Energy Manager April 2020

APRIL 2020 www.energymanagermagazine.co.uk

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FRONT COVER STORY:

“ If only Romans had Propinquity” See Page 10 www.iscape.co.uk

APRIL 2020

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INSIDE: 4

News

10

Cover Story

12

Opinion

14

Monitoring & Metering

18

Smart Cities

19

Energy Management

20

Net Zero

26

EMS/BMS

28

Energy Supply

29

HVAC

36

Water Management

38

CHP

40

Rnewable Energy

43

Driving the Future ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

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NEWS

UK’S FIRST CONVERTED ‘ELECTRIC AVENUE’

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iemens has unveiled the UK’s first avenue, which is over half a mile in length, that has been fully converted to cater for electric vehicle (EV) charging, coined ‘Electric Avenue, W9’.

The project, in collaboration with ubitricity and Westminster City Council, has successfully converted 24 lampposts into EV charge points using existing city infrastructure. Residents can now charge EVs at various locations along Sutherland Avenue in London, with a further two adjoining roads due to be completed in the coming weeks.

The launch follows research conducted

by Siemens showing over a third (36 per cent) of British motorists planned to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle as their next car, with two in five people (40 per cent) saying that a lack of charging points stopped them from doing so sooner. This makes it the biggest factor deterring motorists from purchasing an electric or hybrid vehicle.

‘Electric Avenue, W9’ showcases a shift in attitudes towards EVs that Britain’s capital is experiencing. Data shows 80 per cent of motorists in central London believe it is ‘very important’ that air quality is improved, and 83 per cent have become more concerned about their carbon footprint in the past five years.

Westminster has seen a 40 per cent growth in EVs charged in the borough during 2019.

Powering ahead Westminster City Council currently

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has more EV points than any UK local authority, with a total of 296 lamp column charge points in the city, 24 of which are located on ‘Electric Avenue, W9’.

There are plans to reach a thousand charge points across Westminster City Council within the next year, as it has twice the number of locally registered EVs than any other inner London borough, and the most among all the other London boroughs.

Siemens and ubitricity have now completed over 1,300 installations covering the breadth of the city, significantly funded from the Go Ultra Low Cities Scheme, supporting Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan’s #LetLondonBreathe campaign and leading the way to improve London’s air quality.

“We know that half of London’s air pollution is caused by road transport and Westminster is a particularly busy area.

While we cannot solve the challenge of air quality overnight, ‘Electric Avenue W9’ is an important showcase of what’s possible using existing city infrastructure.

It illustrates how residential streets will look in the near future, and accelerates the shift to zero emission vehicles,” said Cedrik Neike, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO of Siemens Smart Infrastructure.

“In a city that suffers from some of the worst air pollution in the country, we need to be supporting the change to green technology as much as we can. ‘Electric Avenue, W9’ gives us a

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

glimpse into the future of streets in Westminster, where we hope to provide the infrastructure needed for our residents to make the switch to cleaner, greener transport,” said Cllr Andrew Smith, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Environment & Highways.

Crossed wires Motorists currently believe there are only 100 to 200 EV charging points in London, which is less than 10 per cent of Siemens installations currently available. Meanwhile, almost a third believed there were no EV charging points near their home or workplace.

The transformation of Sutherland Avenue utilises existing infrastructure for EV charge points, creating a simple, fast network that looks to provide charge to the expected eight thousand EVs forecast to be registered in Westminster City Council by 2025.

“Lamppost charging gives people without driveways a very convenient, low cost, renewable, energy-friendly way to charge their EVs. Cars spend 95 per cent of their lives idle, so it makes sense to charge them while the driver is doing something else, like sleeping or working. Our technology is designed to keep installation and maintenance costs low, which translates to long-term low costs for EV drivers and councils,” said Daniel Bentham, Managing Director of ubitricity UK. siemens.com

NEWS

INDUSTRY’S FIRST HEAT READINESS STRATEGY

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K Power Networks has become the first UK electricity network to outline how it plans to help reduce the carbon impact of heating.

Heat is the biggest single source of UK greenhouse gases, accounting for over a third of total UK CO2 emissions. UK Power Networks, which keeps the lights on for 8.3 million homes and businesses in London, the East and South East of England, is now holding a consultation on its strategy to encourage industrywide collaboration and debate.

The network operator aims to be a ‘facilitator of decarbonised heat for all customers’ and the strategy sets out a three-point approach: • Inform heat decarbonisation policy through provision of data and evidence • Deliver a great service experience for customers during the energy transition • Undertake least regret actions to ensure electricity network readiness The document sets out a shortterm strategy to begin facilitating the uptake of heat pumps and support

early entrants to the market. It aims to help electricity networks understand, mitigate and prepare for the potential impact of electric heating, and will show UK Power Networks where to focus.

The first step is to establish how electricity networks can support the decarbonisation of the two million homes in the UK that are not connected to the gas network and are instead burning oil or coal for heating.

Ian Cameron, head of customer service and innovation at UK Power Networks said: “We undertook an extensive stakeholder engagement programme in the fast-moving electric vehicle sector, which demonstrated how important it is to work closely and collaboratively with as much of the industry as possible. Building on our experience with electric vehicles, we know that the best solutions come from collaborations, often with firms and people that are newcomers to the energy industry.”

UK Power Networks surveyed attendees at a recent event and found two thirds of housing developers polled are considering installing low carbon heating in forthcoming developments, and that almost half (40%) view initial upfront costs the biggest

barrier to delivering low carbon heat.

The company has already undertaken a series of innovation projects to broaden industry understanding of the impacts and opportunities around decarbonising heat, including the four-year Low Carbon London and collaborative gas and electricity project Green City Vision. Its experts are also exploring inclusive approaches to enable multi occupancy building domestic customers to participate in the Net Zero transition at lower costs in its Urban Energy Club project.

Dr Joanne Wade OBE, deputy director of the Association for Decentralised Energy said: “Decarbonising heat is essential if we are to reach net zero carbon emissions, and UK Power Networks new strategy is an important statement of intent and contribution to the debate. The scale of the challenge means that no one organisation or sector can possibly have all the answers, which is why the consultation on the document is so important.”

To download the UK Power Networks Heat Strategy and take part in the open consultation, visit: https:// innovation.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

5

NEWS

SMART LIGHTING IS TAKING THE INDUSTRY BY STORM – HERE’S WHY

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mart lighting systems embedded with various sensors and wireless technology can substantially reduce energy consumption compared to traditional lighting systems. One of the most prominent applications of smart lighting includes commercial and industrial buildings. Lighting in commercial and industrial buildings contribute to around 40% of the total energy expenditure.

Presently, the majority of the lightings installed in buildings stocks are based on the older and less energy-efficient lighting technology. The building owners and other stakeholders are increasingly becoming aware of and accepting the need for smart lighting to trim down energy consumption. This factor has resulted in the growth of smart lighting market during the forecasted period.

Furthermore, gradual transition from traditional lighting or lamps to more energy efficient LED lamps is attributing to the growth of the smart lighting market globally. Ability of LEDs to adjust light color, intensity and directions is leading to increasing incorporation in smart lighting solutions. Surge in installation of LED lamps by replacement of traditional lamps is expected to boost the global smart lighting market growth during the forecast period.

The global smart lighting market is divided based on lighting type into five segments: LED lamps, fluorescent lamps,

compact fluorescent lamps, high intensity discharge lamps and others. LED lamp segment have the highest growth potential during the forecast period attributed to the ability of substantially reducing energy expenditure in end user applications such as commercial and industrial buildings.

However, incorporation of LED lamps requires high initial investment due to elevated price of LED lamps compared to traditional lighting such as compact fluorescent lamps and fluorescent lamps.

Overall the LED lamp type segment is expected to see a robust growth throughout the forecast period owed to its high life expectancy and features such as dimming and varying light color and temperature.

Rapid advancement in the technology

is considered to be one of the major reason boosting the market growth. Rising urbanization and increase in construction activities is leading to surge in number of residential building, which is having a positive influence on the smart lighting market.

High demand for energy efficient lighting is prognosticated to play a pivotal role in pushing the market in the forward direction.

Growing demand for lights equipped with wireless and sensor technology has further favored the growth of the market.

Apart from these, high demand for smart intelligent street lights to avoid accidents and encourage smart city concept is fostering the growth of the market. www.transparencymarketresearch. com/smart-lighting-market.html

RINNAI HOT WATER ON DEMAND – FUEL, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND FINANCE EFFICIENT – AND NOW EASY TO CHOOSE

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innai – makers of units delivering limitless, on demand supplies of hot water – are offering end-users an easy-to-choose facility via online interface.

The end-user simply visits the www.rinnaiuk.com website for instant assistance on choosing the right products to deliver fuel, energy and environmentally efficient hot water, reliably and constantly.

Says Chris Goggin, “Whatever your industry we have innovative products and systems that give your site or

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

sites limitless supplies of temperaturecontrolled hot water which are designed with the environment in mind, with low emission technology and high efficiencies, as well as a host of other great features, as well as costing you significantly less than any other mode of hot water supply.

“We recognise that every application is unique and that choosing the right product can be a little daunting so we invite end-users to visit our website www.rinnaiuk.com and find the ‘Help Me Choose’ facility and we will do everything else from there.”

NEWS

WATFORD’S TRANSPORT REVOLUTION LAUNCHES TO ENORMOUS SUCCESS

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atford Council have launched Hertfordshire’s first bike share scheme and a digital travel app to help residents access transport services and navigate around the town.

The travel app has already received over 600 individual downloads and residents were enjoying the new bikes.

This is the first wave of initiatives as part of Watford’s transport revolution, which includes an on-demand bus launching on 23rd March and active E-Car Club and 14 new on street EV charging bays.

The transport revolution comes after the Council declared a climate emergency last Summer, and these are the first of many steps taken in its fight against climate change. Watford Council’s efforts also demonstrate how small, local governments can take initiative to deliver innovative solutions to big, global issues.

Travel Watford Transport App Powering the green revolution is the new and free travel app named ‘Travel Watford’, available on iOS and Android phones.

The app draws on large banks of data, providing information on all the potential modes of transport to local destinations, including trains, fixed-route buses, the new ondemand bus service and the recently announced electric car club.

The goal of the app is to promote sustainable transport, helping Watford to become a greener, less congested and less car dependent town.

Bike Share Scheme The Beryl bike share scheme is the first of its kind in Hertfordshire and is comprised of 200 pedal bikes followed by 100 e-bikes to be rolled out later in the year.

The bikes are available 24/7 at 70 locations around the town and will link Watford’s Metropolitan Line Station with Watford Junction Station, increasing connectivity for travellers while meeting needs for additional sustainable modes of transport. The service can be accessed through the free Beryl App, which manages the process

of paying for journeys around town.

Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said: “This new bike share scheme will give people another option for travelling around our town, help to make our air cleaner and reduce congestion.

“This is part of a series of improvements which also includes introducing on demand buses later this month and our new travelWatford transport app.

Everyone knows that our roads are busy and so it’s right that we take action to improve transport in Watford.” https://www.watford.gov.uk/ https://beryl.cc/bikeshare/watford

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

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NEWS

NEW ANNUAL RENEWABLE ENERGY RECORDS DEMONSTRATE UK’S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE CHEAP CLEAN POWER FOR CONSUMERS AND REACH NET ZERO EMISSIONS

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tatistics released today by the Government show that renewables generated a record 36.9% of the UK’s electricity in 2019, more than half of which came from wind alone.

The annual figures, published in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s quarterly Energy Trends report, show that wind provided a record 20% of the UK’s power last year (9.9% from onshore wind and 9.9% from offshore wind).

Wind also generated record annual quantities of power, with onshore and offshore each providing 32 terawatt hours (TWh). The total annual amount of electricity generated from all sources was 324 TWh. The Government says falls in generation by coal and nuclear were

offset by increases in renewables.

Low carbon generation (renewables and nuclear) reached a record 54.2%, with nuclear providing 17.4% last year. Meanwhile gas generated 40.9% and coal dropped to 2.1%.

Today’s figures also show that in 2019 UK greenhouse gas emissions were 45.2% lower than in 1990 and 3.6% lower than 2018. The Government said this mainly due to changes in the fuel mix used for electricity generation, away from coal and towards renewables.

RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Melanie Onn said: “Today’s record-breaking figures show just how radically the UK’s energy system is changing, with low-cost renewables at the vanguard. This will continue as we build a modern energy system, moving away from fossil fuels to reach net zero

emissions as fast as possible. As well as wind, we’ll use innovative new technologies like renewable hydrogen and marine power, and we’ll scale up battery storage.

“Low-cost renewables are central to the Government’s energy strategy and our sector will grow rapidly in the years ahead, as our domestic supply chain expands and we continue to seize multi-billion pound export opportunities around the world”.

BEIS also released statistics today covering the final 3 months of 2019, showing that wind set a new quarterly record by generating 22.3% of UK electricity (onshore set a new record of 10.2TWh and offshore a new record of 9.2TWh). Renewables overall provided 37.4% (a record amount of 32.5TWh).

Email: Luke.Clark@RenewableUK.com

Yorkshire and North East local authorities come together for first EV co-planning session

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orkshire and the North East’s councils recently took part in the area’s first co-working session as part of an event led by Northern Powergrid, the electricity distribution network operator for the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, to support the launch of its AutoDesign tool.

Using the new tool live at Leeds’ Cloth Hall, 29 local authority stakeholders and associated consultants from 15 councils across Yorkshire and the North East were able to pinpoint the most practical and cost-effective locations for new electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

The AutoDesign tool, which is free, enables users to identify the best new charging point connection locations. The innovative tool uses real-world network data to provide an indicative connection cost and personalised budget estimates in minutes, instead of

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the usual 10-day turnaround. It enables informed decisions by providing greater transparency around network capacity and clear indicators of possible and most costeffective locations to install EV chargers across Northern Powergrid’s operating area.

Setting the scene at the event, Cllr Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Greener Kirklees – the first local authority in Yorkshire to declare a climate emergency – talked about Kirklees Council’s pioneering EV charging project and the need for deliverable net zero solutions.

Cllr Mather commented: “In Kirklees we have invested in introducing up to an additional 100 electric vehicle charging points over the next few years. To have the opportunity to come and test the new Northern Powergrid AutoDesign tool alongside my local authority peers and hear about their plans was really valuable. I was delighted to be able to set the context for the day about the need for action against the backdrop of the escalating climate breakdown.”

In a first for Northern Powergrid, attendees were invited to bring details of ongoing EV projects to work on during a live coplanning session during the morning to trial the AutoDesign tool. Local authority representivites were able to use the innovative system for the first time and offer valuable feedback on the tool, as well as discuss features for future iterations.

Ann Wilson, the Strategic Freight Advisor at Tees Valley Combined Authority, said:

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

“The launch event provided a valuable opportunity to test AutoDesign using real life locations and scenarios. Cost and availability of power are two vital considerations when undertaking EV planning and AutoDesign will be an essential tool in streamlining what was previously a lengthy process.

“It was also useful to discuss the challenges of EV charging with both Northern Powergrid and our fellow local authorities. Understanding EV plans for the region will help us realise our ambitions to introduce a number of EV charging hubs across the Tees Valley.”

Clare Roberts, Northern Powergrid’s System Design Engineer, said: “The AutoDesign tool has been customer-led since day one.

We have been engaging extensively with local authorities for over a year and their feedback has driven the tool’s development.

“The electrification of transport is a vital part of the decarbonisation process.

The feedback we receive from connecting with local authorities around EVs will help shape future business plans and priorities and drive the transition to a net zero future across our region.”

With more people mapping a ‘road to zero’, Northern Powergrid has launched the tool to put more accurate real-world information in customers’ hands and improve the experience for those looking to connect.

Tel: 0800 500 3175 Email: joanne. kerrigan@northernpowergrid.com

NEWS

SALIX FINANCE HELPS TO FUND HIGHLAND COUNCIL ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES

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he Highland Council is expected to save hundreds of thousands of pounds a year and significantly reduce its carbon emissions thanks to energy efficiency upgrades part-funded by the Scottish Government through Salix Finance.

The council have invested £7 million of funding (£3.5m investment provided by the council and £3.5m match funding provided by the Scottish Government through Salix Finance) in energy efficiency projects across the non-domestic estate, with a particular focus on schools and leisure facilities.

In schools the bulk of the fund will be invested in LED upgrades, which will create a more comfortable working and learning environment for pupils and staff. Some of the fund will be diverted towards the replacement of old and poor performing oil boilers, which will see a significant carbon reduction and help the Council to meet its target of being carbon neutral by 2025.

The upgrades were made possible thanks to funding from the Scottish Government through Salix, an

independent, government-funded organisation that provides interest-free loans to the public sector for energy efficiency projects. The council utilised Salix’s Recycling Fund (RF), a ring-fenced pot of money held by the local authority, which is created with capital provided by the Scottish Government through Salix and equally matched by the local authority.

The fund aims to increase longterm investment in energy-efficient technologies across the public sector, by enabling clients to reinvest savings from previous projects to finance further energy reduction schemes.

Councillor Gordon Adam, chair of the Commercial Board, said: “Martin and the team have put a huge amount of time and effort into securing the fund and progressing the work. This is the largest fund in operation throughout Scotland and will be essential in reducing our spend and meeting our carbon targets.

