Latest innovations and products in the sustainability sections of the construction industry.

Ground Explorations for Pumped Hydro Storage Scheme

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The drill and blast method is rarely used in the UK (Credit: Strabag)

How ground condition unknowns impacted Coire Glas exploratory adit construction

A 1.2km exploratory adit has been constructed for extensive ground investigations to inform the detailed design of SSE Renewables’ Coire Glas pumped storage hydro scheme in the Scottish Highlands.

It has been four decades since the last pumped storage hydro station in the UK – the 1.8GW Dinorwig Power Station in Wales – was connected to the grid, but the construction of new assets could be imminent.

With efforts to achieve net zero ramping up, energy suppliers are paying greater attention to pumped storage hydro, as they have recognised the important role that clean energy storage can play. There are currently several pumped storage hydro projects being developed in the UK, the majority of them in Scotland.

SSE Renewables is looking to expand its existing 300MW pumped storage hydro portfolio and is currently developing two new projects in the Scottish Highlands, the up to 1,800MW Loch Fearna in association with Gilkes Energy and the 1,300MW Coire Glas.

Work on the Coire Glas scheme, located in the Great Glen on the shores of Loch Lochy, is more advanced. Planning consent has been secured for electricity storage capacity of up to 30GWh, more than double the UK’s existing 24GWh capacity. If constructed, it will be able to generate enough electricity to supply 3M homes for 24 hours within five minutes.

A significant milestone for the project was reached in August, when the construction of a 1.2km long exploratory adit was completed. SSE Renewables decided to build the adit to collect data on the ground conditions, which will be used for the detailed design of the proposed scheme’s large underground assets. The company has already invested £100M in the scheme, with approximately half of the sum allocated to ground investigations.

Stantec and Cowi have developed the reference design for the cavern complex, tunnels, shafts and 92m-tall dam. According to the reference design, 11km of tunnels will connect the powerhouse assets – the main inlet valve gallery, the machine hall and the transformer hall – with the 730m deep surge shaft.

 

“The powerhouse complex is a series of caverns which are interconnected. The caverns, up to 168m long and 52m high, will be located several hundred meters below ground level,” says SSE Renewables senior engineering geologist Jessica Smith. “Investigation from the surface in such topography is incredibly challenging. The only way we could investigate the cavern locations was by building the adit.”

The project site straddles the boundary with the Great Glen Fault Zone and the Tarvie Psammite Formation. The Great Glen Fault is one of the UK’s major geological terrane boundaries.

Smith says SSE Renewables wanted to find out where the boundary is and have a better understanding of the transition from one ground condition to the other. Stantec engineer Katherine Brightwell adds that the ground investigations are important because there is not much information available on the Great Glen Fault’s characteristics.

Design and construction

Designing the adit was challenging for Stantec and Cowi due to the lack of data available on the ground conditions. “At the time, only some surface mapping had been carried out [by British Geological Survey in 2010 for the feasibility study]. It’s quite unusual for a tunnel to be designed with no information, but in this case the adit itself is part of the ground investigation,” says Smith.

The original plan involved the construction of a 915m long adit and a single drilling gallery for the ground investigations. Earlier this year, the client decided to change the scope, extending the tunnel to 1,175m and increasing the number of drilling galleries to three. The dimensions of the adit vary, with the average height being around 5m and with a width of 4.5m.

Through this extension, the adit skirts one side of the powerhouse location. “We don’t want to tunnel right into it, but we need to get close enough to carry out the ground investigations and get the boreholes targeting those areas,” Smith explains.

SSE Renewables awarded the contract for the construction of the exploratory adit to Strabag in November 2022. Strabag senior commercial manager Aleko Vassileiou says the contractor started working on site in December 2022 and the first six months were spent clearing the site for the creation of usable space for the offices, workshops and water treatment plant.

Vassileiou adds that site limitations and issues with accessibility led to the use of the Caledonian Canal for the transportation of some equipment to site.

Tunnelling activities started in May 2023, with drill and blast chosen as the optimal tunnelling method.

“The tunnel is for ground investigation and its purpose was to enable data on ground conditions to be collected, including by conducting detailed mapping of the face after each advance. With that in mind, and considering the nature of the rock mass, drill and blast was the only practical methodology for the works,” says Smith.

As drill and blast is rarely used in the UK, Strabag tunnel sub-agent Douglas Whiteford says special training had to be provided to the team by the contractor’s experts and Steve Brace Consultants.

Whiteford adds that the contractor had to engage with Police Scotland to get a special license for the use of explosives and follow specific regulations in relation to their storage. A total of 80t of emulsion explosives and 43,000 detonators were used for the construction of the adit.

