Category Archives: Energy Distribution

Npower Announces Top Engineering Award Win For Tilbury Apprentice

Tilbury Power Station is delighted to announce that Katie Lester, a third year npower electrical apprentice, has been awarded the IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) Mary George Memorial Prize for Apprentices.

The apprentice award is a category in the wider IET Young Woman of the Year Engineer Award, and celebrates the very best young female engineers in the UK – not only highlighting their achievements but also encouraging others to enter the profession. The Apprentice award is valued by the engineering industry and highlights Katie’s commitment to her chosen profession.

Miss Lester, currently an apprentice at npower, was given this award as a result of her flair, charisma and experience which allowed her to present engineering as an exciting career. In achieving this prestigious recognition, she will now take on an ambassadorial role in the industry, giving her a real opportunity to demonstrate what she loves about her job.

Nigel Staves, Tilbury Power Station Manager, commented: “We are so proud of Katie. She is a fantastic apprentice at the station, and has always contributed beyond the realms of her normal duties. She demonstrates real innovation in her approach to engineering, and is clearly very committed to furthering her career. Katie is a true example to her peers – and I hope that she will encourage other young women to enter into a career in this very rewarding industry.”

Katie added: “I’m really chuffed to have won the award – I was totally shocked when my name was called out! Engineering is a brilliant career and I want to inspire other people to consider it. I couldn’t have done any of this without the help of all my colleagues at the power station – they have trained me and given me guidance the entire way through my apprenticeship.”

This isn’t the first award of Katie’s career – she was RWE npower Apprentice of the Year in 2007, and Engineering Student of the Year 2008 for Rotherham College of Arts and Technology. She was also recently involved in setting up an Apprenticeship Open evening at Tilbury Power Station, with the aim of encouraging young people into applying for the Tilbury Apprenticeship scheme.

 

About npower
npower is one of the UK’s largest electricity suppliers and draws on 50 years experience in supplying electricity and gas. npower offers a range of essential home and business services to 6.6 million customers across the UK.

RWE npower has been awarded the prestigious CommunityMark from Business in the Community (BITC). npower is the only utility business, amongst 21 other companies in the UK, to receive this accolade. The CommunityMark is a new BITC standard which has been created to recognise companies that are good investors in local communities and who have brought about real and positive changes.

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RWE Npower Sparks Interest In Engineering

The npower enthuse day recently rolled into Cramlington Learning Village in Northumberland, where over 50 students took part in the one day educational experience. The students, aged 13 to 14, participated in a range of interactive activities designed to help them think about the impact science and engineering has on their daily lives.

The students were encouraged to think of ways to improve existing products or design a completely

new concept, before considering the very real problem of how people can meet and reduce the UK’s future demand for energy. These activities were followed by a ‘facts and fiction’ session where the students were given the opportunity to meet with engineering staff from npower. Throughout the npower enthuse day, the students took part in a series of hands-on activities relating to the power industry.

Enthuse, which is part of npower’s Brighter Futures Programme, is a five year scheme designed to inspire and engage students aged 12-14 years old in science, technology, engineering and maths.

Head teacher, Mr Wise, Cramlington Community High School, said, “The variety of activities gave the students an excellent insight into what it would feel like to be an engineer. Also, the opportunity to meet with staff from npower has really brought today’s activities to life and gave the students a great introduction into the world of work.”

Dave Carlton, project manager of the environmental scoping for Blyth Power Stationsaid: “The main purpose of today has been to inspire students in science and engineering and share with them the exciting opportunities that the energy industry has to offer.”

In 2008 alone, npower enthuse days reached out to over 3400 students across the UK and this number is continuing to rise throughout 2009.

About npower
npower is one of the UK’s largest electricity supplier and draws on 50 years experience in supplying electricity and gas. npower offers a range of essential home and business services to 6.6 million customers across the UK.

RWE npower has been awarded the prestigious CommunityMark from Business in the Community (BITC). npower is the only utility business, amongst 21 other companies in the UK, to receive this accolade. The CommunityMark is a new BITC standard which has been created to recognise companies that are good investors in local communities and who have brought about real and positive changes.

