Balfour Beatty awarded £47.5 million substation contract

Balfour Beatty announced that it has been awarded a £47.5 million contract to design and build a new 400kV substation in Peterhead, Scotland on behalf of SSEN Transmission. This latest contract award forms a critical part of SSEN Transmission’s East Coast Reinforcement programme, which will reinforce the network in the area and facilitate the connection of more renewable energy generation to the national grid. Having completed the initial design phase last month, Balfour Beatty will now commence the construction of the large 25,625 square metre substation as well as all associated cabling and overhead line works, to ensure the continued safe supply of power to the North East of Scotland. As part of its commitment to providing sustainable solutions for its customers and in a first for the UK, Balfour Beatty will install the 400kV Gas Insulated Busbars, used to connect high voltage equipment at electrical substations, with AirPlus – an environmentally friendly alternative to sulfur hexafluoride. Ian Currie, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission and Distribution business comments: “Having secured 15 contracts through the Substation Delivery Framework since our appointment in 2013, we have seen our relationship with SSEN go from strength to strength. “We are delighted to be working with SSEN Transmission once again, utilising our unrivalled expertise and in-depth sector knowledge to successfully deliver this critical substation, which will help to power many homes and businesses across Scotland.” Russell Maxwell, SSEN Transmission Project Manager concludes: “The new substation at Peterhead is a key component in our reinforcement and improvement of the transmission network in the North East and East Coast of Scotland. Once complete, it will facilitate the connection of new renewable energy to supporting the transition to net zero emission. “We are looking forward to building on the already strong working relationship we have with Balfour Beatty as we work together to deliver this important project.” Works are due to commence later this year with completion scheduled for 2023. At peak construction, the project will employ a workforce of 100.  

Trade Hounds launches construction Jobs platform nationwide

Trade Hounds, the professional community built exclusively for the construction industry, has announced the launch of its Jobs platform, which connects contractors directly with the skilled tradespeople they’re seeking to hire. Unlike other job boards serving the industry, Trade Hounds has built a community of 175,000 tradespeople that are already using the platform to showcase their work, build professional profiles and expand their networks. Existing professional platforms are argued to have failed to meet the needs of the $1.3 trillion construction industry. Sourcing talent remains a huge challenge for contractors and the industry. Trade Hounds believes a construction-only hiring platform is needed to meet the demands of both workers and employers. The company has taken a 'worker-first approach’ by building a platform that workers can use for; showcasing work, building professional profiles and networking. Now that Trade Hounds has amassed more than 175,000 workers, they’re enabling contractors to tap into their vast community of skilled tradespeople. “The motivations and preferences of tradespeople differ from those of the corporate job seeker,” says David Broomhead, Co-Founder and CEO of Trade Hounds. “We’ve built a community where tradespeople belong. Construction companies recognize the value of a platform that provides direct access to a larger pool of qualified talent. Our Jobs platform fills a void in the construction industry.” Trade Hounds’ Jobs platform is being introduced at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has displaced construction workers, delaying projects. While disruption from the pandemic lingers, markets are experiencing a recovery, with jobs starting to pick up. The Jobs platform is helping to put people back to work and advance the progress of construction projects across the country. Trade Hounds is opening up the Jobs Platform to contractors nationwide. Some of the country’s largest electrical and MEP subcontractors are already using and finding value in the platform. “Trade Hounds has already become a part of our recruiting process at CCS. The community of tradespeople on Trade Hounds gives us access to qualified workers that we can’t access anywhere else. The platform’s construction-only focus ensures jobs are shown only to relevant workers,” comments Matt Telmanik, President of CCS Construction Staffing. With 175,000 registered users, Trade Hounds has established itself as the premier labor marketplace for the construction ecosystem. The Jobs platform strengthens the company’s value by diversifying its user base, creating a way for its community members to source employment. Now, the construction industry has a tailored solution for its employment needs.

