NEWS
Night of Lights proves a towering success at RAF Museum Cosford
Swindon proceeds with battery storage scheme
council-owned ground, will be one of the UK’s largest stand- alone batteries if developed to the maximum permitted capacity. Council-owned Public
September 2018: A spectacular light show set to
music at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford celebrated Morris Site Machinery as the UK’s number one manufacturer of lighting towers in dramatic style last month. As Storm Ali threatened to put a stop to the event by
blowing a local electricity pylon down, another of the reliable brands supplied by Morris Site Machinery was on hand to help. The Denyo Eventa20 ensured that not even inclement weather could stop the event and was ready to silently power the dramatic lighting and music display. The Night of Lights event showcased an impressive
range of British-built lighting towers which were used to illuminate stunning aircraft in the National Cold War Exhibition hangar at the Shropshire venue. Morris Site Machinery MD/CEO Chris Morris welcomed
60 people to the evening where Group Captain Tone Baker, RAF Cosford Station Commander, spoke on the 100th anniversary of the RAF. He started his own career as an apprentice engineer at RAF Cosford. Guests were treated to a special presentation explaining
how five generations of enterprise have created a stellar line-up of lighting towers. The lights were introduced and switched on in turn, accompanied by music chosen to reflect their qualities and set the mood. The featured performers included the SMC TL90, which
lights up construction sites, events, rail tracks and roads in 25 countries worldwide, and the TL55 Solar, the UK’s first British-built solar lighting tower. The TL90 Ultimate with Halo, a powerful anti-glare next generation lamp, was another star turn, followed by the compact and super silent SL80 Pallet and the TL60 family of lights. Chris Morris said: “It was a memorable evening where
we demonstrated the greatest line-up of mobile lighting towers in the world in a spectacular setting. We were proud to show our innovation against a backdrop of amazing exhibits, including British stalwarts such as the Vulcan, Valiant and Victor bombers. “Our customers and
fellow guests said how much they enjoyed the event. Food and drink were laid on, so it was a great way to socialise and strengthen our relationship with them.” Morris Site Machinery
has a manufacturing plant at Gosberton, Lincolnshire and an assembly plant at Four Ashes, Wolverhampton.
8 A Lancaster reservoir will soon be sporting an unusual new feature. United Utilities is
building a floating solar farm on the surface of Langthwaite Reservoir, off Little Fell Lane, Lancaster. The power generated will be used to run the neighbouring Lancaster water treatment works which supplies water to 152,000 people across Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham. In a part of the UK renowned for its rainfall it might seem bizarre to turn to the power of the
sun, but the company says it’s a match made in heaven, and it will help reduce water bills for customers. Richard Waggitt [above], Head of Renewable Energy at United Utilities, explained: “In this
case water and electricity really do mix. Solar panels are more efficient than they used to be; there is a misconception that you need high levels of sunlight, when in fact daylight is sufficient. “What you do need is unshaded space for the arrays, and that’s where the surface area of
our reservoirs is a real advantage.” The new floating array at Lancaster will be around 7,200 square metres in size with some
3,520 solar panels. The installation will cover an area the size of a football pitch and will provide 1MW of power – the equivalent of the needs of 200 homes. United Utilities started the eight week installation process at the beginning of October. The
project is being delivered for United Utilities by Forrest and local suppliers will play a key role in the construction, including Carnforth firm Northern Pontoons. Barry Tayburn, head of energy, at Forrest said: “Installing this floating PV scheme for our
long-term partner United Utilities is a great showcase of innovation. We have commissioned a brand new float system for Lancaster, working with local businesses Northern Pontoons and Aqua-Dock, producing the floats off-site. Once transported to the reservoir, tables of 20 panels are floated out via a launch platform and then connected to anchors in-situ. This system really is a viable option for producers of large amounts of energy as a serious alternative to ground- mounted arrays.”
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2018 UK POwER NEwS
Power Solutions has been seeking developers to take on funding and construction of the project. It suggests that the site’s grid connection to a
Swindon Council will short- ly begin work building a 50MW/50MWh battery storage scheme. The scheme, developed on
unique position to benefit from the growing demand for
very competitive, so this is a good opportunity for a developer looking for front of the meter battery storage opportunities which will enable them to generate an income in a variety of different ways,” commented Public Power Solutions’ Steve Cains. “Local authorities are in a
nearby substation can be achieved at ‘very low cost’. “The grid connection cost is
diverse property portfolios and high energy consumption. “We’re making it work at
electricity storage, with
income from the scheme would help the council “protect vital services”.
have a 30-year lifespan, will provide a long-term land rental income for Swindon Borough Council, once it is completed and operating commercially. Councillor Toby Elliott said
home here in Swindon but this project could be replicated in many other parts of the country, helping to generate an income for the cash-strapped public sector.” The project, designed to
Floating solar farm gets under way at Lancaster Reservoir
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