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ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, today announced a breakthrough in the ability to interrupt Direct Current, solving a 100-year-old electrical engineering puzzle and paving the way for a more efficient and reliable electricity supply system. After years of research, ABB has developed the world’s first circuit breaker for high voltage direct current (HVDC). It combines very fast mechanics with power electronics, and will be capable of “‘interrupting’ power flows equivalent to the output of a large power station within 5milliseconds – that is 30 times faster than the blink of a human eye. For more on this story, click here.

Banks Renewables has kicked off construction at its £21.9m six-turbine Penny Hill wind farm in south-east Rotherham, Yorkshire. The project is expected to create 30 direct jobs, with contracts being awarded to local firms for the supply of materials and sub-contract works, as well as associated services. Banks said the wind farm will utilize Repower’s 3.4MW generators, the highest ever capacity turbines to be installed at a UK onshore wind farm to date. Delivery is slated for early 2013. TNEI Planning and Environmental Group performed an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) at this site. TNEI’s involvement included: Preparing an EIA Scoping Request to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council; Providing information on environmental and planning constraints and assisting in evolution of the design layout; Undertaking technical surveys necessary as part of the EIA; Appointing and managing subcontractors where required to conduct specialist assessments; Undertaking technical reviews of reports and figures; Managing consultation with

The company involved in advising the Government on best practice for onshore wind energy planning has put the theory into practice by helping to secure planning permission for Doncaster’s first ever wind farm. TNEI Services worked with the former DTI on the compilation of a guidance document, Onshore Wind Energy Planning Conditions, published at the end of 2007. A team of specialists from TNEI were recruited to advise the Government and to help with the report’s compilation, due to the company’s expertise in Environment and Planning, especially in relation to wind energy. Only months after the report was published, the company has demonstrated its expertise by working with its client, Banks Developments, to secure planning for Doncaster’s first wind farm. Planning has been granted for 4 wind turbines generating between 2 ““ 3 MW of energy to be erected south of Marr village, in Doncaster Borough, an area that has

TNEI has entered a new phase of its pioneering renewable energy work for Tesco with the installation of the UK’s first 6kW Ropatec, wind turbines on sites across the UK. The roll out of these new turbines has begun in the North East with the installation of one 6kW micro-turbine at Tesco in Newton Aycliffe, closely followed by planning consent being granted for further sites in the UK. Instead of traditional three bladed turbines, TNEI is using vertical axis machines which are ideal for some of Tesco’s supermarket sites which are housed in residential neighbourhoods because they are quieter and more responsive to turbulent windconditions. Manufactured by Italian company, Ropatec, the new turbines, in the right conditions, have an energy output of 6kW, enough to power four houses for a year. The turbines stand 10.6 metres high, a similar height to other street furniture such as lamp posts and so

After securing several wave and tidal energy projects in the UK and internationally TNEI is expanding its marine energy team in line with what it sees as a strengthening market. Ocean WaveMaster Limited, developer of an unusually large scale wave energy converter, has commissioned TNEI to provide modeling support for the latest phase of work. The device’s original development was funded by the Carbon Trust and the DTI and culminated in tests at NaREC, the New and Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, Northumberland. Tests were carried out on an 18 metre model with positive results. Ocean WaveMaster’s design offers the opportunity for continuous power generation and this in part has spurred on further development work to determine how the device can achieve its full potential. Tests indicate that depending on the sea state, a large scale WaveMaster machine could generate significant levels of power, in excess of 20 MW of