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When we talk about pathways into the engineering industry, apprenticeships and degrees may be two of the most popular routes, but there are far more options for people who want to gain the skills, knowledge and experience needed to make a success of their careers.

To celebrate International Women in Engineering Day we sat down with Shannon O’Neil to discuss how her journey took her from College to Vital Energi via a Merchant Navy Cadetship.

Tell us a little about your career…

I joined Vital Energi as an Operations and Maintenance Engineer after leaving the merchant navy and have been with the company for a year and a half now. My job calls for me to maintain and oversee the sites, making sure they perform safely and efficiently to provide heat whilst maintaining their parameters. I schedule and undertake maintenance; perform inspections and monitor the system and I absolutely love it. There are many similarities in the role comparing with the navy that I massively enjoyed, whilst being able to come ashore and live a more sociable lifestyle.

I’ve been here one year and a half and I like how everyone is eager to help and I am gaining more experience and learning every day.  I love working with experienced engineers who talk me through new tasks, expand my knowledge in engineering and are keen in working together to help each other out.  The diversity within O&M has been so beneficial to me as I am constantly learning new skills and ways to work from them.

Why did you enter the heat network industry?

We cover various sites, the main site of mine is Queens Quay. This is similar to what I was doing onboard ships in terms of the controls and how the plant operates allowing me to transfer my skills. Ships tend to take their heat from engines to heat their domestic water so the CHP’s we also work with operate very similar. I undertook engine overhauls on the ship so I was intrigued with the annual boiler inspections and the work that goes into stripping, rebuilding and testing them.

My merchant navy career took me to some far-flung places and saw me sail through the Panama Canal and spend time in South America amongst other places.  After 6 years however, I was ready to end to the two-months-on two-months-off routine and applied for a job at Vital Energi.

How did you enter the industry?

I initially did a HND at college in Electrical Engineering. With this I was planning on going to university but I was more so interested in the practical work and getting experience. The cadetship offered 8 months of experience with getting the qualification so it was an easy decision for me to make and it turned out to be the most amazing experience.

I was in the merchant navy for 6 years and the knowledge and experience I gained really positioned me well for finding another job and the green energy industry looked like a great place for me to use my skills.

Local school children visit Hebburn Renewable Energy Scheme

Children from St Aloysius Primary School got the opportunity to visit the local Vital Energi project at Hebburn, and see their artwork which is now displayed on the site hoardings surrounding the site.

In 2022, Vital Energi’s Pre -Construction Engineer, Victoria Wallbank visited their school and delivered an engaging Climate Education session. As part of this, the class drew inspiring pictures to represent low carbon energy. A selection of these have now been displayed on the boards around the construction site, based in the heart of the town centre, where works are beginning on the steel framework of the Paul Younger Energy Centre.

The nine children had a tour of the site in March 2023 and walked round to Durham Court and Hebburn Central Library and Leisure Centre, two of the buildings that will be connected to benefit from the Hebburn Renewable Energy scheme being developed by South Tyneside Council. After learning more about the project and the works so far, they enjoyed playing two of our new Climate Education games, Top Trumps and Higher or Lower. Both games sparked excitement amongst the children, learning more about the different energy technologies available in a fun and interactive way.

Each child was also given a goody bag which included various Vital branded items, sweet treats and seeds to plant at home or at school. The children are looking forward to driving past the site on their daily commute to school and seeing the progress of the construction of the energy centre over the coming months.

Victoria Wallbank said “It was great to see the children again and show them progress on the project so far, and their artwork displayed around the site. This second visit allowed us to re-engage with the children to further educate them on the wide range of solutions to reduce our carbon emissions. I look forward to welcoming them back to the site at the end of the year to see the energy centre in action.”

A two-megawatt solar farm has been connected to the national grid and is set to provide electricity to around 800 homes.

The 3.8-hectare site, located off Kenyon Way in Little Hulton, has 3,774 ground mounted solar panels and is set to generate over 2,000 megawatt hours of electricity a year. This will be used to offset Salford City Council’s electricity bills, saving the council thousands of pounds on energy bills.

The solar farm will save over a thousand tonnes of carbon every year, which is the equivalent of taking over 600 cars off the road.

Part of a larger scheme called Unlocking Green Energy in Greater Manchester, the solar farm is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Salford City Council and is part of the drive for Salford and the rest of Greater Manchester to become carbon neutral by 2038.

The solar farm follows the installation of solar car ports at the council’s Turnpike and Swinton Hall Road depots, which provide power to the buildings on site and will further reduce the council’s electricity costs and carbon emissions.

