UK Power News - Jan/Feb 2023

Wärtsilä has signed a contract with EDF Renewables UK and Ireland to deliver a new grid-scale energy storage facility in Sundon, Bedfordshire.

The 50 MW/100 MWh project will form part of a new ‘Energy Superhub’ in the region. Construction will begin in spring 2023. The new lithium-ion storage facility can store enough electricity to power around 100,000 homes for two hours, and will support electric vehicle (EV) charging and the electrification of public transport.

The project is intended to enable increased renewable energy integration and intermittency management, in addition to strengthening the resiliency of the electricity system, automatically charging and discharging to balance supply and demand.

Matthew Boulton, director of Storage and Private Wire at EDF Renewables, commented: “We are working with local councils to accelerate the rollout of Energy Superhubs, helping to unleash the potential of renewable energy and enable local people to reap the benefits of net zero through better access to low-carbon transport.”

Wärtsilä has provided

HYDROGEN - CLIMATEFRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE MWM reveals retrofit kits for the gas engines of the TCG 3016, TCG 3020, and TCG 2032 series.

NOxMASTER IN ACTION

December 2022 saw the Agriemach engineering team transporting and installing gear for a site requiring a 16.8MW SCR retrofit.

New grid-scale energy storage facility to be built in Sundon, Bedfordshire

its proprietary GridSolv Quantum system and GEMS Digital Energy Platform, in addition to the power conversion system and commissioning for the project.

GEMS provides the data and insights to instruct trading parties and performance for comprehensive asset management. Wärtsilä’s installed energy storage technology base in the UK now exceeds 424 MWh.

The previous projects with

The previous projects with EDF Renewables (formerly Pivot Power) in Oxford and Kemsley in Kent were delivered in 2021, and two projects in Birmingham and Coventry are currently under construction. Wärtsilä has also delivered other energy projects in the UK, such as a 50 MW/100 MWh project first site for SSE in Salisbury.

KEEPING THE TRAINS RUNNING

FirePro has worked hard to help minimise the key fire risks from high voltage cabling for the Eurostar highspeed rail service

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Contributors

MWM, Scania, Genesal, Mitsubishi, Edina, ForePower, Agriemach, Cabel, Innio, FirePro, Gencat, Octopus Energy, Data Centre World, UKGSA, Perkins Engines, DSE, Flow-Rite Controls, Trystar, PUNCH Flybrid, Shenton Group, Advantage Utilities, SSE Renewables, Genquip Groundhog, Peter Brotherhood, Tamini Transformatori, Yellow Power Ltd, HMS |Industrial Networks, Genovate Power Solutions, Neptune Energy, Mitchell Power Systems. ****************

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Largest UK virtual power plant could ‘slash bills for everyone’

Octopus Energy has announced that the combined capacity of car batteries on the tariff has now surpassed 100MW, enough energy to power a city the size of Leicester for an hour.

Octopus Energy says its “virtual power plant” is helping to deliver clean electricity to the grid which can “bring down bills for everyone”.

The UK’s third largest energy provider has a smart tariffIntelligent Octopus - which allows customers with the Octopus Energy app to set the time (and amount) they want their electric vehicle (EV) charged by. This then automatically charges the cars when there is abundant, with low-cost, clean energy. When there is less strain on the grid, the company says it helps balance out demand and supply on the network. This comes as National Grid warns about pressure on the grid becoming so intense that it may have to roll out organised blackouts this winter if temperatures plummet while energy imports from Europe drop.

As one of its operational tools to avoid this emergency worstcase scenario, the grid has previously warmed up coalfired power plants to provide a backup source of power. According to Octopus Energy, this is “paid for by consumers through their energy bills”.

New engine platform is more fuelefficient & powerful

After a decade of engineering, Scania’s latest engine platform is more fuel efficient and powerful, has a significantly increased lifespan and a large reduction in CO2 emissions, reports the company.

Joel Granath, Senior Vice President and Head of Power Solutions at Scania, tells UKPN: “This is our most fuel-efficient engine ever, with more torque, more power and up to 50 percent longer base engine lifespan. It’s a game-changer for Power Solutions.”

There are two new engines with varying power outputs for customers to choose from. The six-cylinder, 13-litre engine ranges from 368kW to 450kW, which delivers up to 11 percent more power and up to 21 percent more torque over the current generation engines. While the five-cylinder, 11-litre engine ranges from 202kW to 368kW.

The new engine platform from Scania continues the performance and reliability that customers expect from Scania, with increased reductions in CO2 emissions. The next generation inline engine platform also sets a new standard for Power Solutions - improvements include: new power outputs, longer service intervals and a major reduction in CO2 emissions

Built using cutting-edge technology, the new Scania engines start better from cold, and enjoy longer service intervals and operating lifespans over the current generation. For example, the time between overhauls can be up to 25,000 hours.

Some of the other new design features include making the engines easier to service, more precise cooling, a more rigid engine block and cylinder head, and a more robust engine transmission with optimal gear strength.

Fuel efficiency is improved thanks to the enhanced gas exchange system, reduced internal friction and increased turbocharger efficiency. The engines feature a seven percent improvement in fuel consumption with the new 13-litre engine compared to the current generation. This equates to around four litres of diesel saved per hour at full load.

Henrik Nilsson, Scania’s Director Product Management, Power Solutions, said: “Our mindset throughout the development of the new platform has been to ease the transition for our customers while positively impacting fuel efficiency and product performance.”

By utilising Scania’s leading position in trucks, buses and coaches, the technology is now filtering through to Power Solutions, reports the company. It also meets the latest legislative demands and is compatible with biodiesel and HVO. Both engines go into serial production in 2024 for heavy equipment and power generation sets.

DATA CENTRE WORLD ExCel, London, March 8-9, 2023

Data centres are the beating heart of the digital economy. There are more than 7 million facilities world-wide, and the demand for more shows no sign of slowing down. Spending by operators and end users is rising beyond $200 billion, and investments are doubled year-on-year in 2021. The greater attention on the data centre industry also comes with the pressure to ensure sustainable practice and energy security. At Data Centre World, 1000s of operators and end-users join forces to carve out successful strategies and find solutions that future-proof your next generation of data centres. Join thousands of C-Level leaders innovators working towards a shared goal to empower a more sustainable, secure, and successful data centre future. You will be in great company, as 54% of attendees are C-Suite and key decision-makers. Carve out strategies and discover solutions on the buzzing exhibition floor featuring ABB, Anord Mardix, Mitsubishi Electric, Riello UPS, Schneider Electric, VID Fire-Kill, and more. Shape the community’s future directions in conversation with over 100 influential speakers discussing key topics like achieving net-zero, cost-effective management, ensuring resiliency, and efficient design. VIP and C-Suite visitors will also get access to bespoke appointments, providing a space to discuss your specific business needs.

www.datacentreworld.com

Edina has delivered its third University of York CHP plant

Newcastle University makes a splash with wave energy

Plans to turn wave motion into a source of renewable energy are underway as Newcastle University looks to install a prototype Wave Energy Converter (WEC) in the North Sea.

The MU-EDRIVE project is part of eight projects funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to build on the UK’s leading role in marine wave energy.

Edina, a recognised on-site power generation and energy storage solution provider has delivered its third Combined Heat and Power (CHP) project at the University of York, a leading educational institution.

The latest CHP plant comprises a 2.3MWe MWM TCG 3020 V20 gas engine and associated equipment and joins two existing CHP plants rated 1.56MWe each also engineered, installed, and maintained by Edina.

The additional CHP plant is part of on-going energy-efficiency measures to manage energy costs, improve sustainability, and on-site energy resilience for the University. NG Bailey, a leading independent engineering, and services business awarded Edina the contract to design, engineer, and install the CHP plant.

The 2.3MWe CHP plant is containerised within an attenuated acoustic enclosure engineered at Edina’s in-house packaging facility and was recently delivered to site and positioned within a purposebuilt energy centre situated on the University East Campus.

Adam Bloom, Head of Sales, Edina, said: “This project is unique in the way we created bespoke artwork around three sides of the container perimeter to visualise the internal components and workings of the CHP plant. This requirement forms part of an expansive learning initiative designed to engage the university students and staff on the energy-efficient technologies powering their campus and facilities whilst educating the university’s engineers of tomorrow.”

Edina commissioned the CHP plant in late 2022, and is cunder contract to provide long-term assetcare coverage to ensure plant operation, energy security and availability.

The University’s latest CHP plant accompanies the sites existing two CHP plants to provide the University with a total power output of 5.4MW electrical capacity.

CHP is the cogeneration of heat and electricity from a single fuel and is a highly efficient form of energy conversion using gas engines. Combined Heat and Power can save up to 30% on primary energy costs when compared to the separate purchase of electricity from the electricity grid and gas for use in on-site boilers.

As a recognised CHP supplier and total solutions partner, Edina manages the end-to-end delivery of CHP plants from design, engineering, installation, commissioning, and ongoing asset-care requirements, helping reduce risk, interfacing, and ambiguity - all from one point of contact.

Looking at the gas genset

The MWM TCG 3020 gas genset effectively balances efficiency and reliability. It delivers up to 18 percent more output than its predecessor, though its dimensions are almost the same. Additionally, the new model features long service intervals with up to 80,000 operating hours until the next general overhaul (if the gas quality is high) and a total efficiency of more than 87 percent (with natural gas).

Owing to their high reliability and profitability, the new gas genset with an output of 1,380 to 2,300 kWel are ready for the challenges of Industry 4.0. Thanks to the use of the digital power plant control TPEM (Total Plant & Energy Management), they are able to reach their full performance for maximum plant availability, capacity, and usability.

Higher Efficiency and Performance

•Compared to the predecessor model, the TCG 3020 features the same size, a more compact design, and up to 18 percent more output.

•State-of-the-art technologies enable an output of 1,380 to 2,300 kWel and application-optimized engine types

•Improved electrical efficiency of up to 45 percent (natural gas)/43.6 percent (biogas), total efficiency of more than 87 percent (natural gas)/86 percent (biogas)

•Flexible use for various applications and gas types, such as natural gas, biogas, APG, and propane gas.

The tried and tested TCG 3020 series has been supplemented with a new variant. In the Z configuration, the MWM TCG 3020 V20 gas engine runs on propane; in this way, the engine delivers a high performance density even at high altitudes. To ensure high quality and availability of the plant, the TCG 3020 V20 Z has undergone an extensive text cycle. The genset is available for parallel operation with the most important grid codes and for island-mode operation with improved load response.

Wave energy is a concentrated form of solar energy. The sun heats land which results in hot air rising and causing wind, as the wind blows across the sea surface, it creates the oscillating up-down movement which can be used to generate electricity.

Led by Newcastle University’s Dr Nick Baker, MU-EDRIVE is a collaboration between Dr Serkan Turkman and Professor Jeff Neasham at Newcastle University and Professor Markus Mueller from the University of Edinburgh.

It follows the successful collaboration between Edinburgh and Newcastle on the MEC-EDRIVE project funded by EPSRC as part of a previous wave energy funding call.

MU-EDRIVE aims to demonstrate the marinisation and upscaling of All Electric Drive Trains for wave energy converters.

The Newcastle team will install a generator and power converter to a buoy mounted 3km off the Northumberland coast at Blyth in Spring 2024 for a 12-month period.

Once installed, the prototype WEC will provide vital operational data while testing the newest corrosion and anti-fouling technologies which will progress the understanding of the robustness of WECs in situ.

The Edinburgh team will design, build and test a magnetic gear in

partnership with Mocean Energy to demonstrate upscaling of electrical power take off systems. The project will also show how marinisation and magnetic gearing technology can be scaled up to larger power levels and integrated more fully into wave energy converters.

Dr Nick Baker, Reader in Emerging Electrical Machines & Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University, commented: “With regards to achieving the ambitious goal of net zero by 2050, it is essential to look at the energy system as a whole.”

He explains: “Wave energy originates from solar energy as the sun heats the land, the land heats the air to create wind and wind creates waves. Wave energy can therefore be considered as ‘energy dense’ and could be a significant factor in moving away from traditional energy sources.