Scottish Government aren’t just investing in the projects, they are investing in the Council and our ambition.”

The project will see targeted

improvements on over 50 sites, which will be broken down into lots based on geographical spread, involving both primary and secondary schools, leisure centres, depots, car parks and offices. Buildings will benefit from investment in a variety of technologies including LED lighting and controls, boiler replacements and over 2.5MW of solar PV and private wire supply.

The funding will not only provide significant financial and energy savings for the Council but will enable the development of their estate for years to come through both holistic reinvestment and the reduction of maintenance costs.

Salix are committed to a low carbon future and are tackling climate change through a strategic, long-term approach to reducing the carbon footprint of the public sector.” www.salixfinance.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

9

NEWS STORY COVER

“ IF ONLY ROMANS HAD PROPINQUITY” Manius Valerius Maximus, 494 BC, was well familiar with a concept that many energy managers take for granted: to control you need to monitor. As the Roman empire expanded, monitoring became a key aspect of building and managing the empire. Information from provinces needed to arrive fast and orders enacted even faster.

Obviously, there are similarities between a Roman Emperor and an energy manager, but there are key differences too, apart from their work ethics.

F

or an Emperor 2500 years ago, monitoring a province thousands of miles away was a major logistical exercise, requiring messengers, horses and ships, with a two-way communication taking weeks or months to deliver. The situation was nearly as problematic for energy managers until relatively recently if they needed energy usage data for their sites. In fact, a Roman emperor could receive faster information about a province than energy managers would about their utility meters, having to wait 3 months for a meter reading.

Clearly there had to be some progress on speed of data gathering, which took 2500 years to arrive in the form of wired communication, i.e. telegraph, telephone, and fax. This was progress of a sort. Now a meter reading could be phoned or faxed through, but the main problem remained, in that someone would still need to walk up to a meter to make a reading at intervals and time delays that Romans would have regarded as old fashioned.

More progress was made with introduction of meters with pulse outputs so that they could be wired to a central logger, resulting in fast and almost instantaneous access to a meter reading. The energy manager was then able to monitor energy or water usage at half-hourly intervals, and notice wastage, such as a leaking water pipe. But, while wired communication increased speed of data gathering, practical

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issues of wiring multiple meters across a site, from water pits to basements and roof top plant rooms, remained as difficult as building an aqueduct, and probably as time-consuming.

What happened next Romans would regard as magic: wireless communication. In theory, an energy manager could view on the computer screen energy usage of a remote site at any time and at any interval, without the cost and inconvenience of wiring up a site. Also in theory, you would place a wireless transmitter in a water pit and connect it to the meter and pick up the transmissions somewhere far away.

In practice though, the water pit, the outbuilding, or the basement and plant room could be just too far away for the wireless signal to get out and reach a receiver. And what about powering the transmitter in the water pit? Do I still have to wire up the pit to take power to the transmitter? Or if battery powered, how long would the battery last? And, assuming the signal gets out, how would the data from a meter get to my desktop computer in a different city? Can I get the data to my software in the cloud or to an existing on-site BMS? Can the transmitter connect to my pulse, Modbus or MBus meters? Is the range good enough to cover my entire site? And finally, does the energy savings justify the installation cost?

In short, while wireless may appear like magic to a Roman observer, it can’t do magic. Range can be limited, batteries can run out too quickly, there may be

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

interference and interface issues, and cost may be prohibitive. Not surprisingly therefore, an energy manager can be forgiven for being sceptical of wireless systems and prefer sending someone to do a meter read just as Romans would do if they had utility meters.

In fact, the question, “why should I install a wireless monitoring system, when I can send someone to read a meter”, was a difficult question to answer in 1999 when iScape produced its first wireless products. Since then, even daily meter readings are not enough for many energy managers, who demand half-hourly, 5-minute and even more frequent reads, including real-time data. iScape’s experiences reinforces one lesson of the past 100 year or so since telephones were first introduced, that we need more and more information.

Whether we can make sense of the information is a different but equally important consideration. iScape’s focus is on collecting information from remote and/or difficult places and forwarding them to systems that can make sense of it, be it humans or machines.

Surprisingly, there’s a word that describes what iScape’s trying to achieve: Propinquity. The dictionary definition is ‘the state of being close to someone or something; proximity’. As a Latin word, perhaps Romans would use it in relation to their empire. But for iScape Propinquity describes a far more modest ambition: enabling energy managers access the devices that gives them data, as if these devices were on their desk.

Essential to this ambition is long range battery powered wireless transmitters that can operate in difficult environments and still be able to get their data out to a remote receiver for viewing on a display on the energy manager’s desk. iScape’s sixth generation of wireless devices makes use of a technology previously used by the military, namely spread-spectrum techniques where radio frequencies are literally spread across a wider frequency range making them resilient to interference and background noise. An equally important step is the choice of transmission frequency of 169 MHz, rather than the more common 868 MHz, or 2.4 GHz frequencies. Lower frequencies travel further, and crucially are better able to penetrate walls and other obstacles and are less affected by

COVER STORY NEWS

moisture. The combination of spread-spectrum techniques, low frequency radio transmission, plus high-power transmitters and high sensitivity receivers means that iScape transmitters can be picked up from many Kilometres away. In packed city centres ranges of over a Kilometre are common, while line of site range will be many times higher. iScape’s battery and mains powered products support various interfaces, such as Modbus and MBus for monitoring gas, electricity, water and heat meters, including ATEX certified versions. Indoor office/room applications include humidity sensors and temperature transmitters. Plantroom hot and cold pipes, as well as fridge/ freezers temperatures can be monitored using PT1000 sensor transmitters in the range of -80 to +200°C. Up to 500 transmitters can be monitored by a single receiver for uploading of data to the cloud via GPRS, or to an existing BMS via the Modbus interface. And in order to make sense of the data, iScape has developed an advanced multi-user, multi-site, cloud software to visualise and analyse transmitter data, including generation of reports and creation of dashboards.

We have come a long way since 1999 when iScape was first established and

internet was an enigma for many, rather than a life changing tool we have today.

Nevertheless, tried and tested ways of doing things are difficult to shake off; ways which wouldn’t be out of place in Roman times, such as sending someone to do a meter read (i.e. check water flow through an aqueduct). Internet and wireless are now well-established tools

and foundations of an entire industry, the Internet of Things. Gone are the days where AMR (automatic meter reading) transmitters would have an impressive range of 100s of meters. Now range can be measured in many Kilometres.

Fortunately, such technology was out of range of Romans, or perhaps their empire would still be around. www.iscape.co.uk

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OPINION

THE FOUR ‘C’S OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION – CARBON, CAPACITY, COST AND CO-OPERATION

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n case you’d missed it – the energy transition is massive – in my recent blog on the future of energy I discussed how wildly wrong our predictions can be and just how much of a roller coaster the sector is on. When looking at the energy transition I believe there are four lenses through which to make energy decisions. We are moving from linear decision making in an age of energy abundance into a multi-angled challenge which constantly evolves over time….

CARBON INTENSITY – WHAT’S MY CARBON FOOTPRINT? ‘Carbon intensity is a complex challenge which is not only hard to nail down in the moment - but is even more difficult when you project into the future.’

Energy problems need input and outputs. In the case of electricity, the carbon intensity of those inputs can change each half hour, never mind five years in the future. Since 1990 the carbon intensity (average!) has fallen by 38% and continued to reduce in all future energy scenarios I’ve seen. I do think a lot of these scenarios tend to understate the impact of a huge shift to electrification and the capability of renewable sources to respond to rapidly escalating demand.

That said gas networks have their own plan for reducing the carbon intensity of the gas in the pipes… through bio-methane and hydrogen mixing so the future may not be all electric.

CAPACITY – CAN I GET TO THE ENERGY I NEED? Even if we can get an abundance of low carbon energy (i.e. Hydrogen or Electricity) the next challenge comes in getting it to the point of use.

There are not insubstantial challenges with local and national grid capacity in a number of energy scenarios. These directly impact both individuals and companies seeking to make energy decisions.

At the residential level everyone on a street quite simply can’t have a

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20kw fast car charger and if companies quickly electrify their fleets the grid connections to provide even overnight charging will be phenomenal.

‘If you thought getting the electric to charge a potential twenty-five million electric vehicles was challenging then heat makes that look like a piece of cake’ Heating UK homes at peak requires about 360GW (for comparison current ‘peak’ is about 50GW) of instantaneous energy for heating…. Any shift to electrification of heating will massively

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

increase demand on both national and local grids. Even hydrogen may not present the perfect solution – ‘Green’ Hydrogen uses electricity to generate it and huge volumes of storage would be required to enable enough to be there on super cold days.

COST – HOW MUCH WILL IT COST ME? Carbon and Capacity both come at a cost. Resilient, zero carbon options don’t always come cheaply! With so many

OPINION

alternative options, delivering lowest instantaneous and lifetime cost presents a complex and diverse challenge.

Geography is also likely to become far more important. With Hydrogen deploying locally and grid re-enforcement relying on substantial infrastructure investment it may simply be that where you live or where a company is situated even at a parish level in the UK could influence the cost of energy. A little like for the two million off gas grid properties in the UK, who currently have no choice but to opt for more costly LPG, we could see differences depending on Hydrogen availability or even local electricity grid capacity.

COOPERATION HOW CAN I MAKE THIS HAPPEN? ‘The answer to the Carbon, Cost and Capacity conundrum is in Cooperation’ Finally, and most importantly the answer to the above three challenges is in cooperation. We simply must look to our neighbours to optimise. There are plenty of fantastic examples out there… we are just going to have to work harder and thin differently to get there!

• Whole system planning and local energy systems across zones – enabling capacity to be managed at a more local level.

• Using neighbours waste heat (Data Centres, Sewage, Air Con)

to optimise performance of heat pumps provides a fantastic win-win for Carbon, Cost and Capacity.

• Understanding local demands on networks - such as electric vehicle charging prior to requesting giant grid connections – i.e. do neighbours charge their vans over night to enable delivery enabling their capacity to be used during the day for office workers.

• Shared storage through heat networks enabling reduced demands on the system and energy sharing.

Cooperation increases the number of no-regrets decisions. Energy saving and energy sharing typically always

makes sense… and finding ways to limit demand (and peak capacity requirements) reduces cost for everyone.

This type of thinking takes an unprecedented level of coordination at the local, regional and national level.

Success comes in a constant open dialogue about future and current needs – and also maybe giving up a little control for the greater good! The ultimate technology split is still a long way from being decided but what is clear is that Carbon, Capacity, Cost and CoOperation are the cornerstones of any decision making around energy systems.

John.M.Armstrong@eon-uk.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

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MONITORING & METERING

HAS YOUR COMPANY MISSED THE ESOS DEADLINE? Although the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) implemented the UK Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) as early as 2015, many companies are still lagging behind in complying with the directive. With the deadline for Phase 2 of the ESOS Regulations as the 5th December 2019, non-compliant businesses leave themselves open to the risk of enforcement action. Julian Grant of Chauvin Arnoux gives the low down on how you too can get caught up on ESOS and avoid paying eye-watering fines.

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lthough the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) implemented the UK Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) as early as 2015, many companies are still lagging behind in complying with the directive.

With the deadline for Phase 2 of the ESOS Regulations as the 5th December 2019, non-compliant businesses leave themselves open to the risk of enforcement action. Julian Grant of Chauvin Arnoux gives the low down on how you too can get caught up on ESOS and avoid paying eye-watering fines.

To begin with – what is ESOS? ESOS is a mandatory energy assessment scheme for organisations in the UK that meet the qualification criteria.

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Inspecting a heating system in boiler room

The PEL energy logger with tablet for recording aspects of the energy supply

Organisations that qualify for ESOS must carry out an ESOS assessment which consists of audits of the energy used by their buildings, industrial processes and transport to identify cost-effective energy saving measures. These audits have to be conducted every four years and businesses must notify the Environment Agency by the set deadline of December 5th, 2019 that they have complied with their ESOS obligations.

All qualifying organisations that did not complete an ESOS Assessment and submit a compliance notification

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by the compliance deadline will now find themselves at risk of enforcement action. For companies that have failed to comply with Phase 1, a number of penalties ranging from £45,000 to £90,000 have been issued. It goes without saying that Phase 2 penalties are believed to be at least as stringent.

If you have received a worrying letter regarding ESOS, that is because the Regulators are currently issuing compliance notices to all businesses in the UK which may be required to participate in ESOS but have not

MONITORING & METERING yet submitted any records of their having completed a notification.

If you haven’t submitted yours and are falling behind in your compliance, not all is lost. Remember that the period of time by which organisations are late, as well as their efforts to comply, will all be taken into consideration when determining any applicable enforcement action. In order to minimise the chances of penalties, ensure that you keep an evidence pack of all the work you did to complete your ESOS commitments – even if this is still ongoing.

A primary step in becoming compliant is to calculate your total energy consumption – i.e. the energy used by assets held or activities carried out by your organisation (be it the energy consumed by buildings, industrial processes or transport). Next, you must try to identify the areas within your business where significant energy is used and look for opportunities for savings.

Crucially, as long as 90% of your total energy consumption is covered, you can use a mix of approaches with some of your energy consumption covered by ISO 50001; some by DECs or GDAs and some by ESOS energy audits. Gaining ISO 50001 accreditation (Energy Management System) ensures that you are fully ESOS compliant. It’s important to note that the ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System) certification does not guarantee compliancy; however, evaluating energy usage as an environmental impact provides a good foundation for organisations to become compliant.

In order to ensure that the reports are accurate, you must appoint a lead assessor to carry out, oversee and review your energy audits and overall ESOS assessment. Lead assessors can be employees or external contractors, but the caveat is that they must be members of an approved professional body register. They must be able to carry out an energy monitoring survey to determine exactly where energy is being used. Maybe it’s not just the heating, lighting and operations and manufacturing processes. Computers and office equipment, items often left on out of hours, are equally culpable; an energy survey will provide the answers and make it much easier to take the appropriate remedial action.

The next step is to submit your ESOS notification of compliance to the Environment Agency when you have undertaken an ESOS assessment and are compliant with your obligations.

The notification deadline was 5th December 2015 for the first cycle and then every four years afterwards. If

Energy used by industrial processes

Example of power consumed by an installation over 7 days

Energy wasted by out of hours use such as lighting

you missed the deadline, then submit your notification as soon as possible so as to avoid the high penalties.

If you are one of the many companies that are still in the process of gathering data for their assessment, then it’s important to keep clear records of all the steps you have taken so far, as this will reduce the penalty fee even if the deadline has passed.

Finally, remember that energy monitoring should not be regarded as another hurdle for your business. It is an ongoing process that has continuing

measurement and benchmarking at its core. After all, even if your initial energy saving efforts are every bit as effective as you hoped, there’s no guarantee that they’ll remain effective indefinitely; even the best equipment can break down and its performance will almost certainly deteriorate as it ages. On-going monitoring will help you to spot these issues and deal with them promptly. And, who knows, it may also help to identify even more ways of saving energy and money and staying compliant with future guidelines. www.chauvin-arnoux.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

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MONITORING & METERING

WIRED OR WIRELESS SENSORS? THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF WIRED AND WIRELESS SYSTEMS There’s such a strong argument for installing sensors and automating building controls that many organisations we talk to are already convinced it’s the way forward. But what people do want to know is whether they should opt for a wired or a wireless system.

Here we’ve taken the five main factors you should consider when choosing smart sensors and run through the advantages and disadvantages of wired and wireless sensor systems.

1. INSTALLATION A quick, straightforward installation is one of the main benefits of wireless sensor systems. When you consider that the vast majority of those adopting the technology will be doing so in an existing building, it’s not hard to see why this easy retrofit solution has gained so much traction.

Wireless systems could be your only viable option where hard wiring is difficult or impractical, such as in heritage buildings, glass meeting rooms, and other situations where there are construction limitations. For example, while running wires between buildings could be prohibitive, you could easily connect a neighbouring building to the network with wireless devices.

Installing wireless sensor systems doesn’t require any drilling, wiring or structural building changes. That means reduced installation costs, minimal disruption to your workforce and interiors, and a system you can get up and running much sooner.

In contrast, a wired-in sensor system means you’ll need to hire an electrician and more than likely pay an hourly rate. It can be a lengthy process with some necessary downtime, and drilling holes means some areas will need replastering and painting.

But while wireless system installation is often just a case of clicking or

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sticking the sensors into place, you do need to make sure the system is as resilient and offers as much coverage as possible by carefully planning the placement of sensors and receivers.

2. COST There are two factors to consider here – the cost of the components and installation and ongoing maintenance costs. And, contrary to what many people expect, a wireless system isn’t necessarily the more expensive option. That even rings true if you’re constructing a new build rather than looking for a retrofit solution.

While initial costs can be slightly higher for a wireless system, any modifications you make in future will be much cheaper. If you’re planning to expand your network in the future or you need some degree of flexibility – for example, if you sometimes move office partitions to change the configuration of the space – a wireless system is far more accommodating.

3. MAINTENANCE There are two types of wireless devices – powered and self-powered.

In powered wireless systems, the sensors and actuators will all be battery powered. Before deciding whether that’s feasible, think about the size of your building and the number of devices. If

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

you have a smaller building it might be fine, but a large building could prove impractical. Not only do batteries need to be changed, they also need to be stocked up and stored ready for use, then safely disposed of when flat.

