Energy Manager Magazine April 2022 by Abbey Publishing

APRIL 2022

HOW THESE EVERYDAY ITEMS CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL WARMING 26

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Make Quality sure Power your power Issues – Part 5 quality – Reactive measurements Power and are top of Power Factor

Which Rinnai sustainability delivers hot standards water at will help you Scarborough on the road Care Home

Why we should Keeping think smarter Commercial when it comes Heating to smart grids Systems Clean

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FRONT COVER STORY:

How these everyday items contribute to global warming APRIL 2022

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

NEWS

BUREAU VERITAS URGES COLLABORATIVE APPROACH ON ESG COMMITMENTS FOR LONG-TERM GAIN Sustainability has become one of the key issues of our time. And, as industries across the globe dial up their sustainability agendas on the back of COP26, leading authority, Bureau Veritas, is urging organisations to work together with their supply chains to improve – rather than break ties when strategies don’t align – to maximise long-term gain.

ith concerns for climate change finally driving action, suppliers’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) credentials are becoming more and more important when it comes to buyers’ decision making. In fact, a recent report by Barclays Corporate Banking found that more than a fifth (21%) of the UK’s largest retailers cancelled supplier contracts in the last 12 months (January 2021 – January 2022) on the grounds that they failed to meet desired ESG standards. The research also found that retailers are increasingly asking suppliers to join trade bodies and/ or certification schemes to evidence they are meeting standards, with many suppliers failing to act as swiftly as their customers demand. Julie-Anna Smith, South & West Europe Sustainability Services Leader at Bureau Veritas, said: “Now, more than ever, the demand for suppliers to have their commitments independently verified by a competent third party is key to creating trustworthy

ESG data to help buyers on their journey to reduce risk and improve their own ESG performance. “However, with a fifth of major retailers ending their contracts with suppliers prematurely, rather than working together with them to develop mutual ESG strategies, this could well be perpetuating that risk further – resulting in the need to source new suppliers quickly, and without the benefit of longterm understanding and partnership. “Working together with suppliers to develop ESG strategies, commitments and better action could be far more beneficial for long-term gain; allowing industry to help shape and support suppliers’ commitments, whether they are associated with environment, social impact or governance.” Interestingly, newly released data from CDP – the not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for organisations to manage their environmental impacts – shows that a little over one third of large corporates are actually engaging with their suppliers on the climate crisis. The data also reveals that just three per cent of those suppliers have approved and sciencebased emissions targets in place. And with half having no climate targets at all, there is a clear argument for industry to place a much greater role in working together with suppliers to escalate action and create long-term solutions. Julie-Anna added: “There appears to be an expectation that the supply chain must work in isolation to determine individual targets and to take action

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

forward, however the benefit of working together to ensure ESG targets are set – and crucially met – far outweighs the risk of cutting contracts all together. “For any organisation, buyer or supplier, that wishes to steer their sustainability strategy on their own sites, assets or value chain, an independent third party such as Bureau Veritas can help support them in creating credible, long-term and sustainable commitments that meet the mutual expectations of existing partnerships.” To support decision makers in managing the implementation of their organisation’s sustainability roadmap, Bureau Veritas has created Clarity; a comprehensive suite of solutions which simplifies the ESG risk management process that will ultimately help steer a transparent and credible ESG strategy. Julie-Anna said: “Clarity provides the reassurance that sustainability commitments are grounded in evidence and concrete action, leading to a defined and long-term sustainability strategy.” Bureau Veritas works with organisations to meet increased sustainability expectations. This includes a range of services across the ‘BV Green Line’ of services and solutions dedicated to sustainability, which are all aimed at supporting customers operate responsibly as the world transitions to a low carbon economy. To find out more about Bureau Veritas’ services or to discuss individual requirements with a member of the team, call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk.

NEWS

NEW GREEN ENERGY GUIDE LAUNCHED FOR INSTALLATION BUSINESSES “ The road to Net-Zero is not a fad, it’s here to stay and will form an important part of our lives until 2050 and beyond.”

ith the home renewable energy sector set to explode in the coming years as the UK reenergises its existing housing stock to meet Net-Zero targets and decrease its reliance on fossil fuels, significant opportunities for businesses that install clean energy technologies are emerging. Hand-in-hand with these opportunities, however, come a host of risks for existing and new entrants to the sector who may be unsure of the legal requirements to which they must adhere. That is why Business Companion has launched a new, free information guide for green energy installation businesses about the steps they must follow in order to keep their customers satisfied, and to ensure that the quality of their work measures up. The UK Government has committed to a net carbon zero UK by 2050. To help reach this goal, the Government has heralded the creation of 240,000 new ‘green jobs’, and announced £3.9bn in funding for heat decarbonisation and

energy efficiency measures under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. The scale of the work to be carried out means that some traders in this complex and rapidly growing sector may be unsure of their responsibilities under law. This could cause problems for themselves and their customers, while undermining efforts to protect the environment. The Business Companion guidance includes an overview of the main green energy technologies available in the UK and potential issues surrounding their installation. It also delves into details of the various certification bodies and Consumer Codes which traders are required to sign up to by law. In addition, there is information about the financial incentive schemes available to UK householders. The relevant aspects of consumer protection law are broken down; and there is practical advice from experts in the field about commonly arising problems and how they can be avoided. In addition to written materials, the

guidance also consists of handy infographics, checklists, a podcast and a video for busy traders who are looking for accurate, easily digestible information all in one place. Adrian Simpson, a green energy expert who contributed to the guidance, said: “The road to Net-Zero is not a fad, it’s here to stay and will form an important part of our lives until 2050 and beyond. “A carbon-free future requires competent, reliable and highly skilled tradespeople. We hope the guide will attract a new generation of reputable installers.” Business Companion is a free online information resource operated by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) with the support of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). It hosts a wealth of information for businesses across a wide variety of sectors, providing accurate, reliable and up-to-date guidance on numerous aspects of consumer law. https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=zPCyXwji5d8

Renewable assets 100% matched with corporate demands

0161 307 1311 UrbanChain.co.uk ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

NEWS

HOW THESE EVERYDAY ITEMS CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL WARMING

e all like to do our bit for the planet. We use bags for life and separate our household waste for recycling. We turn down the thermostat, throw on an extra jumper and turn off lights to reduce our household energy consumption. As support for climate action grows, more and more of us are replacing petrol and diesel cars with electric vehicles and choosing to holiday in the UK as a way of keeping down our personal carbon footprint. TEAM Energy has compiled a list of some everyday items that make a greater impact than you think:

GLASS BOTTLES Most of us assume that a glass bottle is a more environmentally friendly choice for our drinks than plastic bottles. However, the production of glass calls for furnaces to operate at temperatures of over 1500 degrees Celsius, emitting greenhouse gases that include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides. And because they weigh more than their plastic alternatives, transporting glass bottles can produce even greater emissions. That said, if a glass bottle is reused enough times, it can have a smaller carbon footprint than a plastic bottle.

ADHESIVE TAPE Have you ever considered the environmental impact of the adhesive tape you use every time you wrap a present or pack up goods to return goods to the manufacturer? Tape that is made with synthetic resins and plastic film contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and each application can really add up. Additionally, when the plastic film and synthetic residue are left on paper and cardboard, it can interfere with the recycling process, which can result in batches of recycling being diverted to general household waste. Some types of tape, such as masking tape, can be recycled and make a more sustainable alternative.

TEA BAGS Us Brits consume over 60 billion cups of tea each year, with 96% of tea drinkers choosing tea bags for their brew rather than tea leaves. However, many tea bags available in the shops contain polypropylene plastic, a sealing plastic, to

keep them from falling apart. So, when you think you are doing your bit for the planet by putting your used tea bags in the food waste, because this plastic is not recyclable or biodegradable you are contaminating it. However, an increasing number of brands are turning to sustainable tea bags, so watch this space.

THE INTERNET

to the climate impact of a device. Using a device each day has a bigger impact on the environment than just manufacturing it. As mentioned before, a lot of energy is needed to run the data centres and infrastructure that allow you to make video calls, post selfies and stream TV.

SCENTED CANDLES

Did you know the internet has a bigger carbon footprint than air travel? Aside from the manufacturing and powering of products we use, one of the more surprising sources of carbon dioxide comes from processing data. The internet itself releases around 830 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. That’s 2% of the global carbon footprint. The main source of this is server farms, which are necessary since they store all the data we use on the internet, as they use a huge amount of energy to power and cool the equipment.

The UK government’s 2019 Clean Air Strategy cited candles as a source of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), which can ultimately be bad for both the environment and your health by contributing to indoor pollution. Many scented candles contain paraffin wax, a by-product of crude oil, which means a burning candle emits fossil fuels. They can have wicks with cotton wrapped around metal which produces soot that is toxic to breathe. Overall, they affect air quality, have perfumes that emit chemicals, and carry excessive and often non-recyclable packaging.

SMART TECH

COMPOSTING

As with the data centres, electronic devices have a large carbon footprint. The contribution of IT and the electronics sector to climate change is a growing problem, with studies suggesting that the production and use of electronic devices will account for 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Like the devices themselves, the issue is complex, with emissions occurring throughout the, often very short, lifecycle of a product. Mining the natural resources for the materials used, multiple stages of manufacture, transportation and disposal all contribute significantly

We expect composting to be a very environmentally friendly thing to do, however, it is one of the most surprising sources of greenhouse gases. Although compost doesn’t actually release carbon dioxide, instead it releases nitrous oxide and methane – two of the more potent greenhouse gases. These emissions are produced as a result of macrobacteria that breaks down the compost undergoing anaerobic respiration resulting in the formation of methane and nitrous oxides. www.teamenergy.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

ENERGY

A SMARTER GRID FOR A GREENER BRITAIN How Ecotricity’s Smart Grid can help you get to Net Zero

s Britain’s greenest energy company, we’re on a mission to create a greener Britain. We use our customers’ bill money to build new sources of renewable energy, including windmills, sun mills, and in 2022 a green gas mill, all providing much needed clean, renewable energy to the grid. But what happens when there’s too much wind and solar generation? Where does all that energy go? And what happens when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining? That’s where the Ecotricity Smart Grid is helping to make a more stable, greener grid. It’s the future of energy in Britain. If your organisation uses significant amounts of energy and you have the flexibility to adjust your energy demands throughout a 24-hour period, the Ecotricity Smart Grid could both save you money and ensure you’re using renewable energy round the clock, helping with the move to Net Zero. Mark Meyrick, Head of Smart Grids at Ecotricity, explains more about the benefits of this exciting new technology:

WHAT IS THE ECOTRICITY SMART GRID? It’s a digital control system that links together thousands of businesses, energy generators and energy storage systems. These are all connected wirelessly to a single digital platform, enabling them to work together to create a more sustainable and secure energy grid with balanced supply and demand. This kind of system is sometimes called a Virtual Power Plant.

HOW DOES THE SMART GRID WORK? It uses algorithms to monitor the

As renewable energy generation increases, Britain’s energy grid needs to become more flexible. Energy storage is just one part of the answer – the bigger solution is the Ecotricity Smart Grid.” Mark Meyrick, Head of Smart Grids - Ecotricity energy grid, showing us where we could improve stability. With this information we can identify opportunities to make small adjustments that have a big impact. It may be something that seems insignificant, like dimming the lights for just sixty seconds when there’s a high demand on the grid. But when you’ve got thousands of businesses plugged in, it can make a huge difference.

expect the weather to be completely consistent. Energy storage is just one part of the answer – the bigger solution is the Ecotricity Smart Grid.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR ORGANISATIONS?

As a not-for-dividend company, we invest our customers’ bill money into building new sources of green energy in Britain, so with us you don’t just get energy with a green source, you get a green outcome too. It’s what makes us different from other green energy suppliers.

There are lots of benefits. There’s the financial one, of course - making changes to the amount of energy you use and the times at which you use it, can make significant savings on your energy bills. Your organisation may also have a battery or electricity generation system – if we can call on that at various points, we’ll pay you for using it. Then there’s the wider impact of a smarter energy grid that’s connected to energy storage systems. This gives us the ability to provide round the clock renewable energy – it’s sustainable business that’s better for the planet.

WHY HAVE ECOTRICITY DEVELOPED THE SMART GRID?

Innovation like the Ecotricity Smart Grid is another big step towards creating a sustainable world – one where renewable energy delivers our power needs come rain or shine.

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT OUR SMART GRID To sign up or find out more about the Ecotricity Smart Grid, visit our website or email business.sales@ecotricity.co.uk

FIND OUT MORE

As renewable energy generation increases, Britain’s energy grid needs to become more flexible. The problem is having the right amount of energy available at the right time, as you can’t

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

NEWS

TREE-PLANTING OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND ANNOUNCED

ublic Sector organisations are set to get a boost to green canopy coverage this year after a new tree-planting appeal launched. Green Apple Environment Award winner and the UK’s largest water retailer Water Plus is searching for places trees will thrive in 2022. Organisations can email hello@water-plus.co.uk with details of public sector sites that could accommodate trees, which will be distributed in packs of 10 saplings. Brief details on how planting would benefit the area should be included in emails, which should have the subject heading #NominateforTrees. Water Plus will review all suggestions. Barry McGovaney, Sustainability Lead and Innovation and Technology Manager at Water Plus, said: “We’re committed to making sustainability and minimising our environmental impact core to our business, our people and our customers. From helping sites install water reduction approaches and extra tracking along with highlighting how water efficiency helps organisations, to increasing tree-planting in the UK

and trialling innovative technology to cut water volumes and help towards sustainability goals, we’re taking action. “We value the natural environment and natural resources and know the importance of trees to not only the fight against climate change but also natural habitats and the eco-system. And we’re delivering on our commitment to the planet through the technical water services we provide, along with raising awareness around water waste and savings from efficiencies – whether it’s a small or large organisation.” Suggestions for tree sites can also be sent by private message to Water Plus on their social media channels including Twitter and LinkedIn . Water Plus increased tree-planting in the UK by providing 150 trees for schools and communities in 2020 and creating 2,023 square metres of woodland in the UK in 2021. The water retailer also partnered with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to put 50 more trees in the ground in December, including fruit trees for communities.