Via EPR Network
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An Industrial Process Flow Control System Built By Npower Students

Npower, one of the UKs largest energy suppliers, has revealed that its modern apprentices have completed the building of a live Process Flow Control System at Bridgend College. The system, which took just three weeks to complete, replicates a process distribution and conditioning system that can be applied to many different disciplines within industry.

In training to become a qualified RWE Npower engineer students must be able to distinguish different components within automated process systems and recognise the maintenance and service requirements of these particular components. This can be achieved through drawings and specialist interactive software but the students at Bridgend familiarised themselves with the process by creating a live Process Flow Control system.

The installation of a complete line of water systems is extremely beneficial, not only to the modern npower apprentices at Bridgend, but also to other students who run similar systems. It can be utilised for delivering industrial based skills and competencies such as safe shut down procedures, safe isolation, maintenance requirements, fault diagnosis procedures, dismantling techniques and overall process control and monitoring.

The basic design structure was presented to the npower modern apprentices as part of the PEO (Performing Engineering Operations) qualification. Responsibility for different sections of the system was given to different groups within the class, replicating the practice that would be adopted by company employees or contractors.

Brian Cowen, Section Head of Engineering and Maintenance training at npower said: “I am very impressed with the wide range of skills implemented to install this system. It provides a platform for real-time work. It is outstanding practice and is what sets Bridgend College apart from other Colleges. Indeed, this system is of such a high standard that it could be used to assess NVQ level 3 candidates.”

Amy Chandler, an npower Advanced Apprentice, said: “The project was good fun and brought the team together. It took a lot of planning but we gained a lot of knowledge along the way.”

The next stage is to introduce a temperature control system, which will support process monitoring and environmental issues connected to process plant and process conditioning systems. A basic airline system will also complement the maintenance centre and again be used as a delivery tool to support student learning.

About Npower:
Npower is one of Britain’s largest electricity supplier and supplies gas, electricity and related services to 6.6 million customers across the UK. RWE npower has been awarded the prestigious CommunityMark from Business in the Community (BITC). npower is the only utility business, amongst 21 other companies in the UK, to receive this accolade. The CommunityMark is a new BITC standard which has been created to recognise companies that are good investors in local communities and who have brought about real and positive changes.

Via EPR Network
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Npower juice fund sponsored pioneering wave power device that could provide a major breakthrough in the drive to hit sustainable energy

Npower juice fund sponsored pioneering wave power device that could provide a major breakthrough in the drive to hit sustainable energy targets is a step closer to commercial use after tests proved the system is highly effective.

Green Ocean Energy Ltd, the Aberdeen-based renewable energy company, has developed a wave power machine which uniquely attaches to an offshore wind turbine thereby giving combined wind and wave power from one installation.

The company was able to develop its ground breaking Wave Treader technology after securing £60,000 of funding from npower’s Juice fund – a unique scheme that supports the development of wave and tidal technology.

The financial backing enabled the company to put the device through a feasibility study into its commercial electricity generating application. The Wave Treader has since achieved proof of concept and a full size prototype could be ready for testing in 2010.

Managing director of Green Ocean Energy, George Smith, said: “We have drawn on our extensive skills and experience in the energy sector to develop this technology. The support we have received from npower through the juice fund has enabled us to take a huge step forward in preparing the device for widespread use in the offshore environment. These are exciting times for the company and we look forward to eventually seeing the device incorporated into offshore wind farms.

“The Wave Treader has the potential to significantly increase sustainable energy generation both in the UK and around the globe. If we’re going to reach the Government’s target of generating 20% of the UK’s energy from renewable sources by 2020 it’s essential that a range of sustainable sources are put into widespread use.”

Green Ocean Energy was established in 2005 with the aim of generating ample, clean and sustainable energy by harnessing marine energy in ways that are harmonious to the environment and economically viable.