Self-powered wireless devices harvest the energy they need to function properly.

Tiny changes in movement, pressure, light, temperature or vibration are all that’s needed to power each device, making them virtually maintenance free. While this technology may be a bit more expensive initially than battery-powered devices, in the long run the system will actually be far more economical, as well as a much more sustainable choice for our planet.

4. CONNECTIVITY AND SECURITY Unfortunately, there are still a few misconceptions around wireless technology – that it’s not secure, that it’s unreliable, that you’ll forever be plagued by interference and signal-reach problems. In fact, these beliefs stem from early experiences with home security, entertainment and control systems, when signal difficulties were common.

Today, it’s a different story. Wireless products are everywhere, from tablets and mobiles to security systems and surveillance cameras. Most of these applications are high-bandwidth and very sensitive to latency (delays in data

MONITORING & METERING

transfer), but still perform reliably and consistently. Building automation is a low-bandwidth application that’s not particularly sensitive to delays and latency, meaning wireless technology is more than capable of meeting performance demands.

Far from being a hindrance, wireless technology lends itself perfectly to IoT applications, allowing direct connection over Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G mobile data networks or local wireless networks.

Many wireless devices have built-in intelligence that enables them to identify and link to the wireless building network automatically—simply pushing a button adds the device to the network.

Furthermore, wireless systems can be incredibly secure. In fact, wireless devices can use commercial, government, and even military grade encryption with multilevel authentication.

5. F LEXIBILITY AND SCALABILITY As we’ve already touched on, one of the biggest benefits of having a wireless network is that they’re really easy to add to or modify. That means you can easily reposition sensors to get a stronger signal, or if the room function or layout changes. Perhaps you have a modular retail or office space, with partition walls that change depending on use. Or perhaps you want a temporary installation in a rented building, or you’re trialling the technology before deciding whether to roll it out.

It’s also easy to scale up a wireless system over time – either as your workforce or business grows or so that you can stagger the initial investment.

Wireless technology lends itself really well to this, since new sensors and receivers can be easily added to an existing network. Some buildings begin by automating control in a single zone – as a proof of concept, to measure results before proceeding, or to fit within budget constraints – and then expand from there.

Wireless technology also makes it easy to take advantage of upgrades and new technologies as they become available, allowing buildings to become more efficient and save more energy over time. This can significantly enhance the lifetime value of a facility.

We hope you’ve found this post useful. If you’d like to talk about which type of system might be particularly suited to your building, feel free to get in touch. www.pressac.com

BUILDING OWNERS, OPERATORS AND MANAGERS CAN NOW STAY CONNECTED TO THEIR BUILDINGS – 24/7 AND REGARDLESS OF LOCATION

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aunched earlier this year in the UK, Priva’s Building Operator is designed to make the operation of buildings as simple as possible.

As a cloud-connected application, it offers real-time insight into the status of building systems and allows users to make essential adjustments to their building management system from any device, flexibly and easily.

Benefits include: easy set-point modification; manual override of controls; top control schematics; and alarm handling and integration.

MOBILE FIRST, CLOUD FIRST Priva Building Operator empowers the day-to-day operation of buildings by providing insights, assistance and full control over essential processes in your building. Indoor climate, lighting and energy consumption can be monitored and visualised via any smartphone, tablet or computer.

Thanks to easy set-up and installation of the application, the installation of Building Operator - typically undertaken by one of Priva’s network of approved Partners - can be achieved in no time.

Once installed, the ‘mobile first, cloud first’ approach remote assistance with any problems that might occur in the building.

REAL-TIME INFORMATION Once the application is installed on a device, it connects to the cloud and gathers real-time information from the building management system (BMS). If the BMS identifies an issue with the temperature, lights or another installation inside the building, it issue an immediate notification - no matter where you are. As a result, the energy use and comfort levels inside the building can be improved in and instant - saving time and money and supporting the needs of the workforce too.

Moreover, the user-friendly application enables cross-functional cooperation. Via Priva’s One Identity, users can work with multiple buildings

in one account and with multiple accounts for one building.

RELIABLE AND SECURE CONNECTION To assure data security and a reliable connection with the cloud, Priva has built in three stages of security: Firstly, Azure has been chosen because of the extensive security measures that Microsoft has taken and the platform’s compliance with more than 75 local, regional and worldwide standards. Secondly, Priva uses the cloud connector to provide a secure interface between the control system and the internet. To assure data security, the cloud connector only has outgoing connections. This makes it invisible to the outside world - and thereby eliminates unauthorised traffic to protect data.

Thirdly, to protect against unauthorised user access, there is an authentication layer based on the OAuth2 protocol - within which is an Access Control overview that manages all user rights. https://www.priva.com/uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

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SMART CITIES

COUNCIL-LED PARTNERSHIP TO DESIGN THE LARGEST SMART CITY REGENERATION PROJECT IN THE UK Plans for the design of the largest smart city-wide energy system in the UK have been unveiled. The £2m scheme will cut energy bills and provide green heat, electricity and transport for residents.

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he Peterborough Integrated Renewables Infrastructure project (PIRI) combines a next generation heat network, electricity network and EV infrastructure under one holistic scheme.

Led by Peterborough City Council the two-year project has been granted funding to begin the design of a local, smart energy system. The partnership includes: SSE Enterprise, Element Energy, Cranfield University, Smarter Grid Solutions and Sweco UK. The PIRI project brings together energy generation, demand and storage, thereby unlocking efficiencies not deliverable under our existing, traditional energy systems.

It is envisaged to be especially effective in areas where the electricity network is constrained; as well serving as a blueprint for other urban locations across the UK. PIRI will be part funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Prospering from the Energy Revolution challenge and unlock major social and economic value for the Peterborough area from 2022. Significant private sector investment has been secured for and by members of the partnership who each have existing decarbonisation expertise.

The project is one of five to win funding to create a pipeline of innovative and investable local energy system designs that will be ready to roll out across the UK in the 2020s.

Peterborough is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK whilst also being committed to reducing its carbon emissions. Its PIRI project aims to deliver a significant drop in CO2 emissions by 2030, whilst cutting energy bills by up to a quarter.

Cllr Marco Cereste, cabinet member for the environment at Peterborough City Council, said: “This exciting announcement will give Peterborough the opportunity to use its own green, locally produced electricity and heat to benefit residents. It’s a landmark step in our aim to be carbon-neutral by 2030 and will be the most exciting and innovative clean, green energy project the city and indeed the country has ever seen.”

Nathan Sanders, Managing Director of SSE Enterprise Distributed Energy, said:

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“PIRI is an exciting project for us to be investing in. We hope it will demonstrate the potential of smart cities to drive local decarbonisation in a commercially viable manner.

“It takes a ‘whole systems approach’ to energy one step further by integrating all socio-technical elements into one solution that can help councils hit their net zero targets. We are proud to work with leading partners and an enlightened council leadership to enhance the lives of UK citizens.”

Jim Kent, CEO at Smarter Grid Solutions, said: “We are very excited to join a world-class team and demonstrate how system flexibility and commercial models, such as Energy as a Service, can be used by forward-thinking cities like Peterborough, to deliver on their ambitious net zero plans whilst also reducing energy costs for citizens and enabling economic growth.”

Shane Slater, founding director and Smart Energy Systems team leader for Element Energy, said: “Our future energy supply can be clean and low cost, but this comes with a key challenge of much greater variability in energy generation.

“Element is delighted to support PIRI, which will demonstrate how integration of the diverse energy demands of heat, transport, and electricity, balancing supply and demand across day-to-day and seasonal variations, can deliver an efficient energy infrastructure that will be clean, secure and affordable for end users for decades to come.”

Max Joy, president at Sweco UK, commented: “We can’t underestimate the challenges in achieving net zero carbon and, by the same token, the ambitious nature of this project. The real brilliance in the approach, which will also be the defining element of its success, is to integrate wider

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

infrastructure into energy management where all strands can play together.

“Taking this holistic perspective means that far greater benefits will be realised, hitting the sweet spot between environmental gains and commercial viability, while Peterborough will lead the way as a sustainable city of the future.”

Processor Simon Pollard, Pro-ViceChancellor, School of Water, Energy and Environment and International at Cranfield University, said: “Cranfield University has a growing portfolio on smart cities and is delighted to contribute its expertise to PIRI. “Sharing the learning from practical projects like this has proven instrumental to ensuring that communities and industry benefits from innovative designs. This unique partnership will help Peterborough and the UK achieve real energy system improvements.”

Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, Kwasi Kwarteng, said: “Every corner of the UK has a part to play as we eliminate our contribution to climate change entirely by 2050.

This innovative project in Peterborough will deliver energy savings and reduce carbon emissions – a win-win for communities and the environment.”

Rob Saunders, Challenge Director, Prospering from the Energy Revolution, UKRI said: “This innovative project provides new approaches to delivering our net zero commitments by delivering cleaner, cheaper energy services while creating more prosperous and resilient communities.

“But as well as their benefits to consumers, this project, as part of the Clean Growth Industrial Strategy Grand Challenge, place UK industry at the forefront of the global shift to clean energy systems and economies.” www.sseutilitysolutions.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

PILOT GROUP ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO SAVE ONE MILLION TONNES OF CO2 IN 2020 • The new Pilot EnergyMgr 2.0, launched in October has already seen a strong start to sales • Pilot Group expect to save businesses more than one million tonnes of CO2 in 2020 and guarantee at least 25% saving on fuel bills • New features added to the system means Pilot Group can meter energy usage

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ilot Group’s EnergyMgr 2.0, launched in October, is expected to save more than one million tonnes CO2 being produced in 2020.

Pilot Group has also made several new features available and numerous upgrades to the system to ensure that the energy management system delivers savings in both costs and energy usage using the latest technology.

The new intuitive interface will make it easier for customers to navigate menus with a new dashboard that displays utilities and equipment in real-time. The addition of a multi-site feature means that customers can view performance, energy usage and make changes to each site from any

internet enabled devices, providing customers ultimate control and visibility.

In addition, with a new intelligent reporting tool, the EnergyMgr 2.0 will automatically convert kWh burned to CO2 tonnes, which allows customers to keep on top of CO2 used month on month, year on year.

By measuring how much energy is used, businesses can begin to see how changing some processes and ways of working can significantly reduce the overall carbon footprint. To achieve this, Pilot Group will work with customers to help create a bespoke energy saving strategy ensuring that optimum energy efficiency is realised.

The Energy Management System is on course to revolutionise the monitoring, control and management of heating, air conditioning systems and compressors as Pilot Group expected it to.

In addition to improved control and management of heating, the upgraded EnergyMgr 2.0 system can now control an existing lighting system, or new system which can be supplied

by Hilclare, resulting in an all in one, cost effective management system.

The EMS integrates a central control unit with an intelligent software and highly accurate digital sensors to optimise the performance of industrial heating systems.

Chris Pearson, Managing Director at Pilot Group commented: “At Pilot

Group we believe in using technology to make the places we live and work smart, safe and sustainable.

“Since 1991 we have saved more than 9 million tonnes of CO2 entering the earth’s atmosphere, something we are extremely proud of, and, following two months of strong sales and by utilizing the visualisation feature, we expect the Energy Management System to save more than one million tonnes of CO2 being produced in 2020.

“Not only this but the EnergyMgr 2.0 utilises the latest technology to provide customers with average savings of 40% on their heating bills and coupled with our LED lighting solutions this can rise to 60%.”

Since acquiring Vickers Electronics, an energy management specialist with over 28 years’ experience of providing energy savings in industrial and commercial businesses, Pilot Group has invested heavily in product development.

All systems come with a complimentary 12-month warranty and service agreement, which includes an onsite annual health check. The warranty and service can be extended at any time to ensure that the energy management system contributes to energy savings with maximum efficiency.

The agreement includes full parts and labour warranty, annual service, engineer callouts and software updates. www.thepilotgroup.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

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NET ZERO

TOWARDS NET ZERO – THREAT OR OPPORTUNITY?

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n 2015, 197 Government leaders met in Paris and reached a Global Climate Change Agreement that was later ratified by 86 countries from around the World. In the same year the UN published their 17 Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) which a number of organisations subsequently used as a framework for the development of their own Sustainability Strategies.

Most notable of these early adopters was Unilever whose then CEO, Paul Polman said “The cost of not acting is higher than the cost of acting”.

I recall attending a number of sustainability events and conferences around that time and had the distinct impression they were still, in the main, talking shops filled with good intentions and complex reporting but an absence of tangible action.

However, the emergence of a certain 16 year old Swedish environmentalist and movements such as Extinction Rebellion changed everything and people finally began to sit up and take notice and demand action from both businesses and governments alike.

As the highly respected naturalist and journalist, Sir David Attenborough recently said “Climate Change is the major challenge facing the World”.

Then in 2019 the UK Government announced a legally binding target to become Net Zero by 2050 and also introduced Streamlined Energy and Carbon reporting (SECR) requiring approx. 11,900 organisations to report accurate and auditable annual energy reports. Organisations with an annual energy expenditure less than £40,000 will be excluded from the scheme. Climate Change is not going to go away and relevant legislation is likely to increase.

In addition, an increasing number of investors announced that they would no longer invest in fossil fuel businesses or those businesses that didn’t have a plan to improve their own sustainability. The business community finally began to wake up.

Even economists such as JP Morgan who have traditionally supported the fossil fuel industry, recently stated “Human life ‘as we know it’ could be threatened by climate change”.

Since then we have witnessed devastating floods in Indonesia and here in the UK, wildfires in California,

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Canada and Australia, drought in sub Saharan Africa, melting glaciers and ice caps, biodiversity loss and species extinction on an unprecedented scale and biblical plagues of locusts in East Africa.

HOW DO EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS OR BIODIVERSITY LOSS EFFECT A BUSINESS LOCATED THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY HERE IN THE UK? In 2011, Thailand suffered the heaviest rainfall in over fifty years resulting in 884 deaths and millions of people either made homeless or displaced and, according to The World Bank, cost the Thai economy $45.7bn.

Moreover, the manufacture of car components and hard disks were severely impacted and had a significant impact on car production across the World.

Extreme weather events also have a huge impact on crop production and commodity prices increasing the cost of food to consumers all over the World.

Equally the focus on the mass production of a single crop such as avocados or almonds is to the detriment of biodiversity and can also result in the extinction of insect species and water shortages in water stressed areas.

Since the 1950’s we have lived in an increasingly connected world otherwise referred to as globalisation where we no longer are self-sustaining but are

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

interdependent for the supply of both raw materials and ingredients, finished goods, services and even labour.

So yes, extreme weather events in distant parts of the world do and will have a significant impact on UK organisations and households.

WHAT CAN BUSINESSES AND ORGANISATIONS DO TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN SUSTAINABILITY? I am asked this question every day and the answer is always the same - have a plan.

As Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England, recently warned, “Firms ignoring the climate crisis will go bankrupt”.

Firstly, though you need to understand where you are now and where you want to be in say 20 or 30 years’ time. I realise that long term strategies are often an alien concept to Western businesses but that is what is needed and, indeed, demanded for businesses to survive in this fast-changing world.

NET ZERO

The next question is what does Net Zero mean to your business? Is it zero Scopes 1&2 CO2 emissions i.e. those emissions directly attributed to an organisations’ activities or do you also include all CO2 emissions from your supply chain i.e. Scope 3? Or do you reflect the UK’s Net Zero target which includes all green house gases?

This is not something that can be decided in isolation and needs the involvement and buy-in of all key stakeholders within your organisation and not just the senior management team, from procurement and logistics to operations and sales and marketing. An output of this might be a Project Charter which clearly sets out what it is your organisation wants to achieve and by when and identifies the critical success factors.

Once a base line audit has been completed you can then start to develop an appropriate sustainability strategy that will provide your organisation with a clear roadmap towards becoming net zero. Typically, this strategy will include the negotiation of new supplier agreements and/or the identification of alternative suppliers, waste, water and energy policies, new procedures, revised processes and possibly new working practices, investment in more efficient plant, behaviour change programmes, training and the development of new products and services to meet the growing demand from an increasingly environmentally conscious customer base.

You may also have to include actions to make your own infrastructure, logistics and supply chain more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

But don’t panic you do not have to deal with this on your own. There are sustainability experts that can help and appropriate delivery mechanisms such as Corporate PPA’s, Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs) and Utility Management Agreements that can help you achieve your goals and targets.

Clearly, you can only deal with today’s ‘knowns’ in terms of legislation, knowledge and technology which is likely to leave a gap between your aspirational net zero target and what can actually be achieved.

SO HOW CAN THIS GAP BE ADDRESSED? Carbon offsetting is one option, although choose wisely as this is sometimes used for greenwashing purposes, allowing some companies to claim that they are carbon neutral without having taken any action to actually reduce their emissions. Credible schemes include Gold Standard and those offered

by The Woodland Trust.

However, over time residual emissions and the need to offset should reduce as emerging technologies become mainstream and businesses adjust their net zero targets accordingly.

Above all the Strategy and Implementation Plan needs to remain flexible and adjusted as new legislation is introduced and technologies emerge.