Left to right is: Deputy Lord Mayor of Stoke-onTrent Councillor Faisal Hussain, Krystel Gibson, Key Account Manager, Water Plus and Councillor Lesley Adams, allotments champion, during planting in December 2021.

It was presented with an International Green Apple Environment Award in November 2021 for its work with its customers to increase water efficiency and raise awareness around cutting water waste. More on steps organisations can take to reduce water waste, reduce future running costs and lower Greenhouse Gas emissions under Scopes 1, 2 and 3, can be found at: www.water-plus.co.uk/sustainability

TRIPLE POINT HEAT NETWORKS TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF THE UK’S HEAT NETWORKS MARKET

fter four successful years of delivering the Government’s flagship Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP), Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management (TP Heat Networks) has been confirmed as Preferred Bidder for the role of Delivery Partner for the subsequent Green Heat Network Fund. Led by Triple Point’s Ken Hunnisett, TP Heat Networks is uniquely positioned to deliver this major government initiative to decarbonise the UK’s heating and cooling networks. First appointed in 2018 as BEIS’s Delivery Partner for HNIP and having already awarded over £250 million under that programme to projects across England and Wales, Ken and his team are poised and ready to continue partnering with BEIS to bring about a just transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. What will be a significant contributor to the UK’s mission to net zero, this £288 million capital fund will enable both new and existing heat networks in England to decarbonise by transitioning to low

carbon technologies, including heat pumps, waste heat from industrial processes, and energy from geothermal sources. Throughout the four years of HNIP, there has been a material shift in the market and improved engagement with a wider audience than ever before. The mine water schemes HNIP has enabled – a compelling legacy of the UK’s industrial past, our disused mine workings are now powering the green revolution and delivering affordable heat to the homes of families that had suffered terrible hardships when he mines had closed – are just one example of the type of project that has excited and engaged the community, industry, finance and political stakeholders. The Green Heat Network Fund will build on this existing progress, and will be open to public, private and third sector applicants in England from March 2022, running until at least 2025. Sharing the Government’s strategic vision for the scheme, TP Heat Networks will draw on learnings from

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

the previous programme to deliver an outstanding applicant experience spearheaded by a team with deep sector knowledge and project expertise. TP Heat Networks has worked closely with HNIP applicants over the last three years, building relationships with the project teams, supporting applicants and expanding the pipeline of opportunities that will prove valuable in the delivery of GHNF. Current estimates of the heat networks pipeline in England and Wales puts it at over £1.5 billion: more than double its value in 20181. TP Heat Networks shares with BEIS an ambition – yet unfulfilled - to deliver a selfsustaining heat networks market and will continue to prioritise and provide the worldclass stakeholder engagement required to transform the UK’s heat networks market. Committed to hastening the transition of the market to sources of low carbon heat, the team has already increased its engagement with the supply chain in recognition of the need for rapid growth. www.tp-heatnetworks.org

OPINION

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OPINION

ONGOING ‘WE NEED MORE’ INFRASTRUCTURE DEBATE

Fig. 1

here continues to be a debate regarding UK Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure needs. More and more this is splitting into 2 camps. The first is the big players investing large sums of money in EV rapid charge hubs. The second is an ongoing campaign to install a charger for every car owner who does not have off street parking (8m). Of course, there are many factors at play, but some things are known and some not known, which makes what is ‘more’ very problematic. There is also the problem of broken infrastructure, which I suggest is the result of the initial over supply of chargers based on incorrect adoption predictions, which returned very little revenue compared to the cost of installation and maintenance. Never before has a driver had so much choice as where to charge i.e. at home, work, at destination or in transit or such a variation in price depending on charging choice. The choice of the driver will dictate the infrastructure we need, so what is the problem defining ‘more’? Point 1: Most behavioural research, and there is little, is on the original available EV with little charging choice, so in simple terms a 24kWh leaf and 7kW chargers using 400v systems. We really do not know what the charging habits of a new driver with a 50/60kWh car, an 800v system on a 350kW charger with the current other charging options will be. Point 2: Nobody really knows how many chargers we have in the UK. ZAP MAP is the best for public chargers but there are about 250,000 in homes and workplaces which are not reported. If every home with off street parking gets a charger there will be another 19m. The public sector does what it does best, and unless planning permission is sought it is generally not known until it happens. The public sector also does what it thinks is best, often driven by charger number leagues, grants or lobbying and normally independent of neighbouring local authorities and the private sector. Point 3: There is no standard demographic in the UK regarding charger need so the appropriate infrastructure for a location is essential. We cannot compare the Cotswolds with Central London/Manchester. When I had a 24kWh leaf I would get at best 85 miles and less in the winter. I was lucky and could both charge at home and at work. I charged mainly

Prof. Colin Herron CBE. PhD. MSc. MIET. MD Zero Carbon Futures. Faraday Institution North East office. Newcastle University. at work because it was free. I therefore did not use public charging as 9 years ago I had no intention of taking the Leaf from Newcastle to a favourite location, such as the Lake District or if madness took over Cornwall. The same applied to my 30kWh Leaf but the extra guaranteed 20 miles made quite a difference to day trips. Both were fine in my urban environment. In the last 3 years there has been a massive and ongoing private sector investment into high power charging hubs. Last year in my 50kWh car I set off and had a successful week in the Lake District using publicly accessible high-power chargers at a premium price (over my home charge), but in terms of the week it was an insignificant cost. I did observe, that if I had my old Leaf, the chargers at a Motorway Service Station that I would have used were both occupied and would have resulted in possibly a long wait. The UK government has allocated £950m for upgrading the strategic road network charging provision. The data we have at Newcastle University has started to show that trends are changing and people like the convenience of high-power chargers, as they become more adventurous, or as an alternative to no off-street parking at home. COVID has also, we believe, had an effect as in my case I am now charging once a week even with two people using the car, so would I really have a problem spending 40 mins at a charging hub once a week? Going back to the ‘how many’ question, it must be demand driven. The logic of driving up EV registrations by putting in lots of chargers is false due to a supply constraint of batteries. It also has to be recognised that; just because a car in on a charger it does not mean it is charging, and we have data to prove that. If an authority has chargers and monitors their use, the data will tell them where the hot spots are, therefore activity can take place to install more, preferably by inviting the private sector. Figure 1 (2015 -2018) questions the logic that the more chargers installed the more EV will be registered. Oslo has less chargers than Amsterdam,

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

London, or Paris but a lot more EV, so just using charger numbers as a guide is false. I have read this article recently posted by MER: EV charging infrastructure best practice: learnings from Norway - https://uk.mer.eco/ news/ev-charging-infrastructure-bestpractice-learnings-from-norway/ Assuming ‘fast’ means rapid we have the following UK/Norway comparison: Norway 480,000 vehicles, 17,000 charging stations of which 3,000 are rapid. That means 17% are rapid and a charger to car ratio of 28 to 1. UK 696,000 vehicles, 29,900 charging stations of which 5,320 are rapid That means 17% are rapid (same as Norway) and a charger to car ratio of 23 to 1 (better than Norway).

SUMMARY: The EV charging strategy for the UK is the sum of the activity planned by 350 local councils and the private sector. It is therefore reasonable to say that as the intention of 350 local councils and the private sector is not known, there is no national EV charging strategy. It is also I would suggest it is too late to create one.

RECOMMENDATIONS: 1.

Educate all councils on the variables and what a strategy based on data would look like. 2. Evaluate the likely supply of vehicles to the UK based on engineering research on a time line. 3. Undertake behaviour studies of today’s EV drivers, who, what, when, where and how much. 4. Factor in likely technology changes against a time line. 5. Cancel all bean counting of the number of chargers in a local authority area as it is pointless. 6. All local authorities should be addressing market failure, and if it is not demonstrated then be robust and say no. If the private sector is going to take the risk, then let them. We plan to have an evaluation tool ready by summer to be used by local authorities.

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OPINION

QUIXOTE -V- THUNDER 90 – PART 2: RESPONSE & REMEDY As set out in Part 1 of this article, the delusions suffered by Don Quixote on the plateau of La Mancha in 17th Century Spain are akin to those symptoms troubling the 21st Century UK government’s over-reliance on sources of renewable energy. CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, has estimated that one ton of the radioactive element Thorium can produce as much energy as 200 tons of Uranium, or 3,500,000 tons of coal. So to resolve the potential ‘energy-mix car crash’ identified in Part 1, credible technical alternatives to renewables must now be forthcoming in order to satisfy Britain’s future energy demands. In the concluding part of this article Chartered Engineer Graham Olsen and Professor Robert Jackson examine and reflect upon these significant challenges and opportunities, with particular reference to the ‘Goldilocks Principle’, to proffer the development of an ‘energy-mix’ that is ‘just right’.

n the UK there is an urgent need for a means of producing a large electricity baseload that solar panels, wind turbines and other renewable energy systems are unlikely to satisfy, nor is there any real means of power storage on a sufficiently adequate scale to fulfil changing consumer demand. Storing power using Lithium-ion batteries is problematic in that these are expensive and need frequent replacing, and whilst molten salt storage offers a more efficient alternative it tends to be better for the storage of heat rather than power. Consequently, very few viable and low-cost options remain available for storing both heat and power. Moreover, changes from petrol cars to electric, and from domestic gas boilers to heat pumps, simply move the same energy consumption to the local power station, thus creating the same carbon emissions. So the refashioning of the UK energy market remains in a state of flux.

infrastructure has taken over 200 years to tread. In 1800 the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta created the first transmission of electricity and in so doing gave his name to the unit of Volt for electrical potential and the term voltage for electrical charge. Thirty years later electricity became a viable commodity when Michael Faraday the English scientist and Professor of Chemistry created the electric dynamo. 1878 saw the American businessman Thomas Edison and the English physicist and chemist Joseph Swan each inventing their respective modern light bulbs and four years later Edison went on to illuminate street lamps in New York using his directcurrent (DC) system. Finally in the early 1900’s the Serbian-American electrical and mechanical engineer Nikola Tesla contributed to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system. But what is the next step in our path to sustainable energy?

Currently 82% of the world’s energy supply is sourced from fossil fuels but the dominant type of energy is electricity, created from charged particles in the form of electrons and protons. However, the path to modern electrical

Published in 1837, the 19th Century fairy tale ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ makes extensive use of ‘the rule of three’, involving a house containing the three title characters, three beds, three chairs, and three bowls of porridge

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

that are ‘too hot’, ‘too cold’, and ‘just right’. The ‘Goldilocks Principle’ reflects the concept of ‘just the right amount’ which is easily understood and readily applicable to a wide range of disciplines including engineering. This concept has previously been characterised as the ‘dialectical three’, where the first is wrong in one way, the second in another or opposite way, and only the third, in the middle, is just right. The idea that the way forward lies in finding an exact middle path between opposites is of extraordinary importance. Furthermore, followers of the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras consider three to be the first proper number. Three is the number of time: Past, Present & Future and Birth, Life & Death. There are only three primary colours of light; red, blue and green, and the Nobel Peace Prize Medal has an image of three naked men engraved on it. Hence the significance and relevance of 3 to the UK’s energy market must first be examined. As previously stated in Part 1, nuclear energy may offer a solution to the ever-present problems associated with renewables and in so doing provide a simple, efficient, stable

OPINION

and reliable means of energy generation. Nuclear fission is a source of power that utilises the internal energy of the atom, the smallest unit of matter that consists of 3 constituent parts, namely protons, neutrons, and electrons. Thorium is 3 times as abundant as Uranium in the Earth’s crust, and Lithium, a name derived from the Greek word for ‘rock’, is used in pressurised water reactors and battery manufacture and has the atomic number 3. Finally, the fission of 1 gram of Uranium 235 produces the same amount of energy as the burning of 3 tonnes of coal. Atoms consist of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons in shells, and the number of protons in an atom of an element gives it its atomic number whilst its mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons. Every atom consists of equal numbers of protons and electrons and since protons and electrons have equal and opposite charges, this means that atoms have no overall electrical charge. So in the quest to harness nuclear energy is it better to focus on the process of fusion or fission? A radioactive element is one that is unstable and continually decays by releasing radiation in the form of high-energy particles or rays. Nuclear fusion is the reaction that occurs when atomic nuclei of low atomic number fuse to form a heavier nucleus with the release of energy. In contrast, by utilising the internal energy of the atom the release of electrical energy through nuclear fission occurs when an atom’s nucleus is split into smaller nuclei. The fission of large atoms produces a great deal of energy with the most common fission-fuels derived from the elements of Uranium and Thorium. Nuclear fuels are derived from the elemental content of rocks that contain radioactive isotopes which are able to change over time through the process of radioactive decay. The half-life of a radioactive element is the amount of time it takes for half of a sample of that material to decay away, and this process of change, coupled with knowledge of the half-life and initial concentration of the decaying element, permits the age of such rocks to be calculated. Using this method, the age of planet Earth is estimated to be around 4.5 billion years whilst the period since the Big Bang and the creation of the known universe is estimated to be approximately 14 billion years. So the radioactive

