anything that you think your fellow members would like to read to: ampsmagazine@amps.org.uk
22: MEMBER NEWS
News and success stories from AMPS members
Mike Boughey
24: ROLLS-ROYCE PROVIDES MTU TRIGENERATION PLANT FOR LARGEST DATA CENTRE IN ROMANIA
Editor: AMPS Power Magazine
26: ENERGY EFFICIENCY OPPORTUNITIES WITH DATA CENTRE BACKUP GENERATORS
The Association of Manufacturers and Suppliers of Power Systems & Ancillary Equipment
28: DISTRIBUTED ENERGY SHOW 2022
Thurston Road, Northallerton DL6 2NJ
30: NEW MEMBER PROFILE Introducing MHM Group
32: EVENT REVIEW
A look at The Executive Hire Show 2022
34: MYTH BUSTERS
James Eades looks at earthing temporary generator sets
36: THE DANGERS OF HYBRID WORKING: PROXIMITY BIAS with HR specialist Teresa Boughey
CONTACT AMPS
Unit 19, Omega Business Village,
President: The Rt.Hon. Earl of Shrewsbury & Talbot DL Vice President: Richard Teasdale Chairman: Paul Aitken Publications & Marketing :
Mike Boughey: ampsmagazine@amps.org.uk Accounts: accounts@amps.org.uk
+44 (0) 20 8253 4505
www.amps.org.uk AMPS POWER MAGAZINE
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AMPS Power Magazine
WESTMINSTER
Charles Chetwynd-Talbot
The Right Honourable Earl of Shrewsbury & Talbot DL
A VIEW FROM WESTMINSTER
As I write this update, one thought keeps constantly coming back to me. It is something I was told by my late godfather, a former Chief Whip in the Lords, Earl St Aldwyn. An highly respected and most sensible of men, he told me two things that have stuck in my mind for the past 42 years since I entered Parliament. Firstly, forget the cajoling of the Whips - I’ve been one for 12 years and retired last week so I know the score – and always vote on your conscience. The second was that everything in politics changes constantly, and one day is never like the last – I guess our Prime Minister must be experiencing that currently. As we all know, world affairs are in turmoil and solely caused by President Putin’s dreadful aggression in Ukraine. With one thing and another, Boris has a pretty hefty Agenda. As we come towards the close of a Parliamentary Session, the agenda is packed with Bills that must be completed and receive Royal Assent before the Session closes. Thus the Upper House is sitting this month on every working day – something which I haven’t seen for years.
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One fact which makes matters worse is that it is very difficult for the Government to win votes or Divisions as they are known. This is primarily because Cameron and Clegg flooded the House with Liberal Democrat Peers. These constant losses mean that the passage of legislation is greatly impeded, clogging the system. The ridiculous thing is that, as the convention is that the elected House’s will must always prevail, it achieves absolutely nothing for the protagonists except for the pleasure they derive from being difficult. Ah well ! that’s democracy at work !
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AMPS Power Magazine
ENGINEERING
Bernard Gospel
Technical Committee Secretary
TechSec@AMPS.org.uk
ENGINEERING MADE THE WORLD
A series of articles on the topic of the history of engineering, loosely based on the BBC radio programmes and podcasts ‘a history of the world in 100 objects’ and ‘50 things that made the modern economy’. Firstly let us consider what Engineering is and what engineers do and how that contrasts with science. Engineering is the application of scientific knowledge to solving problems in the real world. While science (physics, chemistry, biology, etc.) allows us to gain an understanding of the World and the Universe, Engineering enables this understanding to come to life through problem solving, designing, and building things. Engineers can be distinguished from other professions by their ability to solve complex problems and implement solutions in cost effective and practical ways. This ability to face a problem, work through various thoughts and abstract ideas and then translating them into reality is what is so interesting about engineering.
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What are the common skills Engineers use?
Engineers are problem solvers, organisers, communicators, calculators, and designers. These skills rely heavily on rational thinking and logical decision making, which is why most Engineers come from science and maths backgrounds. Despite this fact Engineering is a highly creative activity, especially when complicated problems are involved.
What are the common fields of Engineering?
There are many branches and fields within the various Engineering disciplines. However, all Engineering degrees are based on one (or a combination) of the major disciplines of Civil, Chemical, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.
How does Science differ from Engineering?
Engineering is essentially applied Science; Science is a system of acquiring knowledge. This system uses observation and experimentation to describe and explain natural phenomena. The term science also refers to the organised body of knowledge people have gained using that system. Less formally, the word science often describes any systematic field of study or the knowledge gained from it. In practical terms the boundary between science and engineering is fuzzy.
Now let us consider the first uses of engineering in the world...
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THE SPEAR The spear must come close to being the first engineered item. Animals were a useful source of protein and materials. The meat could be eaten, the bones had many potential uses, the hides could be turned into clothes or shelters. The problem several thousand years ago was that animals were well developed to defend themselves. Humans were not the only hunters. An extra pair of legs gave animals stability and speed. Living in herds gave animals safety of numbers and extra eyes and ears to watch for danger. Horns and teeth gave additional problems to the hunter. Bows and arrows, crossbows and guns were future inventions. Hunger is today. First thought, realisation that getting close to an animal to enable the hunter to stab or club it, often results in bruises or worse. The proto-engineer thought of a longer stabbing stick. The hunter could then attack the animal away from horns and teeth. At some point, the hunter discovered that the spear could be thrown as well as used for stabbing. This enabled the disabling of escaping prey at a distance. Now the material selection. Pines grow quickly and straight, but the wood is not strong. A hardwood is best, one with a narrow grain gives strength. Hickory is good, but heavy, Ash is an excellent choice and grows widely across the northern hemisphere. Its only drawback is a relatively short life for the spear due to rotting.
Someone must have applied some science and realised that sharpening one end, or both ends, would increase the pressure brought to bear on the animal’s skin, aiding penetration. The next development was the realisation that gentle warming of the end of the spear in a fire after sharpening would make the end harder. The later addition of stone then metal points to the spear gave not only additional mass to assist penetration, but aided stability in flight. Wooden spears still do the job today and are a multifunctional tool, as they can be used for spearing fish as well as deer and serve to help protect the hunter from bears and other humans. Two hunters can use the spear to carry heavier animals home. We were gardening one day and found a small piece of what we assumed was flint. It seemed to have been ‘worked’ around the edge to make a small knife, about the size of a man’s thumb but only about three millimetres thick. We took it to our local museum who told us that it was not a knife, but a scraper. So someone, three thousand years ago, was in what is now our garden, with an animal hide. This was probably suspended in a frame, to assist the person scraping the fat from the hide, a stage in the production of leather, after killing the animal and removing the hide.
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY... 2022 AGM & CONFERENCE Thursday 21st April 2022
ONE Great George Street, London, SW1P 3AA £175 pp | £1650.00 + VAT for a table of 10 people
AMPS MEMBERS REGIONAL DAY Thursday 19th May 2022
IPU Group: West Bromwich | TBA in line with market guidance 11.30pm - 4pm | Lunch 12pm - 1pm Free to attend | Limited places available
AMPS 2022 GOLF DAY Thursday 23rd June 2022 The Mere Golf & Country Club Members: £129 pp | Non-Members: £145 pp + VAT
AMPS PARLIAMENTARY DAY Wednesday 6th July 2022
The Attlee Room, The House of Lords, London £95 pp + VAT
AMPS AWARDS EVENING 2022 Thursday 8th December 2022 Park Plaza, London £175 pp | £1650.00 + VAT for a table of 10 people
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AMPS Power Magazine
E N E R GY R E VO LU T I O N
THE ENERGY Professor Clive Deadman
REVOLUTION
Many years ago I had a neighbour who had a dog that chased cars. As I like to plan ahead and anticipate the future I couldn’t understand why. He clearly needed to do something but I wasn’t convinced he had thought it all through.
Author bio: Clive has a background in mining and automotive Engineering, 9 years in private equity, and 18 years with United Utilities and Electricity North West. Sectors of interest include water, wastewater, gas & electrical power, housing, healthcare and the associated regulation. As a Professor of Water and Energy, Author, and Chair and non-executive Director of a range of organisations Clive helps organisations prioritise, finance, and deliver competing customer service, resilience, environmental, carbon, healthcare and financial objectives
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At about that time I was making an investment into a company called Combined Power Systems. It had a crazy idea to convert engines to run off gas and generate power. The exhaust fumes were used to heat water. The company had consumed huge investment and had never sold anything. Our customers had little interest in issues like carbon reduction. They required a three year payback and with interest rates at 12 % it was hard to sell the equipment.
across Cumbria lost their electrical supply. That night as I waded through the flooded streets of Carlisle there was a palpable feeling of unease and desperation. As the batteries in the mobile phone masts started to run down and mobile phones stopped working what had been a lovely modern city the day before had an edgy and stone-age atmosphere. This should remind us that we should never take for granted the comfort and benefits of modern power networks.
