Energy

Scarcity of global resources and depletion of carbon fuel sources has been driving the energy sector towards efficiency and alternative sources of energy. The cost inflation in the energy sector have also made more expensive technology relatively more accessible.

This economic driver is twinned with the need to reduce the human effects on global warming, the adoption and ongoing development of technologies to facilitate sustainable energy, power which can be replenished within a human lifetime.

Within the energy sector the generation of power grabs the headlines. Alongside this the upgrading of infrastructure to aid distribution and the need to improve storage are key areas requiring significant engineering and manufacturing. Renewable sources including wind, solar, hydro-electric, tidal all require manufacturing solutions and supply chain opportunities for manufacturers.

In addition, the nuclear energy industry is streamlining to offer small modular reactors (SMRs), moving away from large installations to ‘commoditise’ nuclear generation facilities. This is a major manufacturing challenge and will offer opportunities going forwards.

Manufacturing of substructures, castings, forgings, componentry, turbine blades, substations, cabling, and all elements of the construction process are at the heart of this sector.

Energy News

Nuclear News – Early March 2024

In a historic day for the UK’s energy security, Great British Nuclear (GBN) is buying land for new nuclear development from Hitachi at both Wylfa in Ynys Môn/Anglesey and Oldbury-on-Severn in Gloucestershire. GBN also announced today that the six companies in Great British Nuclear’s (GBN) Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Technology Selection Process can now access…

Power Generation News – Early March 2024

The boss of a Hull turbine manufacturer has said the UK is not moving fast enough to build offshore wind farms. Darren Davidson, head of Siemens Energy, said with the present speed of development, the target of 50 gigawatts of offshore power “won’t be achieved”. The firm employs 6,000 people across the country, including more…

Energy News – Early March 2024

The UK needs to build new, gas-fired power stations to ensure the country’s energy security, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday.  The new stations would replace existing plants, many of which are aging and will soon be retired. But the government says the plans do not include measures for climate change-limiting carbon capture. That…

Nuclear News – Late February 2024

Sheffield Forgemasters has signalled a global leap in welding technology with completion of the first full-sized Small Modular Reactor (SMR) nuclear vessel demonstrator assembly. The firm has pioneered the industrialisation of Local Electron-Beam Welding (LEBW), and complete weld-assembly of the vessel marks a pivotal moment in global welding development, taking less than 24 hours to…

Energy News – Late February 2024

H2H Saltend has been granted planning permission by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, strengthening its case in forthcoming Government competitions. Equinor’s H2H Saltend is a 600-megawatt low-carbon hydrogen production plant with carbon capture, one of the first of its kind and scale to be granted planning permission in the UK, helping to establish the…

Power Generation News – Late January 2024

Energy Security and Net-Zero Secretary Claire Coutinho has approved Drax’s £2bn plans to install carbon capture and storage technology at its power plant in Selby, Yorkshire. Drax’s power station was originally completely coal-fired but, over the past ten years, the facility’s six generating units were converted to run on biomass. The final two units were…

Energy News – Late January 2024

Greater Manchester has signed an agreement to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology with Japanese tech giant Panasonic. Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and Mitsutoshi Shigeta, Managing Executive Officer of Panasonic Corporation, Chief Green Transformation Officer (CGXO), signed the agreement on Monday (15 January). They were joined by representatives from SSE Energy Solutions, Electricity North…

Energy News – Late January 2024

Greater Manchester has signed an agreement to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology with Japanese tech giant Panasonic. Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and Mitsutoshi Shigeta, Managing Executive Officer of Panasonic Corporation, Chief Green Transformation Officer (CGXO), signed the agreement on Monday (15 January). They were joined by representatives from SSE Energy Solutions, Electricity North…

Nuclear News – Early January 2024

The UK will become the first country in Europe to launch a high-tech HALEU (high-assay low enriched uranium) nuclear fuel programme, strengthening supply for new nuclear projects and driving Putin further out of global energy markets. The landmark £300 million investment is part of plans to help deliver up to 24GW of clean, reliable nuclear…

Energy News – Early January 2024

Up to 500 jobs are set to be created through the construction of a waste energy plant in Walsall. The Walsall Energy From Waste facility will be built, owned and operated by energy recovery specialists Encyclis on eight acres of derelict land on Fryers Road. It will work alongside the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)…