Strabag used a drilling rig with two booms to drill 2.8m holes in specific locations into the rock and filled these with explosives.

“Once detonation was complete, we would remove all the spoil and trim any loose rock and then geologists would come in and map the face. After that, the support class was determined and installed,” Whiteford explains. There were four support classes in the design envelope linked to the rock mass quality value (Q-value) and overburden.

Shotcrete was then applied – ranging from 50mm to 250mm according to the ground conditions – followed by the installation of rock bolts.

Ten different excavation profiles were used for the tunnel. The tunnel has a predominantly horseshoe profile, with profile dimensions varying according to functions – for example, passing bays and turning niches – or ground conditions.

The drill and blast method is rarely used in the UK (Credit: Strabag)

Fault encounter

One very distinctive profile is a circular one stretching around 28m. Last December, Strabag’s team encountered poor ground that began at around 728m from the tunnel portal.

“We didn’t expect a feature of that size and of that condition in that location,” says Smith. “The support classes that were available to use would not have been suitable and that was partly because of the condition of the rock mass and the depth below ground surface, which was approximately 400m.”

Whiteford says the ground was much softer than expected, a condition not incorporated in the original design. This meant that Stantec and Cowi had to develop a bespoke design.

As drill and blast is not used for such ground conditions, the team had to source new equipment to carry out mechanical excavation.

“We also had mixed face which was a challenge for the engineers. There were some soft areas which had to be excavated mechanically, and then other large areas within the face that needed to be blasted,” Vassileiou adds.

While the new designs were being developed and new equipment sourced, Züblin drilled a borehole along the tunnel alignment and Amberg carried out tunnel seismic prediction to determine the extent of the poor ground and to validate the design of the bespoke support solution.

Whiteford says H-beams, 300mm shotcrete, rock bolts and rock dowels were used to support this section of the adit.

The fault caused a three-month delay.

“The reason we have built the adit is to test our conceptual ground model so that we can avoid surprises when it comes to the main works. Had this happened with the main works, the impact on programme and the cost would have been much greater. This shows that ground investigation is always worth the investment,” says Smith.

Ground investigation

By mapping the face of the adit during the tunnelling process, the geologists captured information on the ground conditions across the adit alignment.

Since the completion of the tunnel in August, Züblin has been carrying out horizontal borehole drilling from the three drilling galleries.

“The advantage of amending the length of the adit and curving round the cavern locations is that it gives us a more targeted ground investigation,” says Smith.

The plan is for 31 boreholes ranging from 20m to 238m to be drilled. When NCE visited the site in October, drilling activities were substantially complete, with the focus shifting to in-situ testing.

“We are interested to better understand in-situ stresses, because we want to orientate the caverns in the most optimised way to suit the in-situ stress regime,” Smith adds.

Brightwell adds that through in-situ testing, the team is collecting additional data on the rock condition.

“We take extra data about Q-value and Geological Strength Index logging, which is beyond what you typically get from standard ground investigation.”

Several other subcontractors are involved in the in-situ testing. Robertson Geo is conducting wireline geophysical logging and televiewer surveys in the boreholes. Solexperts have been doing the plate jack testing by pushing a thick metal plate into the ground using a hydraulic jack and collecting data on rock mass deformation from extensometers installed 6m deep. Cambridge Insitu is carrying out hydraulic fracture testing to determine the tensile strength of the rock mass and the magnitude of horizontal stresses.

Brightwell says some core samples have been sent for laboratory analysis including standard testing – for example, uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and aggregate testing – as well as specialist suites, such as K-Ar dating and drillability testing.

The ground condition investigations for the project extend beyond underground locations. Last year, Fugro completed wider site geotechnical investigations at the proposed locations of the dam and reservoir. It also investigated the potential surge shaft location by drilling a borehole to a depth of 650m.

Smith says they have recently received the final factual report from that ground investigation. Smith commented on the results:

“It was reassuring to see that the original hypothesis about those locations stands up based on the results of the ground investigation.”

The underground drilling and testing are expected to be completed by the end of the year, but data on tunnel deformation will continue to be collected through instrumentation installed on the tunnel lining.

SSE Renewables has also established an offsite storage facility at Fort Augustus where core samples will be preserved for future research.

Smith highlights that the data the project acquires for the Great Glen Fault will benefit the geoscience and engineering sectors. SSE Renewables stakeholder engagement manager Jade Clark adds the exploratory tunnel construction has already benefitted the local community through job creation and upskilling. According to the project team, 28% of the people that worked on this project phase are Scottish Highland residents.

