Britain Ranks Second To Last For Power System Flexibility In Industry Report

Regulatory uncertainty, lack of visibility on returns and technical challenges are impeding investment in flexibility services to support Britain’s electricity network as more renewables come online, risking delays in the transition to a greener future, an industry report said. The Energy Transitions Readiness Index, a report published by the Association for Renewable Energy & Clean Technology (REA) and commissioned by Eaton and Drax, reviewed regulation and market access, social and political support for the energy transition, and deployment of enabling technologies such as smart meters in nine northern European countries. Britain, which ranked eighth out of the nine countries in the index, scored poorly on market factors such as a clear and stable regulatory and market framework.  The Netherlands topped the league table of nine countries. Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland and Norway also scored high, while Germany, Britain and France lagged.  The report also highlighted potential difficulties accessing the distribution network and a lack of progress on delivering smart electric vehicle charging. Flexibility is becoming increasingly important as more variable renewables such as wind and solar replace Britain’s large fossil-fuelled power stations to meet targets to cut carbon emissions.  Large generators typically provided flexibility by supplying power during peak demand and ensuring that the system’s voltage and frequency remained within operational limits.  Dr Nina Skorupska, Chief Executive of the REA said: “Decarbonising power means delivering flexibility. In a world of very low-cost variable renewable electricity generation, grids need to be organised differently and some services which were once taken for granted need to be actively procured. Crucially, as renewable power prices fall around the world every country will be experiencing the same shift.  If Britain becomes a flexibility pioneer, then a whole world of markets for exporting our products and services opens up. Whilst this index shows we’re lagging behind, there’s still time to bounce back. “That’s why the REA is calling for the next government to address the barriers to flexibility by delivering wholesale systems change and reform Ofgem as a priority.” Drax Head of Strategy Robert Riley said: “Flexibility is essential to enable net-zero carbon in Britain for 2050. It reduces the risks of power cuts and builds resilience into the grid so that the system can handle the volume of intermittent renewables that we’ll need. Without these flexibility services, it’s going to be much harder, and more costly, to transition to a cleaner electricity system. There’s a huge potential for innovative flexible technologies to play a role. More could be done to provide a level playing field, and clarity on business models so that they can contribute to the zero-carbon ambition.”  Drax already provides a number of flexibility services in the UK, including frequency management, inertia and reserve power from its biomass-powered plant in Yorkshire, hydro in Scotland and is looking to provide further flexibility services including from rapid response gas plants.  Eaton Head of Energy Storage Business Fabrice Roudet said: “We welcome Britain’s ambition and its strong policy commitment to decarbonisation, encouraging new flexibility technologies and business models. However, we urgently need more clarity and an end to the flux to provide the certainty needed to spur private investment in the new technologies that will be required to ease the transition to a high-renewable energy future.”  Robert Hull, author of the report said: “In Britain, the strong ambition for the energy transition and growing flexibility markets hasn’t yet translated into the market and regulatory framework, which is complex and slow to change.” 

Screwfix Customer Stories Inspire Latest Football-Themed Campaign

Following the success of the ‘Legends of the Game’ campaign last year, Screwfix has called on its dedicated customers to bring to life their latest TV campaign.  Inspired by stories told by real customers, Screwfix created a series of 12 stories based around the love of the brand. The stories put that love of Screwfix in a relatable football context, using dedicated customers, whose passion for football is almost as big as their passion for Screwfix.   The stories will debut during ITV’s coverage of England’s International fixture against Montenegro on 14 November and run throughout the remainder of the football season as part of Screwfix’s partnerships with Sky Sports Football, EFL Highlights on Quest and International Football on S4C.   Customers were found through a campaign and social media call out and they jumped at the opportunity to tell these stories. Chosen for their dedication to their trade, their love for the brand and their passion for football, the tradespeople and DIYers featured have brought these stories to life.  Screwfix Acton customer, Alan Mehnizadeh appears in a scenario where a father misses his son’s big moment when shopping on Screwfix.com. Meanwhile Stephen Cooper, who shops at Screwfix's Chessington Store is more interested in the iconic Screwfix catalogue than his matchday programme.  Alan Trice, Senior Marketing Manager: “We spent a couple of days at Haringey FC & Tottenhall sports ground with a full TV crew filming 12 new adverts with real customers who wanted to show their love for the brand. Our customers have always been at the heart of our business and it’s amazing to be able to use real life stories and genuine customers to bring this campaign to life. A massive thank you to the customers who have been a part of this campaign. We can’t wait to see these stories throughout the season.” 

