Mepca / The Sustainable Engineer - August / September 2015

Editor Jess Unwin editor@thesustainableengineer.com 07903 399150 Publication Manager Sean French sean@cimltd.co.uk 01795 509105 Fax: 01795 591065 Studio Manager Paula Smith paula@cimltd.co.uk 01795 509107 Design & Production Grant Waters grant@cimltd.co.uk 01795 509108 James Taylor james@cimltd.co.uk 01795 509108

I

t’s galling when new EU or UK legislation seems to be actively working against the causes of sustainability and renewable sources of energy.

One can only agree with John Sinfield’s sentiment about a European Court of Justice ruling that means energy-saving products will face a rise in VAT from 5% to 20%. It seems to fly in the face of commonsense – and all the green policies promoted by both the EU and our own government. (Read more on page 4.)

And the onshore wind sector is still absorbing the news that the Tory government intends to stop public subsidies for new onshore wind farms from April 2016. Juliet Davenport’s comment that this is “disappointing” (see page 14) is somewhat understated but sums up the general feeling.

Elsewhere I note there’s a theme on some of our pages that looks at how good and regular maintenance of equipment and plant can extend lifetime, which is certainly one simple way of trying to achieve a greater sustainability in operations.

There’s also news of a building at the University of East Anglia that’s setting new green standards in construction, plus the latest on one of the ‘holy grails’ of renewable energy – how to effectively store power from renewable power sources.

Jess Unwin, Editor

Credit Facilities Manager Susan Cooter creditcontrol@cimltd.co.uk 01795 509103 Chief Executive John Denning jdenning@cimltd.co.uk www.thesustainableengineer.com

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10 RENEWABLES AND SOLUTIONS

12 RENEWABLES AND SOLUTIONS

Charging ahead with developing a station for electrical vehicles

Technology that reduces, stores and saves

4 NEWS

14 SOLAR AND WIND

Includes: European VAT ruling will hit energy efficiency measures

Early end to taxpayer subsidies for wind farms is criticised and community-funded solar systems win green award

6 OIL AND GAS Includes: pipeline fit-up software helps reduce damage to environment

16 SOLAR AND WIND

8 PRODUCT NEWS

Met Office doing its bit for solar and wind sectors and news of more turbines being installed at wind farms across the UK

Includes: actuators help shale gas well to comply with new emissions legislation

Plus much more...

www.thesustainableengineer.com

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CONTENTS

Aug-Sep 2015