Energy

27 May 23

The Relay That Changed the Power Industry

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

For more than a century, utility companies have used electromechanical relays to protect power systems against damage that might occur during severe weather, accidents, and other abnormal conditions. But the relays could neither locate the faults nor accurately record what happened. Then, in 1977, Edmund O. Schweitzer III invented the…

25 May 23

Britain lowers energy price cap to £2,074 a year, but bills could still rise

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

Great Britain's energy price cap will fall to £2,074 a year, this summer. However, households could see little relief, as the government-imposed energy price guarantee (EPG), will come to an end at the same time. The lowering of the energy price cap could mark the first time consumers on default…

24 May 23

Photonic chips could lower energy consumption from data centres

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

Data centres can consume up to 50 times more energy per square foot of floor space than a typical office building and account for roughly 2 per cent of all electricity use in the US. In recent years, the number of data centres has risen rapidly due to soaring demand…

23 May 23

Cool power plants with salt water to preserve freshwater supplies, scientists say

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

With freshwater supplies threatened due to drought, climate change and rapid socioeconomic growth, water competition is increasing between the electric power sector and other sectors. Further, efforts to decarbonise fossil fuel-fired power plants by carbon capture and storage would significantly increase water consumption. “Non-traditional water sources can be deployed to…

19 May 23

Britain awards first 20 offshore carbon storage licences

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

Once the storage sites are in operation, they are expected to store up to 30 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030, approximately 10 per cent of the UK's annual emissions. The licences cover an area of around 12,000 square kilometres in size, located near Aberdeen, Teesside, Liverpool and…

19 May 23

Government expected to miss target for installations of rapid EV chargers

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

Less than a quarter of 119 motorway services reviewed by the RAC on Zapmap currently have the target number of chargers to serve the UK’s estimated 760,000 battery electric vehicles. The RAC’s research found there are around 400 high-powered charging units situated at motorway services capable of charging 682 electric…

18 May 23

Government’s energy efficiency schemes are ‘struggling’ to meet targets, councils warn

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

Local authorities have raised concerns over the sluggish pace of home insulation schemes, and the risk it poses to many people facing fuel poverty. The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents more than 300 councils in England and Wales, said the government's flagship energy efficiency scheme supported 60,000 homes in 2022,…

17 May 23

What can we do about the consequences of our current energy challenge?

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

There is no doubt that ongoing issues surrounding energy have created significant challenges for global industry. However, the varied nature of global industry means it can be difficult to see the big picture. That’s why we at ABB conducted a survey of 2,300 leaders across key global markets: US and…

15 May 23

UK energy independence under threat from falling North Sea production

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

According to a report by The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), under current conditions, gas import dependence has the potential to grow by 60 per cent by 2035. This is anticipated to have “major financial implications”, including a profound negative impact on the UK’s balance of trade and household…

12 May 23

The LNG dilemma – fuelling global imbalance

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

It might not have felt like it looking at your bills, but Europe dodged an even bigger energy crunch last winter as Russia curtailed or stopped supplies of gas, coal and oil. But even that was more down to luck and brute force than judgement. There were consequences elsewhere and…

The Relay That Changed the Power Industry

Britain lowers energy price cap to £2,074 a year, but bills could still rise

Photonic chips could lower energy consumption from data centres

Cool power plants with salt water to preserve freshwater supplies, scientists say

Britain awards first 20 offshore carbon storage licences

Government expected to miss target for installations of rapid EV chargers

Government’s energy efficiency schemes are ‘struggling’ to meet targets, councils warn

What can we do about the consequences of our current energy challenge?

UK energy independence under threat from falling North Sea production

The LNG dilemma – fuelling global imbalance

Electronic skin can self-heal after a cut, researchers find

IEEE President’s Note: Connecting the Unconnected

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