However eventually we started to demonstrate a reliable service life and our first sale was worth £900,000. Annual turnover tripled each year thereafter. Combined Power Systems served its customers and investors well and I recollect the company was one of the founding members of AMPS. It was very exciting but I think events seemed to take us slightly by surprise.
However those should be yesterday’s battles. Ahead of us lies the challenge of decarbonisation.
15 years later I was working for Electricity North West. At that time avoiding customer power interruptions was the big focus. Since then the use of standby generation during planned maintenance and improved network resilience has cut the time customer are ‘off supply’ by more than 75%. Even though we live on a stormy island with much of our power network carried by steel towers or wooden poles customers now experience less than 30 minutes ‘off supply’ a year. But the safe provision of reliable power is more than an essential service. In 2004 a storm flooded and decommissioned the Willowholme grid supply point and 1/4 of a million people
At present few people appreciate the scale and complexity of what lies ahead. Taxi drivers tell me the wind is free, we all need to buy EVs, heat pumps and insulate our homes. And all that is true. However if you look at the table below even the UK, which is leading the world in so many ways, is still largely gas and oil powered.
If we are to replace gas and other fossil fuels with electrically powered equipment we will have to double or quadruple the capacity of our electricity distribution and transmission network to get power to where it is needed. People say with batteries and demand side solutions we can limit the cost to consumers of de-carbonisation. A good point. However we are already making quite good use of the national electricity network and over the next 30 years costly investment will be required The modern equivalent asset value of the UK’s transmission and distribution network is estimated to be approximately £180 billion. Accordingly a tripling of its capacity and introducing dynamic network management down to low voltage circuits could cost up to £360 billion. Admittedly these costs will be incurred over the next 30 years but strengthening and reinforcing the power
Critics would say it is years late, four times over budget and has made technical errors. That is probably true however these things always turn out to be more difficult than expected. Politicians and campaigners like to launch new projects but it is left to practical people to mop up in the years after the launch party. And it can be a hard road. But with the developments in Ukraine I hope network is only the first step on this journey. We have to boost low carbon generation and install the new types of equipment we need for heating, driving and flying. For example let’s look at the costs of delivering carbon neutral UK residential property. Assuming 25 million households and allowing £20K per property we have a national funding requirement of £500 billion. This makes this issue 20 times bigger than the fire and cladding issues we are grappling with now. One of our first and less complex steps on this journey is our smart metering project.
we all agree for environmental and energy resilience reasons we must master smart metering and de-carbonisation urgently. It’s a question of when and how and not what. Undoubtedly there will be exciting innovations and economies of scale which at present we can barely imagine. We also need to ensure that new homes and networks are designed and built now to serve the needs of 2050. We must be bold and target investment and innovation even though there are uncertainties. Perhaps that dog was on to something after all?
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HYBRID FUELS
POWERING THE ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND HYBRID REVOLUTION
Over the past 20 years, the world has started shifting away from fossil fuels towards de-carbonised power. Energy producers are increasingly embracing alternative fuels and renewable energy sources to create cleaner, costeffective and more efficient power. This helps them reduce carbon footprint, meet ever-stricter global emissions regulations and ensure they are playing their part in helping preserve the environment. Self-sustainable systems such as microgrids, together with hybrid power plants which combine renewable technologies with conventional power generation, are important parts of this emerging landscape. Microgrids, in particular, are playing a growing role in markets and regions where central grid power can be unpredictable. Customers are also adopting hybrid infrastructures that diversify their installations, integrating two or more energy sources such as solar panels or wind power alongside traditional diesel or natural gas-powered generator sets. Other hybrid formats incorporate new energy solutions which might include battery storage and hydrogen fuel cells, along with alternative fuels such as biogas, solid waste landfill gas, municipal sewage digester gas and others.
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The role of power generation markets in hybrid systems In many cases, conventional internal combustion-engine generator sets are deployed as a core power option. Moving into the future, one example is the <100 kVA segment of the telecoms industry, where more telecom towers are being built on hybrid infrastructures with a combination of diesel engines, batteries and solar panels to supply uninterrupted power. Other developments include generator sets which can burn alternative fuels such as biodiesel, gas or hydrogen, taking power generation even further towards full de-carbonisation. In this transitioning market, the need is for facilities that complement existing central utility structures while delivering
cleaner power reliably and economically. One key to meeting this complex balance of demands is specifying the right alternators: those that are versatile enough to meet varying market, segment and application needs and also support any alternative energy source.
Alternators that support this emerging market
NEWAGE® | STAMFORD® | AvK® is one of the key players at the forefront of these shifting energy management strategies. Established in 1904, we are globally recognised for the design and manufacture of alternators, harnessing over 100 years of innovation and engineering expertise to create products renowned for their versatility, ruggedness and dependability. Our heritage, combined with its experience in delivering for all types of alternator installations worldwide, makes it a first choice for customers shifting towards hybrid or microgrid power systems. At the heart of this expertise are our three alternator brands—NEWAGE®, STAMFORD® and AvK®. Extending across 0.6 to 11,200 kVA, these product families consist of both mature and innovative products with a range of electrical, mounting, cooling and bearing options that answer all possible market and segment needs. “All our alternator ranges come backed with our proven engineering capabilities, warranties and global support to help customers navigate the challenges of switching to a hybrid infrastructure while also delivering high efficiencies.” Adam Pask, Product Marketing Manager, NEWAGE® | STAMFORD® | AvK®
Action towards sustainability
A recent power project off Alaska’s coast exemplifies the robustness of our STAMFORD® alternators: evidencing how we helped unlock a new hybrid plant in one of the world’s harshest regions by supporting 200 kW energy supply for Frontier Power’s partnership with Silver Mountain Construction on the installation. Technology involved pairing a propanepowered Kubota engines and STAMFORD® S0 alternators inside the generators with solar and wind energy sources. The plant is the area’s only source of energy and drives a GPS system. Recognising the critical customer requirements for low maintenance and longlasting performance, the power provider, Frontier Power, decided to equip the required generator sets with STAMFORD® HC5 alternators. The team at Silver Mountain Construction comments: “With vast experience in building custom-design package solutions for various applications, Frontier Power did not hesitate to choose STAMFORD® alternators for the highly demanding specification.” On the other side of the world, in the fastgrowing mega-city of Shenzhen in China, our STAMFORD® alternators are playing
a key part in powering a major municipal solid waste project. The Shenzhen Dongjiang Environmental Renewable Energy Co Ltd uses household waste to create landfill gas for power generation, producing 50 million kWH of power each year. The customer chose our STAMFORD® S7HV alternators with an output of 1000 kW/10.5 kV to provide continuous power sustainably to support the city’s growing needs. Our dedicated service and support teams worked closely with the customer to design and supply a customised solution, creating a bespoke coupling which allowed the alternator to integrate seamlessly with the generator set.
Embracing the energy future
“Power generation markets need to push ahead with reducing their carbon footprints by developing hybrid or microgrid-based facilities that use renewables alongside traditional generator sets. This will help them not only mitigate against climate change but also drive efficiency, ready them
for environmental legislative changes and safeguard their reputations in a climateaware world.” Robert Reinius, Executive Director of Sales, NEWAGE® | STAMFORD® | AvK® It’s clear that power technology companies across the globe are more than aware of the challenges and customers’ needs to maximise uptime and dependability on top of pursuing de-carbonisation goals. As such, we are investing in future technologies and ensuring our products are versatile, efficient and durable enough to allow customers to successfully diversify in order to embrace the energy future.
Contact: Anita Fountain CUMMINS GENERATOR TECHNOLOGIES
anita.fountain@cummins.com
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TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
AMPS TECHNICAL COMMITTEE UPDATES The Technical Committee meeting last year was enlivened because it occurred on the same day that the Technical Secretary’s garage was being rewired and cables run underground to the summerhouse, shed and greenhouse. That morning my house consumer unit was being replaced with a new one incorporating an RCD (Residual current Device). The electrician assured me that our upstairs house power would be on by the time the meeting started. Not to be so, unfortunately.
