ASSOCIATION NEWS
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Phasing out the use of natural gas for domestic use by converting homes to hydrogen fuel
Arup is leading a UK government
project examining the feasibility of phasing out the use of natural gas for domestic use by converting homes to hydrogen fuel, reports The Association for Decentralised Energy. BEIS is undertaking a £25 million project to explore the potential use of hydrogen gas for heating UK homes and businesses. Following a competition, BEIS has appointed Arup+, a team of contractors led by Ove Arup to run this project. This project will run from 2017 to 2021 and will aim to define a hydrogen quality standard, and to explore, develop and test domestic and commercial hydrogen appliances.
The £25 million Hydrogen for Heat Pro-
gramme, commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), will look at the feasibility of converting a small village or estate to replace natural gas with hydrogen for cooking and heating. The Arup-led consortium, including hydrogen specialists Kiwa Gastec, will explore the practicalities of using the zero-carbon gas in homes and will facilitate the design and manufacture of new appliances such as fires, cookers and boilers, for both domestic and commercial use. Last year natural gas met nearly two-
thirds of total UK domestic demand for energy. Hydrogen fuel produces only water and heat when burnt so a move away from natural gas in homes would have a significant impact on reducing the UK’s carbon footprint.
Consultancy and engineering businesses in rude health despite ongoing business challenges, according to latest European benchmarking study, reports ACE. Rising revenues, headcounts up and
increasing profit margins are three of the key headlines from the latest Benchmark- ing for Engineering and Consultancy study conducted for the Association for Consultancy and Engineering, the results of which were announced today. This is the eighth year in which companies from other European countries have taken part in the bench- marking study and the results paint a positive picture, with firms of all sizes reporting positive numbers for turnover, staff and profits as well as reducing overheads, falling staff turnover and healthy forward order books. The ACE Benchmarking Report shows an industry in rude health, examining trends and drawing wider conclusions based on the submissions of participating firms. Key findings from the study include: - * 90% of UK and European firms
increased their revenue in the last year and the median growth rate was 7.5%; * Average growth of larger UK firms
(over 250 employees) was 10.3%; * 79% of SME firms increased their
revenue in the last year; * Total profit of UK and European
companies was up 10% on the previous year;
Commenting on the results of the benchmarking survey, ACE chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin, said: “On the whole, these are very encouraging results for our industry. Turnover is up, staff numbers are increas- ing and profits are continuing to rise, showing that consultancy & engineering firms are doing well in what has been a very challenging marketplace over the past 12 months.”
www.gmp.uk.com
IDGTE’S NOVEMBER 2017 CONFERENCE FOR 22nd & 23rd NOVEMBER AT WYBOSTON LAKES
THE 9TH INTERNATIONAL GAS
TURBINE CONFERENCE will be held on the 22nd and 23rd November 2017. The IDGTE has successfully run this biennial event year-after-year with top quality international speakers bringing the very latest developments in gas turbine technology and operations. The 2017 event is being held at the first class conference facility at Wyboston Lakes and is set to deliver an excellent technical programme, providing a great networking event. The theme for this year’s conference is “The Role of the Gas Turbine in Today’s Global Power Industry and other International Power Applications”. Over the last few years there has been a
strong resurgence of interest in gas- fuelled plant in the UK – initially based on peaking gas engines, but with increasing recognition that flexible and efficient gas turbines are essential to replace the large amounts of coal and nuclear generation now facing imminent closure. Over the same period generation from
coal fired generation has been reducing since the peak in 2012 and the major part of the shortfall in electricity supplies has been delivered by existing CCGT plants and the increase in output from renew- ables. The conference will explore the resurgent and developing market for gas turbines and the latest technologies from around the globe. Presenters will share their experience and the events provides an ideal forum for networking.
Worldwide Independent Power November 2017
Consultancy and engineering businesses in rude health, says new ACE Benchmarking Report: ‘Encouraging results for our industry’ agrees ACE chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin
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