Energy Manager Jan/Feb 2023

HAMWORTHY HEATING RELEASES NEW TYNEHAM HEAT PUMP BROCHURE

Hamworthy Heating, a trusted British manufacturer and supplier of commercial heating and hot water products, has released a new Tyneham Heat Pump brochure, which highlights its latest monobloc air source heat pump offering, developed to meet the market demand for energy-efficient heating products.

The new Tyneham heat pump range is the latest product offering from Hamworthy Heating. One of the lightest commercial heat pumps on the market, the range features a coefficient (COP) rating of up to 4.85 to provide efficient, low-carbon heating. Featuring seven models in the range with six nominal outputs of between 14 to 70kW, the Tyneham can be cascaded to achieve higher outputs in larger installations. Incorporating an inverter controller compressor to accurately match the heat demand, Tyneham heat pumps also use R32 refrigerant to deliver increased efficiencies with a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP).

Split into concise and comprehensive sections, the new 32-page Tyneham heat pump brochure starts with an introduction to heat pumps and the role they play in

helping to reach the UK’s net zero goal. Featuring clear information on how heat pumps work and their benefits, the new brochure also takes an in-depth look at how to understand refrigerants, highlighting GWP differences.

The new Tyneham heat pump brochure provides an in-depth look at the key benefits of each individual model in the range. Distinct icons highlight each model’s ErP rating, coefficient of performance (COP), weights and dimensions, whilst easy-to-read detailed technical information is displayed in chart format. In addition, each model in the range is accompanied by minimum installation clearances and a list of suitable accessories and options available.

For those seeking a hybrid system, the new Tyneham Heat Pump brochure also high-lights how the latest range of monobloc air source heat pumps can be combined with the Hamworthy Heating range of modular gas boilers. This option enables customers to match heat demand in the most effective and energy-efficient way.

To highlight the efficiencies of heat

pumps, the brochure also features a dedicated section on the COP and explains how to calculate the ratio of heat produced, relative to each unit of electricity consumed in heat pumps. To demonstrate this, it also offers a series of comprehensive graphs to help assist with product selection.

The new Tyneham Heat Pump brochure can be downloaded from www. hamworthy-heating.com/Products/Heatpumps/Tyneham-air-source-heat-pump

For more information, please contact Hamworthy Heating on 01202 662 552 or by email at sales@hamworthy-heating.com

98% of global companies making progress toward stated decarbonisation targets

ENGIE Impact’s 2023 Net Zero Report assesses current corporate response to climate change, identifies 12 major roadblocks to decarbonisation and six key actions to accelerate progress to Net Zero ENGIE Impact, a leader in sustainability transformation solutions, has announced the release of its 2023 Net Zero Report. Titled “Six Actions to Accelerate Decarbonization,” the third annual report delves into corporate transformation readiness, challenges to implementation and the major decarbonisation roadblocks companies must overcome to reach Net Zero. Along with a summary of progress achieved, the report provides insights and strategies to accelerate decarbonisation and increase return on investments by implementing an actionable roadmap.

ENGIE Impact’s study involved more than 500 senior executives from the world’s largest companies, each employing more than 10,000 people. Nearly twothirds (62%) of those surveyed this year said they have now made some form of public commitment or target to address

carbon emissions reduction within their organisation. While this rising percentage represents progress, only 12% rate their sustainability efforts as “extremely successful,” and 75% say they have already achieved the “quick wins” in their decarbonisation plan. Success will require more investment, strong leadership and sustained effort and commitment to reach decarbonisation goals in time.

“Our research reveals signs of progress from corporations around the world, but the process must accelerate, and we’ve learned there are challenges along the way that many leaders don’t anticipate at the beginning of this journey,” said Mathias Lelievre, CEO ENGIE Impact. “Our report identifies the most common barriers to overcome and strategic actions to clear those roadblocks and accelerate decarbonisation.”

As a result of the collective experience of the 505 organisational leaders surveyed – and the combined expertise of ENGIE Impact’s global cadre of decarbonisation experts who support more than 1,000

of the world’s largest companies across multiple sectors, industries and regions – the report summarises six key actions companies and executives can implement in order to understand the gaps to Net Zero targets, overcome barriers to implementation and accelerate decarbonisation within their organisation.

The six actions include:

• Maintain long-term focus and belief

• Establish governance and accountability

• Close the implementation expectation gap

• Increase executive accountability

• Activate the right decarbonisation enablers

• Collaborate with the supply chains to address Scope 3 emissions

To read the complete ENGIE Impact 2023 Net Zero Report, please visit: https://view.engieimpact.com/2023net-zero-report/.

LEADING THE WORLD IN LIGHTING EFFICIENCY LIGHTENS THE LOAD ON ENERGY BILLS

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Households and businesses across Great Britain could cut their energy use and save money on bills by having some of the most efficient lighting in the world under new government proposals.

The new proposals will ensure that lighting in domestic and nondomestic buildings in England, Scotland and Wales meets minimum energy performance standards that are higher than regulations currently in place in either the US or the EU.

Introducing higher standards for lighting products will see only the most energy efficient light bulbs, such as ones powered by low energy-use LEDs, available in shops, making it easier for consumers to replace old bulbs with ones that use less energy while still providing the same levels of lighting performance.

With new bulbs being cheaper to run, replacing a household’s halogen bulbs with LEDs consumers can expect savings of around £2,000£3,000 over the lifetime of the bulbs, depending on the size of the home.

Business and Energy Minister Lord Callanan said: “Putin’s warmongering in Ukraine means everyone is feeling the effect of higher energy bills this winter, but these new standards can help lighten the load by ensuring British homes and businesses are lit as efficiently as possible.

“As we’ve shown in the government’s energy saving campaign, small changes, like switching to more efficient light bulbs, can add up to big savings.

“By going further with these regulations

than either the US or EU, British homes, factories and offices will have some of the cheapest and greenest lighting in the world, helping keep down bills and reducing energy usage.”

Global innovation in lighting technology in recent years has made it possible to achieve greater energy savings and the proposed new minimum energy performance standard reflect what is already technologically and reasonably achievable for lighting products.

As of March 2022, half of product models on the GB market already met this standard, but with lighting accounting for a significant portion of electricity use in buildings, the proposed regulations could result in 1.7 million tonnes of carbon savings by 2050, the equivalent of a year’s worth of carbon emissions from 2.5 mil-lion UK households.