Image by ILIER NAVARRO from Pixabay

isotope Thorium 232, with a half-life of 14.05 billion years, is approximately three times the age of the earth, and slightly older than the known universe. It is this 232 isotope that is useful in breeder reactors due to its ability to capture slow-moving neutrons and to generate Uranium 233, a material which can be used as fissile matter to create power through nuclear fission. Thorium, with the atomic number 90, has thirty separate isotopes ranging in mass number from 209 to 238 and its most stable isotopes, with their respective and decreasing half-lives, are: Thorium 232 - 14.05 billion years; 230 - 75,380 years; 229 - 7,917 years; 228 - 1.92 years; 234 - 24.10 days; 227 - 18.68 days; and Thorium 231 - 25.5 hours. At the same time, Uranium, with the atomic number 92, has twenty six separate isotopes ranging in mass number from 217 to 242, with the main isotopic half-lives of: Uranium 238 - 4.468 billion years; 235 - 703.8 million years; 236 - 23.42 million years; 234 - 245,500 years; 233 - 159,200 years; and Uranium 232 - 68.9 years. The extraction of Uranium from its ores is only economically viable when its concentration exceeds 0.1%, and this element is used in nuclear power plants predominantly in three isotopic forms with the mass numbers 234, 235 and 238. Uranium 238 is by far the most abundant of these and accounts for

over 99% of all natural nuclear deposits. Isotope 238 is, however, unable to contribute directly to the release of fission energy and most nuclear power station fuels therefore comprise Uranium 235 which constitutes less than 1% in nature but is directly responsible for the release of enormous fission energy. Understandably perhaps, nuclear power has a bad name: from weapon use in WWII, to Chernobyl and on to Fukushima. Even though the radiation fall-out from the last two incidents was due to human experimental error or the unforeseen consequences of a diesel generator plant being flooded, these events nevertheless demonstrate risk, and risk that may still occur from future unpredicted operations. Another counterargument to nuclear power options is their long lead-in time with a typical design-to-construct period of 15 to 20 years. This problem is compounded by an apparent shortfall in relevant technical expertise brought about by a historical focus on fast breeder Uranium reactors that satisfied the parallel needs of power generation and the production of bi-products like Plutonium used in nuclear warheads. However there is a compelling argument for nuclear energy. Discovered in 1828 by the Norwegian amateur mineralogist Morten Thrane Esmark the case in favour of Thorium as a smallscale, local, safe, reliable, sustainable

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

OPINION

About The Authors: Graham Olsen is a Chartered Engineer and former senior manager within the UK utility industry now acting as an independent consultant and expert witness. graham.olsen@ yourexpert.solutions

energy source is overwhelming and it is difficult to make a nuclear bomb from the by-products of its meltdownproof reactor. Compared to Uranium it creates much less nuclear waste, eliminates the need for large-scale or long-term storage of hazardous material, has a shorter half-life, provides a more controllable slow nuclear reaction, and the radioactivity resulting from its use diminishes to safe levels after centuries rather the tens of thousands of years needed for its Uranium counterparts. In addition to these operational benefits, all natural sources of Thorium can be used as fuel without the need for expensive fuel enrichment and it is a relatively abundant raw material available over a large part of the northern hemisphere. The mining of Thorium is safer and more efficient than that of Uranium, and its ore, Monazite, generally contains higher concentrations of the radioactive element than the percentage of Uranium found in its respective ore. The material’s extraction from open pits is also less dangerous and easier than the physical methods associated with the underground mining of Uranium. The latter requires increased levels of ventilation and exposes manual workers to potentially harmful levels of the colourless and odourless gas Radon that is known to increase their risk of lung cancer. So, can breeder reactors be the solution? These are specifically designed to create more fissile material, or nuclear fuel, than they consume and comprise two principal types: fast breeder reactors that typically use Uranium 238 as their

Professor Robert Jackson is the former Associate Head of the School of Computing, Science & Engineering at the University of Salford where he held the MouchelParkman Chair in Sustainable Engineering Technologies. professorrobertjackson@ gmail.com fuel; and thermal breeder reactors that typically utilise Thorium 232. The process of breeding is possible with fast neutrons in any nuclear fuel, but Thorium has one primary advantage over other energy sources in that it alone permits breeding with slow neutrons. Experiments are also currently underway to examine the prospect of Thorium being used in existing nuclear power plants, ranging from: heavy water reactors; high temperature gas-cooled reactors; boiling light water reactors; pressurised water reactors; and fast neutron reactors. But an area requiring further examination will necessarily relate to the safe containment of highly corrosive salts that become even more corrosive at high temperatures. Notwithstanding these ongoing investigations, the molten salt reactor, which dates back to the 1950s when it was first proposed as the propulsion system for nuclearpowered aircraft, shows the greatest future potential and is likely to be very well suited to Thorium-based fuels. These liquid-fuelled reactors are also able to incorporate Thorium and Uranium fluorides as part of a salt mixture that melts within the range 400-700ºC, with the liquid serving as both a heat transfer coolant and fission fuel. Hence, the versatility of molten salt reactors cannot be over emphasised due to their ability to produce not only fissile material but to also greatly expand non-carbon based energy through the generation of electricity and hydrogen production. Further scrutiny of molten salt storage technologies using sodium hydroxide continues to take place since hydroxides have the advantage of being

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

able to contain more heat per salt unit than their competing alternatives thus leading to less salt consumption, greater efficiency and reduced costs. Lastly, to allay any remaining safety concerns relating to nuclear infrastructure, Thorium-based molten salt reactors incorporate a formidable safety feature comprising a frozen plug of salt at the base of the reactor core. In the event of an emergency, during which the reactor temperature increases above a critical level, the plug melts and allows the liquid fuel from the core to flow out of the reactor and into a passively cooled dump tank. In conclusion, and by way of returning to the number 3, the significance and relevance of this integer to the UK’s energy market can be elegantly summarised by the following points that are ‘just right’. When compared to Uranium, Thorium is: 1. more cost-efficient; 2. less harmful to human health; 3. less environmentally-damaging. When compared to Renewable Technologies, Nuclear Power has: 1. reduced carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions; 2. reduced visual intrusion; 3. reduced global warming effects. When compared to Renewables, Nuclear Energy is: 1. not reliant on energy storage technologies; 2. not subject to climatic conditions, economic pressure or customer behaviour; 3. reliable, plentiful and limitless. And finally, it was recently reported that The Guardian Newspaper’s 1 million supporters have predicted that in 2022 the UK government will look to nationalise electricity provision, ‘amid the wretched decay of privatised industries struggling with underinvestment’. Whilst, back in La Mancha, a gust of wind arose and the great windmill sails began to move once again. Don Quixote yelled: “Though you flourish more arms than the giant Briareus, I will make you pay for it.” After charging on horseback Quixote fell to the ground broken lance at his side. We can only hope that the UK government’s over-reliance on sources of renewable energy doesn’t make us ‘pay for it.’

OPINION

IS THIS WHAT IS CALLED “WISHFUL THINKING”? Mike Foster, CEO, Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA)

’ve revisited the Government’s Heat and Building Strategy recently, and I’m increasingly struck by the “optimistic” tone contained in some chapters. I expect a Conservative government to be championing the power of the market to deliver, in the same way, as I would expect a Labour government to champion the role of the state to stimulate change. But I was struck at just how optimistic the strategy is regarding some key policy drivers. For example, there is an awful lot of policy credibility resting on the relative costs of heat pumps compared to gas boilers. And what is planned to drive down the costs of heat pumps are some heroic assumptions about what the market will deliver. To give you some perspective, pick up a brochure from a builders merchant, as I did and just look at the numbers in black and white. For an average semi-detached home, the gas boiler itself is around £900; the equivalent heat pump kit (including hot water tank) is approximately £6000. This cost differential is not going to disappear overnight. But what is the government assuming? Well they, and their

cheerleaders on Twitter, are banking on the Boiler Upgrade Grant to drive up volumes sold, therefore reducing the unit price to a more comparable level. Superficially, that seems to make sense. But just as UK gas prices are driven by global market prices, the same applies to heat pumps. They are a proven, existing technology. They are established, with a supply chain already in place. The Boiler Upgrade Grant will subsidise 30,000 units a year but will it drive down costs? Last year, around 60,000 heat pumps were sold in the UK, the vast majority of them imported. Across Europe, 2 million heat pumps were sold

last year. So the obvious question is why, when 2 million a year are already sold, will an extra 30,000 units bring down costs? The answer is, they won’t. For the supply chain, it is an even more stark assessment. The components of a heat pump are common with air con units; these costs will determine the product cost. Across the globe, 150 million air con units were sold last year (three Chinese firms selling over half). Why would an extra 30,000 heat pumps in the UK deliver cost reductions in a 150 million-unit market? They won’t but it looks good on paper, even if it is wishful thinking. https://eua.org.uk/

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

HEAT RECOVERY

COMMENDATION FOR SPIRAX SARCO HONORARY RESEARCH FELLOW BRUNEL PROFESSOR TO VISIT SPIRAX SARCO TECHNOLOGY CENTRE Recently awarded Honorary Research Fellow, Professor Hussam Jouhara is set to visit Spirax Sarco’s Runnings Road Technology Centre later this month. Professional cooperation usually means a number of visits between sites, and it has been no different for Professor Jouhara and his team. His up-and-coming visit to Spirax Sarco’s Technology Centre promises to further strengthen ties between the two institutions. His visit follows soon after the announcement of his honorary fellowship, where his team of researchers and students will work together with Spirax Sarco to apply theoretical research to real-life engineering problems such as the heat recovery process.

PERFORMANCE ENHANCING PRODUCT DESIGNS The work of Professor Jouhara and his team have seen further improvement in designs for heat pipes, heat exchanges and research into energy and heat recovery. As a chartered Engineer and Fellow of the UK based IMechE, as well as editor on several academic journals in the area of thermodynamics, he is a top contributor to this field.

BRINGING THE ENGINEERING INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIA TOGETHER Having been working with Professor Jouhara. In his capacity and roles in industry and academia, he has been a long-standing collaborator and partner to a wide range of engineering projects at Spirax Sarco. As a professor of Thermal Engineering at Brunel University, his experience between industry and academia particularly in the improvement and optimisation of heat pipes and transfer is remarkable. Proving the scientific theories in active applications is a goal for him and his team. By working in cooperation with Spirax Sarco engineers, they can not only

Certificate presentation with Professor Hussam Jouhara

prove their scientific work, but also demonstrate its practical viability. Rachel Pallett, Steam Business Development Director for Spirax Sarco said: “We are delighted to recognise the cooperation we have with Professor Jouhara and his team at Brunel University London. The work that we are doing together is incredibly important for ensuring the further sustainability of using steam. The heat recovery process is one where most plants can make significant energy savings which will help organisations to cut emissions, energy waste and water usage, so every process that can be optimised counts. This is why the work our research engineers do is so important to helping our customers make these savings.” Professor Hussam Jouhara at Brunel University London added “having been in close collaboration with Spirax Sarco since 2012, it is a real privilege to be the recipient of the Honorary Research Fellow Rachel Pallett

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

title from this amazing institution. I look forward to closer collaboration with the team in Spirax toward greener, efficient and novel steam based energy systems”.

OPTIMISING HEAT RECOVERY SOLUTIONS Both teams are eager to ensure that future product designs will contribute towards a sustainable future, whether this happens through enabling optimised processes through efficient product design, or the inception of new products. Having provided a number of novel designs to the process, Professor Jouhara not only has an impressive track record in the field, but he also continues to work with Spirax Sarco engineers to prove the concept of sustainable energy storage solutions. In their recent paper, published in the ‘International Journal of Thermofluids’, they compared the environmental lifecycles of conventional energy storage systems with other, innovate thermal energy storage systems. To find out more on sustainable energy solutions, go to: https:// sxscom.uk/savingenergy To read the journal article, go to: https://www.sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/ S2666202721000549?via%3Dihub

CONTACT DETAILS: E: hello@uk.spiraxsarco.com T: 01242 521361 W: sxscom.uk/savingenergy

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MONITORING & METERING

Poor power quality can lead to inefficient and potentially dangerous operation of electrical systems and may also cause equipment damage. Therefore, it is increasingly important not only to measure and monitor power quality, but also to be sure that the measurements are reliable and have been carried out using approved methods. Julian Grant of Chauvin Arnoux discusses IEC 610004-30, a standard that addresses these issues. 18

MAKE SURE YOUR POWER QUALITY MEASUREMENTS ARE TOP OF THE CLASS!

n a perfect world, your network operator would provide you with an electrical supply at a constant voltage, fixed frequency, and with perfectly sinusoidal voltage and current waveforms that have no nasty ‘spikes’ on them. If it’s a three-phase supply, you would expect the voltages of the three phases to be exactly the same. This would be perfect power quality. However, as we don’t live in a perfect world, your supply may not actually meet these requirements and, even if it meets them at the point it enters your premises, it may well become degraded as it passes through your site’s electrical installation. It is, therefore, important to monitor power quality. The results can help you to improve energy efficiency, prolong the life of your electrical equipment, reduce failures, and even reduce the risk of fire. To meet the requirement for monitoring, numerous manufacturers developed power quality instruments but, each manufacturer used its own measurement parameters and methodologies. This created an element

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

of uncertainty about the reliability of the results and has also made comparing results from different analysers difficult. IEC 61000-4-30, which was published in 2003 and amended in 2021, resolves this problem by prescribing specific requirements for power quality, a broad term which covers the voltage, frequency and waveform of an electrical supply, and also by specifying methodologies for measuring power quality parameters. For power quality analysers, the standard defines three performance classes: • Class A – These must meet the highest performance and accuracy levels to deliver reproducible results that can be reliably compared with those from other instruments. • Class S - Accuracy levels are less strict. Class S power quality analysers can be used for statistical surveys and contractual applications for which comparison of measurements is not required. • Class B - this class was introduced