I re-joined my meeting and the day progressed. To digress to engineering, RCDs are a form of differential protection. This depends upon Kirchhoff’s current law, which states that the sum of currents entering or leaving a circuit node must equal zero. Basically current flowing from node to node should balance, any deviation will be detected as a misbalance and this is used to operate the relay. Protection based on this principle was invented in Great Britain by Charles Hesterman Merz and Bernard Price and is historically known as Merz - Price protection. TechSec knew there would be a Bernard in there somewhere!
The problem was that the upstairs RCD operated (tripped) when the main power was switched on. The electrician thought that this was because that in one of the power sockets the neutral cable was touching the metal pattress case, there were other possibilities, such as a nail through a cable… I had to take part in the meeting on my mobile phone as was not only was my PC plugged into the upstairs ring, more importantly so was the Wi-Fi router… There were a few ribald and totally unnecessary comments from Technical Committee members wondering why the Technical Secretary of AMPS did not possess his own generating set… The electrician discovered that in one bedroom, that when he removed the power socket, the neutral conductor was not only touching the metal pattress, but the wire was also bare on one side. This had probably
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happened when the socket was originally installed thirty years earlier and the sharp edge of the pattress had neatly stripped a slice off the neutral insulation, this connected neutral and earth as the earth continuity conductor (green / yellow) was correctly connected to the pattress. The RCD tripped as expected. This is to protect the householder as a second fault may raise the voltage in the neutral cable and hence raise the earth conductor voltage, and any device connected to it, e.g. a refrigerator…
RCDs are unrestricted. What this means is that they do not sense distance. Thus any earth fault downstream of the device will be detected, even if several RCDs are in series. In my case this was so, there were two RCDs in the consumer unit, (one for upstairs one for downstairs) another in the garage and another in the shed, behind the garage, from which a spur fed the greenhouse. After a few days I tried out our greenhouse fan heater, leaving it running under thermostat control overnight, to see what effect it had on the temperature. We woke up in the morning to find no power on upstairs. A check of the house consumer unit revealed that one RCD had tripped. This covered the upstairs group of feeds including
that to the garage. Suspicions fell on the greenhouse heater: always start with the last item you plugged in. I isolated the supply at the distribution board in the shed and went to the greenhouse at the bottom of the garden. There was a slight smell of burning in the air. I went to the socket and removed the plug to the heater. Both the plug and the socket were burnt, as can be seen in the photos. My suspicions fell on the plug, a moulded on type, where the internal connections cannot be checked. The electrician called round later. He found the wiring to the socket correct and tight, he echoed my suspicions about the plug, but as he was unable to confirm that the fault did not originate with the socket, he replaced socket and plug free of charge and all was well after that.
Question: Why did the Consumer unit RCD trip and not either of the other two in series? Answer:
The regulations require an RCD to operate at an earth leakage current above 30mA, there are no other settings available for personnel protection. Thus there would be a race between the RCDs as all in series would detect the fault. The first to operate would clear the fault.
Question: Would the damage to the plug or socket have been a fire risk if they had been in the house? Answer: Nine out of ten electrical fires are caused by a fault with the product, not the installation. The material used in plugs and sockets does not readily support combustion. An RCD should clear the fault when it burns to an earth path. Householders are also recommended to have smoke detectors in strategic locations. The risk that an arcing fault would not necessarily be detected by an RCD, which is thought to be the problem behind certain fires in high rise apartment blocks, is one reason behind the introduction of Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDD) for these applications. AFDDs monitor the waveform of the electrical current and operate when a persistent arcing fault causes the current to deviate from a sine wave. AFDDs are relatively expensive and may not be readily fitted to existing consumer units, so are not recommended as a universal solution.
By coincidence, AMPS then received a Technical Query from a member concerning the application of RCDs to portable generating sets:
Under the 18th Edition, (wiring regulation) all final circuits rated 32A or less need RCD protection to at least 30mA earth leakage. There is no exclusion for 3 phase circuits, so this will cover all 16-amp, 32 amp, single, and three-phase sockets. Could you confirm if this would be the case on a generator? Or what would be the ruling on this? Could we say this would be covered by using a distribution box?
AMPS response:
We consider that your customer is taking one sub-clause out of context. The IET have produced a rather useful Myth Buster on this very issue: Firstly, one must consider the connection of the generating set to earth, then review personnel protection. Also, IET have now published the ‘IET Practitioner’s Guide to Temporary Power Systems’ which can be purchased from IET. Rather than give the member a direct reply to the question, we suggested they read the Myth buster and the new Practitioner’s Guide together with the referenced sections of BS7671, as the guidance must be referenced to the exact application.
IET WIRING REGULATIONS UPDATE As you may know the IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) Wiring Regulations BS 7671 are currently under revision, with a planned issue of Amendment 2 on 28th March 2022 This update to the IET Wiring Regulations will form the national standard to which all new electrical installations; additions; and alterations to existing electrical installations in the UK are to comply. The IET and BSI are now urging all electrical professionals to ensure they become familiar with the changes.
Significant changes include: · a new requirement for Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) in some AC final circuits for installations in some types of higher risk residential buildings; · the requirement for the fire safety design of buildings to be documented where specific conditions of external influence exist, such as protected escape routes and locations with risk of fire; · method for determining the requirement to provide overvoltage protection; · changes to identification, labels, and notices, such as for consumer units, affecting how safety information is provided to the user of the electrical installation; · a chapter on Prosumer’s Low Voltage Electrical Installations, in a new part, Part 8.
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TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
BEIS WEBINARS ON UKCA MARKING We issued a Current Thinking on 21st January 2022 advising that there were a series of webinars from BEIS on UKCA in the coming months.
The New UK Regime for Goods – Economic Operators The above webinar took place on the 15th February. If you were unable to attend, you will be able to access the recording of the session: ‘The New UK Regime for Goods – Economic Operators’ here. Sign in as ‘anonymous.’ BEIS have also issued the presentation slides for your reference. The slides are available here [20220215 BEIS Presentation - Economic Operators.pdf] in .pdf form.
The New UK Regime for Goods – Routes for Conformity Assessment The above webinar took place on the 17th February. If you were unable to attend, you will be able to access the recording of the session: ‘The New UK Regime for Goods – Routes for Conformity Assessment’ here. BEIS have also issued the presentation slides for your reference. The slides are available here [20220217 BEIS presentation - Routes for Conformity Assessment.pdf] in .pdf form.
The general link for these webinars is here [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ webinars-for-using-the-ukca-markingand-placing-goods-on-the-market-ingreat-britain-and-northern-ireland]
UKCA: INFORMATION & REQUIREMENTS We return to this topic, as this will affect members over the next two years, and government requirements are developing. There are a series of webinars from BEIS, and although the UKCA system is similar to the CE system, it is worth reminding members of the requirements. We also repeat some key points of the legislation. The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is a new UK product marking that is to be used for goods being placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland). It covers most goods which previously required the CE marking, known as ‘New Approach ’, goods. Northern Ireland has a different system.
UKCA - General
The full requirements are detailed in the links, a summary follows, please, as always, read the full guidance. The UKCA marking came into effect on 1st January 2021. However, to allow businesses time to adjust to the new requirements, they will still be able to use the CE marking alone until 1st January 2023 in most cases. The UKCA marking alone cannot be used for goods placed on the Northern Ireland market. See the guidance below on placing goods on the Northern Ireland market. Please note that this does not mean that the requirement for CE marking will no longer be required for British manufacturers, since any goods placed on the market in the EU by British companies will be required to be CE marked where appropriate, and this can apply to the supply chain. UKCA marking will not recognised in the EU, so Great Britain will potentially have two parallel systems, especially if GB diverges from EU legislation. The CE marking is only valid in Great Britain for areas where GB and EU rules
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remain the same. If the EU changes its rules and you CE mark your product on the basis of those new rules you will not be able to use the CE marking to sell in Great Britain, even before 31st December 2022. As a warning, one member recently took on a contract, the requirements of which were for the product to be UKCA marked, the Member then had difficulty in getting subcontractors to supply UKCA marked goods, as they were obviously working to the 2023 deadline. We would appreciate any feedback from Members on their experiences with UKCA etc.
Technical documentation Record keeping
You, or your authorised representative (where allowed for in the relevant legislation), must keep documentation to demonstrate that your product conforms with the regulatory requirements. This must be kept for up to 10 years after the product is placed on the market. This information can be requested at any time by market surveillance or enforcement authorities to check that your product conforms with the statutory requirements. The information you must keep will vary depending on the specific legislation relevant to your product. You should keep the information in the form of a technical file which can be supplied if requested by a market surveillance authority.