If adopted, the proposals in the government consultation being launched today would come into force in late 2023, with further increased minimum standards introduced from September 2027.

Stew Horne, head of policy at Energy Saving Trust said: “Energy Saving Trust welcomes the government’s proposals to improve lighting performance standards, which would directly benefit households and businesses by saving energy and reducing bills. We look forward to helping shape these standards as part of the transition to decarbonisation”.

Making homes and businesses more energy efficient and so bringing down fuel bills is part of the Government’s wider long-term commitment, announced as part of the Autumn Statement, to

£2,000

reduce the UK’s final energy consumption from buildings and industry by 15% by 2030 against 2021 levels.

Improving the energy efficiency of homes is the best long-term method of cutting household energy use and bringing down bills. That is why the government is accelerating the pace of upgrading the energy efficiency of housing with £6 billion of funding committed to 2028 in addition to £6.6bn in this parliament.

A further £4 billion has been committed through ECO4 scheme, which is delivering home insulation measures to low income and more vulnerable households, and the £1 billion ECO+ scheme, which will in-stall measures in households who have previously not been able to access support through the Energy Company Obligation scheme.

The government has also launched the £18 million ‘It All Adds Up’ energy saving campaign to raise public awareness of straightforward actions that people can take to cut their bills by bringing down the amount of energy needed to keep their homes warm and stay safe this winter.

This comes in addition to an unprecedented package of government support that is helping households meet their energy costs this winter, including the Energy Price Guarantee, saving a typical household over £900, the Energy Bills Support Scheme providing a £400 discount to millions and the most vulnerable receiving £1,200 each this year.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Newsdesk newsdesk@beis.gov.uk

UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK ENERGY AND NET ZERO ROADMAP HELPS REDUCE KW/H

programme for manufacturing SMEs. We recognise that companies need help and assistance in reducing their energy consumption and not just reducing the price they pay per KWh.

“Our team are dedicated to helping manufacturing businesses save energy and increase profitability. This not only helps to preserve our rich manufacturing base but helps companies and the UK move toward net zero targets.

In response to the current energy crisis, WMG, at the University of Warwick, specialising in driving innovation in science, technology and engineering, has assembled a team of engineers and business specialists dedicated to helping SMEs. The work they will deliver through BEAT, involves a thorough review of SMEs manufacturing energy consumption, including looking at their operational efficiency to provide a detailed assessment with a set of energy saving recommendations.

According to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, the UK private sector comprises largely of non-employing businesses and small employers. SMEs account for 99.9% of the business population (5.6 million businesses). Therefore, improving energy efficiency has an important role to play in delivering affordable, sustainable and secure energy for the UK.

WMG, ran a successful pilot programme in October 2022, working with three companies who have already yielded great success, with energy savings of up to 90% on individual machines and up to 46% in the overall production facility. Results show that there has been considerable cost savings for the companies that has also helped them to kick start their journey to net zero.

One of these pilot companies is Alucast who have made the following • 19,971 kgCO2 = 19.9 tonnes. This is the equivalent of driving 65,670 miles in an average car. (First 2 years). 19.9 tonnes CO2 = Driving around the world in a diesel car 2.86 times.

In addition to energy saving recommendations, BEAT will also advise on what the likely return on energy saving infrastructure investments would be and where companies can look to for further help with investment.

The programme uses proven tools and techniques such as a combination of monitoring equipment including energy clamps which enable detailed analysis of the energy used by individual machines, and value stream maps to illustrate beneficial saving.

For example, it could be as simple as energy saving advice or it could be as complicated as a full data gathering audit for how a company is using energy in processes. For high energy using companies (e.g. foundries, heat treatment etc.) the WMG team can offer advice on how to use waste heat at a low cost to lessen energy costs.

Christopher Wells, project lead, at WMG, University of Warwick said, “The Energy and Net Zero Roadmap - Business Energy Aid Toolkit, is a value-based

“Furthermore, we’ve always been at the forefront of helping manufacturers maximise the use of innovation. That is why we are working with companies to maximise the use of innovative techniques in areas such as the field of heat recovery, taking a more transformative step such as introducing new or replacement technologies or business practices. This has never been more important than in the case of energy usage reduction.”

Tony Sartorius, Chairman of Alucast said, “In the current energy crisis, the Business Energy Aid Toolkit (BEAT) has been beneficial to Alucast, as we are a high energy user with three aluminium foundries.

“We began by selecting several machines to assess and managed their uptime more effectively to ensure energy is only used when actually processing parts only. This effectively eliminated idle time energy use and created substantial CO2 reductions around 10 tonnes per annum, whilst at the same time reducing KWhs used.

“The team of WMG engineers have helped the company reduce our energy usage, lower carbon emissions, and save waste. We have also had the opportunity to exchange best practice at several roundtables and visit other factories to assess where energy savings could be made.”

For further information: Simmie.korotane@warwick.ac.uk

WMG, at the University of Warwick, has launched an Energy and Net Zero Roadmap called Business Energy Aid Toolkit (BEAT), to help manufacturing small, medium enterprise (SME) companies reduce their energy consumption, save on costs and increase profitability. The programme has already proven a success, with business energy savings of up to 90%.

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FIRST SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS ANNOUNCED UNDER THE GREEN HEAT NETWORK FUND

Heat networks across the country attract investment under the Government’s new Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF), as final awards are also made under its predecessor the Heat Network Investment Project (HNIP). £30 million of funding has been offered to Councils in Wigan, Peterborough and Hull to support local decarbonisation targets.

Ken Hunnisett, Programme Director for Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management said: “Such has been the pace at which the Green Heat Network Fund has launched that we are still announcing the late-stage successes of its predecessor, the Heat Network Investment Project. The new network at the heart of the redeveloped Galleries Shopping Centre in Wigan will be delivering low carbon heat to retail, leisure, and residential premises within the next 3 years.”

Building on the success of the HNIP and responding to the UK’s commitment to net zero, the GHNF officially opened for applications in March 2022. The £288 million fund continues to provide targeted financial support for commercialisation and construction of heat network projects in England with a key focus on deployment.

