May 2023

In this issue

Energy in the Public Sector

CPD Module: On-site Renewables

Batteries & Energy Storage

Ventilation & Air Handling

eibi.co.uk

A new life for car batteries Powering up a research centre in the north west

Passivhaus in the public sector Award-winning new development in Cambridge

Retrofitting our social housing Methods to decarbonise a problem sector

On The Cover

Most senior business leaders are planning to adopt hydrogen as part of their energy improvement strategies, according to new research from Centrica Business Solutions.

Three quarters (77 per cent) reported that they had already or would implement hydrogen-ready technologies such as combined heat and power (CHP) units as they seek to optimise energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions. More than a quarter (27 per cent) plan on doing so in the next two years.

Almost one in ten (8 per cent) said they had already installed hydrogenready CHP, while a further seven in ten (69 per cent) are either considering the technology, trialling it or planning to implement it.

FEATURES

ENERGY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR

10 A first at Cambridge

Two Passivhaus standard student accommodation blocks in Cambridge have carried off a prestigious award. Juliet Rennie looks at this worthy winner

12 Decarbonisation and the public sector

Silviu Catana explains how adopting a hybrid approach can improve the efficiency of commercial heating systems in public sector refurbishment applications

14 The thirst

for funding

Demand for funding for public sector energy efficiency schemes is soaring. Ian Rodger outlines the challenges of delivering ambitious decarbonisation schemes

16

Keep control of the radiators

Huge savings have been made at a retirement housing complex owned by a city council thanks to a BMS system controlling smart thermostatic radiator valves

BATTERIES & ENERGY STORAGE

22 Find the finance for renewable energy

Peter Kavanagh provides the inside line on the development of Pillswood – Europe’s largest battery energy storage scheme by MWh

24 A valuable asset in uncertain times

Solon Mardapittas looks at battery energy storage as a flexible asset that can also generate revenue

25 Net zero starts

with digitalisation

SMART BUILDINGS

28 A world of unmanaged buildings

Alex Rohweder looks at the opportunities manufacturers of HVAC equipment have to provide transparent information on the energy use of buildings without a building management system

VENTILATION & AIR HANDLING

30 An energy harvest for the world

Matthew Maleki explores the impacts of poor ventilation in buildings and explains why monitoring indoor air quality in public spaces should be standard practice

32 Cope with data overload

Natasha King looks at the issues that need to be confronted when retrofitting social housing with energy efficient heating and ventilation

REGULARS

06 News Update

09 The Warren Report

The Carbon Reduction Commitment was never allowed to fully realise its potential. Perhaps now is the right time to revive this imaginative scheme

17 Fundamentals CPD Series 20.10

The role of on-site renewables

Jamie Goth looks at how organisations can make the most of unused space to generate their own power

21 Products in Action

A thermal fluid heater begins work at a UK malting company while three boilers are boosting efficiency at a Leeds hotel

26 New Products

New for energy managers are a universal web platform for monitoring and control and the latest entry to the heat pump market

29 ESTA Viewpoint

Mervyn Pilley delves in to the world of artificial intelligence and how it might affect the energy sector

Follow us, ‘like us’ or visit us online to keep up to date with all the latest energy news and events www.eibi.co.uk

Second-life batteries are paving the way for low-carbon growth with new solar storage technology at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre North West. Matthew Lumsden explains

34

Talking Heads

Now we’ve tackled most of the low-hanging fruits, better reporting will help us act smarter to reach our goal of 40 per cent lower carbon emissions by 2030, says Jasmin Moroney

Photo courtesy of Centrica Business Solutions

EDITOR’S OPINION

Let’s put an end to greenwashing

Mark Thrower

Managing editor of Energy in Buildings & Industry

of this was while it was touting the low-emissions and eco-friendly features of its vehicles in marketing campaigns.

to regulate businesses’ transition plans and put an end to greenwashing.

We are all victims of greenwashing at some time. A parcel recently delivered that states proudly on the address label: ‘Responsibly Delivered – CO neutral.’ It’s easy to take that at face value and unthinkingly feel we’ve made the right choice in choosing that company. But, of course, the phrase is so vague to be completely and utterly meaningless. And that’s exactly how the company intends it to be.

Unfortunately, there are many examples of organisations engaging in greenwashing. A classic is Volkswagen, who admitted to cheating emissions tests by fitting various vehicles with a “defect” device, software that could detect when it was undergoing an emissions test and altering the performance to reduce the emissions level. All

Energy in Buildings & Industry

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A new report by the IPPR think tank reveals that only one in 40 large UK companies have fully adopted the most challenging ‘gold standard’ targets for transitioning to net-zero (see page 7). In addition, one in 20 signing up in principle for the sciencebased targets initiative have not actually set targets.

That means that the vast majority of the claims by companies to be ‘green’ can’t be directly compared, or are not fully supported by science, the report finds. The IPPR calls for a new Office for Climate and Environmental Targets

This body can only be a good thing to back up the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer bill to be unveiled shortly. Big companies face the threat of civil penalties of up to 10 per cent of global turnover for breaches of consumer law. Individuals who breach these laws will face fines of up to £300,000. The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has said passing the new bill is a priority for the government. New powers for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to impose direct civil penalties on companies will almost certainly cover misleading environmental claims.

Because what is almost as bad as green washing is ‘greenhushing’businesses feeling compelled not to communicate as much about their environmental plans, instead sitting quietly on the information and successes they have – or don’t have. There are a lot of companies and organisations out there that are committed, with long-term carbon reduction plans in place. Deterring them from telling their sustainability story would be an added victory for the greenwashers.

09

EDITORIAL Managing Editor

MARK THROWER

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What is almost as bad as greenwashing is ‘greenhushing'

‘Extreme’ fuel poverty hits over 1m homes

Over 1m households across the UK are experiencing ‘extreme’ fuel poverty. They now need to spend more than a fifth of their income in order to cover energy bills as a result of soaring gas prices and chronically inefficient housing.

That is the stark conclusion of a new report from campaign group Friends of the Earth, (FoE), which warns that despite the government’s decision to extend its Energy Price Guarantee scheme by three months and recent falls in wholesale gas prices, millions of households are still facing serious fuel poverty.

The analysis concludes that one in five households - at least 5m in total - are still experiencing fuel poverty in England and Wales this year. This is in defiance of legislation requiring the abolition of fuel poverty by 2016. The government defines fuel poverty as a household that pays more than 10 per cent of its income to cover energy costs.

There are 742,200 households now spending between 20 to 30 per cent of their income on energy bills, while 196,500 are paying between 30 to 40 per cent, and a “shocking” 117,400 households are devoting more than 40 per cent of their disposable income towards buying fuel.

Households hit by extreme fuel poverty are often caught in a cost spiral caused by low incomes - on average two-thirds below the national average - and disproportionately high fuel bills, largely as a result of poorly insulated housing.

Sana Yusuf, a warm homes campaigner at the charity, said: “Alongside better targeted support, the government must address one of the key drivers behind our hyper-inflated bills - the UK’s poorly insulated housing stock. With so few homes properly insulated in those neighbourhoods struggling most, rolling out a rapid, street-by-street programme of insulation is vital. This will save people hundreds of pounds each year on their energy bills and reduce the harmful emissions that cause climate change.”

The FoE report has identified 3,231 extreme fuel poverty hotspots where fuel poverty and low wages intersect. It found that one of the hardest hit areas is Sandwell, in the West Midlands, where over half of all neighbourhoods are affected by extreme fuel poverty. In Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Bradford, and Blaenau Gwent, over 40 per cent of neighbourhoods are affected.

RESPONSE TO POLICY REPORTS

Government undertakes reviews of energy efficiency policies

In March, the Government published 2,802 pages of documentation covering energy and environment policy. These included formal responses to various official external reports covering Government energy efficiency policy. These came from the Committee on Climate Change, the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, and the Net Zero Strategy report by Chris Skidmore MP (pictured right). These responses contained a series of individual commitments regarding specific energy-saving activities that the Government will be undertaking.

On Energy Performance Certificates, there will be two public consultations. One will focus on requiring all socially rented homes to reach a minimum rating of C by 2030. The second will be on mandatory minimum requirements for homes being sold. But there is still no commitment to reach any conclusions on upgrading minimum energy standards above level F for rented homes, and for leased commercial buildings - although a “summary of responses” received during the original 2020 public consultation will

finally be published. New research into the effectiveness of EPCs will be commissioned.

On fuel poverty, there will be yet another plan published, seeking again to improve the targeting of support for retrofitting fuel poor households, but nothing of any greater substance - despite the escalation of numbers in fuel poverty to 7.5m households.

A formal paper will be issued on Green Mortgages, as will a social research study into energy efficiency installers. A new PAS2035 Standard

will be issued, as will a policy paper on the phasing out of new and replacement fossil fuel heating systems for off gas grid properties. A national phoneline service will be restored, to support those consumers that need targeted help or who are “digitally excluded.” Also restarting are regionalised pilots for in-person energy advice “specific to local areas.” There will also be longpromised new guidance for each part of the public sector on energy efficiency investments. There will be further consultations on the precise Future Homes Standards/Future Building Standards.

An economic assessment will be published, setting out the likely benefits of anything proposed both in economic and emissions savings. However, there is very little precision as to quite when most of these commitments will be met, with declared timing mostly limited to “in due course.”

In each case, the Government has delayed making any positive executive decisions in response to specific recommendations. It must be hoped that eventually the Government will bring all these piecemeal policies together into a holistic energy efficiency strategy, that can achieve its declared objective of cutting overall consumption by 15 per cent during this decade.

stating that “we are greening our estate more and have reduced carbon emissions by 35 per cent as we head towards net zero by 2050.”

The government has committed to halving carbon emissions from the public sector by 2032, with a 75 per cent reduction target by 2037.

The State of the Estate report says that the government achieved a reduction in emissions through a major efficiency drive, which included measures such as reducing energy consumption in government buildings, reducing water consumption, increasing recycling rates, and reducing paper consumption.

Greenhouse gas emissions have been significantly reduced from the government estate, resulting in a 35 per cent decrease since 2017 and a £122m saving, according to the annual State of the Estate report. The direct

emissions from buildings decreased by 10 per cent compared to the 2017-18 baseline.

Cabinet office minister, Alex Burghart, praised the progress made towards making the public estate more efficient and sustainable,

Additionally, the government has consolidated staff from multiple departments under one roof, promoting green travel and reducing emissions.

The report also highlighted the disposal of government property that is no longer needed, which has contributed to the reduction in emissions.

Government estate show the way on GHG emissions cuts

Courts hand out mixed messages to Insulate Britain protestors

M25 was acceptable, “in respect of an issue of considerable importance, by four individuals who believed with enormous sincerity in the need to exercise their rights at that particular time and date and at that particular moment in history.”

DIRECT-ACTION PROTESTS Plan to decarbonise major industrial park

In contrast, Judge Silas Reid, presiding at Inner London Crown Court jailed one protestor after he refused to end his “civil resistance” by defying him to speak about the “thousands of deaths” around the world from climate change or from hypothermia. Reid also banned other protestors from providing any explanation for their activities to juries, maintaining that their beliefs provided no defence. These protestors were nonetheless also jailed by Reid.

Siemens has proposed a road-map for decarbonising Trafford Park, one of Europe’s largest industrial estates, to support Trafford Council’s aims for the Greater Manchester borough to achieve net zero by 2038.

During the last two summers, a direct-action campaign was launched entitled Insulate Britain. The declared overall objective has been to persuade the government to insulate cold and draughty homes, to seek to eliminate fuel poverty and to reduce carbon emissions.

The campaign has concentrated primarily on stunts designed to publicise this message. Many of these involved deliberately stopping traffic, either on motorways or in city centres. Consequently, protestors

have been charged by the police with either wilful obstruction of the highway or of causing a public nuisance.

Many have then been prosecuted in the courts. It is though emerging that different judges are responding very differently to such charges.

