The post Read the Latest News on Masdar Arlington Energy Builds a 55 MW Battery Plant in UK, EV Trial Has Been Completed by Costain and Enterprise, Environmental Issues Raised by Airport Building, Plans for a UK Hydrogen Facility Were Revealed appeared first on UK Construction Blog.

In today’s news, we will look into Masdar Arlington Energy, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), announced on Tuesday that it has started construction on two 55 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the United Kingdom. In the meantime, the UK construction sector’s EV trial is finished by Costain and Enterprise. Additionally, Barbuda locals now have the legal ability to object to airport development due to environmental concerns. Furthermore, the French business Lhyfe has announced plans to construct a commercial hydrogen production facility in North Tyneside, UK, in collaboration with Shepherd Offshore.

Masdar Arlington Energy Begins Building a 55 MW Battery Plant in the United Kingdom

Original Source: Masdar Arlington Energy starts construction of 55 MW of UK batteries

The Royle Barn Road facility in Rochdale and the Welkin Road project in Stockport are both under construction by Masdar Arlington Energy. The batteries, which are both situated on formerly industrialised land, are anticipated to supply enough electricity to run 25,700 houses.

The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) subsidiary Masdar Arlington Energy said on Tuesday that it has begun building two 55 MW worth of battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the United Kingdom.

The UK-based Arlington Energy was bought by the UAE renewable energy firm in October 2022. A year earlier, the company declared its intention to invest GBP 1 billion (USD 1.3 billion/EUR 1.2 billion) in BESS in the UK, with a target pipeline of 3 GWh of projects.

“In order to carry out the worldwide energy shift decided in the Wind, solar, and battery energy storage are examples of game-changing renewable energy sources and technologies that must be used to realise the global energy shift outlined in the UAE Consensus. Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi stated, “The two BESS plants we are breaking ground on today highlight the critical role energy storage will play in helping energy systems and infrastructure in the UK and across the globe to move away from carbon-intensive sources of power.”

According to the release, the company’s move from investor to active developer and supporter of the UK’s energy transformation through battery storage offshore wind was sparked by Masdar’s acquisition of Arlington Energy. Masdar established its global offshore wind headquarters in the United Kingdom in 2021.

The UK Building Sector’s EV Trial Has Been Completed by Costain and Enterprise

Original Source: Costain and Enterprise complete UK construction sector’s EV pilot 

The initiative investigated the viability of electric vans (EVs) across three test locations in cooperation with Enterprise Flex E-Rent.

A pilot study to investigate the usage of electric vans (EVs) on significant UK building sites has been completed by Costain.

It is reportedly one of the nation’s first pilot initiatives of its kind in the building industry.

Undertaken in association with Enterprise Flex E-Rent, the project investigated the practicality of electric vehicles in diverse construction settings.

The most recent experiment included three projects: the A12 expansion scheme, the Preston Western Distributor Road scheme, and the A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross project.

The new 4km Edith Rigby Way dual carriageway is part of the Preston Western Distributor project, which is valued at £207m ($261.54m). 

Meanwhile, the 164-foot Tolgroggan bridge between Scorrier and Boxheater near Redruth is being demolished as part of the A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross project.

September of last year saw Costain demolish the bridge.

Included in Costain’s larger Climate Change Action Plan is the pilot programme, which aims to achieve net-zero carbon operations by 2035 and a fleet of company cars with zero emissions by 2030.

“Understanding and reducing the impact of vehicle emissions at our project sites will be key to us reaching our net-zero targets,” stated Mark Ashenden, head of Costain’s plant and fleet supply chain.

“We wanted to test how electric vans could be used as a viable vehicle option for major infrastructure projects and how they could be deployed as part of an efficient and more environmentally friendly working fleet.”

Enterprise outfitted the vans with equipment to track usage and collect trial-related data.

Costain set up up to 25 EV charging stations at the trial sites to address the problem of long-distance charging.