On the announcement of the first GHNF supported projects, Ken Hunnisett said “It will be such a pleasure to work with the teams in Hull and Peterborough to deliver these fantastic, real-world, clean energy infrastructure projects that will generate local jobs and provide heat to local communities.”

The Minister for Energy Lord Callanan added: “I’m delighted to see the first batch of funding awards from the Green Heat Network Fund going out to these ground-breaking projects that will move homes and businesses away from fossil fuels and soaring energy bills.

“It is vital, given that heating in buildings forms a significant part of the UK’s carbon footprint, that we invest in cuttingedge technologies like heat networks, which are an effective way of reducing carbon emissions and energy costs.”

The following Council’s have been awarded funding:

Hull City Council – £1 million commercialisation and £12 million construction funding from GHNF for the development of a heat network at the heart of the City’s decarbonisation plan.

Peterborough City Council – over £14 million of GHNF support for the development of a smart energy network which includes intelligent digital platforms to manage

and improve energy consumption.

Wigan Council – £2.6 million HNIP funding to support the construction of a new heat network utilising ground source heat pump technology which is part of a wider £190 million regeneration project.

By utilising targeted government funding such as the HNIP and GHNF, local authorities are empowered to deliver long-term, sustained emissions reductions for local areas and contribute to a greener economy.

Following the announcement today, the UK Infrastructure Bank has offered to provide further investment to ensure these innovative low-carbon solutions can go above and beyond to deliver sustainable heat networks.

John Flint, CEO of the UK Infrastructure Bank said: “Helping Local Authorities unlock access to finance for heat networks will be crucial. The Bank is well placed to play a significant role in supporting the development of heat networks and we are pleased to be taking the next step through our new partnership with BEIS in fulfilment of this ambition.”

Below is a summary of the schemes to be awarded funding

WIGAN COUNCIL

Wigan Council secured £2.6 million from the final round of the HNIP, marking it as one of the final projects to benefit from the funding scheme before it officially closed earlier this year. The funding will support the development of a heat network which is part of a wider £190 million regeneration project which will entail the demolition and redevelopment of the current Galleries Shopping Centre and Market Hall Buildings in the heart of Wigan Town Centre, providing residents with a vibrant, attractive, and accessible place to live and visit.

These new developments will be underpinned by low-carbon ambient heating loops made possible by the HNIP grant and are replacing current outdated and energy consuming systems.

Councillor David Molyneux MBE, the leader of Wigan Council, welcomed the news, commenting: “In July 2019, Wigan Council launched its Climate Change strategy, demonstrating our commitment to building a greener and more sustainable borough. The Galleries redevelopment has been designed with these principles at its heart and this funding will help us to realise these ambitions while reducing the environmental impact.”

HULL CITY COUNCIL

In the North East, Hull City Council has been awarded £1 million commercialisation

and £12 million construction funding for the development of a low carbon heat network. The network is a key component of Hull’s Carbon Neutral 2030 strategy and GHNF will help to kickstart the first phase of Hull’s city-wide heat decarbonisation plan. The investment will deliver an additional 22 GWh of electricity from Hull and East Riding domestic and commercial waste to 46 public and private sector customers.

Councillor Paul Drake-Davis also commented on the scheme, adding that investment will “supply low-cost heating to local residents and businesses –which will help people in this new era of higher energy bills,” acknowledging the importance of schemes like GHNF to help “make taxpayers’ money go further.”

PETERBOROUGH CITY COUNCIL

In the midlands, Peterborough’s Integrated Renewables Infrastructure (PIRI) has been awarded over £14 million for the development of a smart energy network which utilises intelligent digital platforms to manage and improve energy consumption.

Known as “energy as a service”, PIRI will be providing place-based infrastructure that utilises existing assets to improve energy consumption through renewable technologies whilst minimising disruption to local grids, supporting future growth.

Once the project is complete, it will transport renewable heat and electrical power from Peterborough’s Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) direct to the city’s buildings via a series of underground pipework and cables. The ERF creates its own energy with non-recyclable household waste being turned into electricity and heat using a combustion process.

Councillor Wayne Fitzgerald, leader of Peterborough City Council, said: “Peterborough is ready for a project of this size and thanks to this Government funding we will be well on the way to becoming one of the first carbon-zero cities of the future. It is yet another significant indicator of the confidence that the Government has in our city’s growth and its importance on the national stage.” www.tp-heatnetworks.org

A high-level summary of GHNF: www.gov.uk/government/publications/ green-heat-network-fund-ghnf Email: enquiries@tp-heatnetworks.org

GRID CAPACITY – THE BOTTLENECK ON NET ZERO?

The simplest way for any business to reach net zero is to replace carbon intensive energy sources with clean, renewable electricity. But what can you do if you suddenly find out there is not enough capacity on your local electricity grid to provide you with more power? We asked Suzanna Lashford, from Vattenfall IDNO

“It doesn’t matter what your business does, everyone needs more electricity to reach net zero. But, many businesses have taken the plunge, only to find their efforts thwarted by grid capacity constraints. Whether the power you need is for fleet of electric vehicles, electric heating or cooling, if you’re not generating your own clean, green electricity it must come through the grid.”

There are numerous potential roadblocks to getting more electricity to any site, they all start with the size of the business’ grid connection, from the local, low voltage (LV) network through to the high voltage (HV) distribution networks, which typically operate at 11, 33 or 132 kilovolts (kV). When you consider that much of the UKs electricity grid was built in the 1960s, and that the UK’s electrical demand is expected to double or even triple by 2050, our aging infrastructure is creating huge bottlenecks for companies net zero ambitions.

WHAT CAN BUSINESSES DO TO SECURE THE POWER THEY WILL NEED?

The first step is to understand your electrical power requirements and plan ahead. Lashford explains: “Most businesses’ existing grid connection will not be sufficient to deliver the power for net zero operations and that means one of two things: Securing a new, second grid connection, or upgrading the existing connection to provide more power. Either option will place additional load on the local electrical grid, which is where capacity issues can arise.”

In an effort to improve transparency, and make the data more accessible,

some DNOs like UK Power Networks and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks now publish ‘heat maps’ showing the areas in which their grids are constrained. But for most businesses this is little help; relocating factories or other business operations is rarely a viable option. So, what can they do? Lashford again:

“If a business needs more power in an area with grid constraints they can apply to their local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and they are legally obliged to quote for the required works within 45 days. But, if major grid upgrades are required, the price the DNO quotes can often be prohibitively expensive. As an Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) we work closely with the DNOs, and can reserve grid capacity for free for our clients. So, if you know you will need more power in the future this can provide significant savings.

