• • • NEWS • • •


imerick-headquartered H&MV Engineering, a specialist in high voltage electrical engineering, has sold a majority stake to London-based private equity firm Exponent. H&MV serves blue-chip data centre, renewables, and utility clients from its locations in Ireland, the UK, and across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including the Nordics, the Netherlands, Germany and South Africa. The company provides turnkey services for the


design, installation and maintenance of high- voltage substations and grid connections, occupying a critical role in its customers’ capital projects and value chains. Exponent said each of H&MV’s three end- markets are “highly attractive” and driven by secular global trends in growing data demand (data centres), decarbonisation (renewables) and electrification (utility).


Majority stake in H&MV Engineering bought by private equity firm L


The group said: “High voltage services represent the most differentiated and attractive part of the mechanical and electrical contracting chain, and H&MV is the clear Ireland and UK leader, with a unique integrated model at scale. “It boasts deep relationships with top-calibre customers, generating repeat business and a significant contracted project pipeline.” Exponent said it was acquiring the company, which has more than doubled its headcount since 2019, opened offices across Europe, and launched a major design hub in India, from private shareholders and management. In a statement, Exponent said: “We are backing an extremely capable and successful incumbent team led by chief executive PJ Flanagan and chief operating officer John Stokes. “PJ and John will remain significant shareholders, re-investing alongside Exponent and


the rest of the management team. Non- management shareholders will exit.” Exponent said it is investing in a number of initiatives, including accelerating H&MV’s international growth, expanding its design and delivery capabilities, and furthering its business development agenda. Tim Easingwood, a partner at Exponent, said:


“We are really excited to be investing into H&MV alongside PJ and John and the rest of the management team. “They have built a fantastic business that delivers an excellent service to its blue-chip customers that operate in large and growing end markets.”


Electric vehicle owners slapped with fines of up to £120


The Times reported that allotted parking time is too short to allow for a full charge. And that, in some cases, drivers have even been slapped with a fine when using a publicly advertised charging point – but not letting the business where it is located know they are parking up to use it. James Warren, who realised that his Tesla was running low on power on a trip from Birmingham to London, said he used a parking spot in a hotel in Weybridge.


E


He said: “I was aghast to receive an £80 fine from Parkingeye, saying I had parked in the hotel’s car park without permission.” Phillip Riley had to move to a second bay to charge his Nissan


Leaf after he realised the first one was faulty – but was slapped with a £120 fine. “I didn’t realise I’d have to pay twice for the parking ‘experience’ as well as the power,” he said.


Jack Cousens, a spokesman for the AA, said: “It is unfair some EV drivers are being penalised for errors outside of their control.” A spokesperson for Parkingeye said the company “strongly advises motorists using an EV point within a private car park to read the signage”.


lectric car owners say they have been slapped with fines of up to £120 for charging their vehicles.


Hinkley Connection Project completes high voltage cable installation under the Mendip Hills


N


ational Grid and Balfour


Beatty engineers working on the Hinkley


Connection Project have completed the installation of high voltage, 400kV cables under the Mendip Hills Area of


Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).


Since starting


in February 2021, teams have


pulled a total of 102km cables (the distance between Bridgwater and Gloucester).


The cables were delivered on 108 separate cable drums. Each drum held approximately 1km of cable, weighed between 35-50 tonne and stood five metres high.


Next follows a programme of jointing and testing with energisation expected in Autumn this year. Reinstatement of the land is already underway on different parts of the route.


The Mendip cables section of the Hinkley Connection Project will be fully complete by the end of 2023.


8 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • FEBRUARY 2022


Once work is completed and existing WPD pylons removed in summer, this part of the Mendip Hills AONB will be pylon free for the first time since the 1960s.


James Goode, project director for National Grid, said: “Completion of the installation underground cables in the Mendip Hills is a huge milestone for the project, bringing us a step closer to bringing low carbon energy to six million homes and businesses across the UK. “The project continues with construction of pylons – including the world’s first T-pylons – along the route between Hinkley Point C and Seabank substation, with completion due in 2025.”


electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


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