The benefits to the local community and economy will be magnified if SSE Renewables decides to make the investment into the £1.5bn scheme, which will depend on the government’s delivery of the cap-and-floor mechanism. Through this mechanism, which was announced in October, investors will have guaranteed revenues above an agreed floor and will limit revenues to an agreed cap for the benefit of consumers.

The tendering process for the main construction contract has begun, with the client hoping for construction to start in 2026 and project commissioning in 2032.

 

Source: New Civil Engineer

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Over-reliance on technology – not the answer for energy efficient buildings

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David Connacher, Marketing Manager of West Fraser, discusses how inhabitant behaviour is integral to a building’s success and performance

 

People spend 80-90%* of their time indoors so internal spaces and environments are incredibly important to quality of life and wellbeing. They can affect mental health and may trigger allergies; even the fact of being too hot or too cold can influence productivity. Frustratingly, understanding the relationship between buildings and those that occupy them is not an exact science.

While poor indoor air quality and overheating are well known problems, architects, designers and M&E consultants cannot necessarily predict patterns of occupant behaviour. Building users are fickle and often override or even tamper with the devices and components installed to make systems work effectively. This can range from the simple act of adjusting thermostats or air condition controls to disconnecting devices that they perceive to be noisy or wasteful of energy, such as MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) systems. Poor performance also results from maintenance being neglected, for example, ongoing servicing and filter cleaning. 

An over-reliance on technology to solve inherent building design issues is not the answer when it comes to creating healthy and energy efficient buildings. While fabric first principles must always be at the forefront of building design, they must also be coupled with the education of building owners and occupiers, especially when focusing on reducing energy use.

Paradoxically, the belief that we are being efficient tends to lead us to consume more energy. The knowledge that lightbulbs are low energy often means there is far less incentive to turn them off, so the overall energy used is little different from before. This idea that increased energy efficiency results in increased energy consumption is widely accepted and is dubbed the Khazzoom-Brookes postulate. At its extreme, people may put the money saved on energy in their home towards overseas holidays involving flying – hardly the most sustainable option.

*LINK

CLICK HERE to find out more about West Fraser’s support for architects

and to access useful downloads on the architects’ page

CLICK HERE to visit the West Fraser Website

or for further information, call 01786 812 921

 

 

 

 

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Enviro at COP29 Climate Hub

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Enviro’s Chairman Alf Blomqvist and Board Member Nina Macpherson Speak at COP29 Climate Hub

Scandinavian Enviro Systems (Enviro) is participating today at the Climate Hub conference, held during the UN’s climate meeting COP29. Enviro’s chairman of the board, Alf Blomqvist, and board member, Nina Macpherson, will take part in a panel discussion on ecocide – mass destruction of the environment – and share how Enviro contributes to both environmental and economic sustainability.

During COP29, a series of side events is being organized, including Climate Hub. Alf Blomqvist and Nina Macpherson will participate in a panel discussion titled “Business leaders for Ecocide Law: Criminalizing Ecocide & Leveling the Playing Field.” Alongside Blomqvist and Macpherson, Scania’s Head of Sustainability, Fredrik Nilzén, and Johan Falk, CEO of Exponential Roadmap Initiative, will also take part in the discussion.

“The need for international legislation against ecocide is clear, and Climate Hub is an excellent platform for us to discuss both Enviro’s position and the work the company is doing to promote the environment and sustainability,” says Nina Macpherson, Board Member of Scandinavian Enviro Systems and Chair of the Ecocide Law Alliance, a foundation working to introduce ecocide as a crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

COP29 is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan, and is the 29th edition of the UN climate conference, where countries around the world come together to discuss and negotiate global efforts to combat climate change.

“We are proud to participate in such an important forum and to share Enviro’s work in fostering sustainability from both an environmental and economic perspective,” says Alf Blomqvist, Chairman of the board of Enviro.

Read more about Climate Hub

 

 

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UK Government’s ambitious 81% carbon emission reduction target, but . . . .

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Ashden welcomes UK Government’s ambitious 81% carbon emission reduction target, but highlights need for fairness and a fully-fledged plan

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s presence at COP 29 in Baku and commitment to this updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is exactly the sort of leadership the world is crying out for on climate. With the UK’s green economy growing 9% in 2023 while the wider economy stagnated, it is clear that strong climate ambition drives innovation, job creation, and prosperity. UK businesses and civil society have long called for such leadership to ensure a just and sustainable transition.

