The future of electricity

In the UK, the majority of electricity comes from large, centralised power plants. Although this approach enables economies of scale in the energy sector, it means that customers, particularly those within inner cities depend on long-distance transmission to receive power. Here Nick Boughton, sales manager at industrial systems integrator, Boulting Technology discusses how businesses need to adapt to keep up with increased energy demands.

In a bid to reduce energy costs and improve reliability, customers are turning to local energy generation — power that is generated in underutilised spaces such as rooftops, landfills and empty car parks.

Local energy generation reduces costs and improves the overall efficiency of the power system. It minimises line losses and extends the lifespan of existing transmission infrastructure by minimising wear from overuse. It also creates a stronger, more resilient network of power in the face of extreme weather, human error and outsider attacks.

The benefits of local energy generation are clear for home owners, but commercial and industrial properties are also starting to explore the alternatives to the national grid.

The microgrid is a localised group of electricity sources and loads that normally operate as part of the national grid, but can disconnect and function autonomously if necessary.

These types of grids are maturing quickly within the commercial and industrial sectors in North America and Asia Pacific, but lack of standards limit them on a global scale. Having these standards in place would mean that manufacturers could access a more secure supply, avoiding regular power interruptions that can cause high revenue losses and long periods of downtime.

Renewables

Renewable sources currently produce more than 20 per cent of the UK's electricity and targets set by the European Union mean that this is likely to rise to 30 per cent by 2020.

Countries in Europe are building increasing amounts of renewable capacity in order to reduce their carbon emissions and boost supply security. Last year, Denmark’s wind farms supplied 140 per cent of the country's demand and Germany received all of its power from renewable energy sources for an entire day. While these were planned events, in May 2016, the UK hit the headlines as it had no coal-fired power stations meeting electricity demand for a short space of time as a result of the partial failure of a power import cable. It is events like this that highlight the eventual need for a more long-term market supply.

In 2017, the Scottish government bid to cut total climate emissions by 66 per cent within 15 years. This is one of the world's most ambitious climate strategies and is expected to cost up to £3 billion per year to implement. To cut emissions, the Scottish government has released a renewable energy programme, which includes targets of 40 per cent of all new cars sold in Scotland to be ultra-low emission and 80 per cent of Scotland's homes to be heated using low-carbon technologies.

Currently, solar energy is limited to daylight hours and wind power cannot be harvested all year round. The only way to guarantee a 24-hour renewable supply is to have a method of storage.

Leveraging car and mobile phone developments, modern battery storage systems will soon be used to store renewable energy. In just a few years' time, battery storage will be commonplace not just at grid level, but on industrial sites, office blocks and in the home too.

Intelligent switchboards of the future

Wunderland Kalkar, a children's theme park in Dusseldorf, Germany attracts over 300,000 people every year. The park has over 40 rides, a hotel and a restaurant on site, so it may come as a surprise that the attraction was once an unused nuclear power plant. Over time places and technologies have to change in order to keep up with user demand, especially in industry.

Here Nick Boughton, sales manager at industrial systems integrator, Boulting Technology discusses how switchboards need to adapt to keep up with increased energy demands.

The future of electricity

In the UK, the majority of electricity comes from large, centralised power plants. Although this approach enables economies of scale in the energy sector, it means that customers, particularly those within inner cities depend on long-distance transmission to receive power.

In a bid to reduce energy costs and improve reliability, customers are turning to local energy generation — power that is generated in underutilised spaces such as rooftops, landfills and empty car parks.

Local energy generation reduces costs and improves the overall efficiency of the power system. It minimises line losses and extends the lifespan of existing transmission infrastructure by minimising wear from overuse. It also creates a stronger, more resilient network of power in the face of extreme weather, human error and outsider attacks.

The benefits of local energy generation are clear for home owners, but commercial and industrial properties are also starting to explore the alternatives to the national grid.

The microgrid is a localised group of electricity sources and loads that normally operate as part of the national grid, but can disconnect and function autonomously if necessary.

These types of grids are maturing quickly within the commercial and industrial sectors in North America and Asia Pacific, but lack of standards limit them on a global scale. Having these standards in place would mean that manufacturers could access a more secure supply, avoiding regular power interruptions that can cause high revenue losses and long periods of downtime.