Richard Halsey, Innovation Director at Energy Systems Catapult said: “As part of the Unlocking Clean Energy in Greater Manchester consortium alongside Salford City Council, we saw first-hand how place-based decarbonisation efforts can help us on the journey to Net Zero. After five years’ of hard work from many people, seeing this project come to fruition is an exciting moment for localised energy generation; helping deliver lower carbon emissions, and lower energy bills for the city council. Congratulations to everyone involved!”

The award-winning Queens Quay heat network is set to expand by connecting residents on nearby Dumbarton Road in Clydebank.  Homes will receive heat from the low-carbon water source heat pump which has been supplying the Queens Quay development since 2020.

46 homes, belonging to Clydebank Housing Association will be joining the network in this latest expansion which will add 450m of district heating pipework and the contract will also see Vital Energi provide the vTherm°e Heat Interface Units.

The project will connect 7 separate blocks, all belonging to Clydebank Housing Association.

Scott Lutton, Vital Energi’s Operations Director for North and Scotland commented, “The heat network was designed to alleviate fuel poverty and expand to serve local businesses, organisations and residents, so it’s extremely exciting to connect more people to the scheme and share those benefits with them.

“We’ll also be providing metering and billing services, customer services and operation and maintenance to ensure everyone connected has the best possible experience from their new heating scheme and we look forward to the heat on date and welcoming them to the Vital family.“

Phase one of the project saw Vital Energi work in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Council to build a state-of-the-art energy centre in Clydebank.  The energy centre houses two 2.65MW water source heat pumps which takes heat from the nearby River Clyde and uses it to heat local homes and businesses.

If you’d like to know more about how  West Dunbartonshire Council are using the River Clyde to heat the Queens Quay Development, click here.

Net Zero Apprentice, Ibrahim Qadir, has returned from his travels as part of the CIBSE Ken Dale Travel Bursary where he visited Sweden, The United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, travelling 23,000 km to undertake research in the application of artificial intelligence.

Ibrahim was awarded the Ken Dale Travel Bursary from CIBSE in 2023 after delivering a presentation on his research proposal to investigate the different approaches to artificial intelligence and machine learning in the building services industry.

Now he’s back from his travels, we sat down with Ibrahim to find out more about his trip, what he learned and how he thinks it can be applied to his work.

What was the initiative, what made you want to apply and how did you put yourself forward?

The initiative is the CIBSE Ken Dale Bursary award, an annual competition that involves a selection process including shortlisting of candidates followed by interviews. My chosen research topic delves into the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in building services engineering. The primary motivation behind my application was a keen interest in exploring and contributing to the sustainable evolution of an industry that significantly impacts us all.

I was driven by the desire to understand how I could actively participate in and influence this monumental shift towards sustainability, leveraging it for the betterment of our planet and future generations. This bursary represented a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful change and give back to the community by pushing the boundaries of conventional practices in the field.

What countries did you visit and how far did you travel?

I visited Copenhagen in Sweden, Dubai in Abu Dhabi and Jakarta in Indonesia, which came in at approximately 23,000 km.

What do you think you got out of the experience?

I have already learnt so much about our industry and what problems we have, as well as the factors that contribute to a solution. I have had the chance to meet so many interesting people from all walks of life, each with their own story and perspective. I am currently completing my report that will detail what I have learned from my research, this will then be disseminated with the hopes of inspiring change.

What were the highlights of the trip?

I would have to be visiting the museum of the future in Dubai.

What challenges did you face?

The most challenging aspect was establishing contacts in various locations as a newcomer. However, once you manage to connect with one, they often serve as a gateway to others.

Did you meet any industry specialists while you were there and what did you learn?

I did get to meet industry specialists and learn about leveraging automation for routine tasks and exploring how technology can be employed to reduce time and enhance efficiency would indeed be beneficial.

What projects did you learn about?

I gained valuable insights into the digital health (DH) sector in Scandinavia and was impressed by the region’s tech startups that are already utilising artificial intelligence (AI). The region’s openness to experimenting with new technologies stood out to me. I also discovered the technological advancements being employed in the Middle East and the significant investments made globally in solar plants for both electrical and thermal energy production.

The Museum of the Future in Dubai caught my attention by showcasing the potential of emerging technologies across various fields, from healthcare to agriculture, building materials, and engineering. This initiative underscores the region’s ambition to lead in these transformative sectors.

In Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, I learned more about the technologies in use and appreciated how the city itself was designed with sustainable practices in mind, from its architectural design and engineering systems to its operations. Its role as the host of COP28 was particularly enlightening, showcasing the ability to accommodate 85,000 people in the most sustainable manner possible.

My visit to a university in Jakarta was equally inspiring, where I saw firsthand the integration of AI into its building infrastructure. This university has received multiple awards for its sustainable design and the innovative use of natural processes to minimize its carbon footprint.

