AMPS Power Magazine - Autumn 2024

A TIME OF CHANGE & OPPORTUNITY

In this issue of AMPS Power, we record the change at the top of AMPS and the opportunities of working with a new government.

This autumn, Louise Hazel, the MD of the IPU Group, takes the Chair of AMPS in succession to Paul Aitken. Louise shares her vision for the organisation that she has been an active supporter of for over a decade. Paul also reflects on his time in the “hot seat” and the challenges he faced.

The change of government earlier this year has given us plenty to think about. How will their approach to energy policy and the environment impact business? What key “asks” do we have for a government that readily admits that the “cupboard is bare” when it comes to making expenditure commitments. In this issue, I volunteer some thoughts on making your views clear to your local MP who may be new to the job, Chris Cassley writes on plant hire’s post-election wish list - and Andrew Gordon provides his overview of environmental issues for generator and plant deployment within an urban environment.

I hope you enjoy the read – and don’t forget to give me your feedback and news!

Rob Oliver MBE Editor – AMPS Power Magazine

Unit 19, Omega Business Village, Thurston Road, Northallerton, DL6 2NJ, UK

Director General: David Oates – david.oates@amps.org.uk

AMPS Chair: Louise Hazel - amps@amps.org.uk

AMPS enquiries: amps@amps.org.uk

AMPS Power (editorial & advertising): ampsmagazine@amps.org.uk

FOREWORD FROM DAVID OATES

Director General of AMPS

Following on from our successful AMPS Luncheon earlier in the year, we are now building up towards the final two events in our calendar.

Firstly, we have the AMPS Industry Day being hosted by Perkins Engines on Thursday 3rd October, in Peterborough, which we sincerely hope ALL Members and Guests will support and attend. This is a great opportunity to meet and network with contacts and fellow industry members as well as listening to an expert array of speakers at the event. We are excited with the diversity of topics we have managed to put together for the day and hope everyone will find it informative and interesting.

Finally, we have the annual Awards for Excellence Dinner on Thursday, 14th November, held in London, with TV and Radio personality Kate Thornton presiding over the evening’s proceedings. This is a chance to mark another busy and successful year in our industry and celebrate the Award Winners for their various achievements. We hope that award entries will be forthcoming over the weeks ahead, as you need to be “In It to Win It, as the old saying goes.

Since our last issue we have seen a change in UK Government and are in the process of

understanding what this means to the various initiatives that we have underway on Net Zero, Decarbonisation, and the Electrification of the Energy Network. With our colleagues on the cross-sectoral Industry Forum, we will be focused on keeping close to any changes announced and ensure our industry voice is being heard across the various forums in which AMPS plays a proactive role.

There is no doubt that the power sector is becoming a key part of the Energy Infrastructure as certain market areas, such as Data Centres, prepare for the AI revolution. This sets the scene for a period of rapid growth and expansion of power needs. We expect our member companies to be proactive in playing a leading role in this period of growth. Exciting times!

Meanwhile, our European organisation, EUROPGEN, is partnering with their Italian members, Generazione Distribuita, for an extensive conference and awards programme on Saturday 12th October, in Naples. We will be represented at the event – and I wish them everything success and our continuing support.

AMPS PEOPLE & COMPANY NEWS

STEVEN MULHOLLAND IS NEW CPA CHIEF

Over the Summer the Construction Planthire Association (CPA) appointed a new Chief Executive.

Steven Mulholland has a long track record with the CPA. He stepped up from being CPA Chair and was a CPA Council Member for 10 years. He has a great deal of experience in the construction plant industry, having run his family business Mulholland Plant Services for many years.

On his appointment, Steven said: “I am delighted to continue my work with the CPA and look forward to commencing my new role as Chief Executive. In my view, the most important factor is continuity. CPA Council Members, CPA staff, along with the Executive Team, have all done a fantastic job to get our Association to where it is today. It has grown in numbers and improved in professionalism in the services we are able to offer members, and this must continue in an ever-changing world.”

AMPS Power is made available to the over 1,900 members of the CPA and wishes Steven every success in his new role.

GMI POWER SOLUTIONS LTD IS NOW GET POWER SOLUTIONS LTD

Retiring AMPS Chairman, Paul Aitken, has made some big changes at GMI Power Solutions – including a rebranding and headquarters switch.

He explains, “After nearly a year after the acquisition of GMI Power Solutions it was paramount for our future growth and the expansion of our inhouse expertise to relocate to a more centrally located headquarters, in Staffordshire. This in turn had it challenges when taken together with our rebranding to embrace new power technologies that we will be including in our hybrid solution offerings.”

The newly named company, GET Power Solutions Ltd, is located in Stafford close to the town centre - with easy access to the motorway network. Paul explains, “We are now settled in our brand-new offices, warehouse facility and fresh image and are well set for business growth year on year.”

NEW APPOINTMENT REINFORCES CRESTCHIC’S COMMITMENT TO QUALITY, HEALTH, SAFETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT (QHSE)

To reinforce its commitment to QHSE, Crestchic Loadbanks has recently welcomed Global Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) Manager, Graham Twigg. Graham joins the business with over 30 years of experience in QHSE, having worked with global organisations including Rolls Royce and Alstom.

Speaking about his appointment, Graham commented, “Crestchic has made some great strides when it comes to achieving manufacturing excellence and adopting a proactive safety culture. The company’s ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 45001 Health and Safety Management System and ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certifications affirm its adherence to worldclass QHSE and sustainability standards. That said, my passion and experience in the field of QHSE have taught me that there are always improvements to be made, especially with communications and engagement! As the business continues to grow, we need to double down on our goal of developing a culture of continuous improvement when it comes to QHSE standards and I am really enjoying working with my colleagues to identify opportunities.”

Graham’s remit will cover global QHSE functions as part of a drive to continually enhance performance and compliance across Crestchic’s locations globally. Chris Caldwell, MD at Crestchic, commented: “We are experiencing exceptional growth as a business, and it is vital that we continue to foster a proactive and comprehensive QHSE culture. Given Graham’s experience, we are confident he is more than equipped to lead us on this journey.”

LOUISE HAZEL SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON BECOMING CHAIR OF AMPS

I am absolutely delighted and excited to be appointed Chair of AMPS, following on from the great work of my predecessor Paul Aitken for which I, the Council and members, thank him.

Paul hands over an Association that is strong and committed to its members in what is a challenging and changing time for our industry. The Power Generation industry makes a significant contribution to the UK economy. Everything has an influence or impact on our ability to thrive, from the political landscape both home and abroad, environmental challenges and, crucially, skilled people to sustain and grow our members’ businesses.

Having personally been an active member of AMPS since March 2021, when I joined the Council, I have had the pleasure of working alongside dedicated fellow Council members committed to ensure there is value for our members in everything that we do. I would say my own organisation, having been AMPS members for around 34 years, is testament in itself as to the importance we put on having an Association that represents and supports us.

My aim and approach as Chair is to be as hands on as my day to day position will allow. My vision for AMPS as a trade association is to be the first choice, best and trusted

source of knowledge, technical guidance, best practice and opportunity within the Power Generation industry for our members. Harnessing the immense amount of knowledge and experience of the Council and various committees will be fundamental to the success of my tenure, which will be measured by the value our members believe they get in return.

If there is one thing I have learned along the way in my professional life, that I will bring with me to the role of Chair, it is to ask questions and listen to understand. We have many members in our organisation, of varying scale and size, each contributing to this vast and critical industry that we are part of. I encourage ongoing member engagement, from all areas, to help shape our strategy, value delivery and build a consensus of common purpose and interest. We will seek to listen to understand these common themes, bring this back to the Association and use our one voice to help pave the way for members’ success.

One of my own concerns for our industry is maintaining skills and standards. This is

perhaps more of a problem for the future although I’m sure many of our members are beginning to feel some effects as we see the workplace demographic changing. Many of our highly skilled employees are winding down or retiring and it’s not entirely obvious where the next generation of skilled engineers, service technicians etc. are coming from - particularly as we battle what is seen by some as a “dirty” industry. For this reason, the promotion and attraction of our industry needs to be a priority for AMPS. You may have already heard a little about our collaboration with IPowerE and plans around this from our Director General, David Oates, and we will continue to develop this collaboration for the benefit of our members - including providing appropriate training paths, mentoring and recruitment of engineers.

It's a cliché but we all, either directly or indirectly, help to keep the lights on - one of the basic needs of both people and business. We are in an industry to be proud of and I’m looking forward to working closely with everyone involved in AMPS and our members new and old.

LOUISE HAZEL –IN PERSON

AMPS Power asked AMPS’ new Chair about her career and life so far…

I started my career in Finance with Wilson Sporting Goods based in Irvine, Ayrshire. A qualified accountant, I moved from my role as Management Accountant into Human Resources as part of a Succession Planning Strategy by the then larger Finnish Company, Amer Sports, who had bought a number of sporting goods brands into their portfolio. My new role with the company covered the UK & Ireland, over 200 employees and the opportunity to become part of the global HR team with professionals from all over the world. I stayed with Wilson/Amer Sports for 17 years, the last year or so spent commuting from Irvine to Surrey as part of a handover when the company relocated many of their roles down South.