“The upscaling aim of the MU-EDRIVE project will help to reduce costs of energy production as devices get larger, making the energy both easier and more affordable for access and usage.”

He concludes: “It’s hard to know what a wave energy device will look like in 10 years’ time. Thinking back to 10 years ago, offshore wind turbine technologies were in their infancy - this could be the same for wave energy now.”

Solving the contaminated fuel conundrum with fuel pickup system

Contaminated fuel can be a major issue for power generation businesses and operators. Unplanned downtime can be disruptive and costly in any sector, but for power generation in particular, it can be critical.

Genquip Groundhog provide a wide range of welfare accommodation units to the construction sector.

Like many operators and service providers, Genquip Groundhog experienced significant problems with fuel contamination through poor quality fuel delivery, inadequate cleanliness during refuelling and unreliable operator practices. Fuel contamination can quickly lead to fuel filter blockages, premature injector wear and generator failure.

Based in Cardiff, FuelActive invented an innovative floating fuel pick-up system, avoiding contamination that overwhelmingly is found at the bottom of the tank. This globally patented system delivers the cleanest fuel available to the engine, preserving critical engine components. This is particularly important for stage V engines which have particularly low tolerances to contamination.

The latest V-Type alternator has been developed in response to changing market needs and has been built for optimum performance and reliability in harsh environments. Having undergone rigorous testing, the V-Type is designed to deliver optimal uptime across the whole product lifecycle, so you can be sure of reliable power generation, regardless of the operational conditions. With over 75 years in the power generation market we pride ourselves on being the Power from Within the systems and generator sets that our customers produce.

Choose wisely… Choose the V-Type.

The world’s largest independent producer of alternators 1-5,000kVA

TOGETHER WE POWER THE WORLD

Agroup of scientists has reported that they were able to guide lightning bolts using laser technology for the first time. In new work published in the journal Nature Photonics, international researchers said that laster-induced filaments, formed in the sky using short and intense laser pulses, can guide lightning discharges across “considerable distances.”

The authors said that they believe their experiment would lead to progress in lightning protection and lightning physics. The demonstration was conducted on Säntis mountain in Switzerland during the summer of 2021 but the research behind it has only just been published.

Using a high-repetition-rate terawatt laser, the equipment was set up next to a telecommunication tower said to be one of Europe’s structures most affected by lightning.

In tests conducted on the summit of the Säntis, the scientists found that the discharge could follow the laser beam for several dozen metres before reaching the tower of the operator Swisscom. The laser was activated every time storm activity was forecast between June and September and the area had to be closed to air traffic in advance.

Intense laser pulses, at 1,000 times per second, were fired at thunderclouds to redirect lightning strikes. The tower was hit by at least 16 lightning flashes, four of which occurred during laser activity. All four strikes were intercepted.

“The guiding of an upward negative lightning leader over a distance of 50 meters was recorded by two separate high-speed cameras. The guiding of negative lightning leaders by laser filaments was corroborated in three other instances by very-high-frequency interferometric measurements, and the number of X-ray bursts detected during guided lightning events greatly increased,” tone of the researchers told the media. The device is the size of a large car, weighing more than three tons and uses lasers from the German manufacturing company, the Trumpf Group. With the University of Geneva scientists also playing a key role, the experiments were conducted in collaboration with aerospace company ArianeGroup.

This concept, which was first proposed in the 1970s, has worked in laboratory conditions, but not in the field until now. The University said in a release that it took nearly a year to analyze the data that was collected, rprovding that the laser could guide lightning effectively in practical tests.

“The data analysis also demonstrates that the [Lightning Laser Rod (LLR)], unlike other lasers, works even in difficult weather conditions – such as fog (often found at the summit of Säntis), which can stop the beam – since it literally pierces the clouds,” said a university spokesperson. The next step is to increase the height of the laser’s action even further, with the long-term objective to use the LLR to extend a 10-metre lightning rod by 500 meters.

“This work paves the way for new atmospheric applications of ultrashort lasers and represents an important step forward in the development of a laser-based lightning protection for airports, launchpads or large infrastructures,” the researchers have said.

The economic effects of lightning damage to property are large, varied, and widely spread across society. In addition to loss of life and health, there are direct and indirect costs from lightning which affect a wide spectrum from individual homeowners and small businesses to large companies such as oil refineries as well as national heritage sites. Unfortunately, even in developed countries, little systematic research has been done on these areas, and research that has been completed has often been considered proprietary by industry or insurance companies. There are few models to predict losses and no routine monitors to measure them. As a result, figures for economic damages may be fraught with reporting errors.

During 2007-2011, for example, U.S. local fire departments responded to an estimated average of 22,600 fires per year which were started by lightning. These fires caused an average of nine civilian deaths, 53 civilian injuries, and US$451 million in direct property damage per year. Most of these fires occurred outdoors, but most associated deaths, injuries, and property damage were associated with home fires initiated by lightning strikes.

A spokesman for the UK POWER NETWORK comments: “Lightning can sometimes damage electrical equipment and cause power cuts. We keep in close contact with the UK Met Office so we are well prepared.”

new power station

Peter Brotherhood was approached by one of its customers to assist in the creation of a waste-to-energy plant. With the project being in its infancy the backing of the concept was deemed to require evidence of the ability to raise and use steam on a small scale prior to approval of the larger scale project.

A small steam turbine had already been identified by the customer to use as a proof-of-concept, however the turbine had not run for a long time and parts were missing. At this point Peter Brotherhood provided their services for dismantling and inspecting the Skinner steam turbine to identify all repair and new spare parts requirements.

A spokesman comments: “The unit was received into our workshop for a full detailed inspectionto be carried out to include rotor concentricity checks, all bearing and seal clearances and relevant dimensions recorded, NDT of all required items and inspection of governor and

tripping mechanism.”

A detailed inspection report was issued to the customer outlining additional components and repairs required before the unit could be rebuilt. This included new control valve components, seal and bearing components and over-speed trip mechanism components to include a new UG Woodward governor.

The rotor was balanced to ISO1940 grade G2.5 to provide a serviceready rotating element, the seal and bearing housings were then aligned during the trial fit of the rotor and the bearings blued for contact pattern achieving the require percentage coverage.

The new trip and control valve components were fitted together with all new seal components allowing the unit to be finish assembled with all required dimensions and clearance data recorded. Although it was possible for the unit to have trial run on steam this was not required by the customer and the unit was painted utilising high temperature paint and packed for shipping.

Give Your Transformer An Extra Life

To ensure a long working life of its transformers for steelworks, Tamini Trasformatori has implemented an advanced real-time remote control and history data analysis solution for preventive maintenance. At the core of the system developed by W2W solutions lies the eWON Flexy IIoT gateway using MQTT technology. Remote assistance for transformers is often provided in the field of energy distribution networks while it is still very new when it comes to metallurgy. Tamini Trasformatori designs transformers for networks and steelworks. The function of the transformers for steelworks is to prevent alternating cycles of high energy stress (electric current and power). Their operation must be continuously monitored; otherwise,

there is a risk of deterioration and damage to the system. Sophisticated algorithms first analyse the transformers historical data. Then a compilation of trends reveals the process status and predicts future conditions. The data which the monitoring system is based on include: the system data (voltage, current, temperature of cooling water, etc.), and specific machine data (temperature, oil levels, alarm signals, gas content in oil, the absorption of various components, position and number of actuations of the switch, etc.).

Steam turbine overhaul for client helps to develop wasteto-energy ‘proof of concept’ and enables the key development of a

Scientists report they have diverted lightning strikes using lasers

Generator Sets

Gensets provide a valuable technology through integrating generators and engines to produce power for site equipment and operations, explains Dr. James Crosby, Head of Sustainability at Advantage Utilities.

Most commonly, this equipment delivers a critical backup electricity supply for facilities across the world to remain operational in the event of discontinuation in their centralised/grid-sourced power. Furthermore, it also provides several industries which operate remotely from the grid a source of electricity without undertaking time-consuming and capital-heavy grid connection programmes.

At present, the most ubiquitous form of genset is fuelled by diesel, whereby an engine becomes powered by the combustion of a stored volume of this diesel. Crudely speaking, this engine is then integrated with a generator and produces an electrical output. Additional common fuels for these engines include liquid petroleum gasoline (LPG) and liquid natural gas (LNG). These can be thought of as ‘brown’ gensets, as they come from highly-pollutive non-renewable fuels.

A key benefit of these gensets, aside from providing a backup power solution, is their relative independence of highly volatile wholesale gas and power markets. This is outlined by the graph below, showing the relative wholesale pricing of power (blue) and Brent crude (red) over the past 5 years. For the purpose of this argument, this relative volatility is best observed since June 2021, with brent crude varying from ~$75/barrel to ~$135/barrel (i.e. median variance of ~29%) whereas wholesale electricity has varied from ~£150/mWh to ~£850/mWh (i.e. median variance of ~70%).

In the future, it will become incredibly important to transition from ‘brown’ fuelled gensets towards ‘green’ fuelled gensets. As a UK market, we have committed to achieving net-zero by 2050. Therefore, using non-renewable and highly pollutive fuels as a source of power is directly opposed to this mantra. As far as strict ‘gensets’ are concerned (engines integrated with generators), the focus must be on the fuels powering the engine. The most obvious immediate examples of these fuels are in the form of natural gas from renewable origins (e.g. anaerobic digestion units), biodiesels (e.g. hydrotreated vegetable oil - HVO), and hydrogen. In terms of kg of CO2 produced per kg of combusted fuel, these renewable options are more favourable. However, technologically speaking, it is a non-trivial matter. This is because the current engines which have been manufactured for generations are highly efficient. at combusting non-renewable fuels to create power (kW). This technology has not been directly translated to these alternative fuel sources. As a result, the volumes of renewable fuels required to generate the output from non-renewable fuels are far higher and/or more expensive. As a result, the comparative CO2/kWh generated between renewable and non-renewable fuel types is not as dramatically different and the £/kWh generated is far higher.

In reality, the future role of the traditional genset may become that of a supplemental technology for backup and decentralised power. This is directly related to the emergence and continued development of the battery energy storage systems (BESS) being integrated with renewable power generators.

These BESS can be integrated with renewable generators such as mobile solar PV systems and wind turbines. However, the current pricing of BESS and realised kWh output from mobile solar PV modules and wind turbines means this emerging technology is still far from widespread adoption. Furthermore, as far as risk is concerned, it also brings in additional market forces which are less impactful on wholesale oil and wholesale power markets (e.g. commodities such as critical rare earth elements (i.e. lithium) and semiconductors).

Dr. James Crosby concludes: “Over the next 10 years, it is my opinion that the traditional ‘brown’ genset will still represent an important component for backup and decentralised and relatively low-risk power supply. However, going forwards we will see a transition to more efficient ‘green’ gensets and ultimate replacement by BESS devices integrated with renewable power generators, e.g. solar PV & wind turbines.”

Greener, cleaner and more effective power using flywheels

The latest innovation in generator technology, the flywheel power system, is tipped to revolutionise the industry, making systems greener, cleaner and more cost effective.

The flywheel power system is an item of next generation kit which works by capturing energy which is normally wasted during a machine or vehicles use and storing it in a highspeed energy storage flywheel.

The stored energy can then be cycled back through the machine and used in its running, saving fuel, improving performance and reducing emissions.

Genny Hire, a diesel-generator rental company based in the North East of Scotland, is excited to have put in an order with Silverstonebased PUNCH Flybrid for the flywheel power system.

A spokesperson Lorna from Genny Hire explains: “My main reason for making an ongoing investment in this technology is that both our customers and we ourselves want to reduce our energy consumption. “We always want to provide the best solutions for our customers, and we are hearing more and more that people want to reduce their carbon footprint and up their green credentials – and we are only too happy to help with that.”

For the company, the big impact this year is the fuel element, for reasons which need little explanation, though Genny Hire’s customers have been particularly iaffected by the move from red to white diesel.

She says: “Everyone wants to reduce their emissions, but also, understandably, their costs. So from that point of view we have taken a good look at how we can help them achieve that. To our mind this solution will do that.”