However, as recent global events have underscored, public trust and fairness are critical to sustaining momentum for ambitious climate action. Everyday people must see and feel the fairness of these changes. It is not enough to set bold targets; we must ensure the journey to achieve them is equitable, with tangible improvements in livelihoods, jobs, and community resilience across the country.

Dr Ashok Sinha, CEO of Ashden who is attending COP29, said:

“At a time when there are headwinds against government action to avert catastrophic climate change in both the US and EU, the announcement by the UK of strong new NDC 3.0 at COP29 – a year ahead of time – is the kind of climate diplomacy the world needs. Equally importantly, it sets the agenda at home for realising the huge social and economic gains that a fair transition to a zero carbon economy will bring.

“But now the even harder work begins. Decarbonising the grid and land transport is comparatively easy compared to capturing the huge potential of local and community renewables and decarbonising heat in our buildings, place by place, dwelling by dwelling. That will require a new approach by government based on supporting bespoke local action, everywhere.

“Ashden works with enterprises and organisations that are demonstrating just the kinds of technical, financial, training and community engagement innovations we will need to become the norm. For these innovators to succeed, government will need to trust cities, towns and communities, clear the policy blockages they face and support them to access the finance they need to succeed. That’s what we now expect to see, following today’s hugely welcome announcement.”

Ashden Award winners show how inclusive, people-focused climate solutions make a difference. B4Box in Manchester trains disadvantaged individuals in green construction skills, creating jobs while reducing emissions through home retrofitting. Energise Barnsley empowers social housing tenants with solar panels and energy storage, cutting energy costs and carbon while boosting energy independence.

The reality is stark: the UK is not currently on track to meet its existing 68% by 2030 NDC target. Increased action is an absolute imperative. To succeed, the government must deliver a comprehensive and well-resourced plan to meet these new targets. The UK’s upcoming Carbon Budget Delivery Plan, due in early 2025, must clearly outline how international and national targets will be delivered within an ambitious, fast-paced, and inclusive policy framework.

This framework must prioritise the needs of people and communities, particularly those most affected by the transition.

Ashden stands ready to support ambitious action and urges the UK Government to make the vision of a fair, green transition a reality for all.

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CLEAN ENERGY FROM DIRTY WATER INVESTMENTS

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Following an £80.6 million investment earlier this year into heat networks utilising waste heat sources, Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management is excited to commit a further £20 million to energy-from-waste (EfW) projects in Birkenhead and Loughborough. An additional £2 million will support a heat network in Portsmouth to harness heat from a local reservoir.

Harnessing waste heat produced as a byproduct from industrial processes is an efficient and sustainable way to decarbonise our energy supply. The solution can significantly reduce the carbon emissions produced from heating homes, businesses and public buildings. Through the GHNF, projects across the country are rolling out this technology to recycle waste heat and drive the transition to greener energy solutions.

Wirral Borough Council is benefitting from commercialisation funding to kickstart a project in Birkenhead, using effluent from an existing wastewater treatment plant as the heat network’s primary source. This network will go on to connect 21,000 homes being built over the next 20 years across one of the UK’s largest brownfield regeneration sites.

In the East Midlands, Vital Energi has received funding to sleeve excess heat from the Newhurst Energy Recovery Facility (ERF). The network will connect a new build development and buildings located on the west side of Loughborough University. Connections to other educational institutions across Loughborough are expected in future plans.

Further south in Hampshire, Last Mile Heat Ltd has secured funding for an ambient heat network which will take heat from Portsmouth Water’s reservoir for the Welborne Garden Village. The heat network will provide low carbon heating to 15,000 new residents, shops, schools and commercial spaces.

Locating untapped sources of heat is vital to the UK’s overarching goal of achieving Net Zero by 2050. These projects, kickstarted by GHNF, are expected to save more than 248,000 tonnes of carbon over the next 15 years marking a significant step towards a more sustainable future.

 

Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh said:

 

“The funding for these three fantastic projects will not only support the communities they serve, but also contribute to our clean power by 2030 mission, ensuring Britain has greater energy security.

“By investing in new, greener heat networks, we are helping more homes and businesses across England benefit from cleaner heating – leading to lower energy bills.”

 

Ken Hunnisett, Programme Director, said:

 

“Harnessing waste heat that would otherwise be lost is a valued approach to enhancing energy security while reducing our dependency on non-renewable heating sources.

 

Today’s announcement expands the growing portfolio of GHNF funded projects that are leveraging local heat sources to advance the decarbonisation of our homes, universities, schools and more.”