OUTCOME OF UK-EU TRADE AGREEMENT
The UK has successfully agreed a Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) chapter which reaffirms, and builds on, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) TBT Agreement – and will help ensure that the respective regulatory regimes are not discriminatory and do not create unnecessary obstacles to trade for exporters.
UK Declaration of Conformity
The UK Declaration of Conformity is a document which must be drawn up for most products lawfully bearing a UKCA marking. BEIS recommend that manufacturers have a separate UK Declaration of Conformity to their EU Declaration of Conformity.
While the UK secured a number of sectorspecific annexes as part of the TBT offer, it was not possible to reach agreement with the EU on the UK’s proposal for a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on conformity assessment. While this was not the desired outcome, the UK Government’s focus is on implementing the deal helping prepare businesses for upcoming opportunities.
GB requirements for the purposes of UKCA marking.
Without an MRA, UK Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) are no longer recognised as competent to perform conformity assessment against EU regulatory requirements, for example for the purposes of CE marking products to be placed on the EU market. Similarly, EU CABs are not recognised as competent to perform conformity assessment against
However, for the majority of goods currently subject to the CE marking, when placed on the GB market from 1st January 2023 they will be required to meet the GB requirements. This includes any mandatory third-party conformity assessment having been done by either a UK-based CAB or a body located outside of the UK but recognised under an MRA.
CHECK OUT THE HANDY HSE GUIDE HSE have produced a useful quick guide: Frequently asked questions to UKCA and CE marking
The UK Declaration of Conformity should be available to GB market surveillance authorities on request.
The guide refers especially to work and machinery with questions including:
The information required on the UK Declaration of Conformity is currently largely the same as what was required on an EU Declaration of Conformity
• Do all new products have to be UKCA marked? • Do replacement guards and safety components have to be UKCA marked?
Further guidance for businesses can be found in the following guides, which are accessible at www.amps.org.uk
• If I make a product for my own use, do I have to UKCA mark it?
Guidance on using the UKCA marking Guidance on using the UKNI marking
It is worth studying each of the questions, since the answers give links to further guidance.
Guidance on placing goods on the market in Great Britain Guidance on placing goods on the market in Northern Ireland A-Z of industry guidance to understand requirements for product types
Transitional arrangements mean that for a finite period, in most cases for two years until 1st January 2023, the CE marking will continue to be recognised for goods being placed on the GB market (including where assessment has been undertaken by an EU CAB).
BEIS - UKCA MARKING – CALL FOR CASE STUDIES UKCA marking – call for case studies
the current CE marking who would
From 1 January 2023 most products
be willing to share their insights and
placed on the GB market must be marked
encourage other businesses through the
Guidance on placing construction products on the market in Great Britain
with the new UKCA product marking. To
process. If your company has adopted
ensure UK suppliers are ready for this
UKCA marking and you would be willing
Guidance on restrictions of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS in EEE) Regulations
deadline, BEIS is looking for businesses
to be featured as a case study please
who have already made the switch from
complete this short survey.
UKMCAB database of UK conformity assessment bodies (approved bodies)
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AMPS Power Magazine
I N T E R N AT I O N A L W O M E N ’ S DAY
THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING
Laura Wilks Marketing Manager Crestchic
It’s no secret that Engineering has long been a male-dominated industry. However, while there is still a long way to go, the percentage and number of women in engineering roles have increased significantly since 2010. Women now make up 16.5% of the
changed over the years, as well as the vital
engineering workforce, up from 10.5% in
importance of diversity in the sector.
2010. New research, by EngineeringUK,
Overseeing a team of 45 people, Sharon
found that the number of women in
works with the local college to encourage
engineering roles increased from 562,000
young people into engineering, challenge
in 2010 to 936,000 in 2021, during which
misconceptions, and give them hands-on
time the engineering workforce expanded
experience.
from 5.3m to 5.6m.
Sharon explains “I knew that I wanted to be
As a company that relies on highly skilled engineering talent for its ongoing success, Crestchic’s team is proud to support this year’s International Women’s Day #BreakTheBias campaign. Two of Crestchic’s female engineers share their view.
an engineer from an early age. As the eldest
Sharon Phillpots, Crestchic’s Quality Engineer turned Production Manager, shares her views on how things have
company that supplied to the MOD. I had the
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of five kids, and the only girl, I spent my teenage years taking motorbikes and banger cars to bits and putting them back together. In those days though, I was definitely a woman in a man’s world. “At one point, I worked for an Engineering pleasure of going on a type 45 submarine in dry dock to carry out an isolation. They
took one look at me as a woman and asked if they could carry my toolbox for me! In those days, they would have been surprised to see a woman in that role. “Things have definitely changed over the years. When I first started at Crestchic, I was the only woman in a team of men. I’m pleased to say they treated me as an equal and we’re now evening up the numbers. We’re reliant on having highly skilled engineers to ensure that we’re able to manufacture, supply, and service our equipment. We also firmly believe in product evolution and require a skilled team to deliver the R&D required to deliver against that strategy. Having a diverse team is proven to improve innovation and - in an industry crying out for skilled engineers - embracing equality is absolutely critical.”
Also a critical member of the team, Isabella Xu, Electrical and Mechanical Design Engineer, found that her journey into engineering was not without its bumps in the road. Originally from China, Isabella grew up in a society with much the same gender bias in engineering roles as the UK. Her parents longed for her to follow in their footsteps and become a nurse or an accountant, but Isabella’s innate interest in ‘how things work’ led her to go on to study science in high school and engineering at university – where just 3 of the class of 36 students were female – before travelling to the UK in 2012 to study for her masters degree. As an Electrical Design Engineer, Isabella is involved in all stages of the life-cycle of a load-bank – analysing technical documentation and specifications, undertaking electrical calculations of cable, power and fuse sizing and producing electrical schematics, controller coding and build instructions through to making recommendations for product improvement and development.
FEMALE ENGINEERS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD
Isabella explains, “My parents were keen for me to be a medic, but I wanted to change the world in a different way - by designing and building equipment and delivering engineering projects which can make the world a better place. “When I was looking for my first job after graduation, I was asked to take lower salary than the male graduates. When I asked why, the interviewer explained that, as an engineer, site visits may require heavy lifting, that some of the sites may not be safe for women, and that some of them don’t even have a female toilet. I told him I wouldn’t accept a lower wage, and that I was happy to do site visits and get stuck in. I walked away from the opportunity, but his attitude wasn’t uncommon at that time. “After almost ten years in the industry, I can tell the atmosphere is changing. It’s easier for women engineers now, but there is still bias, and we can do more to improve. Many young girls are given toys that encourage them to nurture rather than explore. That’s important, but so is expanding their knowledge and interest - taking them to science parks or space science museums. Encouraging young people to ask questions and get excited is key to creating the next generation of engineers - and having female engineers is an important part of our future.”
STEPHANIE KWOLEK accidentally discovered bulletproof fibre Kevlar in the 1960s while looking for a lightweight but strong material for car tires. Following extensive research into polymers, Kwolek discovered that Kevlar is five times stronger by weight than steel. It is now used in bulletproof vests and mobile phone cases.
HERTHA MARKS AYRTON was a leading suffragette, physicist, mathematician, and inventor who patented 26 inventions during her lifetime. Amongst them was the ‘Ayrton anti-gas fan’, which was used in the WWI trenches to disperse gas. In 1899 she was the first elected female member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE).
ADA LOVELACE is considered the first computer programmer. She collaborated with mathematician Charles Babbage to work on the Analytical Engine. Decades before the first computers, she worked out how to use the Analytical Engine to perform calculations – the first ever algorithms.
In the late 1800s, ALICE H. PARKER designed the first gas furnace powered by natural gas, and the first heating system which allowed temperature control in different areas through independently monitored burners.
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IN FOCUS
AMPS Power Magazine
WEG GENERATES GROWTH IN EUROPE’S ALTERNATOR MARKET Industrial equipment manufacturer, WEG is celebrating a period of rapid growth for its alternator and generator business. As one of the largest alternator manufacturers in Latin America, WEG’s engineering expertise is now making headway in the European market. Here, Manoj Kakaya, Alternator Product Sales Manager for Europe and the Middle East at WEG, examines the expansion of WEG’s alternator business in Europe. WEG has long designed and manufactured high quality alternators at its headquarters in Brazil — having manufactured more than 200,000 in the company’s history. WEG offers a broad range of alternators that can be engineered to fit the bespoke specifications of a customer’s project. During the last four years, the brand’s presence in Europe’s alternator market has expanded rapidly, growing at an average 85 per cent year-on-year growth. In fact, WEG now stocks over 300 alternators in the UK alone, ranging from 10 to 1,300 kVA.