Some protestors have subsequently been jailed; others have found their cases dismissed. For instance, District Judge Amanda Kelly, presiding in Horsham, West Sussex, accepted entirely that blocking the

No company operating within the insulation industry has provided any public support for this campaign. However, some are concerned that, given the number of Conservativebacking newspapers and backbench MPs that have constantly attacked the Insulate Britain campaign, this reaction may have diminished the Government’s willingness to undertake any purposeful campaign to insulate fully the British housing stock, the ostensible prime motivation of the campaigners.

The Low Carbon Trafford Park 2038 study aims to identify, cost and measure the impacts of low carbon technologies at the industrial estate. It covers a broad range of solutions, from waste to energy and heat recovery from energy intensive industrial players, to the potential for PV across the park to generate 147GWh of clean energy.

The study acts as a blueprint for the council as it works to eliminate the 714,000 tonnes of carbon emitted from Trafford Park each year.

EU agrees to extend cuts to natural gas use

A new report by the IPPR think tank reveals that only one in 40 large UK companies have fully adopted the most challenging ‘gold standard’ targets for transitioning to net-zero, according to a report from the Institute for Public Policy Research. In addition, one in 20 signing up in principle for the science-based targets initiative have not actually set targets.

That means that the vast majority of the claims by companies to be ‘green’ can’t be directly compared, or are not fully supported by science, the report finds.

This slow progress and varied approach on carbon emissions is jeopardising the UK’s aim to become a world centre for green finance, and the report calls for a new Office for Climate and Environmental Targets to regulate businesses’ transition plans and put an end to greenwashing.

The report also recommends publicly ‘blacklisting’ companies that do not meet agreed common standards in their net-zero

transition plans.

Rishi Sunak, as chancellor, committed the UK to developing the world’s first net-zero aligned financial centre, and to require all large companies to develop their own net zero transition plans. The science-based targets that IPPR says should be used in all corporate transition planning reflect the findings of a task force the then chancellor set up at the time.

Meanwhile, IPPR warns, the government appears to be backing off its pledge to compel large companies to begin some kind of transition planning this year.

Although the UK is ahead of some key competitors in the pace of companies adopting and setting science-based targets, it lags behind others – with Sweden and Denmark significantly further ahead.

Luke Murphy, associate director for IPPR’s energy, climate, housing and infrastructure team and head of the think tank’s Fair Transition Unit, said: “Greenwashing threatens to undermine the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in green finance. With just one in 40 large UK companies adopting ‘gold standard’ net zero targets, urgent action is needed to regulate businesses’ transition plans and prevent misleading claims of environmental sustainability.

“The solution is a new ‘Office for Climate and Environmental Targets’ to establish consistent timelines and ensure continual progress, while publicly blacklisting companies that fail to meet agreed standards.

“Let’s hold companies accountable and make sure only those with truly science-based net zero transition plans are able to call themselves ‘green’ or ‘net zero.”

European Union energy ministers have unanimously agreed to prolong for another year its objective of reducing the consumption of natural gas by a minimum of 15 per cent. While the commitment is still officially voluntary, it follows the enormous success of the recent voluntary gas reduction scheme. Overall gas use has plunged by a staggering 19.3% from the time of adoption last August.

The Council regulation is now effective until the 31st of March 2024. It introduces clearer reporting rules for Member States, but with rather more flexibility than the Commission’s initial proposal.

Boom in small-scale renewables in 2023

The latest data from MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) shows that the three months to the end of March 2023 has seen the most small-scale renewable installations of solar PV technologies, heat pumps and battery storage since Q4 2015.

The MCS Data Dashboard has shown that 60,004 installations were completed in Q1 2023.

In March alone, MCS recorded a total of 20,868 installations, which was the highest performing March since 2012 and the second consecutive month in which the number of installations had exceeded 20,000.

UK companies lagging behind in signing up to science-based targets

Rating scheme upgraded to allow tenancy ratings

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has expanded the NABERS UK Energy for Offices rating scheme to include whole building and tenancy ratings, in addition to the existing base buildings rating.

This means that both owners and occupiers can rate their spaces.

These ratings allow building owners and occupiers to assess their actual energy performance and target improvements in energy efficiency, using a Star Rating of 1 to 6.

NABERS UK Energy for Offices rates the actual energy performance of commercial offices based on metered energy consumption. Building owners can now undertake assessments and verify the energy performance of their whole building, which is especially relevant for owners who have single occupancy or for buildings where the metering configuration does not facilitate a base building rating (which covers owners central services, heating and cooling systems and shared services).

Office occupiers can also now use NABERS UK to assess the energy used by their tenanted space, which will typically include lighting and power, special tenancy requirements or local air conditioning.

Jen Dudley, senior product manager from BRE, said: “Understanding building performance is critical in establishing the starting point of a building’s sustainability journey and where improvements can be made.

NABERS director Carlos Flores said: “Until recently, NABERS UK ratings had been restricted to buildings with highly sophisticated energy metering. This expansion makes a huge leap forward in terms of inclusivity in the scheme, providing an easy path for any office building to receive a NABERS UK Energy rating, even those with simpler metering arrangements. Building owners can now certify all their existing office buildings under NABERS UK, and use these to set improvement targets across their entire portfolios. It is an incredibly exciting moment for industry and the environment.”

SUBSIDIES FOR HEAT PUMPS

Boiler upgrade scheme dubbed embarrassing as uptake falls short

A flagship green energy scheme to encourage homeowners to ditch their gas boilers has been branded an “embarrassment” after uptake in the first year was only a third of the planned level. The government’s boiler upgrade scheme had a budget of £150m, to subsidise 30,000 ground or air source heat pump and biomass boiler installations between its launch in May last year and the end of March this year. Yet figures published by the energy regulator Ofgem show that fewer than 10,000 installations were completed under the scheme in this period.

Ministers have set a target of 600,000 heat pump installations within the next five years and for the sale of gas boilers to be banned by 2035. The government scheme provides a subsidy of between £5,000 and £6,000 depending on the type of system used. In addition to the grant, there is no VAT on installation, offering a further saving. Campaigners say heat pumps save the average

Senior business leaders looking at adopting hydrogen as part of energy policy

Most senior business leaders are planning to adopt hydrogen as part of their energy improvement strategies, according to new research from Centrica Business Solutions.

Three quarters (77 per cent) reported that they had already or would implement hydrogen-ready technologies such as combined heat and power (CHP) units as they seek to optimise energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions. More than a quarter (27 per cent) plan on doing so in the next two years.

Almost one in ten (8 per cent) said they had already installed hydrogen-ready CHP, while a further seven in ten (69 per cent) are either considering the technology, trialling it or planning to implement it. This suggests that the cost and carbon saving benefits associated with the

homeowner between £6,000 and £7,000 on energy costs over 20 years compared with a gas boiler.

But the Energy and Utilities Alliance, which represents the heating and hot water industry, described the scheme as a “taxpayer handout to those who don’t need it”. Mike Foster,

CEO of the trade body (pictured left), and a former Labour international development minister, said: “It takes a certain type of genius to fail to give away £150m of taxpayers’ money. But this wretched scheme looks like it has done just that. When will the government actually listen to the people, the majority of whom simply cannot afford a heat pump, subsidised or not? It does little for carbon saving compared with investment on insulation. It does not help people keep bills low. It takes from the poor to give to the wealthy, and it is an embarrassment of a policy.”

In February the House of Lords’ environment and climate change committee also criticised the scheme, writing to Lord Callanan, the energy minister, calling for urgent reform. The committee said the scale of funding was insufficient to allow for lower income homes to take advantage of the scheme.

Despite these concerns, the government announced that it will extend the scheme to 2028. More than £300m of subsidy has been already allocated for the next two years. But in 2022/3, an unspent £90m of subsidies has been returned to the Treasury.

technology are seen as attractive by many organisations.

The biggest driver for investing in hydrogen is cost. A third (33 per cent) of firms believe hydrogen will be a more predictable cost for them to factor into their plans than alternative fuels.

Justin Jacober, director of Centrica Business Solutions UK & Ireland, said: “Organisations clearly see the potential of hydrogen in creating a net zero future, where energy costs are more predictable than those imported

from overseas. A progressive approach to modern energy technologies that incorporates hydrogen will mean firms benefit from reduced carbon emissions and lower energy costs.

“A fully realised hydrogen strategy has the potential to improve flexibility within the grid and enable us to better harness the power of renewables, which will be essential if we’re to reduce renewable curtailment and eliminate carbon emissions.”

Breathe new life into a genuine innovation

Created to boost energy productivity, the Carbon Reduction Commitment was never allowed to fully realise its potential. Perhaps now is the right time to revive this imaginative scheme

It is now four years since the Carbon Reduction Commitment was abolished. Few people have missed it. That is largely because what had been conceived as one of the most imaginative and effective schemes anywhere in the world to improve energy productivity in the commercial and industrial sectors, was effectively strangled at birth.

Instead of being a real game changer, it was hijacked instead into a nice little earner for the Treasury. With precious little evidence of real world impact on energy productivity.

Over 3,000 organisations had been involved. Both private and public sector, these accounted for 13 per cent of total UK greenhouse gas emissions - around 76m tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

Supermarket chains,

Officially called the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, it covered consumption from large non-energy intensive commerce including supermarket chains, offices, retail, public sector buildings (hospitals, universities etc). In addition, it incorporated practically all industrial activity not included in the EU emissions trading scheme.

Inclusion became a legal obligation for any organisation that had at least one “half hour” electricity meter, and consumed over 6,000MWh a year. Though the official threshold was related to electricity consumption only, it became applicable to other fossil fuels like gas, oil or LPG.

When initially launched in 2010, the scheme was based on monitoring only, effectively a precursor of the Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting obligation that ostensibly replaced it in 2019.

But the CRC had been due to evolve into a far more sophisticated entity. In its second year, participants were to have been required to buy carbon allowances to cover their emissions.

Unlimited allowances

For the next two years, an unlimited number of allowances were to be available, at a fixed price of £12 per tonne of carbon dioxide (significantly a bit higher than the EU:ETS trading price at the time).

But two years on (April 2013), the intention was that there would be an absolute restriction in the total number of allowances available, with a full-scale trading market then emerging.

The initial CRC was intended to be outside any public expenditure implications at all. All the money received by Government from the annual April sales of allowances was to be recycled back to participants six months later. The Treasury was meant only to observe.

Who got how much cash back was to depend upon the participants’ position in the performance league table. The amount recycled to each participant would be dependent upon two factors.

Avoid excessive rewards

The first was based upon the proportion of the total that the participant was responsible for at the start, thus avoiding excessive rewards for sensationally improving minnows. The second would reflect the changes in consumption, comparing the latest levels with a five-year rolling average. A growth metric would seek to reflect emissions intensity related to turnover.

Put crudely, those who had achieved big energy savings would get their initial stake back plus quite a bonus. In contrast, those who comparatively hadn’t done so well would get back only a portion of their initial stake.

And those who simply carried on with business-as-usual, treating the scheme as just another energy price hike, would even lose the lot.

So, good performers would have been rewarded twice. Once, via lower fuel bills. And then with a cash bonus for ending up “above par” in the performance league table. Which itself would have brought a less obvious third reward, arguably the most important of all.

The performance league table was intended to be a very public document. Those who emerged high up on the list would have rightly publicised that achievement. They would be receiving accolades. They would be winning prestigious awards. Important people in high places would be inviting them into inner sanctums.

Conversely, those who had done badly - especially compared with their obvious peers - would receive opprobrium. Poor headlines awaited them. Customers - both up and down their supply chainwould be raising serious questions. Particularly if they themselves had done well. Importantly, staff would feel demotivated, working for such an irresponsible entity.

Cancellation of trading

Sadly, this genuinely brave new world was never permitted to emerge. While only the initial monitoring stage was operational, a new Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, was appointed. Osborne unilaterally cancelled the trading concept. He cancelled all the league tables. Osborne cancelled even publishing any detailed results. Instead he just kept the money always paid in by participants each April, and returned none of it to better performers.

Subsequently, there have been no attempts to revive this elegant, market-friendly innovation. Instead purposeful public policy covering this part of the marketplace has been woefully absent ever since.

