March 2021

News March 2021 www.pwemag.co.uk Plant & Works Engineering | 0 7 Despite the UK’s departure from the European Union, the British Pump Manufacturers’ Association (BPMA) will retain its membership of Europump, the European Association of Pump Manufacturers. Established in 1960, this influential body represents 16 national pump associations in 12 EU Member States as well as Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, and the UK. Europump members represent more than 450 pump companies with a collective production value of more than € 10 Billion and an employee base of some 100,000 people across Europe. As a founding member, the BPMA will continue to play a significant role in the activities carried out by Europump, as much of the work undertaken will remain of relevance and importance to the UK. One such area of activity relates to the EU’s ongoing revision of the Eco-Design Directive and its Implementing Measures, which are intended to facilitate a notable reduction in the energy used by a broad range of products and equipment, be they for domestic, commercial, or industrial applications. In essence, the BPMA, along with its counterparts across Europe want to implement the extended product approach (EPA) for water pumps. This would mean, in energy use assessment terms as required by the Directive, that not only should the actual pump be included, but also the associated electric motor and control system, which collectively comprise the entire pumping unit. Representations are said to be ongoing, with the pump industry determined to encourage the legislators to move away from the existing product approach that was adopted in 2009 for water pumps. Frank Ennenbach, chairman of the Standards Commission at Europump commented: “We see a real danger that we will not save the 35 TWh that we could. We will then miss the opportunity to make a major contribution to sustainability and climate protection.” He continued, “We have everything we need. We just need the legislator to make the right decisions.” The BPMA, along with all the member organisations within Europump, say they support the demand of pump manufacturers to move from the ‘narrow’ to the ‘extended’ product approach for water pumps. Water pumps and the Europe-wide opportunity for huge energy savings A UK–Germany energy symposium, organised by the Royal Academy of Engineering in October 2020 with the German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech), has led to the launch today of ten collaborative projects aimed at transitioning energy supplies to more sustainable sources. Supported by funding from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, each project features a newly formed UK– Germany coalition that will seek to address a specific transition challenge common to both countries, such as the deployment of energy storage solutions, approaches to public interaction, the use of peatlands for carbon storage and the decarbonisation of urban freight transport. Last year’s energy symposium brought together 60 engineers, scientists, policymakers and energy professionals from the two nations to explore how to deliver the energy transition in a large European economy. At a time when the UK is redefining its relationship with the world, it is important that mechanisms are in place that allow the UK’s world-leading engineers and scientists to remain at the forefront of international action to solve global challenges such as climate change. The UK and the European Union share not only many of the same challenges and ambitions in transitioning to more sustainable forms of energy, but also the same supply infrastructure. The Academy continues to operate at the interface of industry and academia and believes collaboration will be key to achieving success. Sir Jim McDonald FREng FRSE, President of the Academy, said: “No-one can be in any doubt that there is a need for colossal transformation if we are to decarbonise the energy industry to meet required targets. These ten new projects are part of that process “The Royal Academy of Engineering places huge importance on international partnerships such as these and we are working hard to ensure these relationships remain strong following Brexit and just as strong in the face of other barriers to collaboration that we may encounter, like the current global pandemic. “UK institutions must step up and do what they can during what is a big year for climate action and diplomacy. By the time the UK co- hosts COP26 in November in my home city of Glasgow, I hope that our two countries will have compelling examples to show other nations what can be achieved.” Academy announces new UK-Germany collaborative projects on energy transition Frank Ennenbach, chairman of the Standards Commission at Europump