Energy Manager October 2018

OCTOBER 2018

www.energymanagermagazine.co.uk

Why efficiency should be a primary consideration See page 28 with HVAC hire INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

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Carlsberg benefits from lighting upgrade

Winter biomass fuel strategy: Plan now to protect prices

Salus unveils intelligent thermostat for commercial premises

FRONT COVER STORY: Why efficiency should be a primary consideration with HVAC hire See Page 28

www.andrews-sykes.com

OCTOBER 2018

PUBLISHER: Ralph Scrivens ralph@energymanagermagazine.co.uk PRODUCTION: Sarah Daviner sarah@energymanagermagazine.co.uk ACCOUNTS: accounts@energymanagermagazine.co.uk PRINT: Mixam Print

INSIDE: 4

News

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Lighting

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Monitoring & Metering

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Energy Management

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Energy Storage

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Energy from Waste

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Biomass

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Heating

Some manufacturers and suppliers have made a contribution toward the cost of reproducing some photographs in Energy Manager.

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Ventilation

PAPER USED TO PRODUCE THIS MAGAZINE IS SOURCED FROM SUSTAINABLE FORESTS.

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Renewable Energy

Please Note: No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior permission from the publishers. The publishers do not accept any responsibility for, or necessarily agree with, any views expressed in articles, letters or supplied advertisements.

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Driving the Future

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Waste Management

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Product Showcase

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All contents © Energy Manager Magazine 2018 ISSN 2057-5912 (Print) ISSN 2057-5920 (Online)

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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NEWS

GARDNER DENVER PUBLISHES FREE NEW GUIDE ON MAINTENANCE STRATEGIES FOR COMPRESSED AIR USERS

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ndustrial compressor and vacuum leader Gardner Denver has published a free new guide on the latest and most trusted predictive and preventative maintenance strategies that compressed air users can implement, to help save money, improve efficiencies and reduce downtime.

Available from http://ora.cl/UJ3q8, the guide considers how businesses have become increasingly wary of purchasing a compressed air system for a low upfront cost, only for maintenance issues to arise further down the line.

With any initial savings lost to repairs, organisations are now focusing on the maintenance strategies that can help improve a system’s whole life costs.

The guide covers the insights that data analytics and Industry 4.0 can provide,

as well as the benefits of using genuine spare parts and lubricants. It also provides an overview of the savings that are possible through identifying air leaks and by undertaking energy audits, as well as the benefits offered with local servicing.

Keith Atkinson, EMEAI Sales Manager at Gardner Denver, explains: “With UK industry using more than 20TWh of electricity every year to compress air, any steps that can help reduce energy costs while minimising the risk of downtime and maintenance issues are to be encouraged. We have developed this free new guide to address these issues in more detail, demonstrating how implementing the right predictive and preventative maintenance strategies can cut costs, improve operational efficiencies, limit downtime, increase productivity

and deliver assured peace of mind.

“Compressed air users should visit http://ora.cl/UJ3q8 to learn more about the maintenance opportunities available with Industry 4.0, genuine parts and local servicing.” www.gardnerdenver.com/industrials

ELECTRIC SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES WITH FREE CHARGEPOINT OFFER

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elected primary schools are being offered a free electric vehicle chargepoint by manufacturer Pod Point as part of a campaign to spark excitement about electric vehicles (EVs) and the future of mobility.

Pod Point’s Electric Schools campaign aims to raise awareness of the many benefits of transitioning to EVs, not least in terms of how they can help fight air pollution – which has been described as a public health crisis – and climate change. The campaign also strives to inspire young learners on how EV technology will revolutionise the way we travel and use energy, by paving the way for driverless cars and energy management systems like vehicle to grid.

Under the Electric Schools campaign, 30 primary schools in highly polluted areas are being given the opportunity to claim a free Pod Point EV chargepoint, worth over £1,000 each. While the free chargepoint offer is currently limited to 30 primary schools, it could be rolled out further if there is clear demand. And, as part of the wider campaign, Pod Point’s in-house

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experts are visiting schools nationwide to introduce the technology and deliver guest speaker sessions on EVs. All primary schools that want to introduce the topic of EVs can benefit from an educational toolkit that Pod Point has created as part of its Electric Schools campaign. The toolkit, which has been developed in line with Key Stage 2 curriculum guidelines, is packed with activities and resources for teachers and children, along with

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

a fact sheet for any parents that want to learn more about EVs. Erik Fairbairn, Pod Point CEO and Founder, said: “With Electric Schools, we’re aiming to both improve local air quality for children and help educate the next generation on the importance of clean air and tackling climate change. We also want to make young people excited about EVs and how the technology has the potential to impact all of our lives.”

Visit pdpnt.uk/electricschools

FREE TO ATTEND

LUX LIVE 2018

LIGHTING IS CHANGING Europe’s biggest annual lighting event 14-15 November 2018 | ExCeL London

Register free at www.luxlive.co.uk

NEWS

EA PUBLISHES LIST OF ESOS FINES – WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THE SCHEME?

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n September, the Environment Agency revealed the list of penalties imposed on companies non-compliant with the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS).

The Environment Agency (EA) has tried to minimise punitive action, preferring to offer firms every possible chance to meet the ESOS regulations without resorting to fines.

But although these have now been levied, the maximum levels of punishment, potentially running into the hundreds of thousands of pounds, remain unused.

Who’s who in the EA list?

Some household names feature among companies hit with fines. They include Ebay (UK) Ltd, which is faced with a £12,150 fine. Gumtree also gets a £12,150 fine.

However this is not the top fine the EA has chosen to impose. Amdocs (UK) Ltd faces the biggest punitive measure, with a fine of £45,000 levied. In total, the complete sum owed by 15 firms to the EA is £157,770.

Fines in context; the analysis All the non-compliant firms failed to meet ESOS Regulation 46(1), which enables the regulator to levy fines when firms fail to provide information, or to take steps, required by a compliance notice, an

enforcement notice or a penalty notice.

In plain English, this means the firms not only failed to get the EA their ESOS details for initial deadlines, but also failed to take action to remedy the problem.

The complete list of fined companies is available online, and whilst the EA hasn’t chose to name and shame loudly, the reputational risk that was always an element of ESOS appears to have come true for some.

That said, a total of 15 offenders, to date at least, appears a reasonable result for the regulator. In June 2017, the EA revealed that about 1,500 organisations under EA jurisdiction might qualify for the ESOS scheme but had so far failed to engage.

The EA then revealed that, “All investigation work is now complete and we have confirmed that around 500 of these organisations do qualify for the scheme. To date, we have served over 300 enforcement notices to bring these organisations into compliance and will continue to serve enforcement notices during the present financial year.”

So, out of all those 500 firms, (and remember an estimated 10,000 in total were affected by ESOS overall), only 15 have ultimately faced a financial penalty to bring them up to speed.

That’s a startling statistic that illustrates the vast majority of affected companies

complied within reasonable limits.

And £157,770 does not represent a major benefit to government coffers either. So the approach is evident; ESOS can ultimately hit businesses in the pocket, but its intention is to drive energy efficiency, not punitive income.

The future Sharing the list proves the regulator is prepared to see fines through on ESOS. But the low percentages of firms involved also proves UK companies are, by and large, happy to comply with the requirements.

The regulator’s reluctance to apply the maximum fines legally available also points to an attitude that’s leveraged for energy efficiency and sustainability, not endless court cases.

Perhaps in ESOS Phase 2, ongoing and improved communications work can translate UK firms’ evident willingness to comply into on-the-ground energy efficient installations and investments.

The Energy Advice Hub was launched in September 2018 by BIU, the UK’s leading energy and utility consultancy. It aims to be the go-to resource for independent advice, news and information to support a whole host of energy and carbon challenges. www.secrhub.co.uk

Innovative & unique Public Sector new energy procurement solution launches

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ublic Power Solutions, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Swindon Borough Council, is launching the UK’s first and only dynamic framework for new energy projects.

This follows on from its successful establishment in 2015 of the UK’s first dynamic framework for large-scale solar projects. The New Energy Dynamic Framework (NEDF) will allow any public sector body to access a portal of pre-qualified suppliers with the skills and expertise for the design, funding, construction, development and operation of embedded energy generation projects throughout the EU. This includes, but is not limited to solar, battery storage and EV charging on individual or multiple sites, including aggregated projects.

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A dynamic framework is an open, completely electronic process for purchasing goods, works or services for a period of up to four years, fully aligned with public sector procurement rules for OJEU (Office Journal for European Union). It allows new suitably qualified suppliers to join the framework at any time during its four year life, resulting a constantly refreshed list of suppliers to respond to each tender.

The NEDF will offer substantial benefits to Public Sector organisations: • Time savings, as the NEDF can be completed and scored in as little as 15 days compared with six months typically for a Public Sector organisation to run its own OJEU tender.

• PPS provides support throughout the process.

• Compliant with OJEU Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

• It allows local suppliers to pre-register for specific projects being delivered in their geographical area.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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It supports SMEs through the division of lots.

The NEDF will launch to the Public Sector on January 1st 2019, and PPS is inviting vendors to apply to join it from the beginning of November 2018. A supplier day will be held on 31st October to present the new system to suppliers and provide support for those wishing to join.

PPS is seeking applications from organisations with the ability to deliver embedded generation and/or electric vehicle charging services in the following disciplines: Lot 1: Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC); Lot 2: Independent Connection Provider (ICP); Lot 3: Operations and Maintenance (O&M); Lot 4: Legal Services; Lot 5: Technical Adviser; Lot 6: Power Purchase Agreement Provider; Lot 7: Financial Platform; Lot 8: Energy Trading.

Organisations can apply to multiple lots providing they are all part of their core business offering. The NEDF can be accessed via this link: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/ publicpowersolutions/aspx/Home www.publicpowersolutions.co.uk

NEWS

ENABLES, A NEW EUROPEAN EFFORT ENABLING SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR IOT APPLICATIONS The European Union H2020 “EnABLES” research infrastructure project has just launched its Transnational Access program, which offers free-of-charge access to equipment, tools and expertise related to ‘powering the internet of things (IoT)’. The vision of EnABLES is to develop Energy Harvesting solutions and finding ways to reduce the power consumption of devices to eliminate the need for battery replacement.

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he EnABLES project, which combines Transnational Access (TAs), Joint Research Activities (JRAs) and Networking Activities on the field of energy harvesting, storage, micro-power management and system integration started at the beginning of 2018. The partners will create self-sustaining energy solutions to power the internet of things.

Free-of-charge access to simulations, data libraries, equipment and expertise access along with feasibility studies will all be provided in a fast-track manner via the Transnational Access program.

LAUNCH OF TRANSNATIONAL ACCESS PROGRAM FOR NEW INNOVATIONS The TA program gives unprecedented access to developers from academia and industry and integrators of IoT devices to advanced research infrastructure based on the technology pillars of Energy Harvesting, energy storage, micro-power management and system integration. The TA providers are Tyndall National Institute (co-ordinator, Ireland), CEA Leti & Liten (France), Fraunhofer IIS and Fraunhofer IMS (Germany), imec (Netherlands). In addition, virtual access to databases of vibrational energy sources from real life applications is being offered by the Universities of Southampton and Perugia.

EnABLES also funds JRAs between the mentioned partners along with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, the Politecnico di Torino and the University of Bologna. It is envisaged that the JRAs will lead to future TA offerings.

The access activities can be undertaken in many ways ranging from characterizing materials or devices, to physical or simulated feasibility studies to see if battery life in IoT devices can be prolonged. The potential impact of EnABLES is enormous – the significantly rising number of IoT devices will require an embedded self-contained power source. The access process is very simple, examples can be found on the EnABLES website. An online enquiry form is available at www.enablesproject.eu. All outputs from the project activities will be made available as part of the EnABLES objective to build a collaborative ecosystem that creates miniaturized and autonomous sensors.

Learn more about the EnABLES project www.iis.fraunhofer.de/ enables or www.enables-project.eu

FACTS OF THE ENABLES ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE: •

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Building an ecosystem for collaboration initially creating EnABLES as a ‘starting community’ Providing external fast track access to expertise and laboratories (TA) – over 130 researchers and infrastructure worth of 2 billion euro Fostering internal collaboration between partners (JRAs) guided by needs and opportunities Creation of standardized and interoperable libraries of parts & simulation tools in order to optimize the system level performance This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 730957.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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NEWS

£6 MILLION ELECTRICITY FLEXIBILITY PROJECT GETS OFGEM GREEN LIGHT

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he vision of SP Energy Networks to deliver a better future, quicker for electricity consumers has been backed by industry regulator Ofgem which has given the green light for a £6m investment in an innovative project which could radically change how people use their electricity.

Project Fusion will get underway this October after Ofgem confirmed its financial support for the ground-breaking scheme.

The project will see people’s electricity demand and supply “flexibility” traded in a newly-created digital marketplace, as the network company continues to pioneer innovative ways of costeffectively managing the electricity grid for the financial benefit of customers.

Working with partners, including Fife Council, the University of St Andrews and Imperial College London, the total investment in Project Fusion will be £5.67m, with £5.1m coming from Ofgem’s Network Innovation Competition fund.

It will be piloted in East Fife, an area with a rich and diverse range of energy resources, including onshore and offshore wind and hydrogen storage.

It is expected to run for five years.

Project Fusion would allow people to work with their energy retailer – or another market participant – to secure additional income from being flexible in terms of their electricity usage.

As well as being financially rewarded for their flexibility, this would reduce the amount of money required in the future to build new grid networks to support electric vehicles, local electricity generation and heat-pumps.

It is the latest creative idea from SP Energy Networks which has driven industry change in Active Network Management, by using smart technology to make more efficient use of the network systems.

Chief Executive of SP Energy Networks, Frank Mitchell, said: “Project Fusion will create a world-leading, smart energy, online platform which will allow customers to trade their electricity supply and demand capacity.

“The project is at the heart of making more effective use of existing electricity infrastructure and ensuring we keep customers’ bills down and their lights on.

“This is critical as we move towards

an electric future in the transport and heat sectors to meet the challenges of climate change and make our society cleaner and greener.

“It will also be an important part of ensuring any necessary future investment in our network is minimal and meets customers’ demands. And it is a good example of the type of support and forward-thinking that we need from Ofgem if we are to meet the increasing demands of a low carbon society.”

SP Energy Networks has already raised the issue of a need for regulation change with Ofgem, to allow electricity network operators to invest ahead of demand to ensure future consumer needs can be met.

It is anticipated that if Project Fusion is successfully rolled out across the UK, it could result in over £200m of savings in electricity bills by 2050.

For information on Ofgem’s decision visit https://www.ofgem. gov.uk/publications-and-updates/ network-innovation-competitionamended-project-direction-fusion

DATA – A DRIVING FORCE FOR CHANGE

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he average UK household now owns an average of eight connected devices – and some predict this could rise to 50 by 2023. We’re all so into our technology, because it’s revolutionised how we do things and our way of thinking.

It’s now normal to browse for and follow a recipe from your iPad, track your fitness progress on a Fitbit and ask Alexa for the weather forecast.

Technology has driven change in almost everything we do; the thought of loading a cassette tape into a car and consulting a map ahead of a long journey feels like the ‘olden days’ now, because we’re so used to our curated Spotify playlist providing the soundtrack whilst Waze finds the most time-efficient route.

The energy industry is also changing.

Comparing and switching suppliers and managing our accounts online is the norm - but the really revolutionary game changer will come once smart meters are installed in every home and business.

Smart meters offer us a wealth of data about how electricity is being used, through the 48 half-hourly readings they provide each day. This data allows us to monitor the energy use of our homes

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By Jonathan Kini, CEO, Drax Retail or businesses in minute detail; the same way we’d use a Fitbit or Apple watch to monitor our activity, sleep patterns or resting heartbeat.

Data will allow energy providers to explain to consumers the direct impact their energy usage has; both on their bill, and their sustainability credentials.

But how do we drive this change, and change the habits of a lifetime?

The key is to make it easy. In order to help consumers make the most of the data they now have access to, we need to replicate the way smart phones have evolved to become an essential part of people’s lives.

Updating a spreadsheet with electricity usage isn’t feasible for the majority of us – who has the time for that? Energy consumption, costs and carbon savings should be easy to review and keep track of. Like mobile banking has changed the way we access our money, the way we track our energy usage should change in a similar way.

We know that people are keen to help play a part in a greener future, but

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

the reality is that in both our daily lives and at work, we are time poor. Energy bills have been such a low priority for many of us for so long that habits will have to be changed to encourage consumers to take control of their usage.

This influx of information from smart metering will provide customers with a level of power and control that they have never had before; through monitoring usage, they will be able to drive the change.

In turn, electricity companies will be challenged; they must educate and ultimately, empower consumers through allowing them to take greater responsibility and control of their usage.

Suppliers will be forced to make enormous changes, as ultimately a more educated and engaged customer leads to a leaner, more efficient and competitive market.

This will only be a positive thing, both in terms of providing value for the customer and making the industry cleaner and greener. www.drax.com

LIGHTING

BLUEWATER UPGRADES OUTDOOR LIGHTING TO LED AND CUTS ENERGY USAGE BY 75% THE CHALLENGE

THE SOLUTION

Bluewater opened its doors in March 1999: setting the benchmark for shopping and leisure destinations worldwide. Rising from a former chalk quarry among 50-metre-high cliffs, it attracts over a million visitors annually.