Today, Osborne’s successor, Jeremy Hunt, is making great play of his determination to cut fuel consumption by 15 per cent this decade. Reinvigorating the Real Carbon Reduction Commitment would surely be a marvellous step in the right direction. ■

Andrew Warren Chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation

There have been no attempts to revive this elegant, market-friendly innovation

ENERGY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR

A first at Cambridge

Two Passivhaus-standard student accommodation blocks in Cambridge have carried off a prestigious award. Juliet Rennie looks at this worthy winner

Juliet Rennie www.cibse.org

Cranmer Road is the first major Passivhaus development in Cambridge. The scheme, located in the West Cambridge Conservation Area, delivers 59 new graduate rooms in two distinctly different buildings, the Garden Building and the Villa Building. Both buildings, however, have been constructed within a large garden which contained three existing villas and has now been landscaped under this project to create a single graduate campus.

King’s College decided on a Passivhaus solution after it was presented with a lifetime cost analysis that helped convince it of the benefits of becoming a pioneer for Passivhaus in the city. This analysis showed the buildings would have a relatively long payback of around 25 years, but even this time period was well within the 100-year minimum design life of the buildings.

It was an approach that certainly impressed the judges at the recent CIBSE Building Performance Awards, where the scheme won the Project of the Year (Non-Domestic) category.

In developing the scheme, architect Allies and Morrison and Passivhaus consultant and M&E engineer, Max Fordham, set out to eschew innovation in favour of conventional materials and engineering systems to produce low-energy buildings that would be easy to construct and to maintain. The design also accommodates the demands of graduate students, who were consulted throughout the brief development process.

Graduate consultation

In response to the consultation with the graduates, in order to provide lower cost rentable accommodation, the three-story Villa Building was conceived as a 19-bedroom house with shared bathrooms and a large kitchencommon room on the ground floor.

The larger, two-storey Garden Building is situated at the rear of the site behind the villas. Its facade

incorporates pre-cast concrete and terracotta elements which are bookended by grey brickwork stair enclosures, in response to the area’s heritage of modernist architecture. Inside, it incorporates 40 en-suite study-bedrooms and a central common room serving the entire campus.

Despite their different visual appearances, both buildings benefit from a cross-laminated timber structure and a concrete raft foundation and are built with cavity wall construction featuring mineral wool insulation as a partial-fill.

To keep the building services engineering simple, both buildings are all electric. The very low Passivhaus space heating requirements enabled heating to be through direct electric panel heaters. Domestic hot water is provided by electric point-of-use heaters to eliminate energy losses from distribution pipework.

Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) units, incorporating summer bypass, provide ventilation to the study bedrooms. Ventilation rates are increased further in summer by manually opening the windows in bedrooms while automatic actuators open the windows in communal spaces.

Max Fordham also carried out daylight modelling to optimise the glazed area to achieve a balance between providing good levels of daylight and preventing excessive heat gains and losses.

The scheme was completed in April

2020. To ensure the buildings were operated effectively, on handover the facilities staff were trained in their operation. Students were given a simple user guide to explain the building and how they are expected to interact with it.

Extremely positive feedback

Post-occupancy feedback was gathered both informally and through a structured survey undertaken in April 2021. Overall, the results are extremely positive, with the building scoring highly in areas such as comfort, lighting, noise, ventilation, effects on health, and appearance. There was, however, frustration with the energy-efficient lighting control, which was turning off the lights earlier than desired. In response, the lighting control run-on period has now been extended.

Monitoring of electricity consumption did, however, reveal that students were overriding the heating set-point on radiators to increase the internal temperature, resulting in increased energy use. The panel

radiators have built-in thermostats which are set to 20°C and fitted with a child-proof lock. Post-occupancy monitoring showed the locks, while child-proof, were not graduate-proof and so students were overriding them and reportedly turning the thermostats up to 26°C, in some instances.

As a consequence, annual heating figures are, understandably, higher than those predicted by the Passivhaus Planning Package. In future, Max Fordham will address the thermostat issue by providing local controls which only allow adjustment of the temperature setpoint within a limited range (± 2°C).

The designers have also learned that students are using more domestic hot water than the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) assumption. PHPP assumes a fiveminute shower duration, students were taking seven to eight minutes, which was borne out by DHW consumption. This finding too has been fed back to the (clean) students and is being used to influence energy modelling on future student accommodation projects.

COVID impacted Max Fordham’s energy monitoring and so measured energy data for both buildings has been extrapolated from three months data. The breakdown of energy use is:

● DHW: 24kWh/(myr);

● Heating: 11kWh/(myr;

● Kitchen: 9kWh/(myr;

● Lighting: 8kWh/(myr;

● Plantroom: 1kWh/(myr; and

● Small power: 6kWh/(myr)

Despite some rogue students, the low levels of operational energy consumption demonstrate that the high levels of positive occupant satisfaction are being achieved without the consumption of large amounts of energy. ■

The buildings at Cranmer Road benefit from a cross-laminated timber structure

PR and communications executive at CIBSE

Space heating in both buildings is provided by direct electric panel heaters

Decarbonisation and the public sector

Silviu Catana explains how adopting a hybrid approach can improve the efficiency of commercial heating systems in public sector refurbishment applications

Silviu Catana

Specification manager at ELCO Heating Solutions

www.elco.co.uk

In order to achieve net zero by 2050, the UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) now recommends a carbon reduction of 68 per cent by 2030 and 78 per cent by 2035 when compared to 1990 levels. These ambitious targets are creating pressure across the industry and driving greener alternatives.

At present, the policy-driven focus is to improve the energy efficiency of non-domestic buildings. As a result, identifying energy-saving measures through an improved heating system is common.

However, the drive to integrate sustainable technology, such as air source heat pumps (ASHPs), highlights wider variables that must be considered before replacing the primary heating plant. Specifically, for existing buildings, there is a need to specify suitable heating equipment

to cater for both constant flow temperature circuits and weathercompensated circuits.

At a recent project in Staffordshire, we utilised a hybrid system approach at an educational academy, based on the use of five commercial ASHPs alongside existing gas boilers. The methodology for the system design required a collaborative approach between the manufacturer and building services engineers.

Air source heat pumps added

As with many refurbishment projects, upgrading to a full heat pump system was not possible, due to restrictions on the maximum flow temperature capabilities of the heat pumps (55°C). However, having analysed the flow temperatures required for the project, ASHPs could be added to the variable temperature circuit, assisted by the boilers at low external temperatures, creating a hybrid system. Doing so allowed the school to reduce both its gas consumption and carbon emissions. But how?

Prior to the implementation of the ASHP technology, the academy’s estimated annual heating energy demand was 1,830MWh, with

the existing gas boilers offering approximately 85 per cent efficiency. As a result, the boilers consumed 2,154MWh of gas while emitting around 387.8 tonnes of CO.

Following the installation of five AEROTOP heat pumps from ELCO, the estimated annual heating energy demand will be 1,830MWh. This is now divided up so that 1,133MWh will be covered by the (retained) gas boilers and 698MWh will be covered by the ASHPs. The expected gas consumption of the retained boilers will be 1,332MWh, while thanks to a Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF) of 3.05 from the ASHPs, the electricity consumption stands at 236MWh.

Carbon dioxide reduction

So, in terms of energy savings, the total gross energy consumption now required (with flow temperatures at 72°C) is expected to be 1,568MWh/ year – a gross energy reduction of 586MWh/year.

The CO emissions from the gas boilers will be approximately 240 tonnes per year, combined with approximately 47 tonnes per year for the ASHP (considering the electricity CO grid intensity of 0.198kg COe/ kWh). That equates to 287 tonnes of CO per year – an annual reduction of 101 tonnes.

Of course, a hybrid system’s performance and efficiency will be further improved as mains electricity continues to be generated from increasingly renewable sources. Indeed, according to UK government statistics, electricity generated from renewable sources increased by 13 per cent between 2019 and 2020 to a record 134.6TWh. In addition, renewable electricity accounted for a record 43.1 per cent of electricity generated in the UK during 2020, more

than 6 percentage points higher than in 2019.

With the UK government having committed to fully decarbonising electricity generation by 2035, emissions from this process are continuing to fall. Data shows that in 2012, the emission factor was measured at 0.537kg COe/kWh, whereas in 2021 this figure had fallen to 0.198kg COe/kWh. This decrease is due to the phasing out of fossil fuels (particularly coal) in the process of generating electricity, while wind, solar and other renewables have become more prominent.

Significant difference

Applying 2012 performance data to the academy’s system reveals some interesting insights. The CO emissions from the ASHPs would have been approximately 97.5 Tonnes per year, (with the CO grid intensity at 0.537kg COe/kWh). Combined with the 275.8 Tonnes from the boilers, this would have totalled 377.3 Tonnes per year. So, if the system had been installed in 2012, it would have only provided a reduction of 14.6 tonnes per year compared to 101 tonnes per year in 2021. Today, such a significant difference between 2012 and 2021 emphasises the importance of the evolution and decarbonisation of the UK electricity grid over the years.

Looking ahead, the CCC predicts the carbon intensity of the electricity grid will drop to 0.05 COe/kWh by 2030, 0.01-0.015 COe/kWh by 2035 and 0.001-0.002 COe/kWh by 2050. Taking this data into account and applying it to the academy’s heating system, the carbon savings during the next five years could be even greater.

Enhance efficiencies

So, having assessed the data, this case study highlights the importance of utilising renewable technologies. They can enhance the efficiencies and performance of commercial heating systems in refurbishment projects – especially those that require higher flow temperatures. The latest ASHPs, in conjunction with boilers, can considerably reduce energy consumption and environmental impact, becoming even more effective as the electricity grid decarbonises.

Using ASHPs alongside gas boilers as a hybrid system allows heating demands to be met, while dramatically reducing day-to-day carbon emissions. Provided all system components have been designed to work together at their optimum capacities, significant environmental savings can be achieved. ■

Using air source heat pumps alongside boilers allows a cut in CO emissions

The thirst for funding

Demand for funding for public sector energy efficiency schemes is soaring. Ian Rodger outlines the challenges of delivering ambitious decarbonisation schemes

Although there is significant funding available for public sector bodies to fund heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures, there are also notable challenges which our Salix teams guide organisations through.

change to improve these schemes.

One of my favourite parts of the job is visiting clients both during the project and after they have completed to see how they have transformed the buildings and made them better for the public and for the environment.

Sharing information

It’s very important to us to share ideas as we use our forums to do this, encouraging public sector bodies to share information with one another.

Thanks to the expertise of our specialist energy and carbon, delivery and finance teams, we are able to work as partners with the public sector body on every step of their decarbonisation journey, from planning to post completion monitoring.

As well as monitoring work and aiding delivery, our teams are on hand to advise on measures available and how best to apply these to the individual needs of the project to ensure we may maximum use of the available funding.

Ian Rodger www.salixfinance.co.uk

Director of programmes, Salix Finance

In the past two years, we have provided more than £2.5bn in grant funding to over 1,000 projects across the UK, ranging from small primary schools to large hospitals.

Highly popular schemes

Reducing carbon emissions is key to tackling climate change. Let’s not duck the issue, it is a formidable challenge, but there is also very much to be optimistic about.

First, decarbonising our country’s buildings is essential if we are to meet our ambition of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and the Government is firmly committed to achieving this aim. As a government delivery partner, Salix is increasingly aware that the race is on to meet these targets. And since heating buildings accounts for 23 per cent of UK emissions, we must go faster.

Salix delivers the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and the Low Carbon Skills Fund on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, as well as a number of other programmes for Wales and Scotland.

The decarbonisation schemes are highly popular, and we know that public sector bodies have a huge thirst for this funding to help them meet their climate change ambitions, many of which are aiming to be carbon neutral well in advance of the government’s 2050 target.

To meet these ambitions we encourage public sector bodies to consider both the fabric and the energy supply to their buildings. We support them to install energy efficiency measures to make the buildings more efficient and use less energy for heating alongside low carbon heating technologies, such as heat pumps, which are needed to fully decarbonise our buildings.

Part of our job at Salix is to help organisations understand the funding schemes available, apply for them and then most crucially successfully deliver their projects to deadline, providing value to the taxpayer.