Energy Efficient Improvements a Priority for 9 in 10 homeowners

Almost 9 in 10 Brits regard energy efficiency as the most important factor when making home improvements, according to new research by Schneider Electric. With the average Brit spending £1,458 on home improvements in three years, homeowners are now expected to invest on becoming eco-friendly. The survey of 2,000 UK consumers conducted in October, highlighting a shifting mindset post-COVID. Energy efficiency topped the list of common priorities, it was followed by more traditional factors, comfort (87%) and design (75%). Investing in sustainability, such as installing solar panels, is a priority to over-two thirds (65%). Features such as investing in increasing the size of a home or entertainment systems were regarded as less important (49% and 41% respectively), showing whilst budgets are tight, large home improvements are not a priority. Striving towards a net zero home. According to the Climate Change Commission (CCC), the UK will not meet its zero carbon goals without eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from Britain’s 29 million homes. By 2050, electricity use in homes is set to more than double. The research highlights the awareness of climate change and the phenomenon of energy efficiency. Half of Brits say that it's important to them that their home reach net zero emissions. The majority of adults say that they wish to reach this goal. Net zero homes are vital in solving the climate change challenges and homeowners need to adopt sustainability to address this. By generating as much renewable electricity as they use, people will be able to tackle this. “Despite most consumers owning a piece of technology, it isn’t revolutionising the way we save energy. Consumers will struggle to enact change if their homes don’t become more connected,” says Nico van de Merwe, VP of Home and Distribution at Schneider Electric. “By creating connected energy efficiency solutions acting like a ‘Fitbit for your home’ we enable visibility over habits that consumers will easily understand and adjust their energy usage to meet goals, mapping progress in achievable steps. As our homes become intelligent, a foundation for net zero homes emerges.” Only 29% of consumers agree that this is likely within their lifetime. Many believe that it's the government’s responsibility, introducing clearer policies for change. Governments and technology companies need to provide solutions to consumers to ensure change becomes a reality. Schneider Electric is doing just that. Nico van de Merwe, VP of Home and Distribution at Schneider Electric, continues: “There is an increase of people wanting to make energy efficient improvements to their homes. Individuals must continue to adopt sustainable features to make their home efficient, with help from government along the way.”

Baxi Heating commits to net zero operations by 2030

Leading boiler manufacturer, Baxi Heating, has promised to revolutionise the way we heat our buildings. The announcement coincides with the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan for a Green Revolution and places Baxi at the heart of the ‘heating transformation’, to achieve the UK’s climate targets. Karen Boswell OBE, Managing Director of Baxi Heating, comments: “Future generations will judge us by our actions. Our pledge is to be carbon neutral by 2030, and to phase-out of carbon intensive heating by ensuring every product we make from 2025 will work with low carbon energy.” The company has committed to a portfolio of cleaner products, that will work with low carbon fuels by 2025. Baxi plays a role in the residential and commercial heating markets, providing heating and hot water solutions to the UK. As such, it has a huge responsibility to drive positive change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Heating is responsible for 37% of the UK’s contribution to greenhouse gases. To decarbonise existing homes by 2050, all new heating installations must be low carbon by 2035. New builds will also have to have low carbon heating from the mid-2020s. Baxi Heating is committed to delivering low carbon solutions to homes and businesses and driving down costs through product evolution - building on its ambition to make the world a better place for future generations. As part of the Green Industrial Plan, the Prime Minister has committed to create the first hydrogen heated neighbourhood by 2023, the first village by 2025 and the first entire town by the end of the decade. Baxi Heating and BDR Thermea Group intend to be at the vanguard of this mission and are testing one of the UK’s first hydrogen boilers. They have been working closely with government to trial hydrogen heating technologies. Baxi Heating has been involved in the UK’s hydrogen taskforce, Hy4Heat, HyDeploy and User projects. It has recently introduced a new range of low-carbon heat pumps, supporting a UK wide aspiration for 600,000 annual heat pump installations by 2028. Karen Boswell continues: “It's our vision to be a sustainable leader in the heating and hot water sector. We have a responsibility to tackle climate change not only for ourselves, but for future generations. “Delivering greener heating systems is fundamental to achieving net zero. The bottom line is that our customers desire sustainable, affordable and reliable warmth – particularly during this period of economic uncertainty.”