DW Windsor were proud to design, manufacture and install the original car park, road and service yard lighting, working with renowned architects Speirs & Major to develop a bespoke luminaire specifically for the retail destination: with a wide brim and blue diffused illuminated canopy. Nineteen years later, while the installation had weathered well, the significant evolution in lighting technologies had created opportunities for energy savings.

During the project lifetime the original metal halide light sources were updated to a more efficient lamp type. This reduced power consumption and energy bills, however, it also resulted in a change in colour temperature, effecting the overall ambience.

To meet the original scheme lighting requirements, DW Windsor recommended retrofitting the original lanterns with a 4000K LED solution across the site. With a preprogrammed factory-set dimming regime, to save on CMS costs.

Simon Groat, DW Windsor National Sales Manager commented, “it was exciting to work on such a well-known retail location and one that we had previously lit. The project delivers significant energy savings compared to the existing lamp types and with a

KEY PROJECT REQUIREMENTS • Reduce energy • Provide uniformity and colour temperature to meet the original lighting requirements • Low maintenance

payback period of less than four years, shareholders were very happy.”

DW Windsor will also be restoring the columns, brackets and luminaires to their original appearance. Paint will be matched to the original colour, with a 25-year guarantee of colour stability and gloss level retention.

The lighting upgrade programme will be completed over a 3-month period, saving Bluewater 650,000kWh annually, which amounts to a 75% reduction in energy usage. In addition to this the LED solution is maintenance free for a minimum of 20 years.

For more information on the Rio range please visit: https://www. dwwindsor.com/products/rio/

Specialist UK manufacturer of industrial and commercial LED lighting Personally developed paying attention to every detail. We work with you to find the solution you need.  Industrial & commercial lighting solutions  In-house lighting design team  Hazardous area lighting  Bespoke engineering & flexible manufacturing

15 Carnarvon Street Manchester M3 1HJ

 0161 274 3626  sales@hilclare.com

www.hilclare.com Hilclare a

company

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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LIGHTING

LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT LED LIGHTING SUPPLIER? CHOOSE WISELY LED Eco Lights’ co-founder, Saima Shafi, advises facility management organisations on what to look for when choosing a supplier of LED lamps and luminaires.

Replacing energy-hungry conventional lamps with LED equivalents makes economic and environmental sense. LED lighting products are energy efficient and cost effective with ultralong lifespans compared with traditional units, so making the decision to change should be an easy one. But how to choose amongst the multitude of suppliers?

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ED offers significant benefits, including radical reduction of CO2 emissions and running costs, lower maintenance, long lifespan and instant switch-on.

Another bonus is that the retrofitting options offered by some manufacturers means products fit straight into existing fittings, thereby reducing the scale of the installation as well as the cost. So, having made the decision to switch to LED, how do facilities managers (FM) make an informed and confident decision on the right supplier?

With all the benefits that LED technology brings, it is very easy to fall into the trap of purchasing based on grand claims rather than real-world performance. If the focus is simply costreduction, it can be easy to overlook the drawbacks of lower quality, which quickly eats into any potential savings

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

on long-term maintenance costs.

Also, the variability in products and performance on offer is so wide that choosing the right product and the right supplier can be a minefield.

GET TO KNOW YOUR FUTURE PARTNER A close working relationship between supplier and purchaser is often the key to a successful lighting project, whether for a new facility or LED replacement in existing sites. For smaller organisations, a good supplier can help facility managers and their teams design the solution and identify the right products for the job. For larger FM companies, suppliers should work closely with them developing proposals for their clients. It’s a consultative approach.

To help decide what to look for in a reliable LED supplier, facility management

LIGHTING organisations should consider the vendor’s background, quality, performance and price. FMs new to LED lighting can gain substantial benefits by working with suppliers that already have extensive experience with facility management. Regardless of whether the buyer has LED lighting expertise in-house, the level of technical support offered by the supplier should be a major factor in the decision. Sourcing from an LED lighting specialist ensures the support of people who understand the challenges, ideally with experience of delivering LED installations of a similar style and size.

New users of LEDs should look carefully into long-term credibility of the supplier. Manufacturers develop and produce products, and invest heavily in R&D. Their engineers work within existing parameters of LED technology.

Installers may not understand component configurations in detail, and elements that can alter performance often rely on specialised electronics.

SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIPS DEPEND ON DUE DILIGENCE Most FMs will already have established processes to assess supplier background. As well as basic credit checks, a look at their trading history will provide valuable insights on financial standing and past performance.

This is especially important for longterm supply contracts; also, to ensure peace-of-mind that warranties will be honoured. Some LED lamp manufacturer offer lengthy warranties, but that’s only of value if the business is stable. Look for a proven track record: ask for feedback and references from previous customers on performance and service - something a good supplier will happily provide.

As with all electrical and electronic goods, LED suppliers need to be WEEE compliant, taking responsibility for disposing of electrical waste properly and safely. With today’s numerous recycling schemes, it’s easy to comply and there is no acceptable excuse for noncompliance. Your supplier should have their WEEE membership details to hand.

Another mandatory requirement is to insist on suppliers providing CE and RoHS-certified products. Products lacking a CE mark have not passed basic electrical testing and could pose serious electrical hazards during installation and use. Potential suppliers should be able to provide copies on request.

Over and above these basic certifications, product quality is very important. After all, maintenance

savings are a key reason to choose LED lighting. Poor quality diminishes the benefits. Many facility management organisations operate within comprehensive ISO qualifications and can expect suppliers to be the same.

An integral part of this is quality of manufacture. LED lamps and luminaires should be mechanically sound from the outset, showing no signs of rattling, or indications that the body is flimsy or fragile Equally important is the quality of data that suppliers provide – not only on product performance data such as power consumption, light output and ingress protection, but also information such as installation guides.

GIVE LEDS A TRYOUT – BUT START OFF SMALL After initial paper assessment of the LEDs, reputable vendors will allow customers to trial products, either free of charge or on a sale or return basis.

Trial projects offered by suppliers can help to ease FMs through the transition and gain an initial assessment of potential benefits in the future.

For example, taking light output (lux) readings before and after should confirm that the product is fit for purpose.

Smooth running of a lighting project – large or small – depends crucially on stock availability. Continuity of supply is essential and quotes of six to eight weeks for stock should sound a warning signal. Leading, reputable suppliers will hold sufficient stock to cater for their customers’ ongoing and urgent

needs, whether planned or not.

Once the project is up and running, After Sales Service is especially important for LED lighting. LED products offer an ultra-long lifespan, so vendor guarantees should reflect this. A confident manufacturer will provide at least three years warranty and should be able to support the warranty period with proof of live installations that have performed reliably for similar periods of time.

Of course, even the most reputable, knowledgeable and service-oriented supplier will recognize that pricing is a key part of facilities managers’ considerations. But experienced buyers know that if products seem too cheap, there will be reasons. These could include poor quality components and substandard manufacturing techniques. Low quality LEDs will cause problems such as inadequate light performance, whilst poorly assembled products can pose serious installation and safety hazards. Other common problems include unreliability, for example colour-shifting over time, rapid degradation of light output, plus high failures in large quantities and quality of light output not fit for purpose.

Such issues are frequently exacerbated by poor or non-existent after sales support. In the event of a problem, the supplier should have the resources to rectify it quickly, effectively and efficiently. Cheaper LEDs will inevitably cost more in the long run. http://www.ledecolights.com/

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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LIGHTING The new easy-to-fit Downlight Comfort luminaires from LEDVANCE are the perfect drop-in replacement for compact fluorescent and other older and less efficient lighting technologies

LOW GLARE DOWNLIGHT COMFORT LUMINAIRES FROM LEDVANCE ARE IDEAL DROP-IN CFL REPLACEMENT New low glare, three-in-one LEDVANCE Downlight Comfort luminaires from LEDVANCE offer energy efficient, easy to fit lighting for offices, foyers, workshops, corridors and stairwells. They are now available from wholesalers ready for the new lighting season.

DOWNLIGHTS FOR HIGH-QUALITY BASIC ILLUMINATION Featuring an integrated driver, the new LEDVANCE Downlight Comfort luminaires are the perfect drop-in replacement for compact fluorescent and other older and less efficient lighting technologies.

Key features are very high efficiency and a quick-connect terminal for a fast and tool-free installation. The desired light colour of 3000, 4000 or 5700 K (warm, cool or daylight white) can be selected by means of a small slide switch on the rear.

In consequence, the Downlight Comfort is effectively three products in one.

That’s good news for wholesalers and maintenance departments alike as they

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only have to keep one type of downlight in stock to cover three different requirements.

IP54 Protection means that the Downlight Comfort can also be used in covered outdoor areas. Luminous efficiency for all colours is 85lm/W.

LED RETROFITS – PERFECT REPLACEMENTS FOR CONVENTIONAL LAMPS With its broad portfolio of LED retrofits LEDVANCE offers numerous, excellent options for existing luminaires. The new AR111 reflector lamps and the PAR16 and MR16 lamps in high and low-voltage versions have excellent colour rendering (CRI 97), making them perfect replacements for halogen lamps. The same applies to the LED lamps in Classic A, Classic B and

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

Classic P designs (CRI 95). With the exception of AR111, all the lamp bulbs are made of glass.

All above-mentioned luminaires and lamps from LEDVANCE will be listed in the Relux and Dialux planning software by the time of the market launch for the new lighting season.

Also new is the fact that for its LED luminaires marketed for lighting professionals via wholesalers LEDVANCE is now exclusively using the LEDVANCE brand at product level. The brand name of OSRAM will continue to be used for the LED lamps, however.

You can find more information on the products here: https:// www.ledvance.co.uk

LIGHTING

HILCLARE OFFERS EXTENDED LIGHTING SOLUTIONS FOR HAZARDOUS AREAS

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ollowing the growth in demand for specialist lighting in areas where there is a high risk of contamination and combustion, Hilclare – the Manchester-based commercial lighting supplier and official UK distributor for the world-renowned Sammode lighting – has widened its range of Sammode branded impervious luminaires and light fittings.

Sammode products are well-known for their durability, reliability and high performance. Nowhere is this more important than in hazardous and volatile areas where the high resilience, quality, and safety of luminaires is necessary.

Hilclare’s product line-up now includes a comprehensive range of Sammode specialist luminaires and LED fixtures – something still relatively niche in this sector – that are capable of solving maintenance issues for end users and installers working within hazardous areas.

Sammode luminaires meet all compliance criteria in terms of robustness, resistance and

Pictured here; the Boyle 133 luminaire by Sammode – an impervious light fitting that is ideal for difficult explosive environments.

performance in all environments, including the most extreme.

With IP ratings from IP65 to IP68, and compliant with both national and international standards, this extensive range includes a variety of heavy duty tubular corrosion resistant lights.

Specialist lighting is also available for explosive environments with their Atex certifications, tunnels, water treatment and food factories. In areas where hygiene is critical, Sammode lighting is exceptionally resistant to detergents.

Chris Pearson, Managing Director at Hilclare commented: “Over the years, we have become renowned for our expertise in hazardous lighting, and our extended

line-up of Sammode products now means that we are able to satisfy even more environments that require added protection.

“We have enjoyed a long standing relationship with Sammode and are proud to be their official UK distributor for the 5th consecutive year. Sammode is recognised around the world for its knowledge, experience and expertise in light fixture design for challenging industrial environments, and they make the ideal brand partner for Hilclare,” adds Chris.

As well as hazardous lighting, Hilclare also offers a wide range of industrial and commercial lighting solutions across both business and public sectors. From initial designs created by an in-house design team, to product innovation, the company offers customers a fully integrated luminaire and lighting service. www.hilclare.com

NEDAP LAUNCHES LUXON SWITCH APP

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edap officially presents the Luxon Switch App. This mobile app allows users of Nedap’s online light management platform to quickly adjust lighting to their individual needs. With the Luxon Switch app, it is easy to differ from pre-configured lighting behavior.

Jeroen Smit, Product Manager at Nedap Light Controls: “The Luxon light management platform is developed to manage lighting of multi-site customers throughout the globe. The Luxon Switch App allows for quick adjustments within a group or zone of fixtures. This provides users the powerful flexibility to control their lighting as they please, for instance during overtime or when a higher

light level is required.”

Luxon Switch App can be downloaded at the App Store or via Google Play.

ABOUT NEDAP LUXON Nedap Luxon is an light management platform to manage your lighting online and accelerate savings.

Lights are wirelessly controlled driven by demand and are only switched on where and when needed. In addition, the Luxon platform provides

clear insights in performance and usage, allowing for future optimizations and proactive maintenance. With the help of different dashboards, Nedap enables users to manage lighting within all their business locations online using one system. Luxon is easy to combine with any lighting system on the market. www. nedap-luxon.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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LIGHTING

CARLSBERG BENEFITS FROM LIGHTING UPGRADE

More LUX and savings for logistics center LEDVANCE, one of the global leaders in general lighting for professional users and end consumers, has played an instrumental part in helping Carlsberg’s logistics center reduce energy consumption by light by 50 percent – resulting in savings of 650,000 kWh and 400 tons of CO2 emissions per year.

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t Carlsberg’s Logistic Center in the town of Høje Tåstrup in Denmark, the 180 employees work hard to get the daily shipment of 2,500 pallets of beer and other beverages off to stores, bars, and restaurants in a safe and timely manner. There are many safety measures throughout the logistics centre that aim to protect employees from accidents. Walking and driving zones are clearly marked, warning tape to mark the potentially dangerous places, and video resources - all aim to educate, inform and integrate safety at the forefront of their operations and propel a ‘zero accidents’ ambition.

Since the logistic center is open around the clock, all year round, proper lighting matters a great deal for improved safety: A clear and homogenous lighting of work and circulation areas facilitates orientation and can help to reduce accidents.

Carlsberg was fully conscious of the outdated and inadequate lighting system that was serving the five large warehouses and the outside area before the lighting upgrade. The current conventional low light in some parts of the warehouse interior as well as exterior sometimes made it hard to navigate and work top efficiently.

The ramifications on safety, productivity, and overall employee stimulus – especially for night shifts, were all too significant to ignore. Not to mention, the problem of fluorescent tubes and metal halide lamps burning out during operational hours and not being replaced due to the disruptive downtime a replacement would entail.

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A NATURAL STEP TOWARDS A BETTER WORKING ENVIRONMENT In their efforts to improve productivity, an improvement of the lighting was the next natural step. “Not only would a switch from conventional lighting to LED lighting provide us with a 50 percent saving on electricity costs and a large saving of CO2 emissions, but we also needed energyefficient, flexible lighting solutions that were a better fit for our purpose,” says Jesper Larsen, Head of Distribution at Carlsberg.

A proposal for a lighting upgrade prepared by the electrical contractor Michael Hansson from Kvalitek outlined a plan that would improve the lighting quality significantly for the day, evening and night shift operations, thus satisfying Carlsberg’s demands for a more sustainable, efficient, productive logistics centre.

600 NEW LED LUMINAIRES FROM LEDVANCE In the five large warehouses, the conventional luminaires, each fitted with three 58 W T8 fluorescent tubes (4000K), were replaced with Damp Proof 55 W / 4000 K LED luminaires from LEDVANCE. Besides their very good efficiency of 115 lm/W, the luminaires were selected for their high luminous flux of 6400 lumen, their neutral white colour temperature of 4000 K and their ability to live up to all norms required at Carlsberg Logistic Center. With a lifetime of 50.000 h (L70/ B50) the LED luminaires last about 2.5 times longer than the conventional types.

The conventional lighting burned out

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

frequently in the outdoor and loading ramp areas. This is where powerful metal halide spotlights had to light the driving paths for the trucks when loading and unloading. With the new effective LED lighting upgrade, it will be a very long time between replacements, since the new LED Floodlights 200W have a lifetime that is about 5 times longer. Additionally, employees benefit from the very homogenous and bright light of the new LED Floodlights with a luminous flux of 20,000 lumen. The Floodlights are also used to illuminate the facades of the buildings.

All in all, the lighting has been significantly improved. All the way through, Kvalitek has worked on improving the light system for increased energy savings, a higher quality of illumination and sustainability. These benefits and attributes explain why Kvalitek chose to use LED luminaires from LEDVANCE. According to Michael Hansson from Kvalitek, the main reason why he chose LEDVANCE as the supplier: “The products are of a very high quality. Not only is the light efficiency high, but the luminaires are also of such a good quality and long-lasting. With a lifetime of up to 50,000 operational hours, which for many means a lifetime of up to 15 years, they normally don’t have to be replaced until the buildings are reconstructed or renovated – not because they break or burn out. That is probably also why LEDVANCE offers a guarantee of up to five years for many of their luminaires.”

Tel: +44 (0) 1925 46 50 00 Email: csc.uk@ledvance.com Web: www.ledvance.co.uk

LIGHTING

CONTROLLABLE DALI HIGH BAY LUMINAIRES FROM LEDVANCE PROVIDE DOUBLE WHAMMY OF ENERGY SAVINGS New High Bay luminaires from LEDVANCE for warehouses, factories and logistics centres provide a double whammy of energy savings. Now available at wholesalers, the LED luminaires not only provide inherently high luminous efficiency, but are also controllable via DALI allowing light levels to be adjusted according to need.

HIGH BAY LUMINAIRES NOW ALSO WITH DALI AND CONSTANT LUMINOUS FLUX LEDVANCE smart High Bay DALI luminaires provide direct energy savings of up to 90 percent compared with conventional high bay luminaires. Unlike mercury vapour and metal halide lamps, they are dimmable and switch on and off instantly, allowing further energy savings to be realised through daylight and occupancy-dependent operation.

