Power Generation
We want to hear your ideas.
Professional Engineering Training and PQEs
Introduction
The Professional Engineering Training (PET) Course, trains up to 14 Professionally Qualified Engineers (PQEs) each year, following 10 months of academic study in Chatham and 15 months on secondment to a civilian construction firms and design offices, either in the UK, Australia or the USA. The academic work for the MSc they complete, includes the production of a technical thesis and this article, provides a summary of the top Civil thesis, written by Maj Alex Bradford and the best Electrical & Mechanical thesis, written by Capt Richard Everard, both receiving the Rainy Anderson Prize by the InstRE. Both theses tackle sustainability considerations in infrastructure.
What is a PQE and what do they do?
A PQE is an infrastructure specialist within the Royal Engineers having completed the MSc in Military Construction Engineering and wider PET Course training objectives. The experiences gained throughout their military service and civilian attachments, provide sufficient evidence to allow the individuals to apply for Chartered Engineer (CEng) review, with either the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE), Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) or the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET).
A Model Solar-Powered Green Microgrid for a Typical Urban EV Charging Network to 2055Capt Richard Everard |
|
| This thesis begins by exploring the underlying climate change drivers before diving more deeply into the technical factors that drive possible responses and solutions. In their Synthesis Report for the sixth assessment on climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has urged the global community to act immediately to reduce their carbon production. As a part of their policy for carbon net-zero energy by 2050, UK Government has committed to banning the sale of all new petroleum-fuelled vehicles by 2035 and is incentivised to upscale national solar power generation to 70GW in the same timeframe.
This thesis builds on the current literature on the subject by considering a uniquely solar-powered, carbon-neutral (‘green’) microgrid to fulfil the EV charging requirements for a typical urban community to 2055. It does this by constructing a model for the EV population of the London Borough of Barnet as a representative data source. Current EV market share was compared with values expected in the literature and found to be 5-10% of that expected, and so the population model was scaled accordingly to 2055, where 44-53% of all vehicles are expected to be electric (68,000 – 79,000). |
|
|
Predicted number of EVs using different statistical models within sample area (Barnet) |
|
| In order to bound the problem, a series of reasoned assumptions were made: that solar arrays were matched with energy storage so that average daily demand could be tackled rather than the peak; that L2 charging remains the majority charging method within Barnet due to its dense urban nature; that the relatively low individual vehicle usage endures as the majority of commuting in London occurs through public transport; and that commercial c-Si solar cell efficiency matches that achieved under current laboratory conditions. The results and conclusions are therefore situated for a densely-populated urban environment with ideal solar cell efficiency; they should be considered in this context.
This model was used to scale the charging transaction data for Barnet for 2021- 22 at discrete intervals to 2055, enabling the computation of daily EV charging load profiles which were compared against a solar PV generation profile for a crystalline-silicon (c-Si) solar cell. The charging data used was limited to that of L2 charging – on street charging, excluding at home charging and fast charging. Using the total energy demand in a 24h window, a minimum-sized solar array was calculated to fulfil the charging demands at each time interval to 2055, with the final requirement estimated to be between 6600m2 – 7800m2. It is suggested that this could be achieved through use of domestic rooftops. Given the asynchrony of the EV charging profile with solar irradiance characteristics (daily and seasonal variation), both short- and long-term energy storage methods are suggested to balance the two. Li-ion battery banks, super capacitors, pumped storage hydropower (PSH) and green hydrogen storage are identified for further investigation. |
|
Breakeven Solar Array size required to meet L2 EV demand (Barnet)Read the full Thesis here
Do you have expertise in Power Generation that you’d like to share?
If the answer is yes, we want to hear from you!
Look out for more content from InstRE.
We are currently in the process of creating more awesome content for our members so you can get the most out of your membership and learn more about the Institution of Royal Engineers. We hope this will inspire, educate and create opportunities for our members to further the work of InstRE and provide all the information you need.
Send in your ideas
We want to hear your ideas and expertise on Power Generation to benefit the rest of the organisation. An important part of InstRE is to share information and ideas so that we can make the organisation and all our members, the best they can be.