One thing is clear though business as usual is not an option. http://www.jrpsolutions.com/

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NET ZERO

NET ZERO V. REALITY: New research highlights alternative fuel disconnect • 96% said their company’s environmental impact was a ‘medium- to high-priority’ • Environmental impact is a more important factor than price when businesses purchase fuel • Diesel is still the fuel of choice for 85% of respondent’s onsite equipment • 82% of respondents have used alternative fuels to reduce corporate impact • 62% of companies Aggreko polled that said they had considered using GTL, while a further 61% said they had explored use of natural gas as an alternative

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aintenance and supply are impeding greater uptake of alternative fuels despite industry appearing to fully embrace environmental targets according to a new report, Bridging the Gap to Net Zero: Solutions towards the net zero challenge, from Aggreko.

In a bid to help industry reach net zero targets effectively, Aggreko continues to question energy professionals about their use of onsite equipment. The latest insights come from 200 energy professionals across industries such as construction.

Specifically, Bridging the Gap to Net Zero aims to gauge corporate appetite for change and uptake of alternative fuels.

Unsurprisingly, a resounding 96% of respondents said their company’s environmental impact was a ‘mediumto high-priority’, however green issues were found to be a more important factor than price when purchasing fuel.

However, while 82% of respondents confirmed their use of alternative fuels as a way of reducing corporate impact, 85% still identified diesel as their fuel of choice for powering on-site equipment, casting any notion of progress into doubt.

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Chris Rason, Managing Director at Aggreko says: “The report highlights the contradiction between ambition to make changes in line with net zero versus the reality. We ourselves are on a journey to become greener so want to understand how we can help our customers get there as fast as possible.”

The report then advises on the immediate changes that businesses can make in order to inch closer to net zero. Solutions explored include Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), Gas-to-liquid (GTL), Combined Heat and Power (CHP), battery and raising the efficiency of existing technologies.

Chris continues: “Achieving net zero is far from simple and pragmatism will be central to success. As such, this report does not attempt to define one path

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

but instead discuss the different options businesses can use to instigate change.”

As Aggreko continues to explore and invest in new greener technologies, the report also reveals early results of emissions testing of HVO and GTL in in its Stage IIIA generator fleet. The analysis was carried out by an independent engineering and environmental consultancy in compliance with ISO 8178 D2. Both fuels were tested and compared to EN590 diesel.

Chris concludes: “Some results in the report confirmed suspicions, whereas others surprised. What’s certainly true is that grand targets require a steady and sustained effort. We hope our report can play a part in that process.”

Download the full report at: www.aggreko.com/netzero

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ENERGY STRATEGY: IS YOUR APPROACH TO NET ZERO A TRULY SUSTAINABLE ONE?

Senior Energy Management Consultant at SMS, Andy Bolitho, argues that a net-zero strategy needs to consider not only the demands and constraints of your business, but also its overall impact on the grid – particularly as we transition to the electrification of vehicles and heating.

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s most energy managers will undoubtedly be aware, last June the UK Government announced a net-zero carbon emissions target for 2050, making Britain the first G7 country to legislate a commitment to remove its net contribution to climate change.

‘Net zero’ hasn’t been much out of the news since, and as a result, a lot has already been said about the huge challenge that stands in the way of achieving this grand ambition. It is a challenge, however, that cannot or should not be underestimated or underdiscussed. After all, the future of our planet will depend on how effectively we overcome it.

As an energy consultant, perhaps the most significant and intriguing aspect of the netzero emissions debate is what it all means for energy users – particularly the business kind.

Our energy consumption and how we manage and adapt it will of course play a critical part in the UK’s net-zero strategy.

Indeed, reviewing the way in which we source and use energy is essential to achieving the goal. It will require a significant shift away from traditional energy systems and a move towards much greater participation in the energy market through flexible, low, and zero-carbon generation and smarter controls.

Collectively, we’ll need to change our role from that of a consumer to a ‘prosumer’, interacting with the market and even potentially providing balancing services to the grid to enable the necessary penetration of renewable power into our energy network.

All of this means that we’ll have to engage with energy in a much more detailed manner than we have ever done before. For businesses, it will mean avoiding unnecessary energy use, undertaking projects to reduce demand, investing in self-generation and other low-carbon assets like battery storage and electric vehicle charging, and compensating for those emissions that cannot be avoided through accredited offset schemes.

‘NET ZERO’, BUT IS IT SUSTAINABLE? The challenges and changes required are evidently massive, but they are not insurmountable. In fact, for some forwardlooking organisations, many of the initial

steps toward realising net zero have already been taken. At SMS, we work with a lot of businesses that have undertaken energy efficiency countermeasures, have installed on-site renewable generation, or entered into an onsite PPA and buy green tariff energy.

Any net-zero strategy however also needs to consider the impacts of its demand on the grid – particularly true in the context of the approaching transition to electric heating and the ongoing switch to electric vehicles.

What plans we put in place now need to be serviceable for grid decarbonisation in the future, or the UK is unlikely to meet its targets. Considering this, the ways in which we approach a net-zero strategy hold the keys to unlocking our country’s decarbonisation to its fullest extent.

For instance, whilst buying green energy tariffs are often a simple way of beginning to embed sustainable decision making into an organisation, over-dependence on this method to ‘decarbonise’ would be to miss the point of the net-zero goal, as it does not directly lead to a decrease in energy consumption or demand. Though offsetting does undoubtedly have a place in any net-zero strategy to varying degrees, it should not be at the expense of action on energy and carbon, and should really only be addressing those emissions that cannot truly be avoided.

NO ONE-SIZE STRATEGY THAT FITS ALL Clearly, and understandably in this regard, net zero may mean different things for different organisations depending upon their capacity for energy and carbon reduction, or the industries that they operate in. For energyintensive industries, net zero might result in being heavily reliant upon grid decarbonisation or sourcing much of their energy consumption through self-generation or PPAs. Equally, for organisations with large and complex supply chains, or those with substantial fleets, net zero may see them working much more closely with suppliers to address Scope Three emissions.

Whatever the route to net zero, the journey ahead represents a golden opportunity for organisations and Government to come together to form a robust plan to combat

climate change, and to plug the current policy gap that exists in order to deliver it. It also holds the potential to support our economy through unlocking investment in low and zero-carbon generation, as well as through the export of knowledge and expertise to other countries. While net zero is a big challenge for the UK, the considerable benefits that such a strong approach can bring are immeasurable in environmental and economic terms.

WORKING WITH A NETZERO PARTNER It is incredibly encouraging to see organisations today adopt net-zero targets – many of them well in advance of our national targets. This sends a powerful message to the government and the general public on their intentions to address contribution to global warming, and to support the common goal of avoiding catastrophic climate change.

Whilst we are already working with progressive organisations like these at SMS – and indeed many others who are only just embarking on their low-carbon strategies – we hope to be able to assist many more businesses with their own net-zero journeys going forward. As a strategic partner in energy decarbonisation, we build bespoke pathways to net-zero-carbon emissions, leveraging our data-driven services and deep energy industry knowledge to help our clients adapt to the changing energy system and embrace the opportunities of environmental sustainability.

By providing the innovative engineering solutions and expert advice to deliver turnkey energy projects, including the funding of low carbon energy assets, our aim is to unlock the transition to a net-zero world, supporting the transformation of our existing energy systems to, and building capability for, our smart energy systems of the future. www.sms-plc.com

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NET ZERO

GETTING TO NET ZERO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR BUSINESS? Helen Troup, Principal Consultant at Avieco

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e’re going to get to Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030 – a great ambition, and the kind of sustainability leadership for which we’ve been calling for decades. But it’s a huge challenge, and currently, our practice and policy mean we are still miles off achieving our national objections.

Climate change is the biggest threat we face and achieving Net Zero will be tough. We will need all the technological solutions available to us to reduce emissions, capture atmospheric carbon and adapt to climate change impacts.

We also need national & international political backing & collaboration and a massive increase in verified environmental offset projects.

But can you make a Net Zero commitment yourself – and achieve it? What does Net Zero mean for an organisation like yours?

I’m convinced that businesses and organisations can go Net Zero – but you need to go into it with your eyes open. Clearly no one organisation will be able to adopt all the technologies, lobby for policy, and plant enough trees to offset their emissions themselves.

Your ability and appetite for any decarbonisation action will vary.

There’s no one size that fits all – but we will all need to do something. So what should you do?

START FROM CARBON Firstly – you need to measure your current impacts. If you aren’t yet doing regular sustainability reporting and a carbon footprint, you need to start now.

You can’t start tackling your emissions if you don’t know what they are. The first step to get this right is to calculate your carbon footprint, and then prioritise the most material areas. The results will surprise you with data you would have never considered before – many businesses overlook areas of their operations that turn out to be significant because they’ve never examined the data properly. This could be business

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travel – usually assumed to be small, but if you have multiple UK sites or any overseas business, rail and flight emissions soon add up.

Carbon footprints are measured in “scopes” – Scope 1 is emissions related to direct use of emissions sources – such as burning gas or other heating fuels, and vehicle use, as well as leakages from refrigerants.

Scope 2 is indirect use – principally electricity, which is generated off-site, but used on-site.

Scope 3 is anything up or downstream of your operations – this includes business travel, purchased goods & services, water and waste. Getting to Net Zero emissions for your operations will require a solid understanding of your impacts in these three scopes.

ONCE YOU’VE MEASURED IT, YOU CAN MANAGE IT. Reviewing your carbon footprint and identifying areas to prioritise, will help you set a strategy and targets to achieve a Net Zero goal.

THE CHANGES WE NEED TO MAKE Now you need to act. Getting to Net Zero is going to require all of us to make changes – personally, organisationally and nationally. Each scope offers different opportunities to cut carbon.

We will be talking about Net Zero from different angles and perspectives.

In the first series, we’re going to explore different approaches to emission reduction in each scope, starting with scope 1 and 2 – the first steps an organisation should be taking.

Below are some suggestions about how you can make your buildings more sustainable, increase energy efficiency, embrace renewable energy and reduce transportation emissions.

Scope 1 and 2 are your immediate impacts – buildings and vehicles.

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MAKING YOUR BUILDINGS MORE SUSTAINABLE I work with a wide variety of organisations to reduce their energy consumption – and energy efficiency is always the quickest and cheapest way to cut emissions. If you are looking to reducing your scope 1 & 2 emissions, consider your building energy use. This could be building fabric measures to reduce heat and cooling loss, or servicing or replacing the boilers and chillers themselves.

Onsite renewables is another option.

Lighting upgrades are quick and easy – and also offers a decent payback.

TENANTS CAN CONTRIBUTE TOO Hard measures and capital works can be a challenge if you don’t own your buildings.

But you can still tackle building carbon emissions as a tenant. A great way is to ensure your control systems are calibrated properly and that your building management system gives you the data you need to monitor performance.

You can also work with your procurement colleagues to ensure that energy efficiency is included in your search criteria for new properties – which isn’t always a consideration. The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard legislation is now in force, but there is a big difference between an E-rated and an A-rated property – which will be reflected in the running costs as well.

A caveat – If you are being offered any property with an EPC of F or below – that’s illegal!

QUICKER HIT ON SCOPE 2 EMISSIONS Green tariffs are a good way to go. Ensure your utility provider has a tariff that is backed by a guarantee of origin so you really are greening your electricity – or choose a supplier with their own generation asset. Businesses

NET ZERO and homeowners are finding that some tariffs aren’t as green as they seem, so it can be difficult to ensure your electricity supply is zero carbon. You could look at a Power Purchase Agreement with a renewable generator directly if you can take a longer view of risk and return.

But be aware these are fairly protracted negotiations, and not that many companies have succeeded to date – so make sure you’re up for a challenge if you do go down that route.

REDUCING TRANSPORT EMISSIONS If you have company vehicles, what vehicles do you choose?

Employees might like a free rein, but that can mean that your fleet ends up being more energy-intensive than it should be. One way to lower your emissions is to work with your lease company to shortlist vehicles with high MPG. You should also be thinking about low emission vehicles – there is increasing pressure to improve air quality as well as reduce carbon emissions, so start the transition to hybrid and electric vehicles as soon as you can. You won’t be able to buy new petrol, diesel or hybrid cars in 15 years’ time. There are issues about the range and also charging infrastructure, so again, this won’t be suitable for everyone immediately. But you will need to work out your disposal strategy for diesel vehicles – they’ll soon be stranded assets if they aren’t already.

Beyond this, check up on maintenance processes and cleaning regimes – maintaining tyre pressure has a direct impact on MPG: for each PSI below pressure, you lose 0.2% MPG. Don’t forget logistics too – teardrop trailers can save fuel consumption due to their streamlined shape, which translates directly to reduced scope 1 emissions – sometimes up to 20%.

www.energymanagermagazine.co.uk

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LET’S FACE IT, THE ROAD TO ZERO IS A REALITY AND WE NEED TO BE READY The bottom line is that if you want to go neutral, you need a plan – you won’t be able to do it overnight, and there’s no silver bullet. So measure your impacts, set your priorities, and map out your interventions to start driving down emissions – starting with scopes 1 and 2. We’ve given you some ideas to get you started. https://avieco.com/

NEXT TIME – HOW TO TACKLE SCOPE 3 EMISSIONS.

Image © East Street Imagery

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EMS/BMS

AI IN BUILDINGS – THE VISION AND THE REALITY Henry Lawson BSRIA

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SRIA’s latest research into Building Automation Controls markets (BACS) has been released in February 2020. It confirms the growing importance of software in buildings with Artificial Intelligence (AI) playing a particular role.

What do we mean by AI in buildings?

The term artificial intelligence (AI) tends to rear up in almost any current discussion about how to solve human, social or technical problems. While AI is almost as hard to define as intelligence itself, it is generally seen as embracing anything that goes beyond simply following fixed instructions of an “if x / then do y” nature.

It typically involves “learning”, finding patterns and correlations and extrapolating from these. More advanced AI can formulate hypotheses which can then be validated. The results can range from relatively simple predictions, such as when I am most likely to want the heating to be on in my home, to highly complex ones involving a whole “world view”.#While the concept of AI has been around for more than 60 years, it is the combination of cheap, intensive processing power, almost unlimited data storage (often in the Cloud) and fast, reliable transmission of data that has made it a concrete and practical presence.

Buildings and their systems are clearly obvious candidates for AI. They are often large and complex and interact both with the people and with activities inside them as well as with the wider outside world in all kinds of ways, in a manner that can change radically over time.

Buildings are also heavy users of environmentally important resources such as energy (taking c. 40% of all energy consumption), having a big impact on human welfare and productivity.

Building systems that can adapt and operate “intelligently” and with less direct human supervision are increasingly sought after.

AI can play a role in almost any area of a building and its services. In terms of energy it can identify consumption patterns that are in some way abnormal,

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for example in its timing or in its intensity.

Fault prediction and prevention is another activity to which AI lends itself.

By collecting, correlating and analysing information about when failures occur it is possible to predict where and when they might occur in future and to identify warning signs that can prompt preventative action. Where the equipment is critical, preventing outages can make a huge difference, saving money and potentially saving lives.

Alarms and security represent another obvious application for AI in ensuring that fires hazards are identified without false alarms, and that security video data is correctly interpreted, for example by identifying individuals as trusted or as potentially a threat.

AI can also extend into areas which have not always been much associated with building systems such as the monitoring of water quality. On a dayto-day basis, intelligent building systems can also ease the running of buildings, whether it is determining when rooms need to be cleaned or by guiding visitors’ cars towards free parking spaces.

As well as enhancing building functions, AI can transform the way that building users interact with the building, the most obvious example being speech recognition which, through products such as Amazon Alexa is already transforming the way many people interact with their homes and has applications in commercial buildings as well.

It is nonetheless important to keep the present state of AI in perspective. A first key point is that artificial intelligence, like human intelligence, will always have limits and be prone to mistakes. It is for example practically impossible to predict every failure of a building system without generating any “false positives”. The trick is to strike the right balance, but this requires the accumulation of experience.

This is compounded by the fact that the organisations and individuals that understand buildings and their idiosyncrasies tend to come from a different background and culture to those that have been pioneering the development of AI. The successful implementation of AI in buildings requires a coming together of these two traditions.

In some cases, AI is “bought in” for example by mergers and acquisitions, in other cases companies attempt

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to recruit and build up their AI skills.

CBInsights has monitored takeovers of AI companies, and found, perhaps unsurprisingly that the five highest numbers of takeovers were executed by the five US based tech giants, led by Apple. It is not a coincidence that four of these have actively engaged in smart homes or in other smart buildings

Source: CBInsight, BSRIA – each rectangle represents one buyer, scaled by companies bought

AI potentially reduces the need for some human skills, for example by making troubleshooting of building faults a much more automated process, but also increasing the need for other skills. Apart from the system engineers who design and implement the AI based solutions, building managers and users need to have enough understanding of those systems, and have the means to respond effectively.

For example, if a warning or alert is triggered by an intelligent system then either the problem needs to be corrected automatically or someone needs to have the knowledge and means to affect the chance.

The smarter, the more complex and the more connected the building, the more cyber security is likely to be seen as a potential threat.

Significantly, cybersecurity is itself one of the main applications of AI. The best current view is that, while AI is starting to have an impact on building services, it is still mostly in its early stages. If buildings were people, they would be just starting to walk on two legs and have some way to evolve before they could be seen as truly intelligent.