Tobias Knichel from PUNCH Flybrid explains: “Typically, a lot of energy is wasted through applications which use generators because they have what is known as ‘dynamic profiles.’ By this we mean that they use a lot of power intermittently in bursts, which uses a lot more energy than a steady supply of energy.

“We were originally in F1 racing – which is of course extremely dynamic, and there’s a lot of wasted energy. But for industrial applications, you can really bring that energy profile right down. Lorna says this chimes exactly with Genny Hire’s aims, and that the company is putting its money where its mouth is, as Genny Hire is keen to implement PUNCH Flybrid’s solution across its own company, as well as in the generators it hires.

500 KVA genset for a residential development project

January 2023: The Shenton Group team has been involved in a recent contract to secure the 500 kVA diesel generator package on the ‘135 Park Street’ development. The company is supplying and installing a 500kVA generator in a bespoke enclosure at 135 Park Street, a prestigious commercial project underway in Southbank, London SE1. The site has full planning consent for the demolition of the existing Emerson Building and the development of 150,000 sq ft of new Grade A office space built to the highest sustainability standards with the target of creating a net zero carbon building.

The new building, designed by Squire and Partners, will comprise

11 upper floors of high quality, Grade A office with a ground floor retail unit and complemented by 14,000 sq ft of affordable workspace at lower ground, ground and first floor. Occupiers will benefit from access to a wide range of amenities including a roof top communal terrace overlooking the Thames and the City of London, as well as cycle storage for 284 bicycles.

and Componentry: Outlining the transition from ‘brown’ gensets to ‘green’ gensets

PURE ENERGY

We have the power to boost your projects with sustainable energy solutions of the best quality and with personalised service.

Pure energy is an attitude, it’s in our character to innovate, developing more sustainable and efficient generator sets adapted to your needs. Always with a quality and attention to detail that make the difference. We are the energy that gives you everything!

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Six natural gas mtu gensets are destined for Nottingham

Pioneering project highlights how compliance can be achieved

UK System Integrator Yellow Power Ltd’s specialist team has packaged six natural gas mtu Series 4000 CHP engines for a client, Landmark Power Holdings. Yellow Power Ltd designs, supplies, and installs new and used diesel and gas fuelled power generation systems. The company excels in designing and integrating reliable and robust turnkey installations into a customer’s energy infrastructure.

The Series 4000 CHP systems are destined for the Rhodesia Power project in north Nottinghamshire, a 10 MWe gas generation and carbon capture plant that will support the national grid (and potentially local businesses) and convert the captured carbon into food grade CO2.

The new Series 4000 natural gas genset offers the highest power density in its class. Designed with cutting-edge technology, the new Series 4000 natural gas genset is optimized for maximum performance and low emissions to deliver an economical, reliable, and sustainable source of power.

A significant reduction in nitrous oxide emissions makes the natural gas genset a perfect fit for independent power producers (IPP) and combined heat and power (CHP) applications. With part-load performance down to 35% and a fast start option, the gas genset’s operational flexibility is also ideal for demand response applications. Low emissions - 250 mg/Nm³, 500mg/Nm³, (@5% O2)NOx – are achieved without external aftertreatment, even meeting the new expected German unburned THC emissions legislation (<1300mg@5%O2).

The natural gas genset has an effective engine power of 130 kWm/cylinder – the highest power density in its class thanks to its compact design and small footprint. It offers superb performance at high temperatures and high humidity for use anywhere in the world and delivers 30% more power than its predecessor.

All natural gas genset components are fine-tuned to ensure long service lives and deliver maximum uptime. Long service intervals and easy-to-maintain components mean low maintenance costs. Fast availability of spare parts and low engine oil consumption also help keep the new gas genset lifecycle costs lower overall, with cylinder head lifetimes potentially equivalent to TBO. The natural gas genset achieves efficiencies of up to 44.4%, delivering a significant improvement in fuel/energy utilization at high temperatures.

Deal involves certifications and certified training for UK industrial networks

HMS Industrial Networks Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of HMS Networks AB, has acquired all shares in Control Specialists Ltd, located in Manchester.

Control Specialists is a key partner to Procentec – an HMS’ offering in monitoring and diagnostics of industrial networks. They deliver certifications and certified trainings related to industrial networks in the United Kingdom. Control Specialists is expected to realize a turnover of 0.5 MGBP in 2022 and will be integrated into HMS Industrial Networks Ltd during 2023 to further strengthen the Procentec training offering.

HMS Networks AB is a market-leading provider of solutions in industrial information and communication technology (Industrial ICT). HMS develops and manufactures products under the Anybus®, Ewon®, Intesis® and Ixxat® brands.

Development takes place at the headquarter in Halmstad, and in Ravensburg, Nivelles, Bilbao, Igualada, Wetzlar, Buchen and Delft. Local sales and support are handled by branch offices in the UK, Germany, USA, Japan, China, Singapore, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, India, Sweden, South Korea, UAE and Australia, as well as through a worldwide network of distributors and partners.

Six months ago Eminox, a leading designer and manufacturer of emissions reduction technologies and Speedy officially joined forces to improve air quality. The pioneering project has already highlighted how compliance can be achieved as part of public and occupational health strategies in advance of stringent emissions legislation. The partnership has seen Speedy’s generators retrofitted with an Eminox exhaust aftertreatment system which has cost-effectively upgraded power generators from Stage IIIa to Stage V compliant standards.

The development has allowed equipment to be deployed where regulations such as London NRMM Low Emission Zone, Clean Air Zones (CAZ) and Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD) are enforceable, and on pioneering projects such as HS2 sites across the country.

“It was a pleasure last year to welcome the new Group Managing Director at Speedy Services, Danny Johnson, to our headquarters in Gainsborough so he could experience first hand the realworld results of our market leading approved retrofit emissions control solutions for power generators.

We have been working together and delivering a positive impact for public health and emission control by achieving Stage V equivalent compliance through upgrading gensets in their portfolio,” comments Andy Meakin, Chairman, Eminox. The retrofit solution is available and has been rolled out on Speedy generators between 60kva to 250kva encompassing a wide range of commercial and domestic applications. I

n addition, the upgrade has taken place at Speedy locations to minimise lead and down times.

“Eminox is the first to market with such technologies, and their knowledge and expertise is secondto-none. Working with them to retrofit our gensets for our hire market, and to support the health of operators and the general public health on construction sites across the UK, is imperative as we strive to support the move towards net-zero targets,” explains Danny Johnson, Group Managing Director, Speedy Services. This pioneering project will deliver far reaching benefits across all applications of power generation, and the move to wider compliance of Stage V equivalent emissions regulations, confirms Eminox.

New partnership offers CCTV and asset monitoring

Genovate Power Solutions, a company which specialises in the delivery, operation and maintenance of large-scale energy projects, and Crest Energy, a company which owns and operates energy sites, have announced a 5-year partnership.

The deal will see Genovate providing operations and maintenance services across the Crest Energy sites. The assets include hundreds of generators with a total generating capacity of 120MWe.

Genovate has considerable experience in the operation and maintenance of such energy projects and through the partnership with Crest Energy will offer around-the-

clock CCTV and asset monitoring, a 24hr-emergency response facility, regular testing and will also undertake repairs in the installations.

Alan Dempsey, CEO of Genovate Power Solutions said: “We’re pleased to be working with Crest Energy on these projects and we will continue to provide unbeatable service to them and our other customers.”

AsUK government incentives for renewable energy decline, investing in large on-farm anaerobic digesters to export power to the national grid is making less economic sense. Instead some UK dairy farmers are following a trend seen on the continent for smaller, simpler, slurry-only units, designed mainly to meet a farm’s heat and electricity needs. The UK has just 18 slurry-only AD plants running, but the number is rising and could soon double with 20-30 further units at the planning stage. David Kaner, CEO of Advanced Anaerobics, explains that government energy production incentives had previously made bigger plants attractive.

“The Feed-in Tariff (FiT) for electricity and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) encouraged the rapid expansion of AD with more than 280 plants on farms,” says Dr Kaner. These are mainly large and, as well as manure, need purpose-grown crops or other waste material to generate energy. Typically they produce 500kW per hour from a combined heat and power (CHP) generator, he says. Few UK farms need more than 50kW per hour of electricity so these large plants were put in to capitalise on government payments by exporting the bulk of energy produced to the national grid.

FiTs for small scale AD plants were cut from 14p/kWh in 2011 to 6.65p/kwh from 7 October 2016. Government consultations on the future of FiT and RHI suggest further cuts and the removal of incentives for energy from purpose-grown crops. The FiT will be discontinued for new plants commissioned after the end of Q1 2019. A further disincentive for larger units is limited grid export capacity.

“In large parts of the country capacity is no longer available or has become unaffordable. Timed and capped connections are also becoming the norm,” says Dr Kaner.

So large units dependent on energy crops are becoming harder to justify on single farms. However, a slurry-only anaerobic digester uses just the manure and slurry available on the farm. Each tonne of organic dry matter in slurry can produce 300-400cu m of biogas.

A 300-cow unit can collect enough slurry to support a 50kW plant, avoiding the input cost of energy crops and better matching the electricity requirement of the farm. Several companies offer commercial AD plants for slurry-only use, mainly in the size range 10-50kW.

The capital cost of a typical 50kW unit is about £400,000. It is still a significant investment but is a fraction of the multi-million pound bill for a larger plant. Each livestock farmer should look carefully at the operational benefits, economic case and environmental impact of processing slurries and manures by slurry-only AD, Dr Kaner advises. But slurry-only plants of smaller size could find a successful niche as a solution to a farm energy problem and provide other benefits, he adds.

Dairy farmer John Jamieson, who farms at Woodhead, near Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, has invested in a 50kW anaerobic digester designed to process 24t of fresh cow slurry a day. The slurry from his 320-milking cows produces a total of 1,200kWh of electricity per day (50kWh x 24hrs).

Around 500kWh each day is used on the farm, reducing electricity purchases, and the balance is exported to the grid, for additional revenue. Mr Jamieson plans to use surplus heat from the plant on the farm, securing further payments under the RHI. Another benefit of the smaller-sized plant has been simplified planning and permits, says Mr Jamieson. As it does not need additional crop or other material brought in, there is no requirement to qualify the farm as a consented waste management site.

“The lack of imported feedstocks avoids the need for truck movements on rural roads and digestate from the plant can be spread on land without additional onerous restrictions,” he says. Mr Jamieson applied for his FiT in September 2014 – before the government made swingeing cuts – and secured payments of 12.46p/kWh.

Combined with savings on his electricity bill and a provision for payments under the RHI, this offers him a payback estimated at 60 months. fter reviewing several options, he chose to finance the plant with support from the farm’s existing bank. But a major consideration with a small plant is the operating cost, Mr Jamieson warns.

The CHP generator requires routine maintenance and periodic engine rebuilds. Over a 20-year lifetime, the operating costs of the plant as a whole will exceed the initial capital cost.

Construction of the SlurryGen-50 system supplied by Advanced Anaerobics Ltd started in July 2015 and initial commissioning followed in September. It is now routinely producing in excess of 1,100kWh per day of electricity, against the theoretical maximum of 1,200kWh per day, he reports.

Powering new integrated hubs in the North Sea

Neptune Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ørsted and Goal7 to explore powering new integrated energy hubs in the UK North Sea with offshore wind-generated electricity.

Integrated energy hubs have the potential to combine multiple energy systems, including existing oil and gas production assets, carbon storage and hydrogen production facilities.

They could extend the life of producing fields and support the economic case for electrification with renewable energy.

The agreement will see the companies examine the potential to supply renewable electricity from Ørsted’s Hornsea offshore windfarm projects to power future Neptuneoperated hubs in the UK North Sea.

Neptune Energy’s director of New Energy, Pierre Girard, commented: “Neptune has submitted three applications under the recent Carbon Dioxide Appraisal and Storage Licensing Round, and securing the licences would enable us to develop future proposals for integrated energy hubs in the UK North Sea.

“In parallel, the agreement with Ørsted and Goal7 will support research into the potential use of wind-generated renewable electricity to power these hubs, which could comprise new and repurposed offshore assets and bring together hydrogen production and carbon injection facilities.”