Renewables

Renewable sources currently produce more than 20 per cent of the UK's electricity and targets set by the European Union mean that this is likely to rise to 30 per cent by 2020.

Countries in Europe are building increasing amounts of renewable capacity in order to reduce their carbon emissions and boost supply security. Last year, Denmark’s wind farms supplied 140 per cent of the country's demand and Germany received all of its power from renewable energy sources for an entire day. While these were planned events, in May 2016, the UK hit the headlines as it had no coal-fired power stations meeting electricity demand for a short space of time as a result of the partial failure of a power import cable. It is events like this that highlight the eventual need for a more long-term market supply.

In 2017, the Scottish government bid to cut total climate emissions by 66 per cent within 15 years. This is one of the world's most ambitious climate strategies and is expected to cost up to £3 billion per year to implement. To cut emissions, the Scottish government has released a renewable energy programme, which includes targets of 40 per cent of all new cars sold in Scotland to be ultra-low emission and 80 per cent of Scotland's homes to be heated using low-carbon technologies.

Currently, solar energy is limited to daylight hours and wind power cannot be harvested all year round. The only way to guarantee a 24-hour renewable supply is to have a method of storage.

Leveraging car and mobile phone developments, modern battery storage systems will soon be used to store renewable energy. In just a few years' time, battery storage will be commonplace not just at grid level, but on industrial sites, office blocks and in the home too.

Intelligent switchboards

Switchboards sit at the heart of an infrastructure and therefore need to be able to make intelligent decisions regarding where its power is coming from and going to. The majority of switchboards are capable of redirecting energy to several sources when prompted, but there are very few that allow plant or office managers to make the most of their electricity supply.

The rise of Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) gives hope that facilities will soon be able to operate autonomously. Smart sensors, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and distributed control systems (DCS) are already widely used in the industry — intelligent switchboards could be the next step.

An intelligent switchboard should be able to schedule power use, based on the previous operating times of each application. If it receives power from renewable sources, it could use these predictions to supply energy back to the grid, keeping energy costs as low as possible for the owner of the facility. Generally, electricity is cheaper when consumer demand is lowest, mainly during the night. If the facility had the ability to store energy, an intelligent switchboard could also use tariff predictions to make decisions on whether to receive energy from the grid, or wait until a lower tariff is available.

An intelligent switchboard would also complement the use of demand-side response — a system which financially rewards customers for shifting their electricity use at peak hours. Currently, demand-side response is managed by sending a signal to the customer when they need to take action. Intelligent switchboards pave the way for an automated response to this signal, which could include switching to stored energy during these peak hours.

One thing that many people don't know about Wunderland Kalkar is that it was never fully operational as a nuclear power plant. Construction began in 1972 but delays and fierce protests from locals caused the plant to close down before it was ever finished. Today, many plant and office managers are also resistant to change, particularly with energy infrastructure such as switchboards. However, investigating the benefits of a more intelligent system and making the change could save them a small fortune in reduced energy bills, better tariffs and lack of wasted energy.

Made to measure

Benefits of bespoke motor control centres (MCCs)

One of the cornerstone works of Renaissance art is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which was commissioned by Pope Julius II and painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. The nature of the space required Michelangelo to paint from a unique system of platforms. In the five centuries since its completion, Michelangelo’s masterpiece has been surprisingly durable. Resilience and adapting to a space are two requirements that art and industry have in common, particularly in the case of electrical equipment.

Here, Pat McLaughlin, operations director of Boulting Technology discusses how a made to measure motor control centre (MCC) can benefit both commercial and industrial operations.

The MCC was introduced to the manufacturing industry in 1950; it was launched in the automotive industry, a sector which uses a large amount of electric motors. Over half a century later, not only are motor control centres still in use, but they are extremely common across industrial and commercial applications.

A motor control centre is an assembly of one or more enclosed sections in a metal cabinet containing motor control units with a common power bus. It can also include variable frequency drives, programmable logic controllers and metering and can act as the service entrance for the building’s electricity.

Why an MCC?

Power distribution in large commercial and industrial applications can be complex, but with the help of an MCC, organisations can simplify the process. The entire MCC can be powered through one cable as opposed to the more complex option of using individual cables for each motor.

MCCs are primarily used for low voltage three phase alternating current motors between 208 V and 600 V. The power distributed from these motors can be used in a variety of applications including heating, cooling, lighting or motor driven machinery.