To learn more about the specific impact of software and AI on building automation, look for BSRIA 2020 update of its well-established BACS reports.

Please contact us to find out more: www.bsria.com

EMS/BMS

THE NEXT GENERATION OF BUILDING MANAGEMENT – AND WHY SENSORS ARE CRUCIAL TO IT

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s we head in to a new decade, thoughts inevitably turn to the future and predictions of what our world will look like in another ten years’ time. Technology is changing and growing at a more rapid pace than at any time in our history and businesses that want to survive, and thrive, will need to embrace these changes and ensure their systems are future-proof.

Building management is one area that is already being transformed with the use of new technologies, something which will only become more common as the decade progresses. This article takes a look at the next generation of building management, particularly the role that the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart sensors will play in ensuring buildings are fit for the future.

WHAT’S CHANGING? Only a few years ago, the phrase IoT would have meant nothing to most Facilities Managers but now it’s something that, if they are not already using, will most definitely be on their radar.

The development of the IoT - a global network of devices connected to each other and the internet - is already beginning to transform the building management landscape and open up new possibilities, something that will continue to grow exponentially throughout the next decade. Last year there were believed to be around 22 billion devices connected to the internet globally - this is predicted to rise to 50 billion by the end of 20301.

Facilities management will become data-driven, enabling FMs to take a predictive, proactive approach, rather than continually reacting to situations.

Buildings of the future will be connected and automated, meaning the role of the FM becomes less hands-on and more allseeing, all-knowing. With the wide range of data made available by IoT and sensors they will be able to plan and predict in a way that was impossible before.

There are three key areas where IoT and sensors will become commonplace for virtually all businesses: 1 https://enterpriseiotinsights.com/20190520/ internet-of-things/global-iot-connections-reach50-million-2030-study

Energy management: With climate change at the forefront of everyone’s minds, the need to ensure your business is doing all it can to limit its impact on the environment has never been more paramount. Ambitious government-set carbon saving targets are already in place, and we can expect the focus on these to intensify.

Sensors play a crucial role in helping to eliminate waste energy by allowing businesses to see how much energy is actually being used. They give real-time insights in to peaks and troughs in demand and areas of wastage, helping businesses to not only save vast amounts of energy, but also dramatically reduce costs.

Predictive maintenance: One of the biggest benefits of sensors is that they can spot problems before they happen, freeing up Facilities Managers to take a more proactive role.

This is particularly important in the manufacturing sector where this data could be vital in helping to reduce costly breakdowns or avoiding disruption to productivity.

CT clamps, for example, can measure the current travelling through cables and will flag any unusual use of power before a machine comes to a standstill, meaning predictive maintenance can be carried out, as opposed to costly delays once the machine breaks down completely. Temperature sensors can also help to spot equipment in danger of overheating, enabling a quick response to resolve the problems.

As a result, there will be less need for FMs to spend their time on the front-line, something that can be a drain on resources, particularly if your business is spread over multiple sites.

The information from multiple sensors can be fed into IoT cloud platforms and viewed all in one place, in real time, usually on a laptop or mobile device, freeing up FMs to work where and how best suits the business, rather than being constrained by a physical location.

Employee satisfaction: Undoubtedly, one of the biggest changes in business in the last five to ten years is an increased awareness of employee wellbeing. A new generation of staff are entering the workforce, with very different

expectations to their predecessors - they are more aware of their rights, more vocal when things are unsatisfactory, and more aware of the need for a work-life balance.

Likewise, employers are increasingly recognising the need to look after their staff better and to provide them with fun, inspiring places to work. With flexible working on the rise and more staff choosing to work from home, offices of the future need to be places people actively want to spend their time.

Studies have repeatedly shown that staff are more productive and more loyal if their working environment and conditions are.

Sensors can play a key role in this, from under-desk occupancy sensors which link to cloud booking systems, ensuring no more annoying double-booking of rooms, to those which monitor temperature, CO2, humidity and ventilation, providing a comfortable working environment.

Whatever your industry and whatever the size of your business it’s unlikely it will remain untouched by smart technology during the course of the next decade. As technology develops it is likely to become cheaper and more accessible to all, with smart sensors and IoT systems no longer being the preserve of large corporates. www.pressac.com

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ENERGY SUPPLY

THE ENERGY QUESTION IS NOW A ’TRILEMMA’

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here is now a consensus that climate change must be halted now by a whole raft of changes to our behaviour and habits unless we wish to play chicken with irreversible global consequences.

Climate change affects all of us, unless, of course, you happen to be the 45th President of the USA, in which case you can carry on Twittering.

Or maybe he has a point? Are the claimed dire consequences overplayed and overstated for wider political purposes? Well, if you accept the logic that even fake news can be genuine sometimes then we need to look at the facts.

The simple, accepted facts.

This article identifies the emerging theme of the “energy trilemma within the UK” and critically discusses the three main tenets of the energy trilemma: • energy security • sustainability • affordability.

66% of energy used (officially verified figures) domestically in the UK is for heating, so both the UK heating industry and the UK government have a vested interest in preventing the potential impact of this macro-environmental theme.

There appears to be an urgent need for awareness campaigns that aim to change our perception and habits of using energy in the home environment. These campaigns should be driven by the UK heating industry whilst calling for support from the UK government to assist in changing the energy consumption behaviors of consumers nationwide. There is substantiated evidence from other areas of the globe that change can happen and take effect with the strategic response of social marketing in the form of “nudge” based campaigns.

A key element of the energy trilemma is related to the security of energy supplies which is crucially important if the UK are to produce a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (Spataru et al, 2015). It is noted by many sources that North Sea oil and gas reserves are in decline, a point highlighted by Lovell et al (2009, pg.12) who states that “the UK’s North Sea oil and gas

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reserves appeared to have peaked”.

This statement is supported by Macalister (2010) who states that “the UK will find itself on the brink of losing its energy self-sufficiency” The UK had previously been a major exporter of energy however, it is again a major importer of fossil fuels (Pollitt, 2017). This reduction in fossil fuels is coupled with several of the existing coal and nuclear sites coming ‘off system’ in the coming decade (DECC, 2012). This is leading to significant fears over the threat of the lights going off (Abdo & Kouhy, 2016, pp 20). This point is supported by (Spataru, et al 2015, pp 95) and the UK energy regulator has stated that the statistical probability of severe power black outs would increase.

The lack of energy sustainability coupled with a loss of energy security leads to the final element of the energy trilemma affordability. The UK energy agenda is dominated by concerns regarding affordability of energy supplies, unambiguously related to domestic heating needs as noted by (Day, Walker and Simcock, 2016, pp, 256) UK agenda has always been dominated by concerns about the affordability of heating specifically, linked with anxieties about public health. These anxieties stem from an increase in deaths during cold weather mainly due to poor insulation of UK housing stock, official statistics for the UK show every year a peak in the number of deaths during winter months that run to the tens of thousands (Office for National Statistics, 2014).

This presents the government with the issue noted by (Bolton & Foxon, 2015, pp 169) UK government is reluctant to let prices rise to a level required for new low carbon investment because of concerns over the impact on the affordability. This policy hiatus is further enhancing the potential impact of the energy trilemma and presents significant potential to impact the UK heating industry as 66% of energy used domestically is used for heating and hot water (appendix.1.).

In the works of (Hamilton, 2005) on the impact of oil prices on the macro economy, he notes that a key mechanism whereby

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Chris Goggin of Rinnai looks, in detail, at the future of energy supply in the UK with some of the likely outcomes and possible scenarios in response to the inevitability of changing consumer habits and behaviour in the face of the urgent needs to conquer climate change.

energy price shocks affect the economy is through disruption in consumer spending on goods and services other than energy (Hamilton, 2005, pp. 10). This point is further supported by (Beranke et al, 1997) who discovers that an increase in energy prices slows economic growth through its effect on consumer spending.

Industry and government action will need to focus on changing normative and social actions, a point supported by (Chan, 1999) who found that green consumption behavior is significantly related to concern for the environment and behavioral intentions, and that green consciousness and the promotion of environmental protection and green consumption by the government are both effective predictors of green consumption behavior. This points to the need for educating the consumer base to change the normative behaviors as noted by (Wu & Chen, 2014, pp. 119) education of the consumer can lead to changes in consumption behavior and the incorporation of green choices into his/her daily life.

To avoid the outcomes of the energy trilemma, the UK must transform its energy sector, this transformation is hindered by great uncertainty as to the central policy objectives and agendas which are driving UK governance (Bolton & Foxon, 2013). Therefore, it appears that one of the most rational avenues of action be that the heating industry, supported by national government, undertake a program of social based “nudge” campaigns to allay and reduce the impact of the energy trilemma by reducing long-term consumption.

It is pleasing to see such “nudge” techniques happened with smart meters but more can be done.

‘Nudge’ techniques are described by (Thaler and Sunstein, 2008, pp.6) as actions that alter people’s behavior in a predictable way without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives.

The UK government has failed with policy approaches

that have sought to incentivize energy reductions in light of the issues stemming from the energy trilemma. For example, the green deal aimed at incentivizing more energy efficient behavior.

The failings of the green deal are described by (Rosenow & Eyre, 2016. Pp. 141) poor policy design, limited financial appeal and narrow engagement with consumers.”

The heating industry, supported by national government, can utilize a social marketing agenda to reduce energy consumption and subsequent costs, through education and “nudging”. The expertise of the industry and its knowledge of the consumer supported by government regulation and incentives could create the winning formula.

The key failings of the ‘green deal’ and other government approaches was its inability to truly understand the audience benefit. These benefits need to be elicited to tap into and satisfy the underlying motivation of groups as discussed by (Lefebrve, 2011, pp.58) and these benefits may not be health, a cleaner environment, access to services or even money.

This step change away from monetary incentives towards energy reduction programs could focus on audience benefit, with an educational approach to changing and evoking social norms related to energy consumption.

Sounds drastic? Many would argue that we are in drastic times requiring drastic measures. Or we just go on Twitttering…. www.rinnaiuk.com

HVAC

FUTURE HVAC EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGY WILL FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY – HERE’S WHY

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t has been observed that demand of climate control system is increasing among industries which requires HVAC equipment. Moreover, the commercial sector is more inclined towards comfortable and energy controlled working environments. By understanding the consumer demand, manufacturers are working towards energy efficient and environment friendly products that can boost the demand for HVAC Equipment in coming years.

The global HVAC equipment market is expected to increase with a CAGR of 6.5% over the forecast period of 2019 to 2027.

The ongoing expansion of fast food chains is especially expected to benefit the HVAC market, since these facilities require extensive range of refrigerated counters and display cases. This trend is going to affect demand for counters with drawers, doors and prep table tops. Higher number of outlets would generate demand for new equipment, while technological developments would help drive replacement demand in existing outlets.

Furthermore, demand of solar power driven HVAC equipment will have a positive effect in the global market. Increased

popularity of smart thermostats have been observed in both the commercial and residential applications. Smart thermostats facilitate monitoring the temperature of the air conditioners through mobile devices and PCs. These smart thermostats monitor the indoor temperature and accordingly modify the cooling cycles resulting in energy conservation.

The deployment of smart thermostat devices is expected to maximize the efficiency of products and boost the global HVAC market.

Air conditioning equipment segment was valued to be the largest market in 2018. North America is the most prominent region for HVAC equipment. Asia Pacific is expected to a higher growth in coming years as a result of rising number of new households. Furthermore, some of the major macroeconomic and microeconomic factors affecting the global HVAC market growth are rise in the number of new households, increase in disposable income, surge in demand for energy efficient and environment friendly products, and need of product upgrade or replacement demand are seen as key determinants.

HVAC equipment market is bifurcated into

heating equipment, cooling equipment, and ventilation equipment. It has been estimated that heat pumps segment accounted for above 50% of the market and expected to have a higher growth in coming years.

This is due to enhanced energy efficiency provided by room air conditioners and multiple uses of heat pumps. Unitary air-conditioners segment is second fastest growing product segment in the cooling equipment category.

Rising number of middle class household in emerging economies of the Asia Pacific region is propelling the segment demand.

Commercial segment accounted for 33% of the global market. Furthermore, the HVAC equipment demand from residential segment is expected to have a significant growth in coming years. Industrial sector is still recovering slowly, and is expected to lose market share to residential and commercial sectors. www.transparencymarketresearch. com/hvac-equipment-market.html

BE RELAXED ABOUT BUILDING SERVICES DESIGN

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uch of the complexity of designing, installing and maintaining central heating in multi-occupancy low-rise buildings can potentially now be eliminated.

Innovative developments at Gilberts have created a room-by-room solution that combines appropriate ventilation with heat boost.

The concept means that in effect, there is no need to provide radiators in the rooms in which the new option is fitted. Further, because the solution is fitted at ceiling height, it liberates interior design and optimises use of floor space.

The solution focuses around Gilberts’ unique Mistrale Fusion (MFS) unit with an integrated LPHW coil. Just 2 x standard MFS128, or 1 x MFS256, will warm a standard 32 pupil-classroom to all Regulatory requirements.

“The energy cost of running the unit for morning warm-up has been calculated at just £2.19/annum/room1,” says Gilberts Technical Director Roy Jones. “And there’s all the initial capital savings attained from 1 For a standard operating installation, in a typical 32 pupil classroom, assuming a ‘worst case’ scenario that every morning heating will be required with a six degree lift in internal temperature.

the purchase and installation of a discreet internally mounted heating system, with no need for radiators with thermostats. MFS heating coils deliver a win-win strategy.”

The stand-alone unit is installed as normal through the building façade. The core MFS appliance provides natural ventilation and uniquely blends the incoming fresh air with the warmth from the exhaust air without the need for a heat exchanger. With the LPHW coil option, for morning warm-up, the coil is energized and the fan runs on full speed for approximately 20 minutes (depending on night set-back temperatures) to provide an even heat distribution across the room before occupancy. The integral fan is boosted to ensure the avoidance of stratification. With removal of radiators, as the heat is supplied at high level, the risk of expensive low surface temperature (LST) issues are also eliminated.

MFS ensures an even distribution of airflow, with control over temperature and CO2 levels within, and maintains a comfortable internal environment for occupants, attains air leakage better than legislative requirements5m3/HR/m2, and a U value of 1W/m2/°C. It is recognised as being fully compliant with Environmental Funding Agency, Facilities Output Specification and BB101

requirements for school ventilation.

Family-owned, Gilberts has over 55 years’ pedigree in developing and manufacturing innovative air movement solutions. It is unique in the sector in its ability to design, engineer and supply its products with all processes undertaken in-house at its 85,000ft2 head office and manufacturing facility in Blackpool. Tel: 01253 766911 Email: info@gilbertsblackpool.com

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HVAC

HOW SMART HYBRID HEATING SYSTEMS CAN HELP RSLS PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS Ian Rose, professional services director at PassivSystems

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egistered Social Landlords (RSLs) have a significant role to play in helping the UK reach net-zero emissions by 2050. To do this, they need to find an affordable way to retrofit existing properties with low-carbon heating, without compromising comfort or hiking up bills for economically vulnerable tenants.

The Future Homes Standard requires the installation of low-carbon heating in all new-build homes in England by 2025, with similar rules proposed for Scottish and Welsh homes by their respective governments. But this leaves over four million existing social homes in the UK that also need to move away from fossil fuels. Finding the

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most effective and cost-efficient way of doing this is an urgent concern.

All-electric air source heat pumps offer a low-carbon technology alternative to traditional boilers. However, as they are more efficient at lower temperatures, they require larger radiators, or underfloor heating, to work at their best.

Capital Economics estimate the cost of retrofitting the UK’s four million social homes with all-electric heat pumps at almost £35bn. With most homes expected to undergo two or three boiler replacements before 2050, the UK needs a transition plan that avoids leaving RSLs with stranded heating assets and guards against saddling them with unaffordable capital costs.

Today, capital costs for low-carbon heat technologies are subsidised through a government scheme called the renewable heat incentive (RHI). This scheme, however, will end in March 2021 and, as yet, the government has not announced if – or how – it will replace the subsidy. Savvy landlords are looking to make changes to their heating systems while incentives are still available.

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A SMARTER WAY TO SWITCH TO LOWCARBON HEATING

Adopting a smart hybrid heating approach is a more cost-efficient way to switch to low-carbon heating, making better use of existing assets. Hybrid heating systems operate an electric heat pump alongside the existing gas or oil boiler. This is easier and cheaper to retrofit than an all-electric heat pump, with less disruption to the tenant. As well as working alongside existing radiators and boilers, it requires a smaller heat pump – offering a further cost saving.

This approach is more affordable and easier to roll out for RSLs, helps reduce bills for tenants, lowers carbon emissions, and maintains comfort levels in the home.

CAPITALISING ON THE VALUE OF FLEXIBILITY Electrifying our domestic heating and transport systems will inevitably increase overall electricity demand. The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) forecasts that we will require 80GW of new capacity by 2035, a substantial increase from the current capacity of around 100GW. New capacity is increasingly met by renewables in the energy mix. This is good as renewables are low carbon, but they are also inherently variable.

The availability of power is dictated by environmental conditions (including how much sun and wind there is) that do not necessarily match variations in demand.

