INDUSTRY NEWS


E.ON NEXT, DUDLEY COLLEGE AND ECO2SOLAR: WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD THE UK’S NEXT GENERATION OF GREEN TALENT


E.ON Next, Dudley College of Technology and Eco2Solar powered by E.ON Next are working together to give students the technical know-how and practical experience to lead the UK’s energy transition. Through E.ON Next’s Net Zero Training


Academy in Kingswinford, apprentices and students are benefitting from a longstanding partnership with Dudley College, gaining specialist training in low-carbon technologies – from solar panels and EV chargers to heat pumps and battery storage – forming a strong local pipeline of future engineers. Students completing their training at the Academy and Dudley College are also gaining real- world experience at E.ON sites, with several now progressing into full-time roles at Eco2Solar, E.ON Next’s solar installation business. Once there, they continue to build their skills through structured on-the-job training and industry qualifications.


This partnership strengthens Eco2Solar’s future workforce while giving students valuable hands- on experience, complementing the company’s wider ability to scale labour capacity quickly when demand rises — all while continuing to expand national solar capacity and nurture the next generation of green engineers. Ryan Mee, CEO of Eco2Solar, said: “Solar is


now a key part of how new homes across the UK are built, with our teams installing thousands of systems every year to make that shift possible. To keep pace with demand, we need skilled people who can design, fit and maintain these technologies – and this partnership is helping create that pipeline. We’ve worked closely with E.ON Next to flex our workforce when needed, and we’re now welcoming trainees progressing through Dudley College who are continuing their development with structured, on-the-job training. The students coming through are the future of our


STIEBEL ELTRON ACCELERATES HEAT PUMP ADOPTION WITH TRAINING COURSES


Since January, more than 500 installers have registered for training courses, both at STIEBEL ELTRON UK’s Bromborough headquarters and online. Of those, 222 have already completed in- person sessions, with a further 47 booked for the remainder of the year. Another 62 participants have successfully completed the online Heat Pump Pass course. Additionally, over 100 installers and


homeowners have attended STIEBEL ELTRON’s hpnext and Heat Pumps for Homeowners webinars in the past year. To meet demand, the company has invested £750,000 to expand its state-of-


the-art training facilities. The enhanced site now allows more installers to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge ground and air source heat pump technology, with training accessible to a wide range of experience levels.


www.stiebel-eltron.co.uk COMMENT M


ore and more businesses are adopting green solutions to reduce energy costs and head towards net zero goals, but what if you think


the installation may be too challenging or there might not be a suitable solution for your requirements? Well you might be surprised! As an example, the Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa is in an area of natural beauty. As part of a sustainability project, the heating system was upgraded to include a biomass boiler, but to preserve the environment


the building needed to house this boiler was 1km away. Turn to page 28 to discover how REHAU solved the problem. In another example, a project will be used to demonstrate how cutting-edge next generation deep geothermal innovation could bring historic properties into a sustainable, net zero, future. Turn to page 31 to find out more. I’m writing this comment just two weeks before Christmas, so I will end


by wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Rachael Morling - Editor


industry, helping us accelerate the rollout of clean, affordable solar power nationwide."


www.eonenergy.com//


ROOT-POWER TO BID FOR ITS HIGHEST NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT-BACKED ENERGY CONTRACTS


Root-Power is on course to bid for its highest number of government- backed energy contracts, to fuel its long term growth plans and safeguard energy supplies to key locations. The UK battery energy storage system (BESS) operator is aiming to secure 11 new contracts with a combined energy capacity of 537 megawatts (MW) in March next year at the Capacity Market Auction run by the National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO). The contracts will commence in 2029 and span 15 years, providing


both long-term revenue and ensuring Root-Power’s BESS facilities across the UK can store vital surplus energy generated from renewable sources like solar and wind and then release it back to the National Grid.


www.root-power.com


TRIDONIC SOLUTION WINS LIGHTING PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARD


Tridonic UK’s Multichannel OTD Driver has been awarded Lighting Product of the Year at the 2025 Energy Saving Awards. Developed for street and urban environments,


the Multichannel OTD Driver marks a major advancement in adaptive outdoor lighting. It enables dynamic control of multiple LED channels, allowing operators to fine-tune colour temperature throughout the night. Cooler light can be used during peak activity for improved visibility, then seamlessly transition to warmer tones during quieter hours to reduce blue light emissions that can disturb wildlife and nearby residents. This precise, demand-driven approach, ensures lighting is delivered only in the appropriate quantity and quality, cutting unnecessary energy use. Martin Thompson, technical services manager and sustainability lead,


Tridonic UK, said: “This recognition highlights the real-world value of intelligent, adaptable outdoor lighting. The Multichannel OTD shows how sustainability and performance can work hand in hand - reducing energy consumption, protecting the environment, and ultimately creating safer, more comfortable public spaces.”


www.tridonic.com/en/int 4ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Winter 2025 www.essmag.co.uk


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