Supporting emergency power
Among WEG’s successes in the alternator market is a completed project to supply eight 1,700 kVA alternators for the Clinical Centre of Serbia hospital facility. Located in Belgrade, the country’s capital, the hospital treats one million patients each year and
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boasts the highest number of hospital beds in Europe. The project supported the construction of 28,000m² of new hospital buildings, including new operating rooms, dispensaries and a thousand additional bed units. Unsurprisingly, this expansion created a need for additional power equipment and an effective supply system to ensure reliability. When selecting an alternator supplier, WEG’s technology stood out due to the solid construction cast-iron frame of the alternators, specifically the AG10 line, which were preferred to the rolled-steel alternatives. The cast-iron frame allows for better power density, reduced vibration and more efficient cooling. WEG also offered its own technology with the alternator, to emulate the characteristics of an exterior permanent magnet generator
— without increasing the length and price of the machine. WEG’s I-PMG technology is an integrated separate winding within the machine that eliminates the need for an external PMG, which allows for a smaller footprint than competitors’ systems and keeps costs down. All WEG’s synchronous alternators have permanent magnets inserted on the main exciter stator, guaranteeing and maintaining a residual magnetic flux to build up the voltage during the alternator start. This is guaranteed even after long idling periods which is usual on standby applications. The presence of the permanent magnets makes the residual voltage 600 per cent higher than traditional systems, ensuring fast response capabilities. This is a major factor for reliability in standby applications, like the hospital in Belgrade.
IN FOCUS Growth for WEG alternators
WEG has experienced continued success for its alternator business in the UK, Europe and Middle East. Part of this is attributed to the vertically integrated nature of WEG’s business — the company manufactures its own varnish, electrical wires, enamelling, frames, laminations, and several other components that are required for alternator manufacture. This integration allows WEG to provide greater flexibility to the customer and ensure high quality in all stages of manufacturing. Crucially, this also avoids some supply chain headaches the industry is currently experiencing, resulting in shorter lead times for customers. Importantly for the European market, all of WEG’s alternators also come with a European certificate of conformity.
As the alternator market continues to expand — the sector is expected to grow at a rate of 6.1 per cent between 2021 and 2028 — customers must ensure their suppliers are providing the best possible equipment for their projects with acceptable price and lead times.
Critical infrastructure power
In another project, WEG was selected to supply equipment to the Stadius City Hall of Antwerp, in Belgium. The generator in the basement of the Stadhuis is crucial in maintaining a secure power supply for the building. As part of the project, WEG was enlisted to provide a WEG 135 kilo-volt-amp (KVA) alternator type GTA251AIHD which runs in sync with the power supply. This alternator
is fitted with I-PMG Permanent magnet inserts for high quality power and reliability. The synchronous alternator boasts I-PMG and permanent magnet inserts for higherquality power and reliability, ensuring great performance for the building and back-up power when required. WEG I-PMG and PMI are supplied as standard through our range and these benefits are also advantageous for deployment in industrial applications in sectors such as mining, steel, paper, oil and gas and energy transmission, among others.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WEG ALTERNATORS CONTACT: WUK-SALES@WEG.NET OR VISIT THE WEBSITE WWW.WEG.NET
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AMPS Power Magazine
MEMBER NEWS
KALE RECOGNISED FOR GREEN INITIATIVE KALE AUTO RADIATOR have been awarded a ZERO WASTE Certificate for their work in starting a zero waste innitiative. The company are delighted to have been recognised for their efforts and say “Our goal is to leave a GREENER, CLEANER WORLD for future generations by reducing our wastes within the scope of our sustainability efforts, and to recycle our wastes by separating them at the source”
GENERATOR POWER ARE PLEASED TO PLANT TREES FOR THE FUTURE Generator Power have just undertaken a significant tree planting operation. We have planted 5100 trees in a woodland creation scheme for carbon capture. The trees are all native broad-leaved native species planted to re-create a natural woodland for wildlife benefit. We know we’re facing a climate emergency but we’re also facing a nature emergency. Trees are one of the solutions to address these simultaneously. They are vital in tackling climate change and reversing biodiversity loss. It was important for us to choose species that are native since these varieties arrived in the UK over 10,000 years ago when the ice sheets retreated. Plants and animals also colonised over that time and evolved close relationships with these species, becoming reliant on them for food, breeding sites and shelter.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATED AT IPU
Last week saw this Cummins QSK60 2.2MWe Diesel generator going through its G99 at this water treatment facility.
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Day on 8th March 2022. IPU has a growing female workforce and has some advice for females considering a career in engineering. Findings published by the Women’s Engineering Society in 2021 states that women make up 21.80% of the workforce in the engineering sector in the UK. This is still far from where we need to be as an industry.
AGRIEMACH LTD
All final commissioning checks were carried out ready for Agriemach Ltd’s NOxMASTER SCR System to bring the Exhaust Gas NOx Levels down to under 190mg/Nm3@15%O2 in line with MCPD permit conditions.
IPU celebrated International Women’s
L-R: Hayley Butler, Sundas Salim, Anna Childs, Christine Staples, Louise Hazel, Anna Heywood & Melissa Payne
IPU works hard to support gender diversity and equality. The company operates an equal pay policy, which is based on job role and not the gender of the job holder. This is proven in the fact that IPU’s Management Team is almost a 50/50 split, with 5 men and 4 women.
AMPS Power Magazine
M T U T R I G E N E R AT I O N
ROLLS-ROYCE PROVIDES MTU TRIGENERATION PLANT FOR LARGEST DATA CENTRE IN ROMANIA
Rolls-Royce, along with its distributor partner Knopf & Wallisch (K&W), has supplied three mtu customised and containerised combined cooling, heat and power plant (CCHP) trigeneration units to Romanian cloud service provider ClusterPower. They will be used for the efficient and sustainable energy supply at its new technology campus near the southern Romanian city of Craiova, where the IT company will open the largest data centre in Romania. Trigeneration plants are hydrogen-ready
The generator sets are based on mtu 20V 4000 L64 FNER gas engines, which fulfil the strictest emissions standards, allow for quick ramp-up and ramp-down, offer a wide-range of load operations, and high performance also at high temperatures. The gensets are hydrogen-ready, offering the ability to blend 25% hydrogen along with natural gas as the fuel and can even be transformed into a pure hydrogen engine in the future. In this way, they contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions. This was an important factor for ClusterPower when selecting a partner to supply the energy system for the project.
ClusterPower counts on innovative and environmentally friendly technologies
“We need a very reliable and sustainable solution and a company that is innovative enough to match our ambitions,” said Cosmin Georgescu, CEO of ClusterPower. “Therefore, we are proud of our partnership with RollsRoyce and the mtu brand. It is a relationship of trust based on common goals like using an innovative and environmental-centric technology for
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the benefit of our clients. One of the most important values ClusterPower embraces is trust,” added Georgescu. “It is the central element of our relationship with our customers, partners and all those involved in this project.”
First Hyperscale Data Centre in South-East Europe The 273,000-square-metre campus is being built with the aim of increasing Romania’s competitiveness in global IT infrastructure and is the first hyperscale data-centre in south-eastern Europe. (Hyperscale data centres are characterised by the fact that they can be scaled hugely and quickly.). All five data centres are scheduled for completion in 2025. During this time, ClusterPower plans to expand its gas-fired power plant to a total capacity of 200 MW and thus produce its own sustainable electricity.
The concept to use the gas gensets as prime power producing electricity while using the main grid as backup is a unique configuration that is currently rarely seen. Guided by ClusterPower’s requests, K&W developed a highly efficient solution to capture most of the exhaust heat from the system with conversion chillers and transform it into chilled air to cool the data centre facilities. “I think that Romania has a lot to say about the European future of innovation and digitalization and we have the opportunity here to develop new infrastructures, using the latest technologies and with modern environmental standards,” said Georgescu. “We are lucky enough to start fresh and we will put this opportunity to good use. It is always nice to know that we have partners ready to support us in our endeavours.”
Sustainable energy concept with combined cooling, heat and power The first of the five data centres will open its doors in the first quarter of 2022. The mtu CCHP units supply electricity, heat and cooling for the building and the infrastructure.