This makes balancing supply and demand more challenging. Increasingly, grid operators are looking to improve their control of demand (rather than supply) in order to balance the network.

This means that to continue to allow new sources of renewable power on to the grid, we need to increase the flexibility of the electricity system. Energy storage and demand management such as demand side response (DSR)

HVAC

are important contributors to flexibility, which is why the UK’s electricity system operator, National Grid, currently offers financial incentives to businesses who actively manage their demand.

This opens up an opportunity for RSLs to benefit from the financial value inherent in the demand response market.

By using smart, integrated technology to dynamically switch between the use of electricity and gas, smart hybrid heating systems turn homes into ‘peaking plant’ – able to reduce the amount of electricity in use when the grid is under stress. This flexibility to support the grid with a hybrid, dual-fuel approach to low-carbon heating can lead to valuable additional income for RSLs.

HYBRID HEAT AND DEMAND RESPONSE A typical scenario would see the heat pump warm the house using cheap electricity overnight ready for the morning. Come mid-afternoon, the smart controls call on the gas boiler to quickly increase heat in the property.

During early evening, the smart control system can switch between the gas boiler and electric air source heat pump to avoid adding to peak electricity demands on an overloaded grid.

This shift of electricity use away from peak times and peak prices helps residents to reduce their energy bills and improves grid stability.

Hybrid heating systems can move as much demand to gas as they like – they have complete load flexibility.

With a gas boiler always available, the system need never compromise the comfort of the occupants.

SMART CONTROL IS KEY TO SUCCESS A smart control system, developed by PassivSystems, enables switching between the two heat sources to automatically use the most cost-effective heating mode at any time of the day or night.

The control unit uses machine learning technology to understand the thermal characteristics of the property and create a mathematical model of the house and heating system.

The smart control system combines the thermal model with weather data to choose exactly the right approach to keep the heat pump running gently while ramping up gradually throughout

the night using a dynamically controlled flow temperature. This allows the house to cool slightly, reducing thermal losses, while keeping the heat pump running at a the most efficient temperature.

Machine learning enables the system to automatically tune the algorithm to the properties of the house.

So, for example, the system would choose continuous heating for a slow responding system such as underfloor heating or turn off during the night if the house loses heat quickly. There are no further modifications or interventions required in tenants’ properties.

The strategy for controlling a hybrid heating system is to utilise the boiler to provide bursts of heat to warm the house up quickly, while the heat pump provides temperature maintenance and a ‘base load’ during periods where a fully warm house is not required.

Smart hybrid heating is proven technology that is in use today. A more affordable and less disruptive way to move to low-carbon heating than allelectric heat pumps, it can also unlock the value of demand response capacity in domestic homes – providing the means for RSLs to fund their transition to lowcarbon heat. www.passivsystems.com

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HVAC

HOW UK UNIVERSITIES CAN MEET CARBON REDUCTION TARGETS Business Development Manager – Corporate Solutions at Mitsubishi Electric Living Environmental Systems UK

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ith students undoubtedly driving the conversation on climate change, it was a surprise to see that two-thirds of UK universities are expected to fall short of meeting 2020 carbon reduction targets. If you’re unfamiliar, the formerly known Higher Education Funding Council for England developed a carbon reduction strategy back in 2011, requiring universities to develop strategies to help them achieve a 43% reduction in their carbon emissions between 2005 and 2020. With the year of reckoning upon us, it appears just 49 of 154 institutions are on track to meet this target.

These figures come from the recent People & Planet University League table which monitors carbon management plans and targets as well as actual performance in reducing emissions.

Worryingly, some universities don’t appear to have invested at all in energy-saving strategies, with several institutions achieving 0% in their carbon reduction and reporting no commitment to divesting from fossil fuels. The table also shows that just eight universities have a policy to invest in renewable energy. Thus it seems many universities have slowed down on what was a promising and energetic period of commitment following when the initial targets were set.

Considering we’re in a time where awareness of climate change issues is at an all-time high, what is holding our centres of academic excellence back when it comes to carbon reduction?

A major factor universities have reported as hindering serious carbon reductions is increasing student numbers and campus expansions - which can understandably cancel out any real progress - as well as the lack of government support for public sector sustainability. Unhelpfully, the Office for Students, who replaced the Higher Education Funding Council, decided to drop the requirement for universities to report their carbon emission data, which naturally removes the urgency to make bold changes. Add a complete lack of government incentive on top of this and universities are arguably left without real guidance or encouragement to implement big changes.

WHERE CAN UNIVERSITIES IMPROVE? To make a quick, yet drastic, impact on carbon reduction, universities can look to their current

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heating and cooling systems. Undergoing an energy audit would highlight where improvements can be made as well as the areas to be targeted, offering a clear starting point for an energy management strategy. Not only that, but increasing the efficiency of HVAC systems would no doubt reduce energy bills as well as emissions - a win-win for any institution.

The Brite Green Higher Education Sector Carbon Report acknowledged that the advice universities need to follow is no different from that which is already offered to businesses and organisations to help reduce their energy bills. Identify key areas where energy wastage is highest, and develop a plan to reduce usage.

Oxford Brookes University, for example, has installed smart technology around the university which will essentially adjust energy use in rooms to solve the issue of heating being left on in an unoccupied room, or when windows are left open whilst the heating is on.

This would be an excellent initiative to implement in student halls, considering accommodation is often a large part of an institutions’ total emissions.

Another easy win for universities would be to re-assess their current air conditioning systems, and where possible, upgrade to systems which use lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerant R32. Such air conditioning systems use up to 20% less refrigerant than higher GWP refrigerant equivalents, making them more efficient. And with more efficiency comes lower carbon emissions and lower energy costs.

Alternatively, institutions could invest in Hybrid VRF systems which limit the

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amount of refrigerant being used by using water as a replacement in occupied spaces, making them a simple way to stick within the carbon emission targets.

International travel also hinders universities ability to reduce carbon emissions. The trend towards collaboration between academics from different countries, as well as the growth of the conference scene has lead to a significant increase in plane trips. Of course, this collaborative effort is excellent and a sign of progression in UK education.

But video-conference technology has come on leaps and bounds and could be another easy win for carbon reduction.

POSITIVE STEPS Of course, we can’t ignore the positive steps that have already been taken.

We only have to look at the number of universities declaring a climate emergency to recognise the issue is being taken seriously; The University of Manchester, The University of Sussex and Cardiff University to name but a few.

Promisingly, 76 UK universities have announced some form of divestment from fossil fuels, meaning greater investment in sustainable methods of heating and cooling. The University of Northampton’s new Waterside Campus, for example, will generate its heating and hot water via an on-site energy centre incorporating woodchip biomass boilers and a combined heat and power system.

The University of Nottingham similarly is making use of a range of renewable technologies across its estate to provide heating and hot water, including air and ground source heat

HVAC pumps, solar electricity and biomass boilers. Meanwhile, the University of Hertfordshire secured a BREEAM Outstanding rating for their zero-carbon accredited student accommodation site.

The student halls utilise a biomass-fuelled energy centre in order to generate energy for a large part of the campus.

Impressively, The University of Gloucestershire, who topped the People & Planet league table announced a total divestment from fossil fuels with immediate effect back in 2018, as well an overachievement of a 46% reduction in their carbon emissions, despite having expanded their estate! These reductions were a result of switching boilers to cleaner fuels, introducing LED lighting, using smarter building management controls and improving insulation. Another huge success from the university includes their commitment to integrating sustainable development into their courses, with their goal to change the ‘brain print’ of their students and graduates.

CONCLUDING REMARKS The innovative developments demonstrated by numerous universities are highly promising, showing that where our institutions are prepared to make drastic decisions, significant carbon emission savings are being made. And with the wealth of intellectual resources held in UK universities, and the significant opportunities to work across interdisciplinary departments, drastic, bold decisions are what we want from our centres of inspiration and innovation. No doubt this is what students who are passionately advocating for climate action want also.

There are quick wins to be had by honing in on heating and cooling systems, which has been a significant focus for several universities. But for the most part, these changes are coming too slow and without urgency. However, with a lack of government support and increasing pressure on university facilities, is it any surprise that real progress is being slowed down? Rather than expecting these institutions to have the answers immediately, perhaps we should be doing more to support them from a manufacturing and advisory point of view.

Climate change is a universal problem, so it only makes sense that we all offer solutions and advice where practical and possible. A collaborative response is what will help both universities, and the UK as a whole, reach carbon reduction targets and is what we hope will be the approach to climate change issues going forward. https://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/

RINNAI HOT WATER – RELIABLY INSTANT, ENERGY EFFICIENT AND LOWER FUEL COSTS FOR UK HOMEOWNERS

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innai’s range of ErP A-rated continuous flow gas-fired hot water heaters now includes models specifically aimed and designed for the UK domestic market. The units guarantee high efficiencies and low running costs combined with consistent water temperatures seven days a week.

Rinnai’s range of continuous flow water heating units are being specified and installed in the whole range of domestic properties – studios, flats, houses, high-end residential houses - as installers and end users become aware of the ease of installation, and the energy & cost saving benefits.

Rinnai manufactures over two million water heaters every year and as such is at the forefront of creating unit cost advantages for installers.

Competitively priced, the units offer all technological advances and innovations, all at a similar cost to lower specification competitor models.

The reason for the increase in popularity is that continuous flow heating systems are proven to be more energy efficient than conventional ones and are now the preferred method of hot water provision. Rinnai units meet the demands of any size of home and are ideal where high volumes are demanded at intermittent times of the day, delivering safe temperature useable hot water.

Rinnai’s multipoint 17i water heater, for example, eliminates the problem of sudden changes in water temperature, resulting in cold showers or scalding hot baths – the water temperature you set is the water temperature you get. So, if somebody is happily showering at 42°C and a tap is turned on to draw a bath elsewhere in the property, the temperature does not vary, and there is no chance of either user running out of hot water.

The Rinnai 16i interior model measures just 675 x 370 x 139mm and weighs in at 18kg - a one-man lift. The room-sealed unit has a temperature range of 35°C to 60°C with direct electronic ignition. Gas consumption ranges between 4.7kW-6.5kW for Natural Gas and 4.9kW-36.8kW when using propane. Hot water delivery flow is an impressive 16ltr max flow. Nominal

operation pressure is 1-7 bar and it uses a 230V AC 50Hz 1ph power supply with an electrical consumption of 68W. Meanwhile, where an external installation is required, the Rinnai 17e external multipoint water heater offers greater flexibility at the design stage and offers a viable solution where flue runs are problematic or internal space is not available. Capable of flow rates of up to 510 litres per hour at a 50°C rise, the 17e is suitable for multiple applications and can be specified for use with Natural Gas or propane.

The 17e has full frost protection and is available with a range of external ancillary items, including pipe cover box – and security cage where necessary.

For smaller properties, the Infinity 11i interior unit differs from the 17i as it weighs 2kg less at 16kg and consumes 6.10kW-21.60kW of Natural Gas and has an 11-litre maximum flow.

Key features of the 24kW Rinnai 11i are: Compact & lightweight unit for easy installation; Robust, durable heat exchanger; User friendly digital controls; In-built frost protection; Ideal replacement for large obtrusive and bulky cylinder; Compact design to fit a limited space. www.rinnaiuk.com

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HVAC

HOW TO CUT ENERGY BILLS? LOOK TO THE ROOF… William MCDowell, National Business Development Manager for Zenon rooflights at Hambleside Danelaw

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n the drive to reduce carbon emissions, there is a simple fix right above us. In many of our existing industrial buildings, the occupants may not even be fully aware that they have rooflights, because they are so old, dirty or discoloured. Yet a comparatively simple upgrade to ‘the hole in the roof’ can have a massive impact on the internal environment below, reducing lighting and heating costs and thus reducing carbon emissions.

“A rooflight area of 15-20% achieved savings in running costs of £5.92/m2/yr (at prices current when the report was compiled), and reduced emissions by 28.7kgCO2/m2/yr,” National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers (NARM NTD10).

Construction materials continue to evolve to help address the drive to improve thermal performance, light transmission without solar glare, and reduce carbon emissions.

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THE COST OF LIGHTING It is accepted knowledge that it costs four times more to light a building than to heat: light can be the biggest single energy use, as lights are left on whether or not they are neededeven when the building is empty!

On paper it may seem cheaper in capital cost to change internal supplementary lighting to LED, yet upgrading of the rooflight material to optimise natural daylight within will reduce the amount of supplementary electric lighting required for decades to come (modern GRP rooflights are guaranteed for up to 30 years). And, of course, natural daylight is a free resource!

Indeed, anecdotal evidence indicates the payback on rooflights versus artificial light is just 10 years in pure energy costs. That does not take into account the benefits in terms of health & wellbeing (including safety) – and improved performance – of the workforce within the building.

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THE COST OF HEALTH & WELLBEING There is growing awareness of addressing people’s health & wellbeing at work. Natural daylight is proven to enhance workforce morale and increase productivity (NARM Rooflighting Best Practice Quick Guide 05).

Scientific studies have shown that the cost of not having a workplace wellness program is greater than the cost of implementing one. In essence, a healthy workforce is a happier workforce, and a happier workforce is more productive. Similar studies have also shown people learn and heal more quickly in naturally-lit buildings.

Daylighting plays a part through visual comfort, through glare control and reduction of artificial internal lighting, and views out.

The type and quality of light affects occupant health & wellbeing too. Equally, the type of light can be used to positive effect in the space below. The type of light is influenced by the rooflight material.

Conventionally, in large logistics or industrial buildings, the choice is between Polycarbonate and GRP (NARM NTD09).

Polycarbonate delivers direct light whereas GRP delivers a diffused light. Direct light can cause solar glare and shadowing, which in turn can cause discomfort for occupants. Shadowing is also a safety

HVAC issue, potentially increasing the risk of trips and falls. The diffused light from GRP rooflights provides more uniform internal light by dispersing that light over a wider area further reducing the supplementary artificial light requirement.

THE COST OF HEATING When it comes to heating costs, industrial- i.e. GRP- rooflights are no exception. Depending on the configuration, a U value as low as 0.9W/ m2K can be achieved, still within the typical configuration of a double skin/ composite assembly within a metal roof.

It is also worth considering that a well- designed building with a good spread of natural daylight will also benefit from passive solar gain that can reduce the demand for space heating for many months of the year.

BREEAM Developments in production processes now mean that certain GRP rooflights can tangibly contribute an additional 1.5points towards BREEAM accreditation, alongside the contribution rooflights are conventionally accepted to make.

The points can be achieved in new build, fit-out and refurbishment projects, and are gained specifically in Materials (Mat 02), when the specific GRP rooflight chosen carries an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). The certification also counts as suitable evidence under Mat 03. Further, GRP rooflights with an independently-approved Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can use that to contribute towards BREEAM in Mat 01.

The Energy and Health & wellbeing benefits – as outlined above – also contribute towards BREEAM ratings.

Note, the three main sectors in which rooflights contribute towards BREEAM are also the three most heavily weighted.

BREEAM accreditation is an increasingly significant consideration.

It ensures your building is more energy- and cost-efficient to operate.

It thus makes it more appealing to future purchasers or tenants.

CARBON EMISSIONS According to the Technology Strategy Board, the construction, operation & maintenance of the built environment accounts for 45% of total UK carbon emissions.

New technologies in the manufacturing processes mean that not all GRP rooflights are the same, with some versions using a stronger GRP substrate that is lighter in weight and

has up to 40% less embodied carbon than traditional GRP rooflight sheeting.

Insulating cores vary too: honeycomb cellulose acetate offers lower embodied energy, increased light transmission than the traditional Polycarbonate, and is biodegradable at end of life.

MAKING THE MOST OF ROOFLIGHTS According to the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), 70% of the buildings currently standing will still be here in 2050.

The challenge therefore lies as much in retrofitting existing building stock.

It is easier than you may think to address the rooflights. Depending on the area of operation/ activity within the building, it is common to continue to use the building whilst the rooflights are replaced or upgraded.

Latest research and Simplified Building Energy Modelling (SBEM) has dispelled the long-held belief that a ratio of 10% rooflights: roof area was the optimal. Increasing the rooflight area to 12% still achieves compliance with Building Regulations Approved Document L. It may, depending on the specifics of the building in terms of geographical location, topography, construction and various other factors, be possible to increase that ratio to 20% and still see benefits in reduction in heating and lighting costs.

Of course, depending on the size (m2) of the roof, it may be a significant decision to make as to whether to upgrade/ refurbish. It is possible to commission a rooflight manufacturer to evaluate the existing and provide a light and thermal transmission report in advance. Thus an informed decision can be made about the investment.

Upgrading may involve re-sheeting, overcladding, or complete rooflight replacement. The choice will depend on a whole host of considerations in terms of aims and objectives balanced against practicalities of disturbance to and continuance of operations.

The best thing to do is research it thoroughly, and utilise expert advice. A range of useful technical guidance cane be found here: https://www.hamblesidedanelaw.co.uk/downloads/.

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WATER MANAGEMENT

WATER CONSERVATION – BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT THE PROBLEM With the shortfall in freshwater supplies already reaching crisis level in some parts of the world, and the Environment Agency warning that the UK could run short within 25 years, water conservation is one of the major challenges facing companies across the industrial spectrum. But environmentally sustainable products are available that can help companies become part of the solution, says David Amory, of AESSEAL.