Each Wave Treader machine generates approximately 500 KW which is enough electricity to power 125 homes.

Helen Steed of npower’s Juice fund commented: “We are delighted with the results of the Green Ocean Energy Wave Treader. The device is the first of its kind, and shows tremendous potential in utilising existing off-shore infrastructure to generate clean renewable energy. This is exactly the type of project that npower juice fund was developed for.

“Research and development are the cornerstones of the npower juice fund ethos, and provide additionality to npower juice. For every customer that joins npower juice, npower invests £10 per year per customer into the juice fund. To date npower juice fund has invested £2m into the development of marine renewable industry”

The Wave Treader has been developed using the core concept of a stand alone wave power device called Ocean Treader which is also being developed by the company. Mounting the device on the foundation of an offshore wind turbine makes that technology more commercially viable because of the relatively low technical risk.

Uniquely, Wave Treader can turn to face the direction of the wave train to ensure maximum operational efficiency. It also has active on-board adjustments to allow for the effects of tidal range.

With a design life of 25 years the machines have been designed to ensure they are highly reliable and use standard marine equipment.

The company is now looking to attract further investment to enable continual development of the company’s products.

About Green Ocean Energy
Green Ocean Energy was established in 2005 with the aim of generating ample, clean and sustainable energy by harnessing marine energy in ways that are harmonious to the environment and economically viable. The company based in Carden Place, Aberdeen, is currently developing two wave power machines called Wave Treader and Ocean Treader for commercial use. Ocean Treader is a floating device designed for stand alone use in ocean wave systems.

 

Via EPR Network
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Older Generation Are More Likely To Take Energy And Money Saving Steps

Over 55s are 25% more likely to shrink their monthly bills by being energy efficient than the younger generation, according to a new survey from Opus Energy, an independent electricity supplier for UK businesses.

The survey asked over 500 people about the energy saving steps they take both at home and at work. The findings showed that when it comes to tightening belts this Christmas the “baby boomer” generation are steps ahead of younger generations. Having lived through two recessions and grown up in post-war Britain, the over 55s are well versed in making those small steps that add up to real financial savings.

The results showed that the over 55s are well versed at making efficient use of modern technology. In the workplace, the baby boomers are three times more likely than dilligently switch off phone chargers when not in use, with 43% switching of compared to just one in ten (13%) of under 25s making the effort.

The baby-boomers also have the most ‘efficient’ tea breaks at work with more than half the over 55s (55%) taking care not to boil more water than they need each time compared to under a third (27%) of under 25s.

Even though two thirds (66%) of young Brits claim they are switching to energy saving bulbs to help curb costs at home, a staggering nine out of ten (88%) over 55s said they had already made the energy efficient swap.

Under 25s were also more likely to think that making a business or a home energy efficient would increase its running costs. But as the baby boomers are clearly demonstrating, when energy costs are high and belts are tightening, small energy saving steps can be enough to equate to big savings.

Louise Boland, Director at Opus Energy said:

“It’s clear that having lived through two recessions, our older generations are more adept at taking steps to save on their energy usage to cut their bills. What is interesting is that the older generations have really embraced the energy saving benefits of modern technology, to an even greater degree than their younger counterparts.

“Technology such as energy saving bulbs can be more expensive in the short term, but over their life time will save you up to £35 in electricity costs. It’s a myth that being more environmentally friendly has to be more expensive. At Opus Energy, we source over half our energy from renewable generators and cleaner, low-carbon sources as standard. This way all the businesses we supply enjoy cleaner energy with minimum fuss and no extra cost.”

About Opus Energy
Opus Energy is a leading independent supplier of electricity offering tailor-made solutions for the UK SME and corporate markets. Its market-leading innovations are driven by customer needs and the company is committed to helping businesses reduce their carbon footprint through procurement of energy from cleaner sources.

Opus Energy has over 40,000 customers across all sectors. Large customers include: Yell Group, Thorntons, Farmfoods, Cumbria County Council and Deloitte & Touche.

