Issuu

July / August 2022 Volume 256 | No 4 www.electricalreview.co.uk

Informing the electrical industry for 150 years

Substation Testing with Megger

Critical Insight

Energy Storage, Standby Power & UPS

Get a Critical Insight into the everevolving data centre industry with this new virtual event.

As businesses move towards being more sustainable, so too is their standby power.

VIRTUAL EVENT 22-23 NOVEMBER 2022 16

Lighting Why recycling should be a last resort in the circular economy

Conten t s Regulars

04 • Editor’s Comment And then there were two…

06 • News Stories from the sector.

08 • Gossage Gossip The latest from our industry insider.

10 • Critical Insight

Get a Critical Insight into the ever-evolving data centre industry, as our sister publication announces a brand-new virtual event.

26 • Talking Point In this month’s Talking Point, Andreas Matthé from Siemens AG espouses the benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in electrical engineering.

28 • Products Innovations worth watching.

Features 14 • Building Services & HVAC What role does HVAC play in reducing a building’s carbon footprint? According to Michael Anderton from Johnson Controls, a potentially large one…

16 • Energy Storage, Standby Power & UPS When it comes to standby power, we’ve moved beyond dirty diesel generators, as Kelly Cole explains how standby power is evolving in step with carbon reductions.

20 • Lighting

Fluorescent battens are becoming a thing of the past, as Scott Brewer, Head of Technical at Knightsbridge, details the LED alternatives that are now available.

24 • Test & Measurement Mark Johnson, Marketing Consultant to Metrel UK, discusses the evolution of testing equipment amidst a challenging economic backdrop.

????????

Editor’s Comment

EDITOR

Jordan O’Brien jordano@sjpbusinessmedia.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Kayleigh Hutchins kayleigh@datacentrereview.com

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Alex Gold alexg@sjpbusinessmedia.com

GROUP ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

Sunny Nehru +44 (0) 207 062 2539 sunnyn@sjpbusinessmedia.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Kelly Baker +44 (0)207 0622534 kellyb@electricalreview.co.uk

GROUP COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

Fidi Neophytou +44 (0) 7741 911302 fidin@sjpbusinessmedia.com

PUBLISHER

Wayne Darroch Printing by Buxton Paid subscription enquiries: subscriptions@sjpbusinessmedia.com SJP Business Media 2nd Floor, 123 Cannon Street London, EC4N 5AU Electrical Review is a controlled circulation monthly magazine available free to selected personnel at the publisher’s discretion. If you wish to apply for regular free copies then please visit: www.electricalreview.co.uk/register Electrical Review is published by

2nd floor, 123 Cannon Street London, EC4N 5AU Any article in this journal represents the opinions of the author. This does not necessarily reflect the views of Electrical Review or its publisher – SJP Business Media ISSN 0013-4384 – All editorial contents © SJP Business Media

4 Electrical www.electricalreview.co.uk Review | July / August ???? 2022

Join us on LinkedIn

A tale of two pities Who will be the next Prime Minister of the UK? Well, thanks to Conservative MPs, the choice is between Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss, and if you’re hoping for a low carbon future, these two candidates will go down like a lump of coal at Christmas. No matter what you think of Boris Johnson, under his premiership, the UK Government has been bullish on tackling climate change and investing in the ‘Green Revolution’. In fact, Johnson took the UK’s stewardship of COP27 very seriously, pushing for nations to unite and set even more ambitious targets to combat climate change. While there was limited success on that front, you can’t blame them for trying. Now, it was far from perfect. In fact, recently a high court judge ruled that the government’s net zero strategy was inadequate and gave ministers until March 2023 to make the numbers add up. After all, the UK has a legal commitment to reach net zero by 2050. So, surely the two candidates to be Prime Minister must take the subject extremely seriously, right? Unfortunately not. As Chancellor, Rishi Sunak regularly pushed back against spending on projects that would help reduce emissions, while he also presided over the failure that was the Green Homes Grant Scheme. If you thought that was bad, Sunak also promised MPs to rollback Johnson’s plan to relax a ban on onshore wind farms, despite the public being overwhelmingly supportive and the fact that onshore wind farms are the cheapest source of electricity currently available right now. Given the energy crisis we find ourselves in, you’d think the Prime Minister of the UK would be concerned about finding low cost sources of electricity. It can’t get much worse than Sunak, can it? Well, Liz Truss isn’t any better. Set aside the multiple meetings she has had with climate-sceptic think tanks and just look at the period she was Environment Minister. Despite claiming that she believed that climate change was real, something that differed from her predecessor in the role, she still found time to cut subsidies for solar farms calling them a ‘blight on the landscape’. Meanwhile, during her time as Deputy Director of the Reform think tank, Truss said that energy infrastructure in Britain was being damaged by politicians’ obsession with green technology. Neither candidate has given us much to hope for when it comes to tackling climate change, with Truss even going so far as to call for the axing of the green levies to help lower people’s energy bills. This would gut funding from many environmental projects, all to save roughly 8%. It’s a shame that the choice of our next Prime Minister is so woefully inadequate to address the challenges that lay before us, including the climate crisis. Sure, you can deny that the climate crisis is real, for which I would like to refer you to the Netflix film Don’t Look Up. If you can ignore what is painfully obvious in front of you, I’m sure you will enjoy this film. This is an issue that is important to the British people, with 75% of adults in Great Britain saying they were worried about the impact of climate change, according to the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS’) Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN). It seems our politicians no longer reflect the will of the people. Jordan O’Brien, Editor

???????? NEWS

News Sizewell C gets go-ahead as UK pushes forward with nuclear power expansion The UK Government is making good on the promises of its energy security strategy by giving the go-ahead to Sizewell C, a new nuclear power plant on the Suffolk coast. As a nationally significant infrastructure project, the decision on whether to approve the project or not was in the hands of Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, who has made public his support for the new power station. In fact, Kwarteng advanced plans for funding new nuclear projects in June, which was in addition to the £100 million in Government support Sizewell C received in January. Despite Government funding, Sizewell C will still largely be funded by French energy company EDF, with an expected final cost in the region of £20 billion, which will be cheaper than the estimated £25–£26 billion cost for Hinkley Point C, the first new UK nuclear power station of this generation. Sizewell C will be constructed next to the existing Sizewell B power station, with a total of two reactors set to be operational upon completion of the project. EDF estimates that the two-reactor plant would generate 3.2 GW of electricity, which could be enough to provide 7% of the UK’s total electricity needs. Despite approval, campaigners against the new nuclear power plant plan to launch an appeal, which could further delay construction of Sizewell C. Delays in the commissioning of new nuclear power stations are nothing new to the UK. Hinkley Point C, which was first given the go-ahead by the UK Government in 2008, has been plagued by delays and budget overruns. As of the latest estimate, EDF says the power station should come online as of June 2027. Unsurprisingly, EDF are yet to provide an exact estimate as to when Sizewell C will be operational, simply noting that the project is expected to commence before 2024, with construction taking between nine and 12 years. Of course, it will require a more detailed planning application to pass, as well as dealing with any appeals, first.

UK businesses set to invest £13.6 billion in EV transition in 2022 Businesses across the UK are set to heavily invest in the transition to electric vehicles in 2022, with an estimated £13.6 billion set to be spent this year. With the UK set to ban internal combustion engine vehicles in 2030, businesses are beginning to invest in new fleets that will replace their polluting vehicles. In fact, in 2021, businesses across the UK spent £11.6 billion on electric vehicles and the supporting infrastructure in 2021, according to a new study from Centrica Business Solutions. It’s expected that 2022 will see a 15% increase in spend, reaching £13.6 billion by the end of the year, with a lot of that spend being dedicated to overhauling entire fleets of vehicles. In fact, 163,000 electric vehicles are set to join business fleets this year. However, the addition of electric vehicles to fleets isn’t enough, with many companies also committing to the installation of electric vehicle chargers, both at the workplace and at employees’ homes.

6 Electrical Review | July / August 2022

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com/1933 Media Productions

NEWS

Ofgem outlines plans for RIIO-ED2, promising investment without bill increases

UK secures another 11GW of renewable capacity after record-breaking auction

Ofgem has announced its plans for the RIIO-ED2 price control period, with the energy regulator promising major investment without impacting consumer’s pockets. The five-year RIIO-ED2 price control period will begin in 2023 and run until 2028, with big plans to boost grid capacity, improve customer service and resilience to prevent power outages, and prepare for the future of a greener, cheaper grid. However, all these plans will require major investment, with Ofgem outlining £20.9 billion in investment. Despite the large amount of investment required, Ofgem understands the sensitivity consumers will have to any bill increases. Thus, it’s promising in the next control period that bills won’t increase to fund the investment, instead distribution network operators will have to work diligently to find efficiency savings. Additionally, investors have been told to expect lower returns. While the plan outlined by Ofgem is just a draft, with the final plans to be published in December this year, as it stands, distribution network operators will stand to receive less than they have outlined in their business plans. In fact, on average, Ofgem plans to offer around 17% less to the levels of baseline funding requested, with businesses needing to make 1.2% per year of efficiency savings.

