Engineering news
New Teesside facility will build world’s longest wind turbine blades
Professional Engineering
A new manufacturing facility in the North East will build the world’s longest wind turbine blades. LM Wind Power, part of GE Renewable Energy, will set up and operate the plant in Teesside. The facility will be dedicated to the production of LM’s 107m turbine blades, the longest in the world and a key part of GE’s Haliade-X, the most powerful offshore wind turbine in operation.
Public inquiry over Cumbria coal mine
BBC
A public inquiry will be held over plans for a new deep coal mine in Cumbria, the first such UK project for decades. Cumbria County Council previously gave the controversial plans the go-ahead last year, but a decision on the application will go to communities secretary Robert Jenrick amidst criticism of the plant’s potential effect on carbon emissions.
Female innovators receive government grants
Professional Engineering
Wind turbines could be installed quicker, construction emissions cut, and metal casting costs reduced thanks to innovative projects from 40 female entrepreneurs. The women behind the ‘pioneering ideas’ will each receive a £50,000 government grant to develop their plans, many of which are in engineering sectors and tackle issues including climate change and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The grants were announced on International Women’s Day (8 March).
Pill-style cameras could find bowel cancer
E&T
Thousands of patients will swallow pill-style miniature cameras as part of an NHS trial. The devices, which take two photos per second while travelling through the body, could help identify bowel cancer or Crohn’s disease.
Recyclable bioplastic membrane could clear devastating oil spills
Professional Engineering
A new bioplastic membrane can separate water and oil before being recycled and reused, a potentially important breakthrough in cleaning up devastating oil spills. The polymer membrane was developed by researchers at the University of Groningen and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, both in the Netherlands.
Rolls-Royce to power flying taxi
The Engineer
Rolls-Royce will supply the electrical power system for a flying taxi from Bristol firm Vertical Aerospace. The four-passenger VA-X4 eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) vehicle will use 100kW electrical propulsion units.
Soundwaves used to precisely control printing
The Engineer
Researchers at the Universities of Bath and Bristol have used algorithm-controlled ultrasonic acoustic fields to create precise patterns of microscopic aerosol droplets. The technique, known as sonolithography, could be used for non-contact printing of biological matter.
‘Wearable microgrid’ harvests energy from sweat and movement
Professional Engineering
Human sweat and movement can power small electronic devices thanks to a new ‘wearable microgrid’ that harvests and stores energy from the body. Developed by nanoengineers at the University of California San Diego, the system consists of three main parts – sweat-powered biofuel cells, triboelectric generators and energy-storing supercapacitors. All parts are flexible, washable and can be screen printed onto clothing.
Government announces £92m for next-gen green energy tech
E&T
The government has announced a £92m fund for the development of technologies that will help decarbonise the energy sector. The funding could be used in areas including energy storage and small modular nuclear reactors.
How to protect innovations en route to market
Professional Engineering
Has your company got a great engineering idea, but you’re unsure how to protect the innovation before it reaches the market? Dr Joanna Thurston, partner and patent attorney at European intellectual property firm Withers & Rogers, gave us some important tips.
Want the best engineering stories delivered straight to your inbox? The Professional Engineering newsletter gives you vital updates on the most cutting-edge engineering and exciting new job opportunities. To sign up, click here.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.