The integral DALI-2 interface allows the LEDVANCE High Bay luminaires to be readily connected to popular presence and light level sensors. This results in even greater energy savings than the new LED luminaires already achieve with their high luminous

efficacy of 140 lumen per watt.

Other features include an easy electrical connection with a push-button connector and the LEDVANCE 5-year guarantee.

Also new at wholesalers is the High Bay DALI CLO which achieves constant luminous flux throughout its entire life. This makes calculations and planning easier for users as they can rely on the products keeping the same brightness levels throughout their L100 life span of up to 50,000 hours.

LEDVANCE High Bay luminaires are an ideal replacement for luminaires with mercury vapour or metal halide lamps in warehouses, logistics halls and other industrial applications as well as high ceiling environments such as shopping malls, airports and commercial buildings.

In addition to the much lower energy consumption, LEDVANCE High Bay lights need replacing less frequently leading to maintenance cost savings.

LEDVANCE: DELIVERING BETTER LIGHT

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inding the right partner in the lighting industry to help you identify the perfect lighting solutions for each area in the building you are wiring, managing or creating is essential.

LEDVANCE, a global lighting business with over 110 years’ experience in the lighting industry, is that partner. We offer electrical contractors, building engineers and facilities managers innovative and energy efficient lighting products backed by exceptional service and expertise.

The LEDVANCE product range includes traditional lighting, modern LED lamps and standardised over-thecounter luminaires. Additionally, we offer connected smart lighting solutions to deliver even higher cost savings.

CONSIDER YOUR ENVIRONMENT Light can fulfil a wide range of different functions and purposes in a multitude of applications, and when the correct lighting is selected, it can enhance productivity while at the same time significantly reduce energy costs.

LEDVANCE offers innovative lighting solutions to improve not just the quality, running costs and safety of lighting, but also reduce the maintenance required and enhance productivity.

It is important to consider the environmental conditions when selecting lighting solutions such as dust, humidity, heat and vibration.

Likewise, the appropriate positioning of luminaires is essential in order to avoid reflections on workpiece or machine surfaces and to provide the optimum working environments.

LEDVANCE – A TEAM OF EXPERTS At LEDVANCE we look at things from a whole new perspective and as a team of experts assembled from diverse disciplines, we’re contributing fresh ideas and smart solutions to a modern, interconnected world. But light isn’t just our core business – it’s our vision. Operating in over 120 countries, our global team of around 9,000 employees has a great deal of flexibility and freedom to deliver outstanding products and services to our customers.

Further information can be found at www.ledvance.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

15

LIGHTING

ECOLIGHTING UPGRADES DEBENHAMS WAREHOUSE TO LED LIGHTING Ecolighting UK has recently been specified for the new LED lighting at the Debenhams warehouse in Peterborough to upgrade the previous fluorescent systems.

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ebenhams, a multi-channel brand with a proud British heritage which trades out of over 240 stores across 27 countries, decided to increase the overall capacity of its fulfilment services at one of its distribution centres in Peterborough.

and based on our past experience with them we were delighted to be working with them again. We needed lighting that was specific to the project; the mezzanine floor is fitted with shelves and has narrow aisles so we required a system that matched the arrangement of the warehouse.”

The retail giant reworked floors one, two and three of its warehouse, and chose Ecolighting’s Sapphire LED linear and Altos emergency LED lighting to be fitted throughout following the success of a previous project through leading supplier of storage equipment Link 51.

He continued, “Ecolighting offers a specialist LED system that is energy saving and works well with the control system we currently have in place. The lights time out when an area is not in use and with the five-year guarantee, 12-month installation warranty and the fittings being maintenance-free, we’re very happy with the results.

We wouldn’t hesitate to work with Ecolighting again in the future.”

Paul Street, Engineering Manager at Debenhams commented, “Ecolighting won the tender for the lighting upgrade

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

LIGHTING

When assessing the installation, Ecolighting considered the running and maintenance costs for the site as well as the energy efficiency, maximising the reduction in CO2 and fitting the design criteria. With no natural daylight available on floors one and two, Ecolighting removed the current fluorescent lighting and replaced it with a more effective and energy saving LED system. To cope with existing demand, even after converting floor one from an open automated area to a fully racked picking area, significant energy savings were achieved because of the LED and sensor technology.

For the Debenhams installation, Ecolighting drew on its extensive portfolio of LED lighting products, particularly its Sapphire LED linear with built in sensor and Altos emergency LED fitting specifically designed for mezzanine floors.

By installing the Sapphire LED linear, Debenhams has the added benefit of a sensor which is activated by occupancy.

Its wide range of sensitivity means it performs equally well at all heights. The sensitivity is user adjustable, which is particularly useful in an environment where fast moving mechanical handling equipment is being used.

The same sensor incorporates light level monitoring through DALI dimming.

By constantly reading the light levels in its range, the sensor detects when it needs to deliver light and how much to deliver in order to maintain the required light levels. This function revolutionises an organisation’s control of its lighting, allowing management to determine and deliver the precise light levels required, thereby fulfilling health and safety needs whilst also cutting the cost of providing unnecessary extra light.

The same function also enables the luminaire to steadily increase output, compensating for the gradual deterioration that affects all lamps over time and extending the maintained light levels for longer and reducing costly maintenance intervals.

Ecolighting’s commissioning service ensures the lighting is correctly set up at the outset according to the lighting design in consultation with the customer, and its aim is to deliver the best balance of energy saving and operational functionality.

Once commissioned, the system operates smoothly and automatically,

requiring no further adjustment.

Each DALI fitting is capable of a predetermined set-back level. Levels range from 100% to 1% and can be set to hold a lower light level for a pre-determined time to offer a background illumination level (at times of zero occupancy) or off completely. Once triggered by occupancy the fitting brightens to the higher output level and holds that level until no occupancy is sensed LED lighting technology has been significantly developed over the last 12 months. Efficiency of products now exceeds 140 Im/W for linear fittings and 160 lm/W for high bay fittings and with the use of prismatic diffusers and lenses, luminaires can now manipulate light delivery from what is essentially an omni – directional light source to provide a more usable, even spread of light from each luminaire.

Unlike many other lighting companies, Ecolighting has its own team of lighting and electrical installation engineers as well as carrying out the lighting scheme

design with Relux software in the early stages of client lighting projects.

The company also manufactures its luminaires in the UK and uses UKsourced Osram control gear and LED chips. All of this means that the company has much better control than many and can present better value for money to clients. The company is also a Carbon Trust Accredited Supplier, assessed to BSEN ISO 9001:2015 and are members of the Lighting Industry Association.

As one of the UK leaders in LED lighting solutions to commerce and industry, Ecolighting has worked with many other big name companies such as Kuehne Nagel, Man Truck & Bus, Carlsberg, Culina and Cadburys.

Further information on energy saving LED lighting schemes is available from Ecolighting on 01455 552511, by emailing enquiries@ecolightinguk. com or by visiting the company’s website at www.ecolightinguk.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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MONITORING & METERING

“ SCRUTINISE EVERYTHING AND OVERLOOK NOTHING” ERIKS SHARES TOP TIPS FOR GAS MONITORING

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tricter EU and UK legislation regarding gas leak detection is welcome but isn’t necessarily driving a rise in best practice. That’s according to Duncan Webb, Condition Monitoring Application Engineer at ERIKS UK & Ireland, who says: “Our Condition Monitoring team visits a number of sites that handle volatile organic compounds (VOCs) each year and we often hear the same questions crop up, time and again.”

Duncan notes that many teams consider Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) technology to be the perfect solution in gas leak prevention.

Without adequate training, however, they risk not only wasting money, but also the endangerment of staff and visitors at the site.

“OGI is recommended by the EU for a good reason but only when it’s implemented properly,” he argues. “Otherwise, you might as well have saved the money for something else.”

What, then, can be done to ensure that a gas leak prevention regime is implemented effectively?

1. Don’t say: “It’s always been like that”.

“Gas leaks are hard to spot, particularly if only small levels of VOC are released over a number of months or years,” Duncan explains. If that’s the case, surely the leak can be ignored? “No matter the severity, a gas leak is a gas leak,” Duncan says. “As well as impacting productivity and profitability over the long term, gas leaks of any degree pose health risks to employees, particularly those in direct contact with the leak on a daily basis.”

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2. Do pay attention to every detail. “Scrutinise everything and overlook nothing,” Duncan says. “Even if you don’t smell a gas leak, you’ve got nothing to lose by checking. You may be surprised by what you find.” Make sure this attention to detail also translates to your auditing and reporting. “Specialist reports can provide a fully auditable trail for any health and safety regulations,” Duncan advises.

3. Don’t assume that you can use an expensive optical gas imaging camera. A Ferrari is no good to someone without a driving licence, and the same goes for OGI technology. “Snazzy cameras provide a false sense of security,” Duncan explains.

“Unless an operator knows how to tune them to the correct frequencies, and interpret the images he receives, he won’t get the results he needs.”

What’s more, with top-line OGI cameras costing upwards of £60,000, it’s usually more cost-effective to outsource this to a specialist anyway.

4. Don’t stick to traditional techniques. “It’s both amusing and painful to watch as engineers

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

desperately scan the lengths of their plant systems, hoping to catch a glimpse of tell-tale soapy bubbles,” Duncan says. As well as dated, time-consuming and wildly inaccurate, methods like this also make providing an audit trail or traceability nigh-on impossible. “If a plant manager needs to prove that there are no leaks, even a video of this method would not be sufficient,” Duncan adds. Save the soapy water for your morning shower.

5. Do understand the limitations of any leak detection technology.

“Whenever we visit a site, we’re often asked how much a gas leak has been costing the business,” Duncan says. “Some companies claim to offer this exact service, but don’t be fooled: services like these will only be around 30 per cent accurate at best.” Quantifying gas leaks is difficult - if not impossible – so make sure that you focus on the potential savings, rather than the previous losses, when pitching a gas monitoring strategy to your boss.

6. Do speak to a specialist. This is essentially the moral of the story, as Duncan explains: “You wouldn’t attempt an M.O.T. on your car unless you were a mechanic, and you certainly wouldn’t ignore a problem like faulty brakes. The same applies to gas leaks. Condition Monitoring teams like ours take an unbiased, straightforward approach. We don’t see gas leaks in terms of monetary losses: a leak is a leak and must be fixed!”

7. Verify the effectiveness of any repairs. Whether you’ve undertaken the repairs yourself, or used a specialist, you need to be sure that any problems have been fixed. “Some customers ask the Condition Monitoring team to do a ‘partial audit’ that covers only the areas repaired,” Duncan advises.

“Again, it’s about traceability and compliance. If you can go back to any authority and demonstrate incontrovertibly that you have resolved a problem, then your reputation for professionalism stands to increase significantly.”

For information on ERIKS condition monitoring services, please visit www.eriks.co.uk/en/services-page/ monitor/condition-monitoring/.

REAL SAVINGS MADE WITH PORTABLE ENERGY LOGGERS

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ost business owners and facility managers are aware of the fundamental principles of using portable energy loggers (PELs) to identify inefficient equipment, where, according to The Carbon Trust savings of up to 20% can be made. Here are 3 more areas where PELs have been of great use.

One would probably be relevant to many of todays facilities, the other two hopefully not!

CASE STUDY 1 – LAST MAN OUT A well-known high-street retailer commissioned Blackpool based Greenlite Group to help them understand and determine energy savings that could be made within their store lighting.

Greenlite immediately installed PELs in 3 of the stores to measure and analyse the energy use, stating that PELs are far better than relying on billing data which would still require them to walk around the buildings counting the ceiling lights in order to estimate the actual lighting load.

Having left the PELs monitoring for a period of several days Greenlite identified serious out of hours lighting use and immediately proposed and implemented an LMO (last man out) system. This enabled, at the touch of a button, the final person leaving the building to power down all non-essential lights.

Based on the subsequent before and after PEL data, this was calculated to give annual savings of £21K, £14.5K and £10K respectively for the 3 stores. These savings now are planned

to be reinvested into reducing energy usage further through change out technologies, ultimately replacing all of the existing lighting.

CASE STUDY 2 – OVERSIZED SUPPLY TRANSFORMER When TRW Automotive closed their Neath Valley plant in February 2011 a local businessman acquired the facility with intentions to utilise it to create small business units and to host the local Saturday market.

Following acquisition, the month 1 electricity bill came in at £17K. The immediate assumption was that there was a billing error and the matter was taken up with GDF SUEZ, the energy provider. The month 2 energy bill followed at £18K, and this went on for several months, with the customer claiming that the facility could not possibly be using that much energy.

GDF SUEZ checked the metering, found nothing wrong, and moved forward with legal proceedings, at which point the business owner instigated a complaint to Western Power who subsequently checked the supply metering, also finding no fault.

The customer finally called in Johnson & Phillips, a local power management and solutions business, who installed a selection of PELs to monitor and analyse both the LV and HV sides of the transformers for 2 weeks, obtaining starkly different energy consumption figures.

TRW Automotive had been provided with a 6MVA supply comprised of 6 separate

transformers, and even though, following their departure, the capacity was drastically reduced, the infrastructure had remained. Each of the 6 transformers were all now so lightly loaded that their own relative inefficiency was consuming more energy than was being used in the facility.

Johnson & Phillips isolated 5 of the transformers, interconnected all the loads to 1 transformer and immediately reduced the bill by £15K per month.

CASE STUDY 3 – ENERGY THEFT When a Yorkshire based commercial business asked their local electrical contractors to come in and check their electrical power usage, they knew they were using a lot of power but were in for quite a shock when they discovered why.

Upon arrival at the premises the contractors set up a PEL103 Power and Energy Logger so that they could get a picture of the business’ electrical energy usage over time. After just one 24-hour logging session they discovered that their customer was using as much energy during the night as they did during the day, despite the fact that they shut down every evening at 5pm.

The PEL was then connected to monitor various branch circuits within the facility over a period of time, soon identifying where the power was being used. The client was stunned to discover a connection to an adjoining commercial business that they had been unknowingly supplying for many years.

Thanks to a few days logging with a PEL the customer has now halved their electrical usage and are looking forward to compensation for the theft of their electricity. www.chauvin-arnoux.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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MONITORING & METERING

SMART METERING – A HERETIC’S VIEW

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aving worked some 20 years in energy management, the basic principles have remained the same, what I call the 3 ‘Ms’ - Monitor, Manage, Mitigate – and in that specific order; if you cannot do the first, then the next two are just guess work. Data gathering, and analysis has always been the backbone of utilities management, making metering an essential technology, and its interpretation and understanding paramount.

This technology has developed gradually over the centuries (And it is centuries, as the first measuring valves came about during the steam age – 1700’s onwards), via initial revolution, then evolution to provide more detailed and accurate data. And as this development has progressed, metering technology ideas have come and gone, some leaving us with useful technology, and some falling by the wayside.

BURN THE HERETIC This is where I rattle a few cages, as in my view, Smart metering is running a very real risk of falling into the latter category, something that promised so much, but has singularly failed to deliver.

And the reasons for this are the almost panicked rollout of the technology, and the failure to ensure that the new meters were accurate and reliable.

Taking the first issue, instead of taking a gradual phased approach of rolling out, using demonstrably reliable and accurate systems, persuading customers (Both commercial and domestic) that they make sense and are in their interests; we have had what amounts to salesmen making indefensible claims and outright misleading statements or even withholding information, such as deliberately not informing customers that they are not actually obliged to have them at all. Even I have had this at home from one of the ‘Big Six’, telling me that I must have smart metering at home, only to be told by me that a] No I don’t and b] as I live in a block of flats with a common supply, they cannot be fitted anyway at the moment.

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Roger M Low, Consultant Energy Manager, Speedwell Energy Services This state of affairs damages the reputation of the industry, and leads customers to doubt the efficacy of good metering, making the task harder for us professional energy managers.

But the question to this is – does the industry (Primarily the Big Six) and Government have the sense to realise the issues, and to find a way to solve them?

The second issue reflects badly on the metering industry.

Or will it be another expensive sticking plaster, that eventually comes unstuck, and makes the situation even worse?

ND Solutions last year released a report on the accuracy of the presently available Smart meters, and it does not make good reading; 70% of the meters tested in real life conditions failed to show accurate readings, most overreading which of course can have dire financial consequences for customers – one even showed an inaccuracy rate of +400%. But the main point here is the scale of the failures, 70% of all the smart meters manufactured cannot be relied on, so the roll out is a slowly developing car crash which even a parliamentary committee has commented on, and it is the customers on the receiving end.

BLASPHEMY The problem is that the usual rush to use the latest silver bullet answer to all our energy problems, which was nothing of the sort; politics being allowed to take precedence over basic quality control and good advice from professional energy managers being ignored. A situation that could and should have been avoided from the very start, by some simple basic concepts.

Taking the proper route would have been to test a number of the meters in real world scenarios over a two to three-year period, to establish any accuracy and reliability issues, instead of just relying on bench testing, which rarely if ever reflects actual reality of use in practice. Making sure that there are well designed and tested products to enable all customers to receive them if they so choose, not having to develop a second and possibly third phase of roll out, to complete these supplies and to rectify the issue from the first roll out.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

LIES, DAMNED LIES AND STATISTICS The adverts stating that smart meters will save energy really annoy me as they imply that simply having a smart meter saves energy, which is blatantly misleading if not an outright lie.