Contact: Silke Rockenstein SPOKESWOMAN TRADE MEDIA
silke.rockenstein@ps.rolls-royce.com
IN FOCUS
AMPS Power Magazine
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
OPPORTUNITIES
WITH DATA CENTRE BACKUP GENERATORS Ensuring efficient use of electricity in current and new data centres is critical for the energy transition. In 2017, global data centre power consumption was roughly 416 terawatts, or nearly 40% more electricity than used in the entire United Kingdom in that same period.
power is being used for ancillary equipment not in direct support of the servers. As of 2018, the average PUE rating was 1.58 and has continued to drop as facilities address efficiency opportunities.
And of that global total, US data centres alone accounted for more than 90 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. In 2020, optimisation efforts are aimed at reigning in US data centre power centre consumption, with a target goal of 73 billion kilowatt hours.
Data centre backup power generators typically have an electric powered engine heater installed to maintain the coolant in the water jacket while the generator is idle. Maintaining the coolant temperature is necessary for immediate starts and full load power when a generator is needed in a power emergency.
While existing data facilities are taking measures to reduce energy consumption and hit critical benchmarks, new data centre construction continues pushing the overall demand upward. Factoring in the rise of edge computing, artificial intelligence, metaverse implementation, and IoT growth means more of the online world will require uninterrupted service. Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) is a rating used to determine overall power efficiency in a data centre facility. A PUE of 1 is considered the most efficient facility possible. The higher the PUE rating, the more
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Upgrading these engine heaters can be an example of an achievable efficiency improvement that, if addressed, can positively impact the PUE rating of a facility. Reducing power consumption of a backup generator engine heater can help lower a data centre’s PUE long term. On average, engine heating systems operate 90% of the time. These units are typically convection heaters that heat engine coolant to between 72 – 93 °C (160 – 200 °F) to ensure fluid flow through the engine and maintain
IN FOCUS
AMPS Power Magazine
overall engine temperature in the 38 – 49 °C (100-120 °F) range. This simple solution for generator heating meets basic requirements but also has some drawbacks that impact overall PUE. To maintain this temperature range, the heater element operates a greater percentage of the day, resulting in a prolonged electrical draw. There are also some inherent inefficiencies from using a convection heater. With natural convection, heated coolant rises and then settles as it cools, resulting in hot spots in the engine and uneven heating of the water jacket. Additionally, improper plumbing can lead to the engine thermostat having a false reading of excess heat, leading to the radiator opening to mistakenly resolve the issue. Unexpected heat loss or uneven heat distribution means the heater may operate for longer periods and at higher temperatures to compensate. Overheating the coolant also affects the plumbing hoses, making them brittle over time, requiring more frequent maintenance. An alternative to consider for improved performance are pump-driven heaters. Using a pump to move the coolant instead of relying on natural convection means the unit can operate at a lower temperature range of 38 – 49 °C (100-120 °F) while also providing more even heat distribution. Additionally, the heater does not need to generate surplus heat to maintain flow and keep the engine within the required temperature range. Even with power being supplied to the pump, the overall electrical consumption of the forced circulation heater is less than the convection heater. Improving poorly plumbed convection heater installations can also improve efficiencies.
Hotstart HOTflow pump-driven engine heaters are an energy efficient solution for maintaining engine heat during standby mode, using less electricity to ensure readiness for power emergencies.
The combination of installing pump-driven heaters and optimizing heater plumbing can result in up to 35% savings in annual electrical consumption while also extending heater life and reducing maintenance work on a generator. Data center managers can calculate the estimated savings from pump-driven heaters with tools like Hotstart’s online Energy Efficiency Calculator, which recommends a HOTflow pump-driven heater based on the input entered. Hotstart’s HOTflow line of pump-driven heaters are available for generators ranging from 20 litres to 100 litres in size. Often, a single HOTflow heater can replace two convection heaters, reducing electrical use by half. Data centres with multiple backup generators on-site can see an immediate savings when upgrading to pumpdriven heaters while also maintaining backup generator readiness and reducing a data centre’s PUE rating. The return on investment for upgrading to pumpdriven heaters is within often within one to two years of operation, setting the stage for long term savings.
Contact: Leslie Czernik MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
lczernik@hotstart.com
Hotstart HOTflow pump-driven engine heaters are an energy efficient solution for maintaining engine heat during standby mode, using less electricity to ensure readiness for power emergencies
AMPS POWER AMPS MAGAZINE POWER MAGAZINE 27
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AMPS Power Magazine
D I ST R I B U T E D E N E R GY S H OW
A PIVOTAL EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE FOR THE FLEXIBLE ENERGY MARKET
With the energy market undergoing a critical transition towards decentralisation and flexibility, The Distributed Energy Show’s exhibition and conference taking place on the 14th & 15th March 2023 at the International Centre, Telford.
This year’s event will showcase the very latest advancements in technology, policy and regulation that are enabling commercial and industrial energy users to meet their net-zero targets, reduce their costs and optimise their energy flexibility. The distributed energy market in the UK is experiencing unprecedented levels of growth, currently driven by both Government and private investment. However, the path to the UK successfully achieving its Net Zero emissions targets in an affordable manner has many milestones along the way: policy changes, low-carbon technologies and grid up-grade requirements are all essential factors. The Distributed Energy Show is a free to attend exhibition and conference that will bring together the entire supply-chain focused on distributed energy resources and provide visitors with a comprehensive array of technologies and systems to enable them to generate, store, manage and distribute their own power and heat.
Technologies on display at the event will include solar systems, gas turbines, wind turbines, combined heat & power, energy storage systems, small hydro, fuel cells, smart energy systems and platforms, virtual power plant systems, cabling, converters, power electronics.
An expected 2,500 attendees will gather at the event on 14th & 15th March 2023, including energy users from industrial and manufacturing plants, commercial operations, land owners and public sector building operators.
As well as energy suppliers and network operators who will use the show to source technologies and understand the future and advancements in the sector. “As the leading trade association for the decentralised energy we’re delighted to be supporting The Distributed Energy Show.
This pivotal event for the distributed energy sector will bring the whole supply chain together to showcase the technologies and systems to enable organisations to generate, store, manage and distribute their own power and heat.” Caroline Bragg, Head of Policy, The Association for Decentralised Energy Over 120 exhibitors will be at the show for two days of networking, lead generation and education at the Telford International Centre, with organisations already confirmed including: Nodes, Clarke Energy, Waxman Energy, AlphaESS, Powerstar, Netcontrol and Conrad Energy Matt Pennington, Event Director of Event Partners who are hosting the event says “We were absolutely delighted with the industrywide support we had for The Distributed Energy Show inaugural event in 2021, from major global organisations, SME’s and thought-leaders helping to shape the event. This is set to continue in 2023, with the exhibition doubling in size and an increased number of visitors attending the event.”
To stay up to date on all the latest news about The Distributed Energy Show please visit: distributedenergyshow.com
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AMPS Power Magazine
NEW MEMBER PROFILE
MHM Group are a dynamic, forward-thinking company supplying a wide range of quality equipment and services to the UK and Ireland rental markets. The company designs, develops and manufactures an extensive range of power generation machinery, solarhybrid-generators, fluid storage tanks and site lighting towers, alongside an exhaustive line of product related accessories. Environmental issues are at the heart of the MHM Group. They currently offer 3.5, 6 and 10kVA solar-hybrid generators, with advanced plans to extend this range up 100kVA. The MHM solar- hybrid sets have all the attributes of standard site generators, with the exception that they run almost exclusively from non-fossil initiated fuels. MHM are also pioneering the use of ‘intelligent’ automatic start-stop power generators. The MHM MG SSY-ECO range has a built-in ECO auto stop/start module that instructs the generator to automatically start when power is needed. Conversely, the engine stops when the demand for power finishes. This means
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that the set only runs when required resulting in a significant lowering of fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Low emission For ultra-low emission power, MHM has introduced a line of ‘Batpacks’. The MHM Batpack range is heavy-duty, robust and delivers a reliable power source from a Lithium iron phosphate battery. They are recharged in three hours via a solar panel or diesel generator. Batpack sets from 0.75kVA/1.5kWh up to 24kVA/60kWh are available.
Fossil Fuel-Free Site Lighting For site lighting that is completely fossil fuel-free, MHM currently has two products: the first is titled the ST-9 which is powered via a Lithium iron phosphate battery and charged via a solar panel. This combination renders the ST-9 noise, emission and fuel free. ST-9 has a 9-metre vertical mast with four LED lamps and is fitted onto a road tow trailer.