Having already met my now husband, Jonathan, in sunny Barcelona a few years earlier, rather than relocate to Surrey, I made it halfway down from Scotland to the West Midlands and joined The Deritend Group in their Wolverhampton Head Office (his home town). This was my first venture directly into the world of engineering - service, repair

and maintenance of motors, pumps and gearboxes across 14 UK sites and around 350 employees when I started. As HR Director with Deritend, one of the needs of the role was to sadly rationalise the sites, during the recession years up to 2012 as part of the recovery strategy, down to 7. A great industry to be involved in with some really interesting clients. When I left in 2014 around 6% of the workforce were engineering apprentices, most of whom were working towards qualifications in electric motor rewinds. I’m very proud of this and I’d like to think that by building such a strong programme around apprentices, they had a robust succession plan for years to come.

I then joined a relatively new, Canadian, on-shore wind turbine company Endurance Wind Power as European HR Manager covering the UK, Ireland, Italy and Denmark. This was a fabulous experience, supporting the set-up of a new company and the building of a team almost from the ground up including teams of site-based technicians to work on the fleet of turbines already in

the ground. New exposure in abundance, from DNO grid connections to handling the concerns of environmental and bird activists this was a thoroughly enjoyable experience in the renewable energy space.

Finally, I am now Managing Director with IPU Group Ltd, based in West Bromwich, having previously been HR & Operations Director. When I first joined IPU, we had 7 separate Divisions covering Engine Starting, Fuel, Engine Control, Components, Emissions, Oil and Groundcare. We have gone through a number of sales and acquisitions over the years where we now design, manufacture and distribute Fuel Conditioning Systems with Filtration, Emissions, Components and Electronic Systems Integration products and solutions. Our client base is global, with our export turnover around 40% of our business.

I have just turned 50 this July, both of my lads are grown (they are up and off doing their own thing, one in London the other in Edinburgh) leaving me, Jonathan and Diesel the dog enjoying life and ready for this new chapter as Chair of AMPS.

REFLECTIONS FROM THE OUTGOING CHAIRMAN OF AMPS

Paul Aitken (now of GET Power Solutions Ltd) looks back at his term of office as head of AMPS.

It has been an absolute honour to serve as AMPS Chairman through probably the toughest period in my lifetime due to the pandemic that still I find hard to believe it even happened in the modern world we live in today.

Now after just over four years it is time to hand the baton over to my industry colleague and friend, Louise Hazel of the IPU Group, who is well placed to lead AMPS. As Louise takes charge, it’s interesting to reflect on my time in office.

My fellow AMPS Council members of 2020 kindly put their trust in me in the industry election of the same year. My first task as Chairman was to lead change by replacing our old secretariat to align better with our organisation’s objectives. We set up a working group led by Chris Caldwell of Crestchic to put in place a new secretariat and a new era was born. Joanna Oliver and the team at ASL were installed and have truly knocked us into shape - and long may it continue.

There have been many challenges during

my term of office. After a few years with an executive Vice-President in place, it was unanimously agreed by the AMPS Council that we would revert to a Director General with relevant industry experience. An action group was again set up where, amongst others, our next Chair’s expertise shone through. This led to the appointment of David Oates in January 2023 - and he has enthusiastically promoted AMPS since then and developed its scope and services to member companies.

All my fellow Council members are very excited about the future, as AMPS is in a wonderful place today as we navigate our way through the challenges of the modern world and all the different forms of energy that are being developed - to sit alongside our tried and trusted solutions to assist in reducing our carbon emissions.

Our Technical Committee comprises some of the leading experts in the industry and is second to none. The Marketing Committee is an effective and enterprising body - and our Finance Committee is better than ever.

We also now have a Policy Committee which benefits from expert intelligence on related industry sectors and the latest government papers. And as mentioned above our Secretariat is the best it’s ever been.

All this and our networking events, golf days, annual luncheon and awards evenings are a direct result of innovative new companies getting “on board” with AMPS and the renewed support of some of the “big boys” for our trade association.

AMPS today really is the association of choice.

I would like to this opportunity to say a massive thank you to my industry colleagues on the Council all of whom, together with a whole host of others, give their own time free of charge.

To conclude I wish I could have got my initiative of “don’t let go” off the ground, aimed at cascading down the experience and expertise of our near and post-retirement employees to the next generation. Time never allowed on this occasion but never say never!

NEW LOOK FOR AMPS AT TRADE EVENTS

High on the “to do list” for AMPS Marketing Committee Chair, Riccardo Sardelli , was to upgrade the Association’s presence at key trade shows with a new stand display.

The new display was commissioned with the help of Amy Metcalfe of Amy Metcalfe Marketing Ltd. It has been designed to underline the expertise of AMPS and its members in the power sector. It is illustrated by strong images, including a data centre, wind turbine and music festival, under the strapline “Knowledge in power”.

The new unit debuts at the Solar & Storage Live event at the National Exhibition Centre, in September. Joanna Oliver MBE, AMPS’ Secretariat lead, welcomes the investment in promoting the Association, “Riccardo, Amy and the team have done a good job in putting the project together. It will help promote AMPS as the official voice of the industry and the expertise of our members. It will also boost our ongoing recruitment campaign to keep AMPS growing at an important time for the sector.”

This year AMPS has taken stand space at Data Centre World (London) and the Distributed Energy Show (Telford). Many AMPS members were much in evidence at the Executive Hire Show early in the year, in Coventry, which was also attended by David Oates. Volvo hosted a meeting of the Marketing Committee at the Hillhead show, near Buxton in early summer.

For a listing of key industry events, see page 39 of this issue.

The Marketing Committee team at the Hillhead exhibition

ASSEMBLY OF DIESEL GENERATORS IN EUROPE: LOWER VOLUMES BUT GROWING TURNOVER

Romain Mocaër Competitive intelligence expert

Markets expert Roman Mocaër reports on the latest PowerGen statistics…

There are two ways to analyze the production trend of diesel generator sets in Europe: in units and in value. But they represent two opposing trends.

Declining volumes

If we do not take into account the Covid period (2020), the volume of diesel generator units has never reached such a low level as at the start of 2024. The industrial relocation strategies of large groups have contributed to this trend for several years. More recently after a spectacular increase in 2022, caused

by the European energy crisis and massive imports into Ukraine, the drop in production is just as brutal. Less than 27,000 units were produced (for the domestic and export market), while a peak was reached in Q4 2022 with more than 50,000 units produced. Post-Covid growth and the construction sector are running out of steam, and the euphoria of the past year has resulted in an increase in stocks of available products. This decline should stabilize once inventories are less significant, and the energy situation in Ukraine could also suggest new imports.

Growing turnover

On the other hand, if we look at the market in value, the trend is reversed thanks to the increase in volumes of powers above 2000 kVA. In fact, this growth compensates for the drop in income from generators below 375 kVA.

The growth is the result of the increasing numbers of Data Centers in Europe and around the world. European manufacturers are seizing the opportunity to manufacture these high valueadded generators in a market segment that is growing even faster thanks to the development of artificial intelligence.

ACHIEVING RELIABLE RENEWABLE POWER WITH HYBRID STORAGE

Paul Campbell , Managing Director of Industrial Power Systems Ltd, shares this case study which reports on the experience of KEZO, the Polish research centre, in using DEIF controllers for successful hybrid storage.

“The time has come to focus on renewables and smart energy systems,” says Patryk Chaja of Polish research centre KEZO. Studies at the centre show that hybrid energy storage systems can balance out the inherent instabilities of renewable power production, making green power as reliable as fossil fuel-based power – with mature technology that is available today. DEIF ASC-4 and AGC-4 controllers are playing a key role in the KEZO microgrid by enabling control and communication between all system components.

It’s nice to know that when you flick the switch on your coffee machine, the power comes from solar panels. But on cloudy days, the power for your coffee, and for everything else, needs to be supplied in other ways. Increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix is an ideal solution as the world works to reduce GHG emissions and comply

with the Paris agreement. However, the inherent instability of renewables means that the energy sector needs to find reliable ways of balancing energy systems, ensuring security of supply and stable voltage levels when renewable production cannot cope with demand – and when production surges.

Hybrid microgrids combining several renewables such as PV panels and wind turbines enable a relatively high overall percentage of renewable power. In order to ensure reliability and balance, such microgrids require intelligent control and the ability to store power in order to use it later. Several mature technologies for achieving this goal are currently being tested at Polish research centre KEZO. Using an energy storage system (ESS) with different types of batteries and managing the setup with DEIF controllers is producing very promising results.

Storage and control solutions needed

Located just north of central Warsaw, KEZO was founded in 2015 and is owned by the Polish Academy of Sciences. One of the most modern research centres of its kind in Europe, it focuses mainly on renewable energy sources. KEZO aims to develop an integrated hybrid energy system that can generate electricity, heating, and cooling from renewable sources, storing this energy as needed and delivering it on demand and in the desired form. A key step in this process is to find a reliable way of storing electricity, and of ensuring close integration between that electricity storage and all other system components.

“We can produce energy from the wind, from the sun, and from a CHP plant, and we can store electricity and heat,” says Patryk Chaja, PhD, Research and Development

Coordinator at KEZO. “All of these elements are connected in one energy system. At first, we focused mainly on storage of heat, but we soon noticed that electricity was also very important. We added an extra unit for storing electricity and decided to compare different technologies”.

Research setup: hybrid storage managed by DEIF controllers

The ESS at KEZO includes four different types of battery: lithium ion, lead carbon, gel acid, and VRFB (vanadium redox flow battery). The system was integrated with the support of STAY-ON company. The batteries, which can be charged from onsite PV panels and from the grid, are connected in a hybrid energy storage system, allowing the different properties of each battery type to complement each other and fulfil different roles. Some batteries provide high instantaneous power, some have high energy storage capacity, and some are suitable for use as a power conditioner, for carrying out peak shaving, or for balancing renewables.