The main purpose of a motor control centre is to protect valuable electrical equipment. Using an MCC with the wrong specification can lead to problems including damage to components that may ultimately result in downtime. For this reason, it is important to purchase the right MCC to safeguard the rest of the system. Before commissioning the MCC, the client should consider the amount of current the horizontal bus should take, the bussing material and the feeder cables to ensure that the motor control centre will be safe in the long term.

Possibly the most important factor to consider when purchasing an MCC is the space and environment that it will go into. The MCC acts like the heart of a building, but its location doesn’t always reflect its importance, with MCCs often being cramped into ill-suited spaces. If the location of the MCC isn’t considered early on, it can be tricky to get a standard, off the shelf MCC to meet the requirements of the remaining space. This is one of the major benefits of commissioning a bespoke MCC.

Fitting the space

A bespoke MCC is the best way to get around spatial restrictions. A company can specify its technical requirements including how many starters are necessary and the dimensions of the available space. The MCC manufacturer can then create and discuss a proposal that is suitable for the company’s needs.

Bespoke MCCs designed and built by Boulting Technology can fit into almost any space through innovative L-shaped, U-shaped and back-to-back designs, that can reduce the overall footprint of the equipment. Boulting Technology offers genuine back-to-back designs that share both the main distribution bars and the risers. This differs from another common method of bespoke MCC manufacturing, where two linear lines are doubled back on themselves, thus doubling the depth. A genuine back-to-back MCC is more cost-effective as well as having half the footprint, which makes a genuine difference, especially when space is limited.

Electrical equipment design is a complex process and each production space has different requirements.  While back-to-back MCCs may be most suitable for some environments, a U-shaped MCC could work better for others. Only an experienced consultant will be able to provide an accurate recommendation of the best MCC design for the space at hand and process specific requirements.

Versatility

As well as meeting spatial requirements, bespoke MCCs can be designed to the exact technical demands of a company’s processes without being limited to the standard options given by the manufacturer. By working with an independent MCC specialist, companies can mix and match components from different manufacturers instead of having to go for a predesigned standard model. Using an independent vendor can speed up the process of creating a bespoke item as an MCC can be constructed with products the manufacture already has in stock, speeding up the build process by using an intelligent CAD package that is linked to the product directory.

One design feature that can make MCCs easier to maintain and replace is the option to have withdrawable starters. The benefits of this can be reaped in facilities that run numerous processes simultaneously, for example in water and waste water facilities or an oil or gas company. Recently, a utilities company commissioned a bespoke MCC for 16 starters for its pumps. The company required an MCC with a small footprint. A withdrawable MCC was the only type of equipment that could fulfil all these requirements simultaneously.

A bespoke MCC can also be designed so that it is suitable for the conditions of the space it will operate in. Some environments can be much harsher so components with higher ingress protection (IP) ratings may be required to safeguard the equipment from foreign bodies, humidity or other environmental factors.

Specifications

Although Boulting Technology’s bespoke MCCs meet the mandatory BS EN 61439 standard at all times, different industries may also have additional specifications. Liaising with an experienced engineer throughout the design and build stage can guarantee that the MCC meets all relevant industry standards.

An independent advisor can also assess whether existing MCC complies with all the relevant industry standards and regulations. Because MCCs have a long lifespan of around 25-30 years, the design of a bespoke MCC must be made to meet all future challenges. In the case of older MCCs, it is possible to replace or upgrade panels to meet new specifications, although commissioning a new one might often be a wiser decision but in an ideal situation, an MCC should be equipped for future challenges from the onset.

What are the downsides?

The perceived downsides of commissioning a bespoke MCC are that it is an expensive process with more work involved when connecting and disconnecting terminals. There is also concern about how long the bespoke MCC will take to manufacture. However,  bespoke MCCs can be made in six to ten weeks, depending on size. Boulting Technology boasts an impressive 25,000 square feet UK manufacturing facility and an experienced and knowledgeable workforce, capable of delivering bespoke MCCs in short time frames.

A further perceived downside of commissioning a new MCC is that may involve some element of downtime. However, in a recent project for a global chemicals producer, Boulting Technology limited downtime by keeping one half of the motor control centre live whilst the other half was replaced. The project took place over the bank holiday weekend to prevent the plant from shutting down during normal working hours.