I am now in my second year at Salix and, as director of programmes, I have been heavily involved in how the schemes have developed. Every time we begin our planning for a new scheme with any of the three governments, we look at the learning from across all the programmes we deliver with a view to improving how these programmes are delivered in the next round.

One of the keys to the successful delivery of the projects we fund is the close relationship we have with our clients and the stakeholders who support them. Each project has a dedicated relationship manager and we run numerous webinars and events to support our clients. This close relationship with each client also provides us invaluable feedback on how the schemes work in reality and what we as well as government can

We’re always delighted to visit projects on site to see how the funding has been spent, how carbon emissions are being driven down, to see the technologies funded in use as well as how the buildings are being used differently.

Indeed, the UK government has set the world’s most ambitious climate change target into law to reduce emissions by 78 per cent by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. We have no alternative – we must get there.

Our Salix teams are driven to support the public sector to decarbonise its estates and alongside Government we are keen to support communities throughout the country by providing them with the greener, more sustainable buildings that will help their communities to thrive.

So, there is a lot to be optimistic about and it’s not hard to see why our teams feel so passionately about delivering our work. This is something we should all care about.

I am particularly looking forward to seeing more exciting projects this year being funded through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and Low Carbon Skills Fund and other schemes.

I cannot wait to get to know our new projects and to visit as many of them on site as possible and be part of the shared enthusiasm for making change. Together we can make a difference. ■

Let's not duck the issue, it is a formidable challenge

Public sector bodies have shown a huge commitment to decarbonisation projects

Keep control of the radiators

Huge savings have been made at a retirement housing complex owned by a city council thanks to a BMS system controlling smart thermostatic radiator valves

Impressive savings have been made at a large retirement housing complex owned by Portsmouth City Council.

Vexo supplied a Smart BMS (S-BMS) system together with 290 Smart TRVs, Wireless Room sensors and Wireless Window switches using LoRaWAN wireless technology. The S-BMS system controls both the hot-water system (HWS) and heating plant as well as controlling all Smart TRVs within the building.

Site energy data from before and after installing the S-BMS was analysed, with adjustments made for differences between weather conditions in the two periods. The results show a total reduction in gas consumption for the site of 25 per cent, with a net reduction in heating energy use of 36 per cent. The 132,299kWh savings in energy generated from natural gas represent a 24,232kg saving in CO emissions.

The complex was built in 1984 and consists of three floors with 49 studio flats of various different sizes, together with a number of communal areas, office and cleaning and cooking facilities.

Radiators manually operated

The existing system used a conventional BMS to control the boilers and primary heating circuit, and allowed all radiators to be manually operated with no active measures to reduce energy consumption. This meant that a lot of energy was being spent where it wasn’t needed, which led to higher energy bills.

The client was looking for a remote monitoring and control solution for their central boiler room to reduce heating energy consumption in a number of residential care homes across their county. They needed a wireless, retrofittable, long-range

solution that was easy to install, compatible with their BMS and that could be used to monitor and control boiler outputs based on hot water and heating demand as well as factors such as occupancy level and outside air temperature.

The heating system consists of two 150kW boilers supplying hot water to a domestic hot water tank used to supply hot water for communal use, cooking and hot water supply to the flats. The site is heated using 290 radiators that are fitted with TRVs. A single variable temperature circuit supplies water to all radiators.

Until 2021 the plant room consisted of a Siemens weather compensating boiler sequencer for heating and direct-fired water heaters for hot water (HWS) generation. In the summer of 2021 the control was replaced with an S-BMS smart control system.

It was important to find a solution that allowed the temperature in individual rooms to be controlled remotely, allowing the automatic control system to set day and nighttime target temperatures, without any major repairs and without disrupting the comfort of the occupants, while

optimising the central boiler room. The solution was to install multiple (50 to 300 depending on the site) of Vexo’s S-TRV thermostatic valves. These are integrated with the S-BMS which supports native LoRaWAN devices.

Operate shared spaces

The BMS control logic manages each group of one or more TRVs to operate shared spaces with setpoints set by S-BMS and not adjustable by the occupants outside of a specific range.

In addition, LoRaWAN room temperature/motion sensors are used to control intermittently occupied spaces so that the S-TRVs switch to lower setpoints when the rooms are not occupied.

All S-TRVs feedback information to S-BMS reporting if heating is required by the S-TRV. S-BMS uses the total S-TRV heating requirements combined with outside air temperature to optimise heat supplied to the building under different conditions and minimise gas usage.

Installation of the S-TRVs was carried out with no issues, replacing existing thermostatic TRV heads with the VEXO S-TRV either directly or using adapters. In addition certain areas were fitted with wireless window sensors to detect open windows.

The energy use for the most recent heating season where the building was under S-BMS control (2021/22) was compared with energy use for the period 2019/2020 which is the last heating season before the Covid pandemic. Like-for-like comparison of energy use was achieved by using the degree-day data to adjust monthly energy data so that the monthly energy use for each heating season are for an equal number of degree days. Energy savings due to reductions in heating energy use are then estimated by removing the base load due to hot water generation energy use.

Analysis of site data

Site energy data from before and after installing S-BMS was analysed for the building below, with adjustments made for differences between weather conditions in the two periods.

Vexo estimates that the installation has achieved a saving of 36 per cent in heating energy and a total energy saving of 25 per cent. This translates in to a saving of almost £26,500. It is assumed that the requirements for hot-water in the building are equal in the two analysis periods and are unrelated to external climate conditions.

However details of the control of the hot water system in 2019/20 are unknown, and the S-BMS control of the hot water system is designed to minimise boiler operation. In particular the S-BMS uses thermostatic tank temperature control with night setback which results in lower boiler usage than continuously maintaining the tank temperature at a fixed value.

Therefore there may be a reduction in HWS energy costs due to reduction in losses associated with hot water generation. However, even if the HWS energy use were reduced by 10 per cent due to S-BMS control optimisation, this would still result in a reduction in heating energy use of 30 per cent. ■

It was important to find a solution that allowed remote temperature control

Smart TRVs are contributing to big energy savings at the retirement complex

For details on how to obtain your Energy Institute CPD Certificate, see ENTRY FORM and details on page 20

The role of on-site renewables

By Jamie Goth, MSc, BSc, CEng, MInstE

The UK Government has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This deadline will require enormous effort across all sectors of the economy to meet, as there are significant emissions from power generation, transport, land use, industry and the built environment. The majority of emission reduction that has been achieved to date in the UK has been from reduction in the carbon intensity of the power generation sector.

The UK has long-standing, largescale hydropower facilities that have been a small, but important part of the

On-site Renewables

Energy from waste and other sources of biomass have historically been a significant proportion of the grid electricity mix and have continued to grow as the total renewable content of grid electricity energy sourcing has grown. From 2004, onshore wind began to be a notable element of the grid electricity, joined by offshore wind in 2005. Both onshore and offshore wind have grown since that time by 2020 together they represented the greatest proportion of renewable electricity. This was also the first year in which the UK generated more electricity from renewables than from fossil fuels ²,³

Continued decarbonisation

UK Government policy is committed to the continued decarbonisation of the electricity grid, primarily through the deployment of further large-scale wind farms.

However, the single greatest source of emissions from buildings’ operational energy use is from heating. Government policy is therefore supportive of heating demand reduction, electrification of heat, heat networks and onsite electricity generation.

supply mix since the grid’s inception. However, coal was the largest single source of fuel for the UK’s electricity supply grid in the middle of the last century. Moves to reduce this dependency started in the 1980s with the phase down in the use of coal-fired power stations and a rise in gas-fired power stations. The carbon conversion factor of gas is 0.18 kgCO₂e/kWh, compared to 0.32 kg/CO₂e/kWh for coal1. Furthermore, the emergence of combined cycle gas turbines significantly improved the efficiency of utility scale power generation, further reducing the carbon intensity of grid supplied electricity.

Examples of renewable technologies for on-site electricity generation include wind, photovoltaic arrays and biomass-fuelled generators. Photovoltaic panels are a well-established technology that are easily integrated into the electricity supply infrastructure of new and existing buildings. Their simplicity of integration and unobtrusiveness relative to other options, such as wind turbines is a key driver of their extensive use throughout the UK.

Photovoltaic cells convert radiation from the sun into electricity, producing their highest outputs when sunlight is at its maximum, their least when light levels are sufficient to trigger generation. Photons from sunlight excite electrons within the photovoltaic cells’ semiconductor material, freeing them to flow in conductive materials, generating electricity through what is known as the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic arrays are made up of photovoltaic cells that typically comprise silicon crystals doped with phosphorous or boron to increase the movement of free electrons and subsequent power generation. Polycrystalline and monocrystalline are the most common types of photovoltaic cell, accounting for over 90 per cent of sales globally. They achieve efficiencies of approximately 15 per cent and 17 per cent respectively, where efficiency is defined as the

Figure 1: Trends in Renewable Electricity Generation by Technology: 2000 to 2020, Source Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) 20224

electrical energy output divided by the solar energy incident upon the active surface of the photovoltaic array. Polycrystalline cells are typically cheaper than monocrystalline cells, but are less efficient. Amorphous silicon photovoltaic cells have lower costs and lower efficiencies of 8 per cent.

Parasitic loss of 5 per cent

Photovoltaic arrays generate direct current electricity that must be converted to alternating current before grid connection. Conversion from direct to alternating current is achieved by an inverter. All inverters use a small proportion of the electricity generated to operate, amounting to a parasitic loss of the order of 5 per cent. The proportion of losses can be greater at low photovoltaic array output, reducing as full capacity is approached. A range of inverter types, sizes, software and control systems are available. They are selected for characteristics that suit the photovoltaic array they are to be connected to. Parameters such as the minimum and maximum input voltage and power output ranges they are designed to operate over are taken into account to optimise system efficiency and reliability. A software technique known as maximum power point tracking is applied by inverter systems to minimise their internal losses and optimise photovoltaic system efficiency. The power generated by photovoltaic arrays varies throughout the day according to light levels, intermittent shading and other factors. Power demand in buildings also varies in line with occupancy patterns and activity levels. There are few applications where these two are aligned.

Consequently, if a photovoltaic array is sized to meet a building’s peak demand, a significant proportion of the electricity it generates at times of nonpeak demand is likely to be exported from the building to the power grid.

The proportion that is used in the building will depend upon the patterns of electricity demand. A building’s load factor is the ratio of average to peak electricity demand. A high load factor signifies an average demand that is near to the peak demand – i.e. a relatively consistent electricity demand. A building with a high electricity load factor would consume a higher proportion of electricity generated by a photovoltaic array designed to meet its peak demand than a building with a low load factor. However, in both cases, a greater proportion of the electricity generated would be used on site if

the photovoltaic array were designed to meet the minimum, or base load daytime electricity demand.

Impact of shading

Shading by trees, buildings, pylons, roof geometry and roof furniture can have a significant impact upon the power generated by a photovoltaic array. Furthermore, where one shaded cell is in a circuit with unshaded cells, the flow of electricity from the whole circuit can be reduced, further reducing the power generated by the array. Even fairly modest shading can therefore have a significant effect upon power output. Both the direction a photovoltaic array is facing and its angle of tilt relative to the sun are important factors in optimising electrical output. A south-facing orientation will be ideal through the majority of the day in the UK, whereas east and west orientations will only optimise direct sunlight in the morning and evening respectively. While the ideal inclination from the horizontal varies with latitude, time of day and season, the optimum for a fixed-axis system in many parts of the UK is approximately 30°.

Fig. 2 is taken from the Energy Saving Trust’s website5 and shows how the percentage output of a photovoltaic array varies with orientation and inclination. It illustrates that output is optimised when facing due south at an inclination of 30°, achieving a

nominal 100 per cent of power output commensurate with its electrical efficiency and the level of insolation. Output drops off as either inclination or orientation move away from the idealised position. Providing the orientation is between due west and due east and inclination is below 30°, power output is mainly above 80 per cent of optimum. However, when the inclination rises above 70°, output falls to below 80 per cent for all orientations and below two thirds for all orientations when vertical. Despite the drop off in power output with increasing inclination, in the right orientation, building integrated photovoltaic arrays mounted on walls of selected buildings have been shown to be cost effective when they are used to displace high cost façade materials.