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he water crisis is playing out on a global scale. The UK Environment Agency has warned that England is set to run short of this vital resource within 25 years, while at a global level a number of major cities have been at risk of hitting ‘Day Zero’ – when the taps run dry.

While rising domestic water demand has contributed significantly to water stress, and climate change and population growth cannot be ignored

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as significant factors in the crisis, the fact remains that agriculture and industry withdraw the overwhelming majority of the world’s freshwater.

Tackling water shortage must therefore involve collective and concerted action at every level.

Many organisations have made a commitment to reducing their environmental footprint by embedding sustainability targets in strategies and appointing sustainability personnel to senior positions. However, this is

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not always backed up by investment in operational changes to tackle excessive water consumption.

In its recent report Treading Water the CDP, the global organisation which drives action by companies and governments to safeguard water resources, presented some starkly contrasting facts: while the number of companies setting targets to reduce water withdrawals doubled between 2015 and 2018, in that same period there was an almost

WATER MANAGEMENT 50% rise in the number of companies reporting higher water withdrawals.

So, what might incentivise senior management to make the leap from ‘good intentions’ to a proactive, effective sustainability programme?

They could consider: • Eliminating all water waste beyond the absolute minimum required for the efficient functioning of rotating equipment and the process • Eradicating the leakage that leads to product dilution • Improve reliability and put an end to unscheduled downtime • Making significant energy savings • Achieving swift return on investment and long term operational savings • This can be achieved through a simple upgrade to advanced dual mechanical seals and seal support systems on rotating equipment such as pumps. Retrofitting legacy equipment is not an issue.

The only really difficult part is changing your mindset.

WATER-SAVING SOLUTIONS Traditional gland packing and single mechanical seals are common root causes of excessive water use in manufacturing. Both often require substantial quantities of clean, cool water to provide lubrication and prevent overheating, yet even in optimal environments they display serious operational flaws. Leakage is a standard feature, causing product loss and contamination. Maintenance is intensive and mean times between failure (MTBF) short. But their greatest drawback is the sheer volume of seal flush water that is

often injected from an external source to provide this cooling lubrication, the vast bulk of which goes down the drain or is evaporated off at the end of the cycle.

In a typical application, where water is measured for one minute, around 6 to12 litres (1.6 to 3.17 gallons) of flush water is required. In continuous operation that amounts to roughly 3.2 to 6.3 million litres (0.8 to 1.6 million gallons) per year, for each seal (or pump).

Yet simply replacing gland packing or single mechanical seals with modern double mechanical seals and a water management support system will virtually eliminate leakage, improve pump reliability and reduce the amount of seal flush water required to virtually zero.

With dual mechanical seals, one of the two faces seals towards the process fluid and one to atmosphere, with a barrier space between the two. Like single seals, these require a constant, consistent flow of fluid (often water) to ensure the seal faces operate efficiently and dry-running does not lead to seal failure.

This is where the water management support system comes into play. Using a thermosiphon process, the support system supplies clean, cool water to the barrier space between the double seals at a pressure higher than the

product pressure, ensuring a consistent, stable and clean fluid film keeps the seal faces cool and lubricated. This flush water is constantly recycled, flowing across the seal faces in a continuous loop and reducing leakage to the absolute minimum. Roughly one teaspoonful of water a day is lost, in the form of vapour.

Dual mechanical seals can meet the requirements of almost any application and can withstand extreme temperature and pressure fluctuations. There is virtually no industry for which this type of water saving sealing technology is not suitable.

Even companies with a strong commitment to the International Standards Organisation ISO-14001 Standard for environmental management systems and ISO-50001 Standard for energy management systems must keep a close eye on the bottom line.

But by installing the correct dual seal and support system, from an annual operational budget you could subtract: • The cost of energy to heat, cool or evaporate external flush water • Equipment costs for the frequent repair or replacement of gland packing, failed bearings (caused by water ingress as a result of seal leakage) and, in worst-case scenarios, pump shafts or sleeves damaged by the friction of gland packing • Routine and unscheduled maintenance engineer costs – this sealing technology is almost maintenance-free and causes no damage to bearings or pump shafts • Effluent charges for discarded water These savings comprehensively refute the practice of continuing to fit the same old sealing technology simply because it was specified by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The reality is that some seal suppliers offer cheaper bulk sales to OEMs, but then make up for that loss leader by selling replacement seals to end-users at a much higher price, so any perceived saving is questionable in the long-term.

There are clear operational and financial benefits to upgrading to more environmentally sustainable sealing technology. Less easy to calculate is the enhanced reputation that comes from being able, not just to declare a commitment to water conservation, but to evidence it. www.aesseal.com

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CHP

HOW TO ACHIEVE CHPQA ASSURANCE TO MAXIMISE CHP FINANCIAL INCENTIVES Achieving the CHPQA quality mark is a vital step in maximising savings from CHP technology and avoiding rising energy costs, advises Hugh Richmond, CEO of Edina.

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o unlock additional financial benefit from Combined Heat and Power (CHP) organisations must make sure their projects meet the standards for ‘Good Quality CHP’ under the Combined Heat and Power Quality Assurance (CHPQA) programme.

CHP, also known as cogeneration, is a highly efficient process involving the simultaneous production of electricity together with heat, which is captured rather than being wasted, as is the case in traditional power generation.

For suitable sites, CHP is one of the most effective ways of reducing energy costs. It can deliver huge financial savings – resulting in rapid return of investment (often within 2-3 years). It also offers a cost-effective way to reduce carbon emissions, while helping to improve energy resilience.

CHP FINANCIAL INCENTIVES Given recent huge hikes in the Climate Change Levy (CCL) tax, one of the most rewarding incentives is a partial exemption from CCL, which has been charged at much higher rates since 2019. Other major financial benefits include qualification for Enhanced Capital Allowances / Annual Investment Allowances and reduced business rates.

Organisations must achieve CHPQA assurance to qualify for all three of these incentives.

1. CLIMATE CHANGE LEVY (CCL) The CCL is a non-domestic environmental tax on electricity, gas and solid fuels. It is designed to encourage organisations to be more energy efficient. CHP schemes that are recognised as ‘Good Quality’ under the annual CHPQA assessment that consume the electricity they generate on-site are exempt from CCL payments on the gas used to generate the power.

2. ENHANCED CAPITAL ALLOWANCE/ANNUAL INVESTMENT ALLOWANCE Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs) encourage investment in energy saving equipment by enabling the cost of investment to be written off against taxable profits. This scheme closes at the end of the 2019/20 financial year, but businesses can still benefit by claiming the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA).

ABOUT CHPQA CHPQA is a government initiative that provides a model for assessing and certifying the quality of CHP in the UK. The cogeneration assessment standard was devised in 2001 and aligns with the requirements of EU Directive 2012/27/EU on Energy Efficiency and UK policy to optimise CHP productivity.

Under CHPQA, schemes are assessed based on their efficiency and environmental performance. If a scheme is certified as ‘Good Quality CHP’ then it will qualify for a range of financial incentives, provided that certain standards are achieved.

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3. BUSINESS RATES Organisations using ‘Good Quality’ CHP to meet their on-site energy needs may benefit from preferential business rates.

RISING COST OF CCL For many years the CCL rate increased only slightly year-on-year. This changed in 2019 when the government abolished the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (formerly known as the “Carbon Reduction Commitment”). The ‘lost’ CRC revenue has been offset by huge increases in CCL rates. In 2019 there was a 67% CCL rate increase on natural gas (from 0.203 pence per KWh to 0.339) and a 45% increase on electricity (from 0.583 pence per KWh to 0.847).

From April 2020, the CCL rates will increase on gas and decrease on electricity so that, from 2021, CCL rates on gas will be equal to 60% of the rate for electricity. This makes CCL exemption on natural gas fuelled CHP systems increasingly attractive.

Light energy users and charities do not have to pay the Climate Change Levy (CCL). Some very large energy users can also gain an exemption if they negotiate a Climate Change Agreement, but most other organisations are liable for this significant tax. Making use of efficient on-site CHP provides a proven route to reducing the financial sting of this environmental tax as qualifying sites will be exempt from CCL payments on the natural gas used to fuel the CHP system.

CHP GOOD QUALITY CHP To qualify under CHPQA as ‘Good Quality’, operators must provide evidence that their CHP system is running at energy efficiency. At a minimum, the project must be more efficient, in terms of heat and power, than alternative energy options. Each CHP system will be evaluated based on data that confirms the fuel used, power generated, and heat supplied.

The CHPQA Standard sets out the definitions, criteria and methodologies for the operation of the programme.

It should be interpreted alongside the more detailed CHPQA Guidance Notes, which provide compliance information, along with notes on how the Standard will be interpreted by various government departments and agencies.

The CHPQA Standard uses two key parameters to assess CHP performance.

It calculates if the proposed CHP scheme exceeds the required threshold criteria by providing the CHP with Quality Index (QI) and power efficiency ratings.

• Existing systems must achieve a minimum QI of 100, and a minimum power efficiency of 20%.

• New systems must achieve a minimum QI of 105 and a minimum power efficiency of 20%.

Power efficiency is the total annual power output of a scheme, divided by the total annual fuel energy input.

Schemes must meet a certain efficiency threshold for their installed capacity, relative to typical values for traditional production of heat and electricity.

The full list of QI indicators is included in the CHPQA Standard.

HOW TO QUALIFY FOR CHPQA The qualification process for CHPQA is a desk-based, self-assessment exercise.

There are several routes to completion, with the appropriate route determined by the complexity of the CHP project and whether it is an existing or new scheme.

A scheme is defined as simple if it meets all of the following criteria: • Generating capacity < 2MWe • Single reciprocating engine • Single conventional fuel used • No heat rejection facility Those responsible for simple schemes will have to follow the same basic process as complex schemes, but the forms required at each step are shorter and easier to complete.

A scheme is deemed ‘complex’ if any of the following apply: • Generating capacity greater than or equal to 2 MWe • Prime mover, not a single reciprocating engine • Non-conventional fuel used • Fire boiler(s) included within scheme boundary CHPQA assessment needs to be completed once each year to ensure that a CHP project is continuing to perform efficiently. Because previous years’ performance data is available for existing CHP schemes, there is a slightly different assessment process for new and existing schemes.

In order to claim the Climate Change Levy (CCL) exemption on ‘Good Quality’ CHP fuel and electricity and the Annual Investment Allowance on eligible capital expenditure, it is necessary to apply for a Secretary of State CHP Certificate (SoS Certificate). This can be requested by completing the appropriate section of the CHPQA F3, or F4 submission form.

CHPQA TIMESCALE CHPQA certification is issued on an annual calendar year cycle and all certificates expire on 31 December of the year of approval. For existing CHP schemes, this means that organisations should compile energy data (fuel used, electricity generated, and actual heat used), assess performance and complete forms shortly after the end of each calendar year.

Guidance from the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy states that organisations should submit the completed forms by the end of March to allow enough time for administrators to validate the submissions and issue a new certificate in time for the Secretary of State Certificate to be maintained at the end of June deadline.

Failing to meet this deadline may mean that entitlement to the CCL exemption is removed between the beginning of the year until the new exemption certificate is issued.

STEPS TO CHPQA SUCCESS As long as your site is suitable and your CHP system is correctly specified, installed and maintained, your CHP system should meet the performance requirements of the CHPQA programme.

To meet the ‘Good Quality’ CHP classification it is important to consider the following:

MAKE SURE THE CHP PROJECT IS SIZED PROPERLY Any new CHP scheme needs to be based on accurate energy data at the planning stage. If a CHP plant is too large it will run inefficiently and could lose money. But if a CHP is undersized then the cost and carbon savings may not be as high as expected.

MAKE CHP THE LEAD HEAT GENERATOR CHP should take precedence over boilers as the lead heat generator at all times, so you benefit from the higher efficiency.

USE METERING TO ACCURATELY RECORD USAGE The metering and sub metering of fuel use and heat and electricity generation enables you to better understand the efficiency of CHP. Recording systems must be up to CHPQA standards or renewing the CHP Certificate will be difficult.

PERFORM PROACTIVE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING It’s vital you look after the system, performing all the necessary maintenance and servicing to the manufacturer’s instructions to maintain optimum efficiency.

For further information about CHP or the CHPQA scheme, please contact Edina on +44 (0)161 432 8833, email info@ edina.eu or visit www.edina.eu/chp.

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RENEWABLE ENERGY

WINDS OF CHANGE: EMBRACING THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE GROWING OFFSHORE SECTOR IN THE UK Alexandre Golisano, Strategy Director Power Systems at Schneider Electric

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n the UK, the past few years have seen an increase in an array of extreme weather events. Hotter, drier summers and wet, stormy winters are placing more strain on our energy infrastructure and our vital industries. Back in 2018, The Environment Agency estimated that the economic damage of the 2015-16 winter floods (the most extreme flooding on record at the time) was around £1.6 billion. With heavy deluges hitting the entire country at the beginning of this year in the form of storms Ciara, Dennis, Ellen and Francis, illustrating the direct effect the climate crisis is having on our environment as it’s effectively forced into ever-sharper definition.

Growing pressure is being applied by consumers and governments alike to avert the climate crisis by moving away from our traditional ‘dirty’ fossil fuel power sources towards low carbon solutions.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS (STILL) AN ENERGY PROBLEM Although the UK and its like-minded international allies have been working towards targets to limit global warming for many years, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has agreed that our definition of a ‘safe’ limit of climate change needs to shift. For example, the 2°C global temperature increase cap as set out by the Paris Agreement, publicised for many years as the most progressive global climate change target, is now being revised. Instead, 1.5°C is the absolute maximum that can be mitigated in order to prevent numerous low-lying countries (such as the Netherlands) from being inundated as sea levels rise.

But seeing the climate crisis without also recognising the economic opportunities of building a more sustainable world would be a mistake. While we face significant challenges to limiting our greenhouse gas emissions and our contribution towards global warming, the UK is ideally placed to taking a leading role in a new emerging ‘green economy’ approach.

This is where the windy weather of the British Isles comes into play.

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THE UK IS TAKING ACTION, BUT GOALS FOR THE FUTURE ARE AMBITIOUS The UK energy sector in particular has already made significant strides towards decarbonising. Energy supply was the single largest generator of greenhouse gas emissions producing 242.1 million tonnes of CO2 in 1990, but by 2018 had reduced this by an impressive 59%.

However, the UK is now the first country which has committed to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 – meaning that the government will need to rely on offshore power in their strategy to reach this goal.

To achieve this, the renewables sector in the UK is growing fast, supported by both private investment and the government’s introduction of Contracts for Difference in 201415, which have been successful in incentivising renewables projects by protecting businesses from volatile wholesale process and guaranteeing a reliable return on investment. According to Renewable UK, the UK’s current operational capacity from onshore and offshore wind is over twenty two gigawatts. This is enough energy to power almost 16 million homes. One of the low carbon sources most suited to our current climate and environment, offshore wind already contributes a significant part of our renewable energy with 8 GW installed, a figure which is forecast to increase to 30GW in 2030 and 75GW in 2050, with several new project auctions in the works.

While this target sounds ambitious, innovations both at home and in the global markets are supporting this boom in offshore wind power. The size of turbines is increasing, meaning that more power can be generated from each unit installed in a highly efficient way.

With the number of ongoing projects in the UK also scaling rapidly, the cost of investment in the sector has dropped by approximately 40% in just the past two years. As a result, the cost of the

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electricity generated becomes more affordable, projected to drop below electricity wholesale prices in 2024.

Demand on the consumer side for green and affordable energy is strong, however the unpredictable nature of wind energy supply still poses an obstacle to weaning our grid off ‘switch on’ energy sources.

Built for a traditional one-way power flow in a passive network, our grid is working on building up the digital capacity required to manage the new reality of distributed renewable energy generation.

The UK has adapted significantly since the days of coal-fired power, and improved infrastructure must be implemented to suit our new approach to energy.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR OFFSHORE IN THE UK? Currently, the flow of data in our power grid is inconsistent across the country. Forty per cent of the power generated through renewables in the UK goes directly to Distribution Network Operators (rather than the Transmission Network Operator). This creates a major obstacle for National Grid to embrace active energy management and balancing the grid’s load effectively, something which is essential to incorporating the variable output of renewable sources into our energy mix to deliver a reliable supply for both consumers and industry. Data is fundamental to the future of our power sector’s economy to unlock system and consumer benefits, flexibility, resilience and costs in the most efficient way.

In addition to improving reliability of the UK power supply, keeping up with innovation in the offshore wind sector is the best way for the UK to maintain its lead in this field. As the floodgates open to both domestic and international investment, we have a significant opportunity to set the world standard in grid connectivity. Already seen as the ultimate test in safety and reliability for the nuclear and power station industries, the UK will be a key case study for other countries looking to upgrade their legacy grid infrastructure in order to integrate a higher proportion of renewables and start managing their energy supply in a smarter, more connected way. www.se.com

RENEWABLE ENERGY

TECHNOLOGY IS ESSENTIAL FOR A CARBON-NEUTRAL ECONOMY: GREEN HYDROGEN ON THE GRID

H

ydrogen is the simplest and most abundant element in the universe, but it rarely exists as a gas by itself – it must be separated from other elements. Hydrogen can be produced by the electrolysis of water; using an electric current to break water into its component elements.

