GREEN TRANSFORMERS TO HELP REDUCE CARBON


T H


ello and welcome to the June issue of Electrical Engineering


magazine. The ‘new normal’, ‘social distancing’ and ‘covid-secure’ are new additions to our vocabulary, as new regulations and requirements for protecting workers’ safety become even more paramount in these unprecedented times. Returning to full capacity post-lockdown is an enormous challenge and those in the electrical engineering space are not exempt from this global fight against the virus. New ways of working are being adopted, and adapting production for medical supplies has become somewhat of a norm over the last few months. There is considerable movement in this space however, and innovative ideas and products are still being launched. This month we focus particularly


on the EV charging market, and identify the latest trends in Data Centre Management. We’ve also got expert commentary from Signify in our Lighting & Controls feature, which offers suggestions on how data and sustainability will shape the light industry. As ever, if you’d like to shout


about a product, process or person in the industry, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I hope you find this issue enjoyable and informative.


Stay safe,


Niamh Marriott, Acting Editor Carly Wills, Editor


he country’s biggest electricity distributor is launching a long- term programme to swap electrical transformers for more energy


efficient models. UK Power Networks is introducing state-of-the-art amorphous


steel core transformers at substations, which are a key part of the infrastructure that delivers power to 8.3million homes and businesses across the East of England, London and South East. These step down the voltage to safely deliver power from the national grid to local properties. The replacement


programme is part of UK Power Networks £500 million investment into the electricity network each year, and helps towards the country’s ‘Net Zero’ ambition. The company has


already installed more than 50 high- efficiency transformers as part of a collaborative trial. Now it is planning to replace, over time, about 15,000 transformers which will save more than 8,500MWh per


year – enough to power approximately 2,700 homes - and result in a carbon saving of almost 2,200 tonnes annually. The new models will be used for the majority of new construction


projects, and where existing equipment needs replacing. Paul Dyer, senior assets engineer for UK Power Networks, said:


“These amorphous steel transformers bring significant environmental benefits and their wider roll-out will be an important decarbonisation measure. “This investment also helps reduce the energy that is usually lost


while electricity is transported by 80 per cent, and will play a key role in helping us cut carbon and deliver our Green Action Plan to improve local environments.” ukpowernetworks.co.uk


AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH AUTHORITY ASSERTS ‘NEXT GENERATIONAL THINKING WILL BE KEY IN REALISING FUTURE MOBILITY’


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s the automotive industry looks ahead to future mobility, the Centre for Connected


& Autonomous Automotive Research (CCAAR) has asserted that fresh thinking from new industry entrants and innovative academics will play a key role in making it happen. On a global level, the automotive industry


continues to face its most significant challenge yet; in establishing a new future offering which utilises novel technologies in electrification, automation and connectivity, in order to realise smarter, greener, connected vehicles. In response, the UK government and major businesses continue to


plough extensive investment and resource into major projects led by industry powerhouses in a bid to progress the technological breakthroughs required for the future mobility vision. For CCAAR though, a unique automotive research centre developed in partnership between HORIBA MIRA and Coventry University, it is


4 JUNE 2020 | ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING


equally important for industry to embrace the next generation of technologically talented entrants – whose fresh thinking and disruptive theories will also play a huge role in fuelling future practice. Siraj Ahmed Shaikh, Professor for Security


Systems at CCAAR, commented: “The UK is home to some of the most accomplished automotive expertise in the world, both in the fields of industry and academia, who continue to spearhead the mobility revolution. “However, it’s equally interesting to see the fundamental role that the next generation will play


in this transition. By taking advantage of the unparalleled access to the network of researchers and industry experts involved in CCAAR, for example, many of our students working on PhDs in the field of automotive cybersecurity have come up with truly ground-breaking concepts which have not only been well received by the industry but will go a long way in forming the basis of future practice.” horiba-mira.com


/ ELECTRICALENGINEERING


INDUSTRY NEEDS GUIDANCE ON SPRINKLERS, SAYS AEI CABLES


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pecialist supplier AEI Cables is asking for further guidance on the


application of new measures which make sprinkler systems mandatory in all new high-rise blocks over 11 metres high. The government announced an


amendment to the statutory guidance to building safety regulations, known as Approved Document B, reducing the requirement for sprinkler systems from the current 30 metres to 11 metres. Stuart Dover, general manager of AEI


Cables, said: “The introduction of new legislation is welcomed but the cabling industry and wider fire safety industry needs more detail on the guidance to make it work in practice. The fire safety industry relies on the highest quality products to make changes in legislation and we are already being asked questions about the changes.” The Fire Safety Bill, which was


introduced to Parliament in April, will also empower fire and rescue services to take enforcement action and hold building owners to account if they do not comply with the law. aeicables.co.uk


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