Taiwan shows off its tech muscle during GSMA Thrive Asia Pacific

During the GSMA Thrive Asia Pacific online event, the Industrial Development Bureau of Taiwan presented the solutions for smart cities developed by Taiwanese companies. Through its 3D immersive online platform “Smart City Taiwan 360,” exhibiting from November 3 until early next year, the technological capabilities of Taiwan. What will be presented fall into several categories, including Mobility, Governance, Health, 5G and more. Mobility: Parking GO, by FarEastone is a Smart Parking Service through a geomagnetic Sensor System that allows Parking Spot Search. By adding the Parking GO LINE account, users can be navigated to vacant spots and pay their parking fees online by linking to the Parking Megaphone app. The service not only makes parking more convenient, but improves operators’ ticket-issuing efficiency, allowing local governments to utilise data analytics to meet parking demands. EV Charging Infrastructure Solutions, by Noodoe. Charging equipment, interactive KIOSK billboards and VR tourism services are set up at hotels and visitor centres, Noodoe provides EV Charging Monitoring and Operator Management Platform for Smart Cities, and an all-new tourism experience. AR Navigation, by Askey Computer.  Based on beacon's positioning capability, Askey utilizes Mobile Edge Computing AR technology to guide travellers to their destination intuitively. During the process, discounts and shopping coupons will appear on the screen, adding to the shoppers experience. Governance: AI Air Pollution Management Platform for City Governance, by Cameo. Introducing air pollution sensors that automatically detect environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and toxic substances. By linking with national monitoring station data, the system can analyse and provide estimations, early warning and locate the source of pollution. AI-based Platform for dengue fever prevention, by Wistron. To provide an effective solution to the spread of dengue fever in summer, AI image recognition has been combined with an automatic counting model to perform risk control and early warning analysis. Autonomous Intelligent Drones Solution, by CIRC. A commercial drone solution for security and industrial inspections using the smart fleet management system, providing on-site image collection in combination with an autonomous drone, to patrol large areas. Smart 3D Fire-fighting Position Tracking System, by eZoom. To improve rescue efficiency and public safety, 3D models of buildings are created with integrated Web GIS, indoor full panorama images and Personnel Tracking System. Commanders can track the location and status of firemen within a site through the real-time indoor positioning system. Smart VR/MR Disaster Reduction Service, by APEX. The integration of VR, MR, and 720o simulated wireless interactive technologies facilitate virtual disaster relief training. With the establishment of the database, domestic/foreign disaster cases are collected to research on the optimized disaster relief and prevention models and compile training material for domestic fire and disaster prevention industries, academia, and government to improve disaster relief capability. Healthcare: Mobile Vision Testing Integrated Service, by Leosys. Healthcare Information Platform uses portable vision testing equipment with AI-assisted interpretation to provide examinations to people remotely. Increasing the number of vision tests in remote regions, provides warning of diseases, supplements the lack of medical personnel, reducing social, medical, and welfare costs. Safety D+ Card, by Fashion Intelligence. The “Safety D+ Card” utilizes IoT and Bluetooth positioning technology to track children and seniors with dementia.  Collaborating with 7-ELEVENs and community sites, “Smart Health Measurement Stations” are set up, encouraging seniors to be more active. MPHR Integrated Cloud-based Co-Care Platform, by Advmeds. Integrating the healthcare resources of Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Penghu, the platform offers health monitoring services in communities through “Self-Help Health Stations” connecting core hospitals with primary care clinics on “Co-Care Cloud Platform”, creating Taiwan’s largest community co-care network. iDiabCare Management Platform, by Compal. This combines a hospital system using AI, deep learning technologies, cloud service platform and professional medical support with a social platform for patients, case managers, and medical material distribution channels, a remote care solution and sharing platform that are provided to serve diabetics around the world. 5G: 5G Smart Factory, by Inventec. An automated error detection system was developed for factory production lines by using 5G technology. Volumes of images are transferred via 5G to AI and cloud servers where learning algorithms are used to decrease false positives and increase production efficiency. 5G Smart Stadium, by Taiwan Mobile.  5G technology is applied to baseball services so fans can access personalized services. This improves buzz amongst fans and interactive experiences between teams and fans.

Flir systems announces thermal videoscope for underground utility vaults

FLIR Systems has announced the Flir VS290-32, a videoscope combining thermal imaging and a visible camera specifically designed for safer inspections of underground utility vaults. The VS290-32 is the company’s first industrial-grade, electrical safety-rated, flexible dual-sensor videoscope on a replaceable, two-meter-long camera probe. For use in the most demanding environments, the VS290-32 is CAT IV 600 V safety rated for electrical inspections, along with an IP67-rated camera tip and IP54 base unit to protect against dust and water. The device features Flir Systems’ patented Multi-Spectral Dynamic Imaging, which improves image clarity by embossing visual scene details onto full thermal images, providing crucial context to accurately and safely assess and identify potential issues to prevent blackouts and asset failures. A low-profile tip and bright LED work light provides illumination for MSX in dark environments, including under manhole covers or in other tight spaces such as attics, within HVAC systems, and inside machinery. “The ruggedized and electrical-safety rated videoscope with MSX will drastically increase the ease of thermal inspections within tight, hard-to-reach places at power generation plants, power distribution systems, manufacturing facilities, and for public safety, and building diagnostics inspections,” says Rickard Lindvall, General Manager, Solutions Business at Flir systems. The VS290-32 features a Flir Lepton thermal sensor and offers the option of hot/cold colour alarms, or isotherms, to quickly identify areas of concern across a temperature range from -10 to 400 degrees Celsius (14 to 752 degrees Fahrenheit). The device includes a dual battery charger along with lithium ion. “Safety is Con Edison’s top priority,” concludes Andrew Reid, Section Manager for Engineering and Analysis in Distribution Engineering at Con Edison. “This new tool allows our crews to safely, efficiently, and effectively inspect vented manholes and identify potential problems without having to remove the cover or even having to enter the structure. This reduces the physical effort required by our crews, the time it takes to complete an inspection and enhances data collection activities to support our ongoing infrastructure planning and maintenance.”

