The Year in Infrastructure
Following on from Stopford's winning submission in the category of 'Structural Engineering' - the annual Bentley Yearbook 'The Year in Infrastructure' is now available to order, you can view the yearbook here (we're on page 166).
We are also delighted to annouce the $1000 charity donation went to Save the Children.
Renewable Obligations Banding Review
Towards the end of October 2011, DECC released a consultation document on proposed changes to the Renewables Obligation. The document drew considerable media attention, most notably for the announcement that subsidies available to energy from waste facilities could be halved. However, several other significant amendments which will impact on biomass and waste-fuelled stations appear to have slipped beneath the radar, as Stopford’s Sean Hayward explains. To read on Click here
Energy and fuels from waste course begins in February 
There are limited spaces available for Stopford’s module course in Energy & Fuels from Waste.
The next course dates are as follows:
- Module 2 (7-9th Feb 2012) - Management of Energy & Fuel Generation Projects
- Module 3 (6-8th Mar 2012) - Environmental Management of Waste Derived Energy Generation
For more information please visit www.lec.lancs.ac.uk/effw
Stopford Win International Structural Engineering Award
Stopford beat more than 30 other companies from around the world to become the 2011 winner of the Bentley Be Inspired award in the category of Structural Engineering. The Stopford entry presented a 3D model created during a recent project for Tata Chemicals. The project involved a full structural inspection survey of their wet side soda ash plant in Northwich, Cheshire.
The final of the competition was held in Amsterdam where Stopford’s David Coupe presented the entry, and took questions front the audience of about 150 delegates and the panel of four judges. The presentations and award ceremony were part of the Bentley Be Inspired - Thought Leadership in Infrastructure Event.
Stopford’s entry will now have a prominent place in the 2011 Bentley Yearbook of which 70,000 copies are distributed worldwide. As part of the prize Bentley will also donate $1000 to a charity of Stopford’s choice.
'Be Inspired' Bentley System Awards
Stopford recently submitted an entry into the international ‘Be Inspired’ Bentley Systems Awards, in the category for Innovation in Structural Engineering. The entry encompassed the 3D model created during a recent project for Tata Chemicals. The project involved a full structural inspection survey of their wet side soda ash plant in Northwich, Cheshire.Stopford have been selected as one of three finalists who have been invited to present their projects to a panel of judges in Amsterdam. Dave Coupe, Project Manager for the Tata project, will be flying the flag for Stopford at the Awards final in November.
Stopford’s New Look Website
As you will no doubt have noticed Stopford now have a new look website. Why not have a look around and see what Stopford could offer you.
Do not hesitate to contact us should you find anything of interest.
Custom House becomes Stopford’s official Head Office
Stopford have recently relocated their Head Office to the offices at Custom House, Ellesmere Port.
Could we please ask that for any Stopford enquiries you ensure you contact our new Head Office. See our contact details below:
Custom House, Merseyton Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 3AD, United Kingdom
Tel: +44(0) 151 357 7740
Fax: +44(0) 151 345 8087
Stopford present framed 3D images to Tata Chemicals at project completion meeting
Stopford Projects undertook a full structural inspection survey and produced a 3D, as built model of the Tata Chemicals Wet side plant at Northwich. On Wednesday 31st August 2011 Stopford presented members of the Tata Project team with 3D images of the facility, as taken from the 3D model.
The presentation took place at Stopford’s head office and formed part of the closure meeting for the project.
The Tata Project Manager, Steve Mains said ‘The 3D model was more than they had hoped for from the project’ and claimed that Tata had already begun to use the 3D model for other applications.
Steve Waller, Engineering Director becomes Chair of SCI’s Environment Group
Stopford would like to congratulate its Engineering Director, Steve Waller who has recently been appointed as the Chairman of the Environment Group at the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
The Environment Technical Interest Group aims to provide a forum for discussion and sharing of information on environmental issues relevant to the chemical and allied industries, public authorities, academics and other interested parties. The Group also aims to enhance professional awareness on environmental matters.
Prior to this position Steve acted as the Honorary Secretary of the group for more than ten years. Steve will hold this new position for three years during which time he hopes to raise the profile of the SCI in the process industries.
Slovakian trade missions
Stopford has recently hosted two trade missions in partnership with our Slovak partners Waste-Tec Systems to enable delegates from Eastern Europe to visit operating energy from biomass and waste facilities in Norway and the UK. Stopford is working closely with Waste-Tec Systems to develop gasification, pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion schemes across Central and Eastern Europe.
IChemE Chester Members Group meeting held at Stopford Offices
Stopford hosted one of the IChemE’s Chester Members Group meetings on Wednesday 21st September at their Head Office in Ellesmere Port.
This particular event focused on job hunting and careers and attracted around 15 delegates. The event aimed to provide attendees with job searching and career management best practice tips including CV writing, interview techniques and secrets about making it through the tough times. To find out more about the IChemE Chester Members Group and associated groups in your area please visit membergroup@icheme.org
Energy and fuels from waste course a resounding success
Due to its success, Stopford are pleased to announce that their three module course in Energy & Fuels from Waste will run again this coming Spring.
The next course dates are as follows:
Module 1 (10-12th Jan 2012) - Feedstocks & Technologies for Energy and Fuel Generation
Module 2 (7-9th Feb 2012) - Management of Energy & Fuel Generation Projects
Module 3 (6-8th Mar 2012) - Environmental Management of Waste Derived Energy Generation
For more information please visit www.lec.lancs.ac.uk/effw
Anaerobic Digestion Partnership
Stopford has formed a strategic partnership with Briggs and Forrester, a leading services engineering company, for the development of Anaerobic Digestion projects throughout the UK. To find out more about Anaerobic Digestion click here.