“We also build parts of the grid known as ‘contestable works’ (the parts of a network upgrade which don’t have to be managed by the DNO) and pay business owners or developers an ‘Asset Adoption Value’ payment for these, which is effectively ‘cash back’ that the DNOs cannot offer.”

The 14 DNOs that cover the UK have a double remit: maintaining and developing the grid to keep it running and providing new grid connections. Handling both of these requirements is complex challenge and, since keeping the grid running is so important, customers wanting new grid connections do not always receive the best service from their local DNO, which is why IDNOs were introduced.

“By partnering with an Independent Network Operator (IDNO) businesses get a power partner that is ‘on their side’ and has their interests at heart, whereas the DNOs are always balancing competing interests. We use a holistic approach to plan the most effective power upgrade strategy for a business and ensure that all existing on-site power is being utilised as efficiently as possible, so that our clients don’t over-pay for what they need. The DNOs don’t have the time or remit to work in the same way, they simply ask how much power you need and provide fixed quotes.”

BREAKING THE BOTTLENECK

IDNOs were introduced to increase competition in the connections market, to help alleviate the stress on the DNOs and to improve customer service. SP Energy Networks (one of the 14 DNOs) commented in their ED2 Business plan: “We want to ensure IDNOs are able to complete increasing aspects of the connections process themselves. Empowering third parties with greater autonomy in this process will speed up the process and provide customer benefit.”

Vattenfall IDNO have established themselves in the UK to help support customers that would like to feed more power into the grid, from renewable energy systems, and customers that need more power, accelerating the development of the UK’s electrical distribution networks.

In a report from March 2022, the BEAMA (the UK trade association for

Electrification is surging throughout the UK, but grid capacity limits threaten to slow down the transition to net zero.

manufacturers and providers of energy infrastructure technologies) stated that “the required investment in electricity distribution infrastructure is projected to total circa £330bn between 2020 and 2050. This implies an average investment of £11bn per year.”

IDNOs contribute to the costs of these network upgrades by investing their own funds to lay new cables, and build new substations, and will become increasingly important players in the transition to net zero by supporting the customer and helping to close the investment gap.

Vattenfall has approximately 1,000,000 business and household customers, over 132,000 km of electricity grids and invested more than £600 million in energy infrastructure in 2020 alone. As the largest owner and operator of regional electricity distribution grids in Sweden, which has been in business for more than 100 years, they have significant experience to draw on.

Some businesses, however, are still unsure about using IDNOs because the assume they will be more expensive. Lashford explains: “Ofgem regulates the amounts that IDNOs can charge customers via a ‘Relative Price Control’. This requires IDNO charges to be capped for all customers at a level consistent with the DNOs charges, so you can rest assured you’ll never be charged more by using an IDNO – in many cases we’re the cheaper option.”

With the electric revolution now in full swing, the backlog for new grid connections is increasing. Businesses which are serious about securing more power and meeting their carbon reduction targets would be wise to act now – and to speak with an IDNO – to secure the grid capacity they will need in an increasingly electrified future.

ABOUT VATTENFALL

Vattenfall is a European energy company with approximately 20,000 employees. For more than 100 years we have electrified industries, supplied energy to people’s homes and modernised our way of living through innovation and cooperation. We are determined to enable fossilfree living within one generation. To succeed we must become fossil free ourselves. But that’s not enough. We are looking beyond our own industry to see where we can really make a difference. Together with our partners, we are taking on the responsibility of finding new and sustainable ways to electrify transportation, industries and heating. vattenfall.com

THE GREAT ENERGY HUSTLE

Stuart Murphy, Founder & Developer, TPGen24

First the Exxon Mobil documentary and then the BBC’s Drax expose… it would seem we have all been victims of a great international energy hustle for decades. Private profiteers and politicians, either ignorant, uninterested or complicit, have shaped and manipulated our resources and consumption for too long. Now, with a major war raging in Europe, the hens have come home to roost.

But if you thought the age of misleading statements was over, you’d be wrong. Of the many current big claims and ideas to address the worrying gaps in our energy infrastructure, perhaps the most concerning (for me at least) is the notion it’s achievable by ramping up of wind and solar capacity.

While I am not saying other options aren’t being explored, these two intermittent renewables are being prioritised. You only have to look at the Government’s attitude, perfectly encapsulated by The Chancellor in his recent Autumn Statement, who has decided to put all the treasury eggs into offshore wind, carbon capture and Nuclear.

Needless to say there are many in the renewables sector who will have been bitterly disappointed with this outcome.

It’s a narrow and risky approach, especially against the context of climatic and meteorological change. Summer 2022 saw what would be described as a ‘wind drought’, a worrying indication of a global phenomenon known as ‘Global Stilling’. During this time, windattributed UK electricity was erratic, with the Base Load gaps propped up by gas and coal.

This situation, likely to get worse as wind speeds continue to drop, showed just how reliant we still are on the fossil fuels global Governments claim they want to eradicate. Importantly, it also highlights that you can increase the number of turbines as much as you want, but if the atmospheric conditions aren’t just right, you’re left with no generation and a gaping power hole.

Sadly, it’s a similar story with solar. Like it or not, we do not live in a country suited to solar generation. Beyond this inconvenient truth, the amount of space needed to reach any significant amount of electricity is ludicrous. Recently it was calculated that approximately 12% of UK land would need to be set aside for solar panels to produce a reasonable enough amount of renewable electricity to deliver a return. It’s simply unfeasible.

Here, it’s important to highlight that I am not anti-wind or solar, I just don’t think they are the silver bullets that many have promised to a public hungry for a solution yet lacking the knowledge to making an informed decision.

The Government’s other main ‘renewable’ card is nuclear and, whilst on

paper it’s a carbon neutral solution, in reality it comes with a number of negatives. Looking beyond the sticky issue of waste processing, which the Government is yet to come clean on (yet another ambiguous topic), the sheer financial and carbon costs of building power stations, as well as their relatively short shelf-life, needs to be define properly. Unfortunately, this information is not readily available or forthcoming.