Schneider Electric invests in ETAP Automation Inc. for green electrification

Schneider Electric, a leader of the digital transformation of green energy management and automation, announces it has acquired a controlling stake in ETAP Automation Inc. (“ETAP”), a software platform for electrical power systems modelling and simulation. Trusted by 10,000+ design and engineering firms globally, ETAP models, simulates, controls, and optimizes customer electricity power systems based on their digital twin equivalents. Subject to legal approvals, the ETAP investment completes Schneider’s existing software portfolio for electricity power systems. Its technology will be integrated in Schneider’s unique cloud-based technology platform for the design and operation of mission-critical power systems using vendor-agnostic software-driven modelling, design, real-time predictive simulation and operation solutions. This will help deliver end-to-end lifecycle digitalization and bring enhanced efficiency and sustainability to power and grid applications. The joint offering will pave the way for green data centres, enabling better integration of renewables, fuel cells and battery storage. Global customers and partners across critical process and hybrid industries, power plants and grids, data centres, railways and airports will benefit from enhanced predictive maintenance capabilities. By 2040, electricity will be different: the share of electricity will double, reaching at least 40% of final energy consumption; and six times more green electricity will be generated from solar and wind. However, today’s electrical distribution systems suffer from high levels of inefficiency due to low adoption of digital technologies. A more efficient infrastructure cannot exist without smarter design. Studies show that rework caused by design errors accounts for up to 20% increase in total Capital Expenditure. The combined solution will help improve power system performance from modelling to drive improved grid performance. By digitally streamlining complex systems, the joint Schneider Electric and ETAP offering will: Maximise the power system production process. Protect operational staff and equipment from arc flash, over voltages and overheating. Improve system uptime and anticipate failures. Improve awareness of new energy resources. Optimise operational performance with preventative maintenance The integration of Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Power Design platform and ETAP’s electrical software design solutions will extend their reach across multi-vendor operating platforms to millions of assets across energy-intensive and power systems applications. This will help to digitize critical infrastructure, creating more sustainable data centres and further decarbonize energy production. Whilst operating as an independent software vendor and delivering value as manufacturer agnostic, ETAP’s solutions will strengthen Schneider Electric’s position as a major player in electrical design, by offering customers unique software capabilities to operate utilities and energy intensive systems as designed, and enhance Schneider Electric’s digital twin capabilities in Power, Grid and mission-critical sectors.

Schneider Electric releases EcoStruxure Automation expert

Schneider Electric has unveiled its EcoStruxure Automation Expert, a new category of software-centric industrial automation system, and vision for universal automation, thus accelerating its drive to help customers unlock the full potential of the Industrial Internet of Things and unleashing a new wave of innovation by championing the widespread adoption of open automation standards. With Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Automation Expert, Schneider Electric reports it is the first universal automation offering based on the IEC61499 standard, and it begins a new era of software-centric, interoperable industrial automation. Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Automation Expert is a new category of industrial automation system with IEC61499 at its core. EcoStruxure Automation Expert: Enables automation applications to be built using asset-centric, portable, proven-in-use software components, independent of the underlying hardware infrastructure. Allows the user to distribute applications to any system hardware architecture of choice. Supports established software best practices to simplify the creation of automation applications that interoperate with IT systems. The first release of Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Automation Expert supports traditional automation platforms, such as Modicon PLCs, and Altivar Variable Speed Drives, and industrial PCs.  Reportedly, for the first time, complex multi-drive control algorithms can be programmed and distributed to the drive controller without the need for a central PLC. Completing the line-up, a virtualized software controller running in Docker-powered Linux containers supports distributed information and control systems across edge computing architectures. Leveraging the object-oriented nature of IEC61499, software components known as Composite Automation Types (CATs) are used to model assets by combining real-time control functions with other facets, such as the human machine interface. This asset-centric approach delivers cost and performance gains and frees engineers to innovate by automating low-value work and eliminating task duplication across tools. Benchmarking of EcoStruxure Automation Expert against today’s automation systems has demonstrated a 2 to 7X reduction in the time it takes to perform traditional automation tasks. Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Automation Expert’s support for mainstream IT best practices enables step-change improvements in asset and workforce efficiency using advanced technologies like predictive maintenance, digital twin and others. The system also reduces total cost of ownership by incorporating legacy systems with a wrap-and-reuse approach. Harry Forbes, ARC Advisory Group, concludes; “The new EcoStruxure Automation Expert is both a highly productive control system design tool and a harbinger of a coming era where automation software reaches new levels of portability and hardware independence.”