“Our thesis is that a mix of these technologies, which we call hybrid energy storage, would fulfil the particular needs of

a customer,” explains Krzysztof Rafał, PhD, Electric Power System Specialist at KEZO. “The goal is to demonstrate this kind of hybrid system in various scenarios. We feel that it can cover more functions than one energy storage technology alone.”

The flow battery technology used in the VRFB is of particular interest to the KEZO research team. While the VRFB is comparatively large and has low energy density, it offers benefits that make it an interesting proposition for microgrid ESS applications: It is completely safe, as the vanadium electrolytes are not toxic or flammable. Also, the electrolytes do not degrade, giving the battery a very long service life. The 18-tonne 100 kWh VRFB at KEZO can handle at least 20,000 charge cycles without loss of capacity.

Each battery is managed separately, with individual power set points for each battery defined based on power consumption, current renewable production, and current energy prices. The setup uses DEIF AGC-4 Mains and ASC-4 controllers to handle battery control and communication. One of the most important benefits of the DEIF units is their ability to communicate with all batteries, helping KEZO staff develop,

control and optimise the hybrid storage system control strategies.

Unlimited communication and control, plus competent support

“The DEIF units give us a unique feature: the ability to communicate with each different battery technology,” says Weronika Radziszewska, PhD, Data Specialist at KEZO. “The batteries come from different producers and are made to different standards. Some are already equipped with standard methods for communicating, but some other batteries are much more closed, and we even have batteries that do not have a system as such. We really need to calculate the state of charge, and here the DEIF system really helped us with almost all of the load communication. It’s actually translating all the data into unified Modbus communication which makes it much easier for us to develop our system. The DEIF system is one device that communicates with everything for once.”

Krzysztof Rafał adds that the DEIF setup provides a management system which enables control, coordination, and communication between devices such as

PV installations, energy storage systems, and local loads. “It provides the functionality to control our production of energy and our exchange of energy with the grid,” he says. “The DEIF system can fulfil multiple functions for us. It makes our research easier!”

The two KEZO specialists cite the competent support offered by DEIF as a further source of satisfaction. “When some features were missing, DEIF were very cooperative in helping. Communication with DEIF was really very smooth. For us, the ability to communicate with the company is a big benefit,” remarks Weronika Radziszewska.

A scalable and available solution

As the battery and control technology tested at KEZO is mature and available on the market, the research results can be applied directly in production scenarios to ensure reliable power from renewables. The DEIF ASC-4 and AGC-4 controllers used, for example, provide the flexibility to allow scaling to any future requirement with little or no modifications. “The flexibility of adding or expanding the microgrid is quite important. I think that is possible with DEIF

controllers, and that is a great asset,” says Weronika Radziszewska.

KEZO is contributing to the ongoing debate in Poland about how to transform the country’s energy system in a more sustainable direction, bringing research findings and technical experience to the table and advising authorities, utilities, and businesses on the right course of action when selecting renewable energy supply solutions. Similar debates, of course, are going on in other countries across the globe, making the results achieved at KEZO interesting outside Polish borders, too.

While hydrogen power or other technologies may one day become a feasible alternative to today’s renewable energy sources, wind and solar power generation combined with ESSes look set to be the best solution for secure and sustainable energy production for years to come. “We believe that we can change the energy system using renewable energy sources. The time has come to focus on renewables and smart energy systems,” concludes Patryk Chaja.

This article reproduced by kind permission of DEIF - find out more via www.indps.co.uk.

INTRODUCING THE SOLAR HYBRID GENERATOR: A SUSTAINABLE POWER SOLUTION

AMPS members, Dawsongroup, provide their solution to introducing solar power to the generator energy mix.

In today's rapidly evolving energy landscape, businesses are seeking to reduce carbon emissions and operational costs while maintaining a reliable power supply. The solar hybrid generator system is an innovative solution, combining the benefits of solar panels, battery storage, and a backup generator powered by hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) or diesel.

The intelligent system maximises solar input, using the power generated from solar panels to charge a lithium battery bank. The backup generator, equipped with advanced particulate filtering, only kicks in when necessary, ensuring fuel is used as efficiently as possible. The system smartly balances energy consumption between these sources, for a continuous and reliable power supply.

Eco-Friendly Operation with Grid Independence

One of the standout features of the solar hybrid generator is its ability to significantly reduce carbon emissions, offering a 50-60% reduction in carbon output and up to 50% in fuel consumption when compared to traditional generators. Switching to HVO fuel further cuts CO2 emissions by more than 80% compared to standard diesel. Its ecofriendly performance and reliability make it an ideal solution for remote locations, acting as an off-grid power source for energy independence.

Quiet, Efficient, and Flexible

The hybrid generator operates quietly, making it ideal for noisesensitive sites. The generator's modular design allows for flexibility and scalability with the opportunity for additional solar panels and battery storage available to meet specific site needs. The system’s plug-andplay feature ensures easy installation with minimal user intervention.

Versatile Applications for Remote, Event, and Backup Needs

The solar hybrid generator's versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of applications. It is ideal for off-grid locations, including construction sites, farms, and remote communities, providing a reliable power source for areas with limited access to traditional electricity. Its quiet and efficient operation also makes it well-suited for powering outdoor events, festivals, and mobile applications. The hybrid generator can serve as a reliable backup power source for critical infrastructure and facilities, ensuring uninterrupted operations, even during power outages.

The Solar Hybrid Generator is the reliable power solution of the future, offering a compelling combination of sustainability, efficiency, and reliability. By embracing this advanced technology today, businesses can significantly reduce their environmental impact and achieve longterm cost savings.

For further information: www.dawsongroupenergysolutions.com/contact/

AND THE WINNER IS… IT’S THE

COUNTDOWN

TO THE AMPS AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2024

Winners of the 2024 AMPS Awards for Excellence will receive their trophies at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms at the Awards Dinner on Thursday 14th November. AMPS Power takes you through the process that could make you a winner.

We are delighted to confirm that this year’s Awards Headline Sponsor is VOLVO PENTA We thank them for their great support for the AMPS organisation and commitment to highlighting excellence in our sector. They are joined (at time of publication) by: Cabel UK Ltd, Crestchic Ltd, Generator Power Ltd, IPU Group Ltd and Power and Control Automation Solutions Ltd (PCAS) as individual Award sponsors.

THE AWARDS

There are seven Awards categories this year – including a newly designated Apprenticeship Programme of the Year. The AMPS Awards for Excellence have become a cornerstone event in the Power Generation sector, renowned for their prestige and standard of competition. The full list of Awards is shown on the next page.

Entries are open to all AMPS member companies via the AMPS website. We ask you to submit a supporting statement of

up to 600 words for each category you wish to enter. This can be supplemented by other documents, images etc. which can be uploaded with your entry.

Judging will take place during October, with entries adjudicated by a panel of highly experienced experts from within and outside the power sector. They will agree a short list and winner for each Award, all of which will be recognised at the Awards Dinner.

THE AWARDS DINNER

Winning an AMPS Award is not just an accolade but a symbol of excellence, with winners receiving an elegant trophy and champagne to celebrate their success at the Awards Dinner on Thursday 14th November at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London WC2.

The evening begins with a Networking Sparkling Drinks Reception, followed by a Gala Black Tie Dinner and the eagerly

anticipated Awards presentations. There will be a late bar for post dinner celebrations.

The Awards will be hosted by Kate Thornton, the versatile broadcaster and journalist who is enjoying a distinguished career. Her print work includes contributions to The Sunday Times and Marie Claire. On television she has presented at The Royal Variety Performance, The X Factor and been part of the long-running Loose Women programme. Kate will bring her signature charm and professionalism to the event.

The Awards Dinner will be held at the elegant Grade II* listed De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, located on Great Queen Street in London’s West End. This historic venue, dating back to 1775, has hosted royalty, politicians, and celebrities. Conveniently situated just five minutes from Covent Garden and Holborn tube stations, and a short taxi ride from Kings Cross, St Pancras, and Euston train stations, it’s easily accessible via London’s major transport links.

This years Award categories...

• AMPS Member Company of the Year

• Apprenticeship Programme of the Year

• Innovation & Technology Award

• Business Growth & Strategy Award

• Energy & Sustainability Award

• Project of the Year

• Environmental Product of the Year

The 2024 Awards for Excellence will be presented at the Awards Dinner on Thursday 14th November 2024 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, Great Queen Street, London WC2

The Headline Sponsor for the AMPS Awards for Excellence 2024 is…

To enter the Awards or reserve your place at the Awards Dinner go to… www.amps.org.uk/awards-for-excellence/ Enquiries to amps@amps.co.uk

Hosted by TV and Radio presenter and journalist, Kate Thornton

A NEW GOVERNMENT –MAKING OUR VOICES HEARD

Prior to this year’s General Election, the Labour Party made great efforts to reach out to the business community. Now, as the government, it recognises that it is facing some tough decisions. AMPS Power Editor, Rob Oliver MBE , examines some of the considerations from a business perspective when engaging with MPs and policy makers.

On a change of government there is no wholesale change of departmental civil servants – just in the ministerial team and their special advisors (SpAds) as the political appointees. SpAds who advise government become temporary civil servants hired for their policy expertise relevant to a particular department of government or for media advice. As a trade association, AMPS strives to retain regular contact with the relevant ministries – these include the Department for Business & Trade (DBT), the Department for Environment, Food and

Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). Not to mention the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

The New Ministers

Ministers can hold a position in more that one department. Sarah Jones MP is a Minister of State at both the DBT and DESNZ. She is Member of Parliament for Croydon West, is a former civil servant, and held a shadow role for industry and decarbonisation prior to the General

Rob Oliver MBE

AMPS Power Editor

There is an intention to improve the UK’s trade and investment relationship with the EU by removing “unnecessary barriers to trade”.

