ROUND-UP
Volvo LX03 wheel-loader prototype In brief
This fully autonomous, battery-electric prototype by Volvo
Construction Equipment is said to be the rst real-world example
of a self-learning concept wheel loader with the brains to make
decisions, perform tasks, and interact with humans. It is also the
rst time a LEGO Technic model has been turned into a real machine.
Trial turns power grid transformers
into heat network ‘boilers’
SSE Energy Solutions and National Grid
are collaborating on a project that could
decarbonise heat networks, capturing waste
heat from electricity transformers to generate
hot water and space heating for homes and
businesses.
“Electric power transformers generate
huge amounts of heat as a by-product when
electricity ows through them. At the moment,
this heat is just vented directly into the
atmosphere and wasted,” said Nathan Sanders,
managing director of SSE Energy Solutions.
“By their very nature, electricity transformers
are primarily located where people live, work and
consume energy, meaning that they have the
potential to be incredibly valuable community
assets if we apply a bit of clever thinking.
“This groundbreaking project aims to
capture that waste heat and e ectively turn
transformers into community ‘boilers’ that
serve local heat networks with a low or even
zero-carbon alternative to fossil-fuel powered
heat sources such as gas boilers. We see heat
networks as a key part of the UK’s future low
carbon energy infrastructure, enabling us to
exploit waste heat sources and use these to
heat homes and businesses across the country.
SSE Energy Solutions’ heat recovery
technology is currently undergoing a proof-ofconcept
trial at National Grid’s Deeside Centre
for Innovation, the rst facility in Europe where
electricity network assets can be tested o -
grid. The site is a part of National Grid Electricity
Transmission’s Innovation programme.
Waste heat from BillerudKorsnäs
enables green industrial project A 20-hectare industrial estate, including
Sweden’s largest tomato greenhouse, will
take waste heat from production at the
BillerudKorsnäs paper mill in Frövi, Sweden. This
became clear when BillerudKorsnäs signed an
agreement with the company
WA3RM, which develops
circular solutions by making
use of factory waste streams.
The project sees
construction of a 20-hectare
greenhouse and sh farm
producing 15,000t of food/
year, heated by 50GWh/year of recycled heat.
The project, whose agricultural partner is Local
Harvest, is also expected to create 220 jobs.
Construction is slated to start in late 2022 with
operations to begin summer 2023.
By capturing waste heat and distributing it
to the greenhouse, BillerudKorsnäs contributes
to a circular process and thus to sustainable
food production. “We already contribute to
the energy supply of the town of Lindesberg
by transferring waste heat to Linde Energy. As
the largest employer in the
area, having the opportunity
to contribute to growing
vegetables in Frövi while
making use of our excess heat
and avoiding emitting large
amounts of carbon dioxide
obviously feels great,” says
Ingrid Engström, senior director technology.
Richard Morén, factory manager in Frövi,
said: “We’re happy to work with companies that,
like us, are working towards a carbon-neutral
society.” For BillerudKorsnäs, this means utilising
surplus heat from the production of pulp.
Siemens has enhanced its
solution partner programme for
the specifi c needs of the food and
beverage sector, in collaboration
with system integrators adi
Automation, Briggs of Burton,
CG Controls, DPS Group, iTech,
Kigtek Solutions and Rockbrook
Engineering. The revamped
programme offers automation
integration concepts, process
optimisation, cloud and data
analytics and energy reduction.
Schaeffl er has acquired Bega
International B.V., a manufacturer
of special tools for mounting and
dismounting rolling bearings. Bega
tools are used in the production
and maintenance departments of
MRO and OEM companies.
An energy rating scheme for
offi ces – NABERS UK Energy
for Offi ces – is now available.
Administered by BRE, and
imported from Australia, the
scheme will enable asset owners,
operators and managers to assess
and improve the energy effi ciency
of the offi ce buildings in their
portfolio.
A digital testbed for smart
manufacturing is being built
at Queen’s University Belfast. A
collaboration between Queen’s,
BT and Cisco, the project is part
of a co-investment to create a 5G
enabled digital factory.
Grob + Co Holdings has
purchased the Hotchkiss Group. The
Swiss electrical installer operates
in commercial and residential
properties. The Hotchkiss Group
is an engineering and contracting
business primarily in ductwork.
PCE Scotland has become a
Yokogawa UK channel partner for
instrumentation. This agreement
will give PCE Scotland access to the
instrumentation product portfolio
of Yokogawa. PCE is said to be
amongst the largest independently
owned stockists and distributors of
valves, actuators, instrumentation,
and automation packages across
the UK and Europe.
Winter 2021 www.operationsengineer.org.uk 9
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