Over the last two years (between April 2006 and March 2008), 62% of the energy supplied by Opus Energy to its customers came from cleaner, low-carbon sources – 54% from renewable generators and 8% from cleaner Combined Heat and Power (CHP) produced by CHP generators. These CHP generators have been awarded accreditation by the regulator, Ofgem, for producing cleaner, more environmentally friendly power.

Opus Energy’s management team has a 50 percent stake in the business, while International Power Plc (LSE:IPR.L) holds 30 percent and Telecom Plus Plc (LSE: TEP.L ) has 20 percent. With offices in Northampton and Oxford, it employs 200 people.

For further information, please see www.opusenergy.com

Via EPR Network
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Russ Allen, author of the new book Electrocution of America: Is Your Utility Company Out to Kill You?

With just a few months before President-elect Barack Obama takes over the White House, one expert is questioning whether his plan for infrastructure reform is complete. 

Months ago, Obama called for the creation of a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank to help rebuild America’s roads and bridges.

Russ Allen, author of the new book Electrocution of America: Is Your Utility Company Out to Kill You?, says the plan ought to include provisions for dealing with a little-known but serious form of electrical pollution called “stray current.”

“The way that utility companies in this country have built their distribution systems allows stray current to run through American homes and infrastructure on its way back to substations,” says Allen. “That stray current has killed people as well as livestock, and could be taxing the healthcare system by causing illness.”

More and more lawsuits across the nation are being won by plaintiffs who are suing utility companies over this dangerous issue. 

Mr. Allen says that Obama’s plan should include legislation that mandates utility companies return stray current to their substations on a third wire, just as the builders of homes are required to install outlets with a third wire. “If stray current isn’t stopped, Americans will continue to suffer its effects,” says Mr. Allen.

Some states, including Wisconsin, Michigan and New York, have already tried to pass legislation requiring that utility companies monitor stray current but many of those attempts have fallen short. The attempted legislation followed studies that confirmed the dangers of stray current.

Electrocution of America is Mr. Allen’s attempt to combat stray voltage and the utilities that allow it. In his book, he points out that stray current, or stray voltage as it is sometimes called, can have devastating effects on people, including:
• An increase in the blood sugar levels of diabetics
• An increase in the severity of the symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis
• An increase in the incidents of ADD in children
• An increase in the numbers of fibromyalgia sufferers

There is even evidence of a reduction in the milk production of livestock.

Russ Allen is one of the heirs to the Allen Dairy Farm outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and a leader in the movement against the electrical pollution of animals. He won a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Wisconsin Public Service for the damage they caused to his dairy herd with the design of their distribution system.

Electrocution of America: Is Your Utility Company Out to Kill You? can be found on:

For more information, contact the author directly at allen4568@sbcglobal.net.

GLENMORE BOOKS and author Russ Allen chose Arbor Books (www.ArborBooks.com) to design and promote Electrocution of America: Is Your Utility Company Out to Kill You? Arbor Books is an internationally renowned, full-service book design, ghostwriting and marketing firm. 

(Electrocution of America: Is Your Utility Company Out to Kill You? by Russ Allen; ISBN: 0-9779685-0-2; $22.95; softcover; 5½” x 8½”; 406 pages; GLENMORE BOOKS)

Via EPR Network
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Opus Energy, A Leading Independent Supplier Of Electricity To UK Businesses, Is Celebrating The Success Of Opus Evolution

Opus Energy, a leading independent supplier of electricity to UK businesses, is celebrating the success of its market-leading online energy purchasing system, which was launched just over 12 months ago but is already responsible for 25% of its turnover and has added over 3,000 sites through new customers.

In September 2007, Opus Energy unveiled a UK market-first when it launched Opus Evolution, its advanced online electricity purchasing product for the non Half Hourly metered markets. This pioneering solution, developed and offered exclusively by Opus Energy, is unique to the non Half Hourly metered market sector and allows the customer to fix their electricity demand directly with the wholesale market. Customers are able to manage their portfolio of sites, seeing real-time data and historic information at a time, and in a location, that is convenient to them. The product enables multi-site corporate customers to move away from fixed pricing agreements and offer them the flexibility to implement their own energy purchasing strategies.