Additionally, Transport for London chose the company last month to move on with renovation work at two intersections in London, UK. 

Environmental Issues Raised by Airport Building Can Legally Be Challenged by Barbuda Residents

Original Source: Barbuda residents granted legal right to challenge airport construction over environmental concerns

Two Barbuda citizens now have the legal right to oppose the building of an airport, according to a ruling by the Privy Council in London.

The lawsuit was started in 2018 by retired teacher Jacklyn Frank and marine biologist John Mussington.

Other Caribbean countries battling for land protection are anticipated to follow the precedent set by the London verdict.

A high court in London decided on Tuesday that two citizens of the small Caribbean island of Barbuda are entitled to contest the construction of an airfield, which opponents claim threatens delicate ecosystems and was started without the necessary permissions.

The Privy Council’s decision is regarded as a significant victory for retired teacher Jacklyn Frank and marine biologist John Mussington, who began a legal battle against the Antigua and Barbuda government in July 2018.

“It is no coincidence that this ruling was made nearly seven years after John first discovered the forest being bulldozed,” stated Sarah O’Malley, an attorney with the organisation Global Legal Action Network, based in the United Kingdom, which supported the Barbudians’ legal team. 

“Around the world, environmental activists are frequently hampered by procedural obstacles that make litigation expensive and time-consuming—a ruse used by those who devastate the environment for personal gain.�

It would be simpler for “all who seek to protect nature” to legally contest government acts, according to O’Malley.

Mussington and Frank, according to the Antigua and Barbuda administration, were “busybodies” with no legal basis to challenge the government.

According to Mussington, the decision will have a big impact on Antigua and Barbuda residents, who have long suffered because important organisations and authorities tasked with carrying out the planning laws have not been transparent or accountable.

The decision is also anticipated to provide a precedent for other Caribbean countries battling to save territory that affluent foreign investors wish to develop, particularly in cases where investors take advantage of business opportunities that arise after a natural disaster.

Attempts to reach a representative for the development and a spokesman for Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s office with comments over the decision were unsuccessful.

The Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court ruled in April 2021 that the inhabitants were not permitted to file a lawsuit against the government. The Privy Council’s decision permits the two Barbudians to contest that decision.

Even though Antigua and Barbuda separated from the United Kingdom in 1981, they nevertheless follow a constitutional monarchy, with King Charles serving as the head of state and the Privy Council as the ultimate appellate court.

Judge David Hope of the Privy Council contended that anyone might bring up environmental issues even if they are not directly impacted by a particular action. He provided an example of how wind turbines were built alongside an osprey’s path.

Like any other wild animal, the osprey is powerless to take that action on its own. Someone ought to be permitted to speak on its behalf if its interests are to be safeguarded,” the author stated.

The government, the Barbuda Council, and PLH (Barbuda) Ltd.—founded by American billionaire John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of the Paul Mitchell hair products company—are parties to the agreement that includes the current airport building on Barbuda. Michael Meldman of Casamigos Tequila created the company.

On more than 600 acres of protected marshland, the businesses intend to construct 495 luxurious residences, an 18-hole golf course, a beach club and a natural gas storage facility.

After Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm that was the fiercest hurricane to ever be recorded in the open Atlantic, forced the government to evacuate the entire island of Barbuda, the developers started construction on the airstrip in September 2017.

According to Global Legal Action Network, construction started without an environmental impact assessment or a permit from the Barbuda Council to destroy forest. Furthermore, no public meetings were held to inform anyone of the construction, and a development permit application wasn’t filed until after the work started.

The construction of the airport has already involved the clearing of about 400 acres that are home to red-footed tortoises and Barbuda fallow deer.

The island’s groundwater supply may be impacted by the building, according to Mussington and Frank.

As per the verdict on Monday, the airstrip is almost finished, and the government officials have stated that “the airstrip could not be ‘unbuilt,’ even if the airstrip was built in violation of development control.”

