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 August 2024
Rolls-Royce has taken another step towards introducing mini nuclear power stations in the UK after its reactor designs were submitted for consideration by the Government. The Nuclear Industry Association has applied for a justification decision for Rolls-Royce SMR’s reactor design. https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/eastmidlands/news/2088333-rolls-royce-edges-closer-to-nuclear-goal?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EastMidlands_31st_Jul_2024_Daily
Energy News – Early August 2024
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has applied to expand its wind turbine factory in Hull. Planning documents show the move would create an additional 40 full-time jobs at the plant at Alexandra Dock. A multi-purpose manufacturing building is proposed along with a small staff welfare building. Hull City Council will decide whether to grant permission for…
Power Generation News – Late June 2024
A project is to develop the use of low CO2 steels from Tata Steel’s Port Talbot site to build platforms for floating offshore wind structures and strengthen local supply chains has won nearly £1 million of innovation funding. The Launchpad project is a collaboration between Marine Power Systems (MPS), Tata Steel UK, Swansea University, Associated…
Power Generation News – Early June 2024
National Grid is starting work on a new 275kV substation on IAMP to enable new gigafactories and other businesses on the site to plug directly into the electricity transmission network. IAMP is a scheme being brought forward thanks to a joint venture between Sunderland and South Tyneside Councils. The Hylton Castle substation will provide a…
Power Generation News – Late May 2024
The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) has launched a new innovation grant funding competition that will see a total of £1m awarded to supply chain companies to develop new products and services for the sector. Click here to read the full article
Energy New – Late May 2024
In a significant boost for the UK green energy supply chain, Sumitomo Electric has commenced construction of its state-of-the-art subsea transmission cable factory in the Scottish Highlands. The factory will supply critical elements for the reinforcement of the UK electricity transmission grid and for connecting renewable energy production facilities to the grid. Click here to…
Power Generation News – Early May 2024
The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) has launched a new innovation grant funding competition that will see a total of £1m awarded to supply chain companies to develop new products and services for the sector. Click here to read the full article
Energy News – Early May 2024
In a significant boost for the UK green energy supply chain, Sumitomo Electric has commenced construction of its state-of-the-art subsea transmission cable factory in the Scottish Highlands. The factory will supply critical elements for the reinforcement of the UK electricity transmission grid and for connecting renewable energy production facilities to the grid. Click here to…
Nuclear News – Late April 2024
Rolls-Royce has secured additional funding from the UK Space Agency to advance nuclear-powered projects within the space industry. Some £1.2m has been allocated to Rolls-Royce Submarines and BWX Technologies, a US-based nuclear supplier to utilise fission nuclear systems for space exploration missions. Click here to read the full article
Power Generation News – Late March 2024
The University of Nottingham has secured more than £70m to establish new world-leading and open-access research facilities and programmes that will decarbonise future transport. The funding is secured based on a £14m award from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF). This is augmented by both public and private co-investment that will allow the university…
Energy News – Late March 2024
The National Grid’s Electricity System Operator (ESO) has unveiled a new £60bn investment plan to fast-track Britain’s transition to a net-zero power grid by 2035 by boosting clean energy jobs and growing the offshore wind sector. The new £58bn investment plan proposes a set of financial levers that would enable the electricity grid to meet…
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…
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