Meters have never saved a single watt of energy, it is the human behaviour in using energy that saves such. The great hope is that if customers see how much they are using and spending they will change their usage habits – and they will – initially, then they will slowly go back to the old habits out of laziness, forgetfulness or simply assuming the meter is saving energy; which I have heard from several consumers already.

HALLELUJAH For larger commercial customers, there at least is some hope, in the form of aM&R; a proven technique, with reliable and accurate technology. But for the rest, mainly domestic and SME customers, my recommendation is to avoid Smart metering unless the supplier can prove that their product is reliable and accurate such as SMETs2, and I don’t just mean taking the manufacturers claims at face value; even if this means having a consultant energy manager review the data against past usage data, and clamp on temporary meters.

This may sound complex, but can you really afford to spend money on energy, when you don’t have to?’

Email: Roger0910@BTInternet.com

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

SMART BUILDINGS – THE SELF-FINANCING POTENTIAL

• New research from Siemens Financial Services (SFS) estimates the potential for selffinanced conversion to smart buildings in commercial buildings, government buildings and hospitals • Private sector finance solutions, known as “Smart Buildings as a Service”, capture future savings from energy efficiency and then deploy those savings to ‘self-finance’ smart buildings conversion • The study notes that smart technology can reduce energy consumption in non-domestic buildings by up to 25% • Each day that is not spent converting to smart buildings is a day in which valuable financial and environmental resources have been, in effect, wasted.

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iemens Financial Services (SFS) has released a new research paper which examines how smartbuilding conversion can be achieved without the need to commit capital, using techniques known as “Smart Buildings as a Service”.

Converting to smart-building technology enables organizations to reduce energy costs, meet regulations such as air quality and provide optimum environments for occupants, visitors and employees. Pressures on public and private sector budgets, however, mean finance managers and CFOs are struggling to prioritize capital investment for buildings conversion.

As a result, alternative forms of finance from the private sector, “Smart Buildings as a Service”, that harness savings gained from smart upgrades are emerging to facilitate self-financing style investment. The paper estimates the potential for “self-financing” smartbuilding conversion across 13 countries in three sectors: 1) commercial buildings, 2) government buildings and 3) hospitals.

Smart buildings use advanced technology and data to improve building performance in areas such as energy, operations, security, and comfort; ultimately lowering the costs of building operations and service; and generating significantly higher user-satisfaction rates and employee productivity. To achieve these benefits, smart buildings deploy the intelligent infrastructure that digitalization enables.

“Smart Buildings as a Service” represents a shift in mindset on the part of financial managers and CFOs. Pioneering CFOs have identified the potential to enhance efficiency and productivity. By deploying financing arrangements that in effect pay for outcomes – in this case energy savings and other smart-building advantages – buildings owners are often able to realise the benefits at lower or zero net cost relative to their existing set-up. By engaging with integrated technology-service-finance companies to finance the digital transformation of their buildings, landlords and owneroccupiers are able to conserve their capital for alternative business initiatives.

“The smart buildings technology market

is growing and innovative private sector financing methods are likely to accelerate that growth by allowing organizations to achieve conversion sustainably,” says Gary Thompson, Siemens Financial Services. “CFOs in the private and public sector are increasingly recognizing the compelling case for smart buildings conversion, but find it difficult to prioritize such capital investment over other business or operating requirements. The benefit of self-financing arrangements, which harness future energy-savings, is that capital is no longer an obstacle”.

METHODOLOGY Proprietary data on the average cost of smart-building conversion per m2 was applied to the commercial buildings, government buildings and healthcare campuses in each of 13 countries. In the first two segments, the top 40% of cities were taken as the base subset.

For healthcare, acute treatment centers (public and private hospitals) were considered alone. These financial volumes were then reduced by 50% to eliminate the effect of existing smart-building conversion rates, new construction that already delivers smart capabilities, and building stock that may not – for whatever reason – be susceptible to self-financing arrangements that use energy savings to fund a smart-building upgrade.

For further information, please see: www.siemens.com/smartstart-for-smart-buildings

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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ENERGY STORAGE

BATTERY BENEFITS AND THE FUTURE OF ENERGY STORAGE: THE GROWING NEED TO STORE EXCESS ENERGY Energy storage isn’t just for those rechargeable household AA batteries. Improved methods of storing and distributing energy from the energy grid could dramatically improve the way the world accesses power. In fact, using batteries to store energy on a large scale could help create a more economic and environmentally friendly energy grid. Here, Jürgen Resch, Energy Industry Manager at energy grid software provider COPA-DATA, explains.

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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oday’s electricity grid has virtually no method of storing excess energy. The minimal facilities that do exist typically use pumped hydropower, a method of pumping water uphill into a reservoir when excess electricity is available.

As the water then flows back down hill, electricity is generated. However, these systems are not sophisticated enough to manage today’s ever-growing and ever-evolving grid.

Modern electricity grids, with their increased demand and expanded variety of energy sources, cannot continue without improved energy storage systems. These essential storage facilities are needed as buffers for generation and load peaks, as control instruments and as long-term storage systems. There is a considerable amount of research and investment going into the future of energy storage and currently, battery storage technologies are showing great potential as a solution to this problem.

POWER DENSITY IN BATTERY STORAGE Most of us are familiar with battery storage systems for electrical energy, like the rechargeable batteries we find in household appliances, in cars and other machines. On a larger scale however, storage of energy from the electricity grid requires storage of exceptionally large volumes of energy. Put simply, it requires exceptionally large battery storage systems.

The world’s current largest battery storage system is based

ENERGY STORAGE in California, USA. The project consists of a colossal 396 power packs, across just 6,000 meters squared. The system can store an impressive 80 MWh of power, while outputting 20 MW of power. When compared to a pumped hydropower storage facility — like the Limberg II pumped-storage power plant in Austria — the power density of these batteries are 21 times higher, creating a more space-efficient option than pumped hydropower.

However, the advantages of battery storage are not limited to improved power density. These systems are also beneficial in managing renewable energy sources.

RENEWABLE REQUIREMENTS The age of renewables necessitates more than solar panels and wind turbines, it also requires energy storage systems that can manage these volatile resources. As it stands, today’s minimal efforts for energy storage are not suitable for leveraging excess renewable energy.

The conventional and traditional techniques of storage often fail because of low efficiency or the high levels of investment needed to build them.

What’s more, because energy from

these sources tend to fluctuate widely, it can create a huge balancing problem for the grid. However, batteries can be used as stabilizers in these instances.

automation software, like zenon, can be used to provide a clear graphical display of the operation of the storage system and its connection to the grid.

Let’s imagine that the wind suddenly drops. At a wind park, the amount of energy generated will instantly decrease.

If this happens too quickly, the balancing systems in traditional grids are often unable to compensate. However, this rise and drop of power outputs can be dampened by batteries. This dampening reduces a steep rise or drop in output, giving the balancing systems enough time to compensate accordingly.

COPA-DATA’s zenon operates by creating a simple, graphical dashboard of the system energy storage system, to provide the operator with a clear overview of how much energy is being stored and distributed. What’s more, if the energy is coming from renewable sources, the system will illustrate how the battery system is helping to stabilizing this energy. Looking to the future, this software will become a vital addition to energy storage installations, particularly for renewable sources.

There are already several examples of batteries that are used to store renewable energy. In 2017, BMW commissioned a colossal battery storage farm on the grounds of its wind power generation plant in Leipzig, Germany. The site can house up to 700 second-life electric vehicle batteries, capable of storing excess renewable energy, before it is fed into the grid.

COMMUNICATING WITH THE GRID Large installations, like BMW’s Leipzig facility, have also deployed software to manage and maintain their complex operations. Energy

Batteries are highly versatile and giving our changing approach to energy sources, they have an important role to play in the future of energy storage and distribution. However, we’re still a while away from seeing this technology being rolled out universally. There’s still room for the technology to mature before batteries become the norm in energy storage. Looking to the future however, there’s no doubt that the role of batteries for energy storage will become even more prevalent — with the right software. www.copadata.com

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ENERGY FROM WASTE

CONTROLLING THE QUALITY OF BIOFUELS WITH GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY Argent Energy is the UK’s leading supplier of biodiesel, taking waste fats – such as used cooking oils, tallow and sewer grease – and turning them into high quality biofuel for the freight and transport industries. Despite the huge inherent variability in the starting materials, the company must reliably and consistently meet strict quality standards relating to the ester and glyceride content of the biofuels it produces. The company’s laboratory in Stanlow relies on a trio of gas chromatographs from Shimadzu to analyze its biodiesel, the latest addition being a Nexis GC-2030 that was installed to increase testing capacity and optimize production methods.

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QC Laboratory Manager Steve Lindley uses the Nexis GC-2030 to screen for trace amounts of glycerides and to determine the ester content of the biofuel

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f you’ve travelled on a London bus recently, your journey may just have been fueled by Argent Energy biodiesel, perhaps even refined from the city’s own infamous fatberg, a monstrous blockage that was removed and some of it sent to the company for processing. Argent Energy is the UK’s leading provider of renewable transport fuel, supplying biodiesel to the commercial freight and passenger transport industries.

The company produces biodiesel at sites in Motherwell in Scotland and Stanlow in England by refining waste oil streams from plants, factories, and the food and restaurant industries.

FROM FATBERG TO FUEL To get from, for example, fatberg to fuel, Argent Energy must undertake several rounds of laboratory testing – screening of raw materials arriving at the refineries, in-process testing and analysis of the end product – all overseen by scientists working in Stanlow’s production, QC and R&D laboratories.

While the production lab typically uses basic titration methods to monitor the raw starting materials, both the QC and R&D labs depend heavily on gas chromatography (GC) for process optimization and end product testing to ensure that the legal maximum allowable amount of total glycerides in biodiesel – 0.2 % – is not exceeded.

Steve Lindley, QC Laboratory Manager at Stanlow, explained: “During the refinery process, we need to

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

Argent Energy is the UK’s leading provider of renewable transport fuel.

convert all the glycerides into an end product that is close to 100 % esters.

To ensure that we have achieved this, we use GC to screen for trace amounts of any remaining glycerides and to determine the ester content of the biofuel. We are looking for really low levels of triglycerides, and the Shimadzu instruments are great for this type of work, not least because they support a temperature program of between 270 and 400 °C – a real challenge of glyceride screening that not many GCs can handle.”

LEAVE NO TRACE Although until recently the QC and research labs at Stanlow have shared two Shimadzu GC-2010 instruments, they have very different analytical needs, which have presented some operational hurdles. Where the QC lab performs trace analysis, the research lab’s main remit is method development and process design, involving regular handling of samples of vastly differing composition

ENERGY FROM WASTE Waste oil streams from plants, factories, and the food and restaurant industries are refined at sites in Motherwell in Scotland and Stanlow in England to produce biodiesel.

to those of the QC team, and there was a clear need to separate the workflows.

Lee Knight, Process Development Chemist in the R&D lab, explained: “The composition of the feedstocks we receive varies tremendously. We never get the same raw material twice, and so we have to work on a case-by-case basis and vary our processes accordingly.

Today’s raw materials vary widely in glyceride content and composition. We now need to look for anything between 10 and 70 % triglyceride in our midprocess samples – it really can be that high. This was overloading the columns we had, and detection wasn’t optimal.”

Steve added: “Combining trace and high concentration analyses on the same instrument presents a challenge for the QC lab. With the glycerides, we’re looking at very, very low levels. If we then put samples with a high concentration of analyte through the same system, it can contaminate the column and yield weird results. There was a real need to separate the two types of testing, and so we got in touch with Shimadzu to see what solutions the company could offer.”

EXPANSION TO NEXIS GC-2030 Shimadzu’s GC application specialists evaluated several potential solutions for Argent Energy before recommending the recently launched Nexis GC-2030 dual column instrument with FID detectors.

For convenience and ease of use, the system includes two autosamplers – one

for each column –enabling overnight analysis of non-urgent samples with instantly-accessible results ready and waiting in the morning. Lee observed: “Column installation is much easier with Shimadzu’s ClickTek connectors than conventional screw thread fittings, and the inclusion of a light inside the oven means that you can actually see what you are doing. The system’s touchscreen operation is straightforward, and so users, whether they are new to GC or already familiar with Shimadzu software, can learn how to use the instrument with little more than a day’s training.”

Steve said: “The support we receive from Shimadzu is quite hands-on; its technical specialists did a lot of behindthe-scenes work to identify suitable starting configurations and set-ups, and will always speak to us on the phone, via email, or even drop in to the lab. The Nexis is Shimadzu’s latest GC system, offering even better detection capability and greater sensitivity for our work. Having a third GC will relieve the burden on the other instruments and allow us to separate trace and high concentration analyses.”

AN EARLY ADOPTER The Nexis GC-2030 is still a relatively new addition to the Argent Energy lab bench, having been installed just a few months ago, and the company is exploring its capabilities for existing and potential applications. Steve commented: “We were one of the first companies

in the UK to take delivery of a Nexis GC-2030 and we’re experimenting with how we will use the system in the long term. At the moment, we’re running two different columns to see which one gives us the best results; it may be that we find one type is best for samples with high analyte concentrations and another for low concentrations.”

FUTURE PLANS Moving forward, the plan is to continue to perform trace glyceride and ester content analysis on the two GC-2010s and use the Nexis to support in-process testing, method development, and process development to optimize the plant operating conditions. “We’re now looking at the next stepping stones in method and process development, which is where the main gains are at present, for example, to understand how the processing method can be refined to save on reagent costs, increase throughput, and improve quality and consistency, moving towards a better, more effective steady state. It’s a work in progress, but if we can perform fewer manipulations of the in-process samples, we would benefit from even greater reliability of our results. To support all that, we need to perform more detailed in-process and feedstock analysis, which is where the Nexis GC-2030 will be a big advantage, helping us to achieve our objectives,” Lee concluded. https://argentenergy.com/

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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BIOMASS

WINTER BIOMASS FUEL STRATEGY: PLAN NOW TO PROTECT PRICES

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ast winter, a perfect storm of European supply constraints and high demand from a prolonged period of cold weather pushed up prices and dented wood fuel supplies in the UK, and some organisations without supply contracts may have experienced first-hand the difficulties obtaining good quality fuel at short notice.

Public sector organisations can protect against fuel shortages or exposure to high ‘spot prices’ and enjoy the benefits of biomass as a low cost, low carbon energy source by taking time to plan their winter fuel strategy.

Roger Pearson, managing director of Forest Fuels, part of the clean energy group, AMP, explains how.

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

PLAN AHEAD The biggest risk facing energy managers looking to procure winter fuel is price: exposure to volatile markets can push up costs exponentially, particularly during cold snaps when demand rockets across the market. Budget certainty is critical, so fixed contracts for fuel can make a big difference to the bottom line.

Spot prices for both wood pellets and wood chip have already risen this year, driven by exchange rate and supply constraints caused by increasing numbers of industrial grade users across Europe.

Organisations can opt to fix biomass supply costs through the winter to avoid exposure to spikes in the market.

Suppliers like Forest Fuels buy forward to hedge the cost of fuel supply, smoothing out market fluctuations and often securing preferential prices: for example, those customers who placed contracts earlier this year will benefit from attractive prices for the duration of the contract, including Winter 18/19.

BIOMASS SECURITY OF SUPPLY Last winter, some organisations who were exposed to spot prices also experienced supply issues in the market when demand outstripped supply during the ‘Beast from the East’ cold snap.

In the public sector, providing tenants and residents with heat is a vital service and supply issues threaten serious consequences.

The threat of low-supply can result in some organisations forced to pay inflated prices or settle for inferior quality fuel, which could impact on the efficiency and operation of your boiler and feed system.

Most suppliers secure their fuel in advance, meaning Forest Fuels prioritised fuel supply agreement customers and met their demands last winter despite the constraints taking place in the market. Whilst the multitude of Europe-wide issues that impacted supply levels so seriously last winter were exceptionally rare, it makes sense to secure supply. Taking out a fuel supply agreement guarantees availability of fuel throughout the winter, ensuring reliable deliveries of high-quality biomass when needed.

REASSURANCE ACROSS THE PORTFOLIO A solid winter fuel strategy means understanding the volume of fuel required to meet your organisation’s needs. Changes to a portfolio can have a big impact on demand, from changes in operational patterns to increases in employee or resident numbers.

Feeding these in at contract stage will ensure both price and volume are secured for the winter period.

It makes sense to think about stores too: if store size can be increased, fewer deliveries may be needed, which can also reduce haulage costs: a larger store can reduce costs by up to 15%.

Forest Fuels can help to calculate fuel volumes, reassess store levels and explore finance options too.

MAXIMISE EFFICIENCY Fuel quality and boiler maintenance both impact efficiency, which in turn affects both cost and supply requirements. Regular servicing maximises efficiency and minimises downtime – meaning a boiler provides reliable renewable energy and a steady stream of Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) income.

The quality of wood fuel going through a biomass boiler has a major impact on its smooth operation and efficient performance. When demand is high, some organisations have struggled to source the right quality fuel. Dustier pellets can block up augers and suction pipes, resulting in problems for the efficiency of the boiler. This can mean intermittent heating or, at worst, a complete lack of heat and breakdown.

BIOMASS HEATING: STILL AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION Public sector organisations are facing squeezed budgets and stretching sustainability targets. Biomass is a reliable fuel that provides instant, renewable heat when needed throughout the seasons, in contrast to some renewable technologies which reduce in efficiency when temperatures plummet.