In the last half a century, the MCC has been a crucial technology in simplifying power distribution. While an off-the-shelf motor control centre might be suitable for many applications, a bespoke MCC offers powerful benefits in a flexible footprint, better use of space and suitability for its environment. Just like Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to undertake a unique project, purchasing a bespoke MCC may be the key to a resilient design, perfect for your space.

Top causes of PLC control system failure

Control system maintenance to minimise downtime 

On New Year’s Day 1968, the programmable logic controller (PLC) was first designed. Whilst most were busy celebrating and making resolutions, Dick Morley was planning his invention. The PLC has been used ever since to make logic based decisions in automated industrial processes. Despite their resilience and rugged design, PLC-based control systems can still break down and their failure can lead to costly downtime.

Here, James Davey, service manager of systems integrator Boulting Technology, discusses the top causes of PLC control system failure and how the risks can be minimised.

PLCs use microprocessors to digitally control industrial automated processes. Early PLCs replaced relay logic systems, but advancements over the years enabled them to cope with a larger number of inputs, processes and outputs. In essence, a PLC is a set of hardware and sequence of coded instructions that enables equipment to perform complex and reliable electromechanical functions.

A PLC will usually run constantly, despite the harsh industrial environment it operates in. Unfortunately, even this robust control system can fail sometimes, which leads to serious consequences, such as a production line or processes stopping altogether.

Downtime is extremely costly and, not only can it seriously affect plant output, with the recent advances in PLC technology that embrace safety-related functions, it can occasionally create a hazardous situation that needs immediate attention. To ensure this does not happen, businesses need to follow a planned maintenance routine.

When a PLC control system does break down, identifying the cause can be tricky. Often, a copy of the PLC software, a laptop, programming lead and a multimeter are the only tools necessary for diagnosing the fault, along with some knowledge of the processes. Sounds straightforward? In many cases it is, but the trap of complacency has a habit of biting. Below is a list of common reasons why PLC control systems fail.

I/O modules and field devices

About 80 per cent of PLC failures are a result of field devices, Input/Output (I/O) module failure or power supply issues. Typically, these defects manifest themselves as a sudden process stop or irregularity of performance. This is because the PLC control system is waiting for a signal to allow it to step through its program sequence. In this situation, the engineer usually determines where the sequence has stopped by interrogating the software ‘on-line’, with the aim of tracing the problem to a specific I/O module and input or output point.

By identifying the I/O point, the engineer can then trace the problem to its root cause. This could be a PLC configuration error, tripped circuit breaker, loose terminal block, failure of a 24 VDC supply or issues with wiring. It may be that the I/O module itself needs replacing. This relies on having a readily available supply of replacements, something that is becoming increasingly difficult for legacy systems.

Erratic behaviour or failures of groups of inputs indicate there is an internal PLC error or issue with a common power source. If the I/O module is not the reason for the failure and power and wiring issues have been eliminated, then attention should be paid to the field devices — the components external to the I/O module. These could be incorrectly configured, mechanically damaged or they could have failed electrically, for example due to water ingress.

Ground integrity

Proper grounding is important in protecting both the PLC and maintenance personnel. A well grounded enclosure can also act as a barrier to outside electrical noise. During maintenance or diagnosis, the engineer can perform a visual check of ground wiring to establish if there has been any damage or if there are any loose connections.

The engineer can test the integrity of the ground with a multimeter. By checking the resistance of the PLC ground terminal to a main earth bonding point in the equipment enclosure, we can establish if this is the root of the problem.

Power supply issues

The reliability of PLC-based control systems is dependent on having an uninterrupted power source. Power supply issues can result from a range of causes including loose or corroded cables and power supply failure.

In addition, many manufacturing facilities, utilities and infrastructure companies will usually have redundant power systems or install uninterruptable power supplies (UPS). This way, a part of the plant continues to function even in the event of a mains power failure, thus providing control of essential items in order to maintain its safe operation.

Even if an industrial plant considers a UPS nonessential and a complete process stop is manageable in the event of a power outage, a PLC’s memory can be lost when the power fails. This can lead to loss of process data, but also complete loss of operational programs. To prevent this, a PLC sometimes employs its own backup battery to ensure the device restarts correctly when power is restored.

