surety about equipment performance under broad operating conditions, including extreme deviations in temperature, humidity and vibrations. EES’ project engineers also had to consider the


financial and time expenditure that qualifying a new or unfamiliar excitation controller would require. This testing would have ranged from environmental resilience to factors such as temperature, humidity, seismic activity and electromagnetic interference, to functionality and performance to safety and reliability. Instead, EES opted for the Leroy-Somer


analogue excitation controller. EDF used different models of this component during the original build phases of many nuclear reactors in the 1970s-1990s due to their simplicity and reliability. EES selected it because of the trust that Leroy- Somer has earned, the full nuclear compliance qualification and the known compatibility with existing synchronous generators. Excitation controllers provide exciter field


currents to synchronous generators, producing magnetic fields within the rotor and generating electricity in the stator windings. However, EES’ relationship with Leroy-Somer


extends beyond the standard supplier-customer dynamic.


Strong partnerships bring


mutual advantages As the design authority on its excitation controller, the component supplier worked with EES to integrate it into the upgraded system for


• • • TEST & MEASUREMENT • • • This access is invaluable, as the cost of building


a dedicated laboratory to perform these tests is unfeasible for any company outside this niche. Collaborations of this sort provide a major advantage for sub-contractors bidding for tenders, as they can demonstrate validation capabilities that others can’t. However, EES isn’t the only party to benefit from


the partnership. Nuclear electronics mostly use analogue parts for several reasons. Cybersecurity is one: programmable components can be vulnerable to software corruption or cyber-attacks, which analogue ones aren’t. A simpler concern is the effort involved with


validating software for safety-critical applications. Manufacturers can spend millions of pounds just to validate a few lines of code, shredding profit margins or driving up cost to the end-user. Few engineers today are confident with older


Dungeness’s EDGs. Leroy-Somer reviewed the design, oversaw the sub-contractor’s compliance work and shared technical support. The real lesson of this cross-border


collaboration, though, comes from the willingness to share facilities and, to some degree, intellectual property. As the largest engineering firm dedicated to


synchronous machine excitation in the UK, EES’ expertise has helped it build a technically open relationship with Leroy-Somer. Engineers travelled to the French manufacturer’s dedicated test bed multiple times to assess the system’s performance and behaviour in different scenarios.


analogue formats. Much is made of the engineering skills gap; EES contributes to the solution by giving graduate engineers practical experience with these systems. By supporting the limited number of


international partners capable of using its products, Leroy-Somer creates its own business network. Sub-contractors can leverage the support of industry-leading experts when seeking tender deals. As the UK expands nuclear capacity, learning


from international experience could save time and prevent costly errors.


https://excitationengineering.co.uk


Engineering


responsible AI – safely and compliantly.


TÜV SÜD helps electrical engineers implement


Learn more!


ISO 42001 to manage AI risks, strengthen functional safety,


and demonstrate responsible technology leadership.


Trusted by the electrical engineering industry. Electrical Engineering provides a direct route to key decision makers across print, online, socials and emails.


Speak to William Brightwell: wbrightwell@datateam.co.uk


electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • JUNE 2026 21


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44