THE ONLY PUBLIC SECTOR ENERGY JOURNAL

Whilst putting in place winter fuel strategies are essential, converting to renewable heat from biomass is still a commercially sound decision for public sector organisations, with the guaranteed additional revenue from the RHI still available for twenty years for industrial installations and seven years for domestic-grade boilers.

A hospital running a 300kW biomass boiler for 3500 hours per year could earn up to £30k per year for 20 years in RHI payments.

Funding is available – we have a proven track record with public sector organisations and can advise on technology, suitability, and guidance through the RHI process For those organisations looking to mitigate against spot prices and supply constraints this winter, it isn’t too late to secure a cost-effective fuel supply agreement and ensure a reliable supply of heat throughout the winter months.

For more information, visit www.forestfuels.co.uk

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27

HEATING

WHY EFFICIENCY SHOULD BE A PRIMARY CONSIDERATION WITH HVAC HIRE Andrews Sykes’ HVAC Sales Director, Carl Webb, reviews the importance of energy efficiency and maximising the effect of a temporary climate control solution

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ith British companies becoming increasingly committed to conserving energy wherever possible, the acquisition of economical short-term operational equipment – including HVAC systems – has become a main priority for many businesses.

Facilities managers, plant supervisors and industrial resource owners all share a common objective when it comes to increasing efficiency, and there are various reasons for this. In the modern day, decision makers are constantly being made aware of the many ways in which efficiency can be boosted within the workplace.

But have you ever considered that the plant equipment currently in place within your facility could be outdated or even defective? An ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ mantra often inhibits proactivity when it comes to making positive changes and this unquestionably holds some organisations back.

The concept of efficiency should be ingrained in the approach of any company with aspirations of succeeding in their industry – and the reasons for this are endless. Whether you’re looking to save money via reduced energy costs, lower operating costs or by carrying out fewer repairs on obsolete equipment, there’s no doubt that being energy

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conscious can lead to noticeable savings.

Generally speaking, it’s more cost-effective to hire HVAC units for the period of time in which they are required instead of purchasing them outright. In such instances – and there are plenty of scenarios where this might be applicable – it is the duty of those responsible for budgets to procure the necessary kit without overspeculating on manpower or fuel. Increasing the efficiency of any climate control hire package is therefore crucial. So,

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

how do you get value for money?

Firstly, project managers must ensure they get the most appropriate unit, or series of units, for the assignment in question. Failure to address this point will have far-reaching consequences and almost certainly become a financial burden further down the line.

There is no point installing a new high-efficiency boiler – even on a short-term basis – if it has not been correctly sized beforehand. Having a larger unit is not always better. On the

HEATING contrary, investing capital funds on a high capacity unit that has been designed for an application far bigger than where it has been deployed is extremely counterproductive.

Rather than save you money, a boiler arrangement like this will actually lead to energy costs rising even if the unit itself boasts economical specifications and functionality.

To avoid this, it is advisable that a trained technician is consulted prior to any equipment being commissioned on your premises. Arranging a site assessment in advance guarantees peace of mind and enables a qualified engineer to guide you towards the best solution for your unique circumstances.

Before connecting a boiler, your client’s hot water requirements should be calculated by an expert to ensure the unit performs to the expected level once it has been set up. This process will include a heat loss calculation and it is important the entire procedure is professionally overseen to maximise efficiency. These steps must be carried out before installation takes place.

Another crucial yet often overlooked factor in maximising efficiency within the field of HVAC is to have a tangible contingency plan in case things go wrong. By activating a backup strategy when disaster strikes, a company can limit hampering disruption and maintain a level of productivity that would be impossible if no such plan was in place.

A faltering heating system, for example, may one day break down completely and leave your business unable to achieve expected output targets. In such scenarios, having the ability to acquire replacement equipment within a quick turnaround time is absolutely vital and will save you thousands of pounds in salvaged productivity and labour.

By arranging a reliable contingency service, you safeguard against any unfortunate situation that could lead to the continuous operation of your business being harmed. This will also prevent panic setting in if and when adversity strikes, as following a succinct plan of action eliminates uncertainty and accelerates a recovery when necessary.

As far as heating, air conditioning and ventilation are concerned, there are countless advantages of obtaining highly efficient equipment when things

go wrong – with a reduction in energy costs perhaps being the most obvious.

High capacity indirect fired heaters are perfect for large open areas and will even recirculate warm air safely and inexpensively. This type of unit has been specifically designed to deliver large volumes of clean, dry air without incurring the extortionate running costs you might associate with such a product.

Similarly, temperature-critical environments like data centres and server rooms may require emergency cooling if their existing equipment fails. This may happen completely unexpectedly but there will also be occasions where organised maintenance stipulates the need for an alternative cooling solution.

For either purpose, portable air conditioners with high efficiency ratings are the most suitable option. Even larger applications may benefit from the deployment of heat pump chillers which feature inverter technologies and heat recovery capabilities – optimising performance and limiting running costs via reduced energy consumption.

To ensure you get the most from any HVAC hire, a customer must take a number of variables into account which, when combined, lead to substantial cost savings. The type and size of your equipment, nature of the application and the availability of equipment, a power source and a trained technician

will all contrive to affect the efficiency of a project – underlining the importance of selecting a trusted supplier.

One of the most understated benefits of renting a climate control solution, though, is not having to concern yourself with any maintenance or repair works.

As part of any contract you have in place with your provider, their technicians should be on call 24 hours a day to support you in the event of a breakdown.

When a fixed system undergoes a period of planned upkeep, the installation of durable yet economical units represent the perfect replacement.

This arrangement guarantees the implementation of a comfortable environment until either the scheduled repairs have been completed or the requirement otherwise ends.

Outdoor temperatures may fluctuate on a day-to-day basis and heating and hot water requirements often vary, but a rapid response to emergencies or planned maintenance work will ensure your business continues to function in line with typical expectations. www.andrews-sykes.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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HEATING

PREPARING FOR WINTER

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s the days begin to shorten and temperatures to dip, energy and finance managers will be preparing for the increase in energy expenses associated with colder weather.

Energy prices are continuing to rise steadily, so it’s advisable to consider carrying out efficiency improvements before the extra demand on the heating system puts added pressure on the budget.

After all, ensuring high-performance heating not only reduces emissions, energy usage and costs, but keeps associated emissions low while ensuring higher comfort levels for building occupants.

So with 80% of UK buildings relying on gas for their heating, what practical lowcost steps can be taken to improve heating efficiency and reduce associated costs?

LOW HANGING FRUIT – 48% GAS SAVINGS A plant upgrade frequently tops the list of quick wins to significant cost and carbon savings in the many buildings still using dated or inefficient commercial boilers.

The European Union predicts a 20% reduction in energy consumption and emissions when replacing older equipment with products (like condensing boilers) that comply with the tighter efficiency and NOx requirements of the Energy-related Products Directive (ErP).

However the real-world results can be far higher in our experience. The exact figure will depend on the nature of the building and the existing boilers. But time and again, our customers report impressive outcomes from retrofitting high-efficiency condensing boilers – a drop in gas consumption of 48% for one, an annual saving of £35K in gas bills and a carbon reduction of 217 tonnes for another. And these are far from isolated examples.

Even condensing models should be routinely replaced when they come to the end of their lifecycle to ensure optimum operation and efficiency. So it’s advisable to carry out regular condition surveys – and there’s no better time than the present.

MOT Of course, a boiler replacement won’t be necessary in all buildings. But boilers are not a fit-and-forget technology – just like people and cars, they need looking after. An annual service and a good maintenance programme will ensure the best performance from boilers, maximising efficiencies and comfort levels while minimising building emission levels to comply with organisation’s environmental commitments.

CONTROLS – 15% EFFICIENCY SAVINGS The next consideration is the control strategy.

Adding the appropriate controls enables boilers to operate at top efficiency levels while achieving and maintaining a consistently comfortable environment

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Proactive planning ahead of the winter months can help energy managers keep heating costs down in the colder months, reducing energy consumption and creating more comfortable buildings. Chris Meir, Sales Director at Remeha, identifies practical, lowcost steps for improved energy efficiency for building occupants and simultaneously reducing plant maintenance costs.

Upgrading controls can deliver big savings of up to 15%, according to the Carbon Trust.

The minimum control strategy should encompass weather compensation, optimisation, fulltemperature control, and sequential controllers for multiple boiler arrangements, all of which must be fully integrated into the Building Management System.

It follows that it’s worth identifying boilers that are supplied with time and temperature controls as standard if carrying out a boiler replacement. Look too for controls with intuitive interfaces as these will be straightforward to set and adjust – and therefore more likely to be used. Control settings should be checked on a regular basis as turning down the thermostat by just 1°C could reduce heating bills by 10%, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

WATER QUALITY – 7% SAVINGS Addressing water quality should be an essential step in all boiler maintenance programmes as any contamination can affect both the performance and lifespan of boilers and the heating system.

If left untreated, sludge and debris can accumulate overtime in pipes and radiators, affecting the circulation of water in the primary circuit and heat output, and reducing the efficiency of the overall system.

In hardwater areas, a lack of water treatment can lead to the build-up of limescale in the boiler’s heat exchanger.

This creates an insulating layer, inhibiting heat transfer to the water. A 1mm layer of limescale will cause a 7% increase in energy input to the boiler to meet the same heat demand.

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Scheduling water treatment on an annual basis by a qualified technician can resolve both issues.

However, water quality should be checked on a regular basis.

INSULATION – 10% SAVINGS Boiler insulation degrades over time and on old equipment can reduce a boiler’s efficiency by 10%.

Insulation should be replaced when it is showing signs of wear. Similarly, the insulation on the associated pipework and valves should be replaced over time. This can result in further savings of up to 10% of the energy input.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES As we head towards winter, it’s fortunate that there are practical, lowcost measures available to support improved heating operational efficiencies in buildings. Upgrading dated and inefficient boiler plant with well-controlled energy-saving condensing boilers will boost cost, carbon and NOx savings, while reducing gas consumption. And proactively implementing a regular boiler maintenance programme will ensure maximum comfort and financial benefits.

All of which makes everyone winners – even if the Beast from the East does make a return visit this winter.

Tel: 0118 978 3434 Email: info@ remeha.co.uk www.remeha.co.uk

HEATING

RINNAI: THE 1200I CONTINUOUS FLOW HOT WATER HEATING UNIT – FOR EVERY COMMERCIAL SITE RINNAI HOT WATER – INSTANT, CONTINUOUS, LIMITLESS AND SENSIBLY ECONOMIC

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ow available from Rinnai UK, manufacturers of the world’s leading continuous flow gas-fired hot water heater units and systems, is the HDC 1200i continuous model for use on all high demand commercial sites. It is capable of delivering in excess of 1560 litres per hour. It guarantees unparalleled levels of efficiency and hot water delivery for the end user whilst streamlining installations and guaranteeing future regulatory compliance.

This precision engineered water heating unit can also be combined as multiple units into one single, easy to handle module incorporating cascade frames and common flue. Both the HDC 1200 internal and external models turn in a market leading energy performance of 107% net efficiency and offer superlative ranges of modulation as the systems internal analytical system can modulate the burner modulation range from 54kw to 2.4kw. The Rinnai HDC 1200i is engineered for minimal energy wastage and maximum energy performance.

It is worth remembering that Part L of the Building Regulations 2013 has set minimum thermal efficiency levels of 90% for natural and 92% for LPG, consequently outlawing noncondensing gas fired water heaters for use in new build projects.

Rinnai is the only manufacturer that can supply a complete range of internal and external ultra-high efficiency condensing continuous flow water heaters, aligned not only to comply but surpass changes on the regulatory horizon.

Rinnai units and systems are now the number one choice for large buildings and businesses with a heavy demand for constant hot water or where

high peaks of demand occur at certain times. Any number of modules can be manifolded, so the water handling capacity is truly infinite and there is no risk of the ‘cascade’ of hot water ever running out.

The manifolded 1200i units can be delivered direct to site in one complete, easy to manage package and at a very competitive price. For the end user this guarantees considerable cost savings over other forms of hot water generation. The relatively compact footprint of all Rinnai units and systems means it can optimise plant room space and safeguard accessibility for maintenance and servicing.

There is huge potential for on-demand style water heaters such as the Rinnai HDC 1200i units to play their part in new build and in refurbishments projects alike, where in the latter there are still many old systems that need replacing. By replacing this older technology with new condensing appliances will help support the UK drive towards greener industry.

The Rinnai Infinity HDC 1200i water heater uses heat exchanger technology

to allow the largest capacity flow rates, thereby guaranteeing all the hot water needed, when it is needed. As well as increasing capacity, the Rinnai Infinity water heater has lower greenhouse emissions because of the new reduced NoX burner technology and as there is no storage, this scores well with BREEAM. Available in both internal and external versions, HDC 1200i gives end users 105.5% net efficiency as the condensing process delivers up to 95% thermal efficiency, translating into significant energy savings when compared to standard tankless water heaters.

With a continuous flow water heating unit, it will deliver limitless amounts of useable hot water, whatever the site - school, hospital, hotel, office blocks, leisure club etc with no fluctuations in water delivery temperature.

The only time the site uses energy to heat water is when there is a demand, in other words, it is only burning gas when a tap or shower is being run.

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com

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HEATING

SALUS UNVEILS INTELLIGENT THERMOSTAT FOR COMMERCIAL PREMISES For developers, specfiers and faciltiies managers of commercial premises, SALUS has unveiled FC600 – an innovative fan coil thermostat that helps reduce energy costs whilst providing adequate temperatures and thermal comfort. It can also be integrated into SALUS’s Smart Home range for advanced remote control of multiple devices.

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C600 is ideal for use in offices, hotels, workshops, warehouses, shops, farm buildings and even homes. Able to control both fan coil units and manage the temperature in the property, it is suitable for use with any combination of heating devices such as two pipe/ four pipe fan coil units, a wall heater with fan, or a trench heater.

This multi-functional temperature controller provides various possibilities of use and can operate to suit individual needs. It can act as an occupancy sensor for buildings with key-card contact or as an external temperature sensor.

In addition, it can provide manual or automatic changeover between heating

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The FC600 fan coil thermostat from SALUS that helps reduce energy costs whilst providing adequate temperatures and thermal comfort.

and cooling. Also, with three variable fan settings to choose from, as well as manual or automatic fan speed control, this thermostat guarantees optimum efficiency and maximum comfort.

To optimise energy savings and controllability, FC600 can seamlessly integrate with other products in the SALUS Smart Home range. These include smart radiator controls, door/ window sensors, and smart plugs for remote control management of electrical appliances and lighting. The can be achieved either by manual configuration or via the SALUS App. Dean Jepson, SALUS’ European Managing Director, comments: “FC600 is an intelligent and intuitive device that facilitates integrated energy management and control of commercial premises.

In conjunction with our Smart Home system, the owner or manager can remotely control several sites without

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

having to visit each property individually, and effortlessly control one device or all connected devices in the building.

“For added energy savings, the thermostat also offers an ECO mode.

It can be operated manually or via an external contact such as a window switch or key card switch,” adds Dean.

For quick and simple installation, FC600 comes preconfigured with standard ideal default settings. Bespoke settings can also be configured via an intuitive LCD touch panel or via the Smart Home system. To ensure a steady temperature, the thermostat also features an integral TPI (Time Proportional and Integral) system.

FC600 is available from SALUS’ nationwide network of merchants and distributors.

Visit www.salus-controls.com/uk Alternatively, contact 01226 323961 for further information.

HEATING

ONLINE AND IN TOUCH – THE DIGITAL WAY AHEAD Chris Goggin of Rinnai looks at the way to the future, for installers, specifiers and end-users, with an online and fully digitalised approach to trading in today’s world.

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oday’s world is driven by fingertip operation on a computer, Smartphone, tablet – or even a watch. ‘Digitalisation’ has interrupted and reset the way all businesses of all sizes operate.

‘Digitalisation’ is simply the integration of digital technologies into all seconds, minutes and hours of everyday life. It dictates, virtually all communications between installers and their customers – and suppliers. If a business chooses not to embrace the opportunities of digitalisation and remains in a state of denial then it is highly likely to be left behind and fall away from competitors.

The evidence is here - the rise and rise of online purchasing has already accounted for major names in retailing going into administration and ceasing to trade. Online buying is now across multiple device formats, along with the streamlining of product or service information available to consumer bases.

The world is now digital. Finding

the ways of employing and utilising this new digital space is key in maintaining a competitive edge within your sector of plumbing and heating installation and contracting market.

The leading manufacturing companies are creating online contact points, information and support services that are fully digitalised and accessible on any device. Tailoring this information so that it is personalised to target customers, geographically and demographically, is a strong and advanced method of ensuring complete service offerings, in a streamlined and effective way.

And the benefits? Time and cost efficiency dramatically increases in talking to anyone involved in the supply chain. It gives a platform to engage with manufacturers at any time of day and from any site.

For specifiers and consultants who need reliable products and information, engaging with a

fully digitalised manufacturer, with integrated BIM shelf and associated sales support as a core competency, will deliver this without question.

For end users, too, this accessibility leads to peace of mind. A digitalisation strategy is, at its core, aiming to ensure the customer is central to company thinking and long-term goals. Competing in the new wider, and online, industry requires the most advanced, personalised and hassle-free offering to the end user in this manner is extremely important.