Since its launch, Opus Evolution has proved immensely successful in attracting new business and retaining existing customers. By creating access to a market segment that was previously unavailable to the smaller supplier, Opus Energy has been able to attract a host of household brands. Early adopters include Farmfoods, Goodyear Dunlop Ltd, Thorntons Plc, Stagecoach Plc and First Group Plc. These amongst others have helped to cement Opus Energy as not only a real alternative to the major incumbent suppliers, but a market-leader in its field.

Steve James, Commercial Director at Opus Energy, said: “We are delighted by the reception Opus Evolution has had over the last 12 months. The uptake has been more than 200% of the initial target and it is incredible to think that this solution is now responsible for a quarter of our business turnover.

“Without doubt, Opus Evolution helps distinguish Opus Energy as a market-leader amongst our peer group. It showcases us as an innovative and flexible independent supplier that is able to quickly meet the demands of both SME and corporate customers.

”We are in no way standing still with Opus Evolution and we are continuing to look at ways of enhancing it in order to better equip our customers against the volatile energy market.”

About Opus Energy
Opus Energy is a leading independent supplier of electricity to UK businesses, based in Northampton. It has over 40,000 customers across the country, including Yell Group Plc, Stagecoach Plc, Thorntons Plc, Farmfoods and Deloitte & Touche LLP. Opus offers companies best-price electricity together with tailored customer care. Its flexible, tailor-made solutions suit businesses across the SME and larger corporate market.

Between April 2006 and March 2007, 66% of the energy supplied by Opus Energy to its customers came from cleaner, low-carbon sources – 47% from renewable generators and 19% from cleaner Combined Heat and Power (CHP) produced by CHP generators.

Opus Energy’s management team has a 50 percent stake in the business, while International Power Plc (LSE:IPR.L) holds 30 percent and Telecom Plus Plc (LSE: TEP.L ) has 20 percent.

Via EPR Network
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The Sierra Nevada Carbon Cooperative Is Actively Engaged In The First Pilot Project Based On Avoided Deforestation

The Sierra Nevada Carbon Cooperative (SNCC) can’t tell you the price for watching the Alpenglow sunset over Waddle Ranch, but they can tell you the price for carbon offsets created by preserving this 1,500 acre property. As fine a vision as open spaces in the setting sun may be, the bigger benefit here is the potential for a model that finances forest conservation.

The Sierra Business Council created the Sierra Nevada Carbon Cooperative in 2008 with start-up funding through a Sierra Nevada Conservancy grant. The SNCC is actively engaged in the first pilot project based on avoided deforestation—carbon credits for preventing the planned residential and golf course development.

The Waddle Ranch project in Martis Valley will be registered and verified this month with the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR). Based on the inventory of the carbon pools on the forest and a calculation of the baseline, CCAR serializes each ton of carbon registered. These can be permanently retired once purchased or held in the project’s account. The SNCC acts as a liaison, connecting buyers of carbon offsets, landowners, and CCAR, to develop, register, and market these forest carbon offsets. Funds are returned to land owners, allowing owners to finance the conservation and ongoing stewardship of their land.

The Sierra Nevada region is a prime location for carbon offset projects. SNCC forest projects are certified under the highest standards, ensuring multiple co-benefits, such as protecting California’s upper watershed lands, maintaining wildlife habitat, and fostering a new green economy in a region with a long history of resource extraction.

“We’re examining how to maintain the Sierra Nevada as a carbon sink rather than a carbon source in order to draw more [carbon] out of the atmosphere than we are emitting. The Sierra Nevada will be a model and we must begin examining alternative forest management methods if we want to mitigate and plan for climate change in the state of California.” Betony Jones, Sierra Business Council

Come hear SNCC program director Betony Jones discuss this project, and other important carbon impact reduction programs from the Environmental Defense Fund and The Nature Conservancy at the Sierra Solutions conference.