The impact of inclination upon power output is indicative only and varies with latitude. Furthermore, the optimum angle in summer is steeper than that in winter. A system in the north of Scotland will need to be set up differently from one in Cornwall. The level of insolation received in Scotland will be less, but, where the majority of electricity generated is used on site, there is still a good financial case for the exploitation of photovoltaic throughout the UK. Where system design allows, it is possible to manually adjust the angle of inclination seasonally or twice yearly to optimise power output. This can

increase annual power output by the order of 5 per cent.

Greater increases can be achieved by systems that continuously track the sun’s position and optimise both inclination and orientation to meet this. However, the use of a fixed angle of inclination is the most common practice in the UK, primarily on the grounds of a better return on investment.

Electrification of heat

Heat pumps offer a highly efficient means of achieving the electrification of heat. Through the inherent efficiency of heat pump technologies, they can routinely produce two to four times the heat output of a direct electric heat source, such as a electric panel heater or electrode boiler. Heat pumps remove heat from one location and transfer it to another. In a conventional, vapour compression heat pump this is achieved by using pressurisation and phase change to effect heat transfer. When a liquid evaporates to gaseous phase, it takes heat from its immediate environment. Conversely, heat is lost when a pressurised gas condenses to liquid phase. The latent heat associated with these phase changes is significantly greater than the transfer of sensible heat that occurs without evaporation or condensation. The temperatures at which these phase changes occur are important for practical application to heating and cooling systems.

Substances selected for the suitability of their phase change temperatures, heat transfer and other properties to heating and cooling processes are termed refrigerants. They are the working fluids of refrigeration systems. The common domestic refrigerator is a simple example of an air source heat pump, whereby heat is removed from the air and produce inside the fridge, which is typically maintained at 5°C and rejected into the kitchen at around 20°C. The heat it provides into the kitchen in winter may be welcome, but it is uncontrolled and can cause over-heating, particularly in small spaces in mild weather.

A commercial split air conditioning (or comfort cooling) unit is another example of an air source heat pump. The indoor unit (or evaporator) cools the conditioned space and the outdoor unit (or condenser) rejects the unwanted heat to the external environment. Reversible heat pumps are able to provide either heating or cooling into the conditioned space by simply reversing the role of the evaporator and condenser, depending upon indoor conditions and control

Figure 2: Variation of Solar Insolation with Inclination and Orientation

Table 1: Heat Pump Categories BS EN 14511_2013

set points. Groups of heat pumps on common refrigerant distribution systems, such as variable refrigerant flow systems are able to meet simultaneous heating and cooling demands in different parts of a building. However, the term heat pump is most commonly applied in the UK to systems that take heat from the external environment (i.e. the evaporator is outdoors) and emit it indoors (i.e. the indoor unit is the condenser).

Heat pumps can be broadly categorised by their heat source: air, water or ground source. Heat may be distributed either by air passing over the condenser into the heated space, or distributed by ductwork; or by water distributed via pipework to a heating system, as outlined in Table 1.

Coefficient of Performance

A key measure of the efficiency of a heat pump is its coefficient of performance (COP). The Building Regulations set minimum standards for the COP of a new electrically driven heat pump used for providing space heating in buildings of 2.5. Heat pumps operate at their greatest COP when the temperature difference between the heat source and the heating medium (temperature lift) is minimised. This can be achieved by maximising the heat source temperature and minimising the heating medium temperature.

Systems with a low temperature heating medium will therefore have higher efficiencies than a high temperature heating medium for a given source temperature. Heat pump manufacturers quote the COP of their heat pumps under a variety of conditions and it is not always easy to compare manufacturers’ data, or to get an accurate correlation between manufacturers’ COP claims and the conditions that will occur in a real installation. To simplify comparison, manufacturers calculate the COP of their heat pumps using the British Standard BS EN 1451120136. To meet this standard, COPs should be quoted at inlet and outlet temperatures of 0°C and 35°C, respectively. However, heat pumps are rarely operated under these temperature ranges in the UK.

The charts in Figures 3 and 4 show the indicative trends of how COP varies with both inlet (heat source) and outlet temperatures. Note that the heating medium temperature will be less than the heat pump outlet temperature and this should be taken into account when interpreting the charts below. The charts are for illustrative purposes only and should not be used for design or feasibility studies.

Figure 3 shows COP rising as the source temperature rises, assuming a heat pump outlet temperature of 35°C. The high source temperature of 12°C would not be typical of a UK winter without some form of heat recovery or heat storage to supplement ambient outdoor air temperatures. The chart in Figure 4 shows COP falling as heat pump outlet temperature rises, assuming a heat pump inlet temperature of 0°C. The low outlet temperature of 35°C would not typically be sufficient for UK heating systems without high levels of insulation and other sources of heat gain, as the heating medium temperature would be below the 35°C heat pump outlet temperature, falling below the temperature at which low temperature heating systems can be effective. Heating systems that use a low-temperature heating medium (such as underfloor heating and low temperature radiant heating panels) have a good fit with heat pumps. They can operate down at 35°C to 50°C allowing them to minimise temperature lift, optimising COP.

To avoid oversizing heat pumps and hence to optimise both their capital costs and operating efficiencies, it is worthwhile coupling them with a

thermal store. This allows them to operate at full capacity for longer than with direct coupled systems. A thermal store also provides additional capacity at times of peak heating demand. The provision of domestic hot water is achievable with heat pumps. However, it is not ideally suited to heat pump applications, as it increases the temperature lift compared to underfloor heating. To optimise heat pump efficiencies, alternative arrangements should be considered for domestic water heating.

Industrial waste heat

The source of heat for heat pumps could be waste heat from industrial processes, data centres etc, but is more typically naturally occurring sources, such as air, water or the ground sources. The primary heat input into these three sources is from the sun, as solar energy heats the atmosphere and the surface of the earth. Heat pumps harvest this solar energy and hence are considered to be renewable heat sources.

Air-to-air heat pumps are the most common and well established form of heat pump. They use the heat available in external air as a heat source. The heat pump is usually

directly coupled to the outside air. The second category of air source heat pump is one that distributes its heat via a hot water distribution system. This would typically be an underfloor heating system, or radiators oversized compared to traditional radiators to provide sufficient heat with low heating flow and return temperatures.

Key advantages of heat pumps are their versatility, controllability, low maintenance, low energy costs and their suitability for integration with other renewable energy technologies. They are well proven technologies that are relatively inexpensive to maintain. They must be treated differently to conventional heating systems and particular attention should be given to specific characteristics when specifying them, such as:

● the highest water output temperatures from heat pumps providing space heating are typically required in coldest external temperature, leading to the lowest COP in coldest weather;

● heat pumps are not ideal for domestic hot water provision; and

● their use of refrigerants can lead to a risk of significant global warming potential if refrigerant leaks are not avoided and managed.

This last risk does not apply to boilers and other non-refrigerant based systems. It can be mitigated by selection of ‘natural’ refrigerants with low global warming potential.

While heat pumps are capable of achieving significant carbon savings compared to conventional heating systems, they are less forgiving and greater attention must be paid to design parameters and operating conditions to avoid significant system underperformance and inefficiencies. ■

References

1) Greenhouse Gas Reporting Conversion Factors 2022 https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/greenhouse-gas-reportingconversion-factors-2022

2) Britain generated more electricity from renewable sources than from fossil fuels for the first time in 2020 – marking a major step towards ‘gas power phase-out’ scientists say, Daily Mail, 28 January 2021 (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ sciencetech/article-9195251/Renewablepowerovertakes-fossil-fuels-time-UK-2020report.html )

3) UK electricity from renewables outpaces gas and coal power, the Guardian, 28 January 2021 (https://www.theguardian.com/ environment/2021/jan/28/uk-electricityfromrenewables-outpaces-gas-and-coal-power )

4) Digest of UK Energy Statistics, 2022: https:// www.gov.uk/government/statistics/digest-ofuk-energy-statistics-dukes-2022

5) Energy Saving Trust, www.energysavingstrust. org.uk

6) BS EN 14511:2013

Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages and heat pumps with electrically driven compressors for space heating and cooling.

Figure 4: Indicative Trend of Variation in COP with Heat Pump Outlet Temperature

Figure 3: Indicative Trend of Variation of COP with Source Temperature

PRODUCTS IN ACTION

THERMAL FLUID HEATER

British malting company finds the right recipe in new thermal fluid heater

BABCOCK WANSON has supplied a new TPC-B thermal fluid heater to Crisp Malt, a British malting company dating back to 1870, to replace the existing Babcock Wanson heater that has been in operation for 30 years at its Fakenham, Suffolk, site.

Having well and truly served its purpose, a replacement was required for the thermal fluid heater. The company returned to Babcock Wanson who recommended its new TPC 6000B thermal fluid heater, based on its reliability, high efficiency and large output.

The TPC 6000B is the largest thermal fluid heater in the TPC-B range. These fully automatic coil type, multi-pass heaters come complete with integrated burner, control system and safety devices.

The TPC 6000B installed at Crisp Malt offers several advantages over its elderly predecessor, including improved controls, human machine interface and overall efficiency, plus a considerable reduction in emissions to comply with current regulations. The unit was supplied with new pumps and valves.

While the new heater was being

produced, Crisp Malt took advantage of Babcock Wanson’s thermal fluid heating system rental service. Two ‘plug and play’ TPC 2000B thermal fluid heaters were delivered to site and set up by Babcock Wanson’s commissioning engineers. ■ www.babcock-wanson.com

BOILERS & BURNERS

Leeds hotel refurbishment includes installation of three new boilers

Three TRIGON XL 400kW boilers from ELCO have been installed at Clayton Hotel Leeds, providing up to 1.1MW of heat as part of an extensive refurbishment programme. Located on the south side of the city centre, the renowned high-rise hotel is now benefitting from lower energy bills and higher levels of efficiency.

The original boiler plant had reached the end of its operating life and the hotel required a low-NOx alternative.

As a result, Bradford-based consulting engineers Redworth Associates Ltd were tasked with designing a new, energy efficient heating system, which was then installed by Complete Pipework Services (CPS) Ltd.

Commenting on the project, Martyn Smith, Consultant at Redworth

Associates Ltd, said: “The hotel required a complete review of its existing plant room equipment, following long-term reliability issues and a lack of replacement parts for the original 22-year-old boiler plant. Upon completion of a technical and zero carbon review and, bearing in mind the client’s budget, together with spatial and incoming mains assessments, the decision was made to replace the existing boilers, as well as the flue and primary pipework to an existing low loss header.”

The installation was completed in October 2022, with work being undertaken throughout the summer months previously, during which time the hotel had to remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ■ www.elco.co.uk

Find the finance for renewable energy

Peter Kavanagh provides the inside line on the development of Pillswood – Europe’s largest battery energy storage scheme by MWh

www.heitp.co.uk

With the EU and UK committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, increasing our use of renewable energy has never been more important. In the UK in 2022, we produced around 40 per cent of our electricity from fossil fuels. We need to reduce this dramatically if we are going to mitigate climate change, meet global targets to reduce emissions, and ensure the future security of energy supply.

The wind turbines and solar panels we see as we travel around the world are testament to the growing importance of wind and solar power. However, there’s another part of the renewable energy infrastructure that is less high profile, but equally important – energy storage. With the supply of wind and solar at the mercy of the weather, we need a system for balancing the flow of renewable energy at scale.

Large-scale battery energy storage schemes enable surplus wind and solar energy to flow into lithium-ion batteries, where it can be stored until needed. In the UK, National Grid states that to achieve sustainability targets we need 10 times the amount of battery energy storage currently on the network. Clearly, this is both a huge challenge and an opportunity.

Harmony Energy is one of the UK’s leading developers, owners and operators of utility-scale battery energy storage. So, what does it take to develop and finance a battery energy storage scheme? And what are

the potential benefits for all involved?

Last month saw a major milestone for Harmony Energy and our investment company Harmony Energy Income Trust Plc (HEIT) – the official opening of our Pillswood battery energy storage system near Hull. This is Europe’s largest battery energy storage system by capacity, capable of providing electricity to power c300,000 homes for two hours.