STREET LITE The second lighting set is called the STREET LITE. The unit is very simple to use and set up. It features an integrated Lithium iron phosphate battery and has no complicated wiring or fixings. Uniquely, the STREET LITE is fitted with an automatic movement sensor which dims the light when it detects no movement and increases the light coverage when motion reappears. The battery is charged via its’ high efficiency solar panel which will operate in most weather conditions. The STREET LITE is designed to work with zero CO2 emissions, zero noise levels and zero fuel consumption. Illumination is from an energy saving 50-watt LED lamp fitted onto a 5-section manual vertical tower. Although MHM has set a target to become net zero by 2025, they nevertheless still provide a line of diesel-powered machinery, with ‘eco-friendly’ fuel-efficient engines and energy-saving LED lamps.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ELAINE EDWARDS: ELAINE@MHMPLANT.COM | WWW.MHMPLANT.COM
HVO fuel All MHM diesel powered machinery is fully compatible with HVO fuel. However, HVO fuel used in MHM equipment must adhere to BS EN 15940:2016. MHM recommend HVO from the fuel specialist, Crown Oil. The MHM fluid storage range encompasses standard diesels, HVO (Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil), exhaust fluid (AdBlue®), water storage and pressure washer bowsers. MHM fluid storage products are fully certified and compliant with all current regulations. They have been designed and built exclusively for the rental markets, incorporating all the features and benefits that an end-user expect, including being portable, stackable and suitable for on-site or road towing.
Company insight Incorporated in 2010, the MHM Group has three distinct divisions: MHM New Equipment Sales, MHM Used Equipment Sales and MHM Rehire Division. Each of these new divisions has their own individual identities and logos whilst remaining
under the umbrella of the MHM Group. The development of these divisions is part of its overall business objectives to continue to grow by adding environmentally focussed new products and expanding their services. These three divisions will feature across all of MHM’s online and offline channels with separate websites and social media platforms. They will each be managed by experienced personnel and fully supported by all the MHM sales managers and company directors. The company is regarded as one of the most progressive firms in the marketplace. Currently, 44% of the workforce is female, and not only confined to the more accustomed roles of accounts and administration. MHM has a woman hire desk and contracts manager, an after-sales support officer, and Leonie Morris was crowned ‘Workshop Apprentice of the Year’ at the Hire Association Europe (HAE) Awards in 2019.
MHM plays an active role within the construction rental markets. They are members of several trade associations including AMPS, HAE, CPA (Contractors Plant Association) and the unique Supply Chain Sustainability School which promotes the reduction of on-site emissions to air that are harmful to human health and the wider environment. For quality and safety support, MHM have been accredited with HAE SafeHire and HITS (Hire Industry Trusted Supplier) and are members of the Road Haulage Association (RHA). The complete MHM product line-up is available to purchase brand new or quality used, and a full range of finance and lease options are on offer. A rehire service is also available right across the range, but it is strictly restricted to bone fide rental firms operating in the UK or Ireland.
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AMPS Power Magazine
EVENT REVIEW
EXECUTIVE HIRE SHOW 9th-10th FEBRUARY 2022
AMPS were delighted to be offered a stand at the Executive Hire Show which was held at the Coventry Building Society Arena earlier this year. Launched in 2007, the EHS has quickly become the unmissable national exhibition for the tools, equipment and plant hire industry. This Show brings the industry together and is the annual event where Passionate Hirers Meet Innovative Suppliers. The Show is a trade-only event open to hire executives throughout the UK and Ireland, and it has also attracted hire industry visitors from Europe and beyond. Senior executives from the procurement and purchasing departments of the national hire operations attend the Show, along with large numbers of independentlyowned entrepreneurial hire outlets. At this year’s Show, 86% of visitors were from independent hire companies. One of several AMPS members at the event, MHM Group showcased its new MHM Eco brand across two stands and MHM Group’s Managing Director, Mat Llewellyn had this to say: “We are thrilled to be sponsoring and exhibiting at the Executive Hire Show. This will give MHM a great opportunity to showcase our ever-growing range of new equipment and demonstrate to the industry the ongoing efforts we are making to become eco-conscious. “The launch of our ECO brand at the show demonstrates MHM’s commitment to pushing the hire industry to become greener, as well as look to alternative methods of energy to power plant across the UK.” The Group, which has committed to reducing its carbon emissions and become carbon neutral by 2030, has continued to increase its sustainable hire fleet, with more than 30% of its equipment currently being solar or hybrid-powered as part of a comprehensive approach to a greener future.
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AMPS Power Magazine
HUMAN RESOURCES
Teresa Boughey
MA FCIPD CEO | Jungle HR
Teresa is as an experienced Board Director and NonExecutive Director. She is an Advisory Board member at Royal Holloway University London, School of Business & Management, and member of NHS Employers Diversity & Inclusion Programme Strategic Advisory Group.
HOW ‘PROXIMITY BIAS’ CAN LEAD TO FAVOURITISM: THE DANGERS OF HYBRID WORKING ‘I’ve bought you a gift’ my colleague announced as he came striding purposefully towards my office. He smiled as he placed the book on my desk. ‘I saw it in the airport bookshop’ he said ‘I thought you’d find this insightful’.
Teresa has delivered a TEDx talk entitled ‘Overcoming Diversity Fatigue’ (2019) and is author of #1 Amazon bestseller Closing the Gap – 5 Steps to Creating an Inclusive Culture (2019), and is also the author of the new “Accelerating Inclusion” Research Report launched by Inclusion 247.
I thanked him for such a thoughtful gift (I love books) and proceeded to turn the book over to read the summary on the back. I scanned the synopsis and became curious by its claim of being the definitive code for personal success in the workplace.
Teresa is a Business Board Member and Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Sub-Group of the Women and Enterprise APPG and a regular contributor to the media and public policy.
Many of these rules made sense but it was rule 7.8, in particular, that made me pause.
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With every page I turned I quickly realised that so many of my senior colleagues were already deploying these ‘rules’ to success.
I had an ‘ah ha’ moment. Once I’d read that ‘rule’ I just couldn’t unsee it. This ‘rule’ was happening all around me, every day. Colleagues were blatantly deploying this rule whilst others perhaps used it more subtly. It all started to make sense.
So, what was Rule 7.8 you might ask? Well… Rule 7.8 is ‘Spend more time with Senior Staff.’ Rather than scuttling off after a meeting you should hang back and take the opportunity to be seen by the ‘right people’ is one of the suggestions in this rule. As is pro-actively sitting with the boss at lunch time or any other social occasion. The author concluded this rule by sharing that ‘hanging around the top guns’ was one of the ways they had managed to bypass the traditional, fixed routes to promotion and fast tracked their career. What was Rule 7.8 demonstrating…
proximity bias.
What is Proximity Bias and how does it impact hybrid working? Proximity bias is an unconscious tendency to give preferential treatment to those in our immediate vicinity. It is the idea that businesses or managers and leaders believe that those employees who are in close proximity and physically onsite, work harder and are more productive than remote employees. As a consequence they benefit from greater rewards and ultimately find more success than their remote counterparts. This makes proximity bias a dangerous thing to have in a hybrid workplace. When felt, proximity bias negatively impacts organisational culture. It can cause a rift between workers and teams, affecting
morale, employee well-being and retention. Managing a hybrid workforce means there is more pressure on leaders to provide a satisfactory and productive work experience for all of their employees, particularly as the Diversity efforts and the future of work plans are going to be linked.
ACCESS THE ACCELERATING INCLUSION RESEARCH REPORT
Fortunately, there are ways that managers and leaders can prevent proximity bias before it becomes a problem. Whilst unconscious bias training may be top of your list of steps to take I would caution that it should not be a stand-alone solution as a ‘sheep dip’ approach will not create lasting change.
Its time to re-evaluate, refresh or maybe even start over with some management practices and processes. Here’s three top tips for you to consider….
4 Develop greater self-awareness
Developing inclusive behaviours and strengthening ‘soft skills’ such as greater self-awareness, emotional intelligence, self-regulation and empathy are essential for raising awareness, identifying and challenging prejudices and inner bias.
4
Equal presence in hybrid meetings
4
Develop a regular system for check-ins
No matter where employees are located hybrid meetings should be set up so that all participants have equal participation. Technology can play an important role in mitigating the effects of proximity bias. Video conferencing, live collaboration, and instant messaging can boost camaraderie, cohesion, and collaboration makes training more accessible to everyone. There is a balance to be struck however, as some individuals may feel ‘virtual presenteeism’ pressure, therefore talk to your employees, share what you both need and agree on a way that works for you all.