Details of new Renewable Heat Incentive(RHI) published:
The Department for Energy & Climate Change (DECC) has published details on how the new Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) will function. The RHI is a key policy instrument in DECC’s drive to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. The RHI aims to increase the uptake of low-carbon heating - heating accounts for 47 per cent of total UK final energy consumption yet only 1.5 per cent of it is generated from renewable sources. Currently, only 2 per cent of the UK’s heat demand is met through direct heat sales (e.g. community heating schemes fuelled by CHP plants). However, things look set to change. (Read More).
Stopford Pass ISOQAR QA Audit
Stopford are pleased to report that they passed their external ISOQAR QA audit with no reported non conformances. For the past two years we have received zero major and minor non conformances in a row. Full details of of audit results can be viewed here.
Hazards XXII - Process Safety and Environmental Protection
The annual process safety event organised by the IChemE will host Deb Pal, Stopford’s Process Director and Neil Thompson, Senior Process Engineer as speakers. The duo will be presenting on the subject of the safety challenges faced by Waste to Energy plants.
The relevance and application of established process safety practices from the process industries will be highlighted in relation to waste-to-energy plants. This will include a discussion on how flammable gases are handled and the application of DSEAR/ATEX to these plants. It is proposed that these energy generation plants have hazards more akin to the process industries than the traditional energy industry.
Please come and join the exhibition and its seminar series to discover the latest solutions to environmental safety from an engineering perspective. To find out more please go to http://www.icheme.org/hazardsxxii
Launch of new Energy & Fuels from Waste Course
March saw the successful launch of Stopford’s new Postgraduate Certificate in Energy and Fuels from Waste (EFFW) at Lancaster University. The three-module course, which has been a year in preparation, attracted nine students from a variety of backgrounds including waste-management giants Viridor and Sita. During three intensive days of study, students were given the opportunity to learn at first hand from a host of industrial and academic experts including Stopford’s own Gavin Colls and Dr Sean Hayward. Students attended three site visits in the NW which were generously hosted by partner organisations United Utilities, Viridor and Orchid Environmental. All those involved agreed that the course was a great success and are looking forward to Module 2 which kicks off on the 5th April. Module 2 focuses on Project Management and features site visits to Global Renewables’ waste treatment plant as well as PDM’s animal by-products facility in Widnes. A few places still remain for those wishing to follow the remaining two modules - further details are available from the course coordinator Dr Sean Hayward: sean.hayward@stopford.co.uk
More information can be found about this by clicking here.
Innovation in Gasification Technology:
Stopford in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University recently demonstrated their novel pilot scale microwave plasma gasifier to the UK’s Technology Strategy Board (TSB). The gasifer was developed through support from the TSB’s Carbon Abatement Technology (CAT) competition which sort to facilitate the development of novel low carbon technologies in the UK.
Stopford awarded Waste to Energy Technology Assessment Contract:
Stopford Energy and Environment have been awarded a contract from a regional waste management company to conduct a technical and financial appraisal of their proposed energy from waste development. The study will involve interrogation of the stated operational performance of the selected gasification technology, assessment of the suitability of available waste streams, a financial appraisal of the proposed project and assessment into the viability of a district heating system.
Commercial applications for Biomass Derived Fly Ash:
Stopford are currently undertaking cutting edge research to identify commercial applications for biomass derived fly ash. Preliminary trials conducted in partnership with Cumbria-Bio, a leading research and consultancy company, have served to demonstrate a unique application for this waste product, offering producers a market for their waste product.
Stopford awarded Biomass Fuel Characterisation Contract:
Stopford Energy and Environment has been awarded a contract to undertake a biomass fuel characterisation study for a client that is developing five biomass to energy plants at sites across the UK. The study will assess the performance of different biomass fuels and will compare the physical/chemical properties to that of existing feedstocks. The project will encompass a suite of analytical tests including, calorific value, moisture content, ash content and elemental analysis (C,N,H,& Cl). This project highlights Stopford's emerging capability in specialist waste and fuel characterisation studies.
Commercial and Industrial Waste as a Fuel?
Stopford recently completed a research study to assess the viability of using commercial and industrial (C&I) waste as a feedstock for waste to energy plants. The study, conducted in partnership with regional waste management companies, involved the development of specific waste sampling strategies, the execution of onsite waste sampling, sample preparation, sample analysis and reporting. For further information regarding the opportunity of converting C&I waste to a fuel please contact.
ECITB Active Cup
During the last weekend of January a team of five Stopford employees took part in the ECITB ACTIVE Cup. A Project Management, competition-based learning event run in partnership with Cranfield University’s School of Management. The competition involved the management of a fixed price construction project from inception to completion over a two day computer simulation.
Stopford were up against some tough competition and some of our largest competitors. Marks were awarded not only for profit made during the simulation, but also for the utilisation of eight Active Principles such as Effective Project Concept and Definition, Effective Project Team Management and Effective Supply Chain Relationships to name a few.
By the end of the simulation our team was completely exhausted. They completed the project in 24 weeks (one week faster than our original schedule) and finished with the highest profit out of all teams. This outcome meant that we were awarded the Gold Award finishing in second place overall.
Our team described the experience as Relentless but all in all the team were very glad to have taken part as they learnt so much in such a short time scale. We are really proud of them and their achievement.
- Winner of the Gold Award (2nd Overall)
- Final profit: $308,186.00
- Project Duration: 24 Weeks
About The ECITB - The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) is the statutory organisation, national training provider and awarding body with responsibility for the training and development of the UK’s engineering construction workforce.
http://www.ecitb.org.uk/