In equal measure, I don’t think those involved in such projects are upfront enough about the timeframes for these facilities coming online. Sizewell C sounds great on paper, yet as we’ve seen with Hinkley Point C, these facilities can take up to 25-30 years to build (and that’s taking an optimistic stance).

It’s frustrating to say the least, given there’s absolutely no need to pull the wool over peoples’ eyes or mislead them. There’s a distinct ‘jobs for the boys’ approach about it, smacking of vested interest, financial or political gain.

As a tidal renewables developer, it’s a disappointing and worrying state of affairs, as the sector niche in which I operate has come up with practical and efficacious solutions to help support the energy mix. My own system has been designed to achieve 100% clean Base Load by manipulating our tidal ranges, of which the UK has some of the world’s best.

Of this latter point, this is no exaggeration. The Severn Estuary, North Wales, Liverpool and Morecambe Bay have ranges second only to Canada’s Bay of Fundy. Controlled correctly, they could produce more than enough energy to power our needs as, after all, water is nature’s battery. Whilst this seems to be relatively well known, my fellow developers and I are relegated to the poor relation status at policy level.

The latest indications from The Government don’t inspire confidence. In fact, it strikes me they’re pursuing the easiest course of action, which will lead to an even more damaging outcome. I fear we’re going to be fed more misinformation in the quest to win the battle, whilst a far greater war roars around them.

Perhaps some reflection over what promises to be a biting winter for everyone nationwide will encourage them to reconsider, particularly those coastal MPs who have so much to gain from tidal energy as a solution.

We have a number of MPs, LAs, and private investors keen to see the potential of tidal unlocked. However, whilst poorquality information, spurious claims around the emission levels and lack of forwardness around long-term consequences abound, it’s likely we’ll continue to be hustled into a superficially green future with a carbon-heavy underbelly. https://tidalpower24.com/

PAIN RELIEF FOR ENERGY BILLS

EM: For months now we’ve been hearing stories about organisations of all kinds struggling to cope with massive increases in energy bills, and this certainly doesn’t look as if it’s a problem that will go away anytime soon. We’ve also been subjected to what seems like an endless barrage of suggestions about ways of keeping energy costs under control. Do you have anything new to add?

JG: Maybe I do – but before I get to that, the first thing I want to say is that it would be wrong to dismiss that ‘endless barrage of suggestions’ out of hand. Many of them – installing extra insulation, changing to LED light bulbs and so on – make a lot of sense so they should be considered very carefully. I have to agree though that they’re hardly novel. Actually, my top tip for tackling energy issues is to go for a walk.

EM: Go for a walk?! In the hope that inspiration will strike while you’re away from your desk, I suppose, which doesn’t seem particularly proactive!

JG: That wasn’t quite what I had in mind. My idea is to go for a walk around your building out of hours – in the evening after everyone has gone home and at the weekend when the building is closed. How many lights have been left on? How many machines or items of office equipment are still running? You may have quite a surprise – unnecessary out-of-hours usage is still one of the most significant ways organisations waste energy. Usually it’s pretty easy to fix – time switches are very inexpensive!

EM: That’s great but not everyone wants to spend their evenings and weekends wandering round buildings looking for energy wastage. Is there another way?

JG: There is, and although it involves a modest amount of expenditure, it brings a lot of additional benefits. It’s to use a portable energy logger (PEL). You can hook up a PEL to any circuit in your building and leave it in place to record energy usage – and a lot more information – even when you’re not there. Actually, it will tell you much more than just which lights or which machines have been left on unnecessarily. It will tell you exactly where energy is being used in your organisation and when as well as providing information about things like harmonics, voltage imbalance and poor power factor that could be costing you a lot of money. Armed with this information, you’ll know exactly where savings are most likely to be possible.

EM: But many people have already carried out energy surveys with a PEL and put energy saving measures in place as a result. What do you say to them?

JG: I say they should do it again! OK, realistically, if they’ve used a PEL to carry out an energy survey in the last few weeks, there really isn’t much reason to do it again immediately but, if it’s been a few months, I strongly recommend repeating it. For one thing, as seasons change, so does energy usage. A survey carried out in the summer may not reveal problems that would be immediately apparent in a winter survey. That’s not all. Installations change as well. Additional equipment may have been added, or old equipment may have been disconnected resulting in an unbalanced load on a three-phase supply. Maybe new equipment is generating a lot of harmonics or has adversely affected the power factor. Maybe equipment has become defective

and is producing more harmonics than it should. None of these things is obvious without making measurements but all can make a big difference to the energy bill.

EM: Are you saying that energy surveys should be considered as routine operations that are repeated at regular intervals?

JG: That’s exactly what I’m saying. As I’ve already mentioned, a lot can change in a few months and a walk round the plant, though undoubtedly useful as a first step, can only tell you so much. Measurements will provide more complete information on which you can base sound decisions. Even if the measurements confirm that nothing much has changed, don’t forget that it could still be worthwhile reviewing those decisions because one thing that definitely has changed is the price of energy. That means energy-saving measures that looked uneconomic a few months ago may now be much more attractive and have a relatively short payback time.

EM: There’s definitely food for thought there. Do you have any closing words of advice?

JG: Only to keep on looking for opportunities to save energy and to reduce energy wastage. These are not do-it-onceand-forget tasks. Regular attention is the best way to relieve the pain of huge energy bills while doing your organisation and our planet a big favour. Also, it’s worth bearing in mind that information is power – quite literally in this instance – so investing in a PEL that will provide you with accurate and reliable information about your energy usage has to be money well spent.

www.chauvin-arnoux.co.uk

At the present time, there seems no end to energy price hikes but, just because you’re paying more per unit, that doesn’t mean your bills have to go up accordingly! The key is to cut your energy usage – and you’re probably very tired of hearing that. But don’t turn the page just yet. This interview with Julian Grant from Chauvin Arnoux UK, might just provide you with some fresh ideas.

FIVE WAYS TO CREATE A MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE

Investments in infrastructure are essential for boosting economic growth. Implementing sustainability initiatives through different areas of your infrastructure can make a big impact on carbon emissions reduction. Here are 5 ways you can make your infrastructure more sustainable and energy efficient.

Investments in infrastructure are essential for boosting economic growth. Implementing sustainability initiatives through different areas of your infrastructure can make a big impact on carbon emissions reduction.