Election. The Secretary of State (SOS) at DBT is the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP. He trained as a solicitor and worked for his predecessor at his Stalybridge and Hyde constituency. Former Labour leader, the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP (Doncaster North constituency), heads the DESNZ team –having held a similar position in the final period of the last Labour government. The SOS at Defra is The Rt Hon Steve Reed MP OBE. He is the former leader of Lambeth Council and serves the Streatham and Croydon North constituency.

The Local Dimension

The constituency affiliations are relevant, as it is often the case that businesses miss the opportunity to link up with their local MP. It is a common criticism that parliamentarians (of any party) don’t have the experience of, or interest in, business. Yet, if invited, they are happy to undertake factory or project visits and listen to your challenges and ideas in exchange for a photograph in your local newspaper (which you and they can benefit from). There is a unique opportunity at present to establish lasting relationships with your local MP. 335 new MPs have been elected this year out of 650 – over 50% new to their job. Friday and Saturday morning tend to be their usual “constituency days” when they are less fettered by Westminster votes.

If you don’t already have contact with your local MP – www.theyworkforyou.com is a good place to start. As a constituent (whether through business or home address) the best option is to establish contact through their local office if you have an issue specific to your location. This might be something such as planning delays, other Council issues or the paucity of skilled local labour. If you MP doesn’t come to you then you can book a place in one of their regular constituency advice surgeries. Conversely, if you want to express your ire or support for a particular government policy (or the absence of a policy) the best route is to contact your MP via their Westminster office (the usual format for emails is “forename. surname.mp@parliament.uk). Not all MPs

will have the same staffing arrangements, so you can always check via their own websites.

The Approach to Lobbying

For more structured lobbying, it is important to make requests which can in some way align with government policy and objectives. The Labour Party manifesto sets out 5 “Missions” as overarching objectives that will inform their detailed policy. The first two are to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a “Clean Energy Superpower”. The hire industry’s lobby for full expensing for buyers of capital equipment for the rental market was successful in being positively referenced in the Labour manifesto – and they continue to press their case. They argue that the extension of full expensing to plant used for short-term hire will boost the availability of resource for house building, accelerate the adoption of new technology and greener fuels – and give a £24 million boost to the Treasury through the uplift in plant sales. All these points align with government objectives.

Industry Forum – the power of co-operative working

As previously reported, AMPS values its place on the UK Equipment & Machinery Industry Forum – or just “Industry Forum” for short. It has a membership of nearly a score of trade associations who work on a collaborative basis to discuss common technical and regulatory issues with government departments. Post-Brexit UK civil servants have had very limited access to the detail of topics under discussion at EU level. As with AMPS, as EUROPGEN members, most Forum members have up to date information via their European organisations.

Europe back on the agenda

Prime Minister Starmer is committed to a reset of relations with the EU and EU Member States under the “Britain reconnected” banner. While access to the Single Market and the Customs Union is off the table, there is an intention to improve the UK’s trade and investment relationship with the EU by removing “unnecessary barriers to trade”. The Industry Forum can provide government with the business views of how this can be achieved, particularly around the alignment of product standards to limit technical barriers to trade. AMPS’ Technical Committee will also play an important role in this.

Decarbonisation – the continuing theme

Whilst Labour rowed back from its original £28 billion annual green investment policy –they are going ahead with their Great British Energy project. They plan to co-invest in new technology with private capital partners. Their headline objective is to lower domestic energy bills, which will rely on a major National Grid upgrade to fully integrate alternative power sources. The pledge to reinstate the 2030 deadline for the sale of new ICE petrol and diesel cars prompts consideration of the longer-term position of generators and the commitment of AMPS members to deliver sustainable solutions to meet environmental targets. The AMPS Policy Committee is taking a brief to review these developments and track the policies of DESNZ and important interlocutors, such as the Climate Change Committee. From this, AMPS can confirm its strategy to how best to represent the interests of its members.

The Open Door

The final message is, of course, that we all have it in our power to inform and influence our political governors. Within AMPS there is always room for more input from member companies – your views help set the Association’s policies and priorities. There is an open door.

Within AMPS there is always room for more input from member companies – your views help set the Association’s policies and priorities

NEW GOVERNMENT – THE PLANT HIRE ANALYSIS

Chris Cassley Policy Manager, CPA

The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) represents c.1,900 plant hire companies – supplying some 85% of the market. The CPA’s Chris Cassley shares his “More than 30 second elevator pitch to the new Business Secretary and Construction Minister”.

When I last wrote for the AMPS magazine, in January, I set out what the plant-hire industry was looking for from the general election. While speculation was rife that we would see a general election in the Autumn, the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak seemed to take everyone by surprise (including his own party and government) by calling the election for early July.

Fast forward eight months and we have a new Labour government with a large majority. The question is, what do they do with it? Already the deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, has published her plans to build 370,000 new homes a year in England, alongside reform of the planning system (again!).

While a welcome commitment for house builders, there are other pressing issues that also need dealing with. In welcome letters to the new government, we wrote to the incoming Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, and the Construction Minister, Sarah Jones.

Decarbonisation of Construction plant

Decarbonising construction plant, and making the move away from diesel, is one of the main issues facing the planthire community in the coming years, as efforts towards meeting net zero and the 2050 target gather pace. Whilst real

progress has been made in recent years with the development of cost effective electric powered alternatives, or hydrogen prototypes that we hope to see on the market in the coming years, gaps remain in how we make the switch from diesel.

Towards the end of last year, the then government launched a consultation into the decarbonisation of Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM – this includes construction plant). As a major consultation piece, the CPA, amongst many other stakeholders, responded accordingly.

While we appreciate the change in government has taken up a lot of ministerial time, we are keen to see the results of this consultation as soon as possible and what the government plans to do next as part of this work.

In turn, it has been over two years since the Department for Transport launched a consultation on low carbon fuels and calls for an idea on how a roadmap and strategy could be developed. The CPA was one of several high-profile member organisation from the construction sector who responded. While some progress and announcements have been made since then, no actual strategy has been published, despite repeated calls to do so.

The need for action is even more pressing. Failure to develop a strategy and work with manufacturers and the rental industry will undermine progress and government intentions towards our industry.

The policing of abnormal loads and embargo times

Although primarily a topic for the Home Office and the Department for Transport, we urge the Department for Business to highlight this issue across government. The current approach by the police (primarily the West Midlands force, although this is not exclusive) on abnormal loads and embargo times is having an adverse effect on the efficient movement of construction plant –especially mobile cranes. Some companies are facing an existential threat.

Action from the Home Office and Department for Transport to overcome the very real and growing concerns of the construction industry around abnormal loads and embargo times is needed as a matter of urgency to address the impact police

actions are having on CPA members. Over the course of the last twelve months, the industry has increasingly seen an inflexible and inconsistent approach from major police forces across the country towards the movement of construction plant and the enforcement of embargo times. This is impacting the operational efficiency and competitiveness of many of our members, through increased operational costs and delay in the delivery of equipment and construction project completion times. For some companies, it is starting to become a very real threat to their viability as a business.

We are keen for the government to work with the industry and each of the Chief Constables to discuss this issue, as a matter of urgency, to understand the concerns of the construction sector whilst also addressing the motivations of the police and their current approach.

Extension of the Full Expensing Allowance to the plant-hire industry

The CPA welcomed the announcement by the then Chancellor in the March Budget to extend Full Expensing to the rental and leasing industries, with the promise that draft legislation would be published in due course. Our members have called for this move, and it was encouraging that our message was recognised by government.

Over the course of the last year, the CPA has worked closely as part of a working group, with the Treasury and HMRC, to explore ways to extend the Full Expensing Allowance to the rental and leasing industries. While these meetings have been constructive, it is vital the government now commits to a planned timetable and extends Full Expensing to our members.

Business investment is key to securing economic growth and the rental and leasing industries have been waiting over a year now to take advantage of an allowance that other industries already enjoy.

Extending the Full Expensing Allowance to all aspects of the construction plant-hire sector will have minimal impact on Treasury expenditure. This includes companies providing equipment on its own or with an operator. Failure to extend the allowance unfairly penalises our members and limits

their ability to invest in new greener, cleaner, technologies and equipment. It will also hinder efforts to meet the government’s extended targets for the end of dieselpowered machinery, the effect being totally opposite to current stated government policy.

Around 43% of construction machines sold in the UK, are manufactured in this country . Extending the FE allowance to our members has the potential to boost sales of UK manufactured construction equipment, improve levels of plant-hire business investment, and help offset the decline in the machinery and equipment sector which has seen a 21% decrease in jobs since 2011.

Planning reform and building the skills base

Reform of the planning system has been high on the political agenda for all main parties in recent years – with all too little delivery in practice.

It is vital lessons are learnt from past failures to address this issue and make sure that we build enough homes for the future. This means working at both a national and local level to maintain a balance between the needs of existing communities, while also overcoming the housing shortage.

It is right the government focuses on the skills base and making industries such as construction an attractive career option. We are keen to work with them on the creation of Skills England and determining how it will work with existing schemes. In particular, how industry (in this case the wider infrastructure sector) can help shape some of the national skills priorities in addition to the Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIP's).