 

Birkenhead Heat Network (£887,000 commercialisation funding)

 

Wirral Borough Council have been awarded £887,000 commercialisation funding as part of a £41 million heat network project which plans to decarbonise an estimated 7,448 new homes along with new commercial developments that are part of its ambitious regeneration plans for the area.

The support will help to kickstart the inception of the new heat network within Birkenhead town centre, which is expected to use a Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP) to harness waste heat from the existing wastewater treatment plant.

A mix of buildings will benefit from sustainable heating and hot water provision provided by the network*.

Cllr Tony Jones, Chair of the Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee for Wirral Council, said:

 

“The development of a new heat network for Birkenhead, likely to be powered using a Water Source Heat Pump, underpins our wide-reaching regeneration plans for the town centre and is a clear example of Wirral looking to embrace green investment opportunities, promote sustainable regeneration and develop infrastructure in line with the challenge of rapid decarbonisation.”

 

Newhurst (£19 million commercialisation and construction)

 

The Newhurst heat network, located just outside Loughborough, will receive £19 million commercialisation and construction funding to connect 42GWh of low carbon heat recovered from the Newhurst Energy Recovery Facility to Loughborough University in Phase 1.

Construction is due to start in late 2025 and be complete within 2 years. The project will be run by Vital Energi who will fund the remainder of the project as well as design, build, operate and maintain the heat network. There are also plans to expand the heat network to new build residential properties, along with other heat users in Loughborough.

Nick Gosling, Chief Strategy Officer at Vital Energi said:

 

“The Newhurst heat network is a great example of sustainable innovation, transforming waste into warmth and having a positive environmental impact across the community. Many education institutions have set extremely tight deadlines for reaching their net zero targets and we are excited to be working on a project which will help move so many important organisations towards a greener future.”

 

Welborne Garden Village (£2 million commercialisation and construction)

 

Last Mile Heat, in collaboration with Rendesco, have secured £2 million for the Welborne Garden Village heat network.

The innovative solution harnesses ambient heat from the local Portsmouth Water reservoir, supplying low carbon heating and hot water to an initial 700 homes at the Buckland Group development in Fareham, Hampshire. Over time 6,000 new build homes and up to 15,000 residents will be connected. Cooling will also be provided in the warmer months.

In addition, the heat pump solution will extend to provide low carbon heating to 10 hectares of employment space, healthcare facilities, schools, and local retail and leisure facilities for residents over time.

Upon the project’s completion, an average three-bedroom house will save £160 on their energy bills versus other low carbon heating solutions, according to Rendesco.

Alastair Murray, Director, Last Mile Heat said:

 

“With government legislation steering new developments towards cleaner heating and hot water options, developers are working with Last Mile Heat to take advantage of high quality, low carbon energy sources that are more efficient than air source heat pumps without costing the developer anymore. This project is a template for future housing developments of all shapes and sizes and gives the developers the confidence to design their projects around low carbon heat networks.

 

 

Source: The Association for Decentralised Energy

 

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ZENTIA’S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY

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The built environment is responsible for approximately 25% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. This staggering statistic underscores the urgent need for change within our industry. At Zentia, we are working hard to reduce our impact on the environment as much as possible and help in the journey towards a better future.

Our comprehensive ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) report details our ongoing efforts and ambitious targets to significantly reduce our environmental impact and support the global drive towards Net Zero by 2050.

 

What we have achieved so far

In our ceiling tile manufacturing process, we repurpose 1,400 tonnes of pre-consumer waste, sourced from local suppliers. That is the equivalent to the weight of approximately 12 blue whales! When newspaper production was in decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic and growing trends of online readership compared to traditional print, we reviewed our manufacturing process and now we also incorporate 200 tonnes of pre-consumer egg cartons into our ceiling tiles, the equivalent of 16 cruise ship anchors.

Our recycling initiatives extend beyond our manufacturing process. Members of our award-winning Pinnacle Partnership Scheme gain access to our off-cut recycling scheme, allowing them to return tile off-cuts to our factory in Gateshead. These off-cuts are then reintroduced into our manufacturing process to create new tiles, promoting a circular economy.

We aim to conserve as much water as possible by also recycling the water used in our manufacturing processes.

Our commitment to ESG goes beyond just our environmental impact. As members of the North East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, we are passionate about apprenticeships and retaining core skills within our local area. This initiative helps to ensure a skilled and competent workforce for the future.

Our promises and targets

Zentia’s journey from Armstrong Ceilings to an independent UK manufacturer marks the beginning of our focused ESG efforts. By 2025, we aim for all UK-made products to be covered by single product-level Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). We predict that 91.8% of our products will be manufactured in the UK by then. To ensure accuracy and transparency, we have started measuring resource usage at the product level and are working with BRE to enhance the value of our EPDs.