The UK Government has announced that it has secured an additional 11GW of renewable energy capacity after a record-breaking CfD auction. In July, the results for the fourth round of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme were officially announced, with the Government confirming that it had secured 11GW of renewable capacity across 93 projects. While 11GW may pale in comparison to the ScotWind auction from the Scottish Government, which secured 25GW of offshore wind

power, this is by far the largest CfD auction ever launched. In fact, the 11GW secured is almost double the 5.8GW awarded in the 2019 Round 3 allocation, and more than all three previous rounds combined. What’s notable about the 11GW of renewables rewarded is that these projects are ready to go, planning permission has already been secured, it’s just they were waiting on funding. Now, the Government has ensured that these projects have a funding contract in place.

Image Credit: urbans/Shutterstock.com

Electrical Review hails success of inaugural Powered On Live Powered On Live, a two-day event exploring the hot topics within the electrical industry, has been hailed a major success by its organisers. The inaugural Powered On Live took place on June 15-16, with attendees invited to watch live discussions with some of the industry’s best and brightest. In the end, 21 speakers from across the industry featured across the two-day event. Topics covered at Powered On Live included a closer look at whether the UK could achieve its net zero ambition, the dangers of arc flash and how to mitigate them, how modern UPSs are enabling virtual power plants, how to deal with the intermittency of renewables, and much more. Electrical Review has confirmed that each event was recorded and will be available

on demand for those who couldn’t make it to the event but still want to hear what was discussed. While an exact date the recordings would be available has not yet been confirmed, it’s expected the discussions will be released imminently. Following the event’s success, organisers have announced plans for future events from both Electrical Review and its sister publication Data Centre Review. These events are set to expand on the success of the inaugural Powered On Live, which is set to return in 2023. In addition to Powered On Live, Data Centre Review has confirmed that it will be hosting a two-day live event later this year, dubbed Critical Insight. This event is expected to take place on November 22-23.

www.electricalreview.co.uk 7

Gossage Gossip Securely complacent in Berlin Every few years, the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) undertakes a full-scale review of each nation’s energy policy. Whilst the final publication always has to be ‘agreed’ by the relevant national government, such formal reviews are usually accepted to be the most rational and authoritative synopsis of just how sensible and far-sighted (or otherwise) each national energy policy is. The latest review of German energy policy was issued less than two years ago, late in 2020. The IEA’s adulatory press release concluded, ‘Energy security remains a focus area for the IEA, and Germany has maintained a high degree of oil, natural gas, and electricity supply security.’ I think we can safely reckon that such wonderful complacency, particularly regarding Russian supplies, would be unlikely to be received so generously now.

Turbines not fine More wind farms should not be built in Eastern Finland as turbines distract radar operations along the 1,300km land border with Russia, according to an official communique from the Finnish Ministry of Defence. After 103 years of neutrality, Finland has now officially joined NATO in reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Any further turbines over 50m tall or smaller ones situated close to strategic areas, require a green light from the armed forces. According to the military, the distance between a wind turbine and a radar installation must be at least 40km. Wind farms create shadow zones, interfering with reflections, making regional surveillance more difficult. Over the last decade, about 80% of statements given by the army concerning the establishment of wind farms had been positive. This year, most wind farm applications have been firmly rejected. Reconciling Finland’s move towards self-sufficiency in electricity and enhancing green transition while taking security concerns into account has – to put it diplomatically – complicated the situation.

A DNO don’t The official line from industry regulator Ofgem is clear – electricity prices are increasing massively again this September, largely because of ‘inflation in international energy prices’. However, a closer look at some of the obscurer graphs concerning DNOs published by the regulator does suggest that there may well be one or two other important contributory causes rather closer to home. One reveals that network costs have risen by a massive 39%, from an average £268 in the 2021/22 winter up to £371 from April 2022. Given the push for electrical heat pumps which have a much higher instantaneous demand for electricity than gas-heated boilers, then the network cost is only going to increase again in the next DNO price control.

8 Electrical Review | July / August 2022

SMRs create even more nuclear waste A planned new generation of small nuclear reactors will create more waste than conventional reactors, according to an authoritative new study. The projects, called small modular reactors (SMR), are designed to be simpler and safer than conventional plants in the case of an accident. They are also expected to be built in factories and shipped to locations across the world, as opposed to today’s massive reactors, which are built on-site and typically run billions of pounds over budget. SMR backers maintain they are a safe way to boost generation of virtually emissions-free electricity. But the reactors would create far more radioactive waste per unit of electricity they generate than conventional reactors by a factor of up to 30, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the American National Academy of Sciences. Some of these smaller reactors, with molten salt and sodium-cooled designs, are expected to create waste that needs to go through additional conditioning to make it safe to store in a repository. Allison Macfarlane, a co-author of the study and former head of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said SMR designers ‘don’t pay that much attention in general to the waste, because the thing that makes money for them is the reactor. But it is important to know about the waste products, and whether they’re going to pose such difficulties in managing and then disposing of them. Which they are.’

EDF running out of money? The French government is to spend £20 billion buying back the final 16% of Electricité de France (EDF) shares still privately owned, bringing the company back under public ownership. Why are they renationalising this company? The answer is simple. It is to avoid EDF going bankrupt. Right now, over half (29 out of 56) of EDF’s French nuclear reactors are currently offline. The company is already hugely indebted and faces a massive bill of up to 100 billion euros (£85 billion) to keep its ageing nuclear fleet going. And EDF’s flagship EPR reactor is over-cost and over-time everywhere it is being attempted to be built. Aside from its debts, EDF has faced issues with ageing reactors, after experts warned President Macron of significant corrosion safety problems in EDF nuclear power plants in France as cracks were detected in the cooling systems of some nuclear reactors. Meanwhile there is delay after delay in bringing online every one of the EDF flagship nuclear reactors, in Finland, in France, even here in Somerset. In desperation to help fund its latest lossmaker at Sizewell, Suffolk, EDF is reaching out to fellow utility giant Centrica for help. Could this be the same Centrica, which in 2016 abandoned plans to invest in EDF’s Hinkley C partly because of ‘the lengthening time frame for a return on the capital invested in a project of this scale’?

CRITICAL INSIGHT

VIRTUAL EVENT 22-23 NOVEMBER 2022

Get a Critical Insight into the data centre industry The data centre market continues to grow at a rapid pace, as both consumers and businesses continue to generate and consume more content than ever before. In fact, according to one estimate, by 2025 we could be generating more than 463 exabytes of data globally each and every day – and much of that data will be stored in data centres. That means the current data centre building boom is unlikely to slow down, and where there are new data centres, there are a myriad of opportunities for the electrical industry. Currently data centres account for ~1% of global electricity use, according to the International Energy Agency, but it is also an industry focused on being a more responsible energy consumer, leveraging smarter UPS, installing onsite renewable power generation, and looking at ways to reduce their energy consumption. After all, for each kWh of electricity a data centre consumes from the grid – that’s a cost to the data centre. That’s why, the electrical industry is key to the future success of the data centre industry, ensuring that they have a reliable power source, while also reducing their impact on the environment through energy efficiency improvements. So, with that in mind, Data Centre Review, the sister publication to Electrical Review, has announced an exciting new event dubbed Critical Insight, which will focus on the challenges of the modern day data centre. There’s plenty there for those in the electrical industry to get involved in – so make sure you register your attendance on the website below.

www.critical-insight.co.uk

10 Electrical Review | July / August 2022

CRITICAL INSIGHT

Here are just some of the exciting sessions planned for Critical Insight 2022. Speakers for each session will be announced soon. Day 1

Day 2

09:00 – Welcome

09:00 – Welcome Back

Introduction to Critical Insight from Kayleigh Hutchins, Editor for Data Centre Review.

Kayleigh Hutchins, Editor of Data Centre Review, welcomes everyone back for day two of Critical Insight.

09:05 – Keynote: The Data Centre in 2022 & Beyond

09:05 – Keynote: The UK’s Digital Strategy

Post pandemic, in a world where demand for compute is increasing at pace, what challenges face the sector and how can we meet them head on?