MONITORING & METERING

HARMONICS AND INTERHARMONICS

Synchronization of the aggregation intervals for Class A, Source: IEC 61000-4-30

in the 1st and 2nd editions of the standard to avoid making existing instrument designs obsolete. In this class, the standard requires the measurement method and the accuracy to be specified by the manufacturer in the instrument’s technical data sheet. In Edition 3 of the standard, this performance class has been moved to an Appendix. When buying a power quality analyser, users should look carefully at their operational requirements, and choose an instrument from the appropriate class to meet these requirements. The IEC 61000-4-30 standard further defines the measurement methods, aggregation periods, and accuracy, for each of the key power quality parameters, which include: • Network frequency • Amplitude of the supply voltage • Amplitude of the current • Flicker (IEC 61000-4-15) • Dips and swells • Voltage interruptions • Voltage unbalance • Current unbalance • Voltage harmonics (IEC 61000-4-7) • Current harmonics (IEC 61000-4-7) • Voltage interharmonics (IEC 61000-4-7) • Current interharmonics (IEC 61000-4-7) • Mains signals

Illustration of subgroups Source: IEC 61000-4-7

• Rapid voltage changes (RVCs) • Current and voltage recording during events RMS values are measured and calculated using multiple test methods and measurement durations. There are too many methods to include all of them in this article, but these are examples:

RMS VALUES REFRESHED EVERY HALF-PERIOD This involves voltage (or current) values measured over one period, beginning with a zero crossing of the fundamental component and refreshed every half-period. Each measurement channel is independent and, for polyphase networks, this technique will produce RMS values at successive instants on each channel. This method is only used for detecting and assessing voltage dips, temporary overvoltages at system frequency, outages and rapid voltage changes (RVC). Measurement over 10/12 periods (for 50 or 60 Hz supplies, respectively) corresponds to an aggregation of the measurement time intervals. The values over 10/12 periods are collected at three additional intervals: • 150/180 periods, or 3 seconds, • 10 minutes, • 2 hours for Plt measurements (flicker), aggregated from twelve 10-minute intervals.

In relation to harmonics and interharmonics, IEC 61000-4-30 is complemented by IEC 61000-4-7. This standard is applicable to instrumentation intended for measuring spectral components in the frequency range up to 9 kHz which are superimposed on the fundamental of the power supply system. Values are calculated on 10/12-period windows, with a resolution (bins) of 5 Hz. These are harmonic subgroups, and between adjacent harmonic subgroups there is an interharmonic subgroup. The measurements must be performed at least once up to the 50th order. An interharmonic centred subgroup without discontinuities, Yisg,h., must be measured over 10/12 periods. More details on events, flagged data, flicker, unbalance and mains signalling voltages can be found at www.cauk. tv/qualistar-8345-case-study/ IEC 61000-4-30 is an important step forward in the measurement of power quality. It ensures that measurements taken by various instruments provide consistent, dependable results that can be readily and reliably compared. A measuring instrument can be designed to measure all or some of the parameters identified in the IEC 61000-4-30 standard and should ideally fall into the same performance class for all measurements. Before stating that their instruments comply with IEC 61000-4-3, manufacturers must perform the tests laid down in the IEC 62586 standard. This rigorous testing has been carried out by Chauvin Arnoux on its new CA 8345 power quality analyser which complies fully with IEC 61000-4-30 Class A. Equally well suited for diagnostic fault finding on electrical installations, auditing electricity consumption and validating the quality of electrical supplies, the CA 8345 combines exceptional flexibility with ease of use and extensive communication options. The CA 8345 sets new standards for versatility and convenience, and is suitable for use on all types of single- and three-phase systems up to 1,000 V. www. chauvin-arnoux.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

NET ZERO

WHICH SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS WILL HELP YOU ON THE ROAD TO NET ZERO?

usinesses are trying to make real, lasting change, and committing to net zero carbon emissions is a key part of this. Compliance standards offer frameworks for organisations looking to reduce their emissions. Transparency and accountability are an essential part of the journey to net zero. Following compliance standards can open the doors to new customers and give assurance to suppliers. You can monitor and measure your progress against your targets and communicate it effectively. This will help you stay on track and send a strong message to your customers and partners that you’re serious about playing your part in the fight against climate change. So, what are the most useful standards, frameworks, and compliance systems an organisation should consider on their road to net zero? Which sustainability standards will help you on the road to net zero?

GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESSES LOOKING TO MAKE A CLIMATE PLEDGE Many businesses want to make a pledge to reach net zero but need some guidance on what to include. With so many businesses interested in reducing their emissions, Drax have pulled together some widely recognised sustainability frameworks you can use to determine your priority areas and start reducing your emissions.

UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS The UN has formally identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These range from responsible consumption and manufacturing patterns, to ensuring affordable and sustainable energy to all. Though not accredited, the goals provide a comprehensive outline of how businesses can structure their sustainability plans and pledges, and communicate these in a way that is widely understood. For example, energy suppliers should be aligned with goal 7, ‘Affordable and clean energy’. Proactive energy partners, like Drax, will also publicly align themselves with goal 13, ‘Climate action’.

TASK FORCE ON CLIMATERELATED FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES (TCFD)

TO HELP BUSINESSES REPORT ON THEIR CARBON OUTPUT

A body set up in 2015 by the Financial Stability Board to build consistent climaterelated financial risk disclosures for companies, investors and banks for their stakeholders. The TCFD recommendations provide a framework for companies to report consistent climate-related financial risk disclosures. This voluntary disclosure can complement other reporting obligations and can help markets to identify and reward solutions to climate change.

Once you’ve crafted and communicated your net zero pledge, there are standards that enable you to prove your progress by reporting on carbon output. These include:

RACE TO ZERO The UN’s Race to Zero campaign encourages organisations to commit to net zero by no later than 2050. It’s useful for businesses making climate pledges, but organisations can also encourage suppliers and customers to sign up. The campaign encourages signatories to plan and report on their progress. There are several ways to join the initiative, like signing the Climate Pledge. This calls on businesses to reach zero emissions by 2040 – 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement. Signing up demonstrates a business’ intent, but they’ll still need to put those words into action.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) PROTOCOL The GHG Protocol provides standards, guidance, tools, and training for businesses to measure and manage their emissions. The standards are the world’s most widely used carbon reporting tool, used by more than 90% of FT500 companies. It covers a variety of factors, from corporations and their value chains to entire cities or individual products.

ISO 14061-1 The ISO 14061-1 standard outlines principles and requirements for businesses to report how much CO2 they emit or remove from the atmosphere. The standard covers everything from the design and development of removals to the management and reporting of your greenhouse gas emissions. Like the more well-known ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 protocols, which focus more generally on sustainability, ISO 14061-1 status can only be certified by an external body. www.drax.com

Ecotricity is working with the Isle of Wight Council to help move the Island towards net zero carbon “Sustainable green energy from Ecotricity is one of many measures we at the Isle of Wight Council are adopting to help realise our ambition of becoming a net zero carbon council by 2030”

Transport, waste and recycling, urban regeneration – the list of local council responsibilities that have an impact on the environment and climate change is an extensive one.

Cllr Chris Jarman, Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance, Transformational Change & Resources, Isle of Wight Council

One area where councils can make an immediate difference is in their choice of energy supplier. The Isle of Wight Council is one of several local authorities that has chosen Ecotricity for its green energy.

And, with the UK government committed to cutting carbon emissions to 80% of the level they were at in 1990, local councils have a big role to play.

Sustainable green energy Ecotricity doesn’t just supply green electricity to The Isle of

Wight Council’s offices. A whole range of council services are using sustainably generated green energy including care homes and leisure centres. Across the county, the Isle of Wight is helping create a greener Britain by using Ecotricity’s green energy. Currently, 110 sites run by The Isle of Wight Council are supplied by Ecotricity. It’s just one of the many councils in the UK that we are helping to become more sustainable. An increasing number of public sector bodies are using our green energy generated by the sun and wind in order to meet their sustainability objectives, including St Albans Council, West Suffolk Council and Greater London Authority.

One of the biggest and simplest things you can do to help achieve your net zero targets is switch to 100% green electricity and carbon neutralised gas. Get a no-obligation quote from Britain’s first green energy company

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

NOW IS THE TIME TO CUT UNNECESSARY USE OF ENERGY

received an email the other day from a director of a newly opened student accommodation facility. The tone of the email was almost incredulous. Having installed electric panel heaters in around 200 rooms he was finding that the occupants were adjusting the room thermostats to 35°C and then leaving them at this setting constantly. To cool rooms that were too warm, windows were being opened! This, unfortunately, is not an uncommon issue, and with the energy cost crisis biting, reducing the use and therefore the spend on energy has swiftly risen to the top of many agendas. Factors that affect energy costs are many and varied, government regulation; weather forecasts; storage of fossil fuels; demand; transport; to name a few. But in recent weeks all our minds have been sharply focussed by global markets and supply. Stable energy imports are, perhaps, no longer as reliable as we thought. Many forecasters are predicting interruption to supply and high prices for the foreseeable future. Whichever method of energy generation is delivered, whether from gas, renewables or nuclear, with costs rising and scarcity becoming a very real possibility, control at the point of use is the only way for organisations to supervise consumption and keep a handle on costs for themselves. The current unpredicted energy crisis will hopefully be relatively short

term. But growth forecasts for some sectors project very predictable long-term demand for energy. Purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) is experiencing a relentless expansion. Just considering population growth, latest reports1 suggest a further 40,000 new university places will be required by 2035. When participation rates are considered, a staggering 350,000 additional places will need to be made available in the same timescale. There are currently 115,000 new beds in the PBSA development pipeline. In 2021 alone there was a net increase of just over 21,000 new beds entering the market. The ease of moving into high quality, fully serviced rooms is very attractive when going to university. This is what has fuelled the growth in this sector to almost 700,000 purpose-built beds. A population of this size has a similar energy demand to that of a medium sized UK city. With decarbonisation target deadlines looming, accommodation providers need to minimise energy waste, in terms of both costs and carbon. Managing energy use in student accommodation can pose a real conundrum for energy managers, particularly when an ‘all-inclusive’ deal is the business model. The occupants expect comfortable rooms but have no responsibility for directly footing the bill for the heat they use, while energy managers need to curb unnecessary 1 Cushman Wakefield UK Student Accommodation report 2020/21

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

energy use but maintain comfortable rooms and happy occupants! For the sender of the email mentioned earlier, the consideration, when converting his property should have extended beyond ‘which is the most cost-effective source of heat?’, to ‘how can that heat be controlled most effectively?’. Control systems designed specifically for student accommodation provide managers with far greater influence on consumption than relying on integrated electric heater controls in each room. The minimum requirement should be programmable thermostats that only allow boost heating when asked for, reverting to the setback temperature after a pre-determined period. This avoids the ‘set it and forget it’ at 35°C. The system should also sense empty rooms/open windows and reduce heat input accordingly. This type of thermostat, known as Local Control, is robust, built for non-domestic environments, and is tamper-proof. It requires a dedicated secure handset to programme each room individually. For larger properties a centrally controlled Building energy Management System (BeMS) is a preferred option. A system that performs the same basic tasks as Local Control units but is operated via an internet portal. This provides energy managers with access to every room, remotely – recently, a real benefit during the pandemic. The room node is more sophisticated

ENERGY MANAGEMENT than the Local Control type and can also monitor environmental conditions such as humidity, light, CO2, and decibel levels – automatically alerting managers to unusual readings. Stepping out of the bedroom and into the bathroom, even greater savings can be made when the BeMS controls water heating. With this comes the potential for leak detection and the monitoring of complete water system temperatures. BeMS don’t just provide economic benefits; convenience; fault finding in hardware; the archive of data; monitoring of best safety practices, are also present. For example, the data collected from water systems provides evidence that the criteria used in Water Safety Plans have been adhered to for the prevention of legionella; When the kitchen is also included within the BeMS jurisdiction – monitoring of cooking appliances means the power supply is cut before ignition or flash points are reached should temperatures on the cooking surface reach dangerous levels or if the kitchen is left unattended by a distracted student. But ultimately, in the current

climate, efficient use of energy is the focus of concerns. The installation of a Building energy Management System can result in quite staggering savings – up to 40% has been cited. The return on investment is usually quoted to be under 5 years, but with the instability in the energy market and rising costs

that length of time could be slashed! Now is not the time to try and save money, by buying cheap energy – there isn’t any! Now is the time to make energy go further by not using it unnecessarily, after all, the cheapest energy is the energy we don’t use! Prefectcontrols.com

USING DATA TO BEAR DOWN ON ENERGY COSTS

ith the cost of energy spiralling, industrial and commercial users are increasingly turning to data to optimise the efficiency of their premises and processes. The good news is that there are lots of digital tools available to help energy managers bear down on consumption… and the value of this data will only increase with the Market-wide Half-Hourly settlement (MWHH) reform due by 2025. “I doubt there’s ever been a time when energy consumption data has been so critical for companies,” said David Sing, Group Managing Director (Assets) at Energy Assets, specialists in metering and data analytics. “So, it’s vital that managers have the best processes and practices in place to mitigate the impact of escalating costs.” He says now is the time to “focus on getting the fundamentals right.” This means: • Installing advanced automated meter reading (AMR) systems to capture consumption data • Ensuring half-hourly energy data is collected, monitored and analysed in granular detail through AM&T portals, such as WebAnalyser • Establishing ‘standard’ consumption profiles and setting automated alerts to flag consumption spikes

DELIVERING DATA VALUE THROUGH AMR To help businesses improve their energy performance, Energy Assets is expanding its electricity meter data collection capabilities to near universal coverage across Britain’s I&C markets. The reach of its AMR service now extends to around 99% of all power meters serving private and public sector organisations. This enhanced capability expands the company’s Data Collection and Data Aggregation (DCDA) services to a growing customer base of energy suppliers, brokers and end users. “We’re now able to help more end users and their suppliers collect consumption data automatically, and to extract the information they need to improve their understanding of how they’re using energy and where they can make efficiencies.”

