Edif ERA Power Sector

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Power Engineering consultancy

Improving safety, performance and availability

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Power Engineering Consultancy

Striving for a reliable and profitable operation

The energy market is a complex combination of engineering infrastructure, operators, tariffs and consumers. Efficient generation of electricity, network stability and a reliable continuity of energy supply are shared goals throughout the sector. We support you with efficient feasibility and design studies, operational excellence and cost-effective asset management, which is crucial to a profitable return. Our services help ensure generation integration, prevent unplanned shutdowns and prioritise repair and replacement decisions to maximise availability and minimise financial penalties for loss of generation, poor environmental or safety performance.

A comprehensive, integrated approach

For a holistic view of how your asset’s individual elements impact on each other, you need one consultancy with comprehensive knowledge of how systems and domains work together. The collaborative work of our technical specialists ensures all bases are covered and best practice is applied. This approach means our clients benefit from an optimised performance in terms of availability and reliability without compromising safety.

Engineering solutions for power systems and renewable energy

Edif ERA’s consultants provide a high quality, independent and confidential ‘one-stop’ facility covering low to extra high voltage power systems.

Competition and deregulation, combined with increasing environmental awareness requires our clients to be assured of the economic, financial and technical viability of their projects, which is key to their success.

By providing a highly responsive and informed consultancy service, our clients are able to make investment decisions with confidence at any time during the project’s lifecycle. Our early involvement offers key advantages in terms of the optimisation of technical performance, value engineering reviews to maximise cost reduction, risk minimisation and compliance with health, safety and environmental requirements.

Engineering solutions for the power industry

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The number of turbines at the UK’s North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm, where Edif ERA assessed the complex power system interactions and their impact on 33kV substation equipment.

The study provided assurance that the installed equipment met the requirements of the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) connection agreement.

Our range of services

• Power systems planning, design and analysis

• Substation design

• Cable consultancy

• Earthing design and measurements

• Asset condition assessment

• Performance optimisation

• Forensic engineering

• Electromagnetic compatibility

• Project management.

Using broad experience and expertise in the power sector to deliver long-term safety, performance and availability.

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Designing for the future

Before construction begins on any development, you need assurance that your design meets specification requirements and will provide maximum product availability and equipment reliability from the start. Involving us at the planning phase will ensure you get it right first time and avoid the cost and time delays associated with incompatible systems or re-engineering. For the electrical design, Edif ERA’s proprietorial analysis software, ERACS, has been developed to simulate power systems and run performance studies that will help establish the elements necessary for reliable power quality.

Helping you make the right choice of systems, equipment and suppliers

Your power station, solar or wind farm has multiple facets that require a depth of engineering understanding beyond standard consultancies. Investing in new infrastructure is costly and brings uncertainties. We provide vendor selection support, quality assurance audits, factory acceptance testing and third-party verification of suppliers, while our asset performance support ensures the system or equipment you select is suitable for how you want to use it.

A collaborative and trusted partnership during design to optimise performance and availability.

Designed to perform

1,016| Height in feet of The Shard in London.

Related services

• Powersystemsplanning,designandanalysis

• Gridcodeandconnectionstudies

• Protectionsystemsdesignandsettings

• Substationdesign

• Powerquality

• Cableconsultancyandtesting

• Earthingdesignandmeasurements

• Lightningprotection

• Insulationcoordination

• Electromagneticcompatibility.

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Advancetechniquesforsafeearthing

Aneffectiveearthingsystemiscriticaltothesafetyofeveryelectricalinstallation.OuracquisitionofEarthingSolutionshasenhancedourtechnicalexpertiseinthisfield.Safetycomplianceisincreasinglychallengingagainstthebackdropofhigherfaultlevels,smaller-areasubstations,amoreprevalentuseofsensitiveelectronicequipment,andnewinternationalstandards.Throughsitemeasurements,modellingassessmentsanddesignstudies,wehelpdevelopersandoperatorsoftheseinstallationsdemonstrateconformitytosafetyrequirements.