When hydrogen is produced through renewable energy generation, such as wind turbines or solar panels, it creates what is known as green hydrogen.

A mix of technologies are essential for meeting our carbon emissions targets.

Green hydrogen will play a major role in providing an alternative to fossil fuels, as its production does not generate any harmful emissions. In fact, the UK Government has already invested heavily in green hydrogen projects.

HP2, a wind farm 89 kilometres off the coast of Yorkshire, is planned to be fully operational by 2022. Boasting a capacity of 1.4 gigawatts (GW), the wind farm will provide power to over 1.3 million homes. While these new farms sound idyllic, they do bring complications.

Managing the electricity generated to match the demand is becoming more complicated as more generation sources are added. Local storage can help with this, whether it be large batteries or green hydrogen. They also help increase the capacity factor storing the energy when the demand is not there. How is it best to integrate the renewable power generated into the UK grid system?

GREEN INTEGRATION Ensuring the relationship between the grid and renewable generation relies on gathering data. Integrating more volatile forms of renewable energy, like green hydrogen, only heightens the complexity of this infrastructure, creating new challenges of balancing supply and demand and energy storage.

As the UK invests in renewable generation sites, grid operators must invest in software to manage their integration. COPA-DATA’s zenon can be used to integrate green hydrogen into both the electricity and gas supply.

As smart grid software, the system continually monitors operations from the energy grid and wide-spread generation assets, identifying where energy is being generated and where it is required.

The energy storage process can be automated, meaning that hydrogen stored can either be used for the network when needed or converted back to electricity if demand shifts.

This stream of demand and supply information is just one small fraction of the sheer amount of data that the software can gather from the grid and generation. With the zenon Energy Edition, it is possible to create an intelligent network, combining renewable generation data with grid demand and individual substations, sharing accurate forecasts of gas and electricity demand.

Investment in renewable energy is essential if we are going to be a

Offshore wind is rapidly emerging as a key potential power source for the production of green hydrogen.

What will soon be the world’s largest offshore farm, Hornsea Project Two (HP2) in the North Sea, was awarded £7.5 million by the UK Government, bolstering Britain’s efforts to generate more renewable power.

In this article, Garry Forfar, Regional Manager for industrial software supplier COPA-DATA, explores the future of green hydrogen and the complexity of its integration onto the UK’s power grid. carbon-neutral country by 2050.

Creating and improving the physical infrastructure is the first step, but implementing technology to integrate these renewable sources and make them as efficient as possible is also vital. press@copadata.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

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RENEWABLE ENERGY

SCHOOL INSTALLS AMONGST ONE OF THE LARGEST SOLAR PANEL ARRAYS IN THE COUNTRY

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he climate crisis is undoubtedly the most urgent issue of our time, as we see the recent floods devastating communities across the country. Globally, we recognise the need for immediate action and, as a consequence, grassroots change.

There has never been a more pressing time for individuals to take action as we begin to witness the effects of climate change in the form of rising temperatures, extreme weather and alarmingly unpredictable patterns. So, what can we do to help?

The long-term solution is to, as a nation, reduce our carbon emissions.

Within the UK, the public sector is a substantial consumer of energy and has a responsibility to become leaders of change, by making as many of its buildings as efficient as possible. Schools, as an example, are a major consumer of energy, being the hub of extracurricular activities and community events during evenings and weekends. Taking a holistic approach to transforming a building by installing multiple energy efficient and renewable measures is one of the key solutions to ensuring they are running in the most cost-effective way, at the lowest possible expense to the public purse.

Northfleet School for Girls in Gravesend, with the support of Kent County Council, has made some bold changes and taken responsibility for its carbon footprint.

In 2018, Northfleet made history by implementing amongst one of the largest solar installations in the country and also upgraded their lighting to LED; both projects pioneered internally by the Facilities Manager, Andy Jarett. The council supported throughout the funding and project process, with a remarkable result that has left both parties extremely proud.

Andy enlisted the help of the school’s environment team; a group of sustainabilityconscious students with a passion for all things green. He involved the team throughout the procurement process and during the final presentation to the school governors. Andy describes taking the leap as a ‘no brainer,’ explaining, “There is a significant cost in doing nothing. If we hadn’t installed the technologies, the school’s bills would have risen to £120k per year.”

With an outstanding 681 panels now

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installed, the overall percentage of total site power provided by solar is 30%, with 8% more electricity exported to the grid rather than consumed on site. The installation itself was also ‘very quick and simple,’ as Andy remarks, “the panels were installed during the summer holidays and took a total of just under three weeks.”

The cost of the technologies was covered by government funded, notfor-profit organisation, Salix Finance, in the form of an interest-free loan. The loan is of no expense to the school and provides the upfront capital needed to purchase and install the technologies; the financial savings then made from the technology are then used to repay the loan. Once repaid, the school goes on to benefit from the savings first-hand.

Kent County Council was very involved throughout the project and is keen to repeat this with as many schools as possible within the county.

Susan Carey, the Cabinet Member for Environment at Kent County Council, says “Kent County Council has already helped over 100 schools reduce their energy bills and wants to help even more schools use renewable energy to become energy efficient. The Northfleet project shows just what can be achieved and I look forward to more such projects across Kent.”

Of using a Salix loan, Kacey Leigh Finance Manager of Northfleet, says, “Comparing our (financial savings) data between the 2018 and the 2019 calendar

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year, we have saved in the region of £38,585 on our gas and electricity bills and it is an exciting prospect to continue with our eco strategy in an attempt to generate further savings.”

The financial savings stack up significantly, making a strong case for other schools to apply for funding. The school was awarded a loan amount of £129k for the solar panels, which will repay through the savings in eight years and save a total of £16k annually and £381k over the lifetime of the project.

Meanwhile, the lighting upgrades were delivered through a £17k loan and will repay in just under four years, saving the school over £4k annually and £107k over the lifetime of the technology.

Andy, who is from an engineering background, highlights that being able to see the savings achieved in real time has made for a ‘compelling comparison’ of the cost savings against previous years. Northfleet School has a live stream feed of the data on a TV in the school corridor, meaning that students and staff alike can see first-hand the savings clocking up; a visual aid for science, technology and maths lessons.

There is a need for us all to act before it is too late. Salix is looking to work strategically with schools to drive down their energy bills through a holistic approach, making them the most efficient they can be. To talk to the dedicated team at Salix to find out how they can help your school, please contact schoolsapplication@salixfinance.co.uk

DRIVING THE FUTURE

WILL LOWER EV BIK TAX INCREASE CHARGEPOINT DEMAND AT WORK? Rob Anderson, Cenex

T

he uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) has been relatively slow – less than 3% of new vehicle registrations were plug-in vehicles last year.

However, adoption is expected to increase, however, as from 6th April 2020 company car tax on EVs will drop from 16% to 0% for the financial year.

Anything that encourages the uptake of EVs is to be applauded. This change has long been needed as the previous Benefit in Kind (BIK) tax regime didn’t benefit low emission vehicle users.

Now there’s a huge amount to gain and more company car drivers are likely to make the switch, if not for the environment but for the cash in their pocket. The savings this brings will be akin to a pay-rise for those already driving an electric company car, while the potential benefits will see many make the switch away from petrol and diesel engines.

Research from DriveElectric shows that eight out of ten business employees who currently opt-out of a company car scheme are ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to move back to an electric company car.

Fewer petrol and diesel vehicles on the road is a boost for the environment, as it means less air pollution, better air quality and a significant step on the road to Net Zero.

However, organisations who offer company cars for their employees will have to manage the possible impacts of the BIK changes on a practical level and should start to prepare for them. If companies start to see the shift from current petrol and diesel company car users into electric vehicles, they’ll have to investigate the possibility of installing more chargepoints at work.

In addition, if employees shift from cash for car allowances, or are new to the company car scheme, and select an electric car because of that tax benefit, then you have even more demand for chargepoints.

Before making the shift to electric cars, drivers will need to understand the technical specifications, notably battery ranges, to ensure their driving

requirements are met, and notify employers of any intention to switch.

More EVs will need more chargepoints, and while the public infrastructure is expanding at a vigorous rate, there will be a requirement for more chargepoints at destinations outside of the motorway network.

Companies need to assess if they have the space to install new or additional chargepoints – be it standard or rapid – and then implement policies to manage those spaces. The last thing you want is for drivers to hog a chargepoint once they have sufficient power, therefore blocking those who require a full charge.

As well as communicating the availability of chargepoint spaces at the office, policies should also be considered for who gets priority, the cost of charging and expensing home charging, and the impact this might have on the business.

These tax changes will incentivise electric cars, helping the UK and organisations become more sustainable and achieve their net zero targets, but you’ve got to plan ahead to ensure a smooth transition for everyone.

To find out how Cenex can help your business transition to an electric fleet, contact us at info@cenex.co.uk

FOUR STEPS TO MANAGE AN UPTAKE IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN YOUR COMPANY: 1. Make staff aware of tax changes and the benefits 2. Identify who is likely to switch and their journey demands 3. Install required chargepoints 4. Develop company policies for charging

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DRIVING THE FUTURE

ENERGISING THE PERFORMANCE OF EV INFRASTRUCTURE

A

ccording to our latest research, investment in electric vehicles (EVs) by UK businesses is set to increase by almost 50% over the next two years, exceeding ÂŁ12 billion.

27% of the 200 large businesses we surveyed expected at least a fifth of their fleet vehicles to be electric by 2022. Over the next two years, business leaders said that average spend on EV adoption is expected to amount to 4.5% of annual turnover.

COST PRESSURES Despite the strong momentum towards EV, the survey showed that cost of adoption is the biggest drawback. Vehicle costs was a chief concern for 44% of all business polled, and of greater concern than range anxiety (42%) or the increased

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Organisations can reduce the financial impact of electric vehicle adoption by rethinking their sustainable energy strategy says John Hartley of Centrica Business Solutions. energy costs from charging vehicles on company premises (37%). Businesses emphasised the importance of grant funding and tax incentives to encourage widespread fleet electrification.

Inevitably, organisations will significantly increase their total power consumption through EV charging, but it is possible to minimise the financial impact and further increase environmental performance by transforming their energy strategy.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE â&#x20AC;˘ APRIL 2020

EV adoption requires a new approach to strategic energy planning for businesses and public bodies. To avoid spiralling costs, it is essential to maintain visibility and control over increasing electricity usage.

EXTRA SECURE POWER DEMAND The need for more electricity to fulfil additional demand from charge points may require investment in new on-site

DRIVING THE FUTURE infrastructure to increase electrical supply. This could include upgrades to the grid supply infrastructure, such as an enhanced connection, or the implementation of new on-site generation and storage solutions.

It is essential that the uninterrupted operation of the EV infrastructure is protected. Downtime will have a direct impact on business continuity.

The risk, costs and business impacts of a power outage need to be fully assessed and appropriate actions taken to ensure resilience.

ON-SITE ENERGY SOLUTIONS Installing on-site generation solutions, such as renewables or combined heat and power (CHP) is a proven strategy for increasing on-site power availability, improving sustainability, lowering energy costs and reducing grid dependency By combining these on-site generation assets with battery storage, resilience and flexibility is further improved. Organisations can ensure a constant power supply in the face of an increasingly volatile grid, rising energy demand and intermittent renewable generation.

Local energy generation and storage also provides an opportunity to earn revenue from power flexibility via lucrative supply optimisation programmes.

The potential of using energy stored within EVs to generate income from Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) initiatives is even more exciting. As such, EV owners and fleet operators can charge their cars during off-peak demand periods, then sell any excess stored power when demand is high and financial incentives are most generous. This is a particularly attractive option for back-to-base fleets, where vehicles may be plugged in for longer periods.

capable of generating the electricity needed for vehicle charging. Just 28% were using on-site energy production, such as solar panels.

There is an urgent need for organisations to develop a plan to meet the additional power requirements of providing on-site EV charging. Planning and implementing the complex EV infrastructure for at-work charging or back-to-base fleets requires specialist technical and regulatory expertise.

Without the right experience and resources available in-house, it’s likely that organisations will need to seek expert support to guide them through the complexity of EV enablement.. This involves integrating the many disparate elements of the project, including software, hardware and energy provision; planning control; regulation, installation; operation and maintenance, etc.

It is advisable to find a technology partner who has experience across the entire value chain and can take a joined up approach to project delivery.

The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is no longer a question for tomorrow. For many businesses and public sector organisations, the transition to electric vehicles is now a big opportunity to become cleaner, more sustainable and more efficient.

Further information: www. centricabusinesssolutions.com

CASE STUDY DRIVING OUT FLEET EMISSIONS

E

lectrification of transport is a key part of Centrica’s commitment to reducing its internal carbon footprint by 35% by 2025 and developing a develop a path to net zero by 2050.

As the owner of the third largest commercial fleet in the UK, the company has committed to electrify its 12,500-strong fleet of vehicles by 2030, having already racked up over one million electric miles over the last five years.

Employees are being encouraged to use low emission company cars and by the end of 2018, nearly 500 employees were driving electric and hybrid options. As a lead EV chargepoint installer in the UK, Centrica has installed over 75 chargepoints across its sites to support employees that choose low carbon transport for their commute.

These combined actions led to an 11% reduction in global fleet emissions and company cars in 2018, saving 4,763tCO2e.

TIME FOR DETAILED PREPARATION Despite the potential benefits of moving to a distributed energy strategy to support the roll-out of EV charging infrastructure, our survey showed that organisations are under prepared.

Although almost half of the businesses surveyed said they planned to install on-site charging points in the next two years, a significant majority hadn’t invested in energy technology

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DRIVING THE FUTURE

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: KEEPING HMRC MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION Alex Hilton HMRC reports:

W

ith a workforce of more than 61,000 people in all four nations of the UK, travel plays a big part in the day-to-day work of HMRC. Many of our colleagues are responsible for meeting with our customers, wherever they may be, and with that, comes the responsibility of choosing the most sustainable way to travel.

DRIVING THE CHANGE For HMRC, road travel has historically had the single biggest environmental impact of all transport options. Back in 2010, HMRC colleagues travelled more than 36 million miles by road alone – equivalent to travelling around the Earth 1,450 times.

This is divided between colleagues using their own cars for business purposes, hire cars and our dedicated fleet of cars, used by colleagues who engage with customers on a daily basis.

The good news is that the last decade has seen us make significant progress in reducing the environmental impact of our road travel. In 2018-19, we reduced our total road miles by more than 39% compared with 201011. We also saw emissions from our fleet drop by more than 10% compared with the previous year. This was thanks to a 14% fall in emissions from diesel fleet vehicles which we moved away

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from, and which was counterbalanced by a 43% increase in hybrid vehicle emissions. The overall reduction in road travel, combined with improvements in our fleet and technological advances in the motor industry, means we have almost halved our road travel emissions and reduced our contribution to poor air quality in our local communities.

CHOO CHOO CHOOSING THE TRAIN Most of our business travel is now done by rail and we journeyed 74 million miles by train in 2018-19, more than double the total miles of 2010-11. This shift from cars to a more sustainable method of travel bolstered by the electrification of rail further reducing carbon emissions, has contributed to a 13% reduction in HMRC’s travel emissions – a saving of 2,285 tonnes of CO2e.

CHECKING IN ON DOMESTIC FLIGHTS One area where there is work to do immediately is domestic flights, which account for 15% of our global travel emissions. We have targets to reduce our domestic flights and we are on track to achieve these targets.

COP26 AND BEYOND Despite this progress, we know there is more to do to be a truly

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2020

responsible organisation. As well as maintaining the steps that have led to reductions so far, we are exploring further changes to make a difference.

We are investing in IT conferencing improvements and in the first half of 2019-20 colleagues held over half a million meetings on our conferencing platforms. Over 56% of our rail bookings and 51% of domestic flights in 2018-19 were for colleagues travelling to internal meetings, so we have an opportunity through our technology to change our behaviour and switch as many of these face-to-face meetings to video calls.

Early indications from our move to newly located regional centres show positive signs of staff changing their commuting habits and we hope to be able to confirm a reduction in commuter carbon emissions accordingly.

We already have six electric cars in our fleet, a small first step, and we plan to order more to achieve our ambition of electrifying the entire fleet by 2030.

But the work will not stop there.

As our customers change their habits, so will we. As businesses innovate to find environmentally-friendly solutions, we will be alongside them. We will be bold and ambitious in the face of the climate emergency to truly drive change for the better of the communities in which we, and our customers, live. www.hmrc.gov.uk

PSSA

Public Sector Sustainability Association

BECOME A CORPORATE MEMBER The Public Sector Sustainability Association (PSSA) provides a professional association and network for all those working in the Public Sector who have a common interest in sustainability. The aim of the association is to bring together a wide group of people working across all areas of the Public Sector – to help educate, train, support and connect as we work towards a more sustainable future.

Corporate membership of the Public Sector Sustainability Association is available to any private sector organisation wishing to reach committed and influencial sustainability professionals in Government, Local Authorities, NHS, Education and Housing Associations.

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WHAT DOES IT COST The introductory rate for annual membership is £495+VAT.

Interested in becoming a Corporate Member of the PSSA? Get in touch today - call us on 01933 316931 or email us at corporate@pssa.info

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