The North Sea Transition Authority is due to award storage licences early in 2023.

Neptune Energy plans to spend more than US$1 billion1 over the next five years securing energy

supplies for the UK and speeding the transition to net zero. Neptune currently operates around 11% of the UK’s gas supply from fields in the UK’s Southern North Sea and the Norwegian North Sea. t is one of the UK’s lowest carbon producers, with the carbon intensity of its production at 1.7 kg CO2/boe compared with the industry average of 20 kg CO2/boe2.

Following the publication of the Government’s British Energy Security Strategy in 2022, Neptune will accelerate investment to increase energy supply to the UK. Ørsted currently develops, constructs, and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, renewable hydrogen and green fuels facilities, and bioenergy plants. Ørsted is recognised on the CDP Climate Change A List as a global leader on climate action and was the first energy company in the world to have its science-based net-zero emissions target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Headquartered in Denmark, Ørsted employs approx. 7,700 people. Ørsted’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Orsted). In 2021, the group’s revenue was DKK 77.7 billion (EURO10.4 billion).

University of Edinburgh renews its generator contracts

Following a competitive Tender exercise two years ago, Mitchell Power Systems was awarded the Generator Maintenance contract for the prestigious University of Edinburgh which it has maintained successfully for two years.

The University of Edinburgh is a public research university. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 1582 and officially opened in 1583, it is one of Scotland’s four ancient universities and the sixth-oldest university in continuous operation in the English-speaking world.

The 4-year contract, which commenced on 1st September 2021, has so far involved the planned maintenance of 46 generator sets ranging from 3 kVA –2MW. In addition to annual servicing

and loadbank testing Turner Power Generation (a division of Mitchell Powersystems) has also provided a 24-hour emergency call out service and support the University staff during annual planned generator black start test events. This contract - which expires in 2025 - followed on the back of a series of contract

Slurry power could still save us all?

£27million contract to cut carbon and energy costs for Eastbourne District General Hospital

Veolia, working through its specialist energy team, has been awarded a £27m energy management contract to upgrade the 459-bed Eastbourne District General Hospital, part of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. The contract, which extends to 2040, includes a multimillion pound construction project during 2023 that will deliver wide ranging energy upgrades and target carbon savings of 4,129 tonnes per year.

Delivered through Veolia’s Building a Zero Carbon Future programme, with funding provided through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme for affordable, low carbon energy efficiency upgrades across the public sector, the scheme is one of the first to to take a whole building approach. This utilises a holistic approach that accounts for how facilities and the energy delivery systems interact with each other, while maintaining an indoor environment that enhances patient care.

A secure energy supply is essential to maintain a modern patient care environment for the hospital which has 457 beds and treats more than 470,000 patients per year. To meet this energy demand and achieve carbon and energy cost savings Veolia will manage projects covering the design, delivery, and installation of a range of energy upgrades. These will guarantee the hospital meets the NHS carbon reduction targets for 2030 and is supported by a 24/7 operations and maintenance contract.

The energy plant upgrades include desteaming the site, solar arrays giving a total of 1.1MWp renewable electricity, improved ventilation systems, and a dual stage heat pump system to supply 3.2 MWth of low carbon heat with N+1 redundancy that gives system availability in the event of component failure. To ensure that this heat is efficiently used the project covers fitting of 17,300m2 of insulated roofing, replacing older single glazed windows with 4,540m2 of high efficiency double glazing, and 12,972 m2 of insulating cladding.

Commenting on this latest development, John Abraham, Chief Operating Officer - Veolia UK & Ireland - Industrial, Water & Energy said:

“Using the whole holistic building approach is part of our Building a Zero Carbon Future programme, and is key to advancing healthcare energy efficiency, cutting carbon emissions and providing cost savings that can be redirected to patient care. By targeting annual carbon savings of 4,129 tonnes, we are actively supporting the NHS decarbonisation programme and delivering lower cost energy for the healthcare sector.

“We look forward to working with the teams at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and helping them achieve their environmental goals.”

Chris Hodgson, Director of Estates and Facilities at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “This project will make a significant contribution to the trust’s goals to reduce our organisational carbon footprint. As well as the significant carbon savings that the project will deliver, the additional cladding and insulation to the hospital will create a more comfortable environment for both our patients and our staff”.

Veolia has been working with East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust since 2009, and currently provides energy and facilities management to over 100 hospitals in the UK. These support the healthcare for around 8.1 million inpatients each year, and reduce CO2 emissions in the healthcare sector by 120,000 tonnes.

In becoming the benchmark company for ecological transformation, Veolia is committed to tackle climate change, resource depletion, biodiversity collapse, and pollution.

By expanding the use of existing solutions, and developing new innovative solutions, the company is accelerating the process to radically change patterns of production and consumption and prioritise ecology.

Impressive top-end overhaul of a 3000 Series engine

Bells Power Services Ltd recently carried out a top end overhaul to include head gaskets and all core plugs ending with a successful load test on a Perkins 3012 CV12 engine.

This job was critical to the client and was undertaken successfully under very strict time constraints as requested, all without the loss of backup power or disruption to the business.

The PERKINS 3000 Series embraces V8 and V12 engines suited to power generation and to the heavy end of the industrial power market.

The range comes in either electrounit or electropaK form (inclusive of radiator and fan). The 3012 range is also available as an Industrial Open Power Unit with industrial ratings.

Gas-powered spark ignited variants are also offered by the manufacturer.

Following the top end overhaul the client was ‘extremely happy with

the end result’, reports Bells Power Services.

It was all achieved five days ahead of schedule - from the switching plan through to the final load bank tests on both standby generators.

The Bells engineering team also recently completed three major service programmes for a Londonbased client: two full services involving FG Wilson P2250-1E gensets and a full service on a FGW P175-3.

These generator sets are considered field-proven and trusted to provide reliable power for a variety of critical applications including mini power stations, data centres, large factories, airports, hospitals and large retail stores etc.

Available with a 50 ° C package option, to ensure efficient operation in high ambient temperatures, this range is often customised with bespoke enclosures, cooling systems and specialised control systems.

New 6F21 six-cylinder engine - a compact yet powerful model

Moteurs Baudouin has launched the 6F21 six-cylinder, 12.5-litre engine, a compact yet powerful model suited for intermittentduty (815 hp/599 kW), light-duty (900 hp/662 kW) and highperformance duty (1000 hp/735 kW) applications. All three power options are rated at 2300 rpm. The choice of power ranges enables adaptability across a variety of applications, reports the company.

The 6F21 is the first step toward a new series of engines offering the best power in the market, and consolidating Baudouin as a trusted solution both for the commercial and pleasure market.

A spokesman explains: “For larger applications, we are also preparing to expand the burgeoning F series with an eightcylinder, 17 L version of the engine, coming later in 2022.”

The new 6F21 has a bore and stroke of 127 x 165 mm. It features a strengthened engine structure to withstand high torque and higher cylinder pressure of over 200 bar, plus includes a twostage turbocharger system, two intercoolers and a common rail electronic fuel injection system operating at 2200 bar.

These features are packaged in the smallest engine ever released by the company; it measures just 1470 x 1100 x 1705 mm.

Working Power Station project receives 166,555-litres in thermal stores

XC13 uses Cursor X concept asa multi-energy platform

FPT Industrial’s multi-energy approach is reflected in its new XC13 which uses the Cursor X concept as multi-energy, modular and multi-application engine platform.

regulations, with limited impact on vehicle installation.

Vital Energi Utilities Limited has provided two 166,666 litre thermal stores for the Woking Power Station Project. The thermal stores will be situated outside and become an architectural feature of the project. Vital Energi has been delivering the ThamesWey Energy’s Woking Power Station project which will create a state-of-the-art Combined Heat & Power energy centre providing low-carbon heating and power to local businesses and residents.

Woking Power Station’s energy centre will produce enough heat and power to supply the equivalent of 2,500 homes and it’s first customers will be the new Hilton hotel, shops and over 400 apartments currently being delivered as part of the Victoria Square development. The energy centre has been designed to be both scalable and highly flexible, capable of generating up to 10MW of heat, and adopting progressively lower carbon technologies over the next ten years.

The company has been collaborating with a specialist supply chain to provide multi-technology solutions whi h are flexible to achieve carbon reduction targets now and in the long term. Vital Energi has been working with industry specialists to research and develop future renewable technologies which will help clients to continue to reduce their carbon emissions. Energy generation technologies can be retrofitted into an existing building or in a new dedicated energy centre.

The company has also been supporting large-scale applications of heat pumps. These are relatively new to the UK and Vital Energi has successfully installed the UK’s largest water source heat pump at Queens Quay, Clydebank, which will see two 2.65MW heat pumps extract energy from the river Clyde to provide heat and hot water to surrounding homes and businesses.

Vital Energie is also delivering a retrofit heat pump project in Southwark where heat will be extracted from water using ‘open loop’ supplied Water Source Heat Pumps and when completed, the technology will become the primary heat source for the heat, supplying low carbon heat to 2,175 homes. in the Consort, Newington and Wyndham housing estates.

Heat pump heating systems take the ambient heat from a source, such as the ground, water or air, and then boost it to provide low-temperature heating and hot water. Importantly, each of these types of heat pump systems has the ability to provide cooling as well, making them useful for the warmer summer months when the heating would normally go to waste.

Unlike traditional heating methods, which often rely on carbon-intense fossil fuels, heat pumps are powered by electricity which can come from renewables, or directly from the national grid. This, combined with high coefficients of performance makes them an attractive choice for anyone looking to find a financially viable way to decarbonise.

A heat pump spokesman commented: “Everything around us contains thermal energy – or heat. Heat naturally flows from a warmer place to a colder place. To provide the heat energy in a home when outdoor temperatures are colder, we need heat to flow in the other direction – from a colder place to a warmer place. But how does it do it?

“When the pressure of a gas increases, the temperature also increases. When the pressure decreases, the temperature decreases. This relationship between pressure and temperature is the key to how a heat pump works. The gas is called a ‘refrigerant’ and a heat pump uses electricity to compress this refrigerant, increasing the pressure and therefore the temperature.

“As the refrigerant’s heat is transferred to your home through the heat exchanger, it cools down a little. The refrigerant is then allowed to expand so that it cools even further. It’s now cold enough to absorb more heat from outside and begin the process again.

“The heat delivered to the heat exchanger can then be used to heat your home. This would normally be done using a central heating system – but it could also be done using warm air in either an air-to-air heat pump or an exhaust air heat pump.”

The XC13 is FPT Industrial’s first multi-fuel single base engine. From diesel to natural gas –including biomethane – hydrogen and renewable fuels, the base engine has been designed with multiple versions to offer maximum component standardization and easy integration into the final product.

FPT Industrial said the engine is compatible with a range of market requirements and emissions

The diesel version delivers ratings to 600 hp (447 kW) and torques up to 2102 lb. ft. (2850 Nm), resulting in 5% more power and 14% greater torque compared to the current Cursor 13 engine. The natural gas version delivers up to 520 hp (382 kW) and 1844 lb. ft. (2500 Nm), which is 13% more horsepower and 25% more torque than the current Cursor 13 Natural Gas. CO2 emissions reductions stand at 9% for the diesel unit and 10% for the methane model, but the latter can achieve net-zero CO2 emissions when fuelled by biomethane, FPT said.

Greener power at new Tritax Symmetry development

BasePower has entered into its first joint enterprise project with Tritax Symmetry to supply clients at the new Symmetry Park Biggleswade development with uninterrupted greener, cheaper power solutions.

Located on a greenfield site where the grid is constrained, the new 2MW energy centre will augment the grid with renewable and resilient generation from a number of sources including rooftop solar PV, batteries and a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant.

The announcement is one of several joint projects between BasePower and Tritax Symmetry to provide greater resilience, more competitive energy and a pathway to fully net zero carbon in occupation. The project was specified, designed, procured and built by BasePower who will continue to develop energy systems in line with the evolving needs of the tenants.

