UK leads world on offshore wind and centre simulates nuclear fusion: 10 top stories of the week – Professional Engineering

UK leads world on offshore wind

Professional Engineering

The UK has more offshore wind energy capacity in operation than any other country, new research has shown. The country retained its top spot on the global rankings with 10.4GW installed, as further analysis also by trade organisation RenewableUK showed that investment in UK offshore wind manufacturing has hit new heights, with over 900m invested in new factories so far this year.

The Engineer

A new facility led by the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow will test new nanotechnologies for medical applications. The Multiscale Metrology Suite (MMS) for Next-Generation Health Nanotechnologies will enable testing of materials and prototype technologies.

Professional Engineering

A new multi-million pound facility will simulate the intense heat and magnetic fields of future nuclear fusion power stations. Designed to enable testing of power plant components in the extreme conditions that they will face during operation, the Fusion Technology Facility is now open and operating in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

The Engineer

A suitcase sized platform known as ForgeStar will enable microgravity testing of new materials and pharmaceutical compounds in orbit. First launching in 2022, ForgeStar will stay in low Earth orbit for up to six months.

Professional Engineering

More than 40 engineering organisations, including the IMechE, have urged the government to invest 40m annually to improve access to careers provision in English schools and colleges. Aimed at enabling more young people to understand the opportunities available in Stem careers, the call was first made by EngineeringUK. Now, the National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC), has backed the call and made six further urgent recommendations ahead of the upcoming Autumn Budget.

Aerospace Manufacturing

The US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) has flight-tested a hypersonic air-breathing cruise missile. Manufactured by Raytheon Technologies and powered by a Northrop Grumman scramjet, the missile hit speeds of above Mach 5.

Professional Engineering

Tiny grains known as zeolite granules can store the summers heat to warm homes in winter, but the materials impressive chemical storage is held back by poor conductivity. Now, a team of researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute in Dresden, Germany, say they have doubled zeolites thermal conductivity with just one step, and they aim to take it much further to help reduce energy consumption from heating and cooling.

Rail Technology Magazine

A battery train developed by Vivarail will service Cop26 in Glasgow. The train has a range of 80 miles, and can recharge in 10 minutes.

Professional Engineering

A new type of glass is both stronger and more fracture-resistant than conventional examples, its developers have claimed. The researchers from McGill University in Quebec, Canada, were inspired by the material properties of the tough inner layer of mollusc shells. Instead of shattering upon impact, the new glass reportedly has the resiliency of plastic and could be used to improve mobile phone screens, among other applications.

The Engineer

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have developed a flexible bioelectronic device that converts the bodys movement into electricity. The generator could be used to power wearable devices.

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UK leads world on offshore wind and centre simulates nuclear fusion: 10 top stories of the week - Professional Engineering