CHANGING ENERGY LANDSCAPE The new MWHH reform will ensure that I&C users have access to the data they need not only to analyse their consumption patterns, but potentially to negotiate customised ‘time-of-use’ tariffs with suppliers.

“This half-hourly data environment will enable organisations to collect and analyse consumption data in granular detail,” said David Sing. “This will inform energy efficiency strategies, influence consumption profiles and potentially reward organisations for shifting some processes and operations off-peak.” Feeding data via AMR systems into Energy Assets’ WebAnalyser monitoring and reporting platform enables users to compare actual consumption versus benchmark parameters and to measure the impact of any efficiency improvements. The tool offers a customisable approach to energy reporting, including monitoring consumption by period, comparing performance to ‘standard’ operating profiles, validating and analysing usage, and alerting users to unusual consumption patterns. www.energyassets.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

TOP ENERGY MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR MULTI-SITE ORGANIZATIONS

or organizations that operate multiple commercial buildings, getting a toplevel view of performance group-wide is fundamental and conducive to the success of any energy reduction strategy. Of course, enterprise-wide visibility is a challenge for many organizations across the globe – often because of different commercial buildings using different tools or software to measure energy performance and consumption or use inconsistent reporting practices. However, there are things which you and your organization can do to simplify the process of compiling energy reports, as well as get an accurate view of energy performance across the enterprise. In this blog, we’ll share a series of energy management tips to help you achieve effective and consistent energy management.

ENSURE TARGETS ARE SET AT BOTH BUILDING AND GROUP-WIDE LEVEL Before we delve into our other energy management tips, the first thing you need to do is set energysaving policies and targets at both building and group-wide levels. Some of your commercial buildings will be more energy efficient than others – this may not come down to a matter of design but because of factors such as location, occupancy, weather. Building benchmarking and normalized reporting will help in this regard but it’s important to be aware of these variables. So setting building-specific and group-wide policies and objectives will ensure everyone is aware of what needs to be achieved for each building. Then managers, once armed with accurate building benchmark reports with normalized data, can then compare that data to the overall building and group policies and objectives to understand individual building or group-wide performance.

CONSOLIDATE YOUR DATA Our second top energy management tip? Consolidate your data using energy monitoring software.

The challenge for many organizations operating commercial buildings is bringing the numerous data points together for a consistent, holistic view of energy activity. They all have large amounts of data but often the data is stored in silos across the enterprise. However, by using energy monitoring software, all those data points can be connected to and communicated with. Instead of data being disconnected, it could flow directly into the energy monitoring software. The information could then be displayed on a straightforward dashboard or compiled into comprehensive reports for analysis. Having some form of energy monitoring software is essential as it lays the foundation for accurate and scalable building benchmarking and normalized reporting. It also helps to uncover actionable insights through real-time data analysis.

MAKE SURE YOU CAN EVALUATE AND COMPARE ENERGY USAGE ACROSS DIFFERENT SITES (ENERGY AUDITING) Understanding the overall energy use and actual performance of your commercial buildings starts with building benchmarking. Building benchmarking is the process of comparing your building’s energy performance to another or something similar. Building benchmarking is achieved through normalization/normalized reporting. Normalized reporting is a statistical technique that takes into account certain variables (such as weather, occupancy, productivity, building size, operational status) and other data sets to deliver accurate and unbiased building energy performance results. For example, if one of your commercial buildings is occupied by 200 people whilst the other is occupied by 100, the energy consumption for one with 200 people will (theoretically) be twice that of the one with 100. Another example. If one of your commercial buildings is operationally active from 9 AM-5 PM whilst another from 8 AM-6 PM, energy consumption for

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the building operating from 8 AM-6 PM will be higher than that of 9 AM-5 PM. A widely used approach in conjunction with normalized reporting for energy performance is regression analysis. Regression analysis is a statistical technique that reliably estimates the dependence of a variable on one or more independent variables. In this instance, the dependent variable is energy consumption, whilst the independent variable could be occupancy, productivity or ambient temperature. Using this approach, you can get a reliable estimate of energy use based on things like weather, occupancy, productivity, and so on, as well as understand the impact of energy conservation measures (ECM). Of course, the challenge is ensuring all the data is available in the first place – which is precisely why we mentioned data consolidation as our second energy management tip.

USE AUTOMATED REPORTING Rather than run building benchmarks and create normalized reports manually, automate the process. Manual reporting is prone to human error and inconsistency, both of which can influence the results of your energy performance reports. If you have already consolidated your data using some form of energy monitoring software, you can easily acquire a solution (it may already be part of the software) to automate your reporting process. More sophisticated solutions will allow you to define the energy metrics you want to focus on and the reporting parameters, as well as view your data in cost format so you know how much energy is costing you. Some solutions will offer

ENERGY MANAGEMENT baseload analysis to highlight energy wastage during out-of-hours periods. Also, conducting normalized reporting through an energy monitoring solution is simple; you can define the variables within the system, set accurate baseline standards, and analyze the performance of all your sites. The other benefit of automated reporting is routine, scheduled updates. You can specify the information you would like to be contained in the report, as well as how often the report is produced. Daily, weekly, monthly – an automated solution would be able to deliver your energy performance report as and when you need it. This information can be compiled across your other sites and displayed on a central dashboard for analysis.

Such an approach will ensure that you (and the rest of your organization) are aware of the latest developments and can quickly react to changes or potential energy saving opportunities.

USE A SCALABLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SOLUTION As your commercial buildings are updated and you expand your operations, the energy management solution you use needs to evolve, too. The fundamental issue with most energy management solutions is that they fail to meet the specific needs of many organizations – they either have too many functions or too little, or they can only be used on-site and offer no cloud-based functionality!

Our final energy management tip is to ensure that you find an energy management solution that meets your organization’s needs and has the potential to scale as and when necessary. This might mean the ability to choose what modules you want – whether you need analytics and reporting, billing, dashboards and so on – so you can get the most out of the software, or the ability to use it anywhere at any time as well as on-site. That concludes our top energy management tips for those with multiple commercial buildings. https://www.esightenergy.com

TACKLING ENERGY COSTS: ANALYSIS SHOWS HOW GRID SOFTWARE SAVED UK PROJECTS £245M

s businesses and households prepare for the energy price cap rise (1 April), new analysis shows how the cost of modernising the UK’s electricity system can be kept to a minimum. An examination by Glasgow-based Smarter Grid Solutions of six recent projects shows that £245million has been saved by using modern software to get renewable energy schemes connected to the electricity grid quicker than had been planned. The finding comes as energy regulator Ofgem reviews distribution network operator business plans for the coming five years, with experts at Smarter Grid Solutions saying that the area of flexible connections will be a major consideration given the cost saving potential at a time of cost pressure on all energy users. Ofgem recently said that “a smart and flexible energy system is essential to hitting the UK’s net zero climate goals, while keeping energy bills affordable for everyone,” and that “being more flexible in when we use electricity will help avoid the need to build new generating and grid capacity.” The six projects analysed by Smarter Grid Solutions took place over the last decade and involved utility company SSEN in Orkney, SP Energy Networks in Dunbar, SP Energy Networks in Dumfries & Galloway, UK Power Networks in Cambridgeshire, UK Power Networks in Norwich and Western Power Distribution in Lincolnshire.

The six projects used Smarter Grid Solutions Active Network Management (ANM) technology, which continually monitors all the constraints on an area of the grid, in real-time, and allocates the maximum amount of capacity available to generation or other customers on a moment-by-moment basis. Analysts at Smarter Grid Solutions assessed public statements by the companies to conclude that using this digital technology approach to generation connections enabled new projects without traditional grid upgrades, saving the developers and utilities a total of £245million. In the Orkney project, for example, SSEN saved £30 million by avoiding the need for an additional or upgraded subsea cable. In the Dunbar project, SP Energy Networks was able to connect 50MW of renewable generation in a previously constrained area at a much lower network upgrade cost as well as creating 56 full-time equivalent jobs, £75,000 in community benefit over the lifetime of the projects and £61million to the Scottish economy. The benefits of the Dunbar project are outlined in a report by energy experts Regen. Alan Gooding, co-founder and Executive Vice President of Smarter Grid Solutions, said: “What this new analysis shows is that these sizeable costs can be headed off by using available technology and a now mature solution to make our electricity grid much more flexible and efficient, able

to accommodate new renewable energy developments sooner rather than later. Network operators are increasingly interested in this technology as the capital savings are becoming clearer to see. “Several UK distribution companies are already planning a wide roll out of flexible connections based on ANM. We expect that while Ofgem are reviewing distribution network operator business plans for the coming five years this area of flexible connections will be a major consideration given the cost saving potential at a time of cost pressure on all energy users. “As the world gears up to bring more renewable energy online, grids will need flexibility to handle multiple decentralised sources of power generation and storage. The days of turning on a big fossil fuel power station at the flick of a switch to cope with sudden demand are almost gone. A smooth transition to a more distributed system is possible if we look to software that manages renewable generation and grid capacity in a smart way.” www.smartergridsolutions.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

MICROGRIDS

THE RISE OF THE RELIABLE, SUSTAINABLE MICROGRID Kas Mohammed, VP Digital Energy Schneider Electric UK&I

he idea of a single, overriding grid is fast becoming obsolete. From energy generation and supply through to demand, how we look at energy is changing. Moving towards a decentralised model, we are beginning to put the power back in the hands of the end-user thanks to microgrids. The microgrid market is predicted to reach £3.35 billion worldwide by 2026 and deployment is increasing rapidly in energyintensive environments like healthcare, industrial operations, and data centres. 25.4% of UK and Ireland businesses claim to have already installed a microgrid/renewable power source in an effort to reduce their environmental impact and ensure a resilient, cost-effective power supply. So, what is a microgrid and how can it transform our energy generation and usage?

THE MICROGRID BASICS A microgrid is a localised energy system that interacts with the utility grid, encompassing one or more electric power generators and necessary energy management controls. It provides secure electricity to consumers, optimises electricity costs as peak power requirements are reduced, and has the potential to boost the economy by bringing electricity to remote, Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions, allowing smallmedium businesses to grow. They provide an effective way to react to power outages or unexpected peaks in demand, as they operate independently from the larger grid. A modern microgrid takes advantage of a variety of distributed energy resources (DER), coordinated by a smart, automated microgrid control system – a true example of Electricity 4.0 (the combination of electricity and digital capabilities) in action. They can pull together all energy loads that are critical or of interest to how the site is run, and data from your on-site generation

and the grid. This information can be combined with real-time energy prices to minimise energy costs, and weather forecasts to predict the impact of weather events on your on-site generation capabilities. For instance, utilising solar power on a sunny day.

BOOSTED RELIABILITY During the pandemic, temporary services to increase capacity for infection screening for example, put increased pressure on critical power, so backup power systems quickly became essential. This, combined with more frequent power outages, has forced the healthcare sector to look more closely at their energy strategies and safeguard their electricity. One of the key selling points of localised energy solutions, like microgrids, is their ability to make access to electricity more reliable. In sectors where continuity is essential, such as healthcare, microgrids are being adopted to drive power reliability across critical facilities. Power reliability for hospitals continues to be transformed by the ongoing evolution of backup power solutions such as microgrids. For reliability and continuity, new power sources are needed to secure continuity of care should outages occur and to maintain code compliance. People’s lives depend on a secure electrical infrastructure, from lighting to life support machines, and microgrids offer a more dependable power solution.

EV CHARGERS ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG Moving into the era of Electricity 4.0, we can see an unprecedented demand for energy. Digitisation, upgrades to HVAC systems to limit the spread of infection post pandemic, and ever-increasing patient numbers have driven a rapid increase in electricity demand, and with the rise in electric vehicles (EVs) this is set to continue. When you install EV infrastructure, it’s going to put more demand on your site, and you must prepare to cope with this new demand. An opportunity, from a site wide perspective, is when considering where to deploy your EV or renewable assets – make

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sure the infrastructure can support your plans. If you are going to invest heavily in renewable energy technology, make certain you get the best out of those assets by ensuring the distribution network associated with it is modern and has smart capability. That will also provide good visibility of the infrastructure requirements for EV assets.