Grid connection dependency

All battery energy storage projects depend on grid connections. The Pillswood site is ideally located next to the huge Creyke Beck electricity substation, north of Hull. The world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, feeds into the same substation. An agricultural field next to the substation was the perfect spot for a development and, Northern Powergrid confirmed there was sufficient capacity and reinforcement on the network for batteries with a grid connection of 98MW.

We designed the layout of the batteries within the space and submitted a planning application to the local council. The site is in a flood sacrifice zone – used as a floodplain to prevent people’s houses flooding – so our design incorporated an elevated platform to raise the batteries from ground level. We also proposed landscaping to create biodiversity gains, including trees and over 1km of hedge planting on the site and along the access track. At the same time, we negotiated land rights with the four

landowners who owned the field and land needed for the access route.

Work began in autumn 2021 with the construction of a 1.5km access track, complete with two bridges and culverts. We then began to prepare the battery site itself, with the installation of 478 piles, each to a depth of around 13m. Ground beams were inserted to connect the piles, before our specialist construction team began building up the legs of the platforms for the batteries to sit.

Constructing to a tight timescale in a challenging geopolitical and global supply chain environment was no mean feat. To reduce the risk of delays on components, we spoke directly with factories and spent days negotiating logistics. Fortunately, there was no delay to the vital delivery of the twohour Tesla Megapack batteries from Nevada – and the transformers only had to travel from Leeds.

After an intensive period of testing and control procedures, the Pillswood scheme was fully energised a month ahead of schedule – in time to support National Grid in providing stable, secure power to the network

over the winter period.

Back in November 2021, Harmony Energy successfully floated its investment arm, Harmony Energy Income Trust Plc (HEIT), on the London Stock Exchange, raising £210m. HEIT has preferential rights to acquire and build out the next 1GW of Harmony Energy’s development pipeline – providing investors with an opportunity to participate in the construction and growth of battery energy storage and renewable energy.

Construction-ready stage HEIT stepped in with investment for Pillswood at the constructionready stage – once planning, grid connection, construction and battery supply contracts and the lease option over the land had been secured. As a result, investors were protected against development risks inherent in a project like this, while benefitting from value uplift as the project went from construction to operation. One of the most remarkable aspects of battery energy storage schemes like Pillswood is that they are constructed without depending on government subsidy.

Pillswood is the first of six similar schemes scheduled for delivery by HEIT in the coming year. Looking to the future, we need to work together globally to support developments like these if we want to enable clean energy generation and protect the future of our planet. ■

The Pillswood battery energy storage scheme can provide power to around 300,000 homes for two hours

We need 10 times the amount of battery storage now on the network

CEO and founder of Harmony Energy and investment director of Harmony Energy Income Trust plc

Peter Kavanagh

BATTERIES & ENERGY STORAGE

With more companies generating on-site energy it is becoming critical to be able to store this power

when needed - and for maximum cost savings, this would be when grid supply is at peak price. This combination of on-site renewable generation with on-site energy storage can mean significant cost savings. When looking to take control over energy budgets, the cost of solar energy is stable as compared to volatile fossil fuel prices and, with zero-rated VAT, investment in on-site solar attracts a 20 per cent discount on installation while renewable infrastructure is exempt from business rates until April 2035.

Massive shifts in thinking

A valuable asset in uncertain times

cent rise in electricity demand by 2035. In this context, Behind-theMeter BESS has a crucial role to play for energy security, affordability, and sustainability - the three arms of the energy trilemma.

energy than traditional UPS.

In the current economic climate, the potential to generate new revenue and to dynamically manage energy spend offers a compelling case for many organisations to invest in a battery energy storage system (BESS).

In March, National Grid ESO published its Bridging the Gap to Net Zero report. However, this update has a major focus on domestic energy concerns. In the absence of further governmental signposts for business, last summer’s Future Energy

Scenarios is currently the ESO’s most useful resource for companies and organisations developing their own strategies to mitigate the worst aspects of the energy crisis while taking steps to decarbonise. Whichever of the scenarios outlined in the report actually comes to fruition, significant UK-wide investment will be required. For example, one of the four scenarios posited indicates a need for 115GW of energy storage by 2035, as compared to the installed capacity of less than 30GW available last summer. At the same time, the growth of greener energy production for the UK exacerbates the issue, given the Climate Change Committee’s prediction of a 50 per

No business can ignore energy security, and an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) has long been a means to protect vital equipment and ensure emergency power in the event of disruption to grid supply. However, in an energy crisis and with the need to achieve sustainability, this option is looking less and less viable, given the energy wastage involved. A traditional UPS will largely sit idle, yet will constantly consume energy, switching from AC to DC and losing up to 15 per cent capacity. For a typical 1MW system, this equates to about £200,000 in unnecessary annual energy spend.

Addressing affordability

Given that the cheapest, and greenest, unit of energy is the one you don’t use, investing in BESS can help address both the affordability and sustainability agendas, while ensuring critical energy stability. A modern BESS can offer protection site-wide, providing emergency power in the event of disruption, either until grid power resumes or, for longer periods of disruption, until back-up generators are onstream - and a BESS will only lose around one percent capacity. Even if all your power comes from the grid supply, without any investment in renewable production, this represents more affordable and more sustainable

As more companies include on-site renewable production in their energy mix - generally solar PV or wind turbines - the capacity to store this energy is critical, given the inherently inflexible and weather-dependent nature of renewables. To maximise the return on investment in renewable infrastructure, BESS enables this clean energy to be stored and used

For the UK’s power supply as a whole, the transition to renewable energy already involves massive shifts in thinking about the way we produce and distribute energy, as more localised networks support the grid. Companies investing in BESS technology can engage in Demand Side Response (DSR), to benefit their own budgets and to support the UK’s energy infrastructure. Only about 6 per cent of industrial energy is currently shifted using DSR, but the growth of localised renewable generation will need to see an increase to around a 40 per cent shift away from peak demand if we are to achieve anything like full energy security.

Unlike the sunk costs of traditional UPS, investment in BESS enables businesses to generate revenue, either via a direct contract with the grid, with the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) or, at a smaller scale, through an aggregator. In addition to renewable firming - the in-built capacity to store renewable energy generated on-site - BESS users can draw down grid supply when prices are off peak either for use at peak times, or to be released back to the grid when demand is high - helping to even out peaks and troughs in overall energy demand.

Of the currently available options for DSR, Firm Frequency Response (FFR) contracts are the most lucrative - and, of course, the most challenging. This is where BESS technology comes into its own, given the realtime imperative involved. Static FFR requires participants to reduce energy consumption for 30 minutes when a significant drop in frequency occurs, while dynamic FFR is used to manage much smaller fluctuations, requiring either a reduction or increase in consumption from between a few seconds to several minutes, depending on Grid requirements. The instantaneous response timing of a BESS lends itself perfectly to this most financially rewarding contract option. ■

Investment in battery storage enables businesses to generate revenue

In the continuing energy crisis, businesses can translate capital investment into new revenue. Solon Mardapittas looks at battery energy storage as a flexible asset that can also generate revenue

CEO at Powerstar

Solon Mardapittas www.powerstar.com

Significant investment will be needed in battery storage in the coming years

AMRC North West can expect to see continued growth in carbon savings

A second life for car batteries

Matthew Lumsden

www.connected-energy.co.uk

Two battery energy storage systems were recently installed at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) North West, in Preston, Lancashire, using second-life Renault car batteries, allowing for the storage of surplus photovoltaic (PV) energy generated across the facility. Rather than having to export to the grid during periods of underconsumption, or being forced to make purchases at peak times, the site’s electrical needs can now be serviced through the intelligent discharge of previously generated renewable energy.

As a result, battery energy storage systems allow the AMRC to become a truly low-carbon, smart facility which can minimise its grid dependency and maximise the value of local power generation—radically reducing both carbon emission and cost profiles for facilities management.

While reduced energy bills combined with increasing consumption may seem fanciful to many in times like these, this facility demonstrates how applying the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and renewable energy storage technology creates fertile ground for low-carbon growth in manufacturing.

BESS is more than just energy

storage equipment; as the new ‘data heart’ of the AMRC, it understands and responds to the unique, everchanging electrical requirements of the facility and its users. Complex facilities management (FM) data, volatile energy tariffs and local renewable energy output values are intelligently leveraged to meet AMRC’s tactical and strategic FM.

Handling unexpected peaks

Planned or unexpected peaks in energy consumption can be handled without bought-in surplus from mixed sources, while excess power can be stored or sold to the grid at the most profitable times. Hosting a number of research and innovation centres that feed into industries worldwide, a BESS-enabled AMRC can continue to add new equipment and expand its activities without needing to increase local generation capacity or exceed its current green tariff. With a flexible and secure source of renewable energy, carbon savings are significant and set to grow.

Local photovoltaic (PV) energy production is ideally suited to the bountiful real estate found across the roofs and estates of manufacturing facilities, offering per kWh savings versus grid imports and an additional source of capital for a facility. Furthermore, any manufacturer without local renewable supply operates at the whim of the global energy market and its fierce geopolitical tides.

Solar energy without storage, however, suffers from several limitations that prevent it from fully surpassing the fossil fuel sources

which have defined manufacturing history. In a non-battery PV system, the need for immediate discharge after production and a variable output rate (according to time of day, weather, or season) is incompatible with roundthe-clock, all-season industrial energy requirements.

Every instance of a mismatch between local PV production and consumption levels represents an inefficiency, with associated costs. With BESS, solar energy supply is unbound from the time of generation; discharge can be aligned with consumption across daily, monthly, and annual patterns, comprehensively meeting facility needs while minimising forced exports to the grid.

Facility and energy managers can say goodbye to the costs associated with peak energy periods, such as EV fleet recharge. They’ll also gain the upper hand in balancing services, with far greater influence over the time and price of their sales to the grid. For those with decarbonisation aims, using second life car batteries

to unlock the full potential of solarsupplied manufacturing provides radical efficiencies that will be difficult to replicate without compromising on growth.

The true power of BESS technology is realised through data. Connected Energy recognises the untapped value in the mass amount of digital information already captured through computer-aided facilities management (CAFM) systems. Through the use of data modelling and AI driven facility management, the BESS can recognise and exploit emerging efficiency and revenue opportunities at the AMRC site.

Harnessing the potential

A smart facilities management system takes a holistic approach to harnessing the potential of a building to meet customer needs. Not only does BESS act as a hub for facility data, but externally sensed or collected information—such as meteorological predictions and energy prices—can be integrated and used to automatically program the system to store energy in preparation for high loads or maximise export revenue.

BESS also aligns itself with the new FM Strategy set out by government, responding to the need for an understanding of the whole life cycle of a building, its future energy needs, and capacity for technological integration. The addition of more power-hungry EV charging points, transition to heat or air pumps, and the expansion of industrial processes at the site are all factors considered and accounted for in BESS infrastructure and programming.

The presence of unused roof space, or PV systems discharging surplus for inefficient uses, are at best a wasted opportunity and at worst a constant drag on a building’s value. It makes sense to convert the roof into a generator and even more sense for that generator to constantly supply to business activities—especially as the cost basis for powering an operation becomes more volatile.

For many companies, their cost to the environment is just as important as financial considerations. The carbon savings made possible through BESS can form a central component of ESG commitment success, driving supply chain sustainability, or enhancing the support of stakeholders, staff and consumers.

During such times of economic turbulence and energy crisis, AMRC shows that it’s entirely possible to attain energy independence, efficiency savings, productive growth and sustainability success through a single BESS solution. ■

Second-life batteries are paving the way for low-carbon growth with new solar storage technology at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre North West. Matthew Lumsden explains

The AMRC illustrates there is fertile ground for low-carbon growth in manufacturing

Founder and CEO of Connected Energy

HEAT PUMPS

New range of heat pumps with natural refrigerants and SCOP of over 4

STREBEL has launched the S-ASX-NT range of commercially sized reversible air source heat pumps. The NT classification of the product refers to the Natural Refrigerant, R290, which is used in the compression cycle of the units. This refrigerant has excellent

thermal efficiency properties, resulting in a SCOP of over 4 at 35ºC and over 3 at 65ºC as well as a future proof GWP of 3. Available in four sizes from 60kW to 90kW heat can be delivered at the outlet up to 72ºC for space heating or domestic hot water production.