Brand knowledge and trust now requires transparency and direct accountability, and so Twitter and other social media platforms, are also a key area for engagement and information flow. Social media enables interaction and mediation with emergent groups (even regular online reviews which can be both good and bad!) while enhancing and protecting a reputation.

For more information on the RINNAI visit www.rinnaiuk.com

HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS CAN SAVE MONEY WITH BOILER PRESSURE WARNING DEVICE

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ngineering specialist Teddington has launched a unique device that warns tenants when the pressure in their heating system falls too low – helping housing associations to save money by preventing costly emergency call outs to repair unnecessary boiler shut-downs.

PressureSentry is ideally suited for combi-boiler heating systems and screws into the top of a standard domestic radiator to monitor the system pressure. The low-cost device can be installed by qualified engineers during routine service calls – with no need to drain the heating system.

Low pressure, caused by leaks or a build-up of trapped air, is behind the majority of emergency call outs – leaving housing associations facing costly repair bills and tenants

without heating and hot water.

But with PressureSentry, as soon as the pressure falls below a pre-set level (1 bar) an audible, 360-degree visual alarm is triggered. The sound can be muted but the flashing indicator stays on until the system pressure has been reinstated.

Housing associations can then arrange for work to re-pressurise the system – preventing further damage, boiler shut downs, and huge emergency bills.

PressureSentry can be fitted to any radiator at a convenient location in the home, ready to alert the tenant to any loss in system pressure.

Installation takes less than 10 minutes. The device connects to a radiator using a standard ½ inch BSP screw thread and uses a small

battery for the alarm, only drawing power when low pressure is detected.

For further information, contact Teddington Systems on 01726 222505 or visit www.teddingtonsystems.co.uk/ pressure-sentry.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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NEWS FEATURE: VENTILATION SPECIAL

INTELLIGENT NATURAL VENTILATION STRATEGIES FOR SCHOOLS Tom Lipinski, technical director at Ventive

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chool buildings in the UK are failing badly. In order to meet legislation on air quality, classroom temperatures and noise levels, schools are often designed with unnecessarily complex systems that frequently end up unfit for use, contributing to £150m being wasted each year on servicing empty school buildings. Given that secondary school student numbers will increase by more than 400,000 by 2025, there needs to be a rethink on how to design school buildings that are fit for purpose and cost effective in use. Design will need to incorporate the current regulatory framework as well as looking ahead to how building usage could evolve over the coming decades. In a bid to raise the standard of design, RIBA has shared principles for best practice in design which states that building services should be simple, natural and flexible.

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But how do these recommendations line up with the realities of construction?

VENTILATION STRATEGY CHOICES

BETTER PLACES FOR LEARNING; RIBA

The new BB101 recognises three categories of ventilation provision; mechanical, hybrid and natural.

Mechanical ventilation employs the use of a motorised fan to supply fresh air. It can be very effective, and indeed preferable for scenarios where there is no access to natural openings.

These systems can recover heat (MVHR) but tend to be power hungry, which can incur a high lifecycle cost.

In warmer conditions it may not be possible for these systems to prevent overheating within classrooms.

Hybrid ventilation systems can use natural ventilation techniques during operation time, otherwise employing the use of a fan. Some of these systems use a technique called air mixing instead of heat recovery. It involves the use of a fan to recirculate stale exhaust air back into a classroom while mixing it with some fresh air, thus increasing temperature. Hybrid systems incur high operational costs due to fans activating for the majority of the time and higher heat loss than mechanical systems.

Natural ventilation systems rely on the use of passive forces such as air buoyancy and wind to provide fresh air to a classroom. These systems have low carbon emissions, can have extremely low operating costs and are typically easier to install and maintain, given the lack of motorised fans. Traditionally a natural ventilation system needs to be incorporated into a building design from its inception in order to maximise the benefits of such an approach, as it takes advantage of building fabric and layout. For the purposes of this paper, I will examine whether a natural ventilation system can meet the criteria for an optimal ventilation strategy.

There are two mandatory regulations that affect school design; BB101 (Air quality and thermal comfort) and BB93 (Internal air noise levels). As well as these regulations, engineers must consider a variety of factors in their design: • Mechanical overload – is this adding another level of complexity to the school fitout?

• Emissions – how will the building services (including ventilation system) affect the school’s carbon footprint, and BER rating?

• Operational cost – how much energy and maintenance will the system require?

• Versatility – will it be suitable for summer and winter conditions?

Equally, can it adapt to a change in how the building is used?

• Performance assurance – can you be sure it will work as predicted? Will facilities managers be able to adjust settings?

• Reliability – what is the risk of breakdown? How much will it cost to fix?

That’s a lot of balls to juggle in the air at the same time.

It’s why many engineers have relied on complex building management systems (BMS) to ensure the theoretical efficiency of the buildings. However the sheer complexity has often made it near-impossible for facilities managers to optimise the systems, resulting in millions being wasted. In many cases, schools have Display Energy Certificates three times that of the modelled Energy Performance Certificate rating. In an effort to rectify this growing problem, RIBA has called for an end to the reliance on complex mechanical systems in schools. Let’s examine what that could look like in the context of ventilation systems.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

WHAT SHOULD YOUR VENTILATION SYSTEM DO FOR YOU? Ventilation systems these days are expected to be much more than a mechanism for supplying fresh air to rooms. Providing a consistently high

SPECIAL FEATURE: VENTILATION NEWS level of air quality without sacrificing temperature requires sophistication within the ventilation system. Working with other systems in a building, they can also have a positive effect on: • Occupant comfort • Reducing external noise • Low energy performance through heat recovery • Life cycle and operational running costs • Optimising building performance over its lifetime Let’s take a look at how a natural ventilation system could be implemented to achieve these goals.

HOW TO DELIVER CONSISTENT AIR QUALITY The typical outdoor CO2 levels are 400 parts per million (ppm). When inside the levels rise due to concentration, and a ventilation flow must be provided.

Numerous reports have suggested that CO2 levels consistently higher than 1500ppm are harmful for concentration and health, both of which are harmful for academic performance. Regulations are in place to ensure classrooms provide the best environment for learning, whereby natural ventilation systems cannot exceed a daily average of 1,500ppm CO2. Additionally, CO2 levels can reach 2,000ppm for no more than 20 consecutive minutes in a given day. It is also now a requirement to place a CO2 sensor in classrooms, (1.1m high for primary school and 1.4m for secondary school) to constantly monitor classroom conditions and give occupants an awareness of their environment.

An intelligent approach is required for a ventilation system to be able to adapt to these three conditions (<1000ppm; 1500-2000ppm; >2000ppm) while minimising heat loss and/or energy usage. That is to say, it’s easy to maintain a high rate of air flowing into the classroom but that would produce cold draughts, forcing the heating system to kick and ultimately drive up the energy bill.

HOW TO PROVIDE COMFORT FOR ALL SEASONS The UK has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, meaning there is a need for both heating and cooling throughout the year within buildings.

The normal temperature in classrooms should be 20°C however the new BB101 makes allowances for adaptive

thermal comfort in warm conditions, whereby gradually rising temperatures are permitted given that we become accustomed to whatever climate we’re in.

This represents an evolution of thinking from the previous limit of 28°C. The calculation also includes August, which is not how schools are currently used and therefore provides an element of future proofing against climate change.

During warmer months, rooms can suffer from a build-up of heat over a period of time due to high external temperatures and solar gain.

If a heatwave lasts a matter of weeks, as it did this summer, the problem intensifies unless there is an effective way of cooling. All indicators show our climate is getting warmer, so this is an issue that will become increasingly prevalent over the next 20 years and beyond. The only way to properly deal with overheating is by engaging in both day and night cooling.

In the daytime, occupancy heat gains are exacerbated by high external temperatures. Without the right ventilation strategy, rooms can quickly feel like a stuffy oven. Fan-based systems are able to provide consistent temperate climates, however there is an energy trade off. Modern heat exchangers are now able to extract the heat from incoming air and cool it down before supplying it to rooms. A high rate of flow makes for a pleasant breeze, giving an additional cooling effect.

Night cooling mitigates the compound build-up of temperatures, particularly for heat islands, and removes the possibility of rooms becoming unbearable. The only problem is that in the past, overnight ventilation has been expensive (running a fan overnight) or risky (leaving windows open). Many facilities managers in the RIBA report admitted to disabling night-time cooling mechanisms because of concerns about security and complex controls that made them difficult to manage. An elegant solution is to engage in purge ventilation using a wall-mounted louvre and ceilingmounted vent. Pumping cooled air into a room via the louvre gives buoyancy to the warmer air, allowing it to exit through the ceiling and rapidly cool the room in a secure manner, without the risk of unwanted intruders or rainfall.

For the majority of the academic year, overheating is not a problem we have to deal with in the UK. Both London and Manchester have an average outdoor temperature of between 7°C -17°C for 9 months of the year, while there are 6 months for Edinburgh. It

means that ventilation combined with moderate heat recovery is a mode that will be in operation for most schools in the country during most times of the year, and an ability to provide this efficiently will have significant cost saving implications for all schools.

Winter poses its own challenges for natural ventilation systems, given that a hole in the wall or ceiling is not typically conducive to comfortable conditions.

New guidelines recommend that normal classrooms do not have an air supply any lower than 5°C colder than the internal temperature, to avoid cold draughts.

There are stricter guidelines still for rooms with SEN students or those under the age of 5, with the maximum temperature differential limited to 3°C. This must be balanced with the constant requirement of delivering fresh air to occupants. Passive heat recovery can be combined with a heat pump in certain cases to ensure comfort on-demand at minimal energy costs.

HOW TO REDUCE CLASSROOM NOISE LEVELS Noise levels in classrooms have a large influence on a student’s ability to concentrate, as well as a teacher’s ability to effectively communicate. A 2004 study of 142 schools in London shows 86% are exposed to traffic noise, with an external noise level of 57dB on average. This is significantly higher than the BB93 requirement which states that classrooms have an upper acoustic limit of 40dB when ventilated through natural means. Various techniques can reduce outside noise levels, including better insulation and the planting of trees around the school perimeter to omit noise from traffic and surrounding areas.

However sometimes the noise can come from within, such as is the case with fan-operated ventilation systems. The nature of fans suggests them turning on and off, which would provide further unwelcome distractions to occupants.

Natural ventilation systems have no such issues, and while it may sound counter-intuitive for a hole in the roof to reduce outdoor noise levels, modern systems attenuate sounds effectively.

HOW TO ACHIEVE REAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY The Climate Change Act in 2008 aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the year 2050 by at least 80% from the 1990 baseline. Ventilation accounts for just over 25% of non-industrial energy use, as does heating, giving a lot of room

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

Continued on page 36

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NEWS FEATURE: VENTILATION SPECIAL Measured energy usage is often three times the amount predicted in schools

for improvement in this area to cut down on harmful carbon emissions. A national study has found that space heating accounts for 60% of a school’s energy usage. Finding a way to reduce these numbers is imperative to achieving the goal stated in the Climate Change Act. A post-occupancy survey by Innovate UK was conducted in 2016 to discover the difference between Energy Performance Certificates (assessing the theoretical performance of a building) and Display Energy Certificates (an annual assessment of a building’s energy use). Four of the top five buildings with greatest discrepancy between EPC and DEC were schools. It is further evidence of a disconnect between how buildings are designed and how they are ultimately being used. It suggests that more should be done to consider the end users of a building; ensuring they are sufficiently trained to use systems, and have the capability to adjust systems according to the changing needs of the school.

A 2017 study at the CIBSE Technical Symposium shows that natural ventilation systems have by far the smallest carbon footprint of all ventilation methods, consuming less than half the energy of mechanical ventilation systems and less than a third the energy of hybrid ventilation systems. A lot of this gap was attributed to poor optimisation of mechanical and hybrid systems with other building services, resulting in overuse.

In a time where school administrators are being asked to do more with less, implementation of

natural ventilation systems appears to be an easy win. In fact, the Carbon Trust found that buildings with natural ventilation save an average of £30,000 per year on energy costs.

HOW TO OPTIMISE BUILDING PERFORMANCE Greater levels of user control are recommended for ventilation and heating systems in the new BB101.

Occupants should be able to increase or reduction of ventilation rates as required, maintain acceptable indoor air quality and avoid cold draughts or excessive energy consumption in the heating season. Given the expected lifespan of a modern building with glass and metal materials is 60 years, the ability to adapt to changing conditions is paramount for building services.

A RIBA post-occupancy evaluation survey showed sentiment from nearly every project to keep building services and their controls as simple as possible, with complexity ‘designed out’, especially when schools are unlikely to have the staff to manage complicated systems. Four case studies had more meticulous approaches to integrated passive design that minimised and simplified the reliance on active building services and controls. These reported less variation from anticipated performance and better manageability.

The message is clear; ventilation systems need to be nuanced enough to adapt to the changing demands

An in-use comparison of classroom ventilation

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

of schools throughout the year. In fact it promotes greater integration with heating systems to ensure that energy usage is optimised, and greater collaboration with school users to ensure they are aware of classroom conditions (temperature and CO2 sensor) and fully trained on how to operate the ventilation systems where necessary. Getting feedback on real-life classroom data is critical to showing how the ventilation system is performing, and finding ways to optimise. Additionally, providing students with information on their classroom environment and energy use can be helpful for education on embedding sustainable habits from an early age.

NATURALLY INTELLIGENT VENTILATION School building design is tangled in a web of complexity that has real life consequences. Millions of pounds wasted, facilities managers unable to operate systems correctly and poor energy ratings are the result, and it needs to change. RIBA’s suggestions have been taken on board with the new BB101 guidelines to give a clear direction for the industry to move towards; sophisticated design that performs with other aspects of the building while reducing costs and emissions. A well-designed ventilation strategy, such as Ventive’s naturally intelligent solution, is fundamental to enabling schools reach the targets set by government regulations and provide better environments for learning.

To learn more about this topic, Ventive offers a RIBA-certified CPD course that will teach you: • How current school designs are failing the criteria set for them (emissions, operational cost, overheating) • Regulations and considerations that impact on design decisions for a new school • What to consider when choosing a ventilation strategy • How building services can adapt to occupant behaviour over time • Why a natural ventilation strategy fits with RIBA best practice guidelines for school design Email contact@ventive.co.uk quoting “New ventilation strategies” to reserve your next CPD course, or to find out more about how naturally intelligent ventilation can change your next project.

SPECIAL FEATURE: VENTILATION NEWS

PIV HEATERS – THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH

Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) is known to supply fresh filtered air into homes to tackle and prevent mould growth and condensation dampness as well as improving indoor air quality.

While roundly welcomed for its rapid effects, complaints about cold air entering the home during the winter have increasingly led to PIV units being specified with electric heaters.

Paul Harrington, Head of Residential Sales at Elta Fans Building Services, questions the suitability of electric heaters and outlines a new approach that can meet the needs of landlords and improve tenant acceptability.

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riginally developed in the 1970s, Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) has established itself as an effective treatment for problems associated with mould growth and condensation in social housing. Only in relatively recent years have they been offered with electric heaters to address complaints about colder air entering the home during the winter months. Since then, PIV units with heaters have become an established requirement for many social housing providers. Yet with both energy prices and the use of smart meters on the rise, an innovation that was originally intended to increase tenant acceptability could now be responsible for hindering it.

PIV HEATERS – BENEFIT OR ENERGY PENALTY? Two of the many benefits of a PIV unit are its low upfront cost and minimal energy usage. On average a PIV unit will consume 5 watts of power which will cost just 1p a day to run. As a result, PIV systems have long been considered one of the most affordable ways to provide whole home ventilation. Unfortunately, the coupling of PIV with in-built heaters has served to undermine the low-energy credentials of this technology, with some tenants reporting an increase in energy bills following the installation of a PIV unit with a heater. These systems typically consume 500 watts of power (or 100 times that of a non-heated version) and running costs can be as much as £1 a day when the heater is enabled. It’s therefore easy to see why this sudden increase in energy usage and

cost would be a problem for anyone with a low income.

The issue here of course lies largely with the heater and not the ventilation system, but it’s important to remember that this is only part of the story. As with all methods of ventilation, we also need to consider the cost associated with reheating the air provided via the ventilation process. Therefore, providing a ventilation system that meets the whole dwelling ventilation requirements of Approved Document F with as much intelligence and adjustment as possible is critical. Only by doing this can we ensure good levels of ventilation effectiveness while avoiding the issues of underventilation and poor performance, as well as over-ventilation, which can lead to increased energy costs.

By removing the heater and choosing a more adjustable and intelligent PIV system to better suit the property and its occupants, the central heating system – which will often use gas – can be relied upon to top-up the temperature to the required comfort levels much more cost effectively. The fact that gas is cheaper than electricity ultimately ensures tenants are less likely to fall

into fuel poverty, and that housing providers won’t face accusations of forcing avoidably expensive heating bills on the residents of their properties.

TIME TO CHANGE The introduction of PIV units with built-in heaters served the dual purpose of increasing tenant acceptability and countering cold air influx. While it was an effective sticking plaster at the time, the problems it could cause if usage continues will far outstrip the intended benefits. As it stands, many specifications still require PIV units with built-in heaters and, while we have done everything we can to reduce the impact on this for tenants and landlords, the industry needs to move away from an over-reliance on heaters, towards more measured and targeted ventilation.

The sooner honest conversations are had with social housing providers and landlords about running costs, false economies and fuel poverty, the better.

