Electriclinks attended the ETCI workshop and apprentice awards at the Davenport hotel on 15th December 2009. The main theme of the evening was on renewable and marine energy systems, smart grids and the challenges that lie ahead in the regulation of these areas.
The promotion of safety and the database of fatalities in the industry was also discussed. The CER then gave us an update on the implementation of the new regulatory system for electrical contractors. This was followed by a dinner and then the ETCI apprentice awards.
More detail:
Michael Hanly, the new chairman of the ETCI introduced Tom Reilly (Chairman of TC5)
Tom spoke about the revised edition of ET206 Good practice guide on the management of safety at work. He also spoke about working with the CER and promoting periodic inspections, testing of existing installations, improving fire statistics and the new code of practice for overhead lines as well as underground cables.
TC5 maintain the fatalities database. He discussed some statistics on this, 3 fatalities this year, 36 fatalities in the last 10 years, 60 fatalities in the 1990's, 76 in the 1980's. He pointed out how things are improving, but that one death is too many.
James Tedd of the recently established TC18 gave us an update on marine energy and water current converters. the government target of one-third of all energy by the year 2020, the dedicated ocean energy development unit and spoke a bit about wavebob, openhydro, seagen and the wave energy group in NUI Maynooth,
Prof Ger Hurley from the department of electronic engineering in NUI Galway has established an energy systems engineering course structure for Galway students. He spoke about the challenges to regulate renewable energy systems and of the possibility of Ireland leading the way in the regulatory environment. Ireland can become a test house and stressed the importance of industry and academia to work together.
Gerard Buckley also spoke about the regulatory challenges and the huge potential in smart grids. he spoke of his experience of pilot projects he was involved in years gone by. interest was high in the room, as their was many questions from the floor.
Dermot Nolan, commissioner of CER introduced Karen Trant the manager of electrical & gas safety supervision. Karen brought us up to date on the implementation of the regulatory system. she spoke about the importance of electrical contractors completing the verification and certification courses by beginning of April 2010. she spoke about policy on transfer of registration and the the deciplinary process.
She then introduced Peter Thompson from Lyle Bailie who spoke about the new branding of 'safe electric' and showed some logo and advertising examples.
During dinner the minister of education Mr. Batt O'keeffe presented the apprentic awards to both David Gough from Curracloe, Co. Wexford and Eric Cunneen from Co. Cork.
Finally, a special tribute was paid to Dr. Ron Kirkham who retires as chairman of TC10. Mr Kirkham has been involved with TC10 for 34 years. The new chairman is Peter Grainger.
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