Failure to maintain and replace the batteries in a PLC or UPS can lead to a major system failure in the event of a power outage.

It is vital to back up the PLC software regularly and store it securely. If an industrial plant fails to back up the system, it makes it incredibly difficult to resume normal function in the event of PLC memory loss. Furthermore, it turns a minor power loss incident into a major downtime issue.

Dealing with interference

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) are common in industrial environments that contain a variety of electrical equipment. Anything from handheld radio transmitters used by maintenance staff, to a large motor starting can cause interference.

Companies need to control electrical noise as much as possible, because it can lead to intermittent faults or unusual behaviour and even PLC failure.

There are many ways to mitigate the risk of downtime caused by electrical noise through design. A Boulting Technology service engineer can recommend ways to minimise noise by relocating sensitive equipment, segregating systems with high power components and adding barriers, grounding, or shielding cable between sensitive equipment.

Network and communications

Most PLC control systems need to communicate with periphery devices such as Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) and other ‘intelligent’ equipment. A typical communication medium will consist of an industrial network, which industrial plants increasingly base around industrial Ethernet. A loss of communication between devices will often result in immediate plant downtime.

Engineers can mitigate against communications failures by ensuring the physical network infrastructure is correctly installed and terminated, that network devices are suitable for purpose — especially when more and more devices are added — and firmware patches are regularly installed to maintain reliable and secure operation.

Heat

The environment is a critical factor in the life of equipment and control systems. Failure to service air filtration components in the control cabinet can cause insufficient airflow and cooling within the control panel. This can lead to equipment overheating and the acceleration of component failure.

Equipment will fail at high temperatures or humidity, particularly above the limits of maximum temperatures recommended by manufacturers. A high humidity can also lead to condensation forming on electrical components and, in turn, this can lead to failure. Industrial plants can mitigate by using panel-cooling systems or by considering where the control panel will be located during installation design.

Managing the risks

By following a simple best practice routine, companies can minimise the chance of PLC control system failure. Engineers should ensure the environment in which the control system operates is sound. Through systematic inspections, engineers can identify any overheating or electrical noise problems.

By regularly checking and testing batteries and UPS systems, companies ensure that in the event of a power fault, their system is reliable and operates continuously. Other maintenance activities include checking the wiring integrity, grounding, terminals, field devices, Ethernet and other industrial networks. Plant managers should regularly back-up software and install firmware patches.

Last, but not least, obsolescence management is also important because PLC manufacturers regularly cycle their product ranges. If you are operating with a component that is several years old, it is important to have a readily available replacement for it. Businesses can manage this internally or by using a third party, such as Boulting Technology, who is able to highlight the risks, indicate which areas of a control system are more likely to lead to failure and put a contingency plan in place to mitigate that risk, including sourcing legacy components.

Control system best practice is not all about the hardware. Regularly backing up PLC software ensures that if downtime does occur, normal function can resume quickly. Upgrading firmware also makes the system more secure because patches and upgrades eliminate known software vulnerabilities.

Although it has been around for a long time, the PLC is not invincible. However, with proactive maintenance, environment control and contingency plans, your PLC control system will be there to keep your operations up and running every day of the year, including New Year’s Day.

Systems integration for Industry 4.0

Our world is getting smaller every day. Never before have remote locations been more accessible thanks to communications technology, smartphones and the internet. Connected devices have infiltrated every aspect of our lives, including the most traditional industry sectors. Here, Nick Boughton, sales manager of the Boulting Technology, discusses the challenges connectivity poses for industry, particularly with regard to systems integration and the water industry.

One question industry has been unsuccessful in answering refers to the number of connected devices that exist in the world at the moment. Gartner says that by 2020, the Internet of Things will have grown to more than 26 billion units. According to Cisco, there will be 10 billion mobile-ready devices by 2018, including machine to machine – thus exceeding the world population.

The Industrial Internet of Things

Only fifteen years ago, an industrial plant operated on three separate levels. You had the plant processes or operational technology (OT), the IT layer and in between stood the grey area of middleware - connecting management systems to the shop floor. The problem in most enterprises was that the commercial and production systems were entirely separate, often as a deliberate policy. Trying to connect them was difficult not only because of the divergence in the technology, but also the limited collaboration between different parts of the organisation. For these reasons successful implementation of middleware was rare.

