Power to the people
We've got a problem with energy generation. We need more capacity and higher efficiencies to cater for unrelenting increases in demand, but we also need to reduce CO2 and other emissions. This at a time when many of our fossil fuel power stations face closure, as the costs and engineering issues around fitting flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) equipment - to reduce SOx and NOx respectively - prove insurmountable.
Passionate about energy
Every engineer knows that energy saving is good. It's almost invariably linked with worthwhile emissions savings and there are attractive financial returns. Also, installing new equipment, instrumentation and/or controls usually solves what are often annoying maintenance and/or operations headaches, as well as resulting in cleaner plant and better working environments.
Sands of time
Punitive new legislation could prove the high noon for industrial plants that have so far failed to calculate their carbon footprint and formulate a plan to effect improvements. But it isn't too late to get it right, as Brian Wall reports
Laser focus
Energy from waste plants are shining a light on the power of laser-based, real-time gas analyser instrumentation. Brian Tinham talks to Bob Lane of Siemens
Taking the air
Energy sustainability is one of the hottest topics on the political agenda - closely linked to environmental concerns. Combine these with soaring energy costs and it's no surprise that reducing consumption on plant is right up there for industrial operations. However, in many plants, energy in the form of compressed air is simply being allowed to leak away.
Making sustainability pay
Following last year's launch of sustainability guidelines by the Engineering Council, Steed Webzell takes a look at today's key issues and responsibilities
Near zero emissions
With the obvious exception of the global economic crisis and its insidious infection now of the ?real economy', recent months, and indeed years, have seen no greater issue than climate change. Governments and organisations around the world have pledged radical reductions in emissions - most recently with Gordon Brown's insisting that the UK's target for CO2 reduction must be 80% by 2050. In short, interest in energy efficiency, alternative generation and carbon capture has never been greater.
Space Heating - The heat is on
Heating large premises is a major challenge for employers seeking to ensure comfortable working conditions for employees, as well as the protection of the building's contents (such as stock or equipment) and fabric.
Energy Event
Energy efficiency and energy saving are right up there on plant engineers' agendas. Brian Wall previews the forthcoming Energy Event 2010 conference and exhibition
Fluid thinking
According to the Carbon Trust, UK industry spends around £9.5 billion on energy, with at least 40% of that consumed by process heating. 'Using straightforward techniques, between 5% and 10% of this could be saved, reducing spending on energy by £280 million,' it states. A sobering thought in an age when going green - and doing so for sound economic reasons - has never been higher up the corporate agenda.