We are keen that the government keeps the Skills Bootcamp policy and extend it further to accelerate employer led skills bootcamps. We await further detail about plans for the Apprenticeship Levy and its successor, the new Growth and Skills Levy. In principle most employers would support this, but we would welcome the opportunity to contribute on how the policy change is implemented so it fully supports employers at a national and regional level and helps meet their skills priorities.

That is not too much to ask for the government to get on with. Is it?

LOADING PROFILES AND THE ELECTRIFICATION JOURNEY FOR CONSTRUCTION

Andrew Gordon

Project Manager

[Pan-London NRMM] Cleaner Machinery

The third is the series of articles for AMPS Power from Andrew Gordon Project Manager [Cleaner Machinery], Pan-London NRMM. The challenges inherent in certain kinds of Stage V Generator deployment are well-known. Proper specification and understanding of the proposed loading profile is crucial to the correct functioning of the unit. Not all intended uses are going to be troublesome, but many of the scenarios typical in construction, are likely to be….

Some Stage V engine designs appear to be more resilient than others, but all of them suffer to some degree from the consequences of a protracted low loading period. Where a load stays below 30% or so for a significant amount of time, Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) can have a tough time maintaining proper flow, and Selective Catalytic Reduction units can accumulate urea from the Diesel Exhaust Fluid. The

flow of exhaust gases needs to be hot and free and, where it can’t be, that’s where the issues arise.

Tower cranes are a core element of the construction site, rapidly moving loads across the entire area, and of course frequently working against the force of gravity. The power requirements are high, and customers shall require a contingency factor too. Because cranes are central to so many activities on site, any outage and down-time is especially undesirable. Consequently, innovative solutions and departures from established practices encounter degrees of inertia in their uptake.

Over the past year especially, our site auditors have been looking at genset specifications and interrogating the control panels for loading data. It’s no huge surprise that many are grossly underloaded. These assets are going to require servicing sooner than their better specified alternatives, as well as introduce avoidable reliability concerns for the construction projects themselves. There are also frequently fuel consumption co-benefits to be had, when incorporating innovative technologies to the Stage V solutions for transient loading profiles.

The Stage V requirement of diesel/HVO engines in London is effectively driving electrification, to various degrees and in different ways. So, what are the solutions in the mix? What have fleet operators come up with to better serve the needs of customers with hoist and tower crane needs? How are they protecting their generators from premature damage and servicing costs?

As we visit sites across London, we see a variety of approaches in use. The planning conditions applied to London sites, mean that contractors now have no choice but to specify a Stage V generator for each of their site requirements. Sometimes this shall

mean a hybrid approach and contractors need to accommodate within project delivery any increased cost over Stage IIIA.

The first scenario to consider is the steady linear load, which is typically something along the lines of a welfare cabin application or site office complex. Here, best practice of course, is the use of grid supply. Where this is not possible, the Stage V genset can often run standalone with no issues arising, assuming of course that it has been sized appropriately. Sometimes collating work loadings across numerous applications can flatten what would otherwise be spiky for individual sets. There’s something of a tradition on sites, of having one set for each crane, another for the hoist, another for welfare and so forth. It’s good for risk management, where if a single set goes down, activities don’t all grind to a halt. With proper care taken looking at all the loadings, a single larger set can accommodate the summation of the individual load variations across all the tasks and remain above 30% load overall without the need of further technologies. It’s effectively a self-contained grid system operating in ring-fashion. It’s not common in London, possibly because of the perceived risks issue, and possibly because transient loads may on occasion combine and exceed tolerances. Use of a Battery Electric Storage System [BESS] may help here and instil resilience.

We are also seeing load-on-demand chaining configurations facilitating a self-contained grid. This is the linking of two or more generators operating in linear fashion, with only one operating for low-loading periods, with subsequent units firing-up and joining the sine when the load demand increases. These aren’t too suitable for tower cranes, but for the summation-of-loads approach it’s workable.

Flywheels have lots to offer, to flatten out

peaky demands. They can remove the need of a generator altogether, in cases where local grid cannot supply the current needs of a tower crane alone but can if a flywheel is there to assist in getting the lift moving. A pretty tight set of calculations then, but it’s feasible. A generator too, can deal with a fluctuation in load all the more readily using flywheel products. The energy stored during low loading periods and is released when the requirements of the lift are high. We’ve got a smaller generator deployed here, so there are fuel, and therefore emissions savings. For every litre of diesel saved, that’s a 2.66kg CO2e emission reduction.

These kinds of flywheel solutions can apply outside the construction sector. In the course of our recent work with NRMM at waste transfer facilities for example, we see other transient loading profiles in operational tasks. Flywheels have been utilised to supplement the peaky power needs of crushers and shredders with similar attendant fuel savings.

Battery technology is of course, another variety of hybrid solution being found in fleets and on sites. At trade shows only a few years ago, a stand-alone battery pack designed to work alongside an attendant generator, was quite an exotic thing, where now they are commonplace. Hybrid gensets too, are also frequently to be found at stands and always attract interest.

Battery Energy Storage Systems are so versatile and can be configured in so very many different ways, that it’s hard to generalise in discussing their usage. From our own low-emissions perspective, the very best method of using a BESS, is to plug it in to grid. It’s the local infrastructural capacity issues again, where the construction activity demands outstrip what the grid can deliver. There are BESS solutions available that can trickle charge over the 24h period and deliver

power direct to the site for the working day demands. Another way is to use the BESS to supplement grid. There’s a bit of finessing required, setting the threshold at which the BESS shall be called upon to assist with the load, which is of course similarly the level below which the battery is being charged. This can be achieved automatically by the BESS. We’ve seen both these approaches working well in field.

Where there is no grid available at all, power packs can of course be delivered in field, and picked up once discharged, the ‘milkman’ model. We don’t see this in London construction, but it’s technically possible, and is zero-emissions if you don’t consider traffic congestion impacts on what we’d naturally assume to be a near-zero emissions delivery approach. Green-tariff electric delivery of course still produces particulates from brake and tyre wear, and it’s not insignificant.

Where electrified plant is to be used, something that is likely to increase greatly in incidence in coming years, it’s obviously not ideal to be just charging up from a Stage V generator. Outside London, let’s face it, it’s likely to be a Stage IIIA set, which is considerably more polluting than the IIIB, IV and V variable-speed engines typically now found in the machinery these alternatives are seeking to replace. We’ve not encountered this yet, but a grid-powered BESS is going to be a solution on offer for some plant electrification scenarios.

Let’s move onto the Stage V with BESS option. Here the specification based on expected load is made for the BESS, not for the generator per se. The load is hookedup to the BESS directly. The generator will almost always be a smaller one than the load profile would otherwise require and shall be topping up the BESS as required. Again, the finessing is automatic, this time determining how many hours the generator is on for, and how many off. Sites are typically reporting 2-4 charging hours daily, with the attendant fuel savings. It’s great with tower cranes. Another way to use a BESS with Stage V, is to use the BESS rather like the flywheel. The load is put to the generator this time, with the BESS picking up surplus available power when the loading is low, and delivering back when it’s high. The BESS enables a downsized generator which can prevent low-loading.

What we’ve not seen on any scale yet, is the use of Hydrogen in site power supply. There are two approaches to this, the direct derivation of current from a fuel cell, and the H2 internal combustion engine driving an alternator. Fuel cells have already been encountered within standalone lamping columns, but it’s not commonplace. I’d be very surprised if we don’t start seeing trials of larger scale hydrogen-fuelled energy supply on sites in the next year or two.

Again and again, the decarbonisation journey brings us to a review of the proper specification to task. Centuries of cheap and casual access to fossil fuel sources, has led to a cultural laziness with efficiency in design, not just in the generator industry, but across the board. We are all familiar the active marketing of high power and consumption as being inherently good things. Whether in motorcycles, hi-fi, vacuum cleaners or washing machines, the consumer has been encouraged along directions with questionable performance benefit. It may well be that now renewables are the future, inertial energy storage and recovery with flywheels shall reappear within machinery design on significant scale. Who knows the range of applications? Battery use too, due to the expense, and the constraints of charge times and operational hours, mean we need to revisit and challenge some of the assumptions that have been made. Renewable fuels like hydrogen have potential to be cheaper than traditional fuels, but that is a very long way off as things stand. Ways of downsizing are going to be part of the journey.

Our project team is about to commence a baselining of NRMM in use at events. It’s likely to be mostly generators we shall be looking at. We anticipate encountering good practices in this sector that may translate into construction and vice versa.

It’s a very exciting time for emission innovation technology, with many novel approaches challenging more established practices. Uptake of these shall be determined by how quickly and effectively customers can be educated in the cost, emissions, sustainability and noise mitigation benefits to be had.

Andrew Gordon

Project Manager [Pan-London NRMM] Cleaner Machinery for London

THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

METHANE ACTION PLAN (EA MAP) –FOCUSES

IN ON FUGITIVE EMISSIONS

AMPS Technical Committee members received a briefing on the EA MAP emissions project from the Agency’s Spence Seaman . We share some of the key points – which will be further explored by another EA presentation at the forthcoming AMPS Industry Day.

Methane is a short-lived greenhouse gas. But it has 84 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. The sources of methane show an increasing risk via anaerobic digestion (AD) fugitive emissions. Fugitive emission is defined as the unintentional and undesirable emission, leakage or discharge of gases.