Principal contractors included the Power Systems division of RollsRoyce, which installed mtu CHP systems, battery units and standby generators. Powersystems UK acted as the high voltage (HV) specialist partner for the electrical

infrastructure. Dan Poulson, co-founder at BasePower said: “The need for the creation of alternative energy resources has never been greater and we are proud to have been selected by Tritax Symmetry for this project in Biggleswade along with multiple energy projects on their other sites. Across our business we currently operate ten energy centres in the UK with a further 20 in development. Through their lifecycles we invest to enhance each site to deliver increasing levels of decarbonisation as client requirements evolve.”

Diesel genset is now backing up the systems of a London investment bank

Data Centre outages are costing more, with power failure the number one culprit

A new 2,530 kVA diesel-powered genset with an MHI engine is now operating in the UK’s capital following its installation at the end of 2022. This 2530kVA 11kV genset is providing backup power for a major investment bank in London.

The MITSUBISHI series heavy duty diesel engine features a 4-cycle, water cooling system, turbocharged - aftercooler induction, an electronic governor system, a 12/24 volt self-starter and charger alternator, a changeable air, fuel and oil filter and a flexible fuel pipe.

Inside, the components include an oil discharge valve and extention pipe, an industrial-type silencer, exhaust spiral or compensator, a maintenance-free battery and an engine block water heater.

The MECC ALTE ECO46HV-2VL/4 alternator the set relies on has many special product features designed into it.

Self-regulation is obtained through a digital electronic regulator which is fed by an auxiliary winding. MECC ALTE says it guarantees an almost constant supply from the generator – under any possible operating condition.

A rotating inductor is fitted with a damper cage. The windings have a 2/3 pitch in order to reduce the harmonic content of voltage. The entire series is manufactured according to, and complies with, the most common specifications such as CEI 2-3, IEC 34-1, EN 60034-1, VDE 0530, BS 4999-5000, CAN/ CSA-C22.2 No14-95- No100-95.

Isle of Wight becomes the focus for tidal stream energy

A new study led by Dr Danny Coles, Research Fellow on the INTERREG V A France TIGER Project at the University of Plymouth, says that adopting tidal power alongside other forms of renewable energy can significantly enhance energy security and go some way to enabling communities to fulfil their clean energy ambitions.

Researchers found that installing tidal stream systems, in addition to solar and offshore wind farms, is around 25% more effective at balancing supply with demand than just relying on solar and wind technologies.

Using tidal technologies as part of a renewable energy mix can also reduce the space required for power-generating facilities, both on land and at sea, by around 33% and significantly reduce their visual impact since much of their operation is below the sea’s surface.

It can also help to reduce the

levelised cost of whole-system energy, relative to solar and wind systems, because it reduces the requirement to access expensive reserve supplies.

Published in the journal Applied Energy, the study focuses on the Isle of Wight.

The island plans to generate as much renewable energy as it consumes, and achieve net-zero emissions, by 2040. To achieve this, it will need to find ways to generate an average of 136MW of electricity through clean energy to meet its future projected annual demand.

Its primary source of power is currently a gas-fired power station and while solar power currently generates 80MW, plans for a nearby offshore wind farm were refused in 2015.

Findings from Uptime Institute’s 2022 Global Datacentre Survey highlight the fact that downtime in the data centre industry is becoming increasingly expensive, with the main cause identified as power failures.

The report focuses on responses from more than 800 owners and operators of data centres, including those responsible for managing infrastructure at the world’s largest IT organisations.

While sustainability, efficiency gains, staff shortages and supply chain issues also dominate the report, the issue of power resiliency remains dominant.

Data indicates that the costs of outages are on the increase. A quarter of respondents reported that their most recent outage cost more

than US$1 million in both direct and indirect costs. This is a significant increase from 2021, reflecting a continuing upward trend over the last five years.

The report states: “Uptime’s 2022 annual survey findings are remarkably consistent with previous years. They show that onsite power problems remain the single biggest issue by a large margin.”

Backup power failure has been identified as the number one issue in 2023.

Further analysis in related research from the Uptime Institute identifies the biggest causes of power-related outages to be uninterruptible power supply failures, followed by transfer switch (generator / grid) and generator failures.

Work stalled at Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm

A project involviong the fitting of remaining turbines at Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm has stalled in February 2023.

Market analyst Esgian recently noted that “no jacket or turbine is being installed” at the Seagreen site, some 16 miles off the coast of Angus.

SSE Renewables subsequently confirmed that a planned break is ongoing – work to fit array cables is continuing.

The Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm is under construction around 27km from the coast of Angus in the North Sea.

A joint venture between TotalEnergies (51%) and SSE Renewables (49%), Seagreen will be Scotland’s largest and the world’s deepest fixed foundation offshore wind farm once complete.

Seagreen was consented with permission to install 150 offshore wind turbines.

114 turbines are currently being installed with a total installed generating capacity of 1,075MW and will be fully operational in Q2 2023. First power was achieved in August 2022 and is exported to the grid via a new substation at Tealing near Dundee.

The 114 turbines will provide enough green energy to power more than 1.6 million homes, equivalent to two-thirds of all Scottish homes. They will also

displace over 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from electricity generated by fossil fuels every year – similar to removing more than a third of all of Scotland’s annual car emissions and making a significant contribution to Scotland’s net-zero ambition by 2045..

The remaining 36 offshore wind turbines are consented but not yet constructed. The power will be exported to the grid via Cockenzie, East Lothian. Information relating to this connection can be found here.

In January 2022 the company submitted a Screening Report to Marine Scotland to i ncrease the size of the 36 consented turbines.

EXHAUST TREATMENT

UGET 3+DPF fitted to a 3012TAG2A standby set at the Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff

3012TAG2A standby genset located at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

Based in St. Albans, GenCat has been trading in the exhaust after treatment industry since 2003, with a focus on heavy duty applications for NRMM, generating sets and materials handling equipment. Its products include a range of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs), Catalytic Converters, and key accessories include exhaust rain caps. The company says its mission is to ‘find the best solution to the application by offering the right equipment to do the job. From plant working in enclosed spaces, tunneling, offshore applications to standby power exhaust filtration’. In one recent contract GenCat engineers fitted a Bersy UGET 3+ DPF to a Perkins engine 3012TAG2A standby genset located at the Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) in Cardiff.

Located in Cardiff Bay, the centre is described as a ‘a home for the arts in Wales and a cauldron of creativity for the nation’.

The site covers a total area of 4.7 acres (1.9 ha) and comprises a large theatre and two smaller halls with shops, bars and restaurants. It houses Wales’ national orchestra and opera, dance, theatre and literature companies, a total of eight arts organisations in residence.

The main theatre, the Donald Gordon Theatre, has 2,497 seats, the BBC Hoddinott Hall 350 and the Weston Studio Theatre 250.

GenCat was called in by the WMC site managers to carry out an upgrade the exhaust system on a backup power generator.

The genset was based in the corner of a service area in the centre of the building. Within this courtyard area wwere many windows to offices and residential areas. Whenever the genset was started it generated a troublesome plume of smoke and this was a source of complaint.

To rectify the problem with the exhaust fumes GenCat installed two catalytic converters inside the canopy - and on the roof a UGET 3+ D1000 DPF has also been installed.

Here, a UGET 3+ diesel particulate filter now collects the particulate matter in the exhaust stream by means of physical filtration.

The UGET 3+ diesel particulate filter is capable of retaining particles as small as 0.3 microns, trapping all PM10 and PM2.5 matter and is capable of reducing up to 99% of particulate matter (PM) in the exhaust stream, reports GenCat.

“GenCat fitted a UGET 3+ DPF to a Perkins 3012TAG2A standby set at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. Two catalytic converters were installed inside the canopy and on the roof there is a UGET 3+ D1000 DPF. The remedy has overcome problems associated with exhaust fumes vented into a courtyard.”

The UGET 3+ is a non-regenerative type; it has a finite capacity of 1,000 grams before the filter cartridge requires replacing.

Applications for UGET 3+

The filter is suited to low usage applications such as standby generator sets or on equipment being used for short periods at a time. It is said to be particularly suited to equipment being used in confined spaces.

The filters can be bypassed, so that it is only used when required, i.e. inside tunnels and warehouses, electronic or manual bypass valves are available.

As the maximum operating temperature of the filter is 350°C, it is recommended that fitment of the filter is as far from the engine as possible, to avoid overheating.

The filter can be bolted to a frame or body and simply attached with a length of flexible exhaust pipe. The filter cartridge is fire resistant and incorporates a heat shield for protection from burns. There is minimal maintenance required for the UGET 3+ diesel particulate filter. At the end of the filter life the filter is removed and simply replaced with a new one.

Failure to do so will cause the filter to block, which in turn can damage or destroy the filter itself or cause damage to the engine due to increased backpressure. Filter life is estimated at 300-350 hours, depending on condition and maintenance of the engine.

A non-regenerative DPF was recently fitted to a Perkins 3012TAG2A Standby generating set in a similar contract, reports the company.

A standby set was located close to an industrial laboratory complex at a UK manufacturing facility.

Employees found that genset emissions on startup were entering the clean laboratory environment.

GenCat’s technical team installed twin catalytic converters to upgrade the complete the emissions control and the problem was completely solved.

www.gencat.co.uk

Based in St. Albans, GenCat says its mission is to ‘find the best solution to the application by offering the right equipment to do the job. In one recent contract GenCat engineers fitted a Bersy UGET 3+ DPF to a Perkins engine

Hydrogen - one of the key instruments to effectively reduce emissions from energy generation

hydrogen. For example, this includes a wide range of flammability (enables lean mixtures), high autoignition temperature (similar to methane), low ignition energy (risk of premature ignition and flashback), and potential material incompatibilities (embrittlement of the steel).

The developers of the MWM gas gensets have mastered these challenges through ongoing research.

Green H2 as a clean fuel for gensets MWM has extensive experience in the use of gas gensets with hydrogen admixture.

Through the deployment of various MWM products and technologies in customer projects, MWM has implemented trend-setting projects with a hydrogen content of up to 60 percent.

MWM gas gensets are already capable of running with a hydrogen admixture of up to 10 percent without any technical modifications.

To reach current climate targets, energy consumption must be brought down and the availability of energy for the industry must be controlled in a flexible way, e.g. via flex operation of cogeneration power plants.

New laws and regulations including the 44th Federal Immission Control Ordinance (44th BImSchV) determine stricter emission limits for plants with firing systems, gas turbines, and combustion engines, which plant operators need to comply with and furnish evidence of their compliance.

The National Hydrogen Strategy also intends to speedily develop hydrogen technologies and ensure international market availability for the production and use of hydrogen in order to make the amount of hydrogen required for the conversion of application areas available as soon as possible.

Sustainably-produced green hydrogen can be used as a climate-friendly energy source for distributed power generation with gas gensets, as fuel for vehicles, as raw material for chemical processes, and for long-term storage.

Green and blue hydrogen: climate-neutral fuel and energy store

Compared to fossil fuels, the carbon emissions of sustainably produced hydrogen are much lower.

About 96 percent of the hydrogen produced around the globe is produced from natural gas, oil, and coal. Not all hydrogen types come from zero-carbon production. Distinction is made between green, blue, turquoise, and gray hydrogen.

Green hydrogen is produced via electrolysis using renewable energies, while blue hydrogen is produced using the steam reforming method in which the CO2 is captured and stored.

At the bottom line, the production of both types of hydrogen is carbon-neutral.

Besides the benefit of lower emissions, the use of hydrogen also affects the efficiency, initial investments, fuel and maintenance costs, and the material quality of the piston engines.

The properties of hydrogen give rise to a number of structural requirements that must be met and that are vital for products which support

Higher hydrogen admixtures of up to 25 vol% are also possible with MWM gas engines; in this case, however, technical modification is required in order to ensure safety and best-possible performance and efficiency of the energy generation.

For customers who want to invest in new gensets for continuous operation, base load supply, or peak load operation, MWM has introduced gas gensets which can run on natural gas with a hydrogen admixture of up to 25 percent. This applies to the TCG 3016, TCG 3020, and TCG 2032 series.