On behalf of the regional UK electricity company and the developer, Edif ERA provided the earthing system design for the high-voltage substation supplying The Shard.

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Maximising asset lifeThorough analysis and specialist lab testing provides us with extensive insight into your asset’s condition and how to effectively improve reliability.

24,000

The number of additional running hours achieved beyond the design life for a client’s hot section gas turbine blades following detailed metallurgical assessment by Edif ERA.

Providing integrity across the life of your assets

Edif ERA has diverse knowledge and through-life experience across all power generation, transmission and distribution plant assets; including control and instrumentation, electrical, mechanical, rotating and static equipment. Complementary work in other sectors, including Nuclear and Oil & Gas, supports our understanding of the operational performance of reactors, turbo-machinery, generators, cooling systems, pumps, motors, transformers, switchgear and cables.

Extending asset life cost-effectively

Components, equipment and systems in the power sector are high-cost items and many are critical links in the generation and supply process. Successful operators keep their assets working with high levels of availability thus maximising returns. Through Condition Assessment we determine which assets are critical to replace, key maintenance requirements, how to avoid unnecessary replacements, where your spending priorities should be and how to get maximum return from your investment.

A logical approach to maintenance

Maintaining your equipment is critical to keeping it operational, but unnecessary routine services and replacements are costly and you risk damaging components. Our maintenance advice is condition-based rather than hours-based. Rigorous inspection and analysis techniques give us the information we need to estimate remaining life and probability of failure.

Getting to the root of the problem

When faced with a failure you need to quickly diagnose the problem, establish how to limit its impact and correct it. But how do you stop it happening again? Edif ERA’s consultants and engineers are experts at gathering forensic evidence. Critically, our root-cause analysis team will outline not just what has failed, but why – with clear, practical and realistic advice to prevent similar issues on your other assets.

Related services


• Fitness for service


• Root cause analysis

• Site investigations.

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Managingriskandcomplianceusingproventechniques

Ownersandoperatorshaveanobligationtoimplementprocessestoensurethatsafetyissuesareidentifiedandtherequiredsafetyapprovalsaremet.Arobustsafetyargumentisrequiredtodemonstratethattherisksassociatedwithmajoraccidenthazardshavebeenmitigated.EdifERA’sfunctionalsafetyassessmentsandrigorousriskmanagementprocessesgettotheheartofrealissuesthroughhazardidentification,preliminaryriskestimation,ALARP(keepingriskAsLowAsReasonablyPracticable)analysis,riskacceptanceandriskreview.

Verifyingsoftwareinsafety-criticalsystems

Inaninherentlyhazardousindustry,thewayyouintegratesoftwarewithhardwareandhumanprocessesisunderincreasingscrutiny.Fromsophisticatedsecuritymonitoringtointuitivesystems,yourtechnologymustnotcompromisesafety.Wecanconductassessmentstoverifytheinstallationof‘smart’instrumentsusingcomplexsafety-criticalsoftware,identifyingwherecurrentorpotentialregulatorygapsforspecificprojectsexist.Wecanalsosupportyouinmeetinggeneralcertificationsandapplyingotherstandards.

Peaceofmindforelectromagneticcompatibility(EMC)issues

Electromagneticinterferencecanbedisruptiveandpotentiallycatastrophictoyourpowernetwork,affectingcontrolandcommunicationssystems.ThebenefitsofEMCmanagementandtheachievementofcompatibilityareimprovedoperationalreliability,safetyandperformance.Withmorethan50years’research,testandconsultancyexperience,weensureEMCisefficientlymanagedtoprotectyournetwork.OurspecialistservicesincludemagneticandelectricfieldmodellingandEMCshieldingdesignfortheassessmentofrisksandradiationhazardstohumanhealth.

Your prime concern is maximising safety, that’s our priority too.

Safety assurance

8| Number of parts to IEC 61508

Related services

• Safety engineering

• Software assurance

• ‘Smart’ instrument assessment


• Earthing and lightning protection

• Certification and compliance.

