Better by design

Everything that we do leaves a footprint. For many of us, we have recently been concerned with the carbon footprint of our work, but there are many other things that we should consider. Electrical infrastructure may not be the most elegant things on the planet, but it does not have to be like that. Early power stations were often built to a high standard– think how we grew to love Battersea Power Station in the centre of London. We even put batteries in some very attractive buildings, and some of these buildings are still in use today. I have visited a number of battery projects, from the days when lead-acid was prevalent, to the present. I have seen good, and not so good structures.

But what do we have nowadays, I regret that for most, battery storage is just a collection of ISO shipping containers. Many present day developers must be embarrassed– because so many of them choose to surround their batteries with trees. But these fields of shipping boxes take up valuable land, destroying the amenity, and leaving a legacy of annual painting that makes the Forth Rail Bridge seem like a kindergarten project. We should raise the bar.

I want to challenge the flow battery community to not only present the best commercial case for choosing flow batteries over other types, and not only rest on improved technical performance and environmental benefits, but to leap over the bar with some top class design. Good building design enhances local neighbourhoods, creates social pride, lifts the spirit of all those that see it, and raises the profile of the building and its function. Good building design is a cornerstone of good operational use of the battery assets inside.

We need to encourage good design. So, there will be a Swanbarton® IFBF ® architecture award; covering two categories:

1. Stand-alone flow battery building

2. Flow battery incorporated into an existing building

Contact Swanbarton for more information: info@swanbarton.com

For the full article from our MD Anthony click this URL (pg64): https://emags.bestmag.co.uk/BESTMAG93-SUMMER2026/offline/download.pdf