How is AI implemented in different countries/climates of the building services sector?

There are numerous applications of AI across our industry, ranging from energy management and modelling to optimizing thermal comfort in buildings, managing district heating and cooling networks, predictive maintenance, and building automation. Ultimately, it’s about leveraging data to optimize processes, making them more efficient and faster. This enables us to concentrate on more critical tasks.

How do you plan to use your experiences and new knowledge going forwards?

I aim to finalise my research findings and present recommendations and insights that will inspire and educate, as well as explore ways to implement these into our own work to continue the futureproofing of our systems. I intend to build upon what I have learned to further my development.

It’s Good to Talk… To Your Distribution Network Operator

The UK’s electricity grid faces a significant problem with connection capacity. Some areas are heavily congested, which can lead to significant connection delays as the core infrastructure is upgraded to support additional generation. In short, some projects will be told there is no grid connection and face a multi-year wait (2030 and beyond), and what could be significant contributory costs, before a space opens up. We recommend liaising with the DNO at the earliest possible convenience to find out if grid connection is possible, but even if you receive a no, don’t panic! We have worked with clients who have initially received a “no” from their DNO, but have worked with them to create innovative and viable projects which have been successfully delivered .

You should also remember that projects over 1MW trigger a full statement of works review, which can take up to 18 months, so this needs to be factored into your timescales.

Also, remember if you’re exporting to the grid, you’ll need to submit a full G99 application. The feedback from this will dictate if you need to pay for upgrades and notify you of what you need to do to gain full compliance.

Planning is a Process… Not a Hurdle

Again, early engagement is key.  When we’re acting on behalf of a client our first course of action is to reach out to the planners and talk through what we’ve got in mind.  Then you’ll have a decision to make about whether to go for outline planning permission, or full planning permission.

If you opt for outline planning permission initially, it will give an opportunity for people to react to your scheme.  These range from utilities, national grid, fire, transport and rail, but also local residents.  If done properly this will allow you to identify any objections and address them so that when your full planning application goes in, you’ll have addressed any potential issues.

Planning officers can only make decisions based on the information you give them, so make sure you’ve got the right drawings which include complex layout drawings, GRP enclosures, containment and the routes of your LV/HV cabling. For the frames themselves, planners will need elevation drawings so they can assess how it will sit in the landscape. Detailed design and access statements are also required to provide a comprehensive overview of the scheme.

You may also need to produce ecology surveys, environmental impact assessments and biodiversity plans, showing a net biodiversity gain of at least 10%.

One thing which planners take very seriously is the loss of car parking spaces, especially for organisations with lots of visitors, such as hospitals or universities.  Take every effort to reduce any parking space losses, which can include redrawing and reconfiguring your car park.

If you’re not an expert in planning, your contractor should be able to help you at every stage, or handle the entire process for you.

Understand The Quality of Your Ground

It may not be the most exciting topic, but the quality of the ground which your project will be built on is essential. Understand it and you can create the ideal design, but if you don’t, you can be in for some nasty and expensive surprises.

If your car park is built on “made ground”, or land which has been raised artificially by deposits such as building rubble, then it may not be able to support a solar car port without significant piling or use of concrete ballasts. Simple trial holes early in the project will enable your contractor to assess the ground and the extent of the groundworks necessary to provide a stable base.

Also, check the topography of your land. Solar carports should not be installed at an angle, so if your car park is sloping, your piling system will need to account for this.

Most clients should have an exhaustive map of existing services on their estate, but we find that this can sometimes have been lost or is incomplete. This can lead to unexpected clashes of services and costly delays whilst alternative routes are planned.

If you have an understanding of existing services, that is great. If not, a ground penetrating radar survey will allow you to map all services and avoid clashes, or the potentially expensive solutions needed to overcome them.

All of this advice comes under the simple heading of “Be prepared” and will give you the best chance of a successful project delivered with no nasty surprises.

Making Your Idea a Reality

If you’ve used the preconstruction period to survey your land and buildings, liaised with planners, spoken to the DNO and got a robust design in place then you have a strong basis to begin your project, but there are some things you’ll need to remember…

Your contractor will need a location to set up a compound, but also secure storage.  This is essential as solar panels are valuable and can be a target for theft and finding the right location and security measures are paramount.

Depending on the size of your project, you’ll probably have lots of equipment delivered.  Make sure you schedule this for when it will have the least impact and make sure you don’t have large trucks coming and going during core commuter or school run times.

The golden rule with deliveries should be “as few as possible during the quietest periods you can find.”