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The international standard for the functional safety of the electrical, electronic and programmable electronic safety-related systems – including software requirements and a methodology for determining safety integrity. Edif ERA conducted a functional safety assessment of an operator’s safety management systems in line with IEC 61508 requirements.

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Edif ERA:

Engineering excellence

1957|The year that the new laboratories and offices opened in Leatherhead, Surrey,

which has remained the company’s headquarters ever since. The 15-acre campus has further expanded with specialist analysis facilities.

Improving the safety and reliability of assets

Edif ERA provides Engineering Consultancy services that ensure the safety and reliability of high-value equipment and systems. We work with clients to minimise risks, improve operational performance and keep assets running cost-efficiently and for longer.

Depth of expertise in engineering

Building on research foundations that stretch back to 1920, our engineers have a deep knowledge of industry-specific issues, challenges and regulatory requirements.

Working across the asset lifecycle

We support clients through all project phases: design, commissioning, installation, through-life, upgrades and decommissioning.

Specialists in a range of asset types

We apply our skills to large complex installations such as distribution substations, methanol plants and hospitals, and mission-critical assets like aircraft, land vehicles and locomotives, as well as individual systems, equipment and discrete components. We rarely come up against a problem we have not solved before.

Delivering solutions to a wide range of sectors

Our experience across multiple sectors helps us develop new perspectives and best practice guidance for solving complex problems.

We are an agile international business

Through bold investment and acquisition, we are continually expanding our global footprint and capabilities. Offices in the UK and Middle East, as well as the worldwide operations of our parent company Edif Group and sister company Edif NDE, mean we can offer complementary services and respond quickly.

Our people make the difference

We are a business energised by our people, who are passionate about what they do and driven by our values: Energy, Professionalism, Teamwork, Accountability and Commercial Awareness.

Edif ERA offer a wide range of services with the expertise and experience to ensure you meet your project goals.

Our range of services

• Power systems planning, design and analysis

• Substation design

• Cable consultancy

• Earthing design and measurements


• Performance optimisation



• Safety engineering

• Project management.

Edif is a global company.

Edif Group is a leading independent provider of technical solutions to industrial markets worldwide.

With a network of more than 20 offices internationally, over 400 full-time staff and a network of associates in excess of 2500, Edif is able to undertake projects on a global scale.

E:[email protected]

www.edifgroup.com

Edif ERA is part of Edif Group. 7310 | Design by Avatar Creative

Asset Integrity

UK Head OfficeCleeveRoad,LeatherheadSurrey,KT227SAUKT:+44(0)1372367345

Aberdeen OfficeBlueskyBusinessSpace,RoomSF17,WestpointHouse,ProspectPark,ArnhillBusinessPark,Westhill,Aberdeen,Aberdeenshire,AB326FJUKT:+44(0)1224270348

Capability Assurance

Bristol OfficeUnit17,LondonderryFarmBusinessPark,KeynshamRoad,Willsbridge,Bristol,BS306ELUKT:+44(0)1179329099

Lincoln OfficeRomanWay,SouthHykeham,Lincoln,Lincolnshire,LN69UHUKT:+44(0)1372367345

Power Engineering

Staines OfficeElizabethHouse,56-60LondonRoad,Staines-upon-Thames,Surrey,TW184BQUKT:+44(0)1784490057

Manchester OfficeSuite4a,ManchesterOne,53PortlandStreet,Manchester,Lancaster,M13LDUKT:+44(0)1612336600

Pontyclun Office

TyCanol,ClunAvenue,Pontyclun,SouthWales,CF729AGUKT:+44(0)1443239503

International Offices

Abu Dhabi OfficeUnit704,RoyalTower,HamdanStreet,POBox43339,AbuDhabi,UAET:+971(0)26222920

Nigeria Office

Plot1709OlugbosiStreet,OffBishopOluwoleStreet,VictoriaIsland,Lagos,NigeriaT:+234-01-2773564/5

Documents

Edif ERA Power Sector