For customers who want to upgrade their plants for the use of hydrogen, MWM offers retrofit kits for the gas gensets of the TCG 3016, TCG 3020, and TCG 2032 series in order to enable a hydrogen admixture of up to 25 percent. With this offering, MWM has facilitated the transition to plant operation with hydrogen admixture, thereby boosting operational efficiency and reducing emissions.

Benefits of hydrogen are as follows:

•Climate-friendly, future-proof alternative to fossil fuels

•Energy generation with reduced carbon emissions

•Easier compliance with emission limits

•Technology based on long-standing experience with various technologies

• New engines and retrofit kits for MWM gas gensets of the TCG 3016, TCG 3020, and TCG 2032 series are available for hydrogen admixture of up to 25 percent

•Hydrogen admixture of up to 10 percent already possible without any technical modifications

•Sustainable, profitable operation of your plant with MWM gensets and hydrogen.

www.mwm.net

For the energy transition and climate protection, hydrogen (H2) is one of the key instruments to effectively reduce emissions from energy generation. If produced in a climate-friendly way, the versatile fuel is a compelling, sustainable, and efficient alternative to fossil energy sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas. The European Union intends to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. For this, Europe’s carbon emissions from energy generation need to be reduced significantly.

“ To reach the climate targets, the energy consumption, too, must be brought down, and the availability of energy for the industry must be controlled in a flexible way.”

—

potential of your turbocharger.’

ABB Turbo Hero, Jordan Needle

‘I can find the full potential of your turbocharger.’

ABB Turbo Hero, Jordan Needle

ABB Turbo Hero, Jordan Needle

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Unlock the full potential of your equipment with ABB Turbo Heroes.

—

Unlock the full potential of your equipment with ABB Turbo Heroes.

Unlock the full potential of your equipment with ABB Turbo Heroes.

How do you define Original Service by ABB Turbocharging?

As your original equipment manufacturer (OEM), we have the unique expertise and insights to unlock the full potential of your turbocharger. Our service experts do not only restore the original performance of your ABB turbocharger. We continuously enhance your turbocharger’s efficiency for maximum output and asset value.

How do you define Original Service by ABB Turbocharging?

How do you define Original Service by ABB Turbocharging?

ABB Turbo Heroes at your Service. turboheroes.com

As your original equipment manufacturer (OEM), we have

unique expertise and insights to unlock the full potential

As your original equipment manufacturer (OEM), we have the unique expertise and insights to unlock the full potential of your turbocharger. Our service experts do not only restore the original performance of your ABB turbocharger. We continuously enhance your turbocharger’s efficiency for maximum output and asset value.

‘I can find the full potential of your turbocharger.’

GENSETS

A silent night guaranteed for hotel guests by new generator sets

generator sets designed

guarantee

supply in two hotels located in

UK’s north. The two generator sets have a common feature: their low noise level during operation. They have been designed to operate in hotel complexes where noise level must be very low to cut customer disturbance to the minimum.

In addition to the reduced noise level feature, the design of the cabin was tailor-made - the rain gutters were included in the door frames, as well as a protection mesh to prevent the entry of animals. As part of the custom design for the client, Genesal incorporated its corporate branding on the outside of the canopy, which resulted in a personalised generator set.

G

enesal Energy has manufactured and supplied two generator sets designed to guarantee the electricity supply in two hotels based in the north of England. The two GEN220FI + GEN110FI models have a common feature: their low noise level. They have been designed by Genesal to operate in hotel complexes where noise level must be very low to reduce customer disturbance to the minimum. The specification indicates they provide a maximum noise level of 75 dBA and 70 dBA at one metre.

The GEN220FI comes with Deep Sea 7310 MKII controller plus a Deep Sea 2157 module allowing alarm expansion [pic below].

There is a tailor-made external link box with connection plates designed according to the type, number and section of cables which will be connected by the client. There are rain gutters above door frames and a protection mesh against the entrance of vermin.

The set itself has a 540-litre base frame integrated fuel tank, including a collection tray with capacity to collect 110% the capacity of the actual fuel tank.

The generator set has been especially designed to provide a noise level of 70 dBA at 1 metre and there is 50mm rockwool insulation inside the canopy.

The DSE7310 MKII used in the components is a powerful, new generation auto start genset control module with a highly sophisticated level of new features and functions, presented in the usual DSE user-friendly format.

Said to be suitable for a wide variety of single, diesel or gas genset applications, it features a new Dual Core main processor and extended memory. The module provides faster and more powerful processing power, returning faster operational responses on intensive applications and increased functionality, with data logging facility, says the manufacturer.

Monitoring an extensive number of engine parameters, the module will display warnings, shutdown and engine status information on the back-lit LCD screen, illuminated LEDs, remote PC’s and via SMS text alerts (with external communication device).

The GEN110FI genset has been specifically designed to provide a noise level of 75 dBA at

The genset features a Deep Sea 7310 controller and Deep Sea 2157 module allowing alarm expansion. There is a tailor-made external link box with connection plates designed according to the type, number and section of cables to be connected by the client.

The DSE2157 featured in the genset componentry is a key output relay expansion module providing 8 additional outputs to the control system. Up to ten DSE2157 modules can be linked together to provide increased output options. These have been designed to give greater output flexibility for meeting complex industry generator control specifications. The module includes eight configurable relay contacts with LED indicators. These can be configured as 4 normally open and 4 normally closed. All configurations are controlled within the host control module.

genesalenergy.com

1-metre. The monoblock was mounted on an oversized canopy including double thickness rockwool in the walls and upper air outlet aiming to reduce noise to the level required by the client.

Genesal Energy has manufactured and supplied two

to

the electricity

the

“The GEN110FI genset has been specifically designed to provide a noise level of 75 dBA at 1 metre. The monoblock was mounted on an oversized canopy including double thickness of rockwool in the walls and upper air outlet aiming to reduce noise to the level required by the client.”

BATTERY ENERGY

System-integrated BESS solution for South Yorkshire will aid National Grid

CHP power delivered to the University of York in 2022

Edina specialises in the engineering, installation and after-care support of low carbon and hydrogen-ready gas-fired Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants, mission-critical standby generation, and integrated battery energy storage systems.

In 2022 Edina delivered its third Combined Heat and Power (CHP) project at the University of York, a leading educational institution.

Edina, an on-site power generation solutions provider for hydrogen-ready Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants, standby power generation, and recently battery energy storage systems (BESS), has won its first contract with UK developer ForePower for its systemintegrated BESS solution.

ForePower provides National Grid with the ability to stabilise the electricity network with its portfolio of assets.

Funded by Nash Business Capital Ltd, the 10MW 1-hour duration BESS project in South Yorkshire, UK, will provide a range of balancing services to the electricity grid to ensure power security, system flexibility and accelerate renewable energy integration.

Edina’s modular outdoor battery energy storage solution is said to be fully integrated and prefabricated with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell chemistry, liquid-cooled thermal management system, skid-mounted inverter systems, battery management system and UL certified fire detection and suppression systems.

Edina will provide the full engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and system integration scope of work to included detailed design, engineering, project management and installation, plant commissioning and discussions are underway to undertake long-term plant maintenance.

Hugh Richmond, Edina CEO, said: “It’s our first battery storage development with ForePower, and we are delighted to be working with such an enthusiastic and forward-thinking company.

“This project is a significant milestone for the evolution and growth of Edina, who was traditionally a gas engine supplier and developer but has now added another “string to their bow” by developing standalone and hybrid power solutions and full EPC contracts.”

Andrew Foreman, ForePower’s Founder and Projects Director, Steven Thorpe have jointly said “It’s an exciting time for the UKs energy mix and it is a great the opportunity to work with Edina. We look forward to working with Edina on this project to help build our relationship and build out our current portfolio of assets.”

The project is scheduled for operation in early 2023 and will allow ForePower to access the Capacity Market, Fast Frequency Response, and other grid services markets.

With multiple sites across the UK, Forepower has the ability to supply large amounts of power across the local and National Grid networks, assisting in stabilising the network. Designing, developing and operateing projects anywhere in the UK tailored to the needs of the area. Its sites range from 3MWs to 49.99MWs, participating in multiple markets to help produce a more localised energy network.

This latest CHP plant comprises a 2.3MWe MWM TCG 3020 V20 gas engine and associated equipment and joins two existing CHP plants rated 1.56MWe each also engineered, installed, and maintained by Edina.

The additional CHP plant is part of ongoing energy-efficiency measures to manage energy costs, improve sustainability, and on-site energy resilience for the University.

NG Bailey, a leading independent engineering, and services business awarded Edina the contract to design, engineer, and install the CHP plant.

The 2.3MWe CHP plant is containerised within an attenuated acoustic enclosure engineered at Edina’s in-house packaging facility and was recently delivered to site and positioned within a purpose-built energy centre situated on the University East Campus.

Unique artwork for CHP site

Adam Bloom, Head of Sales, Edina, said: “This project is unique in the way we created bespoke artwork around three sides of the container perimeter to visualise the internal components and workings of the CHP plant.

“This requirement forms part of an expansive learning initiative designed to engage the university students and staff on the energy-efficient technologies powering their campus and facilities whilst educating the university’s engineers of tomorrow.”

Edina commissioned the CHP plant in late 2002, and now provides longterm asset-care coverage to ensure plant operation, energy security and availability.

The University’s latest CHP plant complements the site’s two existing CHP plants to provide the University with a total power output of 5.4MW electrical capacity.

www.edina.eu forepoweruk.com

UK developer ForePower is working with Edina on its system-integrated BESS solution. ForePower currently provides the National Grid with the ability to stabilise the electricity network with its portfolio of assets, reports UK Power News.

“It’s our first battery storage development with ForePower, and we are delighted to be working with such an enthusiastic and forward-thinking company. This project is a significant milestone for the evolution and growth of Edina, who was traditionally a gas engine supplier and developer but has now added another “string to their bow.”

ALTERNATOR ISSUES

UK train operator’s problems with a 67kVA low voltage alternator

equipment repair, rework and rewind of rotating electrical equipment. The company’s engineering team is also responsible of mapping the specific machines requirements as old and damaged coils are removed.

UK University reported a genset with issues

At one UK university the CABEL team was brought in to resolve problems with a 1300kVA low voltage 400/230V alternator used in a backup power genset.

I

n 2022 a train operator running a UK-based network reported an anomaly: the level of power-related failures seen on its railway fleet had slowly increased over time. Ultimately, logging the failure modes enabled the technical engineers from CABEL to isolate the trends, review the issues and come up with a proposal to rectify the problem with the train-mounted powerpacks.

A CABEL spokesman explains: “Members of our technical team were able to use their specialist skills and diagnostic equipment to offer improvements to provide the systems with increased durability.

“The specification of the insulation materials was analysed and altered and the level of environmental protection was improved by applying a protective coating to the main stator. This provided increased durability whilst maintaining the expected performance levels of the alternator.”

In a similar project involving work on a high voltage alternator (11KV) operated by another client, CABEL’s engineers were asked to

investigate a noise coming from an onsite generating set which was believed to be an engine-related issue.

Problems with the alternator

Close inspection of the genset established that the defect was in fact mechanical, caused by the failure of the alternator non-drive end bearing.

A CABEL spokesman confirmed: “The alternators were removed from their containers and were fully dismantled. The inspection process highlighted that the failed bearings had caused mechanical wear to the main rotor shaft.

“The rotor shafts were rebuilt and machined to tolerance ready to accept new bearings. After the shaft repair and fitting of new bearings, the alternators were rebuilt.”

The company spokesman concluded: “Working closely with the client, CABEL’s fully-qualified engineers completed the re-commissioning process.”

Combining knowledge and expertise in the rewinding of low voltage AC motors and alternators, Cabel UK offers exceptional

In the Defect Report the engineers noted: “The initial inspection highlighted degradation of the insulations levels to the main rotor and exciter assemblies. No obvious defects were visible.Internal inspection of the alternator showed high levels of dirt build-up inside the terminal box arrangement on the outer casing of the frame and the terminal rails “There was also heavy carbon dust covering the main stator and main rotor windings. The varistor mounted on the Diode Assembly was also found to be defective.” [pic: bottom left]

The CABEL engineers resolve the problems with the generator The genset was dismantled and a detailed visual inspection of all components was carried out, followed by static inspection and testing of all of the wound components.The bearing from the rotor assembly was removed and the wound components were washed and oven dried.