We have set a target to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2025, supported by £4.5 million investment and various process improvement projects. Our commitment to providing transparent information about our sustainability credentials will help us gain recognition in the market.

Health and safety best practices are also integral to our operations at Zentia. We strive for zero recordable incidents across our business, reflecting our responsibility towards our people and our dedication to creating a sustainable business environment.

We are proud of the strides we have made and remain dedicated to achieving our ambitious targets, ensuring a positive impact on the environment, our community, and the industry as a whole.

For more detail CLICK HERE to see our report

 

 

 

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NESO: Accelerating Net Zero

New publicly owned National Energy System Operator to pave the way to a clean energy future

National Energy System Operator will support the UK’s energy security, help to keep bills down in the long term, and accelerate the government’s clean power mission.

  • Electricity and gas network planning to be brought under one roof, as the new independent National Energy System Operator launches to achieve the clean energy transition
  • Set to launch on Tuesday 1 October
  • The publicly owned body will support the UK’s energy security, help to keep bills down in the long term and accelerate the government’s clean power mission

Britain’s energy system will be planned by a new publicly owned organisation as part of a new more strategic approach, which will help to deliver clean power by 2030.

The new National Energy System Operator (NESO) will help connect new generation projects with the electricity grid, working alongside Great British Energy to deploy renewable energy, so bill payers can reap the benefits of clean, secure, homegrown power.

It comes as the government today reached an agreement with National Grid to acquire the Electricity System Operator, which will be transferred to public ownership.

Set to start work on 1 October, NESO will be chaired by former E.ON CEO Dr Paul Golby, with Fintan Slye as the Chief Executive Officer.

Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, said:

Today marks a milestone for Britain’s energy system as we bring the system operator into public ownership to provide impartial, whole-system expertise on building a network that is fit for the future.

The new National Energy System Operator has a huge role to play in delivering our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.

We need to move Britain off expensive, insecure fossil fuel markets, and onto clean, cheap homegrown power that we control. This is how we reduce bills in the long term, strengthen our energy independence and support skilled jobs across the country.

This is another step forward by a government in a hurry to deliver for the British people.

Currently, there is no single body responsible for overseeing the strategic planning and design of the country’s electricity and gas networks.

NESO will fill this gap – breaking down the siloes which currently exist between the planning of electricity and gas systems, with independent oversight for the design of all Great Britain’s energy networks.

The move will enable investors to build out new energy infrastructure with confidence in how their project will fit into the country’s wider clean energy plan.

The new independent body will support the government’s rapid action to accelerate to net zero.

The government’s Mission Control – headed up by Chris Stark – has already given NESO one of its first tasks – commissioning it to provide advice on how the UK will hit its goal to deliver clean power by 2030.

It comes on top of launching Great British Energy, lifting England’s onshore wind ban, approving four major solar farms and launching the Clean Energy Mission Control Centre.

John Pettigrew, Chief Executive of National Grid, said:

We look forward to working together with NESO to continue to drive the UK’s energy transition forward at pace; accelerating the decarbonisation of the energy system for the digital, electrified economies of the future.

Paul Golby, Chair of the National Energy System Operator said:

This is a pivotal moment as we head closer to the launch of the National Energy System Operator on 1 October. NESO will support a more integrated and coordinated strategy to meet the unprecedented challenges of climate change, ensuring security of energy supply and keeping bills as low as possible.

NESO brings together critical roles and responsibilities under one roof, creating an environment that is essential for success. We will have a broad strategic oversight of both the electricity and gas systems, managing system planning, market operations, and ensuring that our energy infrastructure is secure, resilient, flexible, and future-proof.

The National Energy System Operator has been established through powers under the Energy Act 2023. This sets out the responsibilities of the new public body to maintain the UK’s energy supplies, protect energy consumers and plan for an efficient clean energy system that is fit for the future.

As part of this, NESO will take a cross-sector approach to planning the country’s energy system in the best interests of the British public – looking across electricity, gas and hydrogen, as well as renewable generation, storage and other emerging technologies like carbon capture usage and storage. The independent organisation will map out the country’s future energy networks – helping both the government and Ofgem make informed decisions when considering new infrastructure, speeding up grid connections and progressing the UK’s net zero goals.

Fintan Slye, Chief Executive of the National Energy System Operator, said:

Today is a crucial step in our journey to become the National Energy System Operator and we’re delighted that the Energy Secretary has confirmed 1 October will be the launch day of this new independent organisation.