£2.5 million allocated to support the electrical waste refuse and recycling sector

Material Focus has announced that its  “Support Grants and Loans Package” helping to support the electrical waste recycling sector as a result of COVID-19 has been allocated £2.5 million. The “Support Grants and Loans Package” will help support the continuation of the UK WEEE recycling system as the sector deals with the repercussions of COVID-19.  The funding has provided nearly £2 million of interest free loans to commercial electrical waste treatment facilities. Fourteen companies applied and were granted loans, and 34 charities were provided with support via grants. Material Focus allocated the fund on behalf of the 2019 Compliance Fee Advisory Panel. The research identifies the economic impact that coronavirus was having on the sector. Loans and grants that were applied for were allocated based upon evidence issued by applicants for WEEE processing in 2019. Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus comments: “We are delighted that Material Focus has been able to help support 48 organisations and charities. Continuing to process the valuable materials contained in electricals is important for the environment and the economy.” Phil Conran from the AATF Forum, says; “This was a very welcome initiative and has helped some members get through a difficult period when their supply of WEEE stopped overnight. Without this funding, it is clear that the UK’s WEEE treatment capacity would have been harmed.” Paul Smith, CEO of The Reuse Shop Stranraer, who received £10,000 from the fund, states; “The WEEE Reuse Support Fund has enabled the Community Reuse Shop to reopen with confidence, knowing we have the necessary skills and resources to safely test, prepare and reuse electrical appliances.  Without this funding we would not be properly and safely prepared to reopen the shop.” The Edinburgh Remakery also received £10,000.  Elaine Brown, CEO says; “The Edinburgh Remakery is delighted to receive the WEEE Reuse Grant Support. This will make a huge difference to the work we are doing.  Prior to Covid19 we had launched our free IT Disposal Service for Businesses.  The WEEE Grant will enable us to bring back one of our IT technicians to refurbish the IT donations from businesses and another member of the team to promote the service and support businesses through the process. This has given a real kick start to our project that will both benefit businesses to dispose of E-waste responsibly, but also allow us to continue to donate refurbished IT to those in the community that are facing digital isolation as a direct result of Covid19.”  

UK government launches taskforce to support 2 million green jobs

The UK government has set an ambition to support 2 million green jobs by 2030, launching a Green Jobs taskforce to set the direction for the job market as we transition to a high-skill, low carbon economy. The Green Jobs Taskforce, to be chaired by Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng and Skills Minister Gillian Keegan, forms part of the government’s ambitious plan to build back greener and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Its aim will be to focus on the immediate and longer-term challenges of delivering skilled workers for the UK’s transition to net zero including: Ensuring we have the immediate skills needed for building back greener, such as in offshore wind and home retrofitting. Developing a long-term plan that charts out the skills needed to help deliver a net zero economy. Ensuring good quality green jobs and a diverse workforce. Supporting workers in high carbon transitioning sectors, like oil and gas, to retrain in new green technologies. Business and Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng explains; "This government has promised to do all it can to provide good quality work as we build back better and greener from coronavirus. The Green Jobs taskforce will oversee the UK taking strides towards long-term economic prosperity, transitioning to the low-carbon green industries of the future". Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Gillian Keegan says; "It is now more critical than ever to make sure that people get the skills they need to progress and that will help our economy recover" The Green Jobs Taskforce represents the views of businesses, employees and the skills sectors and includes representatives from the Construction Industry Training Board, Engineering Construction Industry Training Board, East London Institute for Technology, Retrofit Works, Edinburgh University and National Grid. It will assess how the UK jobs market and the skills sector will adapt to net zero, developing solutions for how the UK can deliver green jobs of the future. The taskforce will create an action plan on what support is needed for people in transitioning industries. Today’s announcements demonstrates efforts to ensure the UK meets its target to reach net zero emissions by 2050, whilst creating jobs as we build back greener. The government has put £3 billion of investment into renovating homes and public buildings to make them more energy efficient, which has the potential to support 140,000 jobs, helping the transition to net zero. The launch of today’s Taskforce builds on the £200 billion support package that has been provided to safeguard jobs, with support extended until March 2021.