As a member of the S-ASX range, which also includes other HFC (R410A and R454B) refrigerant based machines, the NT range also enjoys in-built soft start compressors, low noise set-up and a modulating circulating pump as

MONITORING

Universal web platform for energy control

CARLO GAVAZZI has launched the UWP 4.0 universal web platform designed for monitoring and control of energy efficiency performance and building automation functions as well as lighting control and DALI2 functions. The latest interface provided by the UWP 4.0 provides a superior experience for both end user

well as the benefits of a bespoke commercially orientated design team. Additionally there are also four larger models with an inverter compressor designated as the S-ASX-NTi with the largest model output up to 190kW. ■ www.strebel.co.uk

MONITORING

Temperature sensors ideally suited for domestic heat recovery systems

ATC SEMITEC is making available a wide range of TPE-encapsulated IP67 and IP68 temperature sensors suited for use in MVHR systems.

Whole house heat recovery ventilation systems are just one of the many ways in which consumers are looking to become more energy conscious, while maintaining their comfortable living environment. MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery) systems enable consumers to gain substantial savings on their heating bills, whilst improving indoor air quality within the house and therefore the resident’s general well-being.

The company’s low-cost 103AT-11 are single-insulated, fully encapsulated, IP67 rated temperature sensors, offering fast response times, and high accuracy (±0.3°C at 25°C). The sensor tip is moulded directly onto the cable ensuring the interface is completely sealed, while its small sensor tip responds quickly to temperature change. The flexible leads ensure ease of installation and the AT-11 offers industry standard resistance values

such as the 10kΩ/B3435K (103AT-11). They are readily available from stock in lengths from 600mm to 3m long. The range of even higher integrity IP68 temperature sensors are stocked with various R25 and B values and sensor lengths from 500mm to 5m long. Bespoke customer solutions are also available, says the company. ■ www.atcsemitec.co.uk

and system integrator.

The IIoT ready device is only 2 DIN wide, is certified compatible with BACnet, MODBUS, DALI-2 and provides internet protocols such as FTP, SFTP, FTPS, SMTP, Rest-API and MQTT while maintaining a cyber secure and reliable system, it’s powered by MAIA Cloud for networked building energy management systems which may potentially be exposed to cyber security breaches.

The customisable built-in webserver displays data, builds charts, sets alarms and controls the system, which can be accessed locally or remotely anywhere in the world. UWP 4.0 manages up to 5000 managed signals (including variables, I/

connected to RS485 ports (64 devices each port), up to 5 users concurrently connected to the Web-App, up to 5 concurrent M2M connections (API connections, BACnet clients, Modbus masters), up to 150 different products from the Carlo Gavazzi range can also be connected to UWP 4.0 and is BTL certified (max 500 BACnet points for used BACnet objects).

The internal VPN (virtual private network) function makes it simple to connect to remote UWP 4.0 avoiding DNS, firewall and networking issues, simply by logging into the MAIA CLOUD portal. ■

www.carlogavazzi.co.uk

Os) which can be shared among energy management and building automation applications, up to 128 Modbus devices

SMART BUILDINGS

overall driving experience. I also know when there’s a performance issue with my engine when my dashboard displays warning lights. Unlike cars, commercial buildings without BMS have poor visualisation and little control of their energy usage. Behind the scenes, they also have no visibility into the HVAC equipment performance unless it’s severe enough to produce comfort issues.

Too complex BMS technology

A world of unmanaged buildings

opportunities manufacturers of HVAC equipment have to provide transparent information on the energy use of buildings without a building management system

Alex Rohweder www.j2inn.com

Chief executive officer at J2 Innovations

Today, about 80 per cent of all commercial buildings still need a building automation system. It’s time for HVAC manufacturers to seize the opportunity and create plug-and-play solutions for managing their products and associated ancillary equipment. This will provide the market with a much easier way to acquire integrated Building Management System (BMS) functionality without the cost of custom engineering.

Isn’t it odd that you have more transparency and feedback on fuel efficiency when driving your car than energy usage when managing a building? For example, when you drive your car on the highway, you know exactly how many litres per kilometre you’ve used. But do you have the same level of transparency in your building? Most building owners would say no. And that’s surprising because we all know that buildings consume 40 per cent of the earth’s global energy. So there are many reasons to care,

not just for you individually but also for the impact it has on the planet, the environment, and society. Going back to the car, I use more fuel per kilometre if I’m speeding down the motorway. I know this because, since the early 2000s, cars have provided feedback about the decrease in fuel efficiency when driving fast. If you drive faster, you spend more energy. In commercial buildings, if you increase the amount of heating by a few degrees, do you know how much more energy it costs? Do you know what that means for you and your business? Many don’t. Another example of building awareness could be as simple as not knowing a window is open while the heating system is running. This results in a very inefficient use of energy.

Managing the building

Industry professionals often discuss improving the building shell through better insulation and windows. We also talk about HVAC equipment efficiency a lot, which is essential. Some of this has happened in the last 10-15 years due to the regulatory environment. And that’s great. But what we haven’t talked much about is actually managing the building. When I was in France, we ran a field study to uncover the common reasons for building inefficiencies.

One of the key findings was that cooling and heating were often on simultaneously. This often happens because a boiler is left on as the season gets warmer, and then cooling is also turned on. This lack of building management is where we have the problem.

This, of course, is not true for all buildings. Many buildings have systems to avoid energy waste, for example, LEED-certified buildings, modern airports, skyscrapers, etc. But according to a European Union survey, roughly 75 per cent of all buildings in Europe are energy inefficient (and not just 3-5 per cent, but massive inefficiencies exist). This is a big opportunity for building management.

Returning to the car analogy, I can view my speed with a speedometer and control my acceleration and fuel usage with the pedal. Using these, I can manage my fuel efficiency and

So who can help “equip” the other 80 per cent of our buildings without Building Management Systems? The incumbent BMS players are not well positioned because their technology is too complex to engineer and operate, and they do not typically have relationships with small building owners. Another potential player, who is in every small building, is the electrician. However, they don’t know HVAC systems and don’t have access to BMS technology. One player that has both access to small buildings and extensive HVAC knowledge is HVAC equipment manufacturers. They’re just missing one piece: the technology. The good news is companies like J2 Innovations can provide this technology, which helps manufacturers enter this valuable new market segment.

So what should a BMS provided by an HVAC equipment manufacturer look like? First, it needs to be easily provisioned; who better to do that than the installer of the HVAC equipment, who also maintains the service contract? Installers need to be able to handle integration without complexity. The BMS would provide a plug-and-play environment to easily configure the system. Second, smaller buildings don’t typically have a facility manager and are “managed” by building occupants. So the user experience needs to include simple dashboards that are easy to use. This would raise awareness for energy that is being consumed and help drive positive behaviours for operating the building.

So, in a nutshell, I believe that to tackle the energy crisis, we need to address 80 per cent of the commercial buildings operating with no steering wheel or speedometer. HVAC manufacturers are in a prime position to make that happen. With FIN technology, J2 Innovations can help OEMs seize this new market opportunity and help small buildings drive toward a better future. ■

We need to address the 80% of buildings operating with no speedometer

Alex Rohweder looks at the

HVAC manufacturers are in a prime position to address the energy crisis

ESTA VIEWPOINT

new community of best practice, then please contact me.

The subject of construction came up in a discussion I had the other day about collaborations in sectors focusing on the topic of net zero. While I have always majored on collaboration among like-minded organisations and people as a strong way of moving things forward, I have been disappointed at the progress achieved by some of the larger sector collaborations. COP26 generated a number of such projects.

The relentless march of AI

Mervyn Pilley delves in to the world of artificial intelligence and how it might affect the energy sector and how ESTA is trying to accommodate new entrants to the market

When you write a monthly column there will come a time when you are not certain what to write about – something akin to writer’s block for the novelist.

In an earlier role I used to use pop song titles to generate ideas. Now we have a potential 21st century solution to the problem – ChatGPT which in reality is like a super-charged Google search that can effectively author your article for you and translate it into the style of a chosen author. Out of interest I proposed the concept of the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence in the energy and construction sectors as a topic and it generated the following words for me.

“The construction sector is benefiting from the rapid growth of AI. Construction companies are using AI to improve the accuracy of cost

estimates, schedule projects more efficiently, and manage resources more effectively. In addition, AI is being used to develop new construction methods and to improve the safety and quality of construction projects. The energy sector is also benefiting from the rapid growth of AI. It is being used to improve the accuracy of energy forecasts, optimize energy usage, and develop new energy sources. In addition, AI is being used to improve the safety and reliability of energy systems.”

ChatGPT generated words

This is all common sense, of course, and I promise the readers of EiBI that this will be the one and only time that ChatGPT generated words will appear in my column. While I clearly do not belong to the generation that is most going to either benefit from or potentially be challenged by the onward march of AI, I have always tried to follow what is happening out there in the world of innovative ideas.

As a long-standing fan of Nikola Tesla, the Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer, and having read every book published about his life, I find it fascinating to track where

technology is taking us and clearly, following on from many of his ideas, the energy sector is a critical area for focus. My recent attendance at the UK Construction Week trade show reinforced just how fast technology is moving forward. The second stand I visited reminded me of I, Robot the 2004 film where the robots had taken over. Not quite the case for the company I spoke to, but they have developed some very smart robots that can carry out some of the more basic construction tasks.

Following up from that I also visited a stand where effective battery storage can be put into a shipping container sized unit, and I suspect this will soon be reduced in size even further. The fusion energy debate seems to be focusing on size as well.

AI in construction group

Why all this focus on AI? Well, one of the changes happening at ESTA is the creation of a new AI in construction group. This group is focusing on how AI is being used to create efficiencies both in operations and the achievement of Net Zero targets in the sector. If any EiBI reader is interested in getting involved with this

However, in the same way that signing up to the race to net zero in itself is not actually solving a problem I do feel that some of the bigger set piece collaborations, including the Construction Leadership Council’s CO₂nstructZero initiative, have effectively turned into large ‘talking shops’ with little on the ground action being proposed, especially amongst the SME business part of the sector. I appreciate that this view is controversial, and I do agree that doing something is better than doing nothing. Ultimately, it is the doing that is important, which is why we have continued to promote the fact that implementing energy efficiency measures and using less energy is the starting point for every net zero journey.

On the subject of taking action, we are continuing to develop our Energy Conscious Organisation – EnCO programme and focusing on registering companies and organisations. We have received a lot of interest from businesses of all sizes.

Human behaviour of course never ceases to have a relevance irrespective of the AI developments referred to earlier. If anyone is interested in their company joining us on the EnCO journey then visit www. energyconsciousorganisation.org.uk for more details.

I am looking forward to an active involvement with a number of trade shows and events in the coming months. These focus on a combination of energy and net zerorelated events with an interesting focus on finance. Just where the anticipated finance from the private sector is going to come from at the scale anticipated by the Government remains of great interest to me. It has been empowering to get back to the face-to-face activity again after so long attending virtual meeting after virtual meeting. I am even handing out business cards again. ■

Executive director of ESTA (Energy Services & Technology Association)

Mervyn Pilley

Human behaviour never ceases to have a relevance irrespective of AI

VENTILATION & AIR HANDLING

Air quality monitoring is vital

Matthew Maleki explores the impacts of poor ventilation in buildings and explains why monitoring indoor air quality in public spaces should be standard practice

Matthew Maleki

High rise residential and hospitality business development manager at CIAT

www.ciat.com

We think of our homes and workplaces as our ‘safe spaces,’ but most people have little idea of the significant impact indoor air pollutants can have on our mental and physical health.