The Accelerating Inclusion Research report provides the findings of a 3-year study which we have carried out into Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging within organisations. Our global research has been carried out by over 500 companies, worldwide and focuses on the five key facets required to create a sustainable inclusive culture.
Managers should develop a system to ensure they are connecting with everyone in their team on a regular basis, regardless of location. This might look like managers planning an end-of-week reflection on who they have or have not contacted regularly, or which team members are working on each project. Collating this information may help to identify who is receiving the most training, praise and role opportunities, and who isn’t.
This is a free resource for AMPS members. Download it here: Proximity bias could quickly become an issue inside organisations that are not aware of the impact of their actions.
www.inclusion247.com/ inclusion-research-report
If it’s ignored, businesses risk giving responsibilities, promotions, and rewards only to employees who are present and familiar to managers (remember Rule 7.8). However, employees shouldn’t have to choose between remote work or career progression. Both are possible. By developing and demonstrating inclusive leadership behaviours and creating a culture of ‘excellence from anywhere’ proximity bias can be prevented and all employees will get the opportunity to thrive.
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C O N TA M I N AT I O N
IS YOUR GENERATOR RELYING ON
CONTAMINATED FUEL? Managing the risks of generator fuel contamination should be high on the agenda for any organisation, particularly those dependent on fuel for critical and back-up power.
As a critical component of a backup power system, diesel stored for emergency use must be maintained in optimal condition to ensure start-up and runtime of backup generators. Being aware of the signs of fuel contamination and employing an effective planned preventative maintenance programme are both key in ensuring the lifespan of the equipment it powers and the fuel system itself.
What causes generator fuel contamination?
Fuel contamination is usually initiated by a foreign body such as water entering the fuel or due to dormant fuel naturally degrading over time. Water is the most harmful contaminant as it promotes microbial growth. It can either be free moving, emulsified or as dissolved water, causing long-term damage that’s detrimental to engines and equipment. When microbial bacteria grow, they often sink to the bottom of a tank, creating a layer of sludge that accumulates in pipes, blocks filters and eventually prevents the fuel flow. If this happens, you won’t be able to tell that your fuel is contaminated by simply looking in your tank. Once fuel is contaminated, the effects quickly magnify and decrease the fuel’s stability, eventually rendering the fuel useless. This impacts efficiency, reliability and increases costs.
For this reason, finding fuel contamination early on will ensure that you can solve the issue as swiftly and as soon as possible.
How do you know if your fuel is contaminated?
Being aware of the signs of contamination is key, so it’s always worth monitoring and checking your fuel on a regular basis to avoid risking your generator not kicking in due to running on dirty fuel. Things to look out for are: • Cloudy appearance – there is water in your fuel • Dark colour – asphaltene particles are forming which if agglomerated, can block filters • Smells like rotten eggs – microbial growth • Smells similar to varnish – fuel is too old • Clogged filters – sludge has built up • Rusted tank – there is water in your
are many different types of contaminants that can cause mayhem in your back-up generator, so it’s important to check and monitor your fuel closely.
How to avoid generator fuel contamination issues • Invest in regular fuel testing by a professional company as part of a proactive planned preventative maintenance programme. • Consider installing a fixed fuel polishing unit to continually clean your fuel, removing the risk of sludge and bacteria build-up. • Ensure your tanks remain topped up to reduce the risk of moisture. • Eliminate the risk of fuel contamination by using an OEMapproved, environmentally friendly advanced renewable fuel. Find out more about the benefits of using our sister company, Crown Oil’s Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO fuel).
tank Some of these symptoms often go unnoticed or ignored, but others can be severe and very visible. Not only can fuel contamination be expensive to repair, but it can also be highly dangerous and risk hundreds of thousands of pounds in damage. Luckily, most fuel contamination can be avoided through regular fuel testing. There
If you suspect fuel contamination is impacting your generator or to discuss preventative measures to avoid disaster in your generator in the future, call our fuel experts today on 0330 158 8331
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PEOPLE
AMPS Power Magazine
WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM
COLOURFUL COMMUNICATION Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve observed two individuals ferociously debating a point to then watch them walk about the best of friends. Or, have you ever been in a meeting with colleagues who excitedly share with you their ideas about a project that are packed with endless, extravagant possibilities. Ideas which may energise some but leave others confused as to exactly what it is that has been committed to? Alternatively, you may have had an interaction with someone that values
the minutia of detail, and will take every opportunity whenever communicating to go into so much detail that eventually you glaze over and tune out of the discussion only to realise that they’ve been telling you something really invaluable and you now have to try and pick the conversation up again without it looking like you’ve zoned out. Well, these are just some of things which occur when we communicate. None of them are right and none of them are wrong. However, it’s important to recognise our own personal style and when communicating, but of equal importance is to understand the
difference and impact that this may have on others. Misunderstandings can often occur when we fail to communicate effectively. Most disputes in the workplace often arise as a result of ineffective communication and/or misunderstanding between the parties. One of the tools which is firm favourite with many clients is the Insights Discovery Tool, a personality profiling tool with reference to four memorable colors. So, what are they and how do they show up?:
FIERY RED
SUNSHINE YELLOW
EARTH GREEN
Fiery red energy prefers tangible outcomes.
Sunshine yellow energy radiates enthusiasm and see’s endless possibilities.
Individuals who enjoy earth green energy will place a high emphasis on values and loyalty.
When communicating they’re like to be bold, brief and to the point and will readily challenge something and/ or others. However, at times of st ress fiery red energy can show itself as controlling, cohersive and maybe even moving into micromanagement. They’re likely to take over and to stop listening to others as they have a need to step back into control of the situation and move things forward.
These individuals are likely to be highly expressive, often using their hand when communicating. They will often externalize their thinking collaboratively with others, creating endless possibilities with a huge amount of excitement (and noise). The challenge however for sunshine yellow is they become so excitable, with their desire to be involved in everything that they may leave others unclear as to exactly what it is that has been agreed by way of an outcome. They may take on too much or get bored as they want to move on to the next bright, shiny, exciting thing.
They will seek consensus and harmony as it’s important for everyone to be listened to and heard when decisions are made. On a bad day however, individuals who enjoy earth green energy preference may withdraw and become quiet preferring the situation to naturally resolve and for harmony to be restored. When this doesn’t occur and/or where an individual sees no value in the change which is occurring or where the situation is detrimental to others, they will become extremely stubborn, quietly defending their values and beliefs.
COOL BLUE
Individuals who enjoy cool blue energy place great importance on precise details as their preference is to have things factually correct. They may appear more reserved when talking to others and would feel incredibly uncomfortable if put on the spot for an opinion for which they hadn’t had an opportunity to prepare for. On a bad day those with cool blue energy preference may become overly questioning and may even move into analysis/paralysis, using this as a tactic to create more space to enable them to regain composure allowing them to be precise and accurate.
It’s important to recognise how we communicate and this colour lens is a great way to do that. Misunderstandings can often arise when there is a mismatch or misuse of these colour energies. So next time you communicate with someone else, I’d really encourage you to do so with colour, for when we value our differences then we have the ability to open up extensive possibilities, to build stronger relationships, to avoid conflict and to create rich solutions. TERESA BOUGHEY IS A MANAGEMENT TRAINING CONSULTANT AND PRACTITIONER OF INSIGHTS FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: teresa@junglehr.com
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TRUSTED KNOWLEDGE. TAILORED SOLUTIONS. If you have concerns about fuel quality, speak to an experienced IPU fuel expert about our industry-leading fuel and environmental managed services. We can offer everything you need to keep your fuel in peak condition from environmental compliance through OFTEC surveys to subsequent remedial recommendations, installation of polishing systems and scheduled maintenance routines. And, as a leading OEM in fuel systems, we are in a unique position to design and manufacture the solution most tailored to your needs.
With decades of experience in the global Oil and Gas sector, operating in some of the world’s most demanding ATEX environments, we fully understand the hazards and challenges you may face – which is why you can rely on our pro-active and undiluted support at all times.
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Crucial Expertise for Critical Applications.
OFTEC INSPECTIONS
REMEDIAL WORK
FUEL FILTRATION AND CONDITIONING
More details at www.ipu.co.uk IPU Group, Cygnus Way, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B70 0XB. Telephone +44 (0)121 511 0400
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