Supplying product into the re-energised energy market?
Brendan Wall, Sales Director for TRaC reflects on the Energy for Business Opportunities Conference (eboc 09) held in Cumbria in early July.
Commercial opportunities in the energy market were highlighted and reviewed at this inaugural eboc event. The energy market clearly puts a very strong emphasis on product quality, reliability and performance, which will include the mandatory elements of the European Safety Directives.
The UK's current and future energy needs are very much on the political agenda and Cumbria, long associated with the Nuclear power industry and more recently wind power generation, has taken the initiative to become what is now known as Britain's energy coast.
The event held at the newly opened ENERGUS skills academy attracted exhibitors supplying all aspects of the energy market and speakers from an array of industry and trade associations.
Meeting the future UK energy needs will require a mix of power generation solutions, including new Nuclear Pressure Water Reactors (PWR), Oil and Gas fired power stations combined with new hydrocarbon and carbon capture and storage technology. Renewable sources including solar, off shore and on shore wind turbines and costal tidal schemes will also play a significant part in meeting the UK's energy needs.
The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) informed the conference that wind turbines currently produce "3.6GigaWatts of the UK's energy from circa 2540 operational sites" with the potential for more as the UK is one of Europe's windiest countries. Wave and tidal remains a developing market with a number of tidal schemes currently being tested.
The conference noted that "Nuclear is a viable large scale generation source, but with seven out of the ten existing UK plants expected to close by 2018, as many as ten new PWR Nuclear reactors could be required in the UK". Areva are positioned to supply their Evolutionary Power Reactor (EPR) and Westinghouse their AP1000 to a number of sites should the go ahead be given.
Distribution of the generated power is the key to future success. Investment in infrastructure by the National Grid to deliver the power generated by these sources to their customers was also highlighted at the conference.
The message from the conference was clear "There is no Magic Bullet to solve the UK's energy supply problems", but a major focus on Nuclear and renewable is essential.
Compliance, qualification, approvals and consultancy companies like TRaC will play an important role in assisting the supply chain to the energy sector to test, meet and document the rigorous safety case requirements that the industry insists upon to maintain it's safety record.
TRaC will continue it's investment in facilities and engineers to ensure our clients who will form part of the energy supply chain maintain their competitive edge.