After drying, all wound components were subjected to an in-depth electrical test,before being re-impregnated and receiving an additional environmental coating. All non-wound components were cleaned; a new replacement bearing was fitted to the rotor assembly and the machine re-built incorporating a new replacement varistor.

After assembly, the alternator was dynamically tested at full load to confirm all circuits and the operation and function of the electronic regulator.

The external surfaces of the alternator were sprayed in the customer’s colour and after delivery a CABEL engineer visited the site to carry out the recommissioning of the genset.

cabeluk.com

A UK train operator noticed that the level of powerrelated failures seen on its railway fleet had slowly increased over time. Logging the failure modes enabled the engineers from CABEL to quickly spot trends and this particular trend of failure was reviewed.

A CABEL spokesman comments: “We were then able to use our specialist skills to offer technical improvements,” reports UKPN.

“CABEL’s engineers were asked to investigate a noise coming from the generating set which was believed to be an enginerelated issue.

Close inspection of the genset established that the defect was in fact mechanical, caused by the failure of the alternator drive end bearing.”

retrofit project in the UK -

16.8MW diesel & 98% NOx reduction

December 2022 saw the engineering team from Agriemach Ltd hard at work transporting and installing equipment for a site requiring a 16.8MW SCR retrofit. Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) projects are all about the final NOx emissions levels achieved; SCR technology has proven itself in many industries as an effective means for NOx reduction from both stationary and mobile sources. The basic principle of SCR is the reduction of NOx to nitrogen (N2) and water (H2O) by the reaction of NOx and ammonia (NH3) within a catalyst bed, reports UKPN

Acompany spokesman from Agriemach comments: “It took only a matter of days to get the NOxMASTER™ systems secured and in place while other phases of the retro-fit adaptions continued.

“These particular Agriemach NOxMASTER™ SCR Systems are engineered to reduce the NOx on these diesel generators by 98% along with having integrated silencing functionality down to 80 dB(A)@1m.”

He explains: “A high reduction of NOx, but nothing we are not already used to. It’s what we do. Agriemach engineers exhaust gas after-treatment solutions for all types of internal combustion engines.”

Agriemach Ltd provides a bespoke service for the design, manufacture and project management of Selective Catalytic Reduction technology. Offering a wealth of experience and a global knowledge base, the company specialises in full system design, dosing system upgrades, catalyst replacement and all ancillary equipment required from bulk urea tanks to heat and sound insulation materials.

The company’s engineers have experience with many different fuel types and the issues associated with them - from natural gas to biofuels, and Agriemach is able to provide a solution for the most challenging applications.

Agriemach Ltd offers a full 3D CAD drawing service along with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to ensure a solution is suitable for the requirements of every client.

Agriemach`s NOxMASTER™ Selective Catalytic Reduction Systems are suitable for engines operating in power generation, cogeneration (CHP), gas compression, crop production, industrial and chemical, marine and shipping sectors.

The NOxMASTER™ SCR system can offer up to 99% reduction in NOx from the combustion process. Inclusion for additional reduction of toxins can also be built into the design for reducing carbon monoxide, ethylene and diesel particulates where required.

Agriemach currently fits SCR systems to the following engines: Jenbacher, MAN, Waukesha, MWM, CAT, Cummins, Deutz, Perkins, Scania,

“ Agriemach’s NOxMASTER™ SCR Systems are engineered to reduce the NOx on these diesel generators by 98% along with having integrated silencing functionality down to 80 dB(A)@1m.”

Wartsila, MTU, Volvo, Mitsubishi. A spokesman comments: “In short this means that the NOxMASTER™ technology works with all brands of engine to fulfil the NOx requirements.”

What are the hazards?

Nitrogen oxides are a hazard to human health. Scientific evidence links NO2 (nitrogen-dioxide) exposure, ranging from 30 minutes to 24 hours, with adverse respiratory effects including airway inflammation in healthy people – to increased respiratory symptoms in people with asthma.

Ozone or smog is formed when NOx and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) react in the presence of heat and sunlight. These particles affect anyone that comes into contact with them – they get deep into the respiratory system and alter lung tissue; causing a long term effect on human health.

What can SCR do?

Selective Catalytic Reduction is a means of converting nitrogen oxides (NOx) into nitrogen and water, using an atomised injection of urea with the aid of a catalyst. The reduction is called “Selective” as it is only targeting the NOx emissions using the reagent and catalyst. Agriemach’s technical team takes the raw NOx Value and reduce it to the Target Value (500mg to 50mg – 90% Reduction) through:

- Controlled atomising injection of ureaDosing

- Efficient mixing in the exhaust stream –static mixers

-Vanadium-coated catalyst surfacereactor.

The Agriemach technical team works with a wide variety of systems and fuel types including natural gas, biogaslandfill.waste water gas, digester gas, diesel - including biodiesel, and BHFO –Heavy Fuel Oil.

www.agriemach.com

Eurostar is on the right track with its high-voltage lines

Eurostar is the high-speed rail service directly linking Britain to mainland Europe via the Channel Tunnel. It started operating in 1994, providing city-centre to city -centre services. The service is operated by 27 eighteen coach Class 373/1 trains which run at up to 300 kilometres per hour on a network of high-speed lines. Eurostar is the dominant operator on the routes which it operates, carrying more passengers than all airlines. UKPN looks at the key efforts of one company - FirePro - to help minimise the obvious fire risks for the service.

The obvious fire risks involved in Relocatable Equipment Buildings for Eurostar International are mainly related to electrical faults which can appear in the electrical equipment without, of course, discounting dangers from human error and lightning strikes.

The consequences of fire in these buildings are discontinuity of service, endangerment of passengers and loss of equipment in one of Europe’s busiest railways.

FirePro was tasked by Titan Fire & Security (now a Marlowe PLC business) to design, supply, install, commission and maintain a fire detection and rapid reaction fixed active fire suppression system for Relocatable Equipment Buildings (REBs) belogning to Eurostar International.

The installation site is where maintenance is carried out for all Eurostar trains operating from the UK and it is designed to accommodate eight service roads.

The task was to provide a rapid response, reliable and efficient fire suppression system to tackle a fire scenario which could prove highly

disruptive to operations and consequentially endanger passengers.

The four REB rooms are situated amongst the tracks in the UK with 11,000-volt live lines running overhead leading to the main depot where trains are routinely serviced.

Access is therefore limited, being reachable only on foot which posed the problem of getting the fire suppression system there.

The only feasible way to do this was to carryby hand - all the equipment. This situation called for the design and construction of a modular system which used lightweight and easy-to-carry components.

Importantly, the fire suppression system had to require as little maintenance as possible. The FirePro systems - FP-80, FP-100s and FP-3000 - installed across all REBs match the project’s specific provisions and requirements. Each battery cabinet has its own system, so if fire is detected through the linear heat cable within a cabinet, then only the fire suppression system of that cabinet activates.

FirePro generators have been installed at Eurostar sites in such a way so that they can be easily removed and and this also helps with the maintenance of the batteries, reports the company.

What systems have been installed?

*FirePro® Model FP80S

FirePro® condensed aerosol units are made of the highest quality materials, certified for a working life of 15 years and are listed and certified by BSI, UL, ULC, KIWA and other notified bodied.

The units can be used either alone or in combinations to suit the nature of the risk.

* FirePro® Model FP100S

FirePro® condensed aerosol units are made of the highest quality materials, certified for a working life of 15 years and are listed and certified by BSI, UL, ULC, KIWA and other notified bodied.

The units can be used either alone or in combinations to suit the nature of the risk.

* FirePro® Model FP3000LPCB Approved

FirePro® condensed aerosol units are made of the highest quality materials, certified for a working life of 15 years and are listed and certified by BSI, UL, ULC, KIWA and other notified bodied. The units can be used either alone or in combinations to suit the nature of the risk.

A bespoke solution for Eurostar International

Thanks to FirePro, Eurostar International now has a bespoke solution with self -contained in cabinet fire detection utilising linear heat detection cable, directly linked to the FPC-2 local control panel.

A company spokesman commented: “There was no disruption to operations throughout the installation. This system operates independently of the room flood protection which is linked to various ancillary signalling for remote alert.”

The client tasked FirePro with supplementing the existing point automatic fire detection and alarm system installed in the track side REB rooms, The FirePro engineering team also had to upgrade the engineering configuration to include a local automatic fire detection and fire suppression system for the standby battery enclosures, as well as to introduce a room flood fire suppression system solution.

Utilising the FirePro Sigma XT control and the FPC-2 for local cabinet protection meant the engineering configuration could be set to the client’s bespoke requirements, report the installlers. www.fireprouk.com

“ FirePro was tasked by the client to design, supply, install, commission and maintain a fire detection and rapid reaction fixed active fire suppression system for Relocatable Equipment Buildings (REBs). This is where maintenance is carried out for all Eurostar trains.”

CHP is at the heart of the AGR Fenlands Glasshouse Project

Clarke Energy is behind the AGR Fenlands glasshouse project which combines a 33MWth heat pump system with a CHP plant comprising three INNIO Jenbacher gas engines with CO2 recovery. The CHP plant consists of Jenbacher J416, J620 & J624 engines providing an electrical output of 9MWe, which will be used to power the glasshouse, the LED grow lights and various site auxiliaries, reports UKPN.

The waste heat generated from the engines at he AGR Fenlands glasshouse project is to be utilised as hot water which will be stored in two 6000m3 thermal stores and used to heat the glasshouses, reports Clarke Energy.

The CO2 recovered from exhaust gases will be transferred to the glasshouse to help accelerate the growth of the produce.

AGR is a leading UK renewable energy company specialising in low carbon energy generation, with over £350m of projects delivered to date in the UK, including a portfolio of gas peaking and combined heat and power (CHP) projects.

AGR developed and is the main EPC contractor for a new 217,000m² glasshouse and energy centre in Cambridgeshire and has sold the project to funds managed by Greencoat Capital.

AGR has selected Clarke Energy to supply and install the innovative energy centre that will

supply electricity and heat to the project. Overall, the glasshouse facility will be used to grow cucumbers and will be able to grow 10% of the cucumbers consumed in Britain using 30% less CO2 than conventionally heated glasshouses.

The Energy Centre for the glasshouse combines a 33MWth heat pump system with a combined heat and power (CHP) plant comprising three high-efficiency INNIO Jenbacher gas engines with CO2 recovery.

The installation of heat pumps provides renewable hot water heating to the glasshouse and qualifies for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). IES Energy is a leading heat pump manufacturers and has supplied and installed the heat pumps for the project.

Their trusted partner Pure Renewables will be designing and installing the open-loop collection system which runs over a total distance of 750m. Clarke Energy and AGR opted for an ammonia (R717) refrigerant system as opposed to a

hydrocarbon refrigerant from IES Energy as ammonia has a higher efficiency value and global warming potential of zero.

The liquid-to-water heat pumps recover renewable heat from local reservoirs on site via the reverse Carnot cycle and through the use of an ammonia refrigerant.

The open-loop collection system involves eighteen pumps floating on platforms spread across the three reservoirs which extract water from the reservoirs and transfer any available heat to the ammonia refrigerant (approx. 10°C).

The heated ammonia is pumped to the seven compressors located near the glasshouse where the ammonia is compressed, and heat is transferred to the site thermal stores at circa 50°C.

The compressors are split into three separate, skid mounted systems, one single compressor (4.7MW) and two twin compressors (9.5MW), powered in part by the Jenbacher engines.

The CHP plant consists of Jenbacher J416, J620 & J624 engines which provide an electrical output of 9Mwe used to power the glasshouse, the LED grow lights and various site auxiliaries. The waste heat generated from the engines is utilised as hot water which is stored in two 6000m3 thermal stores and used to heat the glasshouses.

The CO2 recovered from exhaust gases is transferred to the glasshouse to help accelerate the growth of the produce.