09:35 – Colocation The needs of colo customers are evolving – is colocation up to the challenge?

10:05 – Panel: The Sustainable Data Centre Are we really serious about creating a more sustainable future – and what are we doing in practice?

10:50 – UPS & Back-up Power How grid-interactive UPS systems can play a part in stabilising renewable energy supply and help mitigate the insatiable power consumption of the data centre.

11:35 – Networks What is the role of network connectivity in digital transformation?

12:05 – Tech Skills It’s an issue that has plagued the sector for years, but are we doing enough to tackle the data centre skills shortage?

12:35 – Panel: Can the Data Centre be Smarter?

The UK government is taking steps to make the UK a science and tech superpower, and recently called for a consultation on cloud and data centre security. What role will the data centre sector play in this ambitious plan, and what regulation is headed our way?

09:35 – Telecoms & 5G What does the dawn of 5G mean for the data centre sector?

10:05 – Panel: Designing Data Centres With supply chain issues and new sustainability requirements at the top of the agenda, how are we changing the way we design new builds – and what are we doing to modernise legacy data centres?

10:50 – Powering the Sector With the climate crisis at the forefront of our minds, is there a more sustainable way to power the data centre?

11:35 – Cooling Cooling is a major speedbump in the data centre’s journey to reduce its carbon footprint. What cooling innovations will be key to the next step in the data centre’s evolution?

12:05 – AI & Machine Learning With AI technology rapidly evolving, how can it be utilised to make data centres more efficient?

As tech becomes ever more sophisticated in responding to the needs of our changing society, the world is getting smarter – is the data centre keeping pace?

12:35 – DCIM

13:20 – Cybersecurity

13:05 – Panel: Heads in the Cloud – Changing Trends

How we work with and use data is rapidly evolving – what are the new cyber threats we need to be aware of, and how can we mitigate them?

How can DCIM solutions make use of AI and real-time analytics to address current issues like rising energy costs, security and the pursuit of sustainability?

From private and public, to hybrid and multi – how is the cloud adapting to new demands, regulation and a rapid increase of demand for capacity?

www.electricalreview.co.uk 11

SPONSORED FEATURE

Megger’s Fault Sniffer 2 is a device that can help locate underground cable faults without too much fuss and before too much damage is inflicted

the natural porosity of the materials covering the cable, or through the inevitable tiny cracks and fissures. Eliminating the need for drilling is an enormous advantage that can save much time and money. The second difficulty relating to cable fault sniffing is that the gas detectors may be falsely triggered by non-combustion gases in the environment. Such gases may be present for numerous reasons, such as the decay of vegetation or minor leakage from natural gas mains. Once again, however, this problem has been solved in the latest generation of instruments. The solution is to use not one, but two detectors, one of which reacts primarily to combustion gases, whereas the other reacts to non-combustion gases. By working with the signals from both of these detectors, the instruments can reliably discriminate against the effects of the non-combustion gases and even alert the user to the presence of these gases. Other key features of the latest cable sniffers are that they cost considerably less than other types of cable fault locator, they are very simple to use – no special operator training is needed – and they are very safe, as no electrical connection to the cable under investigation is required. Finally, the fault sniffers are compact and readily portable, which means they can easily be carried around and used by one person. This is in contrast with most types of electrical cable fault location equipment, which is usually heavy and bulky, and which almost always needs to be operated by a team of two or more experts. It would be unrealistic to claim that all faults in underground low-voltage cable networks can be located using a cable sniffer, but the reality is that this method is effective in a large percentage of cases. In addition, with the latest sniffers that rarely require the drilling of holes, it can be deployed as quickly as the operator can get to the site, and it is very inexpensive to use. Taking all of this into account, as well as the relatively low cost of the latest sniffers, it seems logical to suggest that cable sniffing should always be the first step when looking for low-voltage cable faults. After all, there’s little to lose and much to gain!

www.electricalreview.co.uk 13

BUILDING SERVICE & HVAC

Don’t overlook HVAC and its role in reducing carbon emissions Michael Anderton, General Manager UK&I of HVAC Building Solutions at Johnson Controls, explains the important role HVAC could play in reducing carbon emissions.

14 Electrical Review | July / August 2022

ust over two years ago, the UK government established its goals to reduce carbon emissions 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. It’s clear the world drastically needs to reduce carbon emissions to help curb the impact of climate change. HVAC – heating, ventilation, air conditioning – is the one solution that many ignore. But when 40% of total UK carbon emissions come from the heating and cooling of buildings, it’s hard to ignore the impact these systems have on our planet, especially when many are run entirely on fossil fuels. However, a revolution is on its way.

BUILDING SERVICE & HVAC

What’s the issue? By 2050, it’s expected 80% of our buildings will still be standing. The UK will need to make a rapid transition from gas to low carbon heating solutions to meet emissions targets. This is relatively simple for new builds, as new building regulations take aim at the carbon emissions produced by homes across the UK. In fact, the new regulations stipulate that CO2 emissions from new-build homes must be around 30% lower than current standards, while emissions from other new buildings, including offices and shops, must be reduced by 27%.

With the ability to bring data from different sources throughout a building into a common platform, building owners and FMs can see where inefficiencies lie and make contextualised decisions based on the insights However, the challenge isn’t getting new buildings to be more energy efficient; it’s about ensuring our current building systems are updated to work in the same way. But for most companies, each HVAC component is likely to remain in place for years – if not decades – before being replaced. HVAC systems have a long life expectancy of around 20 years and while newer technologies can help us move to a more energy-efficient world, if something is not broken, why would you fix it? Building owners and facility managers (FMs) are conflicted between sustainability goals and operating expenses. As the energy crisis and the rising cost of living continues to take precedence, short-term cuts on spending are likely to have a negative impact on any energy efficiency progress. Business leaders, owners, and FMs must come together to make the right choices that benefit the company, the planet, and the occupants of a building to ensure everyone is safe, happy, and healthy. Data is king To take the first step on any energy efficiency journey, we must first understand what energy is being used and how. With the ability to bring data from different sources throughout a building into a common platform, building owners and FMs can see where inefficiencies lie and make contextualised decisions based on the insights. HVAC systems are complex, with lots of individual components needing to work together effectively to ensure reliable and energy-efficient system performance. Just one component poorly designed, maintained or incorrectly controlled can have a negative impact on the overall system performance. We now have an increased amount of accessible data from all types of building systems, such as HVAC, security, fire, lighting, and IT. Each of these systems produces a huge amount of data and when used in combination with each other can make buildings safer, more comfortable, and more efficient. If we then connect all these areas with intelligent systems,

you can make real-time, informed decisions to reduce emissions, improve on sustainability, and increase occupant comfort. The impacts of inefficiencies No matter which HVAC solutions a facilities manager chooses, it’s not a case of installing them and then waving goodbye. By implementing smart technologies, such as smart connected chillers, FMs can use predictive maintenance and monitoring tools, which use AI and automation to predict issues before they arise. This ensures equipment runs reliably and downtime can be minimised. Investments into new HVAC solutions with smart tech means efficiency savings can be made throughout a building. Imagine a particular room, or an entire floor is empty. Smart systems can monitor occupancy levels and adapt the heating accordingly, so nothing is wasted. Such a setup helps create huge savings – financially and environmentally – especially amid an energy crisis. With the pandemic shining the spotlight on our health, ensuring employees have a safe and productive return to the office by improving indoor air quality (IAQ) was a much-needed wake up call. Not only do we want a healthy planet, but we also need healthy people. Some buildings in the UK have bad ventilation and overall IAQ. With mechanical ventilation in these environments, we can continue to improve IAQ and keep the focus firmly on improving the air we breathe, even as the effects from the pandemic dissipate.