Send in your ideas via the button below and we may include your content on our website!
SUBMIT IDEALatest News
Army Divers AGM
Articles
Institution of Royal Engineers – Military Engineering and Innovation Prize 2026
Recent Articles
Institution of Royal Engineers – Military Engineering and Innovation Prize 2026
Institution of Royal Engineers Military Engineering and Innovation Prize 2026 The President and Trustees of the Institution are pleased to present...
Read more >
Donate to the Institution of Royal Engineers
All donations kindly made are invaluable in helping the Institution to widen its membership benefits; these remain the very...
Read more >
The Dhofar War – 50 Years On
The Dhofar War - 50 Years On The Sultan’s Armed Forces Association is holding a ceremony at the National Memorial...
Read more >
Institution of Royal Engineers – Military Engineering and Innovation Prize 2025
Institution of Royal Engineers Winners - Military Engineering and Innovation Prize 2025 The President and Trustees of the Institution are pleased...
Read more >
Institution of Royal Engineers – Military Engineering and Innovation Prize 2024
The standard of articles entered for the year’s Military Engineering and Innovation Prize has continued the high standards...
Read more >
Reduce Water Consumption
Reduce Water Consumption in Military Facilities - LCpl Domonic Smith Water consumption puts a financial strain on the budget of...
Read more >
The Friends of the Lines of Torres Vedras
The Friends of the Lines of Torres Vedras A brief history of the Lines The Lines of Torres Vedras were...
Read more >
Winners – Contemporary Engineer Challenge 2023
Once again the standard of articles entered for the annual Contemporary Engineering Challenge have been highly impressive. Collectively the...
Read more >
EngineeringUK – Engineering & Technology Careers
EngineeringUK EngineeringUK is a not-for-profit organisation that drives change so more young people choose engineering and technology careers. Our mission is...
Read more >
RE:sult – The Sapper and Sport
RE:sult : The Sapper and Sport This exhibition showcases the current sportsmen and sportswomen of the Corps, their triumphs and...
Read more >
Contemporary Engineering Challenge 2022
Contemporary Engineering Challenge 2022 ONCE again the standard of articles entered for the Contemporary Engineering Challenge have been highly impressive. ...
Read more >
Adaption of Royal Engineer Doctrine to Manage Infrastructure Projects
Operation Trenton: Adaption of Royal Engineer Doctrine to Manage Infrastructure Projects for the United Nation Mission in South Sudan...
Read more >
The National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence
COLONEL R M BLUNT BEng (HONS) MSC MInstRE On 1 December 2019, the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI) was...
Read more >
Practical Guide to Innovation
Understanding what drives innovation and how we as leaders can set the conditions for it to occur. CAPTAIN J W...
Read more >
Visualising Complex Environments
Visualizing Complex Environments - Why the Corps must embrace innovation and 3-D processes MAJOR M J FRY BEng MSc CEng...
Read more >
Contemporary Engineering Challenge 2021
Contemporary Engineering Challenge 2021 Attention all budding authors Here are the details of, The Contemporary Engineering Challenge 2021, together with the new...
Read more >
Royal Engineers Museum
The Royal Engineers Museum - Learn from the past A growing wealth of historic images, documents and artefacts available in...
Read more >
WorldSkillsUK – 2022 – Sappers score well at World Skills UK competition
Sappers entered this year’s WorldSkillsUK competition, competing in a range of disciplines. WorldSkills UK brings together apprentices and young people...
Read more >
Wargaming
Why not try your hand at Wargaming? Wargaming has long been a tool used by militaries and organisations to develop...
Read more >
Sgt C D Carr MinstRE – Non Equipment Bridging
Read the award winning article: From The Hellespont to Bluff Cove, Learning from Non-Equipment Bridging of the Past Sgt Carr is...
Read more >
Audience rich advertising
ADVERTISING CHARGES As the Institution of Royal Engineers we have well over 10,000 paying members with access to our website. ...