The UK government has committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050. In 2022 the UK signed the Global Methane Pledge to collectively reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels. Picking up on this challenge, the EA developed its MAP to drive down methane emissions in sectors they regulate and explore new areas for significant potential reductions.

The Agency seeks to work with external partners and other countries. Aiming to share knowledge to help improve collective understanding to enable methane reduction. They have let a project looking at exhaust gas treatment options for the abatement of methane slip from gas engines.

Methane slip is a term used to describe the presence of unburnt fuel in the exhaust of spark ignition gas engines. It is a significant source of methane emissions from processes regulated by the Environment Agency. The project, being undertaken on their behalf by Ricardo, will review current and emerging techniques for the abatement of methane in lean-burn gas engine exhausts. The project may also cover methane slip abatement from biogas

3RD OCTOBER 2024 – HOSTED BY PERKINS ENGINES CO LTD

A report on the event will appear in the next issue of AMPS Power.

upgrading. AMPS members are amongst the initial consultees, with a workshop held during September.

For more about the Environment Agency Methane Action Plan (EA MAP) go to https://www.gov. uk/government/publications/ environment-agency-methaneaction-plan/environment-agencymethane-action-plan-2024-to-2026.

Presenters include:

Ed Hodson – Perkins Engines

Andrew Gordon / Luis Bassett – Cleaner Machinery

Ian Jackson – Society of Operations Engineers

Tim Huntley – Environment Agency

ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO – SUMMIT POWER ACHIEVES LAUNCH SUCCESS

An industry that sends rockets into orbit needs a good deal of power. It’s one reason why Summit Power was asked to provide temporary power generation for Britain’s emerging space industry in the north of Scotland.

The client asked Summit Power to supply a 500kVA generator. Remote analysis of power use established peak power was only needed for a very brief moment - during the launch process.

Summit Power proposed a more efficient solution. The original generator requested was replaced with four 100kVAs configured in a load-on-demand application where the sets would cycle periodically and, when needed, be brought online together. Power shedding in this way when reduced loads were present resulted in big wins for the client, Summit Power and the environment, especially in such a remote location.

Maintenance periods were extended, fuel expenditure was greatly reduced and the lifecycle of the equipment was increased. The solution defines Summit Power’s approach as it establishes itself in the industry. It aims to deliver the most efficient

method of producing power for its growing customer base by designing site applications aligned with emerging best practice.

The company only opened for business in February 2024. Yet it has quickly transitioned from a start-up to a specialist relied on by large businesses to provide a comprehensive temporary power service. It is a sister company to Summit Platforms, already a very successful access hire specialist that has grown rapidly to become an industry leader by being relentlessly customerfocused. Summit Power has set out to adopt the same customer-centric and agile culture. Through its leadership team, it is also built on deep roots in the temporary power sector.

Summit Power’s managing director is Ross McConachie, a highly experienced industry leader who was the temporary power project director for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

“We’re not a big team, yet.” he says. “But we have, between us, approaching 100 years’ experience in the sector. We’re determined to leverage our best-in-class knowledge to provide customers with best-in-class service. And we want to do that by working in partnership, both with our supply chain and our customers.”

Summit Power operates a fleet of exclusively Stage V generators with capacities from 20kVA to 500kVA, battery energy storage units from 30kVA to 250kVA, and load banks that range from 100KW to 1MW. The company is working with leading equipment suppliers, including Himoinsa, BGG UK, Power Saving Solutions, Atlas Copco, and Dumarey Flybrid.

Ross McConachie says: “Central to our approach will be to develop solutions that help our customers manage the energy capacity transition as we work towards NetZero 2050 through hybrid solutions, by combining smaller generators and advanced battery systems.” He is pleased that Summit Power has already developed good customer relationships across multiple sectors –

including aerospace, defence, construction, electrical contracting, and events.

Highlights in the first few months of trading have included:

ʝ Supporting naval ship maintenance in Portsmouth dockyards.

ʝ Emergency out-of-hours mobilisation to support the FM industry with power outages at a London hospital.

ʝ Reducing generator fuel costs by up to 70% on multiple construction sites across the country.

Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in Leicestershire. It has proved that, supported by remote monitoring technology, it can deliver high quality service anywhere in the country. But the company has firm plans to expand its depot network. It is also determined to grow the next generation of temporary power engineers. It sees a skills shortage being one of the industry’s biggest risks. The company is launching an apprenticeship programme this September that will grow with the business.

Being open to change in the industry is vital, says Ross McConachie, adding: “Summit

MIND THE GAP: CRESTCHIC NURTURES

NEW INDUSTRY TALENT

According to strategy consultancy Stonehaven, a shortfall of one million engineers is expected by 2030 as industry struggles to attract young talent. As demand for engineers and technicians rises, the need to get more young people into the sector is greater than ever. For Crestchic Loadbanks, where factory output has more than doubled in the last two years, the pressing need to expand the workforce and their skillset has seen the company focus on nurturing new talent. Here, Chris Caldwell, MD at Crestchic, explains.

New recruit Gracie with Crestchic engineers

“At Crestchic, we’re committed to developing our people and equipping them with the skills they need to develop fulfilling careers, as well as attracting new talent to the industry through apprenticeships. However, the company has experienced huge growth in a very short time period, highlighting the need for us to do all we can to attract and nurture talent”, explains Chris.

In Crestchic Asia Pacific, the team has implemented a mentoring programme, taking some of their most experienced team members and pairing them up with new starters. Liam Thong embarked on his career in January 2023, taking on an internship as part of his degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Curtin University, Australia. To ensure that Liam got the hands-on experience required to cement his academic learning, Crestchic paired him with Foong, who has been with the company for over 20 years.

Chris continues, “When you pair the experience, knowledge and passion of an industry veteran like Foong with the enthusiasm and thirst for learning of someone like Liam, something magical happens! Both parties come away richer for the experience. As Foong approaches retirement, he’s been reinvigorated by being able to pass on some of his experience to the next generation. And for Liam, that investment results in a kind of loyalty that often results in a long career with the business.”

Back over the water in Burton-on-Trent, at Crestchic’s Head Office, the need for new talent is growing quickly as the company’s order books burst with fresh enquiries.

Sharon Philpott, the company’s Production Manager and most experienced female engineer, is committed to keeping the pipeline of new talent flowing. When not overseeing the factory team, Sharon works with the local college to encourage young people into engineering, challenge misconceptions, and give them hands-on experience. It was there that she met Torrie Lunn, who took on an apprenticeship with Crestchic and went on to scoop the AMPS Apprentice of the Year award.

“We are always on the lookout for new people. One of the things we’ve learnt over the years is that great talent doesn’t fall at your feet. Sometimes, you have to seek it out in the most unlikely places”, Chris laughs.

“One of our most recent hires came from ‘networking’ at the local pub!”

Whilst having a meal in the pub, the team got chatting with the waitress - Gracie - who had taken on a temporary role after leaving school. After learning that she had an interest in electrical engineering, the team acted fast. Before she knew it, Gracie and her Mum had been on a tour of the Crestchic site and spent time talking about career aspirations with Sharon. She was quickly offered the role of apprentice panel wirer.

Chris explains, “It is important to recognise that these young people are at the very start of their career – for many, this is their first foray into the working world. As such, we have a responsibility, both to the young person and to the business, to make sure we get things right. We invited Gracie and her Mum to come in, meet the team, and get a real feel for the place. By answering their questions, building a rapport with the team and addressing any concerns they may have, we are far more likely to achieve a successful outcome for all parties involved.”

Since starting at Crestchic in September, Gracie has really flourished. She has since moved into the drawing office, part of the Engineering team, where she is learning about loadbank design. She plans to switch her colleague course, which is focused on domestic electrical installations, to an engineering HND, which is more closely aligned with her role at Crestchic. Her career with the business looks promising.

Chris concludes, “Getting young people

into these roles is vital to the future of the industry. There is some amazing young talent out there. Some businesses shy away from taking on youngsters because of the amount of time and investment required – not just training them for the job in hand, but helping them transition from education, where they are used to a supportive, mentoring environment. Our experience has been a positive one. We’ve got some great talent who have passion and a deep understanding of their work. That combination is not easy to find!

“The key is to seek them out, harness their enthusiasm, and ensure that they are paired with people like Sharon and Foong, who will nurture, encourage and develop their talent. It is fantastic to hear that the government is focused on opening up new opportunities for young people and enabling British businesses to recruit more young talent. We look forward to working with more young people as the business grows”

Anyone interested in applying for an apprenticeship should visit the careers page at www. crestchicloadbanks.com.

Liam Thong pictured on site

ENGINEERING MADE THE WORLD - MEASUREMENT

Bernard Gospel

Technical Committee

Secretary

TechSec@AMPS.org.uk

This

is a series of articles on the topic of the history of engineering from AMPS Technical Secretary Bernard Gospel , 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’.

Following on from the last issue our budding engineer refined what was more of a wheelbarrow than the cart he needed.

A wheelbarrow is a single wheeled small hand-propelled load-bearing vehicle, usually with just one wheel, typically designed to be pushed and guided by a single person using two handles at the rear. A ‘Barrow’ is a general term for a device used for carrying loads. These were invented around 2,000 years ago from pictorial evidence, but

were probably in use earlier. In engineering terms it is a lever, where the load is located between the effort (person’s arms) and the fulcrum (wheel): The effort is applied on one side of the resistance and the fulcrum is located on the other side.

There are wheelbarrow variants with two wheels. A two-wheel type is more stable on level ground, while the almost universal one-wheel type has better manoeuvrability in small spaces, on planks, in water, or

when tilted ground would throw the load off balance. The use of one wheel also permits greater control of the deposition of the load upon emptying.