We are excited to take this bold step forward to help unify and optimise our national approach to energy and to deliver the clean, secure, decarbonised energy system that is affordable and fit for the future.

We are ready, and look forward to providing expert independent advice and working collaboratively across all parts of the energy sector, with government, the regulator and within our communities across Great Britain.

Jonathan Brearley, Chief Executive of Ofgem, said:

The setup of NESO is a huge step forward in ending Britain’s exposure to volatile energy markets and getting clean, renewable power to every single one of us.

Its work is central to long-term energy security and to running the system day to day.

We look forward to working with NESO to ensure Britain gets the clean power system it needs at the lowest possible cost to consumers and taxpayers.

 

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Oscar Acoustics reaches ‘Green Plaque’ status

Oscar Acoustics HQ_Hufton + Crow  

 Leader in acoustic finishes strengthens its eco-commitment

Rochester, Kent, 9 September 2024: Driven by a commitment to sustainability, Oscar Acoustics, Britain’s leading provider of architectural acoustic finishes, has surpassed landmark milestones in its green initiatives.

Following the recent opening of its new HQ, the ‘Oscar Innovation Centre’, has been awarded the prestigious ‘Green Plaque’ status, a third-party newbuild assessment that is independently peer-reviewed and administered by Lifecycle Design. This award is given to buildings that meet only the highest sustainability and environmental standards in the UK.

This follows the company’s achievement of an A+ EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating, placing the project in the top 0.35% of the most energy-efficient schemes in England, which independent assessors flagged as a ‘Net Zero emissions’ building.

Andrew Pook, Environmental Consultant from Green Plaque, said:

“Sometimes a project comes along that just ticks all the boxes. Though the Green Plaque assessment is not simply about describing exemplary developments, this one is really quite exciting and just shows what can be achieved when the commitment, enthusiasm, and expertise is there.”

This success builds on previous certifications, including achieving Carbon Neutral status through gold-standard assessor, Positive Planet, in 2023. This required a rigorous evaluation and highlights the company’s ongoing commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. Additionally, it reflects their investment in world-leading carbon-capture programmes to mitigate the impact of unavoidable emissions.

 

The certification required establishing science-based targets (SBTs) as well as gas emission measurements for Scope One, Two, and Three within the globally-recognised, sustainability assessment framework.

Ben Hancock, Managing Director of Oscar Acoustics, said:

“Our new A+ EPC-rated, Net Zero emissions HQ isn’t just a building; it’s a testament to our unwavering commitment to environmental excellence. We’ve built on our sustainability goals year-on-year so we’re extremely proud to be recognised at this level.

“This achievement underscores businesses’ vital role in going beyond standard practices to actively reduce their environmental footprint. It’s time for all companies to step up, take meaningful action, and lead the way in sustainable innovation.”

 

This milestone marks the latest step in the company’s ongoing sustainability journey, with goal-oriented objectives to achieve Net Zero by 2050.

Its market-leading acoustic products have also been used on some of the UK’s leading green construction projects, including 20 Water Street and the iconic 22 Bishopsgate, the first building in the UK to apply for the WELL Building Standard.

Made from fire-treated recycled paper, its SonaSpray range of acoustic decorative sprays help building designers to achieve acoustic excellence as well as a string of sustainable design and health certification systems. These include WELL, BREEAM, SKA, Living Building Challenge, and can add up to 17 points towards the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating of a project. SonaSpray also boasts GREENGUARD Gold certification – for optimal Indoor Air Quality.

 

 

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West Fraser working towards EUDR compliance

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The EU Deforestation Regulation bans deforestation and degradation trading into or within the EU

 

As a manufacturer with a long history of embracing high standards of its raw material due diligence programme and sustainability goals in general, West Fraser is introducing additional strategies to comply with the requirements of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) which was published in June 2023 and is set to come into force at the end of 2024.

With the world’s forests being lost at the equivalent rate of 800 football pitches an hour, it is considered to be the second biggest contributor to Climate Change and results in corresponding damage to biodiversity.  The EUDR has therefore been established to not only ensure wood comes from legal sources, but to eradicate deforestation and degradation our of global forests. Ultimately, the regulation will help to decouple economic growth from resource consumption, a key target of the EU’s Green Deal.

To date, West Fraser has been working to collate data and undertakings from its supply chain partners, the forest geolocation, species and legal aspects are all considered as part of the risk assessment process, with the wider road map for its journey to full compliance being the subject of regular review.   Meeting the requirements of EUDR is an extension of the company’s already well-established due diligence systems and disciplines in line with its forestry policy commitments.