Magazine London Kitted Out With Robe House Lighting Rig

Nearly 100 Robe LED lighting fixtures – T1 Profiles, Spiider LED wash beams plus Divine 160 RGBW LED floods – have been installed as the house lighting package at Magazine London - an event space, located in North Greenwich. This purpose-built destination is the largest of its kind in London, offering a striking blank canvas across 3,205 sq metres of industrial-style space for up to 3,000 people standing. The site also features a 7,000-capacity outdoor showground with views across the river towards Canary Wharf. This brand-new, multi-use venue provides an unrivalled landscape for brand events, awards dinners, conferences, exhibitions, fashion, the arts and ticketed culture. The largest of Magazine’s internal space is Space 2. The interior fit-out comprises over 2,100 OSB boards to bring a warmer wall finish to the warehouse-style design of the building. In total, the project used 13.96 miles of timber, as well as 149,713 screws and 757.5 litres of paint to stain the venue in a specific shade of black; RAL9005.  Technical Consultant, Simon Jones of SJ-TPM, was brought onboard by Venue Lab to coordinate all things technical that relate to event production including the lighting. Involved in the process from conception to completion, his brief was to design the overall technical infrastructure including house lighting and sound systems, and oversee the purchase, procurement and installation of all production equipment.  Magazine wanted to be able to offer an in-house production package that included lighting, sound, rigging, power and data distribution. It needed to be flexible and rider-friendly with the option to be used in its entirety or adapted by artists / clients wanting to bring in their own production elements. Mr Jones wanted to ensure that the production install aligned with the building’s innovative ethos - Magazine London was constructed with advanced materials and revolutionary techniques and has embraced the area’s industrial heritage and prevailing future.  Mr Jones had numerous positive experiences with Robe, one of which included specifying large quantities of BMFL moving lights for the Westfield London retail complex.  “I’ve been hands-on with Robe products for several years, they are rock solid and the service (from local distributor Robe UK) is great, so they were obviously going to be the go-to choice for the Magazine London project,” he said. He then sought additional creative expertise from lighting specialists Ben Cash and Dave Amos, at Flare Lighting, who brought great experience in designing for a diverse portfolio of events and ‘out-of-the-box’ live shows with artists like the Pet Shop Boys and Mark Ronson.  They were asked to advise on the install to help ensure that Magazine would have the best options for a multiplicity of scenarios.  The structural arches of Magazine offer between seven and nine metres of headroom with a good weight loading of five tonnes per arch. This allowed for a Prolyte truss and rigging system to be installed in the roof. Once a basic lighting requirements brief had been constructed, Mr Jones started discussions with several leading manufacturers to get an overview of the available technologies. From this research, he produced a sensible house lighting budget which was approved by the Venue Lab team. LED light sources were a given, and with the other considerations proposed, this resulted in the purchase of the 14 Spiiders, 16 T1 Profiles and 65 Divine 160 RGBW flood / washes from Robe to be installed in the venue.  The Spiiders and T1s are positioned on the stage rig, and the Divines are installed in the roof trusses where they are ideal for washing the entire venue in high-quality colour. “The T1s offer great brightness, high-quality output, multiple features and are extremely power-efficient. While the Spiiders are an ‘industry standard’ LED wash, they have a very intense brightness, a great variety of colours, as well as being small and light, taking up very little space,” stated Mr Jones. With this set up, Magazine London can offer an excellent ‘base’ house lighting option for all events with the ability to tailor production packages if desired, coupled with an L-Acoustics KARA sound system.