The writer used a wheelbarrow recently to transport two tonnes of garden soil from the front of his house to the rear to fill some raised beds. The wheelbarrow reduced the effort and time needed. The only other practical way would have been filling buckets with soil and carrying them around. A domestic wheelbarrow can carry say 100 litres of soil, a bucket about 10 litres.

A cart is generally a two-wheeled vehicle with the wheels on the same axle. It requires one of those leaps to realise that both wheels must be the same diameter. Then the realisation that the position of the centre of gravity is important. Hand carts were common until recent times both to transport and display goods, the gravity problem when stationary being resolved by a couple of drop legs.

Copying the wheelbarrow was relatively simple, our engineer-farmer did not use it all the time, so it could be borrowed and copied. The cart was different, there were more principles involved: The diameter of the wheels, the axle diameter, the position of the axle longitudinally, relative to the load position. If it was to be pushed by a person, the height of the handles was also a factor.

How to convey these principles when most had been derived by trial and error? More importantly communication was difficult and inconsistent.

Word spread around the community and others tried to copy the cart, this was fine, but the detail was poor. The copiers had the principle, but did not realise what parts of the engineer’s work, the design as we would call it, were important. Writing and drawing would help, but these were technologies in their development and not yet available to the community we are observing.

The engineer had a choice, his community did work together to exist, they were unwittingly part of the Neolithic Revolution, also known as the First Agricultural Revolution. Where populations transformed from a lifestyle of hunting, gathering and movement to one of agriculture and settlement, making an increasingly large population possible. These settled communities permitted humans to observe

and experiment, agriculture at first, then the world of implements.

Our engineer had a bond with his community, they helped him, he helped them, on a simple exchange basis. Money as we know it also lay in the future. Our engineer and his family had their own field to till, helping others was done, but was a lower priority than personal survival.

The concept of manufacturing carts for sale was not possible without the exchange of some sort of agreed value, barter perhaps? In any case this did not happen with our engineer, but he needed to be part of his community, you never knew when help would be needed from others, harvest time, for example. So favours had to be built up.

It might have been a child playing with some offcuts of wood, that gave him the clue. Make a model of the cart, he could show to others for them to copy full size. That was two steps to take: copying and increasing the size in proportion to the model. Which came first, the toy or the model? Perhaps the discarded models were passed to children.

Our engineer had tried several wheel diameters for his cart before settling on one; too large a diameter the wheel was unwieldy and used too much material; too small and it was difficult to push and the cart base needed to be supported too high from the axle, making the structure weak. Our engineer knew about structural rigidity long before mathematicians worked it out. He could not rationalise it, but understood that triangles were rigid, four sided structures needed cross bracing, i.e. reducing to triangles in order to be rigid.

Our engineer knew the wheel diameter he wanted, the height of the cart, that made it useful. The model gave the principles. Another leap came to him. He took a stick, cut it to the height of his cart base, then cut a notch for the height – diameter of the wheel and another for the axle height. This was half the diameter, the radius, but he would not have understood these terms. He did not let the stick be borrowed, lest it be lost and with it knowledge, but he let others make copies from it.

He had invented or discovered something important: measurement, with that comes the concept of control.

Measurement is the quantification of attributes of an object or event, which can

be used to compare with other objects or events. In other words, measurement is a process of determining how large or small a physical quantity is as compared to a basic reference quantity of the same kind.

The earliest recorded systems of weights and measures originate in the 3rd or 4th millennium BCE. Even the very earliest civilizations needed measurement for purposes of agriculture, construction, and trade. Early standard units probably only applied to a single community or small region, with every area developing its own standards for lengths, areas, volumes, and masses. Often such systems were closely tied to one field of use, so that volume measures used, for example, for dry grains were unrelated to those for liquids, with neither bearing any particular relationship to units of length used for measuring cloth or land.

Which is heavier, a pound of silver or a pound of feathers? An old question, with a perhaps unexpected answer: the pound of feathers. This is because precious metals were measured in troy pounds of twelve ounces and normal goods were measured in avoirdupois pounds of sixteen ounces.

At the end of the last Apollo 15 moon walk, Commander David Scott performed a live demonstration for the television cameras. He held out a geologic hammer and a feather and dropped them at the same time. Because they were essentially in a vacuum, there was no air resistance and the feather fell at the same rate as the hammer, as Galileo had concluded hundreds of years before.

What did our engineer invent? We now refer to a ruler or rule as a tool used to measure lengths or distances or to draw straight lines. Strictly speaking, the ruler is the instrument used to rule straight lines and the calibrated instrument used for determining length is called a measure, however common usage calls both instruments rulers and the special name straightedge is used for an unmarked rule.

The use of the word measure, in the sense of a measuring instrument, only survives in the phrase ‘tape measure’, an instrument that can be used to measure but cannot easily be used to draw straight lines.

So our engineer invented the measure. He went on to develop other things, but that is for the future.

EUROPGEN SETS OUT POSITION ON HYBRID POWER GENERATORS

EUROPGEN has welcomed the European Commission’s intention to update the Guidelines for a correct application of the Delegating Regulation 2024/1208 amending Directive 2000/14/EC. This covers methods for measuring airborne noise emitted by equipment intended for use outdoors. However, EUROPGEN is seeking clarifications to better cover the test conditions for hybrid power generators. Hybrid power generators fall into the scope of “power generators (< 400 kW)” defined as, “Any device comprising an

internal combustion engine driving a rotary electrical generator producing a continuous supply of electrical power”.

EUROPGEN comprises National Associations, such as AMPS, as well as direct company members representing approximately 75 generating set manufacturers around Europe. Technical specialists within EUROPGEN have been continuously monitoring progress on the development of the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors Directive (OND).

CYBER SECURITY BREACHES SURVEY: 2025

The government is undertaking a survey of UK businesses, educational institutions and charities to find out how they approach cyber security and to learn more about the cyber security issues they face. The research informs government policy on cyber security and on how the government works with organisations to protect and promote the UK online. Ipsos has been commissioned to carry out the survey fieldwork. This is taking place by telephone through to December (2024).

GREAT BRITISH ENERGY

The parliamentary Bill setting up Great British Energy has completed its Second Reading and at time of writing is at the Committee Stage. Great British Energy will be a publicly-owned and operationally independent energy company. The Bill sets out its primary objectives of facilitating, encouraging and participating in:

ʝ the production, distribution, storage, and supply of clean energy

ʝ the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from energy produced from fossil fuels

ʝ improvements in energy efficiency

ʝ measures for ensuring the security of the supply of energy

The Bill was introduced by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ).

12TH INTERNATIONAL POWER CONFERENCE

Power technologies for the future energy mix

28th October 2024 – Afternoon Workshop 29th and 30th October 2024 – Conference

Hilton Hotel East Midlands Airport www.ipowere.org/ipowere-power-conference/

“GREENING” STANDBY POWER GENERATION

In this two-part opinion piece from Geoff Halliday of WB Power Services, he begins with an analysis of fuel options for the reduction of emissions associated with standby power generation.

Introduction

In this opinion piece the author focuses on how “greening” or reducing of emissions of the standby power sector might be achieved giving thought to both existing and new infrastructure yet to be built. The author considers some of the options currently available to reduce elements such as:

ʝ Carbon Dioxide (CO2) with the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuels

ʝ The use of various catalysts to reduce some of the other pollutants such as Particulate Matter (PM) and Nitrous Oxides (NOx)

ʝ Some alternative technologies

ʝ The impact of manufacture and sourcing “fuels” for the future

In reviewing these aspects, we consider:

ʝ How existing diesel generating standby plant can be adapted to reduce emissions

ʝ What adaptations can be made on new projects to ensure emissions are minimised

ʝ Sourcing alternative and future fuels and how their production will impact emissions

Reducing emissions for new and existing infrastructure

Emissions from a diesel-powered internal combustion engine are multifaceted and as such there isn’t any one single solution but a number of options available.

There has, over the last 20 years, been a significant push to reduce levels of CO2 with this global objective framing both international and local legislation. Whilst reducing CO2 remains an ongoing challenge other elements present in

the exhaust line have been of concern for many years and this too has been driving industry to respond with innovation and targeted responses. The Diesel engine and generating set manufacturers have worked to develop engines that comply with new regulations and as a result there have been significant advances made in the reduction of Particulate Matter (PM), Hydrocarbon (HC/soot) etc. These include the adoption of common rail fuel induction systems and manufacturing engines to much tighter tolerances which significantly reduce heavier lubrication oil seeping past the piston rings. With older installations and engines of an older design these issues will continue to be a problem until such time as they are replaced.

Any emissions reduction strategy should give due consideration to all of the pollutants created in the combustion process. As well as improving in cylinder combustion and overall engine efficiencies of the current crop of engines, emissions remain a problem and so exhaust gas after treatment systems are available to be used to reduce other emissions such as NOx, PM, HC many of which can be retrofitted to existing installations and should be considered for inclusion in new installations, these include:

ʝ Oxidation catalysts

ʝ Diesel Particulate filters

ʝ Selective Catalytic Reduction

Diesel engines produce a variety of particles during combustion of the fuel/air mix due to incomplete combustion. The composition of the particles varies widely dependent upon engine type, age, and the emissions specification that the engine was designed to meet. Two stroke diesel engines produce more particulate per unit of power than do four stroke diesel engines, as they burn the fuel-air mix less completely.