There will be a fine balance to meet the goals of improving IAQ whilst keeping consumption low to meet both goals When fresh air flows into a building, the spread of airborne viruses can be reduced, staff sick days can be lowered, and businesses can experience increased overall output – a win-win for all. For businesses, governments, schools, and hospitals across the country, IAQ may soon become the number one priority – on par with sustainability initiatives. But this isn’t without its own challenges. Improving IAQ requires an increased consumption of energy as you’re pumping fresh air from the outside, indoors. There will be a fine balance to meet the goals of improving IAQ whilst keeping consumption low to meet both goals. The focus: retrofitting With conversations on climate progression taking focus, it’s clear we’re just at the beginning of the journey towards carbon emission goals. New regulations and incentives will need to be implemented for businesses to even think about retrofitting outdated systems. Investment in smart tech, alongside retrofitting HVAC systems, will have benefits for both cost-efficiency and the environment as we move towards our net zero targets. There isn’t an option to tear down all the inefficient buildings to create shiny, new, net zero ones. We have to find a way to adapt existing buildings with new technology and energy efficient HVAC systems to make them work better. Net zero and emissions goals can’t be achieved overnight, nor will the problem go away if we ignore it. So, now is the time to take action.

www.electricalreview.co.uk 15

ENERGY STORAGE, STANDBY POWER & UPS

How standby power is evolving in step with carbon reductions Kelly Cole, General Manager for Finning UK & Ireland’s energy and transportation division and exclusive dealer for Cat engines and generators, provides an insight into what’s been ongoing for some time across the supply chain, with options both for the here and now and for the years to come. tandby power generation plays a critical role across many different applications, in the instance of a mains outage or unpredictable supply – such as keeping vital hospital equipment functioning, maintaining operations at utility plants and ensuring data centres stay online. At present, the most common fuels used in backup generators are gas and diesel. So, although much discussion on the energy transition is focused on how we move away from the use of fossil fuels for mains power, if we are to truly achieve net zero carbon then the industry needs to ensure that standby power can also be produced through low and, ultimately, carbon-free means.

16 Electrical Review | July / August 2022

Ensuring reliability Current reliance on diesel generators for standby power is well established, primarily because of their practical benefits. They are readily available, reliable as a mature technology and able to quickly ramp up to seamlessly cover issues with mains power supplies. Given that high-profile standby power users, such as hospitals and data centres, must mitigate any risks that may be posed to maintaining mission critical services, the advantages in terms of reliability that existing technology offers must be carefully considered as we transition away from fossil fuels. Indeed, in these understandably risk-averse sectors we are likely to see a phased transition to a balance between maintaining the

ENERGY STORAGE, STANDBY POWER & UPS

the world,” observes Noelle Walsh, Corporate Vice President, Cloud Operations and Innovation at Microsoft. “Caterpillar and the Cat dealer network have developed innovative power solutions that support Microsoft and our unwavering commitment to carbon reductions. Cat generator sets at Microsoft data centres help us keep availability promises to our customers even when grid power fails, providing continuous energy and uninterrupted cloud services.” In short, with largely immaterial differences in performance and consumption in comparison with diesel, HVO provides an excellent next step to reducing carbon emissions. Crucially, it offers flexibility with any HVO to diesel ratio between 0% and 100% possible depending on the specific demands and preferences of each project.

The advantages in terms of reliability that existing technology offers must be carefully considered as we transitionaway from fossil fuels

benefits of existing technology with the importance of using carbon-free energy. HVO proving a smart first step A first step in this transition is the growing use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). Produced from certified waste fats and oils, HVO is manufactured using a synthesised process with hydrogen to offer a more sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Although not entirely carbon-free, HVO can eliminate up to 90% of the carbon emissions compared with the production and use of conventional diesel. Another key advantage is that it can be used as a drop-in replacement for diesel in many engines, as well as used with existing diesel or biodiesel stocks. For example, provided the fuel meets standard requirements, Cat generators built after the year 2000 are able to run on HVO. Given the ease with which they can be integrated into existing assets, we have seen growing interest in the use of HVO in tandem with diesel to lower the carbon footprint of standby generators. Whilst the use of HVO with conventional diesel has been the most common approach, there have been high profile cases where a move to 100% HVO has been taken – allowing even greater reductions in carbon emission. Last year Microsoft announced that all Cat generator sets at its new data centres being constructed in Sweden would run on HVO, providing the final element to obtaining all of its energy needs from renewable sources. “We have worked extensively to ensure that our new data centres in Sweden will be among our most sustainably designed and operated in

Longer-term benefits of hydrogen Whilst HVO is a convenient and highly effective drop-in replacement for existing diesel equipment, it is not entirely carbon-free. Furthermore, the sheer scale of demand for fuel means that it is unlikely to become a permanent solution due to its production being limited by how much vegetable oil and fat is available globally. Hydrogen has been touted as a more likely long-term solution, with advances in blue (the splitting of natural gas into hydrogen and CO2, with the resulting carbon captured) and green (splitting water by electrolysis into hydrogen and oxygen) production set to help create the volumes needed to replace fossil fuels on a global scale. Whilst those production volumes are yet to come, plans are in action and it is an area that should be explored when looking at the next generation of sustainable equipment. As with HVO, a blended approach may be the likeliest next step with gas gensets configured to allow for a blended fuel containing up to 25% hydrogen. Manufacturers such as Caterpillar are rolling out gas generators configured out-of-the-factory to enable operation on natural gas blended with hydrogen. Adaptation of existing gensets can be done with the use of retrofit kits for some equipment, making it an appealing quick win as hydrogen availability increases.

Whilst HVO is a convenient and highly effective drop-in replacement for existing diesel equipment, it is not entirely carbon-free Rising industry interest and development of hydrogen supply infrastructure means that 100% hydrogen gensets are in advanced stages of development and we will likely see trials of this equipment in the near future. Where next? A critical consideration in taking the next step to HVO or potentially hydrogen is the partner selected to help with this transition – particularly where there are high risks involved should the move not go smoothly. Working with a specialist will allow operators to benefit from experience of similar projects both across their own sector and further afield. This will help to ensure carbon emissions are minimised without compromising on uptime.

www.electricalreview.co.uk 17

ENERGY STORAGE, STANDBY POWER & UPS

How to unlock the true power of your UPS Jason Yates, Technical Services Manager at Riello UPS, explains how rethinking the role of uninterruptible power supplies can transform them into ‘virtual power plants’ that aid the ongoing energy transition. ith soaring energy costs never too far from the headlines in recent months, electrical systems throughout the world continue to evolve. The shift from fossil fuels to renewables is a necessary one on the journey to zero carbon. But a consequence of this ongoing energy transition is that system operators such as National Grid now face a much trickier task to balance supply with demand and ensure a stable grid frequency. Rather than simply controlling power generation to meet demand, as we’ve done in the past, the power grids of the future will be smarter and more flexible, with demand controlled to meet supply in real-time. Energy users will become producers too, with electricity flowing in

18 Electrical Review | July / August 2022

both directions as they not only draw power from the grid but also feed stored energy back into it. Concepts such as demand side response, which incentivise customers to store power and shift energy use from busy to off-peak times, also offer organisations the opportunity to reduce their eye-watering electricity bills. But it will require a significant shift in mindset to take full advantage. From underutilised asset to virtual power plant From the data centres that are crucial to our digitally-driven lives, through to factories, shopping centres, and processing plants, virtually any facility with a critical electrical load will have uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and

ENERGY STORAGE, STANDBY POWER & UPS

batteries installed to protect against damaging downtime. Fortunately though, major power cuts in the UK are relatively rare. So, while a UPS is undoubtedly an essential insurance policy against the worst-case scenario, in some ways they’re an underutilised and expensive asset. And if the batteries aren’t being used regularly, can you be 100% sure they’ll actually work if and when you really need them to? Thanks to advances in communications software and protocols, along with the development of premium cycle-proof batteries, many modern UPS systems are now smart grid-ready. They can communicate with local power networks and either draw electricity from the grid or push stored energy back into it, depending on the real-time requirements. These characteristics have the potential to transform your UPS from a reactive piece of hardware into a dynamic ‘virtual power plant’ that can contribute to the ongoing energy transition and profit from the energy markets, whilst also benefiting from enhanced reliability.

While a UPS is undoubtedly an essential insurance policy against the worstcase scenario, in some ways they’re an underutilised and expensive asset Putting theory into practice As an example, we teamed up with RWE Supply & Trading, one of Europe’s leading energy trading companies, to develop Master+, a smart grid solution specifically for data centres and other large-scale energy users. It comprises a highly efficient, smart grid-ready UPS backed with cycle-proof premium lead-acid batteries (NB lithium-ion batteries are a viable option too). Thanks to a compact battery arrangement, the system is able to provide up to four times the usable capacity but with only a 20% increase in footprint, so enough battery capacity for both emergency backup and for commercialisation. The solution also has an integrated, highly-secure control and monitoring system that enables two-way communication with the grid and aids with predictive maintenance. The battery system is split virtually into two separate parts. There’s a backup segment representing around 30% of the total usable capacity. This element is configured and controlled by the UPS and is preserved only to support the critical load in the event of a mains failure. The remaining 70% of the battery capacity is the ‘commercial’ segment, which RWE can deploy to participate in grid balancing schemes such as Firm Frequency Response (FFR). This is a demand side response mechanism National Grid operates to help maintain a consistent and safe grid frequency within one hertz of 50 Hz. So in practice, if the frequency increases above 50 Hz, the UPS effectively draws power from the grid into the battery system to help pull the frequency back down. On the other hand, when the frequency falls below 50 Hz, we push the power stored in the commercial segment of the batteries back into the grid. The typical state of charge during system operation fluctuates between 60-70%. Therefore, if there is a mains failure, the site would benefit from extended backup autonomy because whatever energy is left in the commercial segment tops up what’s already in the guaranteed backup segment. So in return for RWE gaining the usage rights for the commercial segment of the battery, the site owner benefits from a significantly discount-

ed battery system, extended backup time, 24/7 monitoring, lower ongoing maintenance costs, and reduced grid tariff charges, which depending on the site can potentially be worth up to £6,000 per MW per year.