For more information on Elta Fans’ SANO Intelligent PIV Unit, visit www.eltafans.com.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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RENEWABLE ENERGY

SCORCHING SUMMERS AND SOLAR Paul Hutchens is Director of Midlandsbased solar specialists, Eco2Solar. He is a board member of the Solar Trade Association (STA), the UK’s leading solar industry voice, and Chairman of the STA’s New Build Working Group which aims to inform governments, councils, house builders and consumers about sustainability in housing. Here, Paul discusses how the hot summer has impacted the solar industry, how Scotland is outstripping the rest of UK in green energy generation, how national legislation is failing to meet public demand for environmental policy and what this means for house builders and house owners.

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RECORD-BREAKING SOLAR OUTPUT Something quite extraordinary happened on the afternoon of 30 June this year. For one hour, solar energy, all but briefly, overtook gas as the UK’s top power source. And that’s not the only record that has been broken this summer - between 21 and 28 June, solar broke the record for weekly output, producing 533 gigawatt hours of power.

During that same week, solar generated more than 75GWh on five days, another new record. And in a first, solar output hit more than 8GW for eight consecutive days. For a technology considered ‘alternative’ just ten years ago, this is significant. But what do heatwaves like this mean for the solar industry?

The Met Office reports that 2018 was the joint hottest summer on record for the UK as a whole, and the hottest ever for England. The high temperatures in 2018 were tied with those of 1976, 2003 and 2006 for being the highest since records began in 1910. This rise in temperature is bringing attention to solar technology for two reasons.

Firstly, the real effects of global warming are forcing discussions on the necessity for green, renewable energy solutions like solar. Carbon dioxide and methane emissions from fossil fuels contribute to global warming and decreased air quality, whereas solar energy solutions produce no such pollution. While some argue that emissions are created during the production of solar panels - these are much lower compared to lifecycle emissions for coal and natural gas.

Plus, coal and natural gas continue to release carbon dioxide while they produce electricity. Solar panels, on the other hand, produce completely green energy with zero emissions once installed. As the Solar Trade Association

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

states ‘Government has set out plans for the decarbonisation of UK electricity to below 100 gCO2 per kWh by 2030.

More renewables on the grid and a reduction in the use of coal for electricity generation mean that the UK has already made great strides in this direction’.

These real environmental changes are shifting attitudes and increasing the attractiveness of properties boasting green energy solutions.

Secondly, the recent increase in sunshine has led house owners to consider the opportunity to benefit financially from solar installations on their home. Since 2004, energy prices have doubled, whereas the cost of solar panels have reduced by some 80%. Solar panels generate electricity from daylight, and this electricity is used in the home rather than buying power from a supplier, saving house owners around 16p/kWh. Also, any clean electricity not consumed in the home can be stored, or sold back to the national grid. This certainly makes the prospect of a solar enabled new build houses more attractive. Indeed, a recent poll by YouGov found that more than half of the British public would install solar panels and home batteries to tackle climate change if there was greater assistance from the government.

CHANGING PERCEPTIONS Housebuilders’ choice to install solar on new builds is often driven by local government legislation. However, changes in public attitudes towards the technology are influencing demand from house buyers. One Home is a project to increase public awareness of climate change and accelerate the transition to net zero carbon emissions. Recently released research from One Home showed that solar power is the most popular form of energy generation with support at 87% amongst the general public. In addition, the trend in smart

RENEWABLE ENERGY

homes is also leading to renewed interest in solar. One survey concluded that 44% of the public want solar panels with storage on their homes by 2020.

The report notes ‘Blazing hot summers are increasing the direct association in people’s minds to the power of renewable energy to reduce increasing energy bills’.

Social enterprises such as One Home helping to further raise the profile of solar solutions, and increase general understanding of the environmental and financial benefits of the technology.

And, the solar scene has grown at a speed unexpected by the industry some years ago. For example, the Electric Insights reported in 2017 that the UK had 12.4 GW of solar PV capacity installed; more than many analysts once thought would be installed by 2050. This increase in demand is something that we have experienced first-hand, as we work with most of the UK’s largest home builders on providing solar installation services.

POCKETS OF SOLAR EXCELLENCE IN SCOTLAND The standardisation of solar in different regions of the UK varies significantly. Local authorities are working to towards different regional targets, meaning very different outputs. Scotland however are at the forefront of the green energy evolution. The Scottish Government have a clear objective – to generate the equivalent of 100% of Scotland’s electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020. They are set to exceed this target, having gone from delivering 10% to 60% of electricity consumption from renewable sources over the past 15 years. The Scottish government is also on track to ensure

renewable sources provide the equivalent of 11% of nation’s heat demand by 2020.

Wind and solar energy are core to Scotland’s overall energy strategy.

Furthermore, it has been reported that North Scotland could be set for a boost in renewables as the region may become a major exporter of power to the rest of the UK. This ‘proactive decarbonisation’ model has been set out by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks in a report detailing different scenarios for the future of energy in the area.

There are many reasons renewable solutions are growing at pace in Scotland.

Clearly government policy is fundamental, but the geography of the nation and expanse of space in rural Scotland allows for large scale solar developments.

Recently, plans have been approved for a giant solar farm in Moray, that will be the largest in Scotland. The 50-megawatt scheme will include 200,000 solar panels and will supply enough clean energy to power up to 15,000 homes or 19,000 electric vehicles each year. This massive development will occupy 115 hectares, and is just one of many similar size developments throughout the nation.

54,000 homes and 2000 businesses in Scotland currently benefit from solar PV technology. It is a standard asset on nearly all new builds, and over the past two years, Eco2Solar has experienced a significant growth in demand from house builders. We now have a team of fifteen in our East Kilbride offices, working with all the main building contractors throughout the country, and have ongoing contracts with Barratt Homes and Taylor Wimpey. On a national level, Scotland is at the forefront of renewable energy evolution and we are very proud that Eco2Solar can support this.

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT MUST STEP UP Solar is an essential pillar in the future of decarbonising British electricity, and there are some symbolic movements happening throughout the UK supporting green energy. However, on a national political level, the UK government is arguably ‘kicking the ball into the long grass’ when it comes to environmental policy. Much political attention is diverted towards Brexit, and there are real concerns that, once the UK leaves the EU, the powers held by the European commission to ensure the UK meets EU targets on factors such as air pollution and water quality will expire. Currently there is nothing within the UK government to replace these.

The hot summer of 2018 has brought renewed attention to solar, and we would like to see this reflected in national policy.

The environmental audit committee has recommended that a new environmental watchdog with powers to hold the government to account must be set up after Brexit to ensure these protections are kept in place. It also called for targets on air, water, soil, biodiversity and other issues to be legally binding and subject to five-yearly reports, in a similar way to the carbon budgets produced by the Committee on Climate Change under the 2008 Climate Change Act. Without this, the impetus for real change and innovation lies with local government alone. Only with a coherent national policy, can the UK hope to meet targets for decarbonising electricity and secure a sustainable future for our energy requirements. Without this, there is a real risk that advances towards green energy solutions will be put at risk.

For more information, visit www.eco2solar.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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RENEWABLE ENERGY

LEGO-STYLE SOLAR PANELS TO SMASH ENERGY BILLS Ready-made snap-together solar panels that turn waste heat into hot water are being developed at Brunel University London in a £10 million sustainable energy scheme starting next month.

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ith energy use in buildings predicted to double or even triple by 2050*, and most home energy used to heat water, project PVadapt promises to crack several sustainable energy problems at once.

Funded by Horizon 2020, the three and a half-year multi-disciplinary project aims to perfect a flexible solar powered renewable energy system that generates both heat from hot water and electricity.

The hybrid solar panels combine photovoltaic (PV) cells with flat heat pipes. Heat pipes transfer unwanted heat away from surfaces. They’re widely used in industry to recycle waste heat and to cool electronic devices from PCs to the International Space Station, which they stop the sun from melting.

PVadapt will use heat pipes to cool the PV cells themselves to make them more efficient and longer-lasting. And the heat

removed from the cooling is reused.

“With our system, there is no waste heat,” said technical coordinator, Professor Hussam Jouhara, who invented the multifunctional Flat Heat Pipe and whose leading role will bring Brunel £816,000.

“The approach focuses on low-cost, high-efficiency and modular prefabricated ‘Lego’-type construction elements for near-zero-energy buildings,”,he explained.

PVadapt is a team effort involving 18 organisations from 11 different countries. It will see clickin-place hybrid solar roofing panels installed into eight buildings such as homes, offices and shops in Spain, Greece, Austria and Portugal.

Professor Jouhara and the Brunel team will combine all the different technologies into a prefabricated building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) energy and thermal storage system of the future. The

£260-a-square-metre panels could be used in social housing, public buildings and offices and even in developing countries and off-grid. And the prefab parts that only need snapping together on site mean buildings using PVadapt technology can go up very quickly.

A surprising problem the hybrid system solves is that the more sunlight solar PV panels suck up and the hotter they get, the less efficient they are at converting energy. That means the sunnier it is, the more energy they produce, but less is converted into electricity. Heat pipes use that snag to their advantage and whisk away that generated heat and use it to produce the building’s hot water.

There’s other practical wrinkles the ready-made hybrid panels iron out. Installing solar panels in new buildings with normal roofing structures has a poor track record.

“It needs an engineered approach,” said Professor Jouhara. “Our solar panels are PV coated for the most southerly-facing aspect of the roof and are designed to clip together as a weather-tight roof as simply as clicking together Lego or laminate flooring.”

Email: hayley.jarvis@brunel.ac.uk

BLENHEIM COMMITS TO 100% RENEWABLE POWER

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xfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace, has switched to 100% renewable power supplied by Good Energy, as part of an ongoing commitment to end its reliance on fossil fuels.

Good Energy will meet all electricity demand to the Palace, Pleasure Gardens, Park Farm, the new Estates Office in Woodstock and its on-site bottling plant.

The new agreement also includes the Windrush Industrial Estate, allowing third party businesses based there to achieve their own sustainability commitments.

The partnership with Good Energy forms an important part of its 10 Year Goals; Blenheim has also committed to become a net generator of green energy within a decade. As well as implementing wide-ranging energy

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saving programmes across the Estate, Blenheim has also invested extensively in photovoltaic panels, bio-mass boilers and a hydroelectric turbine.

Wiltshire-based Good Energy has been working with Blenheim since 2011 to support their onsite renewable business. Today’s announcement deepens that relationship and will greatly contribute to reducing carbon emissions across the site.

Blenheim’s Sustainability Advisor, Jacqueline Gibson, said: “Blenheim is on track to reducing its consumption of energy, meeting energy demands with renewables, and in time, to becoming our very own green energy supplier – safeguarding energy security in the long term across the Estate”.

“We are excited to partner with

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

and support Good Energy, who source 100% renewable energy via 1,400 generators from across the UK. “This new agreement means that, while we continue to increase our own renewable energy production, we are supporting a sustainable energy industry within the UK to further reduce the Estate’s carbon footprint,” she added.

Earlier this year, Blenheim also introduced its green electric vehicle fleet and, more recently, the Twizy Tours experience where visitors can explore the Estate and its surrounds in the iconic electric vehicles.

In August, Blenheim received a GOLD Green Tourism Award. Their score of 88% put them in the top eight per cent of high scoring businesses worldwide. www.goodenergy.co.uk

One rotation of this giant can power your laptop for 333 hours.

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Whoever said size isn’t everything clearly never worked in renewable energy. With a wingspan of 164m – twice that of an Airbus A380 – our latest turbines generate 13.33 kWh of electricity in a single six second rotation – enough to keep your laptop running for over 333 hours.

All told, we’ve erected over 1000 turbines of various sizes worldwide and that’s helped us deliver the most important number – the price.

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DRIVING THE FUTURE

ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING ‘HUGE GROWTH AREA’ FOLLOWING 18TH EDITION REGS, SAYS BUREAU VERITAS

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mid the UK government’s ambitious plans to raise uptake of electric vehicles, Bureau Veritas has stated that electric car charging infrastructure represents a ‘huge growth area’ for the industry following the recent introduction of the 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations.

According to latest figures, the UK needs at least 100,000 EV charging points by 2020 - a six fold increase on the 16,500 currently available – in order to provide adequate infrastructure for the one million low-polluting vehicles expected to hit the roads over the same period.

And with a raft of companies, including budget supermarket giant Lidl and the UK electric charging firm Chargemaster, recently announcing plans to invest significant sums in building a network of charging points across the UK and Ireland, hotels, office car parks, retailers, business centres and universities are all set to be upgraded with the infrastructure necessary to achieve this.

As such, it means there has never been a more lucrative time to train in the installation of EV charging points, says Nathan Cliff, electrical principal engineer for electrical systems at global

certification expert Bureau Veritas.

He comments: “For years we’ve heard that electric cars are the future.

However, only recently have we seen the UK government, with its pledge last month to invest £1.5bn in ultra-low emission technology4, and businesses make a concerted effort to create the infrastructure, such as charging points and battery storage to support this.

“Indeed, it’s great to see that the BS 7671 – IET Wiring Regulations 18th edition clearly reflects this - setting out the most robust guidelines to-date on the practical installation of electric vehicle charging points. With an increasing number of hotels, offices, retailers and universities currently expanding their car parks to make room for this new infrastructure, it certainly represents a huge growth area for contractors and one they can take advantage of by getting up to speed on the new standard.”

One of the key challenges of installing an EV charging point in existing car parks is to consider whether there is water supply nearby and the safety implications that may bring. Hence, a notable recommendation in the edition, which will apply to all new and

MORE TORQUE FOR HYDROGEN-POWERED VEHICLES

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DTechEx Research has published a new report ‘Fuel Cell Vehicles 2019-2029’.

Fuel cells are commercially successful in stationary applications but commercially unsuccessful in vehicles, beyond a few thousand purchased for material handling vehicles, notably forklifts. A few thousand had been sold as cars by the end of 2017, mostly to institutions on a non-commercial basis. Fuel cell buses and cars are still outsold by a factor of about one hundred by pure electric buses and cars. Fuel cells in off road vehicles, marine and aircraft applications have performed quite well but are not yet adopted in volume.

Nevertheless, in recent years a renewed interest in this technology has prompted many companies to develop and market new fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), in the hope that this time hydrogen fuel can really ignite a spark in the industry. Toyota and Hyundai, for instance, are now selling their H2-powered passenger cars, and Japan plans to use the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a huge showroom for the country’s knowhow in the hydrogen economy, with 35 hydrogen refuelling stations scheduled

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to open before the start of the games.

At the same time, European firms like Alstom believe that dirty diesel trains can be replaced by cleaner H2-powered ones, as hydrogen is a more cost-effective solution to the expensive conventional rail infrastructure. A few trains are already in operation in the rural part of northern Germany, and if proven successful, fuel cell trains will soon capture more market share at the expense of diesel ones.

The trucking industry is also longing for CO2-free alternatives to diesel engines, which are prone to failure and cost their drivers thousands of dollars each year in fuel. However, Li-ion batteries are not always the best solution for that, as charging a 1 MWh battery pack can take several hours and charging infrastructure may not be equipped to provide hundreds of kW at the same time to a convoy of electric lorries.

For this reason, companies like Nikola have already collected over 7000 preorders for their fuel cell-powered trucks, which are leased (and not sold), while the company prepares for covering the entire US soil with proprietary hydrogen-refuelling

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

rewired installations after January 2019, is that all electrical vehicle charging points must be protected using a 30mA RCD and suitable over-current protective device.

In addition, Protective Multiple Earthing can also be used with an earth electrode as long as the open circuit voltage does not exceed 70V. Meanwhile, the units, which are required to be IP4X and mechanically protected for medium impact, must also include auto detection of potential between earth and main earthing terminal instead of auto close.

Bureau Veritas offers a range of testing and certification services for electric vehicle charging points. For further information, call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk stations. As Tesla abandons its initially ambitious plans on selling thousands of battery-powered semis, this can be a golden opportunity for all those companies willing to embrace hydrogen solutions outside of the passenger car market.

Finally, hydrogen might take it to the skies too, thanks to joint efforts in the drone industry in switching away from bulky and slow-to-charge batteries, in favour of small hydrogen tanks that can be refilled in seconds and enable longer range for commercial and military drones. Similar efforts are also underway in the marine vehicle sector, where H2 can meet shortcomings that batteries have failed to address.

For this reason, IDTechEx has analysed nine different EV categories on land, sea, and air, and assessed their market potential in the 2019-2029 timeframe in the report Fuel Cell Vehicles 2019-2029.

This 530-page technical report contains information on the main R&D efforts being carried out worldwide, existing challenges, and unexplored market opportunities. A multibillion dollar market by 2029, fuel cells can be a complementary technology in all those EV applications where batteries are too costly, too slow, or just not the right fit. www.IDTechEx.com/fuel

DRIVING THE FUTURE

EV CHARGE POINTS – WHAT IS THE FUTURE?

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ook back ten or even five years and although there was an acceptance that EVs may one day become mainstream, few predicted a rapid rise.

In 2010, only around 100 EVs were sold in the US, yet by 2017 over 200,000 were sold. Research suggests that by 2030 there will by 500 million EVs worldwide and that, given the exponential growth rate so far, even that figure may be an underestimation.

In fairness to the naysayers, there are some underlying issues surrounding the infrastructure that are slowing down the widespread adoption of EVs. The biggest issue currently facing the EV market is availability of charge points. A unanimously shared pain point amongst all drivers who question how far they can drive before they’re in danger of getting stranded.

Given the rapid speed at which the EV market is evolving and the issues still facing mass-adoption, what will the future of EV charge points look like?