IF NOT NOW, AT LEAST PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE Looking to the future, to meet everincreasing demand and achieve net zero, renewable and smart onsite energy production is vital. Selecting systems that are product and manufacturer agnostic, from a reputable supplier and have smart capabilities built in, allows you to connect and interact with any relevant assets in the future, preparing for a smart system, such as a microgrid, even if you are not ready for it yet. Advances in digitisation and the Internet-of-Things are making power and building systems more intelligent and connected. By connecting the microgrid control system to the hospital’s building management system (BMS) and energy management system (EMS), you will enable the ‘flexibility’ of DER, including non-critical controllable loads (e.g. electrical vehicle charging stations), to be fully exercised to optimise energy, costs and reliability. To achieve net zero by 2050, we must move towards Grids of the Future, with innovation, new products and software, and ingenuity from all involved. We must strategize, digitise, and decarbonise to ensure continuity and sustainability, and microgrids should be an essential part of new healthcare energy strategies. Reliability cannot be jeopardised, and we must ensure operational continuity and the level of power quality needed by sensitive equipment, or risk losing lives. https://www.se.com

LIGHTING

SMART WIRELESS CONTROL SYSTEMS USE DAYLIGHT CONTROL TO BECOME MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT The benefits of lighting controls have certainly become more apparent in recent years. Offering improved safety, incredible energy-efficiency savings, and an easy-to-install commissioning process, it’s no wonder more operators are adopting these systems. Companies are being scrutinised more than ever on reducing their carbon footprint, and the easiest way to do this is to utilise the greatest natural source of light we have, the sun!

hilst many people are familiar with basic lighting controls, few are aware of the extent to which a new generation of lighting controls is transforming the market, saving operators thousands of pounds in the process. Daylight dimming is an often-overlooked aspect of a control system due to conventionally being awkward to implement with hardwiring and commissioning being very awkward to get it working properly. The simple process involves automatically dimming your luminaires down due to sufficient natural lighting from the environment to maintain the required light level but also allows the user to save energy. This type of control is nothing new, but it has been made far easier to implement. The real major benefit of wireless is not in its features but in the ease at which it can be installed, set up, and maintained by the user without the need for specialist contractors or commissioning engineers. Customers can take control of their lighting via the iPad commissioning app, allowing them to add additional luminaires, adjust settings and tailor the system to their requirements as time goes by and needs may change. Each luminaire integrates a DALI wireless node that forms a mesh network throughout the application. This gives the owner freedom to customise their building to maximise efficiency and tailor parameters to the user’s preference. Unlike other control systems, the solution’s back-end is cloud-based and does not require a physical building monitoring system or head end PC to operate. Due to the cloud-based nature of the back end, we can work and integrate other types of smart sensors as well, allowing different building services to collaborate, such as motion sensors detecting how many people are present and telling the HVAC to operate at a lower output to reduce overall energy consumption We can offer wireless battery-powered presence/absence detectors that incorporate daylight dimming function and last up to 15 years. This means for an installer; no extra wiring is required, and the installation will take less time making the transition to a wireless solution seamless and cost-efficient. This also allows the placing of sensors in all locations possible and is not limited by current wiring or access to power. If you have the smart node integral to a light fitting and a DALI self-test emergency the system can also monitor and

report back on all emergency lighting, including the scheduling of function and duration tests, with all results fed back to the web-based platform. An email can be triggered upon a failure which is checked once an hour so that immediate action can be taken to rectify. This eliminates the requirement for manual on- site testing, which is another cost-saving but also guarantees compliance that a full testing schedule has been conducted, giving the user peace of mind that they are fully compliant. Each node is personalised with a unique ID and keys, enabling it to participate in the network and allowing it to obtain authenticated software updates. For personalisation and general key management, Hardware Security Modules (HSM) are used in the banking industry. When the mesh network is running autonomous, this architecture provides optimal protection of the communication with a 128-bit AES encryption standard. From a safety perspective, lighting controls can be easily integrated with your fire monitoring system, so that when an alarm is raised all lighting increases to 100% enabling a safe exit. This is important when lighting controls are being used as to not be reliant on presence detection technology in instances where they could be impaired such as heavy smoke or fire. With a broad range of benefits, it’s no surprise that the industry is turning to smart lighting controls. If you would like to find out more, please contact Ben Brunton at Prime Light on 020 8968 2000 or email BB@primelight.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

ENERGY SUPPLY

NAVIGATING THE NEW FUTURE OF INCREASING ENERGY COSTS AND BILL SHOCK Mike McCloskey

he energy industry is entering an era of great uncertainty and a state of prolonged crisis with prices for both electricity and gas reaching unprecedented highs. To add to this, there is a global energy gap between energy supply and demand which requires larger than ever investments to mitigate this risk. We’re heading in the right direction with large, green financing initiatives being developed however in the near term it is not significant enough to reduce the supply-demand gap on a “consistent” and global basis and we need to better understand what can be done today. To prepare ourselves for the bill shock business’s will be experiencing for the indefinite future, there are 3 specific areas which require careful consideration and budget planning to ensure the best possible outcome.

1. ENERGY RATES Based on commodity prices, energy rates traditionally lag behind the wholesale price movements, later catching up and impacting budgets as bills are normally paid after delivery. In flex procurement contracts, this time lag is known contractually however not wholly appreciated. Consequently, all budgets commencing April 2022 will need to be re-calculated unless fully fixed, and for this financial year and 2023-24 internal energy budgets expectations

should be reset now based on forward curve prices. There is certainly time between now and next year for some contingency to be put in place and energy saving projects to be accelerated.

2. ENERGY COST SOCIALISATION There is an increasing lack of clarity regarding cost socialisation. The distribution network companies have, we believe, socialised their costs and embedded them in the 2022-23 network charges but there will be rebates required owing to default in other third-party levies too. The one which is best known is renewable obligations with a track record of year-on-year mutualisation. At the end of 2021 there were 25 suppliers who left over £200 million of costs requiring mutualisation, and there will be question marks against Bulb and others who have subsequently failed too. In addition, schemes which have retrospectively required mutualisation include BSuoS with a £625 million mutualisation cost for the later months of 2021. The worst-case scenario might leave between £500 million to £1 billion in outstanding costs which may have to creep into customer bills in 2022-3.

3. THE PROCESS OF CONTRACT PROCUREMENT Typically, the contract procurement process offers an opportunity for customers to reduce their costs, however the benefit

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of this will be relatively minimal since margin on commodity is typically small. The energy retail industry barely runs above break-even so more so than ever brokerage costs and the real cost of transfer need to be carefully investigated. It is as this point where customers should consider their long-term approach. Perhaps the most interesting aspect is the potential suppliers’ propensity (or their respective partners) to invest in additional services for the end customer. The supply of green energy, solar, EV solutions and batteries can significantly mitigate energy costs and carbon exposure at current prices. End customers should leverage what assets they have in the procurement process instead of negotiating the best price at an “as at date”. If there is investment money available to finance renewable energy directly, particularly behind the meter, this should be fully explored since returns have never been higher. It has never been a more important time to look at ways in which basic energy consumption can be reduced, from solar array adoption to lowering the set points on the HVAC system. Having the right management tools in place will enable you to continuously monitor and review your energy consumption and savings opportunities across the entirety of your portfolio. For further information about how Utilidex can help you manage your analytics, trading and billing in a single, integrated platform, visit: www.utilidex.com

ENERGY SUPPLY

“ NOW IS THE TIME TO ADDRESS PPA MARKET’S THREATS” UrbanChain’s Dr. Mo Hajhashem makes a strong case for the necessity of the paradigm shift in renewables asset management

he landscape of power purchase agreements is changing as the world continues to shift to a clean energy mix. Our ‘Peer-to-Peer’ system is 95% accurate and we have already managed to bring renewables to the mainstream market - and we have made it viable without government subsidies. We aggregate both generations and consumptions, do our profiling to find generation and consumption patterns and then match the consumption with the shaped generation and when the matching happens we make a contract between combination of generator and what might be many consumers. In fact as a generator, you might sell energy to combination of corporate consumers at the same time or as a consumer, you get your energy from combination of five generators to achieve you 100% NetZero.

For generators this means higher return and higher security at the same time! Higher return as the risk of renewable intermittency is managed by us and the matching accuracy of 95% would minimise the risk of imbalance. In addition you are selling directly to corporates and there is no agency cost involved! It is more secure, as the collective credits of the corporates would secure your PPAs rather than single credit of off-takers! Should any of these consumers go bust or something should happen which affects their contract, we can easily replace them with another one

and your contract remains in place. We’re creating efficiencies in this system when we directly connect generators and consumers together. You don’t need to go through intermediaries and our system removes many costs including searching costs, unnecessary labour costs and imbalance costs. Everybody is happy, specifically renewable asset owners and infrastructure investors. They really like the idea and grasp that they can have higher returns with higher security. This is the future of PPAs. www.urbanchain.co.uk

Join us today www.pssa.info ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

SMART GRIDS

WHY WE SHOULD THINK SMARTER WHEN IT COMES TO SMART GRIDS ‘Smart grids’ have been put forward by many of the world’s governments as a key ingredient in fulfilling the global ambition of a connected world powered by clean methods. In Australia, where a notoriously unstable grid has been well-documented, smart grids have been touted as the solution to keeping the lights on even when the power drops. However, for all the benefits, there needs to be a reality check. Arne Svendsen, Mark Andrews, Tony Morton, and Martin Groh, of international technical consultancy Vysus Group, delve into the hurdles Australia’s infrastructure has yet to overcome, and why the dream scenario of a connected grid is still a huge work-in-progress. 30

efore we get too immersed in the technicalities of smart grids and the influence they will potentially have on global power grids, let’s take a step back and work out exactly what we mean by that term. We see examples of ‘smart’ technology everywhere, from our mobile phones to vehicles and how we heat our homes, but it is a different proposition for complex infrastructure such as power networks. In short, a smart grid supplies electricity to consumers through twoway communication, which allows for monitoring, analysis, and control, with the aim to overcome weaknesses within conventional grids using smart meter technology. Across the globe, utility companies are tasked with providing customers with a stable and secure energy supply, and the smart grids. Yet the pace at which technology has emerged to facilitate this task has not been matched by that of the infrastructure and capabilities within geographical areas. And it is likely to take several years before the two are fully in sync with one another. Think of transport system upgrades as an example; yes, they may ultimately make a journey smoother, but only after a lengthy period of congestion, speed restrictions, and road or rail closures. A similar principle can be applied to implementing smart grids for power. Without sounding too pessimistic, grid infrastructures, particularly in Australia, are not built to be flexible. Not yet anyway. And the practicalities of essentially rebuilding vast sections reaches far beyond the engineering requirements. Though smart grids have the potential to provide a solution for keeping Australia powered, there is the risk of running before we can walk. The demand for production technology, at this moment in time, outstrips the adjustments needed on the highway. And yes, there is also the global target of net zero emissions by 2050 to factor in – the need to accelerate the transition is not to be confused with rushing. Smart grids are to engineering

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what Industry 4.0 was for technology. Exciting, plenty of potential… but changing mindsets and implementing the necessary infrastructure to make the most of the opportunities it can present has not been smooth sailing. The recognised definition of “the digital transformation of manufacturing/ production and related industries and value creation processes” has, at least, provided some clarity on what the concept means for business, but as for the technical obstacles of physical implementation, the way forward has been less straightforward. Similar complications can be observed within how Australia tracks and monitors energy usage. Smart meters, for example, have been mandatory in the state of Victoria for more than a decade and a “voluntary, market-led rollout” of some 40 000 units took place in NSW in 2016, in the hope of providing consumers with the fairest, most accurate idea of their energy use cost. Despite these measures, a full rollout nationwide has been slow. In fact, it has even been suggested that getting Australia’s grid to reach 50% of smart meter penetration – where the benefits will be most notable, according to the Australian Energy Market Commission – will take at least four or five more years, as a consequence of limited legislative guidance and consumer awareness. It is not inconceivable, therefore, that the benefits smart grids could bring, in terms of storage and directing power to where it is most needed in unforeseen circumstances, may encounter similar complications. A lack of information is not only apparent at local level, either – many of Australia’s distribution network service providers (DNSPs) do not necessarily have all the information they ideally require about voltages and energy flows in the network from the varying sources. For example, while rooftop solar panels on domestic properties are becoming increasingly common, the effect these have on the feeder voltage profile cannot practically be

SMART GRIDS

monitored or modelled in real time, even with so-called ‘smart’ meters. Only basic data pertaining to generation and load is available, resulting in more granular data being missed and, ultimately, higher charges to the end user than would be the case if operations were optimised. For a smart grid to be a stable grid, data needs to be the driver. The outcomes of specific actions made using this data also needs to be taken into account, with scenario modelling and real-time analytics being key here. With this knowledge, faults can be identified at an earlier stage, allowing for better use of capability and indeed, reduce maintenance costs which can save consumers money. From an operational point of view, these capabilities give an indication of where improvements to grid networks could arise in the future. For instance, Vysus Group’s Promaps power system reliability software draws on information from real-time and base case studies to accurately determine the effects of new actions on focused areas of the grid. By providing a visual representation of the risks posed by inputs such as solar and wind, which are challenging for ageing grids to sustain, Promaps gives inside knowledge on likely causes and effects from these risks and unforeseen factors such as severe weather. In these scenarios, system risk levels swing from a very high level to the theoretical lowest level, not unlike the infamous flash crashes in the US stock markets in 2010 and 2014 which wiped trillions of dollars of equity in a matter of minutes. At the time, high volume trading (in other words, consecutive trades being completed within seconds) carried amongst volatile conditions contributed to the market drop. Now imagine if the same was to happen in the Australian power grid - multiple inputs being made simultaneously, with little means of understanding the impacts, could result in millions being without power. In Norway, where we at Vysus Group have worked extensively with grid operators to address conflicts within network boundaries, research published in 2021 points to the rollout of smart technology in the country as a “top-down initiative with economic incentives” with the aim of getting some form of control over unpredictable variables. In a similar way to Victoria’s smart meter rollout campaign, however, questions remain about the impacts of smart grids on everyday life.