It’s clear that modern UPS have much more to offer than just sitting and waiting to provide emergency backup power Potential of peak shaving Peak shaving is another potential function of a smart grid-ready UPS. In practice, this is using the UPS batteries to effectively limit how much power is taken from the mains supply. If the load on the UPS output goes beyond a set level, then the UPS takes a proportion of the load from the mains, with the remainder coming from the batteries. There are four main types of peak shaving. Firstly, there’s static, where the UPS has a fixed setting and peak shaves to that defined limit. There’s also user-controlled, where the facility can reduce the input power ad-hoc by pushing commands to the UPS using volt-free contacts or protocols such as Modbus. There’s also impact load buffering, which is predominantly for sites with a weak power source or generator and sees the UPS in effect slow down the incoming mains supply. Finally, and probably the most commonly used, is dynamic peak shaving, which as the name suggests, works according to the real-time on-site conditions. How does this work in practice? Say you’ve got a site that is contractually limited to 1 MW of mains supply. Its typical load ranges between 500-900 kW, while they have a critical load of another 300 kW. Potentially, that’s a maximum load of 1.2 MW, which would be in breach of their contract. During these peak load periods, the UPS automatically pushes the energy stored in its batteries to reduce the power required from the mains. And of course, when loads are lower, the UPS recharges the batteries for future use. In addition to frequency response and peak shaving, smart gridready UPS can also carry out other valuable functions, including voltage optimisation, which guarantees a stable voltage (i.e. 400Vac + or -1%) no matter the incoming mains supply, and waveform correction, which reduces the harmonic distortion on the load and improves the overall power factor. Unlocking the value of battery power It’s clear that modern UPS have much more to offer than just sitting and waiting to provide emergency backup power. Just a few weeks ago, tech giant Microsoft announced its data centre UPS across Ireland would start using lithium-ion batteries to feed power back into the grid by the end of the year. This battery power will reduce the reliance on coal and gas-fired plants to maintain spinning reserves, helping to significantly reduce the Irish energy sector’s CO2 emissions. As smart grid technology continues to improve, there are similar opportunities for other facilities to follow suit and harness the true power of their UPS systems and batteries. Not only do you reap the financial and performance rewards, but it’ll also help with the security of supplies for society as a whole.

www.electricalreview.co.uk 19

LIGHTING

How LED lighting is transforming the industry landscape

20 Electrical Review | July / August 2022

LIGHTING

Fluorescent battens have been a stalwart of commercial and industrial installations, but LED technology brings a whole host of new benefits as well as regulatory compliance, writes Scott Brewer, Head of Technical at Knightsbridge. t would be hard to argue against the assertion that LED lighting is now the predominant lighting source for UK residential, retail and commercial applications. Industry researchers IBISWorld estimates that sales for LED products and ancillaries are over £2.5 billion annually. While other mainstream lighting sources have fallen by the wayside, the LED world has exploded. There’s probably not a house, office or retail shop in the UK that doesn’t have LED lamps installed somewhere. According to findings from German electrical magazine Reichelt, 73% of UK consumers are already reaping the benefits of using LED lamps in their home, with 17% of respondents having already switched to LED lights completely.

LED battens are available in the same sizes as their fluorescent predecessors, making them ideal for retrofit installations In the commercial sector, the fluorescent batten has come a long way since American electrical engineer and inventor Peter Cooper Hewitt and German physicist Leo Arons pioneered the first mercury vapour lamps in 1901. The fluorescent tube came into being 30 years later when a phosphor coating was added to the inside of the tube to improve the quality of the light output. Fast forward to now and LED is the future and the way forward, offering superior performance across a whole range of metrics – efficiency, cost, design, and most importantly, speed of installation. So what does this new generation of LED battens ‘look like’? And what can be expected from them? Probably the first thing to say is that dimensions-wise, LED battens are available in the same sizes as their fluorescent predecessors, making them ideal for retrofit installations, while not forgetting their potential for new-build environments. For example, proprietary fast-fix LED batten ranges come in lengths of between two and six feet, so refurbishing existing schemes isn’t a problem. The next benefit is the sheer efficiency of which LED battens are capable, with lamps producing upwards of 120 lm/w eclipsing the typical 40-100 lm/w from, say, a conventional T5 or T8 lamp. In addition, the quality of light is generally better, and the light distribution is improved, reducing unwanted glare which can be disruptive in office or commercial situations. As with many products, the adoption of electronics has helped improve not only efficiency but also the versatility of LED battens. One can now expect to see LED battens that have an emergency lighting function, or a sensor control that detects movement with all the additional environmental and cost benefits that technology brings. For instance, emer-

gency ranges can include a lithium-ion battery capable of storing more energy than the traditional nickel cadmium version, providing extended duration for emergency lighting in the event of a power outage. And perhaps most significantly these advantages have not come at the expense of making LED battens more difficult to install. Ever conscious that time is money, proprietary fast-fix systems have been designed and manufactured to make installation as simple as possible. Push-fit, loop in/loop out terminal block means wiring is quick and easy; hinged gear trays allow untroubled access to lighting bays and end conduit entry makes completion neat and trouble-free. One consideration when it comes to specifying LED battens is compliance with ErP directives. The new ErP Single Lighting Regulation directive EU 2019/2020 and the Energy Labelling Regulation directive EU 2019/2015 were implemented on Christmas Day 2019, and became enforceable from September 1 last year, replacing the old ErP directives EC 244/2009, EC 245/2009, EU 1194/2012, and directive EU 874/2012. These changed the way lighting energy efficiency is assessed and labelled, as well as the quality of light output of LED lamps and luminaires. The Energy Labelling Regulation (ELR) changed the old rainbow colour labelling scheme which gave a broad indication of the energy efficiency of a product. It introduced new technical parameters to determine this efficiency, so that the ratings are not like-for-like replacements for the previous scheme. As a result, even previously top-rated products achieving A++ (the maximum for lighting) now come in at anywhere from C to G. This doesn’t mean that products previously rated A++ perform poorly for having a lower rating, just that the criteria for assessment has changed. For lighting, there is an 18-month transition period applying which means that existing stocks with the old labels can be sold and displayed side-by-side with new items. From March 1 2023, all products must display the new labels only.

Previously top-rated products achieving A++ (the maximum for lighting) now come in at anywhere from C to G However, many low-quality budget products won’t achieve even a G rating and will have to be removed from sale, improving the overall average performance and energy efficiency of goods on the market. All light sources with an energy label will have a QR code which will direct you to the ‘EPREL’ register, where more detailed information about the product and its efficiency can be obtained. This can also be used for verification of compliance. The Single Lighting Regulation (SLR) relates to ‘light sources’ and stipulates certain performance criteria in terms of light output, for example, colour rendering, flicker, stroboscopic effect etc. This more stringent focus on light performance will also see cheaper items removed from the market as upgrading them will be uneconomic, while certain types of lamp will effectively be phased out as they fail to meet the new criteria. The SLR also places an obligation on manufacturers to improve the replaceability of component parts within luminaires, including a clear labelling scheme to specify which parts can be replaced by the end-user or by a professional.

www.electricalreview.co.uk 21

LIGHTING

The drive to a fully sustainable lighting industry Nigel Harvey, CEO of Recolight, the WEEE compliance and collection scheme for the lighting industry, outlines how we can reduce the environmental impact of lighting by adopting sustainable, circular economy principles. egislative changes and end-users are increasingly placing emphasis on lighting that is truly sustainable – products that are not just energy efficient, but which are also resource efficient. We need to keep products in use for longer, rather than simply discarding them, or needlessly recycling them.