Gira UK Retains VIP Status At London Build 2019

Gira has announced it is pleased to once again be a headline sponsor and exhibitor at London Build 2019 for a second consecutive year. Recognised as the largest and most prestigious built-environment design shows for London and the South East, London Build 2019 opens its doors to the building and construction industry on 27rd to 28th November 2019 at the Olympia Exhibition Centre, London. London Build is highly-regarded, offering an all-encompassing B2B trade show that celebrates all aspects of innovative design and construction, London Build 2019 is set to welcome over 25,000+ construction professionals. Gira will use the show to unlock the virtues of intelligent build design and management, welcoming visitors to Stand C36, which is located in the most exhibitor-heavy zone at London Build, the Building Zone. For the duration, Gira will be the exclusive host of the VIP Lounge, also located in the Buildings Zone on the first floor. Making sure all visitors to the show ‘work smart’, Gira will provide a vital charge-point within the VIP Lounge so they can recharge their smartphone batteries and make sure they remain contactable throughout the duration of the show: and on their way home too! Guests just need to head towards the first floor, Building Zone where Gira will be ready to serve your digital needs. Always looking to inform and inspire, Gira will host a System Integrator Partner Event that will run in tandem with London Build 2019, also taking place on 27th November 2019. Bringing qualified system integrators to both its stand [C36] and VIP Lounge, visitors can come and explore the latest innovative product displays by Gira, as well as relax and network amongst some of the finest system integration companies and SI’s. A VIP evening will also take place for invited guests of Gira in the VIP Lounge, which will include leading architects, luxury specifiers, property developers, suppliers, construction professionals and system integrators. Offering another chance to network and inspire open discussions on KNX and Home Automation projects, Gira is confident its attendance at this year’s London Build 2019 will motivate the next generation of system integrators. Mark Booth, Managing Director at Gira UK Ltd, comments: “We are thrilled to be returning to London Build for a second time, offering visitors a host of brand new products and designs on display. We are also looking forward to meeting our Gira-approved System Integrators so we can continue to help them build their businesses within the ‘smart/home automation‘ arena(s) and shine a light on their specialist know-how and expertise on consulting, project planning and commissioning IP products for building control technologies. As the appetite for intelligent build system solutions continues to grow, I am confident that our range of products and network of qualified integrators will answer the markets call for fully connected-living concepts that are more convenient, efficient, cost-effective and secure.” The 12 m2 Stand [129 ft2] will allow Gira to demonstrate its resolute brand ideologies and latest designs by displaying the following new specification products and intelligent build solutions, including the Gira System 3000, Gira System 55, Gira Door Communication Systems and SIP Client with Gira G1. All products on display will be supported by Gira UK experts ready to discuss and guide stand visitors on product suitability, user benefits, technical specification and potential supply/distribution.

The Edinburgh Electrical Society Celebrates 100 Years

One of Scotland’s most revered electrical associations is marking its 100th anniversary as it seeks an injection of new blood from the industry’s younger professionals. The centenary celebrations of The Edinburgh Electrical Society will take place on 12 November at the Charwood restaurant, exactly 100 years after the first meeting of what was then known as The Electric Club. Since its inception in 1919, the society has organised hundreds of meetings, site visits and other events in pursuit of its simple objective to “afford members an opportunity to increase their knowledge of the practice and theory of electrical engineering”. However, speaking to CABLEtalk magazine, the society’s treasurer, Ian Dale, has raised concerns about its long-term future as participation has fallen away. From a high point of 360 members in 1952, membership has dropped to 38 currently, with an average of 15 attending lectures during 2018/19. Seen throughout much of its history as a prime opportunity for professionals to keep abreast of latest industry developments, membership of The Edinburgh Electrical Society was the “done thing” throughout much of its history. But despite its long track record for attracting high-calibre speakers, its future is now under a question mark. “Continuity is the main consideration,” Mr Dale said. “Younger people have other ways to gain knowledge and feel part of the industry. “And they often work long hours which means they don’t have the time to attend meetings and visits.” Despite these difficulties, secretary Alex Lumsden said the society continues to track the latest developments within the sector. Earlier this year, for example, members were briefed on the TEV Project, a design for a highway lane that charges electric vehicles as they drive to combat range limitation. Mr Lumsden said it is fascinating to hear first-hand from those working on such projects, particularly amid the rapid rate of development now taking place within the electrical industry. “We’re really keen to continue,” he added, “but we need the input and enthusiasm of younger people.” Guest speaker at the Centenary Celebration dinner will be Alan Wilson, managing director of electrotechnical trade body SELECT. The Edinburgh Electrical Society features in the latest issue of CABLEtalk, the stakeholder magazine for SELECT. Decisions about The Edinburgh Electrical Society’s future are expected to be made at its next annual general meeting, due to be held in April 2020. 