A well-maintained infrastructure enables the transportation of goods and services, provision of access to work, schools, health care and recreational activities, connects communities and countries with markets, gives access to clean water, sanitation, and power and improves livelihoods and creates employment.

Changing behaviours towards energy reduction is vital in helping lower emissions, so it’s good to get a head start in increasing the adoption of energy efficiency technologies

across your infrastructure. Here are 5 ways to create a more energy efficient infrastructure:

1.

POWER YOUR CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY

Transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) is one of the most important actions in achieving carbon net zero, so charging infrastructure is vital. Factoring in and planning for your vehicle charging infrastructure before placing orders for your new electric vehicles is critical.

Whether you’re looking to own and operate a charging solution, enter into a revenue

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

share partnership with a supplier, or direct award for a replacement unit, our agreements offer the flexibility to suit your requirements.

2. CHOOSE GREENER ENERGY FOR YOUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT

In the UK, energy supply accounts for just over a fifth of UK emissions. Reducing this footprint is essential for meeting Carbon Net Zero targets.

Heating is a big challenge in the UK’s carbon net zero journey. In the UK, just under 80% of the energy used to heat buildings comes from natural gas. However, when burned, natural gas emits greenhouse gases and is not a viable path to net zero.

The demand for power to charge cleaner road transport and heating is increasing the need for the supply of clean, renewable power generation. As renewable energy sources’ penetration levels improve, they will continue to support new business models for low-carbon energy projects.

If you own, operate or are responsible for any buildings, you can change the energy you use, reduce any energy demand, or both. Green Tariffs can ensure that your energy links to a renewable energy asset.

3. REDUCE THE DEMAND FOR ENERGY IN REFURBISHED BUILDINGS

Refurbishing buildings to reduce the energy demand is a cost-effective solution to reducing carbon emissions. In lowering

energy demand, refurbishing buildings is a great way to reduce your Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and so is a valuable tool for all Government organisations regardless of reporting standards.

There are several options available to help reduce your operational carbon emissions. For example, LED lighting is an excellent alternative to traditional lighting as it’s much more energy efficient, producing less CO2. Additionally, sensors can prevent energy wastage by ensuring lighting is only used when needed.

4. BUILD A CLEANER ENERGY FUTURE WITH DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Technology innovation has a huge potential to help support the UK’s net zero transition. Digital transformation is an enabler of sustainability. It can help reduce environmental impacts by optimising resource use and reducing waste. It can increase energy efficiency, build a clean energy future, and make our economies circular by closing the loops of material and energy flows.

In line with the Government’s Cloud First policy, we support every step of your digital transformation journey. For example, our Crown Hosting agreement provides data centre colocation facilities for the public sector, delivering significant cost savings and sustainability measures. Through this agreement, carbon savings in the region of 99.9% are achieved from efficient hyperscale facilities and ‘Green Electricity’ compared to onsite infrastructure.

5. OPTIMISE ENERGY MANAGEMENT WITH DATA ANALYTICS

Understanding the environmental impact of your IT estate is the first step to making changes to reduce the demand that can lead to lower emissions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies can help optimise energy management. From baselining current emissions to tracking progress to carbon accounting and supply chain transparency, AI-powered data analytics provide insights and predictions about improving processes and becoming more fuel-efficient.

Further actions you can take include monitoring ongoing consumption, identifying heavy data users and departments that use more processing power, and actively managing IT usage. For instance, sensors can prevent energy waste by ensuring lighting is only used when needed. You can even model what impact different actions could have using other criteria and at what cost.

LEARN MORE

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) can help you meet your sustainability goals and increase value for money through greener procurement. Explore how we can support your net zero journey. Visit our Carbon Net Zero website www.crowncommercial.gov. uk/buy-and-supply/carbon-net-zero and download the CNZ Cityscape Guide: https://www.crowncommercial.gov. uk/digital_brochure/request/36383/ interactive-guide-helping-youreach-carbon-net-zero

INNOVATIVE ENERGY MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP GOVERNMENT CUT COSTS WITHOUT CUTTING SERVICES - ECOSYNC

THE CHALLENGE

The UK government has announced that energy bill support for businesses will be decreased after March 2023 to reduce the cost to the treasury. Instead of wholesale costs being capped, a new scheme will be introduced that offers a discount on wholesale prices. This leaves businesses and government departments exposed to higher costs and needing to find solutions to reduce their consumption. Can the government lead the way when it comes to managing energy use on its own estate?

The public sector estate is vast and includes not just offices, but also defence estate, courts and tribunals, prisons, hospitals, schools, job centres, port facilities and museums, encompassing every type of building occupancy from accommodation to catering and teaching spaces or offices. Many of these buildings are old and energy inefficient. At a time when all eyes are on the energy crisis, the government is conducting a review to inform the consolidation of their property portfolio, whether owned or occupied. The end purpose is to shrink the public sector estate’s size and optimise its use.

The total office space used by government is 2,712,000 m² operating at a cost of £1.5 billion according to the governments State of Estate report 201920. Reducing the energy consumption across these spaces presents a big opportunity for public sector savings and is critical if government organisations are to become more efficient with their utilities. This is their opportunity to show leadership by setting the example for the reduction of energy use and costs as well as the management of public money spend.

WHY ENERGY MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY IS ESSENTIAL

Energy management technology is dynamic, which means it can be adjusted to suit the needs of not only individual buildings, but specific rooms.

As the government consolidates its

property portfolio in 2023, public buildings are set to be shared or have multiple uses. Room-by-room control, as opposed to the central on/ off heating systems currently in use, is critical to ensure rooms are being heated to necessary requirements. This will provide significant energy savings and is therefore being referred to as the equivalent of changing bulbs to LED’s. At present up to 99% of commercial buildings are heating empty rooms, wasting money, energy and emitting unnecessary CO2 into our atmosphere. This practise must stop.

In addition to optimising energy use in each room, EcoSync’s dynamic energy management system can sub-meter usage, meaning that heating costs can easily be allocated to departments.

The solution is also a non-permanent change. EcoSync’s technology can be lifted and taken where needed – rather than being fixed to one specific building. So even if the building is not owned, property managers can still invest in energy management technology and save on their energy bills safe in the knowledge that they can take their investment with them if they move. The payback period for the technology is between 1-3 years, and therefore a viable option even when operating within a tight budget.

