Air power

National Grid UK has ordered a compressed-air back-up power unit from a Chester-based alternative-energy company.

The unit, from Energetix Group’s subsidiary Energetix Pnu Power, will provide standby power for switchgear at National Grid’s 275kV switchyard in Capenhurst, Cheshire.

The system will form part of a trial programme to evaluate the performance of the Pnu Power system in providing back-up power in a real-life application on relay and circuit-breaker switching, which requires high levels of system integrity.

Energetix Pnu Power believes the trial will demonstrate significant cost savings to National Grid UK in terms of installation and operating costs.

Neil Bright, operations director of Energetix Group, said this is a significant milestone for Energetix Pnu Power.

‘As part of our strategic plan we have identified utility switching as a key target market,’ he said.

‘This order, from the UK’s largest operator of such equipment, is an important step forward as Energetix Pnu Power commercialises its back-up power technology, which has already achieved orders from the telecoms and defence sectors.’