Tool donation seeks to boost apprentice safety

Super Rod has donated 40 safety tool kits to apprentices at Edinburgh College, as part of the company’s industry-recognised campaign with health and safety ambassador Louise Taggart to improve isolation standards in the electrical industry. The donation holds a special importance to the safety campaign, as it was the college attended by Louise’s brother Michael Adamson – the electrician who died in a workplace incident in 2005, after coming into contact with mains voltage power. Michael would have celebrated his 40th birthday in March 2019. On November 11, Louise shared Michael’s Story with the Edinburgh College course apprentices before helping Super Rod Managing Director, Malcolm Duncan, hand out the safety tool kits, which included a set of VDE rated insulated pliers from Klein Tools, a Megger Instruments voltage tester and a lock out kit from MCG. The products chosen for the safety tool kit are of particular significance to Michael’s Story, as the findings of the HSE’s investigation into his death found that there was no lock out kit or voltage tester provided by Michael’s employer, and the way pliers were being used by electricians meant their insulation was inadequate – all factors that contributed to the tragic events that unfolded that day. By giving apprentices these lifesaving tools from the very outset of their professional careers, Louise hopes that no other family will have to endure what her family has been through. She comments, “My brother would still be alive today and celebrating his 40th birthday this year had safe working practices been followed on that job. While I can’t undo what happened that day for Michael, I can encourage apprentices to get into good habits and not accept anyone else compromising their safety – thanks to Super Rod, they now have the tools in their hands for safe isolation, and my sincere hope is this will be the generation who will no longer accept insulating tape as a means of isolation.” Super Rod’s safe isolation campaign first launched in September 2018, with the results of a survey of the Electricians Community Forum on Facebook about the use of lock out kits and voltage testers. The shocking results put the issue of safe isolation practices firmly into the spotlight, but raising awareness wasn’t enough and Super Rod knew it needed to go one step further to make sure change would happen. Over the summer of 2019, the Klein Tools/Megger Instruments/MCG tool bundles went on sale in 400 CEF branches across the UK and Ireland, for a discounted price where the lock out kit was essentially free. Malcolm Duncan notes, “Michael’s Story was the reason we started the safe isolation campaign, so we felt it would be a fitting tribute to Michael on what should have been the year he turned 40, to donate 40 of these kits to Edinburgh College to inspire the next generation to work safer and smarter.” Edinburgh College lecturer, Sean Mossman, adds, “Thanks to Louise and Super Rod for their generous donation of this safety equipment to our electrical apprentices. Every day we emphasise the importance of safe working practices to all of our students. “Hearing Louise’s story of her late brother, an alumnus of our college, has resonated with us all and we will continue to ensure all of our students are equipped to work in a wide range of environments while being completely safe, and encourage them adhere to safe practices throughout their careers.”

NAPIT launches On-site Solutions publication

NAPIT’s brand new publication, On-site Solutions – Practical Solutions to Electrical Installations in accordance with BS 7671:2018, is now available. The guide features useful solutions for: Electrical vehicle charging installations Surge protection devices Smart home installations Outbuildings RCD selection Consumer unit considerations Selection of equipment Designing circuits Safe isolation of electrical supplies Inspection, testing and certification Documentation On-site Solutions also covers the main requirements of the Building Regulations associated with electrical installation work in England and Wales, as well as relevant Health and Safety legislation. The publication has also had input from a range of supporting individuals and organisations to ensure the books' credibility within the industry. NAPIT’s Group Chief Executive, Mike Andrews, says, “Since the announcement of our new publication, we’ve received a lot of interest. We hope both individuals and organisations, who are professionals and experts in their field, find On-site Solutions a helpful and trustworthy guide. We look forward to hearing feedback and reviews from all of our customers.” NAPIT members can order a printed edition for £21.50, while non-members can purchase for £23.99 (prices exclude delivery costs). An ebook edition is also available at the same prices. A bundle, which includes the printed and ebook editions, is also available via NAPIT Direct. Members can purchase the bundle for £38.00 and non-members £43.00 (plus shipping costs). To purchase, visit www.napitdirect.co.uk.