Fast forward to today’s smart factory floor that uses the almost ubiquitous Ethernet to make communications as smooth as possible. Supporting the new generation of networking technologies is an increased flow of data, collected and analysed in real-time. However, data is only useful when you can decipher and display it. The next step to industry nirvana is using relevant data for better decisions and predictive analysis, in which the system itself can detect issues and recommend solutions.
 
Smart manufacturing is based on a common, secure network infrastructure that allows a dialogue – or even better, convergence - between operational and information technology.

The trend goes beyond the factory floor and expands to big processes like national utilities, water treatment and distribution, energy and smart grids, everything in an effort to drive better decision making, improve asset utilisation and  increase process performance and productivity.

In fact, some water and energy companies are using the same approach to perform self-analysis on energy efficiency, potential weak points and the integration of legacy systems with new technologies. In a highly regulated and driven sector like utilities, maximising assets and being able to make predictions are worth a king’s ransom.

System integration challenges

System integration in this connected industry landscape comes with its challenges, so companies need to keep up to speed and get creative with technology. Keeping existing systems up to date and working properly is one of the main challenges of industry and big processes alike.

Finally, ensuring your system is secure from cyber threats and attacks is a new challenge fit for Industry 4.0. Connecting a system or equipment to a network is all fine and dandy, but it also brings vulnerabilities that weren’t there before.

Systems integrators relish a challenge and they’re very good at adapting to new technologies. For this reason, some systems integrators have started working closely with industrial automation, IT and security experts to help overcome the challenges posed by Industry 4.0.

Regardless of whether we’re talking about companies in utilities, manufacturing or transportation, the signs are showing that companies want to get more from their existing assets and are retrofitting systems more than ever.

Of course, retrofitting isn’t always easy. In many cases, upgrading a system without shutting it down is like trying to change the brakes on a speeding bus – impossible. However, unlike the bus scenario, there is usually a solution. All you have to do is find it.

Flexibility is essential for good systems integrators. Being familiar with a wide range of systems and working with different manufacturers is the best way to maximise industry knowledge and expertise, while also keeping up to date with the latest technologies. At Boulting Technology, we partner up with market leaders like Rockwell Automation, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Schneider, ABB and others, to design and supply tailor-made systems integration solutions for a diverse range of industries, processes and platforms.

The world might be getting smaller and we might be more connected than ever before, but some things never change. Relevant experience, partnerships and the desire to innovate are as valuable as they have ever been in this connected new world of Industry 4.0.

Energy supplies – a new paradigm?

In May 2016, Portugal ditched fossil fuels and ran solely on renewable energy for four consecutive days. Solar, wind and hydroelectric power exclusively covered the electricity consumption of the entire country for a whopping 107 hours in total. The feat is the latest of many renewable energy success stories and highlights the growing role renewables play in modern energy generation.

Here, Nick Boughton, sales manager of industrial systems integrator Boulting Technology, discusses how emerging technologies can provide a new answer to an old question: renewables are great, but what happens if it’s not sunny or windy?

Electricity derived from fossil fuels and nuclear has traditionally been a reliable option for keeping the lights on. However, in recent years, advancements in three areas have the potential to make renewable energy a much bigger player on the power generation scene.

Microgeneration

The role of the National Grid is changing. Traditionally, it relied on a few very large fossil fuel and nuclear power stations to supply electricity. Put simply, the grid received large input from a few sources dotted around the country. Today, as these larger power stations are being closed down, due to age or inability to meet forthcoming emission regulations, the supply mix is changing.

The grid still gets electricity from traditional power plants, but it increasingly receives power from many smaller-scale wind, solar and anaerobic digestion plants as well.

Earlier this year, as part of its target to self generate one third of its electricity requirements by 2020, Thames Water unveiled Europe's largest floating solar farm on the Queen Elizabeth II reservoir at Walton-on-Thames. With more than 23,000 solar panels covering an area equivalent to eight football pitches, its peak output is 6.3MW and its projected annual output of 5.8 million kilowatt hours is enough to power 1,800 average homes.

While this is a significant contribution, it would take more than 600 similar sized solar farms to match Drax. With an output of 4,000MW, the UK's largest coal and biomass fuelled power station takes some beating. Drax does have the advantage of running day and night, seven days a week though.

Demand-side response

The main role of the National Grid is to ensure electricity supply meets the demand, known as balancing the grid. This brings us on to demand-side response.