RAPID INCREASE IN CHARGE POINTS EVs are still rather limited in terms of range, maxing out at around 240 miles on a single charge. We need to see an increase in commercial charge points for those driving long distances.

Governments and private businesses are on the case. The European Union wants charge point facilities to be available in new residential and commercial buildings and governments, such as the UK, are providing consumer subsidies for charge points. The UK government recently unveiled plans to become a world-leader in lowemission tech at the world’s first Zero Emissions Vehicle Summit.

Interestingly Nissan estimates that the number of charge points will overtake petrol stations by August 2020, owing to both the decline in petrol stations and the increase in charging points. And, over the next two years, you’d be hard-pushed to find any car manufacturer that isn’t unveiling their hybrid or electric vehicles.

The variety of charge points is also increasing. EV customers and businesses now have a choice, albeit limited, between a range of functional,

Jérôme Faissat, co-founder, Andersen utilitarian charge points and more aesthetically-pleasing options.

IMPROVED CHARGING SPEED AND BATTERIES A few years ago, it would take several hours to fully charge an EV. That’s clearly far too long for drivers to spend in a service station.

Now, with Three-Phase chargers, most modern EVs can charge to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.

With improvements to both battery and charge point design, this will drop rapidly over the coming years to be on a par with the time it takes to fill the tank of a petrol car. Manufacturers are looking at solid-state batteries using graphene as a potential solution, and, meantime, we expect a graphene/ lithium-ion hybrid to increase the range and charging speed of EV batteries.

Battery efficiency will be matched by improvements to charging points, allowing far more voltage to be run from the charge point. This will provide rapid charging of much higher capacity batteries, which in turn will minimise range anxiety.

MORE POWER SOURCES Along with improvements in battery and charge point design, there will be a significant shift towards diversifying the sources of power for EVs. I don’t expect any of these alternatives to provide all of the power needed to charge an EV, but if each one contributes a little to the charge of the vehicle, it will keep them going longer between stops at charge points.

Solar panels, otherwise known as photovoltaics (PV), have already become much more efficient. Increasingly they will be seen on the roofs of EVs, helping boost the car’s energy as it drives.

Another source of energy will be under our roads, charging EVs as we drive. As early as 2015, the UK government was testing charge-and-drive solutions for buses, providing a small amount of charge at each stop to keep EV buses operating their entire route. The

same approach could be used at traffic lights or on stretches of motorways to boost energy for EVs.

CONTACTLESS CHARGING Some suggest that the rise of autonomous vehicles will signal the end of car ownership as we book and even share autonomous vehicles.

While this seems inevitable with the amount of money Uber and Google are ploughing into the technology, I still think there will be a place for personal vehicles and family cars, particularly for long holiday trips.

I think personal autonomous vehicles will make use of wireless charge points, which will become the new standard for EV charging. Wireless charge points use induction to charge the vehicle from underneath, eliminating the need for a human operator to plug them in.

So, your autonomous EV will be able to drive itself to a charge point while you’re shopping or seeing sights on holiday, wait there until it’s fully charged or needed again, and then drive itself back.

Looking ahead the future of the EV charge point market is very exciting.

Technology is moving at such a rapid pace that these future predictions may even arrive much earlier than anticipated.

But as cities become increasingly congested and pollution skyrockets further, there will be considerable pressure on this technology to develop and evolve – giving us all a healthier, greener and more sustainable future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jérôme Faissat is co-founder of Andersen, makers of premium electric vehicle (EV) charging points. Timeless design, hand styling, superior quality and the latest technology are all key to every Andersen EV charging point. https://andersen-ev.com/

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WATER MANAGEMENT

SECURING EVERY DROP High level security and fire safety solutions ensure business continuity across the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vital infrastructure.

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RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

TECHNOLOGICAL CONVERGENCE

The adoption of protective measures that encompass physical, personnel and cyber security is key to safeguarding water authorities against security threats. These should support the wider objectives of SEMD and in doing so, mitigate the likely or actual disruption to the water supply arising from any civil emergency or national security event. A full risk assessment must be undertaken across individual locations to uncover potential vulnerabilities, understand the impact of intrusion or attack, and identify the optimum security response.

The first stage of the planning process requires a detailed risk analysis to determine the potential security threats to the site periphery. There are multiple possibilities including targeted criminal acts, sabotage, attack, hostage taking, espionage, intrusion and burglary. The level of expected damage and the likelihood of occurrence determine the risk potential, which can then be used to establish security objectives and vulnerability. Importantly, before considering the final security concept, the area to be protected needs to be precisely defined.

It is vital that the procedures, measures and investments put in place are appropriate and proportionate for that specific situation. Even within the same water authority, the needs of different locations will vary considerably; therefore priority must be given to ensuring the security measures taken are relevant to the threat, rather than a universal approach.

The key drivers for an electronic security system are to deter, detect and deny unauthorised intrusion, and to communicate these events and provide effective control of any security or hazardous incident: 1. Deter unauthorised intrusion by showing visible and effective security measures 2. Detect activity across multiple site locations through advanced technology 3. Deny intruder attempts to defeat or bypass security measures Appropriate protection for water authorities operating in harsh and often remote environments involves implementing layers of security. Creating intelligence at the perimeter plays a major role in enabling proper control and situational awareness of the entire site. When this intelligence is integrated with other security technologies such as CCTV for instant visual verification of perimeter breaches and access control to restrict entry at gates, barriers and turnstiles, organisations are able to accelerate their response to critical events and manage risk before it escalates to a more serious incident.

It can be difficult and expensive to secure full protection of an extensive perimeter; furthermore the requirement for duct networks, power supplies and cabling can make the prospect costprohibitive. To mitigate this challenge, perimeter security concepts are being developed for the UK and these include

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE â&#x20AC;˘ OCTOBER 2018

A clean, reliable and safe water supply is critical to health and wellbeing. Each day the UK water industry collects, treats and then supplies many billions oflitres of high quality water to domestic and commercial customers and then collects and treats billions of litres of the resulting wastewaters, returning it safely to the environment. Chris Edwards, Account Development Manager at Siemens Building Technologies, explains why working collaboratively with the water industry to harness a joinedup safety and security strategy is vital,to both protect against and mitigate disruption to supply.

WATER MANAGEMENT systems that operate on a light source, an important consideration for organisations with carbon-reduction programmes.

Solar-powered technologies remove the need to install expensive duct infrastructures, communication cabling and associated civil engineering works.

The integration of multiple security technologies provides centralised situational awareness, improved information and intelligence, effective response to critical events and the proper co-ordination of resources. To achieve a fully protected infrastructure necessitates the installation of robust command and control platforms that improve protection across multiple sites, manage critical situations and enhance procedures. Centralised command and control platforms improve efficiency and enhance security and safety operations, whilst reducing risks.

Operators are immediately prompted to take the correct action and the software will automatically set in motion a sequence of pre-agreed activities to ensure the right procedures are adhered to, as well as distributing essential information across multiple agencies.

Incidents can emanate from multiple sources such as system analytics or intruder devices, and an automated workflow or rules engine will prioritise the importance of these and alert operators in a number of ways. Alarm rules will also assist operatives in managing response times, actions and feedback. Exported video can be combined from multiple cameras into one cohesive flow of evidence for analysis and importantly, a full audit of all activity is automatically generated to provide a comprehensive incident report.

SMARTER FIRE PROTECTION Across many water utilities it is common for the fire safety and the security systems to operate independently, requiring end users to procure two separate control systems, with all the additional training and management that two separate workflows require. With modern software platforms, many separate systems can be integrated into the same command and control platform which reduces the operational burden of the building, while offering greater levels of performance from the building when considered as a whole.

Integration of these disparate systems also allows the creation of improved approaches to incident management by extending the cause and effect to include security systems such as CCTV and access control, within the life

Command and control platforms that improve protection across multiple sites, manage critical situations and enhance procedures.

safety system response. This integrated approach to safety can be extended to include other technologies within the building, such as lighting control, plant handling, and energy management. In the event of fire, a workflow-oriented approach driven by information from multiple devices will maximise protection and manpower resources across the site.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY Mobile technology means that incidents can be viewed and played back on smartphones and tablets so authorised users can access video from any location at any time of the day, enabling security personnel to create and watch video exports onthe-go and take immediate action. An add-on feature is ‘video push’ which allows users to upload live video from a mobile device directly back to the command and control platform; GPS positioning will automatically locate the ‘pushed’ video, all using secure and encrypted communication protocols.

Modern IP cameras and IP network systems improve the way surveillance video is captured, processed and stored.

These devices provide significantly improved image quality and picture resolution, resulting in much greater accuracy and detailed identification.

Moreover, they present a wider field of view, providing greater coverage, and offer digital zoom to further enhance the picture. IP cameras offer greater intelligence as they can deliver multiple analytics rules such as people loitering, object removed, idle object, heat mapping and filters for speed, size, direction and colour.

Minimising risk in the area of cyber security comprises both comprehensive security mechanisms and integrating security activities into the whole lifecycle.

This means taking security considerations

into account during development and engineering as well as service and operations activities. Comprehensive security mechanisms should combine physical and network security, and system and software integrity. Cyber security issues have been the subject of standardisation for some time, and Siemens plays an active role in all major organisations, including supporting the work of ISA-99, IEC 62443, DHS, BSI, WIB NAMUR and CLSI AUTO11-A2 to make sure that common cyber security standards are developed.

CONCLUSION Creating a secure and sustainable environment includes the management of an extensive infrastructure, the continued protection of critical assets and the need to act in compliance with OFWAT regulatory controls. It is vital for water authorities to drive a risk management strategy, which should be supported by governance and implemented by the Board and senior management. All employees, contractors and suppliers should have a clear understanding of the risk management regime and be familiar with all related policies, practices and risk boundaries.

CHRIS EDWARDS BIOGRAPHY Chris Edwards has over 25 years’ experience in the security and fire industries and has a particular focus on the use of technologies for high risk applications. During his 10-year career with Siemens, Chris has worked with a number of major utilities, commercial organisations and financial institutions, including critical national infrastructure.

Prior to working in the commercial field, Chris served for over 14 years with the Royal Navy Submarine Service. www. siemens.com/buildingtechnologies

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

MARKET SURVEY SHOWS RINNAI TOPS FOR QUALITY PRODUCT IN CONTINUOUS FLOW WATER HEATING Plumbing and heating engineers have reviewed and rated Rinnai continuous flow units and systems as a leader in a recent survey into hot water heating delivery systems and products, identifying the company as having ‘superior quality’ to competitor products.

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he survey showed respondents – all Gas Safe registered engineers – answered questions regarding overall satisfaction, brand awareness and product quality. Rinnai came top on product quality – and technical service, in particular.

Over 70% of those surveyed stated they were regular customers and identified ‘strongly’ that ‘quality of products’ and no ‘call backs to site’ as being the main reasons for their views.

Over 65% of respondents said that the quality of Rinnai’s product offering is ‘superior’ to the claimed market leaders with a further 85% indicating that the brand, including all elements of product range, reliability, innovation and customer service, is a genuine market leader.

Rinnai units and systems are now the number one choice for large buildings and businesses with a heavy demand for constant hot water or where high peaks of demand occur at certain times. The water handling capacity is infinite as units can be installed to ‘cascade’.

The benefits for the end user are big savings on fuel over other forms of water heating solutions, with the added advantage that there is no need to give up valuable space to install a cylinder.

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And there are no standing losses to account for as occur with traditional stored hot water systems.

The Rinnai system produces useable hot water on demand, at the turn of a tap or the push of a shower button. The relatively compact footprint of the units also means they can be housed in tight spaces and still be easily accessible for maintenance and servicing.

According to Rinnai’s Chris Goggin: “We believe our range represents the best value-for-money commercial hot water solution on the market today, and it can be delivered direct to site in one complete, easy to manage package.

Its impressive energy performance ratings also make it a highly desirable development at a time when everybody

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

is looking at decreasing energy bills and maximising energy efficiency.”

The condensing process delivers 95% thermal efficiency, which translates to significant energy savings when compared to standard on-demand water heaters. Rinnai’s high efficiency condensing range of continuous flow water heaters, including the HDC1500 with its 96-97% gross efficiency, covers a vast number of requirements.

Rinnai condensing continuous flow water heaters are low NoX, less than 50mg with gross efficiencies of 96-97% and recovery of 740 litres per hour at 50° Delta. All units are A rated on ErP. For more details on RINNAI products visit www.rinnaiuk.com

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

RINNAI’S EYE-CATCHING RUGBY LEAGUE SPONSORSHIP – FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS

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s one of the UK’s leading manufacturing suppliers of commercial hot water heating systems, Rinnai has solidified sponsorships with similarly industry competitive partners, including the Super League Club, the Widnes Vikings. Striking a more novel tone, Rinnai’s name appears on the backside of players shorts.

“Rinnai is a worldwide brand name in its field and has taken some major global sponsorships – including the Queensland Reds, The World Club World Cup event held January this year in Tokyo, the World Ice Skating Championships and the US Nascar competition held in Daytona, Las Vegas and other major American venues.

It is certainly different, but works incredibly well for us and Widnes Vikings”, says Rinnai Operations chief Chris Goggin. “The sponsorship takes the form of the Rinnai logo and brand name on the back of the playing shorts.

This is the first time both parties have taken this unconventional but innovative style of sports sponsorship.

“We are absolutely delighted to take a very active sponsorship with Widnes Vikings. We, as Rinnai, share a common belief in approach and values of excellence, innovation and responsibility to the wider community”, adds Chris Goggin.

That belief translates directly into the economic and reliable solutions for installers, specifiers and end users’ installers or all domestic and commercial hot water heating and delivery needs in Rinnai’s comprehensive range.

Maintaining A rated energy efficiencies, temperature accurate water supplies their electronically controlled continuous flow gas fired units and systems are the product off choice within the UK. Committed to sustainability, both in business and environmental impact, the Rinnai range delivers energy saving performance and low greenhouse emissions through new low NOx burner technology. All units and systems can be installed stand-alone or manifolded to provide unlimited hot water for even the largest of commercial sites, without loss of pressure and heating at different delivery points.

The newly updated Rinnai Infinity range also embodies our business model for innovation within the industry.

The Infinity 16i, weighing just 18kg and measuring less than 675mm (H) x 139mm (W), has a delivery capacity of 15.2 litres per minute, at a temperature rise of 25°. Water temperature can be preset through easy-to-use built in digital controls, eliminating the risk of scalding and potentially eradicating the need for thermostatic mixing valves. Designed for use directly off the mains, with no need for large, inconvenient and energy inefficient storage vessels, this unit is the perfect domestic heating solution.

The larger Rinnai 26i continuous flow water heater unit is one of the company’s best-selling internal water heaters worldwide and has a flow rate of 19.6 litres/min, raised at 33°C. Rinnai Heavy Duty water heaters are high efficiency gas continuous flow water heaters with outputs up to 69kW. Compact and reliable, the Rinnai Heavy Duty HD50i operates between 1-10 bar pressure, which is suitable for mains and systems with boost pumps.

The HD50i Internal water heater is a wall hung, gas fired, continuous flow water heater capable of

producing hot water at 756 litres per hour at a 50°C rise. Incoming water temperatures of up to 60°C are accepted, making the HD50i suitable for secondary return systems.

With a 125mm concentric flue, which can be extended up to 15m, less 1m per 45° bend, water can be delivered at high volume with minimum gas consumption. All models have full electronic ignition with no pilot light and operate on demand only, consuming no gas when not in use.

All Rinnai internal HDC condensing continuous flow water heaters are room-sealed, power flue appliances while the external weatherproof models have forced exhaust which enables them to be compact, saving both floor and wall space.

Rinnai’s unique condensing technology incorporates two heat exchangers to achieve optimum water heating generated from every cubic metre of Natural Gas or LPG. The condensing process delivers up to 95% thermal efficiency, which translates to significant energy savings when compared to standard on-demand water heaters or conventional stored systems.

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com

NOW AVAILABLE FROM FINNING

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he new Cat® G3500-H series is now available from Finning UK and Ireland (Finning), helping industrial and commercial facilities dramtically improve the total cost of ownership of combined heat and power (CHP) and continuous electric power applications.

The G3512H is the third H Series product line now available for operation on natural gas fuel, offered at 1500 kWe power at 50 and 60 Hz. The new generator set is ideally suited for environments such as hospitals, data centres, manufacturing plants and greenhouses, as well as in distributed generation power plants.

Low operating costs are achieved through improved electrical efficiencies of up to 44.9 per cent for 50 Hz and 44.6 per cent for 60 Hz applications. In addition, product developments such as cuffed cylinder liners, updated valve stem sealing and increased valve train lubrication help ensure maintenance is kept to a minimum, while also reducing oil consumption.

Furthermore, the new model features

an open combustion chamber design that allows the use of a lowpressure fuel system (1.5 to 5 psi / 10.2 to 34.5 kPa), which optimises performance on pipeline natural gas.

Multiple NOx emissions settings are available too, including 500 mg/Nm3 (1.0 gm/bhphr) and 250 mg/Nm3 (0.5 g/bhp-hr).

The plaform’s new long-stroke engine design features high-compression ratio steel pistons, a high-efficiency turbocharger and electrical generator.

For applications isolated from a primary electric utility, the G3512H offers industryleading load acceptance capabilities.

For more information about Finning and the new Cat G3500-H series, please visit www.finning.com.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018

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