Self Employed Electricians Generate Record Earnings

Earnings for self-employed electricians rose by 5.8 per cent last month to hit the highest level on record, according to the latest figures released by Hudson Contract.  Analysis of October payroll data for more than 2,200 construction companies in England and Wales reveals a weekly average of £1,165 for electrical contractors. This is the highest figure since Hudson Contract started analysing subcontractor earnings in March 2008. Electricians generated the highest earnings of all 17 construction trades covered by the company last month. Self-employed electricians in Wales saw the strongest growth in weekly earnings in October, rising 25.7 per cent to £972. They were followed by the South East, up 8.8 per cent to £1,301, and the North West, up 8.1 per cent to £929.  Electrical contractors in the East of England had the highest weekly earnings at £1,363, equivalent to an annual salary of £70,000.  The findings come after government figures showed the number of new homes completed by developers reached the highest level in 11 years.  Ian Anfield, managing director of Hudson Contract, said: “Despite political uncertainty and a general election, freelance electricians have never earned more. We hope this message reaches young people considering a career in construction. “Companies using Hudson are dynamic SMEs that are run by owner-managers who are in complete control of their businesses. Despite indicators showing the entire economy and particularly the construction industry is slowing down, our clients are as busy as ever and the freelancers they are using are earning more money than ever before.  “We’re not surprised by this as each year construction companies rush to get projects finished by Christmas. Similarly contractors want to get their money in and earn as much as they can before Christmas. “We’re hoping the slowdown as reported in latest construction PMI doesn’t catch up with electricians in the new year. Our data is based on figures from 2,200 construction companies, not the sentiment of 150 purchasing managers.  “There is no doubt construction needs certainty: a new government could change spending plans or tighten up on planning regulations, which might lead to a slowdown in investment in this country.” Hudson Contract delivers the most accurate indication of subcontractor pay trends across the construction industry, using payroll data to publish the average pay for a spectrum of 17 different trades split across ten regions in England and Wales.

Eccentricity founder skates off with Hamilton’s competition prize

Hamilton Litestat’s recent ECN competition to promote its new Hartland G2 collection has concluded with Simon Thompson from Eccentricity being named the lucky winner. Running in the September issue of ECN magazine, the competition challenged entrants to answer questions about the new Hartland G2 - a sleek screwless design that has been developed as an upgrade to the popular Hartland box-fix collection, available at a screw-loose price. Simon Thompson, Founding Director of Eccentricity in Surrey, won first prize, which was presented by Hamilton’s Wayne Denman, Area Sales Manager for the South of England, on October 23, 2019. He won a G2 Electric Skateboard as a namesake nod to the new product range. Thompson comments, “It’s fantastic to have won the Hartland G2 competition – thank you to Hamilton and ECN for the opportunity.” Simon Thompson’s company, Eccentricity, offers comprehensive installation services for commercial and domestic clients, including lighting design, bespoke lighting installation and AV. He’s a regular customer at both the Guildford and Hersham branches of Wilson Electrical Distributors. “We received a great number of entries to the Hartland G2 competition and are pleased to see how many people were interested and have already become knowledgeable about the product through this promotion in ECN,” adds Gavin Williams, Head of Marketing at Hamilton.

Industrial digital multimeter for extreme conditions

The Fluke 87V Max true-rms Digital Multimeter (DMM) defines a new standard for operating in extreme conditions, with the features and accuracy to troubleshoot most electrical problems. A development of the Fluke 87V, the 87V Max is ideal for use in harsh environments with an IP 67 (waterproof and dustproof) rating, an extended operating temperature range of -15°C to +55°C (-40°C for up to 20 minutes) and up to 95% humidity, and has been designed and tested to withstand a 4 metre drop in its removable holster. It offers Cat III 1000V, Cat IV 600V safety ratings. The Fluke 87V Max will measure up to 1000V AC/DC and up to 10A AC/DC (20A for 30 seconds), with true-rms AC voltage and current readings for accurate measurements on non-linear signals. It also offers a capacitance range of 10,000μF, measures frequency to 200kHz, and can capture min/max/average recordings, plus 150μs peak min-max to capture variations automatically. It also features a built in thermometer, which conveniently allows temperature readings without having to carry a separate instrument. This offers an easy check whether overheating is involved in a system breakdown. The 87V Max true-rms digital multimeter provides the resolution and accuracy to efficiently troubleshoot motor drives, plant automation, power distribution, and electromechanical equipment even in loud, high energy, and high altitude locations. It takes the guesswork out of drive system troubleshooting. It includes a unique function for accurately measuring noisy signals at the variable frequency drive and at the motor terminals: special shielding blocks high frequency, high-energy noise generated by large drive systems. It correctly measures pulse-width modulated motor drive signals. Other product highlights: Resistance, continuity and diode test Relative mode to remove test lead resistance from low ohms measurements Large display digits, two-level bright white backlight and backlit keypad buttons for increased visibility High resolution 20,000 count display mode Battery life doubled (up to 800 hours) Reversible holster for added protection when not in use The Fluke 87V Max comes with a Fluke 80BK-A DMM temperature probe and is also available as part of a money-saving kit - the 87V Max/E2 combo kit - which includes a ToolPak magnetic meter hanging kit, TL224 SureGrip insulated test leads, AC220 SureGrip alligator clips, TL238 SureGrip test probes and a soft carry case. For more information about all Fluke products, visit www.fluke.co.uk.