LEVERAGING NEW CLEAN TECHNOLOGY

In the UK, cleantech is growing at pace and is bringing solutions to the energy and climate crisis. The government must engage with these UK-based small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) using ‘innovation calls’ to explain the type of technology solutions they are searching for.

EcoSync, a start-up out of Oxford

University, has developed an affordable, easy-to-install dynamic energy management technology that only heats up rooms if they’re occupied by providing an innovative approach to occupancy tracking. It has already been proven to reduce energy cost and use by up to 50% in the public sector.

The technology intelligently adapts temperature controls according to a change in occupancy levels, driven by real time data collection. Building owner operators are given room-byroom level control, enabling them to build operational schedules in line with building usage. Additionally, its unique QR code gives occupants a degree of control as they can adjust the temperature within pre-determined parameters, to suit their comfort needs.

WHY THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO ACT

The Autumn Budget announced £28 billion in public spending cuts as the government tries to decrease the countries large deficit with many departments now allocated budgets far less than in 2010, despite inflation rates at record highs. At the same time, the government is also committed to reaching net zero by 2050. Public sector buildings account for 2% of total UK CO2 emissions, according to the National Audit Office.

This means saving costs and conserving energy are both mission critical.

While schools are currently protected from intended cuts, they are already suffering significantly because of the energy crisis, with price hikes of up to 587%, a report from Schools Week has shown. With over 21,500 state schools in the UK, there is real concern that reduced support from the government will leave many schools unable to heat their buildings and pay their energy bills or with no choice but to cut staff. Without adequate government support, some schools say they will be forced to turn down the heating and raise class sizes, and others are considering a three- or four-day week. This will have a huge impact on society as seen during the Covid crisis and will negatively affect the education sector as they grapple with the rising energy bills.

Without urgent action from the government, spiralling costs will inevitably lead to resource and staffing cuts across the public sector. The government needs to be more ambitious, using new technology and data-led strategies. Upgrading legacy central on/ off heating systems with dynamic energy management systems, is a quick win that can drive quick progress.

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO

This will require the government to follow their own advice, with stopping the heating of empty rooms listed as one of the best ways to reduce energy consumption in their recent public awareness campaign.

To do this, they will need to engage with innovative technology companies that have the solutions they need.

The Government Property Agency (GPA) is also committed to becoming a great place to work. The comfort of staff is crucial to enabling this, both from a heating point of view, which is why giving occupants some control over heating levels is so important, but also from a sustainability perspective with more and more of our workforce driven by environmental factors.

With the saving potential across UK’s commercial buildings as high as £1.8 billion a year, EcoSync’s innovative technology can help the government save a substantial amount of money on the running of public sector buildings at a time when budgets are tight and risks high.

It can also support the government may quick wins and quick progress on their net zero goals making it a no-brainer for early 2023 investment. www.tamarindo.global

FROM MINING COMMUNITY TO NET ZERO: STAFFORDSHIRE SCHOOL LEADS THE WAY

The Hart School in Rugeley has recently completed a new, highly-efficient development with sustainable experts, Net Zero Buildings. This huge investment for the local community offers additional capacity for the growing school, as it becomes a part of a net zero future.

As a result of the new building’s A+ energy efficiency rating, the school will save an estimated £30 per m2 per year. This will see an approximate saving of up to £11,500 on energy bills this winter.

PIONEERING CHANGE FROM MINING ROOTS

Less than two miles from Lea Hall Colliery, a disused mine that produced over one million tons of coal per year on several occasions between 1970 to 1980, The Hart School is leading Rugeley into a new era by committing to its net zero in operation expansion.

As a part of the Creative Education Trust, this development, which was completed in October 2022, is a part of a larger scheme to encourage net zero school buildings across the country.

“We’ve had net zero aspirations for a long time,” comments Jon Ward, director of estates and facilities, Creative Education Trust. “But when the local authority asked us to take on additional children at The Hart School, these aspirations became more urgent, as we needed to continue to provide an excellent and sustainable learning environment for the children of Rugeley.”

DEVELOPING NET ZERO

Net Zero Buildings designed a sustainable solution for the Trust to replace the existing 1960s single-storey building, which offered much-needed teaching spaces within the existing group of buildings.

The 385m2 project supports the school in handling increasing student numbers – with 147 more students starting in 2022 than three years ago. It includes a new teaching block, made up of five classrooms, as well as female, male and accessible toilets, which is connected to one of the school’s existing buildings, ensuring seamless transitions for staff and students between the old and new.

The new building uses a combination of sustainable technologies to reach an A+ energy efficiency rating:

Externally, design choices include a roof covered in photovoltaic (PV) panels and super-insulated timber-faced panels, which are extremely airtight for minimal heat loss.

Internally, the building uses mechanical heat recovery ventilation

and sensor-controlled low-energy lighting, while maximising natural daylight, to create a sustainable, yet comfortable, internal environment.

This combination of lean, green and clean technology results in a highly sustainable building, with an air permeability value of 1.73m3/(h.m2) at 50 Pa, which is much lower than the typical value of 5 for a building like this.

The Creative Education Trust chose Net Zero Buildings to deliver the Hart School extension, as it was able to deliver a highly-sustainable solution that reflected the school’s net zero carbon ambitions. This means in operation, the school will generate more electricity than it uses, reducing running costs and helping to offset its carbon – which is more important than ever, given the current economic climate.

A FLEXIBLE SOLUTION

The Trust chose to build using offsite solutions as it’s highly-sustainable, reducing carbon emissions, construction waste and energy consumption during the construction stage. Offsite also meant the new school building could be in operation up to nine months quicker than traditional construction methods. It also enabled a more costeffective build, with Net Zero buildings completing the project under budget.

The environment did present some challenges, with varying ground levels in the site’s southeast corner making installation difficult. To address this, Net Zero Buildings first levelled out slopes to ensure the extension could be installed with ease. It also adapted the building’s design to suit, as the varying levels meant the southeast corner wasn’t able to use photovoltaic panels for solar gain. As a result, Net Zero Buildings incorporated larger windows, which will account for any shading that may reduce the building’s natural sunlight.

