Energy and Environment Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

04/02/2025 Powering a carbon-free future Impact Clean Power Technology has launched Europe’s most advanced battery production line for heavy transport » Read More

10/06/2024 Fine mines Sustainability, employee protection and operational insights are the drivers of a cutting-edge electrification upgrade at BHP BMA’s Goonyella Riverside Mine in Queensland » Read More

31/08/2023 All about ESOS For large companies, there is a six-month reprieve for filing the next (Phase 3) Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) report. Although a clear deadline is in place, 5 June 2024, other details remain unclear as the underpinning ... » Read More

09/01/2023 Optimising pumps for efficiency Given the global rise in energy costs, there has never been a better time to review and assess the efficiency of your pumping systems – whatever their size, complexity or indeed area of operation. Basic information and guidance on ... » Read More

14/11/2022 Energy efficiently While it may not be exciting, energy efficiency really has a vital role to play in helping the country make the most of its resources, both as consumers and industry. As an employee in the oil and gas industry, I have witnessed a number of ... » Read More

15/08/2022 Energy management: a standards approach ISO 50001 - Energy Management Systems - Requirements with Guidance for Use, offers measurable cost benefits to organisations, allowing business to achieve greater transparency and promote best practice in energy management by demonstrating ... » Read More

05/10/2021 Tracking carbon in construction product manufacturing At the Energy Management Exhibition (24-25 November), SOE is presenting a panel discussion on reducing energy consumption. It features members working across industry. Also speaking is Matthew Jenkinson, Tarmac Alfreton senior site ... » Read More

13/05/2021 SECR environmental reporting - a guide Many companies in the UK will be reporting their greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption under the government’s new streamlined energy and carbon reporting (SECR) policy for the first time this year, writes Tom Austin-Morgan » Read More

06/05/2021 Mind the gap Engineered systems support people living and working indoors. However, there is often a gap between the way those systems were designed to work, and what happens in reality. Enter the growing field of building performance evaluation. By ... » Read More

05/11/2020 Retrofitting motion controls in commercial building lighting Retrofitting workplace spaces with motion-controlled lighting conserves power and helps slash energy costs. But can you keep the existing lights or is it a matter of ‘rip and replace’? By Brian Wall » Read More

24/08/2020 Smart moves Jody Muelaner explores how a building management system works and the range of equipment and systems with which it can work » Read More

08/01/2020 Sweet tricks Operations improvement manager for energy, Chris Mayhew, has witnessed energy management change during his 30+ year career at British Sugar. He explained more to delegates at the Energy Management Exhibition (EMEX) in November, about the ... » Read More

01/11/2019 Show business Energy efficiency and sustainability movers and shakers meet at The Energy Management Exhibition (EMEX) – a free to attend annual event – from 27-28 November at ExCeL in London » Read More

07/10/2019 Motor switching Last year, a guide from the Carbon Trust into the energy efficiency of plants suggested many ways to improve environmental efficiency. One suggestion was to switch off continuous motors when they are not used » Read More

06/09/2019 Solar powering industry High-temperature solar power has been used in a demonstration project to produce liquid hydrocarbons from CO2 and water. This breakthrough is expected to lead to new renewable solutions from energy-intensive industries » Read More

05/08/2019 Down the pan Having designed, built and installed power systems throughout their careers, two directors saw first-hand how water produced by AC units was going down the drain, so decided to spend a penny on a new system » Read More

07/03/2019 Pressure cooker A move towards renewables is vital if we want to stop burning fossil fuels. But the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy has been a stumbling block. Promoters of two fluid-compressor plant technologies claim to have the solution » Read More

30/06/2018 Driving forward Forklift truck manufacturer Combilift has opened its brand-new global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ireland. (NOTE: This article was originally printed in Manufacturing Management magazine) » Read More

30/04/2018 Meeting energy-efficiency expectations Using a digital twin can help manage energy efficiency across sectors, as Mark Venables reveals. » Read More

28/02/2018 Putting the focus on energy The development of an energy efficiency programme has many direct and indirect benefits. It can significantly reduce a manufacturer’s energy use per unit of output, and thus the unit costs to ensure persistent profitability, and it can ... » Read More

18/10/2016 On the meter In the ongoing drive for business to increase efficiency, understanding exactly what energy is being used where is at the heart of any solution, as Mark Venables discovers » Read More

02/11/2015 Catapult to deliver the ETI’s Smart Systems and Heat Programme The Energy Systems Catapult has taken on delivery of the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) Smart Systems and Heat (SSH) Programme, which is the Catapult’s first major project. » Read More

21/09/2015 Light fantastic How your factory is illuminated can have a massive impact on energy costs, morale, quality and productivity. Ian Vallely sheds light on a critical overhead over head » Read More

19/06/2015 Energy Oversight With energy-saving projects reaching saturation point, it's worth reminding ourselves that there are more improvement options than might meet the eye. Brian Tinham reports » Read More

09/12/2014 Firing on all four? Heat recovery should be a burning issue for engineers and managers – whether maintaining existing boiler plant or specifying new systems. Brian Tinham looks at available technologies, and what's coming » Read More