The effects of poor IAQ are typically overshadowed by the effects of outdoor air pollution even though we spend 90 per cent of our time indoors. In fact, 4.2m people die prematurely due to indoor air pollution each year, according to the World Health Organization.¹

Some sources of harmful air pollutants including carbon monoxide from cooking and heating, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from personal care products, particulate matter, tobacco smoke, paint, solvents, mould and bacteria can affect the quality of air indoors. In fact, more VOCs are emitted from personal care products than emitted from all the cars on the road at any one time.²

Research has found that healthy buildings with enhanced ventilation can improve the cognitive function and health of occupants, suggesting that ventilation and filtration are preeminent healthy building strategies. COGfx Study 3: Global Buildings, a recent study led by researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and supported by Carrier, and part of the renowned COGfx2 Study series, examines the impact of indoor air quality and cognitive function.

Better sleep quality

Lab tests reveal that cognitive function scores were 61 per cent higher in green buildings with low VOCs compared to conventional buildings – and 101 per cent higher in green buildings with low VOCs and enhanced ventilation.³ Participants also reported better sleep quality and fewer symptoms of poor IAQ or conventional ventilation levels.

While the overall findings were not

surprising directionally, the magnitude of the positive impacts is notable. Mechanical ventilation, such as an HVAC system with efficient filtration, can help to protect building occupants from the negative cognitive effects of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and carbon dioxide (CO2). In addition to acute impacts on cognitive function, reducing exposure to PM2.5 is associated with many other health benefits including reductions in cardiovascular disease, asthma attacks and premature death.

Companies will find that indoor air quality is not only good for people’s health and safety, it’s good for the bottom line – through increased productivity, fewer sick days and better cognitive function. Results across the COGfx studies show that, with the right strategies in place, buildings can play a significant role in improving cognitive function, health

Companies

and productivity, while delivering bottom line benefits to businesses and health benefits to society.

Health charity Asthma + Lung UK has linked poor indoor air quality to increased incidences of asthma, lung cancer and increased risk of heart attack and strokes.⁴

Focus on indoor air quality

England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty is calling for increased focus on tackling indoor air quality after speaking about the importance of ventilation in combating the spread of COVID-19.⁵ He said monitoring indoor air quality in public spaces should be standard practice and called for urgent investment to establish records of pollutants that accumulate indoors.

The UK government has introduced new legislation named in tribute of two children who died as the result of air quality from mould and outdoor air pollution. Awaab’s Law focusses on social housing and Ella’s Law on clean air, pledging £3.5bn into improving air quality. To give this context, the government is putting £60m into the perennial problem of plastics in the oceans.

Ironically, airtight new builds in the UK may be exacerbating indoor air pollution issues. In theory, airtightness

improves air quality. However, fresh air is needed to maintain air quality.

Older buildings with drafts may bring in a small amount of air pollution, but there’s also space for fresh air to come in, and indoor pollutants to escape. Buildings with mechanical ventilation may not fully address the issue if the HVAC system is not set up properly.

Correct number of air changes

Air quality depends on the HVAC system design with the correct number of air changes, with correct positioning of the inlets and outlets and the supply and return of the systems in the right places. The volume capacity of the HVAC equipment must also be adequate to properly address indoor air quality.

Indoor air quality is not always visible. In fact, the visible elements of poor IAQ, like mould or mildew, occur after long-term exposure to IAQ. Measuring IAQ in real-time can make IAQ visible to occupants. It can allow for actions to be taken to improve IAQ before negative effects, including physical symptoms, can occur.

CIAT provides expert solutions to help improve indoor air quality. Many new builds are fitted with smart meters, monitoring the efficiency of mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) units or air-conditioned spaces where heat pumps utilise fan coil units as the main source of heating and cooling. Some solutions include MVHR products as standalone or in conjunction with fan coils, providing an opportunity to install a quality IAQ monitor next to the smart meter.

IAQ sensors and monitors allow data to be displayed and used for demand controlled ventilation (DCV). When pollutant levels increase, the MVHR will adjust the air-change rates cleaning the space. As soon as levels have dropped, the MVHR will return to the previous level. The result is a clean, energy-efficient space. ■

References:

1) https://www.who.int/news-room/factsheets/detail/household-air-pollutionand-health

2) https://www.york.ac.uk/news-andevents/news/2021/research/aerosolssmog-vehicles-uk/

3) https://thecogfxstudy.com/

4) https://www.asthmaandlung.org. uk/living-with/indoor-air-pollution/ home#:~:text=Poor%20indoor%20 air%20quality%20has,of%20your%20 lung%20condition%20worse.

5) https://www.nature.com/articles/ d41586-023-00287-8

will find that good indoor air quality increases productivity

With the right strategies buildings can play a significant role in improving cognitive function

The perfect retrofit solution

Natasha King looks at the issues that need to be confronted when retrofitting social housing with energy efficient heating and ventilation

2050, currently in place, it is critical that we improve the heat loss of the existing stock.

Greater levels of insulation

The UK Government has announced it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 68 per cent by 2030, compared to its 1990 levels committing to raising all social housing stock to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Grade C. The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) will upgrade a significant amount of the social housing stock currently below EPC level C up to that standard.

minimising unnecessary heat loss through heat recovery technology.

Designed for easy, lower cost retrofit of heat recovery to save maximum energy and emissions and comply with the requirements of PAS 2035, the Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution makes installation much simpler. It provides heat recovery ventilation, with discrete, smaller, easy to install wall and ceiling units, dramatically reducing the complexity and cost of installation. It improves IAQ for residents, improves comfort and cuts energy bills.

The Heat Recovery Retrofit range consists of three different dMVHR units, which can be used on a roomby-room basis or used together to help maximise energy savings. DMVHR uses the heat from the stale air that is being extracted to warm up the fresh air that is coming in, while also saving energy.

Maximising savings

The range comprises: the Lo-Carbon Heat Save, Lo-Carbon Tempra and LoCarbon Calido – by using these units together as a Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution it will help maximise energy savings by introducing heat recovery to the property.

Natasha King www.vent-axia.com

RMI product manager at Vent-Axia

With Net Zero 2050 targets on the horizon one of the biggest challenges now facing social housing providers, landlords and property managers is how to make their existing properties more energy efficient, helping them deliver decarbonisation and improve ventilation. However, one of the risks associated with retrofitting a lowenergy home is the need to increase the airtightness of properties. If ventilation is not considered too this can create poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and condensation leading to mould growth, which blights many homes across the UK.

Condensation and mould are already a major problem in social housing and is an area that social housing providers are being tasked with improving, rather than increasing the problem through improving the energy efficiency of existing homes without considering ventilation. The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH)

recently asked all larger registered providers of social housing to submit evidence about the extent of damp and mould in tenants’ homes. The RSH’s best estimates are that 3-4 per cent of the 4m social housing homes have at least some notable damp and mould, 1-2 per cent have serious damp and mould problems, and less than 0.2% have the most serious problems, which would fail the Decent Homes Standard.

Improve energy efficiency

However, social housing providers must improve the energy efficiency of their housing stock. Typically, we use up to 40 per cent of our energy in buildings, with around half of that being used for heating, cooling and other operational energy. With most of the housing stock that will exist in

As homes improve with greater levels of insulation and become more airtight, it is important they are adequately ventilated. However, by ensuring there is healthy air movement within a home, extracting heated air can be expensive; the answer is Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR). However, MVHR poses further challenges for social housing providers when it comes to retrofitting heat recovery ventilation in existing homes including: limited data, limited space for installation, funding availability and meeting the PAS 2035 requirements.

Fortunately, there is now new decentralised ventilation technology that offers heat recovery and effective ventilation. Vent-Axia’s Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution aims to help deliver decarbonisation in social housing on the path to Net Zero Homes by 2050. The range has been designed to provide increased ventilation while

The Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon Heat Save can be set up in a single room or as part of a whole house heat recovery ventilation solution. Achieving up to 84 per cent heat recovery, the Heat Save uses the warmth from outgoing air to heat incoming air to avoid heat loss and to reduce energy bills for households.

Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon Tempra single room heat recovery unit is a discreet, low energy, continuously running alternative to traditional extractor fans that offers affordable heat recovery of up to 78% and improves air quality on a room-byroom basis. The through-the-wall mounted Tempra unit simultaneously extracts stale air and introduces fresh air – warming the incoming airflow with heat recovered from the exhaust air.

Finally, the Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon Calido is a decentralised mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (dMVHR) unit. Offering up to 80 per cent heat recovery, the Calido is designed for retrofit properties, allowing landlords to easily install decentralised heat recovery ventilation in existing homes, improving IAQ and energy efficiency.

Vent-Axia has developed the Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution to help solve social housing’s problem of how to both cost-effectively improve the energy efficiency of properties without detrimentally affecting IAQ. ■

Social housing providers must improve the energy efficiency of their housing stock

Condensation is a symptom of poor ventilation in social housing

Mould is a problem in social housing that can be eliminated with proper ventilation

Improved environmental reporting is key

Now we’ve tackled most of the low-hanging fruits, better reporting will help us act smarter to reach our goal of 40 per cent lower carbon emissions by 2030, says

Jasmin Moroney

Three years ago, we launched the first phase of a sciencebased plan to achieve a 40 percent reduction in our direct carbon emissions by 2030 and we are making great leaps towards achieving our carbon reduction targets.

Switching our gas and electricity contracts from standard to green tariffs and transitioning our vehicle fleets from diesel to electric have helped to make a quick and significant reduction in our carbon emissions per employee.

But in order to achieve our carbon reduction goals, we have to tackle our carbon emissions on three fronts: Scope 1, 2 and 3.

Scope 1 emissions include our direct fuel usage and emissions produced during any of our manufacturing processes and they have proven to be the simplest and easiest to address when it comes to reducing our overall carbon footprint.

Indirect emissions

To make further progress, we will also need to tackle the emissions that are not directly controlled by us. These include indirect emissions generated from the electricity, heating and cooling that we purchase through landlord-controlled contracts (scope 2) and all other emissions in our value chain, such as the production and transportation of materials and disposal of waste (scope 3). Reducing these emissions will require us to act smarter and collaborate more closely with our customers and suppliers on the topic of sustainability. But in order to do so, we need to have an accurate picture of how we are doing and where improvements can be made at all levels of the business.

It all starts with eVE. To this end, we introduced a new environmental reporting system, called eVE, in October 2022. Our previous system only accounted for scope 1 emissions,

whereas eVE enables us to report on all three categories providing a more in-depth and detailed insight into our direct and indirect carbon emissions. This, in turn, will allow us to make better-informed decisions with regards to CO emission mitigation.

Intensity per employee

The new reporting tool shows us a carbon dashboard with intensity per employee and per turnover, and trends emissions against acquisitions, so that as the company grows, we get a truer picture of where we are in our carbon reduction journey.

eVE can even be used to drill down into environmental performance at individual project level, including optional indicators for distances travelled by VINCI employees and their mode of transport, whether diesel car, EV or train.

As well as introducing eVE, we have also moved from reporting on emissions annually to every quarter. This has required a greater commitment from our business units to gather the data and ensure it is reliable.

Five months on, we are seeing so many improvements. Our business units are taking greater ownership over environmental performance at a local level and the data is much more robust.

Better informed decisions

This is helping our leaders to make better informed decisions and implement sustainability initiatives that are best suited to each business unit’s field of expertise and way of working from the ground up.

One of our site offices, for example, has replaced 200kVa and 160kVA generators with two 45kVA generators linked to a battery for a smarter way to provide power overnight. The new system means that there are now 10 hours a day when no diesel fuel is consumed.

taking greater ownership over environmental performance

A few years ago, our Actemium M & E perimeter paved the way with a commitment to switch all company cars to fully electric vehicles while installing EV chargers at most of its office locations. This effort has been further supported by our other perimeters who are now offering a company salary sacrifice scheme for employees to purchase electric vehicles with access to EV charging at most offices, some of which are

already powered by solar and soon to be connected to battery storage solutions.

We can also use the data from eVE to have more meaningful conversations with suppliers about how we work together to decrease our mutual carbon footprint and encourage our customers to select green options during the tender stage, such as the use of low-carbon concrete, electric plant or eco cabins running off solar panels, as we can quantify the impact.

With every journey, it’s about building on the first step, and we are getting better every day. Now our reporting is improving, we can take more informed decisions and we can embed greater sustainability into our shared strategic plans. I’m excited to see where it will take us. ■

Jasmin Moroney Head of Safety, Health, Environment & Quality at VINCI Energies UK & RoI

Our business units are