Power Generation News – December 2023

The King’s Crown Estate has set out details for huge floating windfarms of the coast of the South West. The royal landowner said floating turbines are to be deployed on a commercial scale for the first time in the Celtic Sea. The organisation, which owns the seabed around England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, said the…

Power Generation News – Late November 2023

The price paid to generate electricity by offshore wind farms has been raised by 66% as the government tries to entice energy firms to invest.  It comes after an auction for offshore wind projects failed to attract any bids, with firms arguing the price set for electricity generated was too low.  The government has lifted…

Energy News – Late November 2023

Billpayers, charities and businesses are being urged to give their views on daily standing charges on energy bills, as part of a review.  Regulator Ofgem said it wanted to open the debate over the charges, including opinions on how to change the system. Currently, energy customers pay a fixed daily charge covering the costs of…

Nuclear News – Late October 2023

Thousands of people across the UK will have the chance to train for careers in innovative fusion technology, under government plans unveiled today (Monday 16 October). Speaking at the IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, Nuclear Minister Andrew Bowie set out details of the new £650 million Fusion Futures Programme – part of the UK’s updated Fusion…

Power Generation News – Late October 2023

Scotland’s biggest offshore wind farm has begun operating at full capacity, removing emissions from power supply.  Seagreen, off the Angus coast, can generate enough electricity to power two-thirds of Scotland’s households. The £3bn project, comprising 114 giant turbines, has been more than a decade in the making.  But operator SSE says the consenting time needs…

Energy News – Late July 2023

The Prime Minister will today (Monday 31 July) confirm that Scotland will continue to be at the forefront of UK Government plans to strengthen the UK’s long-term energy security. During a visit to the North East of Scotland, the Prime Minister will highlight the crucial role that the region will play in enhancing and delivering…

Energy Sector Suppliers

3D Metrology Solutions Ltd

3DGBIRE

ABR (Specialist Welding) Ltd

Ad-Vance Engineering

Aerospace Cutting Tool Ltd

Alan Browne Lapping Services

Ampco Metal Limited

Apex Metrology Ltd

Apsley Engineering Ltd

Aspin Engineering Ltd

Avon-Dynamic

BEC Group

Blum Novotest

Broomfield Carbide Gauges Ltd

Carrs Toolsteel Technologies

Ceratizit UK and Ireland Ltd

CHE Metrology

Crossen Engineering Ltd

Dash CAE Limited

Eclipse Magnetics

ECM Developments Ltd

ELey Metrology Limited

Engis (UK) Ltd

Excel Precision

Fenton Precision Engineering

Filtermist Limited

Glendale Mouldings Limited

Global Shop Solutions

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence

Hexagon Production Software

Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies

Indysoft Europe Ltd

Innovative Measurement Technology Ltd

Investment Tooling International

Kemet International Ltd

Laser Scanning Precision Measuring

MAPAL Limited

MeadeX Rubber Mouldings Ltd

MEC Machine Tools Limited

Metrology and Quality Services Ltd

Morson Projects

National Physical Laboratory (NPL)

Newcastle Tool and Gauge

Optimax Imaging Inspection & Measurement

PDQ Engineering Ltd

Perfect Bore Manufacturing Ltd

Powell Manufacturing Co (Coventry)

Quickgrind Carbide Tooling

R-Winter Tooling

Rainford Precision Machines

Renishaw Plc

Ringspann Power Transmission

Ringspann Remote Control Systems

Ringspann Work Holding Technology

Robev Engineering Ltd

Roemheld UK Limited

Rud Chains Ltd

Sangha Metrology

Sirius Supply Chain Solutions

Solent University – Warsash School of Maritime Science & Engineering

Starrag UK Limited

Testo Industrial Services Ltd

The Sempre Group Ltd

Thermofax Ltd

Third Dimension

Tinius Olsen Ltd

Torus Measurement Systems

Torus Metrology

Torus Modular Frameworks

Velo 3D

Vision Engineering Ltd

WDS Component Ltd

Wogaard

WS2 Coatings Ltd

Yorkshire Precision Gauges Ltd

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