Modular light fittings Resource efficiency seeks to minimise the use of new raw materials in products. This change will require products that are more likely to be modular in design – with replaceable light sources and control gear. That

22 Electrical Review | July / August 2022

means that if one critical component fails in use, the component can be replaced without having to replace the complete fitting. This improves resource efficiency and saves the embedded carbon footprint associated with making new products. Reused and remanufactured fittings Another way of improving material efficiency in the lighting sector is to make used fittings available for remanufacture when they are replaced. Reuse like this has much better environmental outcomes than recycling – the body of the fitting is retained, and the light source or control gear can be checked or upgraded. Alternatively, some end-users are starting to specify product upgrades, rather than complete replacements. For example, retrofitting a T8 luminaire with an LED light source. In many instances, this upgrade can be performed on-site, without the need for the products to be returned to the factory. It is encouraging to see a few tenders emerging where remanufactured products will also be considered alongside new lighting. Awareness that recycling does not usually represent the best outcome for end-of-life luminaires is much higher. That is pleasing because it means end-users

LIGHTING

and specifiers are more likely to consider remanufactured products. Remanufacture can provide a range of benefits to end-users but this must be achieved without compromise on compliance. Remanufacturers need to be diligent in identifying, assessing and testing remanufactured products prior to declaring conformity and placing products on the market, using methods appropriate to production volumes, end application and product type. If the lighting sector is to become truly sustainable, it will need an ecosystem of companies with expertise in remanufacturing luminaires when they are removed from a building. But rebuilding, upgrading, testing, certifying and reselling lighting products is no easy task. Wholesalers and contractors can be a vital part of this process, by partnering with companies involved in reuse, and offering reused products for sale. Recolight can support this transformation whenever companies purchase from Recolight member lighting companies. That support includes providing ‘cardboard bubble-wrap’ to contractors, finding a company willing to reuse or remanufacture the luminaires, and even financing the transport from the site to the recipient company. Work with companies that are committed to net zero When specifying new fittings, include a requirement for demonstrable commitments to net zero in the purchasing or tender criteria. Even better, give that requirement a visible and material weighting in the bid assessment process. It is important to check that any such claims are credible so there are a number of ways of checking the reality of the claims: 1. Is there visible commitment to the policy from the top of the company? 2. Has the company set short-term plans, actions and targets, not just a long-term “Net zero by 20XX” target? 3. Check the extent of the target. For example, many companies have a target for 2030, but with a disclaimer that it only covers scope 1 and 2. But for most, the scope 3 use phase is by far the most dominant impact. 4. Is the company’s net zero performance regularly assessed by an independent third-party? 5. Has the company any life cycle assessment data for their products? 6. To what extent does the company rely on carbon offsets? Offsets should only cover absolutely unavoidable, irreducible carbon emissions. And even then, they don’t really work. If the company does use offsets, do they have a plan to reduce reliance?

Recycling and the waste hierarchy We should all relentlessly apply the waste hierarchy: reduce, reuse, recycle – and in that order. For example, greater use of daylight to reduce the number of fittings needed – or indeed to eliminate them in some

locations. Prioritise the reuse and refurbishment of old fittings – for example can those T8 fittings be upgraded to LED, rather than disposing of the whole fitting? Do those T5 fittings really need to be replaced? Can they be used for longer? Only recycle when all else fails – recycling loses most of the embodied carbon in a light fitting. It is rightly at the bottom of the waste hierarchy. it is important to purchase from lighting producers committed to applying the waste hierarchy and to proper recycling. For example, is the producer a member of a WEEE scheme, which offers free of charge collection from their members’ customers (subject to appropriate criteria), and which looks for reuse options before the decision is taken to recycle? Lighting and the circular economy When specifying new fittings, include demonstrable commitments to the circular economy in the purchasing criteria. Currently, the best way of incorporating this is probably to reference SLL/CIBSE’s TM66 specification. The specification scores a product group against a range of criteria to show the extent to which it embeds circular economy principles. It is currently in beta release, and some of the criteria cannot be reliably and objectively assessed, but it is close. When finalised, TM66 should make it much more straightforward for specifiers to compare the ‘circularity’ of lighting products. We can expect to see further growth in circular economy approaches in the lighting industry. We will see more companies designing lighting products for a circular economy, but it will also mean more end-users will be willing to consider product reuse, remanufacture and upgrades, rather than complete product replacements.

www.electricalreview.co.uk 23

TEST & MEASUREMENT

How testing equipment is evolving to make the installers’ job easier Mark Johnson, Marketing Consultant to Metrel UK, discusses the evolution of testing equipment amidst a challenging economic backdrop. ust recently the economic news has not been great. Consumer inflation in the UK has risen to its highest level in 40 years. The pound has dropped in the last six years making any commercial transactions, such as buying oil, about a third more expensive. Then there is the impact of Covid, exacerbating the shortage of various manufactured items such as silicon chips. This has meant that manufacturers are competing with different industries to grab a supply of components simply so they can build their testers. At the start of 2019 copper was $27,218 per ton, three short years later it was 63% higher. And that’s not all, as we can also add President Putin’s war to all of this.

24 Electrical Review | July / August 2022

Taken altogether, the bottom line of the situation is that we will all feel the pinch in the coming weeks and months ahead. Thankfully, the positive is that we are working in the construction industry, the industry that our governments see as the driver for economic development and as the tangible proof of their ‘levelling up agenda’, whether it is great infrastructure projects like HS2, large housing estates or converting buildings into decent accommodation. There is money to invest and money to be made in our industry. However ‘the aggregation of marginal gains’ philosophy of British Cycling’s Sir Dave Brailsford applied to our processes is no longer enough in a world of big cost increases. The test equipment sector has been through a torrid time, with a chipset shortage. A fire in an American factory limited the supply for some major manufacturers’ multifunction testers. In an effort to circumnavigate this shortage, one manufacturer changed components, however reports suggested that it compromised their testers’ quality. Meanwhile, all manufacturers are now fighting for supplies in the

TEST & MEASUREMENT

to performing a trial insulation resistance test at 250 V, followed by a certification test at 500. Instead, as long as no vulnerable components are found, the machines from those manufacturers have a pre-test that will warn of low impedance in the circuit before doing a voltage test, which will halve the time for an insulation test. Additionally, some manufacturers’ machines are able to give installers a number of results in a single shot by running a prescribed sequence of tests to expedite the process. Repeatable results, particularly on loop tests, also help so you don’t have to keep repeating the test and can move on. Making sure your tester is running on the latest firmware is another marginal gain. Manufacturers are continuously improving the firmware that drives the testers to make them faster, and perform tests better. Some firmware changes even deliver new tests. Most of these upgrades are done at calibration but there are companies who free-issue them for customers to do for themselves.

A better alternative is to store the test results on-board the tester, in a schematic representation of the circuits under test

world markets against much richer businesses. The inevitable result will be significant price rises. There is plenty of work around, not just in pure construction, but with the installation of the charging infrastructure required for electric vehicles. At the last count there were less than a quarter of a million EV chargers and about 33 million cars on the roads. There is great opportunity servicing these chargers post-installation. In fact, one source claims that at least 50% of the early installations were incorrectly installed!

Most manufacturers have launched EVSE testing adapters. Some are more reliable than others – in other words, you get what you pay for Since Metrel were evangelising the testing of EVSE equipment, most manufacturers have launched EVSE testing adapters. Some are more reliable than others – in other words, you get what you pay for. Because of the desire to speed through the testing process, only a few multifunction testers actually test to IEC 62955, which requires a slower rise time to the 6 mA DC breaker test. For EVSE testing, on-board storage of results and certification are vital as in the future engineers are likely to be testing large numbers of chargers one after another. The marginal gains referred to above can be seen quite clearly during installation testing, as at least two manufacturers’ offer an alternative

One recently released product that could give a more solid gain is a ring circuit adapter, which claims to save you more than 60% of your time testing ring final circuits. In two steps it delivers all the end-toend continuities, r1, rn and r2, followed by R1+R2 and R1+Rn using some clever communication through the conductors between tester and adapter to change the connections without needing to return to the distribution board. The calculated results of (r1+rn)/4 and (r1+r2)/4 are displayed for comparison. The final area for making serious gains has been heralded for at least 20 years, downloading and automated certification. The way most professionals work right now seems to be to get the data away from their tester as soon as possible, maybe because the tester memory system is just too difficult to negotiate. Until recently they completed a rough document by hand and then made a fair copy either on a computer or paper form for passing on. That is beginning to change, as now many have a representation of a certificate loaded on to a memory device of some kind, usually a tablet and type the test results in the form. While having the merit of having a completed Certificate when the engineer leaves the premises, it still is a laborious process risking error in the transferring of a result from one device to another. But there’s still room for improvement, as a better alternative is to store the test results on-board the tester, in a schematic representation of the circuits under test. Multifunction testers capable of doing this allow you to add comments too. When the results are downloaded into the certificate, the comments have the option of being entered too. Additional tests that have been performed, which are not required for the certificate, like a snapshot of the harmonic distortion, can also be stored as part of the customer’s account. In conclusion, we cannot do much to mitigate the effect of inflation by the automation of testing and information handling. But we are lucky to be in the vanguard of a bipartisan drive to net zero. We may or may not go to hell, but in a new EV.

