Over recent years the power generation industry has seen some tremendous fluctuations in fortunes. The growing world population and, in some places, rising incomes seeing demand for electricity soaring. This created opportunities for the global development of power generation companies ready to exploit the opening of previously closed electricity markets. Conversely in more recent years, the collapse of global electricity prices has resulted in failures of major corporations and serious financial difficulties for others.

Place this into the context of an insurance claim arising during the construction of a new power plant or a serious breakdown within an operational station and it is not difficult to imagine the issues which can arise during the claims adjustment process.

Miller International have mechanical engineering expertise and where this is not the case, our resources are supplemented by consultancy agreements with industry renowned experts. We are therefore able to respond and provide technical assistance on all types of power generation and distribution equipment.

The range and type of equipment is extensive but includes:

	Steam turbines
	Gas turbines
	Water treatment and cooling plant
	Generator stator
	Generator rotor
	Transformers and switchgear
	Heat recovery steam generators

A serious and prolonged failure of any one of the above items in a modern power generation facility can have a serious effect on either potential or actual income. Miller International's experience in dealing with the technical effects of events such as turbine blade failure, transformer fire or generator short circuit is well recognised. The concurrent ability to promote technically proven repairs or alternative means of continuing generation has proven to be beneficial to the minimalisation of both insureds and insurers loss exposure. Knowledge of the basis of global trading in electricity and the understanding of power purchase and other related trading agreements is also a fundamental tool in handling the modern day power generation industry claim, for which Miller International adjusters are well equipped.

Not a day goes by without news media commenting on climate change. World Governments have acknowledged that unless action is taken to limit greenhouse gas emissions then global temperatures will rise.

In recent years the growth of renewable energy schemes has created new challenges for the insurance industry to meet.

As the development of new technology gathers pace, the demands for appropriate insurance coverage has increased also. Miller International has been particularly active in the investigation of claims in the field of renewable energy particularly in relation to wind farm construction and operation. We have extensive experience in the area of gearbox breakdown and turbine blade destruction. Outside of wind energy Miller International were the adjusters appointed on the construction of the world's first power plant fuelled by chicken litter with a fluidized bed combustion system, and have also worked on a straw fired plant.

With the increasing preference for off-shore development we are well placed to meet the many new insurance claim challenges that this will bring.