Read more >
ICE and COVID infrastructure support project
ICE and COVID-19 As we try to move into the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, infrastructure will have a...
Read more >Upcoming Events
01 July 2026 – “The Sappers at the Charge at High Wood, Cavalry Gap Crossing in 1916”
Recent News
Army Divers AGM
Calling all Army Divers! This year’s Divers’ Branch AGM is Wednesday 25th June 2025 @1800hrs and will be virtual via Teams. Invites have...
Read more >
Big Bang 2023
Volunteering with the Big Bang Are you passionate about your work in STEM and keen to inspire the next generation...
Read more > REHS – Italian Battlefield Study 2025
REGISTRATION OF INTEREST IN REHS ITALIAN BATTLEFIELD TOUR 2025, 25th – 29th SEPTEMBER 2025 (A reserve standby list in now...
Read more >Col Jon Pritchard KVRM CEng CEnv FICE FInstRE
In recognition of 22 years of exemplary contribution to the Army Reserve as Chief of Staff of the Staff...
Read more >The Sicily 1943 Peace, Security & Prosperity Conference 7-8 July 2023
The Sicily 1943 Peace, Security & Prosperity Conference 7-8 July 2023 Le Ciminiere Festival Centre, Catania The Sicily 1943 Peace, Security...
Read more >
Richard Smith FCABE – New CABE President
Richard Smith, Head of Standards, Innovation and Research at National House-Building Council (NHBC) has been installed as the new...
Read more >
Engineering Technician (EngTech) board May 2023
The Engineering Technician (EngTech) board sat on Tuesday 25th May 2023. The following, well deserved passes were achieved: Lt Matthew Anderson...
Read more >
Gender Engineering Gap
115,000 more girls need to study maths or physics A levels to bridge gender gap in higher education https://www.engineeringuk.com/research-policy/diversity-in-engineering/gender/
Read more >
12 April 2023 – “Queen’s Gurkha Engineers 75th Anniversary”
“Queen’s Gurkha Engineers 75th Anniversary” with Lt Col (Retd) Stuart Brown
Read more >
EngineeringUK have increased fees for 2024 – We have had to conform to their charges
Our Professional Registration Fees 2024 have had to increase (The Institution was able to absorb the 5.1% increase in 2023,...
Read more >
LABC Trainee Building Control recruitment
Message “Some of you will be aware that LABC has been working for some time on initiatives to bring in...
Read more >
Employment Opportunity – Apprenticeship Construction Coach
Title Construction Coach - RE Apprenticeships Location South East – Maidstone/Chatham Salary £27-29K, depending on experience Description Complete individual Apprentice learning, assessments,...
Read more >Engineering Council Ethics survey
ETHICS IN ENGINEERING The Royal Academy of Engineering runs an Engineering Ethics Coordination Group (EECG) that is taking forward actions...
Read more >Sapper Stories – Stories from the people involved, you!
Stories from the people involved. That Exercise, that Operation, that History. What did you do? What could have gone...
Read more >
Combat Engineer & Assault Pioneer Symposium 29 Mar 2022
Summary of Event: REWW hosted the annual Combat Engineer & Assault Pioneer Symposium (CE&AP) on behalf of the Corps. The...
Read more >
Royal Engineers Historical Society
Today 16/02/2021 the connection between the REHS and the new institute website was formed. New content, new events and...
Read more >Job opportunity – End-Point Co-ordinator/ Technician
JOB OPPORTUNITIES END-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) is currently recruiting for an End-Point Co-ordinator/ Technician (£21K pa) to work in Brompton...
Read more >What we are looking for?
We are looking to hear from any who has any expertise or information on:
- History.
- In service experience.
- Potential developments.
How you can help
We want to hear your ideas and content that would be useful to feature on our website that will benefit the orgnisation.
If you have any experiences we want to hear from you.
Any write up of your experience and what you learn, along with any supporting images would be very helpful.
You can submit this via the button below.
SUBMIT HEREHelp us further the work of InstRE
Suggest events or resources that would help us build up our knowledge centre.
Professional effectiveness
Professional network
Professional registration