Depending on the size of your project, you should use a phased approach.  No client wants to lose complete access to their car park, so by delivering the project in phases, you can maintain access and minimise disruption for service users.  Always aim to allow access to the maximum number of car parking spaces at any time.

If you project will result in a road closure, you’ll need a detailed and robust traffic management and you’ll need permission from the Highways Agency.  Once again, our advice is talk to them as early as you can so you can build a plan which will create as little disruption as possible to residents and commuters.

Integrating With Your Existing Electrical Infrastructure

Solar Car Ports are not a plug and play system.  They need to be integrated with your existing electrical infrastructure, which in our experience, is generally operating at close to capacity.  You may need to extend your switchgear or add another board completely.  It’s essential you know if this is the case as it will incur budget implications.

How close your solar carports are to where the electricity will be used will dictate if you install a high voltage or low voltage cabling system.  If the distance is shorter, you can use low voltage.  If it’s further, you may need to use high voltage, which will mean you will need transformers and you will need to give thought to where they will be situated.

An experienced contractor will be able to design a full integration package as part of the design process to ensure your solar car port scheme integrates perfectly with your existing infrastructure.

Have You Considered Energy Conservation Measures?

If your solar car ports are feeding into your estate, then have you considered reducing your electricity needs so you become more self-sufficient.

Simple things such as lighting upgrades and improvements to your HVAC system can save tonnes of carbon each year, whilst reducing your energy demand.  This means that the solar electricity generated will supply a greater percentage of your usage.

Energy conservation measures are fantastic complimentary technologies to solar installations.

Your Project is Unique… Demand a Unique Solution

Each installation is unique… Are you planning to export to the grid? Are you utilising battery energy storage?  Are you providing electric vehicle charging points?

You will have a list of things you want your installation to achieve, and the design process is the opportunity to make sure this will happen.

Be extremely wary of “off the peg” solutions… Make sure your design is as original as your idea and every element is tailored to making it a success and based on solid data analysis and modelling. You should look to the future to understand your broader Masterplan, so you can develop a futureproofed solution that will benefit your organisation in the long run.

Earth Day encourages people all over the world to take action and protect our planet and, to celebrate, we teamed up with Meadowhead Community Primary School to help them learn more about renewable energy and make one of our projects even more bio-diverse.

The children travelled to Chamber House Solar Farm in Rochdale to tour the energy centre, played some fun environmental-themed games, and then helped us to sow wildflower seeds around the perimeter of the solar farm.

Given Earth Day exists to promote environmental protection it was also the perfect day to launch our “Why.”

Our why is the thing which brings us together, gives us purpose and shapes the direction of all that we do. Our why is: Protecting The Planet for Future Generations.

Marketing & Communications Director, Abby Whitelock explained, “Our “why” is the reason we do the work we do and we believe that, by working together we can achieve our net zero goals, mitigate the worst effects of climate change and hand our children a healthy planet to grow up in.

“This day was all about our why, which is protecting the planet for future generation and by teaching the children more about renewable energy and empowering them to make every day differences, we’re hoping they can grow up in the clean and healthy world they deserve.” 

Vital Energi are working with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to reduce their carbon footprint by 1,700 tonnes through the installation of a range of energy solutions which provide guaranteed savings in excess of £750,000 per year.

Both Cheltenham General Hospital and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital will secure a sustainable future through the installation of renewable generation and energy conservation measures across their sites, whilst also benefitting from improved energy supply resilience.

Vital Energi supported the Trust through their PSDS application, from which they obtained £13.7m of grant funding which will support the implementation of a range of low carbon energy generation systems at both hospitals, including 4MW of battery energy storage systems, 400kW of air source heat pumps and 380kW of solar PV systems.

Vital Energi will also implement a range of Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) across the two hospital estates, including full replacement of the BEMS systems, installation of voltage optimisation systems, replacement of high voltage transformers, replacement of forced-draught fan units with low-energy fan systems (EC Fans), and thermal insulation solutions.

The integration of battery energy storage systems will include the installation of a local smart grid system at the hospitals, which will enable the Trust to operate both the new and existing energy systems to maximise carbon reduction whilst minimising impact on revenue costs and also enable to uptake of off-site low carbon generation systems.

Steve Black, Vital’s Account Director who developed and led the project, said:

“Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, and we’re delighted to be working with the Trust teams in developing and delivering low and zero carbon energy solutions.

“The installation of the innovative multi-technology low-carbon solutions implemented under the first round of PSDS funding is a major step in reducing energy related carbon emissions and also provides a platform on which the Trust can build to achieve its net zero carbon goals in line with government targets.”

Vital Energi has been working with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since 2014 when they entered into an 18-year energy performance contract (EPC).