ABB has given its support for a new facility built by City College Plymouth aimed at encouraging the uptake of energy efficient, sustainable technologies in industrial, commercial and residential projects in the UK. Named the ABB Energy Centre, the hi-tech facility is the centrepiece of a new initiative being led by the college to connect education and industry with the latest low carbon technology and methods.
Working with its local partner, Western Electrical, ABB has supplied a range of equipment for use in the centre, including its i-bus (KNX) intelligent building controls, variable speed drives, solar inverters and various instruments from its measurement products range. This equipment features throughout the centre, which incorporates 14 purpose-built bays for demonstrating and training on a variety of energy saving technologies and techniques.
ABB’s i-bus (KNX) intelligent building controls are used extensively in one of the bays. Built around a smart home scenario, the bay demonstrates how ABB’s i-bus (KNX) technology can be used throughout the home to help improve energy efficiency.
The ABB Energy Centre also features technologies and training systems around grey water harvesting, solar thermal paneling, photovoltaics (PV), air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, combined heat and power (CHP) systems, variable speed drives and environmental monitoring systems.
ABB became involved in the project after being recommended to City College Plymouth by Stuart Morrison, MD of electrical distributor, Western Electrical. “Western Electrical has worked closely with City College Plymouth for many years, sponsoring its electrical apprenticeship programme to help get young people into work in the electrical industry,” Morrison said. “When the college came to us with the idea of building a dedicated training centre to showcase the energy efficient and environmental benefits of today’s available technologies, I immediately suggested ABB to help bring the idea to fruition.”
The ABB Energy Centre will also have its own dedicated conference and training facility, showcase areas and an interactive workshop. It will give both students and visiting schools an opportunity to explore a range of ideas and processes through interactive activities. Academic and commercial training will be delivered through the college with the help of ABB and construction giant Cowlin, covering the use of low carbon innovations and products.
The ABB Energy Centre will officially launch on 8th December 2011 and will be opened by TV presenter and sustainability champion Charlie Luxton.
As well as students, the centre will also be open to local groups such as the ECA and NICEIC, school children, and also local companies including architects and consultants, to enable them to see how technology is offering new possibilities for saving energy and protecting the planet for future generations.