The research does allude to the fact that changing habits and routines by consumers, driven by information provided by smart metering, is underway and having a positive impact. Yet to realise the ambitious target set by the European Union of reducing emissions by 55% by 2030, there is still much work to do in both the engineering sense and supporting the public in making any lifestyle changes they may need to consider in order to have the full benefit of a smart grid. Technology such as Promaps, which provides a means of calculating the reliability of specific grid segments in near real-time, will be fundamental in a ‘smart’ implementation of a smart grid. But to fully utilise the capabilities of such technology, power grids and operators need to keep pace with the change and get the foundations secure before committing to dramatic and, if we’re being

frank, potentially unrealistic, expectations. The evolution of technology has unquestionably shaped the world we live in and to some degree, has given us a snapshot of what is ahead in the future. Renewable energy sources, as we are all very much aware of, are changing the landscape of power generation, to the point that Australia is witnessing the largest energy transition in the world and changing its grid from a linear network to something rather more complex. For smart grid technology to really become “smart”, power businesses need to take a system point-of-viewimpact approach. This means that all the technology being installed needs to be included in system impact analyses of the whole power system for evaluating the current and future power system state, and actually measure if the power system is becoming more efficient and more reliable or not. www.vysusgroup.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

RENEWABLE ENERGY

CLEANER, GREENER ENERGY WITH NEW WIND TECHNOLOGY– INNOVATIVE WIND PANELS CAN GENERATE SUSTAINABLE POWER IN EVERY ENVIRONMENT Renewable energy company, Katrick Technologies has designed a unique panel system for harnessing wind power to produce sustainable energy. The panels, which use a wider range of wind frequencies and speeds than traditional turbines, use individually acting aerofoils to capture kinetic energy and convert it to green electricity. With the potential to generate 22,000-kilowatt hours of electricity annually per panel, this innovation represents an exciting advancement for clean energy sources. Here, Co-CEO of Katrick Technologies, Vijay Madlani, discusses the importance of new power generation technology.

s we approach what scientists warn could be the point-of-noreturn for our planet, green innovators are developing new solutions to provide carbon-neutral renewable energy. Promising developments have already been made in this field, with wind and solar power now commonly used, but there is still work to be done before renewables can fully replace fossil fuels globally. Wind power is by no means a new concept – in fact it is one of the fastest growing renewable technologies worldwide. In the UK alone, electricity generation from wind power has increased by 715 per cent between 2009 and 2020, with 75,610 gigawatt hours (GWh) produced from both onshore and offshore wind in 2020, making up 24 per cent of total renewable and non-renewable electricity generation for the year. This is expected to continually increase as the UK strives for carbon neutrality by 2050, with the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector estimating that by 2050, 90 per cent of electricity will be generated from renewable sources, with 70 per cent of this consisting of solar and wind. Achieving this target will require more wind farms to be built. Wind farms can be built on varying scales both on and offshore, but they are not without their limitations. They cannot be built in urban or residential areas and often require large amounts of land in remote locations, which must then be connected to the grid using transmission wires. This presents challenges in sourcing a location, as often, a wind farm is not the most profitable use of land, particularly as turbines require significant space. There are also concerns over the damage to the surrounding environment and ecosystems, as well as visual disturbance and noise pollution.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

Taking note of the challenges involved in generating wind power, Katrick Technologies has designed its wind panel system to maximise the amount of kinetic energy captured, while addressing the limitations of traditional turbines. The panels contain multi-layered aerofoils, which oscillate independently as wind passes through the panels, creating pockets of energy. The varying sizes of the aerofoils increases the surface area for harnessing kinetic energy, and this can then be converted into sustainable electricity. Katrick’s panels have several key advantages over turbines. Their smaller size makes them easier to build and install while maintaining a significant surface area within the working space, and also means that they can be fitted to existing buildings and structures, even within urban and residential environments. This is an important benefit, as traditional wind turbines are constrained by space and location. Panels like these are a far more flexible and adaptable. The size of the panels and configuration of the aerofoils allows them to capture wind of all speeds and frequencies, including ground winds which are inaccessible to turbines. Adding additional foils can also provide a superior surface area for wind capture than turbines, where the energy is concentrated on the alternator as a single focal point. The panels are also straightforward to install – with a low initial cost and a smaller size, they can be easily implemented on any scale due to their modular design and rapid deployment.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

They also require little maintenance, increasing their overall life cycle and offering another advantage over turbines. Technologies like Katrick’s wind panels provide alternative methods of generating energy, but also provide potential for businesses and individual facilities to generate off-grid, profitable power – like microgeneration sites. Microgeneration allows businesses to supply and store their own energy, removing the need for reliance on the grid and avoiding the associated environmental impacts. With traditional wind turbines, this simply wouldn’t be possible for an average business owner. In practice, these microgeneration sites could even potentially be used to power electric vehicle charging stations, encouraging more people to make the switch to EVs as they become easier to charge and run. While investing in renewables is key for tackling environmental issues, it can also help to fast track the journey to energy independence. Disruption to energy supply can occur during times of geopolitical instability or conflict, and in these times it is more important than ever to have a reliable source of energy. Developing and manufacturing green energy generation technologies such as Katrick Technologies’ wind panels can reduce a country’s reliance on foreign gas and fossil fuels during periods of uncertainty. Katrick Technologies panels have been trialled in a lab environment at the University of Glasgow, where wind tunnels have been used to expose the panels to different wind types and speeds. The company has also recently announced a deal to launch the panels with property and logistics company Howard Tenens, providing them clean energy for their facilities as they move towards becoming a zero-carbon business. This is an important milestone, as industries such as warehousing and logistics are known to produce large amounts of harmful emissions. Katrick Technologies’ wind panels will offer cleaner, greener energy for both organisations and individuals with clear financial benefits. With energy prices increasing and the devastating impacts of pollution becoming more evident, this cost-effective zero-carbon solution may be the answer to many of the challenges involved in viable renewable solutions. To find out more about Katrick Technologies’ wind panels and other green energy innovations, visit www.katricktechnologies.com

BRITAIN MISSING THE BOAT ON GREEN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION Bill Ireland, CEO of Logan Energy

he world is closing the door on Russia and quite right too. Sadly, we can’t afford to throw away the keys. Germany’s decision to press pause on the $11 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline is a significant step but while imposing sanctions on Russia will obviously undermine Putin’s regime, we must still move more quickly towards energy independence here in the UK. We unquestionably have the resources to end our reliance on fossil fuels and unpleasant regimes, but a lack of joined up thinking around our energy subsidies and taxes and an absence of solid and bold policy is holing us back. During Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons a few days ago, Mr Johnson was asked by an opposition MP if he would commit to a “real hydrogen strategy” and the doubling of the hydrogen production targets for 2030 to help end Britain’s reliance on imported energy. As politicians do, he talked around her question but finished by saying she was “absolutely right”. Further support for the argument to speed up the move towards greener energy came from the UK’s Climate Change Committee which advised that the best way to ease consumers’ pain from high energy prices is to stop using fossil fuels rather than drill for more of them. The committee warned that new fossil fuel projects in the North Sea would, in some cases, not deliver gas until 2050, the date when climate laws stipulate that the UK must be almost completely weaned off gas. Instead, a policy which said that by the end of next year, 5% of every fleet belonging to private or public organisations, leased, or purchased, must be zero emission, then 6% the following year, 7% in 2025 and gradually accelerating, is exactly the kind of legislation we need. Lock-in the policy and private finance will follow. There is a massive appetite in the financial sector to invest in new energy and specifically, hydrogen, investors just need a solid business case. We are writing off hundreds of billions of pounds in energy abroad with BP and Shell pulling out of Russian investments. My mind boggles at what we could have done with that investment in

the hydrogen energy sector and where we would be today if we had done this when I was presenting on energy security in the 90’s with the history of Georgian pipeline attacks, and the Gulf and then Iraq wars. Boris Johnson has vowed that all UK homes will be powered by offshore wind energy by 2030 and the nation will be net zero by 2050. That’s a welcome commitment and should help to drive the production of green hydrogen forward but we still need to do more. It has been reported that the National Grid has set an ambitious target of using hydrogen to partly power homes in the UK within the next three years with a pilot project, called H100, starting next year in the North of Scotland. Customers in around 300 homes will be offered free hydrogen-ready boilers and cookers in the scheme, which will initially last five and a half years. I applaud this development. News that Scotrail is to order a fleet of hydrogen powered trains is also most welcome. Of course, the transition to greener energy must be fair. We can’t be guilty of energy colonialism and allow our businesses to buy up large swathes of land in the Sahara to be blanketed with solar panels when it’s not in the interests of local populations. However, the potential for green hydrogen production in the UK is enormous and this is where the UK can and should become a world leader. The recent sale of multiple offshore licenses for wind farms will substantially increase our generating capacity but a deal last year between manufacturing equipment producer JCB and Fortescue Future Industries which will see JCB importing Australian hydrogen is an example of a British company looking abroad for its supplies. It’s frustrating to see this and I believe the UK could, with a prevailing wind, become an exporter of green hydrogen before too long. We can’t flick a switch and change our energy supplies, but we can’t afford to dither and delay any longer. In fact, we won’t be able to afford our energy if we do. www.loganenergy.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

VENTILATION NEWS

RESTORING THE BALANCE: ENERGY SAVING VS INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN SCHOOLS Good indoor air quality is a key pillar not just for better learning, but also general wellbeing. Alan Macklin and Ana Cross at Elta Group discuss how schools must re-assess energy saving priorities and introduce qualitydesigned mechanical ventilation systems into these crucial buildings.

ith the effects of the pandemic placing greater emphasis on ventilation, the high levels of CO2 across school building stock have become a prevalent concern. Yet, at the same time, saving energy remains a top priority in line with sustainability agendas. With these two matters in mind, schools have historically relied on natural ventilation methods such as opening windows to maintain low energy usage. However, this approach does not guarantee good quality air. Many schools are located in suburban or heavily urbanised areas where a high count of nitrogen dioxide is in the air, along with harmful particulates such as car brake pad dust, fumes, sulphur dioxide and other pollutants. While conserving energy is important, this should not take precedence over peoples’ wellbeing – especially as younger individuals are more vulnerable. Furthermore, numerous scientific studies have highlighted that CO2 and harmful particulates directly hinder pupil’s learning and concentration. Coinciding with the introduction of the school rebuilding programme, now is the time for indoor air quality to be treated with greater importance through adequate ventilation.

THE LEGISLATIVE LANDSCAPE While the Building Bulletin (BB101) is in place as a framework for ensuring effective ventilation, upcoming changes to Building Regulations reflect the growing concerns around management of indoor air quality. With updates to Part F coming into force later this year, there will be firmer guidance to adhere to. Namely that buildings must provide sufficient ventilation to keep CO2 levels below 800ppm (parts per million). The introduction of these regulatory measures highlights the need for measuring and controlling CO2 as part of ventilation strategy – placing further onus on schools to implement appropriate solutions.

CLEARING THE AIR Alongside acknowledgement of regulatory guidance, there must also be an understanding of what good quality or ‘fresh’ air is. As outlined, good quality air isn’t simply air brought in from the outside. Many harmful compounds can be present that affect both health and concentration levels in pupils. Evidenced by the rising popularity of air purifiers, another misconception is that continuous recirculation and purification constitutes fresh air. In actual fact, this air becomes stale, allowing for CO2 and VOC (volatile organic compound)

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

levels to increase and subsequently be inhaled. While air purifiers do have their place in a ventilation system, they should not be treated as a comprehensive solution. Such applications will remove pollutants, but have no impact on CO2 levels. As such, a good quality ventilation system is one that extracts all pollutants, brings air in from the outside and filtrates it before reaching the classroom.

MECHANICAL MEANS To ensure adequate ventilation, CO2 should be considered as a proxy for air quality. The CO2 level rises as a result of building occupants exhaling, while increasing the ventilation rate reduces it. On this basis, measuring CO2 can allow for effective control of both air quality and energy usage. Building ventilation systems often operate at constant or predetermined ventilation rates regardless of the occupancy level of the building. Ventilation rates are normally based on maximum occupancy levels, resulting in consequent energy wastage. This is not only due to the fan operation, but also includes the energy used to condition the air for both heating and cooling modes. Through MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) solutions such as Elta Fans’ PREMA range, the amount of airflow can instead be controlled to suit occupancy levels and delivered through demand-controlled

VENTILATION NEWS ventilation (DCV). DCV is recognised as a reliable method of ensuring a building is ventilated cost effectively, while maximising indoor air quality. Closed loop speed control for both EC and AC motor options provides major energy savings as the fan power is proportional to the speed cubed. CO2 or temperature sensors are used to continuously measure and monitor ambient conditions in the conditioned space and provide real time feed back to the zone controller. From here, fan speed is adjusted – modulating the ventilation rate to match the specific use and occupancy of the building. Significant energy savings are made by effective DCV, which ensures that the ventilation rate continuously matches the current occupancy rate and varying ambient conditions.

EFFICIENT ENERGY CONVERSION AND RECOVERY With all ventilation solutions, it’s important to consider the design properties of the ventilation system itself prior to making a decision. This is where small yet significant long term energy gains, and subsequently cost savings, can be made. As an example, PREMA’s units have a free running, backward curved impeller and special threedimensional blade geometry that provides reduced rotational tone, which provides greater energy savings through higher performance.

Attention should also be paid to how much thermal energy can be recuperated. With PREMA’s units, the thermal energy exchange is enhanced by the large surface area of the heat exchanger resulting in as much as 92% of thermal energy being recovered.

SYSTEM SUPPORT When designing and specifying a mechanical ventilation system, it’s important to always consult with the manufacturers as quite often they can offer best practice and guidance to achieve the desired performance. For schools, there should be a particular focus on specifying highquality filtration methods to restrict external pollutants. In line with requirements, all ventilation systems from Elta Fans come with ePM1 Filters that offer high filtration levels and follows the ISO 16890 Standard. When specifying mechanical ventilation systems, it must be ensured that the fan has enough power output to overcome any pressure development drop due to the filtration solution. Layout and length of the ducting, as well

as any other ancillaries involved in the design will also need to be considered. Post-installation, any solution must also be well maintained and serviced to ensure they are operating efficiently. Here, consulting with a manufacturer can ensure the right maintenance schedule is created and followed.