www.electricalreview.co.uk 25

TALKING POINT

A critical factor for success: BIM in electrical engineering Andreas Matthé, CEO Electrical Products, Smart Infrastructure, Siemens AG, explains why electrical engineering has to master Building Information Modeling (BIM) to remain successful. o BIM or not to BIM? That will soon be the decisive question in the construction sector. For involved trades, it will ultimately be a matter of ‘to be or not to be’. Electrical engineering plays a central role in digitalised building planning, and anyone who thinks that productivity losses due to outdated planning methods are acceptable considering full order books, is wrong. Challenges in the construction industry are too diverse. Today, large planning offices and their clients no longer forgo the higher added value provided by digital building twins. But BIM isn’t just the basis for long-term success; it also enables seamless collaboration in complex projects. And the data-driven method offers opportunities for new digital business models. Anyone involved in constructing a building is familiar with one fact: each involved trade plans independently of the others and usually not down to the last detail. Mistakes are first spotted at the construction site; cables obstruct pipes and vice-versa. Planning continues on-site – without documenting this information. The result is a domino effect: more mistakes, higher costs for the client, and frustration for the affected trades. For the electrical engineering firm, this fragmented planning makes it far more difficult to develop binding personnel and time calculations. So, it’s no surprise that 30% of all construction projects are delayed and roughly 10% of project costs are due to changes (Fig. 1). This is precisely where BIM comes in. BIM enables all trades to shift their decisions forward – into joint planning. With BIM, they first design a building as a digital twin before the construction site is even ready. Mistakes can easily be spotted in this phase. Finally, the building is digitally planned down to the last detail. BIM is not only digital hightech, but above all – and this is its great advantage – a working method

26 Electrical Review | July / August 2022

superior to many previous models: it brings people, processes, and tools together in an integrated process. BIM is also coming to electrical engineering BIM will come. Even though all order books are full. And for everyone involved in the electrical engineering trade (electrical planners, panel builders, installers, service providers, building managers). The reason is simple: over the long term, no client – whether private or public investor – can afford to ignore the added value provided by BIM. The European ‘EU BIM Task Group’ calculates, based on industry figures, that savings of 15-25% can be realised in the global infrastructure market by 2025 by using BIM (EUBIM TASKGROUP, 2018). For Europe alone, and cautiously assuming savings of ‘only’ 10%, this would generate cost savings of €130 billion for the €1.3 trillion market. An enormous potential.

Over the long term, no client – whether private or public investor – can afford to ignore the added value provided by BIM At the same time, buildings are becoming more and more intelligent. By using wireless technologies, sensors networked with the Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics, construction projects are becoming unexpectedly complex and barely manageable with conventional planning methods. Not least because of these developments, investors are increasingly looking at a building’s total lifecycle costs rather than the construction costs alone and expect full transparency when awarding a contract. Only BIM can provide this by keeping information up-to-date over a building’s entire lifecycle. Build skills now In short, only those using BIM will be successful in the future. When general construction contractors award planning contracts to sub-trades, those who don’t use BIM will miss out on being considered for a tender.

TALKING POINT

for the building management system. Electrical engineering is thus becoming the backbone of modern, electrification-based infrastructure. On the other side are complex internal structures. Electrical engineering has several sub-trades that barely communicated with one another in the past. Put bluntly, this isn’t an impediment, but it makes the adoption of BIM all the more necessary. Decisions usually made by electricians during the implementation phase, for example, can now be pre-planned with BIM. Each trade creates its own BIM model (Fig. 2). The open BIM methodology with open exchange formats like the BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) is now a popular industry standard. Fig. 1: Current deficits in the infrastructure sector (Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), 2019)

Fig. 2:The planning process with BIM: A central architectural and structuralmodelisinitiallyspecified by the client. Each tradethenalso creates at least one separate, supplementary BIM model. The individual models are then subsequently integrated into a central coordination model.

Many will now ask: what do my team and I need for BIM? To begin with, basic understanding. BIM works only with early and continuous exchanges among the trades. This may seem unusual for planning offices and many panel builders and electricians. Additional skills and new ways of thinking and working are needed. Employees need technical and software training, and all this takes time, of course. That’s why it is now the time to change your processes and make BIM a priority. Electrical engineering: the backbone of modern infrastructure Why is BIM so important for electrical engineering in particular? Quite simply put, electrical firms do more than just install a building’s electrical systems. On the one side they deal with various technologies: higher energy efficiency, greater safety, more comfort, all of which call for far more complex electrical planning. Thousands of sensors and actuators in smart buildings collect and process huge amounts of data to control doors, windows, blinds, lighting, heating and air conditioning to save energy. This requires a reliable power supply. In short: without electricity, there is no smart building. And without electrical engineering, no electricity. For the electrical engineering trade, this means providing the vital power supply – and possibly visualisation

Without electricity, there is no smart building. And without electrical engineering, no electricity Benefits: better planning of resources and materials Early planning pays off throughout the project. Cost savings total up to 10% and an average of 40% fewer changes are necessary during a project. Operating costs for the finished building are reduced by up to 9% and, thanks to higher energy efficiency, the building’s CO2 emissions are sustainably lower (Stanford University, Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (CIFE), 2007). The key advantages of BIM are obvious: 1. Nothing works without BIM: project planning will soon only be possible with BIM. For all trades. 2. BIM creates the greatest possible transparency and planning security for those involved. A single database for all enables the precise calculation of time, personnel, and materials, and prevents expensive surprises. 3. This way, BIM saves costs for the building and the trades. 4. BIM thinks along with the lifecycle: Collected and coordinated data benefits the building and its operators for the building’s lifecycle and along its entire value chain. Tenders for a building, for example, can also be prepared with the touch of a button from the BIM models. 5. And all downstream documentation work is eliminated, because the final BIM planning comprehensively describes all the building’ components. Summary The infrastructure sector is changing. Buildings are getting smarter and construction projects and mutual dependencies are inevitably becoming more complex and difficult to manage. The use of data-driven planning methods like BIM is therefore essential for mastering demanding building planning. And this is true for all trades, in particular electrical engineering – the backbone of the infrastructure industry. Planning offices, electrical planners, system integrators or service electricians now need BIM know-how to stay in the game. The door is still open for all businesses to survive in the market. Yet this requires timely rethinking. Businesses that have scarcely worked with BIM so far would be well advised to do so now. Get advice, such as from experts at Siemens AG, and build up your BIM knowledge and methodological competence. Introduce the software infrastructure you need to avoid being left behind. Sensitise your employees and colleagues as soon as possible. All this is challenging, of course, but it’s a great opportunity as well – for the entire industry.

www.electricalreview.co.uk 27

PRODUCTS

Faster, safer building evacuations with Advanced Dynamic Safety Signage Fire and life safety systems manufacturer, Advanced, has extended its emergency lighting range with Dynamic Safety Signage (DSS) – proven to make building evacuations faster and safer. In emergency situations, lack of information and confusion mean people often make poor decisions. DSS uses green moving and pulsing LED arrows to clearly indicate safe exits and red LED crosses to boldly show nogo areas. This distinctive indication supports effective escape and avoids congestion at exits. DSS is ideal for settings where large numbers of people may be unfamiliar with emergency escape routes, e.g. university campuses, hospitals, stadiums and transport hubs. The new range of signage provides different tiers of functionality making it very versatile in meeting requirements across a wide range of sites and scenarios. Dynamic safety signage hardware consists of recessed, IP65 wall-mounted and wall/ceiling-mounted escape signs that are easy to install, can be retrofitted onto existing systems and provide a fully auto-tested system when used with LuxIntelligent, ensuring compliance with BS5266-1. DSS can be triggered manually via a key switch, or automatically by integrating with any existing fire system using simple input/output modules.

