In with the new
Rail
There is funding for a project to develop composite masts for railway electrification in the UK. The aim is to dramatically reduce the greenhouse gas emissions emanating from railway electrification. Partners in this project include Prodrive Composites Ltd and Cranfield, Southampton and Newcastle Universities, alongside two international rail industry businesses. The project is to engineer a prototype overhead line mast, which aims to slash emissions from railway construction.
The mast is to benefit from advanced composite materials developed to reduce mass and save energy in both the aviation and automotive industries, as well as being transferable into other sectors. A greener mast could also mean more affordable rail electrification schemes and more efficient maintenance.
The composite ingredient for the masts is significantly lighter and stronger than steel by weight, making installation easier. The aim is for a composite that has minimal, or even negative, embedded carbon. As an additional bonus it is hoped that the project will fuel further experimentation with composites in the rail industry to drive sustainable innovation forward.
Solar
Another potential innovation is a wafer-thin solar film, which, if used on every south-facing warehouse, factory and office, would produce enough power for the UK. Existing panels are often too heavy, but this new lightweight miniature solar technology can be stuck on existing roof structures more readily. At 0.3 mm thick, it is more like a film and could feasibly attach to cars, lorries, buses, caravans, boats and flat household roofs. There is a version being worked on to attach to existing tiled roofs. The solar cells are thousands of times smaller than existing cells and are made by engraving the surface with micro-grooves a fraction of the width of a human hair. Tiny electrodes are attached to the sides of the grooved walls and light-absorbing ink is added. Currently, it is 11% efficient, but it is expected to be 20% efficient in the near future; however, the durability has yet to be proven.
Wave
The world’s most powerful tidal turbine, the 74 m-long, 680-tonne Orbital 02, is in position in Orkney where tidal flow is greater than in most other parts of the UK. The Orbital 02 will become the world’s most powerful operational tidal turbine and has the ability to generate enough clean, predictable electricity to meet the demands of around 2000 UK homes and offset approximately 2200 tonnes of CO2 production per year. Elsewhere, Nova Innovation’s tidal turbines have been powering homes and businesses in Shetland for over five years and, with the installation of an electric vehicle charging point, are now providing tidal-powered cars. Nova Innovation is involved with installing a series of underwater turbines off the west coast of Scotland, which will generate renewable energy. The turbines will be installed in the Sound of Islay, the narrow strait between the islands of Islay and Jura in the Inner Hebrides. Its exposure to the North Atlantic has made it a hub of tidal power innovation. Islay is home to nine active Scotch whisky distilleries and the tidal power will be used for this, providing tidal-powered whisky.
The composite masts for the railway electrification will probably require a non-destructive testing (NDT) input at the manufacturing stage with periodic inspections while in service. The lightweight solar panels will probably have very little NDT input, but the tidal turbines will be operating in extreme conditions so it could be expected that NDT will be used during manufacture and a combination of condition monitoring (CM) and NDT will be employed while in service. All the projects are UK-based, which is a boost for local innovation and employment. The UK is fortunate in having both wind and tides with solar energy even on a dull day.
Out with the old
Recently, four of the eight 300 ft (90 m)-high concrete cooling towers at the former Eggborough Power Station in North Yorkshire have been demolished, with the remaining four due to go soon. Another nail in the coffin for fossil fuel, but the advantage is a reduction in environmental pollution.
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