THE FUTURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT As the school rebuilding programme comes into effect, it’s clear that ventilation and air quality must not be left behind as an afterthought. Schools must have a well-engineered system for ventilation – whether it is mechanical or hybrid – and receive the necessary support to realise such solutions. From manufacturers to designers, consultants to specifiers and beyond, the entire supply chain must consider how to deliver good indoor air quality and follow through to enable better learning environments for years to come. To find out more about Elta Fans’ range of ventilation solutions, visit: https://www.eltafans.com/

November 1st 2022, Old Trafford, Manchester United FC.

www.pssevents.co.uk Manchester-advert-2.indd 1

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE31/03/2022 • APRIL 2022 18:12:35

TRAINING

13 Accredited Training Courses in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Designed to give you the knowledge you need to excel in the Renewables Industry

Learn about the advantages and uses of different Renewable Energy Technologies with the Master in Renewable Energy Award. The Master in Renewable Energy Award provides 320 CPD hours consisting of video lessons, course slides, and any additional course materials. You will have up to 18 months to complete 13 courses at your own pace, but this can be completed as quickly as you would like within this period. You will have the opportunity to sit an exam for each course to achieve the internationally recognised Galileo Master Certificate.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

To register on an accredited Pathway, or for further information about the Master in Renewable Energy Award, contact the REI by emailing: training@renewableinstitute.org or by calling us on +44 (0)131 4469 479. Alternatively, please complete the reservation form here: https://www.renewableinstitute.org/ master-in-renewable-energy-award/

WATER MANAGEMENT

THE FIVE COMMERCIAL RISKS OF WATER SCARCITY

ater is a vital resource for your business and is key to not only sustaining, but also driving profitable growth. As awareness for the climate crisis grows, consumers, governments, governance and providers of capital will respond with higher expectations of brands and companies. It’s important for you to adapt and respond to these demands and expectations, benefiting from first mover advantage, while ensuring a resilient, future-proofed business. Action on water is only becoming more critical for your ongoing success.

COMMERCIAL SUCCESS, UNDER THREAT? Water is a resource under increased stress due to a convergence of factors, with water management now cited as one of the greatest risks to business continuity and growth. The majority (76%) of risks reported are physical, relating to water scarcity and declining water quality, typically disrupting operations and increasing operating costs. These risks aren’t a distant threat: businesses expect half of them to materialise within the next three years. But what are the present water risks? And what impact would they have on your business?

1. INCREASE IN OPERATING COSTS As we’ve seen with gas, when demand outstrips supply, costs increase. In this case, wholesale gas prices have risen exponentially, increasing by 250% since the start of 2021 alone. Subsequently pushing up electricity prices. This acts as an early warning sign for what’s to come with water. As demand for water resources continue to increase (demand for water could outstrip supply by 2050), prices increase, amplifying your operating costs. For manufacturing, retail, leisure, hospitality and industrial businesses, a slight increase in operating costs could jeopardise the overall profitability of your business. A 2015 drought in Brazil drove up General Motors’ water costs there by a staggering $2.1 million.

2. REVENUE, DOWN THE DRAIN If you were to lose access to water, what would happen? Without a supply of freshwater, the chances are, you’ll have to close your site/s. Production will grind to a halt. Service will be paused. Customers will become agitated. Trade will be lost. The loss of water to a site, and its subsequent closure, will not only have a significant direct impact on short-term

revenue generation, but also your reputation. The closure of a single site could therefore have an almost infinite long-term impact on your ongoing business success. If your site is without water due to wholesaler works, GSS payments may be made by the wholesaler. Though typically, the value in lost trade due to a site closure will far outweigh the potential payments made by a wholesaler.

3. REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE “It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” — Benjamin Franklin Reputational damage can be caused by many different factors, but namely, it’s how a business responds to disruption. In the case of loss of water supply, and subsequently closing of your site/s, the consequential damage to your reputation can have a catastrophic impact on your success, and should be a key consideration regarding water risks (and climate change risks for that matter). Additionally, if customers feel they have been inconvenienced in any way, they are likely to take their business to a competitor, resulting in loss of sales and custom. Consumers, more specifically, may vent their anger on social media platforms which may further damage your business reputation. In the age of ‘single-tweet public relation crises’, the best defence is proactively addressing issues before they hit. In the worst case, national water shortages leading to closures across your portfolio could result in organisational failure. Consumers, stakeholders and governments are putting increasing pressure on businesses to take positive environmental action. After all, 33% of consumers now make purchasing decisions based on whether they believe the brand is doing social or environmental good. By not taking proactive, concerted action on water, leading to loss of supply, mains bursts and site closures, reputational damage could be exacerbated.

4. HIGH BUSINESS CONTINUITY COSTS In the event of loss of supply, or intermittent supply, ensuring business continuity is key. Though often, arranging provisions at a time of need can not only be time consuming (where time is certainly of the essence), but can also come at a huge cost. In these instances, you may need to arrange: • Bulk water tankering • Emergency and wholesale bottled drinking water • Chemical toilets

It’s important to know how much water each of your sites need to run each day. Supplying the wrong amount could further jeopardise business continuity – too little and you’re back to square one.

5. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Soon, water access will be regarded as a competitive advantage as more and more UK regions are classified as ‘seriously’ water stressed by the Environment Agency. This may force you to consider the location of your sites, potentially relocating where possible. At a minimum, the significance of regional water scarcity means businesses like yours must now prioritise: 1. Securing site water supply: avoid loss of/intermittent water supply 2. Reducing site consumption: ensure own water use isn’t compromising the community’s water resources

GETTING IN THE FLOW Businesses are starting to become more aware of the risks related to water. Some 75% of businesses surveyed by CDP say they are exposed to substantive water risks, up from 70% in 2015. Despite almost a doubling of the number of companies setting targets to reduce water withdrawals from 2015 to 2018, there has also been an almost 50% rise in the number of corporates reporting higher water withdrawals. More can be done to deliver a secure water future. Getting proactive on water, securing your supply and reducing your consumption will not only have a vast impact on your bottom line, contributing to a resilient cash flow, but also reduce the water risks your business is exposed to. With better water management, businesses can have a substantial positive impact on our environment. It’s time to make water work. In three simple steps, you can get proactive on water, take action, reduce risk and make significant commercial and environmental progress: • Step 1: Visibility – The first step is understanding your water usage. How much you use. Where. And when. • Step 2: Efficiency – Time to take action. Solving problems, achieving efficiency and saving costs. Set targets and develop plans for hitting them. • Step 3: Resilience – Create your own unique water management strategy. So, whatever happens, your business is water secure. Email: info@waterscan.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

WATER MANAGEMENT

WHAT IS WATER NEUTRALITY?

ater stress and scarcity. It truly is a global issue and one that is already affecting millions of people all over the world, with every continent impacted in some way by the crisis. Over the last 100 years, water usage and consumption has been growing globally at over twice the rate of population increase, UN Water figures show - and an increasing number of regions around the world are now approaching the limit at which water resources can be delivered in a sustainable way… particularly in arid places. The issue is a complex one and there are different sources of pressure affecting water availability, everything from population growth and increased urbanisation to climate change, extreme weather events, water mismanagement and ageing infrastructure. Each region has its own water-related issues to deal with, as well, which means there is no one size fits all approach to solving this particular climate emergency… and collaborative efforts will be required in order to address the situation effectively, with governments, non-government organisations, businesses, non-profits and individuals alike all having to come together to reduce their own water footprints now and well into the future.

WHAT IS WATER NEUTRALITY? One strategy that could prove highly effective is the concept of water neutrality, a relatively new idea very similar to the concept of carbon neutrality, where any CO2 released into the atmosphere is balanced by an equivalent amount being removed. Going water neutral means that the water footprint of any and all activities are reduced as far as is practicably possible, with the negative externalities of the remainder then offset. In some instances, it will be possible to go completely water neutral, such as by using water recycling and producing zero waste. In this case, the existing water footprint would be entirely negated. However, there are some activities where this would be impossible, such as in agriculture where water usage and consumption is essential. Under these circumstances, water usage cannot be brought to zero, but water neutrality can still be achieved by ensuring that the negative socioeconomic and environmental externalities are reduced as far as is possible, with any remaining impacts

then fully compensated for by investing in sustainable water usage.

WHAT COULD BUSINESSES ACHIEVE? It’s likely that big corporations and larger businesses will be expected to account for their water footprints in the future, being transparent about the total volumes used either directly or indirectly to run operations. In order to do this, you would need to review direct water usage (that used for manufacturing or other supporting activities), as well as indirect water usage (that used across your entire supply chain). Once you have a greater understanding of your water consumption habits, you can then take steps to reduce the amount you use and find more sustainable alternatives where appropriate. For example, you could take more responsibility for reducing operational water usage by only using the very best technology available, or using your influence over your suppliers to encourage them to reduce their own operational consumption. Failing that, you could even consider switching to different suppliers if they have a smaller water footprint. Product design and manufacture is another area where businesses could focus their attention in order to become water neutral, so that less water is used over the entire lifecycle of a product, and/or less water is polluted. And don’t forget to prioritise your residual water footprint, either, the amount of water remaining after you’ve done as much as you can to reduce your operational water footprint. This means making reasonable investments in either supporting or establishing projects that aim to deliver sustainable, efficient and equitable use of water in the catchment where your residual water footprint is located.

WHICH BRANDS ARE GOING WATER NEUTRAL? If water neutrality is a long-term sustainable goal for your business, you’ll find yourself in excellent company, with some big-name brands also making similar pledges in recent months.

MICROSOFT The big tech company announced back in September 2020 that it would restore

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2022

more water than it consumes on a global basis come the year 2030. It will achieve this in two ways - by reducing water usage intensity and replenishing water in the water-stressed regions in which it operates.

FACEBOOK Social media platform Facebook pledged last year that it would be water positive by 2030, with more water restored than is consumed. It has been investing in water restoration projects in high water stress watersheds where it operates, shoring up resources at basin level to address water stress and scarcity, as well as modernising irrigation systems, improving water quality and providing access to water for people.

GOOGLE Google has set itself a water stewardship target to replenish more water than is consumed by 2030, supporting water security in communities where it operates. This means the company will replenish 120 per cent of the water consumed on average across its offices and data centres. It has three main areas of focus: enhancing resource management and stewardship across office campuses and data centres, replenishing water use and improving watershed health and ecosystems in water-stressed areas. It will also share technology and tools to help predict, prevent and recover from water stress.

BP BP has set itself the goal of becoming water positive by 2035, achieving this by being more water efficient in operational freshwater use and effluent management, as well as collaborating with others to replenish resources in its stressed and scarce catchment areas. Based on analysis using the World Resources Institute Aqueduct Global Water Risk Atlas, four out of 24 of its major operating sites were in regions facing high or extremely high water stress in 2020, while an additional four were in areas of medium to high water stress. Do you want to take similar action and try to reduce your own water footprint? Get in touch with the SwitchWaterSupplier.com team today to see what can be achieved.

WATER LEAK REPAIRS

AT H2O, WE BELIEVE IN PERFORMING QUALITY WATER LEAK REPAIRS THAT WILL LAST.

THE WATER AUDIT EXPERTS

If we detect a water leak1 on your premises, we will advise you of the most cost effective, least intrusive way to carry out a full, lasting repair – not a patch up job which will only lead to more disruption and expense further down the line. What is more, we will check to make sure your entire premises is watertight, and even seek a refund for any waste water costs incurred due to a leak.

Water leaks can cost your business

and are often difficult to deal with. An underground leak2, for example, will require very precise detection, followed by an excavation to get to the leak before a repair can be carried out.

LEAK REPAIR EXPERTS With more than 30 years’ experience3 in water engineering services at our disposal, H2O can offer more expertise in water leak detection and repair than most of our competitors can claim.

THE WATER LEAK REPAIR PROCESS Prior to carrying out an investigation into a suspected water leak, we will usually conduct a water audit, starting with a full analysis of water bills over the past 12 months or more. By looking for spikes in water usage and waste water management charges, we will usually be able to tell if there is a leak at the property, and if so, how severe it is. Subject to the client’s approval, we will then carry out leak detection across your entire site to locate all water leaks that could be costing your business money. Upon completion, we will send you a report of the findings along with costs for repair. In most instances, we will quantify the water losses and report the monetary value. Should you wish us to carry out the work, we will happily excavate, repair faulty pipe work and reinstate all surfaces that have been disturbed.

We pride ourselves on leaving your site looking untouched!

AFTERCARE H2O is proud to bring a unique aftercare service to the water industry. With Automated Meter Reading (AMR)4, a new water monitoring technology, we can track hourly the water consumption of your business. If there is a significant increase in consumption,

an alarm will be triggered at our control centre,

which we can pass directly onto you for action, and arrange repairs if required.

The technology can be installed easily on your site and will be completely owned by you, lasting 10 years before it needs to be replaced. We simply offer you our expert knowledge for installation and monitoring.

If you’re looking for

that the water leak repair process will be handled quickly, cleanly and with top professional quality, then we are the specialists for you.

Watch the Video here! 1. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/waterleak-detection/ 2. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/underground-waterleak-detection/ 3. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/about-us/ 4. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/amr/

Call our specialist water leak repair team now on 0845 658 0948 and start saving. Alternatively, you can email us at info@h2obuildingservices.co.uk

Be future positive

Many businesses and organisations are looking to the future. And how to power that future sustainably. At Drax, we have a range of unique products and services to help you meet both your commercial goals and your sustainability goals. Because we believe in a future where reducing carbon emissions and managing costs isn’t an ‘either or’, but a ‘both’. Discover the power of a great partnership.

Search ‘Drax. Be future positive’