About the companies

Clarke Energy, a KOHLER Company, is a multi-award-winning global business specialising in the engineering, installation and maintenance of distributed power generation solutions.

Clarke Energy provides distributed power plant solutions with market leading engineering, installation and maintenance support.

As green technology pioneers, INNIO is empowering customers to move confidently toward a net zero future. Its decentralized and flexible energy solutions range from renewable to 100% green hydrogen, building resilience for businesses and industries while reducing carbon intensity.

INNIO reports that it is taking advantage of emerging energy solutions and accelerating the use of renewable energy sources to empower a secure, affordable, and sustainable energy supply.

www.innio.com www.clarke-energy.com

www.agr-group.co.uk

“The Energy Centre for the glasshouse combines a 33MWth heat pump system with a combined heat and power (CHP) plant comprising three high-efficiency INNIO Jenbacher gas engines with CO2 recovery. The installation of heat pumps provides renewable hot water heating to the glasshouse.”

Technology Seminar & 74th

Annual Luncheon

17th March 2023 - Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower

The IPowerE’s 2023 Technology Seminar and Annual Luncheon is to be held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge. The day will commence at 10.00am with a technology seminar, followed by a 3-course luncheon and guest speakers in the afternoon.

The morning seminar will comprise a multi-stream programme covering a range of technologies and subject matter, so there will be something which is relevant to everyone’s business.

The Annual Seminar & Luncheon is well established as a key event in the calendar of the power and prime mover industries and is an occasion not to be missed. Book your place now and take the opportunity to catch up on the latest technology developments and to hear and engage with internationally renowned speakers, plus the chance to network with other members, clients and colleagues.

Industry Speaker: National Grid

Guest Speaker: Penny Mallory

Often best known for her passion for motor sport, Penny’s first love has always been people. Penny has spoken all over the world, an Event Host and a familiar TV Presenter. Based on over twenty years of sporting and business experience, Penny talks about The Psychology of Success.

“I love the buzz and physical challenge of running, riding and boxing. But to find real balance in life, it is essential to achieve some moments of stillness and mindfulness. I believe that balance is the key to unlocking pure, true potential” says Penny.

Against the odds, Penny Mallory became the first woman in the World to compete in a World Rally Car. Her story is unusual and inspiring. Penny shares the ups and downs of her story from ‘homeless waster’ to ‘Rally Champion’, inspiring audiences to achieve greater things for themselves. Her unique and inspirational story shows there is no limit to what you can achieve with will determination, focus and commitment.

Penny has also entered the boxing ring for two fights, one opponent being TV chef Monica Galetti. She has completed 4 marathons, various hell runners and a Triathlon. She has learnt to play polo and completed a successful ascent in 2008 of the tough North face of Europe’s highest mountain, Mount Elbrus and more recently summited Mount Kilimanjaro.

DO HEAT NETWORKS HAVE THE POPULAR VOTE?

There is no way to net zero without heat networks – the simple, well-proven technology will be essential to decarbonising the heat in not just our buildings, but entire towns and cities, writes Stephanie Hacker.

Zoning is crucial to heat network development, a policy now being debated in Parliament. The policy designates some local areas as those which must be decarbonised through heat networks and places mandates on buildings within those zones to connect The stakes are high. Get zoning right and the path to decarbonising buildings has just become a lot easier. Get zoning wrong and not only have we stymied progress in a sector full of potential for the UK, but we have also just made reaching net zero even harder.

Faced with the potentially inflammatory combination of persistently low public awareness and higher costs borne by households, building and maintaining public support for heat decarbonisation, in general, will be key – as recognised by the

Commenting on the publication of the Independent review into Net Zero led by Chris Skidmore MP, ACE’s CEO Stephen Marcos Jones said:

“The overarching take-away from the Review is that it makes clear the economic opportunity of our journey to Net Zero, reinforcing our views that our current economic challenges should not detract from longer-term ambitions on climate. We welcome the specific focus of using infrastructure to unlock Net Zero and support the ambition to develop a cross-sectoral Infrastructure Strategy by 2025. Our members at ACE and EIC, with a unique role in the supply chain as the delivery partners of choice for government – as well as in-depth specialist technical knowledge and understanding – are well placed to support the delivery of this Review.

“We were delighted to see many of our policy asks, recently published in our 2023 Manifesto, explored in the Review. The ‘Net Zero local big bang’

Climate Change Committee (CCC) this month in its progress report to Parliament.

For heat networks, this is even more pressing. The Government is moving forward quickly on phasing out fossil fuel heating off-gas grid but the policy for the gas grid is much slower and woollier. This needs to change because zones will be mostly in on-gas grid areas and will therefore require users within them to move faster on heat decarbonisation.

Acceptability and support for zoning are key, but how do we know whether it exists?

Recent research commissioned by BEIS and conducted by ACE Research and the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) (a member of the ADE), alongside SE2, has taken the first steps to answer this question.

The research assessed the views, attitudes and perspectives of stakeholders who may be affected by the heat network zoning policy. This included local authorities & other public sector organisations. ,

tallies with many of our regional advocacy points on driving local industrial strategies, and we were pleased to see a recommendation to simplify local net zero funding, consolidate of different pots and a reduce competitive bidding.

“We were also pleased to see a recognition of the need for whole systems thinking around creating an R&D and technology roadmap – this would help our members to plan to play a crucial role in delivery.

Finally, it was refreshing to see a recognition of the vital role that skills will play in our move to Net Zero, and the proposal for changes to the apprenticeship levy in England is interesting, however we would need to ensure that any changes would not be at the expense of quality or apprenticeships value to employers.”

“There is lots to welcome in this Review and we look forward to working constructively with government.”

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Loadbanks from Trystar

Trystar, a key supplier of electrical testing, control and conveyance products, has developed a new loadbank product offering designed to address growing interest businesses have in power resiliency.

The new power resiliency package consists of a loadbank, docking station and cabling that is tailored to each customer’s specific permanent or rental generator backup power system. Along with ensuring proper genset operation, load bank testing reduces wet-stacking issues in diesel gensets which can occur when the unit is operated at light loads for extended periods. Load bank testing is required for many standby power installations and is generally considered a needed maintenance practice. www.trystar.com

New Battery Chargers available from DSE

DSE is pleased to announce the launch of 2 brand new battery chargers, developed to strengthen the DSEPower® battery charger range: New Battery Chargers - DSEBC1205

- 12 Volt 5 Amp Battery Charger & DSEBC2405 24 Volt 5 Amp Battery Charger.

The compact chargers can be mounted horizontally or vertically to suit different application environments and offer multiple features including: wide AC input voltage / constant current / constant voltage / manual boost adjustment / auto recovery on removal of a fault condition / cell charge & equalising / battery voltage measurement / battery charger thermal de-rate facility, plus much more.

Suitable for a wide range of battery types and with no moving parts for increased reliability, the chargers deliver a minimum 80% operating efficiency. The chargers can also be used as a power supply for additional flexibility. Both chargers are available to order immediately for delivery. www.deepseaelectronics.com

Sealed battery monitoring system from Flow-Rite Controls

Flow-Rite Controls has developed a new battery monitoring system designed to wireless monitor the health of sealed AGM, gel, TPPL, and lithium-ion batteries used in forklifts, scissor lifts, scrubbers, pallet jacks and golf carts. The new Advanced Battery Steward for Sealed Batteries is designed to monitor critical data like voltage and half-voltage, current in and out, temperature and battery impact and angle. Each event and measurement is time and date stamped for Machine Learning (ML) processing to create high-value metrics and realistic gauges of battery performance. Offering the ability to display both the current battery state as well as view its history on a smartphone, tablet or desktop, Advanced Battery Steward helps identify events that may put a battery’s health at risk. A storage battery maintenance manager can, for example, take measurements to modify equipment utilization to optimize performance and increase longevity.

Pre-wired and engineered for simple installation, is configured using a free intuitive Android or iOS app. Once set up, the user can monitor all their battery technologies on a single dashboard.

Flow-Rite offers the Advanced Battery Steward - take control of your battery management with Advanced Battery Steward. The tracker feeds information wirelessly, syncing with your computer and mobile devices. This allows you to know exactly when your battery was watered, current in & out, battery impact, and more. This system allows you to monitor:

-Watering Events: Date & Time

-Voltage & Half -Voltage

-Fluid Level

-Temperature

-Current In & Out

-Battery Impact. The key components:of the system include:

-Tracker Module

-Probe Sensor

-Pressure Sensor

-Current Sensor www.flow-rite.com

Perkins’ 5000 Series full authority electronic engines

Perkins® 5000 Series is a full authority electronic range of inline six and eight cylinder and V12 and V16 cylinder engines which has been engineered specifically for the power generation market to supply critical applications such as data centres and hospitals with dependable prime or standby power, where downtime isn’t an option.

The most powerful and largest fully electronic, electric power range from Perkins, the 5000 Series has been designed to optimise customers’ needs for quick, reliable and cost-effective power, while delivering reliability, high performance and peace of mind.

Providing reliable power when needed, the 5000 Series delivers:

-Outstanding load acceptance, response and performance

-High power density in a smaller footprint for ease of installation

-Low cost of ownership with optimised fuel and oil consumption. Ranging from 750 to 2500 kVA of power potential, the full authority electronic fuel injection 5000 Series engines are built to world-class standards for high efficiency, low fuel consumption and global emission standards.

Packed with features and the performance to provide dependable power output up to 2500 kVA for standby and 2250 kVA for prime applications, the 5000 Series is designed to supply electrical power when and where needed. Whether for critical power applications, or prime or standby power, the engine range has been optimised and tested to deliver costeffective, reliable performance.

“With multiple engine models offering a substantial power output of up to 2500 kVA, every aspect of the new 5000 Series engine range, from its outstanding load acceptance capabilities to custom-created components and innovative engineering techniques, has been designed to optimise our customers’ needs for quick, reliable and cost-effective power,” says EAME sales director Richard Hemmings. www.perkins.com

ENGINE MANUFACTURERS GUIDE

INNIO Jenbacher gas engines

Manufacturer of gas driven generator sets and cogeneration systems in a power range from 0.25 to 3 MW.

R Schmitt Enertec GmbH

56743 Mendig, Germany T +49

F +49 2652 9351822 info@rschmitt-enertec.com

www.rschmitt-enertec.com

Manufacturer of gas driven engines,generator sets and cogeneration systems in the range from 100 - 500 kW.

RSE Engines for natural gas and biogas

m3N. Dry exhaust gas; based on 5% O2. For engines with 1,200 rpm please contact GE Energy’s Jenbacher product team.

Perkins Engines Company Limited

Peterborough PE1 5FQ

Contact name:- Simon Gray

Tel: +44 (0) 1733 583000

Email: gray_simon_j@perkins.com

Perkins is one of the world’s leading suppliers

in dieselor 1000 kWE prime in gas.

SCANIA ENGINES

SE-151 87 Sodertalje Sweden

Tel +468553 81000

Fax +468553 898 12

E-mail engines@scania.com

Web www.scania.com

UK Contact – Mark Swindell

Scania GB Ltd

Tel +44 1908 329386

E-mail mark.swindell@scania.com

Diesel & Gas engines for power generation

Prime power 250kVA to 700kVA Stand by power 250kVA to 770kVA

Engine range prime power 50hz & 60hz at (70% mean load factor)

Scania produce diesel and gas powered engines for various Industrial and Marine applications,tionally low fuel consumption.

All models are available to meet current emissions requirements, Scania engines are now available to meet both Tier 4F and EU Stage V. Alternative fuels

Many of our engines can also operate on Bio-diesel conforming to EN14214 and HVO conforming to EN159540

The Power of 10

Modular Power Solution

Bergen Engines, together with Piller Power Systems and Marelli Motori, present The Power of 10.

A scaleable microgrid power solution featuring optional Integrated Power Conditioning Technology (IPCT).

n 10MW multiples to 100MW+

n No standby generators

n Waste heat recovery to cooling

n Totally flexible in conjunction with renewables

So, if you are thinking partial or total grid-independence, think The Power of 10.

We have the power.

Example of 100MW installation