West Fraser’s Group Compliance Manager, Julie Turner, who is leading the EUDR project commented:

“We recognise and actively promote the importance of responsible sourcing across our supply chains and can assure our customers that we are engaged with the EUDR requirements to better our planet and reduce our environmental impact”.

The West Fraser range of engineered timber panels products are made from forests grown & harvested specifically for manufacturing purposes, all serving to cut unnecessary consumption of resources.  The manufacturer is also committed to further waste reduction in its own processes and utilising renewable energy only from certified sources.  Enshrining the EUDR as part of its ESG disciplines will be another waymarker on West Fraser’s journey to Net Zero.

 

CLICK HERE

to email West Fraser for further information on their sourcing and due diligence processes

 

 

 

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Egis Calls for Detailed Strategy on Nuclear Planning

Egis Calls for Detailed Strategy on Nuclear Planning to Deliver Net-Zero Targets

 

Global consulting, construction engineering and operating firm Egis has called on the UK government to commit to a long-term nuclear energy strategy which ensures planning and delivery within efficient timeframes.

 

It follows the announcement of the Great British Energy Bill, which was revealed by Sir Keir Starmer yesterday. In his speech, the prime minister said that his government will be ‘pushing on with nuclear’, following the set-up of GB Energy. The purpose of GB Energy is ‘to facilitate, encourage and participate in the production, distribution, storage and supply of clean energy; the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from energy produced from fossil fuels; improvements in energy efficiency; and measures for ensuring energy security’.

 

Earlier this month, reports suggested that the UK is on course to miss its target of doubling onshore wind, tripling solar power and quadrupling offshore wind by 2030. This is due to the time required to build new wind and solar farms, the delays arising from drawn-out planning permission and long waits for grid connections, all of which could lead to the approval of new gas-fired power stations before the close of the decade.

 

This poses the risk of reliance on gas-fired power stations being extended for decades to compensate for wind and solar generation which inherently fluctuate, underscoring the need to bring new nuclear online to safeguard the decarbonisation of the UK’s electricity supply.

 

As a result, Egis has urged policymakers to set out a long-term plan for investing in sustainable nuclear energy and to provide more efficient direction to ensure that projects transition from ideation and planning to construction, without the risk of unnecessary delays and rising costs.

 

With energy production increasing in accordance with growing demand, Egis believes it is essential that sustainable energy, such as nuclear, has the sufficient investment and support behind it to become a long-term solution to the country’s energy needs.

 

To speed up the delivery of nuclear power generation required to meet the UK’s growing energy needs, Egis has encouraged the government to collaborate with the industry’s key players to implement a strategic and co-ordinated approach to the planning, implementation and construction of new nuclear projects. This includes the requirement that new technologies continue to be developed and tested, such as fusion, small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced modular reactors (AMRs), which could play an important role alongside large nuclear reactors as a low-carbon sources of secure energy.

 

Francois-Xavier Basselot, Managing Director, Energy & Sustainable Cities – Europe & Africa at Egis, said:

“The UK has not been efficient enough to realise the potential of nuclear thus far, but today’s announcement from the prime minister to move forward is promising. There have been a number of well-reported challenges associated with planning and delivering nuclear power stations, and these will remain unless the UK government takes immediate steps for nuclear to play a larger part in Britain’s energy mix.

“Over the last decade, we have seen the UK government change its mind on decisions linked to nuclear, meaning we have not been able to develop new plants as efficiently as other countries around the world. A more efficient planning process is therefore required to accelerate the rate of projects that move to the construction phase, as well as further investment into new technology and skills.”

 

Egis and its partners have already played an important role in driving down the costs of nuclear, such as its work on large scale power plants that are currently under construction. Egis is continuing to replicate this approach as lead design engineer for the Nuclear Island main civil works. Replication is viewed as the first step for industrialisation and long-term cost reductions.

 

The business has also invested into building the skills of the UK’s workforce, by recruiting and developing local talents as well as bringing in expertise from its international team who regularly deliver nuclear projects in France and globally. This investment will enable the UK to bridge the current skills shortage within the nuclear industry that has grown over the last three decades, contributing to high project costs and a lack of diverse homegrown and international talent within the country.

 

Francois Martin, Chief Nuclear Officer, Egis Group, said:

“We have gained invaluable experience in all aspects of the nuclear planning front in countries across the globe, including from the very beginning in France, where we have supported the country’s nuclear campaign as a key technical partner. With nuclear set to grow over the coming years, we are dedicated to increasing both the homegrown and international talent available to the UK.”

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