Advanced • 0345 894 7000 Find out more: uk.advancedco.com

OMICRON to discuss future of substation automation and digital substations at online event OMICRON has announced plans for an online event where it will discuss the future of substation automation and digital substations. Taking place on September 28, 2022, the event will help attendees stay ahead of the curve with the ongoing development in digital substation technologies. This topic is especially important as the global climate and energy crisis has brought the need for sustainable, reliable and efficient energy into sharp focus. Automated digital substations and modern SCADA systems are increasingly necessary to supervise and regulate a complex grid, and to minimise energy wastage. The second edition of this concise online conference will explore the latest advancements in designing, testing and maintaining digital substations. Highlights from the event include: • Practical training session with OMICRON specialists: SCL Engineering and Testing in an IEC 61850 Substation • Case studies from European utilities sharing examples of industry developments and testing challenges • Questions and knowledge exchange Speakers confirmed to be at the OMICRON event include Andy Murray & Mohseen Mohemmed, SSE; Florin Stelea, Sweco Sverige; Bas Mulder, TenneT; Jani Valtari, ABB; and Christian Brauner, OMICRON. For those wanting to attend this event, which has now had its 120 EUR fee waived, you can find out more details on OMICRON’s website.

OMICRON • 01785 848100 Find out more: www.omicronenergy.com/events/

ESP introduces its largest CCTV monitor to date Capitalising on the growing demand for larger monitors to display images from multiple CCTV cameras, ESP has added a new 32in LED monitor to its range. With more and more homeowners and businesses relying on multiple cameras to cover and protect all areas of their properties and premises, the new, larger format monitor will allow them to capture and view all images on one screen, helping them to easily keep track of any movement and activity. The new monitor offers the perfect combination of 4K resolution and a widescreen 32-inch panel size. The 4K resolution is supported through 2 HDMI ports. The monitor features in-built speakers and is supplied with a desktop stand. An additional wall mount bracket is available separately. The new 32in 4K LED monitor joins ESP’s existing range which currently comprises 18in, 21in and 23in options. It is suitable for use with ESP’s extensive analogue and IP CCTV systems, and it will also offer support for other HDMI enabled devices. ESP also offers a range of wire-free HDMI senders and receivers to offer flexible installation solutions.

ESP • 01527 515 150 Find out more: www.espuk.com

28 Electrical Review | July / August 2022

PRODUCTS

Makita heats things up with new DHG181ZJ Heat Gun Makita UK has introduced the DHG181ZJ Heat Gun to its LXT 18V range. Designed with air volume and temperature adjustment functionality to reach up to 200L/min and 550°C, the new heat gun is ideal for a wide range of applications. The DHG181ZJ delivers an air temperature of up to 550°C and air volume of up to 200L/min depending on the setting chosen. The air volume and temperature are both adjustable, so users can easily set the output to suit the job; simply flick a switch to change between the two air volume settings and adjust the air temperature with the dial. To protect the operator, the DHG181ZJ features an anti-restart function that prevents accidental start up. There is also a quick release, tool-less mechanism to allow for easy nozzle replacement without the need to touch any hot metal in the process. Supplied in a Makpac Connector Case, Glass Protection, Wide Slot, Reflector, and Reduction Nozzles are all included as standard. To keep professionals working disruption free for longer, the DHG181ZJ offers impressive run times of 30 minutes in low mode and 21 minutes in high mode when using a fully charged 6Ah LXT battery, ensuring maximum user efficiency.

Makita UK • 01908 211 678 Find out more: www.makitauk.com

PFIFFNER Group to launch high voltage circuit breaker with innovative eco-compatible arc interruption method Switzerland-based transmission and distribution component specialist PFIFFNER Group has announced a new high voltage air-insulated switchgear (AIS) circuit breaker for substations which uses an SF6-free and F-gas free as its insulation media, helping to set a new standard for the safe and sustainable operation of electrical grids. The circuit breaker, currently in the development stage, will complement the company’s growing portfolio of high voltage solutions while helping customers to reduce their carbon footprint in a cost-effective way. Sulphur hexafluoride, commonly known as SF6, is a man-made gas utilised primarily as an electrical insulator and arc suppressant. While extremely effective in circuit breaker applications, it is also one of the most harmful greenhouse gases in existence. As such, component manufacturers in the electrical grid sector have been seeking solutions in recent years to limit its usage. PFIFFNER‘s solution instead uses an eco-compatible gas that eliminates the use of SF6 and F-gases entirely.

PFIFFNER Group • +41 61 467 6111 Find out more: www.pfiffner-group.com

C.K Tools’ new drill bits leave a lasting impact C.K Tools, the trusted choice for trade professionals, has introduced several additions to its power tool accessories offering, with five new SKUs added to its Blue Steel impact drill bits range. The range extension includes a number of C.K Tools’ most popular impact drill bits but now available in trade pack sizes, reducing the need for merchant trips in the middle of jobs. Developed in collaboration with trade professionals, the Blue Steel impact drill bits are manufactured from specially formulated V8 steel alloy for extreme toughness and extended working life. They also feature torsion control technology to withstand the stresses of high torque applications and are also colour coded to aid with easy identification in any tool bag or work environment. The range extension includes: • Blue Steel TX30 25mm 15-piece pack (T4560 TX30D15) • Blue Steel PH2 25mm 15-piece pack (T4560 PH2D15) • Blue Steel PZ3 25mm 15-piece pack (T4560 PZ3D15) • Blue Steel PH2 50mm 10-piece pack (T4560 PH2LD10) • Blue Steel PZ3 50mm 10-piece pack (T4560 PZ3LD10) C.K Tools is available through select major electrical and industrial merchants and wholesalers, as well as major online retailers including Amazon. To find your nearest stockist visit www.ck-tools. com/find-a-stockist.

Carl Kammerling International • 01758 701070 Find out more: www.carlkammerling.com

www.electricalreview.co.uk 29

PRODUCTS

Unicrimp introduces nylon meter tail glands Unicrimp, part of the Scolmore Group of companies, continues to expand its cable accessories portfolio and has just launched a new range of Nylon Meter Tail Glands. The new 32mm and 40mm White Nylon Meter Tail Glands with Plug have been added to Unicrimp’s Q-Crimp Nylon Glands offering. They are designed to house incoming cables on a metal consumer unit and provide the ideal solution to house incoming cables requiring entry through a 32mm or 40mm knockout due to their specialist grommet allowing fitment for 25mm² or 16mm² meter tails. A blanking insert plug is also supplied as standard for optional use should no earth wire be present. For further information contact Unicrimp on 01827 300600: sales@unicrimp.com or visit www.unicrimp.com.

Unicrimp • 01827 300600 Find out more: www.unicrimp.com

Smart LED tape controller added to Click Smart+ range Scolmore continues to develop its ClickSmart+ home automation range and has introduced a new Smart RGBW LED Tape Controller – a wireless control solution that allows you to control LED tape lighting whenever and wherever you are via the ClickSmart+ app. The Smart LED Tape Controller can be used with the ClickSmart+ app to create a wide range of lighting effects to suit the mood or occasion required. There are three different modes available – White, Colour and Music. White mode allows control of the brightness of the LED tape, while with the Colour (RGB) mode you can choose any colour to create a range of lighting effects. With the ClickSmart+ app open and set to ‘Music’ the LED tape will change colour with the music. The new controller also offers dimming and saturation adjustment features to help create the right light setting at all times of the day. The Smart LED Tape Controller is compatible with all current Ovia LED Tape variants and requires the ClickSmart+ Hub (sold separately). To use, simply connect the Smart Controller to the LED Tape and start controlling the lighting in every room by app or voice control. By connecting ClickSmart+ to your existing Google Home devices or linking your Alexa smart speaker, you can control the LED tape lighting by voice control.

Scolmore • 01827 63454 Find out more: www.scolmore.com

New LED street lighting range from Ovia Ovia continues to expand its floodlight range and the latest addition is the Gator range of LED Street Lighting with CTA Switch. With an IK10 housing and IP66 rated, Gator is ideal for lighting large outdoor areas, such as car parks and walkways, and is designed to be quick and simple to install via tool-less entry, with the toolless gear tray allowing for easy maintenance. There are three size/wattage options to choose from – large (135W), medium (65-100W) and small (20-40W) – and they offer 50,000-hour lifetime and 85⁰ x 150⁰ beam angle. They are available in a grey finish and come with a five-year warranty. The reversible mount option is an additional feature. The mount bracket can be rotated and pivoted to allow for vertical or horizontal fitment with no additional joints required. The Spigot size is 76mm and a wall bracket is available. The shorting cap can be replaced with a photocell sensor to assist with energy saving. The full Gator range can be seen in the Ovia Issue 3 catalogue which can be downloaded from the Ovia website – www.oviauk.com – and the Scolmore Group app.

Ovia • 01827 300 640 Find out more: www.oviauk.com

30 Electrical Review | July / August 2022