A court ruling forcing the land to be returned to its previous state is one of the possible remedies, according to the Privy Council, should it be determined that the government’s Development Control Authority acted outside its authority.

Frank remained circumspect as Mussington and Frank rejoiced over the decision. A second complaint is currently pending in court, brought by a tour guide and fisherman against the Antigua and Barbuda government over the construction of two private houses in a national park.

“Despite having won, we Barbudans recognise that the fight for our land is not over,” she stated. “As our ancestors have done for us, we intend to keep fighting to defend what is rightfully ours and save everything for future generations.â€�

Plans for a UK Hydrogen Facility Were Revealed

Original Source: Plans unveiled for hydrogen plant in UK

In partnership with Shepherd Offshore, the French company Lhyfe has disclosed intentions to build a commercial hydrogen production facility in North Tyneside, UK.

The facility, which would be built on the site of the former Neptune Bank Power Station, would generate hydrogen for businesses trying to decarbonise their transportation and manufacturing processes.

The initial 20 MW capacity of Lhyfe’s manufacturing facilities at the location is anticipated to enable the company to produce up to 8 tonnes of green hydrogen daily. This would allow a truck powered by hydrogen to go for almost 100,000 miles without producing any CO2.

In the coming weeks, the site’s planning application is anticipated to be submitted. If allowed, the plant would be built on more than 1.6 hectares of leased industrial land along the north bank of the River Tyne.

The strategy calls for using grid-supplied green electricity while Lhyfe investigates possibilities to obtain power from nearby renewable resources including wind and solar energy.

As a catalyst for renewable energy, hydrogen

“The development of green hydrogen projects is critical if major energy users are to decarbonise their operations,” stated Taia Kronborg, chief business officer of Lhyfe. We anticipate that this project will assist the UK as a whole—not just the North East—in achieving its net zero goals. 

“We at Lhyfe are proving that green hydrogen is a major force behind the shift to clean energy and that it is now a reality. Our strong commitment to collaborating with communities and partners to develop projects that truly benefit the local community is a major factor in our ability to expand in response to demand.�

“We at Shepherd Offshore are excited to announce the partnership with Lhyfe on the hydrogen production facility in Wallsend,” stated Charles Shepherd, Managing Director of Shepherd Offshore. Shepherd Offshore is eager to welcome Lhyfe to the Tyne’s north bank and is completely committed to achieving yet another significant turning point in the river’s ongoing growth and development.

In 2021, Lhyfe inaugurated a hydrogen factory in Pays de la Loire, France. The company is now developing or preparing further sites in France and other European countries.

Summary of today’s construction news

Overall, we discussed the two 55 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) projects being built in the United Kingdom, according to a Tuesday announcement from Masdar Arlington Energy, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar). In October 2022, the UAE renewable energy company acquired the UK-based Arlington Energy. When the firm first announced its plan to spend GBP 1 billion (USD 1.3 billion/EUR 1.2 billion) in BESS in the UK, it had 3 GWh of projects in the pipeline as its aim. Meanwhile, in collaboration with Enterprise Flex E-Rent, the effort tested the viability of electric vans (EVs) at three test locations. Costain has conducted a pilot study looking into the use of electric vehicles (EVs) on major UK construction sites. Furthermore, the Privy Council in London has ruled that two Barbuda citizens are now legally entitled to oppose the construction of an airport. Marine biologist John Mussington and retired teacher Jacklyn Frank filed the complaint in 2018. It is expected that other Caribbean nations engaged in land protection conflicts would take the lead from the London ruling. Moreover, In North Tyneside, UK, the French business Lhyfe has announced plans to construct a commercial hydrogen production facility in collaboration with Shepherd Offshore. Constructed on the site of the defunct Neptune Bank Power Station, the facility would produce hydrogen for companies attempting to reduce the carbon footprint of their industrial and transportation operations.