Once upon a time, the National Grid had to rely mainly on supply side response – getting power generators to match demand. Demand-side response is a technology where customers are incentivized financially by the Government to lower or shift their electricity use at peak hours.

In a sign of the times, the biggest electricity user in London — or the Tube to you and I — recently announced it is signing up to a demand-side response network. This means when demand on the grid is at its peak, London Underground will use its back-up power supplies to ease strain on the grid.

There is still huge potential for demand-side response. Instead of merely sending signals to customers when they need to take action, automated processes could be put in place, by the grid or more locally, to trigger back-up power or turn off non-critical applications automatically.

In industrial power management environments, the same principle can be applied by using smart low voltage switchgear, such as the Boulting Power Centre. This means any building — industrial or commercial — can prioritise the order in which the switchgear turns off connections, if at all, and for how long.

Batteries

One of the concerns with solar and wind energy is that production is often at its highest, when demand is lowest. Therefore, storage is a key priority for eliminating waste and harnessing production potential. Battery storage isn’t new, but until fairly recently, batteries were big, heavy, expensive and had a limited lifespan.

Leveraging car and mobile phone developments, modern battery storage systems offer a much more attractive proposition. Looking only a few years ahead, battery storage will be commonplace not just at grid level, but on industrial sites, office blocks and domestically. The Tesla Powerwall is an example of an innovative solution applicable to most homes.

With viable and scalable battery storage options and demand side response, renewables and microgeneration can join the top table of electricity generation, previously dominated by nuclear and fossil fuels sources. With this kind of progress, it’s not too hard to imagine Portugal’s 107 hours being beaten quite soon!

Inspiring stories

The UK currently has the lowest percentage of female engineering professionals in Europe, at less than ten per cent. When we consider Latvia, Bulgaria and Cyprus are leading the way with nearly 30 per cent, it's time for the nation to up its game. National Women in Engineering Day (NWED) is celebrated every year on June 23 to help raise the profile of women in engineering and focus on the array of career opportunities available in the industry. 

Luckily, the UK has its fair share of role models when it comes to engineering. Here, Anna Sleziak, senior process control engineer at systems integrator, Boulting Technology answers questions about her career progression as a female engineer in the UK and how she thinks NWED is inspiring those at the start of their working life.

When did you first know that you wanted to be an engineer?

I originally attended school in Poland, where I was encouraged to take a more traditional, academic route when it came to a career. I enjoyed most subjects, but particularly excelled at mathematics, so thought that a career in banking would be a good fit for me.

My older brother was already attending university and I enjoyed helping him with his studies, so from a young age I knew I wanted to work towards a degree. One week into my banking course I realised my skills were actually better suited to my brother's degree. As you might have already guessed, this was engineering! Fortunately, my university allowed me to swap courses and I haven't looked back since.

Do you think there are many role models for women who would like to go into engineering?

There is such a huge push for both men and women to pursue careers in engineering now because of the skills gap in the country.

 NWED is celebrated all over the world, so we are lucky enough to hear the stories of some incredibly talented female engineers for encouragement and motivation.

When I was younger, it was a different story because women in engineering were few and far between. It's important for women to explore the different career routes available. If it hadn't been for my brother studying engineering, I would never have known the options available to me.

How do you think NWED encourages women to start their career in engineering?

NWED demonstrates the interesting job opportunities available to all genders. Engineering is a diverse world and every day can be different depending on speciality. It's not just dirty overalls and building sites, unless you want it to be.

If people don't know about the different careers that exist, the industry can't expect to attract new talent, male or female.

Why do you think many women still think being an engineer is a male's job?

It's all down to traditional stereotypes. When the majority of people are asked to picture an engineer, they think of a man. NWED challenges these perceptions and tells us that being a female engineer shouldn't raise eyebrows, but be accepted as normal in all businesses.

If you were talking to another female about your job, what would you tell her that may encourage her to think differently about engineering?

I'd tell her about the incredible support that the entire team at Boulting Technology offers. The company is forward thinking and doesn't consider me as an exception. I'm just one of the team.

I'd also tell her to ignore any negative comments that she might get. I've been extremely lucky, as I am surrounded by supportive people, but there are some that don't understand why women want to be engineers. If the job makes you happy, then pursue it.