Main Point Peter Meanley is quite right that we need a British Standard to encourage the use of basalt reinforcement (Your View, December 2023). However, in my view we also need a change of attitude in the risk averse procuring authorities, primarily government departments. They often view innovation with suspicion and…
Tag Archives: Energy
Greenlight given to bury 4.6km of North Wessex Downs power lines
Wiltshire Council has granted planning permission for National Grid to replace overhead power lines with underground cables beneath the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
The landscape north of Devizes is set to be enhanced by the replacement of 4.6km of overhead power lines and 13 pylons with…
Crown Estate to expand existing offshore wind projects to add 4GW capacity by 2030
A new decision-making process may expand seven offshore windfarms already under development, adding 4GW towards the UK's 2030 targets.
The Crown Estate, following requests from developers, has announced steps to enhance existing offshore windfarm projects by harnessing improved technology that has become available since the projects were first auctioned. Seven projects…
Engineering construction workers in energy sector poised to strike after deal rejection
Thousands of construction workers at energy sites across the UK are poised to strike after snubbing an “inadequate” pay deal.
The workers, which number over 3,000, are based at sites including Stanlow, Fawley, Valero, Grangemouth and Mossmorran oil refineries and the Sellafield nuclear facility. They have been voting on a pay…
Planning Inspectorate launches trial to enhance pre-application process for large infrastructure projects
The Planning Inspectorate has launched a trial to test potential components of an enhanced pre-application service for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).
The Planning Act 2008 introduced a new bespoke consenting route for major infrastructure projects in the fields of energy, transport, water, waste and wastewater. Between its introduction in 2010…
Future of Energy | Hinkley Point C progresses towards final stages of undersea work
Significant milestones have been achieved on the Hinkley Point C project over the past six months, with offshore works having reached the final stage.
The first new nuclear reactor vessel for a UK power station for more than 30 years arrived in February on the Somerset construction site of the…
Future of Energy | Coire Glas pumped storage scheme will fill gaps left by other renewables
Is there a proven way to store surplus energy? NCE reports on the potential of pumped storage hydroelectricity in the UK and looks into the proposed Coire Glas scheme.
As the world slowly moves away from fossil fuelled electricity generation and towards renewable alternatives, a major roadblock still has to be…
Future of Energy | How can nuclear and tidal energy help prevent a UK electricity shortfall
As the government strives to expand capacity to meet future electricity demand, nuclear power and tidal energy are at the opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of support.
New sources of electricity generation must be built and brought online in the next decade if the government is to achieve…
Innovation Showcase | Algeco incorporates smart technology to lower energy use in site buildings
Algeco temporary buildings use smart technology to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
Building contractors are always seeking new ways to lower energy consumption from temporary site buildings and permanent structures. Integrating smart technology into their site accommodation is a highly effective and relatively low cost way to achieve this.…
Pop up factory for SMR construction could transform nuclear project productivity
Building small modular nuclear reactors within pop up factories could make the construction of nuclear power capacity faster.
During his Spring Budget statement, chancellor Jeremy Hunt said that nuclear is a “critical source of cheap and reliable energy” that could help the UK meet its net zero obligations. The high cost…