POWER
A
WEATHER-PROOFING POWER
ccording to 2025 Met Office analysis, the UK’s mean temperature from 1 June to 31 August was 16.10 degrees Celsius, making summer 2025 the warmest on record. At the same time, the UK has experienced some of the most intense rainfall, recording 132 per cent of the average rainfall in September and issuing over 100 extreme flood warnings in January. Up and down the UK, these adverse conditions have placed significant pressure on transport networks, emergency services and public infrastructure. Understandably, public attention has fallen on these immediate and visible impacts. However, these events also place a less visible strain on the backup generators and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems that keep vital services operating during outages.
AT-RISK SYSTEMS
Extreme weather increases the likelihood of power instability and can create periods where reliable power cannot be assumed. For example, heatwaves drive sudden spikes in electricity demand. In contrast, cold weather increases the load on heating systems, and storms or flooding can damage transmission lines and substations, causing localised outages or voltage fluctuations. During such outages, facilities rely on backup generators and UPS systems to keep essential services online. Hospitals depend on them for life-saving equipment, data centres require uninterrupted service and industrial and transport facilities rely on a stable supply to maintain safety and productivity. Yet, these systems can only do so if they have been tested under realistic operating and load conditions. If backup systems have not been tested under the true load conditions created during extreme weather events, weaknesses that aren’t visible
30
The latest State of the UK Climate report highlights that weather extremes are now the norm in the UK. While we often consider the strain they place on infrastructure and emergency services, we rarely consider the pressure on the power systems that keep industrial operations running. Here, Andrew Keith, Division Director at load bank manufacturer Power Prove, explains how load bank testing ensures these systems remain resilient.
during routine operation can go undetected. Issues such as weak batteries, restricted fuel flow or unstable voltage output may not show up during light or infrequent use. It is only when systems must run at sustained high capacity, or switch rapidly between grid and backup supply, that these faults become apparent.
PROVING RELIABILITY Load banks provide a controlled way to test backup generators and UPS systems under realistic electrical loads. By using resistive, inductive or capacitive elements, they draw a controlled amount of electrical power from the generator or UPS, simulating the precise conditions the system would face during an outage caused by a period of extreme weather. Testing at or near full-rated capacity reveals issues that routine start-ups or no-load checks cannot detect, such as declining battery health, inadequate fuel flow rates, voltage fluctuations under load, frequency instability or insufficient cooling of engine and alternator components. Load testing also verifies that generators can synchronise correctly with transfer switches, maintain stable voltage and frequency during load changes, and that UPS systems can sustain
continuous power delivery during transitions and transient conditions. This comprehensive testing ensures the system will perform reliably under the high stress demands of extreme weather.
Furthermore, extreme weather, particularly flooding or storm conditions, can make sites difficult to access. Here, digital load control systems, such as Digiload, are beneficial because they allow engineers to still adjust the
load profile, observe performance and identify irregularities in real time without being physically present. This remote visibility helps ensure backup systems continue to operate correctly when they are most needed, reducing risk and maintaining confidence in critical power continuity. As extreme weather events become increasingly common, the resilience of backup power systems will only grow in importance. Testing generators and UPS systems under realistic load conditions ensures they can perform as required when a disruption occurs. This proactive approach supports operational continuity and helps safeguard essential services against the unpredictable challenges of modern weather.
Power Prove
www.powerprove.com
Autumn2025 UKManufacturing
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 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