Web Site: http://www.sbcouncil.org/Events/Schedule

Contact Details: ABOUT THE CONFERENCE: SIERRA SOLUTIONS—Tools for Sustainable Communities, Economies and the Environment
October 3-4, 2008

Mammoth Resort Conference Center
Mammoth Lakes, CA

Hosted by The Sierra Business Council and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, SIERRA SOLUTIONS highlights leading sustainability speakers.

More on Sierra Nevada Carbon Credits
http://www.sbcouncil.org/Projects/SNCC

CONTACT
Media: Pamela Biery pamela@velocity7.com, 530.470.9292
Conference: Nikki Streegan nstreegan@sbcouncil.org, 530.582.4800
Details on Sierra Nevada Carbon Cooperative, Betony Jones, 530.582.4800

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McCain shows versatility in arranging for Coal delivery from the State of Arizona to provide power to Nevada gaming businesses

Senator McCain shows versatility in arranging for Coal delivery from the State of Arizona to provide power to Nevada gaming businesses. Removes Dineh-Navajo farmers from the Black Mesa area to allow Coal to be mined.

Senator John McCain of Arizona has worked vigorously since he was just a state Senator in Arizona, for nearly 30 years, to insure cheap coal driven power was available for the Casino Industry in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada. (see: cain2008.org)

Senator McCain’s efforts assured that the first ever steam powered Coal Slurry pipeline was built between Kayenta, Arizona, and the Mohave Generating Station, and that Coal Mining Giant had all the resources it needs to dig the Coal that is plentiful and near the surface of Black Mesa, Airzona. (see: http://www.cain2008.org)

His constant support and indefatigable work insuring that key laws were passed made it possible for Coal and Power Giants Peabody Western Coal and Bechtel Corporation to team up and make sure that the biggest tourism industry in the US: Casino Gaming, stayed vital and prolific with coal driven power. (see: http://www.cain2008.org)

Furthermore, what Senator McCain has done legislatively as head of the Senate Committe on Indian Affairs for the Navajo of Arizona (500 year residents of Arizona reservations) is a classical example of the US Senate at its best. Resettlement programs to make certain that the Natives were not disrupted by the mining operations, political support to organize Hopi tribal counsels, to make certain that every farmer’s land rights were vigorishly insured, right down to payments of $2500 or more for individual parcels, have insured a continuous flow of coal slurry to Nevada, so that the Gaming Industry has had all the power from the Mohave Generators that it needs to “light up the strip” nightly, on the face of power shortages ordinarily seen throughout California and Nevada. (see: http://www.cain2008.org)

The Casino Gaming and Power Industry have been undoubtedly pleased by Senator McCain’s activities on their behalf, and have been amongst his staunchest supporters in his three runs for the White House.

For these and other details, press footage, documentation on his amazing achievements, and supporting film, see: http://www.cain2008.org.

This information has been issued by the American Computer Scientists Association Inc. in order to insure that the Public finds out what an amazing man Senator John McCain really is. The ACSA, headquartered in Los Alamos, Nevada, and Cranford, NJ, is one of the world’s largest private non-profit foundations in the Computer Sciences. It’s website is: http://www.acsa.net.

Via EPR Network
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Welcome to EPR Energy News

EPR Energy News is a new blog, part of EPR Network, that is going to be focused on and will be covering the energy news and stories from press releases published on EPR Network.

EPR Network (EPR stands for express press release) is one of the nation’s largest press release distribution networks on Web. The EPR’s nationwide network includes 12 State based PR sites, one major PR forum and a number of industry specific PR blogs and what started as a hobby on Internet years ago turned out to be a rapidly growing business today. EPR Network is also known as one of the most trusted (human optimized, published, edited and monitored, spam/scam/low quality PR content free) PR sites on the web with more than 10,000 company and individual press releases distributed per month. EPR Network is putting your press releases on top of all major search engines’ results and is reaching thousands of individuals, companies, PR specialists, media professionals, bloggers and journalists every day.

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