Social implications: Air pollution causes an estimated 29,000 early deaths in the UK and has annual health costs of £15 billion. The health effects of PM are more significant than those of other air pollutants with chronic exposure contributing to the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer. Current evidence suggests that there is no ‘safe’ limit for exposure to fine particulate matter with the Report of the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) from 2008. Although there had been improvements

in pollutant levels, the average reduction in life expectancy as a result of airborne particulate matter across the population was 6 months.

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO): The last four or five years has seen a significant increase in the availability and use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as a fuel in the standby generation market, particularly in the Data Centre (DC) sector. There are a number of factors which have brought about this change:

ʝ The push for reductions in the level of CO2 reduction globally and at a European level with the introduction of targets and legislation such as the “European Green Deal”, which includes “Fit for 55”, have led the way. In the UK we have the “Climate Change Act” and the UK budget of 2009 which referenced statutory targets

ʝ The ramping up of production of HVO within a European context hence improving availability of the product

ʝ The large volume engine manufacturers approving the use of this product across an increasing number of their engine ranges. Most of the major manufacturers have a blanket approval

ʝ As further testing has been completed and field experience gained many manufacturers are opening this to engines on more recently installed generating sets too and where necessary identifying what if any checks need to be undertaken before HVO’s used

ʝ The importance of ensuring securing supply

ʝ Widespread acceptance amongst HVO producers and engine manufacturers that HVO can satisfactorily be mixed with existing supplies of diesel fuel Catalysts and Filters: Products are available that facilitate the removal of CO and HC elements. These are items such as Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOC) and Wall Flow Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) which when working together significantly reduce levels of CO/HC and assist with passive regeneration of the DPFs themselves.

Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOC) are catalytic converters designed specifically for diesel engines and equipment to reduce the levels of Carbon Monoxide (CO), Hydrocarbons (HC) and Particulate Matter (PM) in the exhaust gases emitted. DOCs are simple, inexpensive, maintenance-free and suitable for all types and applications of diesel engines.

Modern catalytic converters consist of a monolith honeycomb substrate typically coated with platinum, palladium and rhodium metal catalyst, packaged in a stainless-steel container. The honeycomb structure with many small parallel channels presents a high catalytic contact area to exhaust gases. As the hot gases contact the catalyst, several exhaust pollutants are converted into harmless substances: carbon dioxide and water.

The diesel oxidation catalyst is designed to oxidise carbon monoxide, gas phase hydrocarbons, and the SOF fraction of diesel

Figure 1 – Oxidation process

particulate matter to CO2 and H2O:

Diesel exhaust gases contain sufficient amounts of oxygen, necessary for the above reactions to take place. The concentration of O2 in the exhaust gases from diesel engines varies between 3 and 17%, depending on the engine load (load creates heat in the engine). Typical conversion efficiencies for CO and HC in the Nett® diesel oxidation catalyst are shown in Figure 2. The catalyst activity increases with temperature. A minimum exhaust temperature of about 200°C is necessary for the catalyst to "light off". At elevated temperatures, conversions depend on the catalyst size and design and can be as high as 90%.

Dry particulate filter systems are capable of reducing particulate matter by up to 99%.

Effective from start-up, the textured weave of the special fibre retains carbon particles as small as 20nm. Non-regenerative type filters can be fitted to new installations and as an addition to the existing exhaust system. At the end of the filter life, the cartridge is simply removed and replaced with a new one. The filter needs to be certified for the London Non-Road Mobile Machinery requirements (NRMM) Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ).

Features

ʝ Over 99% Reduction in particulate matter (PM)

ʝ Operates from engine start-up

ʝ Suitable for standby generator sets, low-usage forklift trucks, side-loaders, excavators etc.

ʝ Quick cartridge replacement

Particulate Matter and Particulate Filters. Particulate Matter (PM) is made up of a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles, including carbon, complex organic

chemicals, sulphate, nitrates, ammonium, sodium chloride, mineral dust, water and a series of metals, which is suspended in the air. PM10 refers to particles with a diameter smaller than 10μm and PM2.5 to particles with a diameter smaller than 2.5μm. They may be produced directly from a source such as an engine – or formed from reactions between other pollutants (e.g. NO₂, SO₂, NH₃) in the air (secondary PM).

PM comprises nitrates, sulphates and ammonium which are the main drivers for acidification and eutrophication – 2 extremely damaging processes to natural ecosystems, which can cause habitat loss and affect biodiversity. PM also contains black carbon, a known contributor to global warming. DPFs are essential in reducing current PM emissions in order to prevent these processes occurring.

There are a number of different types of DPF’s but the most popular are the WallFlow DPFs which can capture up to 99% of all Diesel Particulate Matter (PM10/PM2.5) which can then be regenerated (combusted) passively on generator duty cycles where operating temperatures of the catalysts are above 300C. Operating temperatures of at least 300C are required for approximately 25% of the operational time to combust the soot passively with at least 10% of the time above 400C to prevent the DPF blocking with soot. Once combusted the soot will

turn to ash which will need to be removed periodically by removing the filter out and blow cleaning with a low-pressure air line.

A diesel particulate filter (DPF) is a device fitted to a diesel vehicle which filters particulate matter (PM) from exhaust gases. It does this by trapping solid particles while letting gaseous components escape. This type of filter has been in use for over 20 years, and many variants exist. These filters enable reductions in emissions which help meet European emission standards, improving air quality and thereby health standards.

Regeneration of DPFs

DPFs need to be emptied of trapped particulate matter regularly. This is done by a process called regeneration, which involves burning the soot to gas at a very high temperature, leaving behind only a very small residue. Regeneration, If not carried out properly, can lead to a build up of soot which can affect performance and ultimately lead to expensive repair costs.

It is worth noting that whilst we continue to use the internal combustion engine, we will have issues with NOx.

Part 2 of this piece will be published in the next issue of AMPS Power. A copy of the full article, with supporting references, is available on request to ampsmagazine@amps.org.uk.

About the author: Geoff Halliday started as an apprentice. He worked his way up through a variety of roles from customer service engineer to managing director. He has now worked in the critical power sector for over 40 years. Drawing on his management skills, product knowledge and vast application experience amassed throughout his career, Geoff now enjoys sharing his knowledge with others. For more information about WB Power Services go to www.wbpsltd.co.uk.

Figure 2 – Importance of temperature on performance efficiency

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COUNCIL MEMBERS

CHAIR

LOUISE HAZEL IPU GROUP

COUNCIL MEMBER

PAUL AITKEN GET POWER SOLUTIONS

COUNCIL MEMBER ALAN BEECH CLARKE ENERGY

COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW BELL MECC ALTE UK

COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS CALDWELL CRESTCHIC

COUNCIL MEMBER

PAUL CAMPBELL INDUSTRIAL POWER SYSTEMS LTD

COUNCIL MEMBER

RICHARD A COLLMAN ACOUSTICAL CONTROL ENGINEERS

COUNCIL MEMBER KÖKEN GUNES AKSA POWER GENERATION

COUNCIL MEMBER GEOFF HALLIDAY WBPS LTD

COUNCIL MEMBER

GAVIN HEPBURN DALE POWER SOLUTIONS

COUNCIL MEMBER

RICHARD RUSSETT

KOHLER POWER SOLUTIONS EMEA

COUNCIL MEMBER

RICCARDO SARDELLI VOLVO GROUP

COUNCIL MEMBER

NEIL SMITH

CATERPILLAR RETAIL ELECTRIC POWER SOLUTIONS

COUNCIL MEMBER

CARLOS VICENTE EMINOX LTD

COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL WEBSTER ATLAS COPCO

COUNCIL MEMBER LISA WILSHAW GREENSHIELDS JCB

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE: CHRIS MARSLAND (CHAIRMAN) BERNARD GOSPEL (SECRETARY)

MARKETING COMMITTEE: RICCARDO SARDELLI (CHAIRMAN)

FINANCE COMMITTEE: RICHARD A COLLMAN (CHAIRMAN)

KEY INDUSTRY EVENTS

2024

SOLAR & STORAGE LIVE – 24-26 September: NEC Birmingham

AMPS INDUSTRY DAY – 3 October: Perkins, Peterborough

IHEEM/ Healthcare Estates – 8-9 October: Manchester

EUROPGEN/ Generazione Distribuita Conferences

– 12 October: Naples

Highways UK – 16-17 October: NEC Birmingham

2025

Powergen International – 11-13 February: Dallas, USA

EXECUTIVE HIRE SHOW – 12-13 February: Coventry

Electricity Storage Summit – 17-19 February: InterContinental London – the O2

International Energy Week – 25-27 February: QEII, London

The Energy Transition Expo – 5-7 March: Rimini, Italy

DATA CENTRE WORLD – 12-13 March: ExCeL London

Showman’s Show – 23-34 October: Newbury

International Power Conference – 28-30 October: Hilton East Midlands

Construction Plant-hire Association Conference – 7 November: Heart of England, Fillongley

AMPS AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE DINNER

– 14 November: De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms. London

EMEX – 20-21 November: ExCeL, London

DISTRIBUTED ENERGY SHOW – 12-13 March: NEC Birmingham

Solar & Storage Live – 2-3 April: ExCel London

Middle East Energy – 7-9 April: Dubai

Bauma – 7-13 April: Munich, Germany

AMPS CONFERENCE & LUNCH

– 30 April: One Great George Street, London

SOLAR & STORAGE LIVE – September tbc

PlantWorx – 23-25 September: Newark

AMPS will be at events highlighted in BLUE. AMPS events highlighted in RED