For more information on how you could deliver sustainable solutions for the next generation of students and teachers, visit https://netzerobuildings.co.uk/ or call 01638 596 155

ENERGY EFFICIENCY –THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW!

Scott Parlett, Public Sector – Strategic Account Director, eEnergy

When the Governments Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) ends on the 31st of March, energy costs for most organisations will rise significantly. The new Energy Bill Discount Scheme (EBDS) looks to half the support provided by the EBRS with much of the focus on energy intensive organisations. This will mean all public sector organisations, who are already under severe financial pressure, will be under even more pressure from April.

The end of the EBRS also marks the end of the financial and carbon reporting period for 2022/23, meaning that organisations have just three months to meet carbon reduction targets, get new energy efficiency/carbon reduction projects implemented, and budget invested.

If your organisation hasn’t implemented your energy efficiency or carbon reduction projects or has a budget waiting to be allocated, all is not lost. There is still time to activate projects and invest in solutions that will reduce your energy bills and carbon footprint.

IS YOUR LIGHTING COSTING 65% MORE THAN IT SHOULD?

One solution that can immediately impact your energy consumption and carbon footprint is installing new LED lighting. Traditional lighting systems typically use 65% more energy than modern LED technology and updating these systems significantly improves energy efficiency. With lighting making up 40% of many organisations’ electricity consumption, improving efficiency by 65% will dramatically impact your electricity consumption.

In addition to cost-savings, the move to new LED lighting has several other benefits, including improved light quality, colour rendering and operating conditions, reduced maintenance time and costs, increased operational facility availability and even reduced accidents and health and safety issues.

One final benefit often overlooked when installing new LED lighting is the impact on other systems. As we head into the summer months, lighting demand will be reduced. However,

older, less efficient lighting generates unwanted heat in the summer, meaning air conditioning systems must work harder to maintain target temperatures. LED lighting does not generate unwanted heat, so the energy-intensive air conditioning systems don’t have to work so hard; hence, demand is reduced over the summer months.

If your organisation has already identified LED lighting as a project to be actioned before April, and you have a budget allocated, then there is still time to act. We can help you complete the project quickly and with the minimum disruption to business continuity. For those organisations without a budget allocated, but wanting to reduce their energy consumption, our ‘Lighting as a Service’ (LaaS) solution may be of interest.

DECARBONISING YOUR TRAVEL EMISSIONS AND CREATING A NEW REVENUE SOURCE.

The start of 2023 also marks the UK being one year closer to the ban on selling new petrol and diesel cars, which comes into force in 2030. Many organisations are already procuring Electric Vehicles for their fleet or company vehicles. However, this is only part of the story; new EV sales are soaring, and in 2022 over 267,000 were sold, which equates to 16.6% of the new car market.

Access to EV charging is always a key consideration when deciding whether

to switch to an electric vehicle. The lack of publicly available charging units is a significant challenge across the UK, but with all challenges, there is an opportunity too! Installing EV Charging units across your organisation will help you charge your electric fleet at a lower cost and open up a new revenue source.

The cost of managing and operating an EV charging infrastructure in the current energy market has its challenges. A key question for all public sector organisations is whether to install and run the units themselves or appoint a third-party operator. A key element in this decision-making process is the availability of a budget to invest in the solution.

We can help you address whether to install yourself or appoint a concession operator and remove the budget headache. Our EV charging solution, eCharge, allows you to rapidly deploy EV Charging without needing upfront investment. The flexible cloudbased system gives you complete transparency of charger utilisation and the control to set different tariffs for employees and the public.

To learn more about how eEnergy can help you become more energy efficient and unlock a new revenue stream, visit www.eenergy.com email tracey.fletcher@eenergy.com or call 02476 998 257 and speak to Tracey.

HOW A VIRTUAL ENERGY SYSTEM COULD HELP ORGANISATIONS REACH ENVIRONMENTAL TARGETS

The attempt to hunt for a climate deal that doesn’t weaken the ambition towards net zero intensifies as decisionmakers struggled to come to an overarching agreement during the recently held COP 27 conference.

From reducing costs to driving business growth, meeting net zero targets by 2050 will be vital for both people and the planet. We all know it is essential for organisations to act fast to adopt new sustainable innovations, but how can this be achieved? I believe the answer is, in part, through a Virtual Energy System (VirtualES).

MANAGING ENERGY

Services and industry account for over 30% of energy demand in Great Britain, with the average business energy consumption being between 15000 and 25000 kWh a year. It is therefore no surprise that reducing energy usage and creating a more efficient energy strategy is on the mind of a lot of businesses.

However, to create a coherent energy management and cost reduction strategy, decision-makers must understand the energy consumption of their organisation. At present, many companies are not clear about how and where they are using energy so delivering a tool that can help track this and also enable lower-cost energy provision, through effective grid management, would benefit organisations across Britain.

A DIGITAL VIEW OF THE ENERGY LANDSCAPE

As a response to the ongoing climate crisis, National Grid ESO has proposed the idea of creating a single virtual grid. The VirtualES would be a digital replica of Great Britain’s entire energy landscape. The ambitious project, which was unveiled during COP 26 in 2021, requires cross-industry collaboration, with energy

industry experts, stakeholders, and decision-makers, all working together to help bring this vision to life.

This ecosystem would be made up of digital twins, securely sharing information to drive energy innovation, advance sustainability progress, and support better outcomes for businesses, the environment, and society. All without the need to make expensive changes to the physical grid.

HOW WOULD IT WORK?

The energy grid is changing on an ongoing basis, and we must evolve with it. As we transition from using large power systems to a vastly greater number of smaller assets, as the role of renewables accelerates, the VirtualES could become a tool to manage change and assist in making optimal energy decisions.

The VirtualES would bring together existing and new digital twins from around the industry to create a shared tool for energy management. The more participants that share their energy data, the more the virtual system could improve simulation and forecasting abilities across the energy system. In return for sharing their data, as National Grid operators build a clearer picture of Britain’s grid, businesses would also benefit from lower-cost energy provision and more renewable power, accelerating progress towards national decarbonisation targets.

“WHAT IF” SCENARIOS

Digital twin technology is not new and has already been readily applied within the energy industry in Great Britain. But until now these have largely operated in isolation. The VirtualES aims to become the first shared programme that connects different digital twins across the energy industry to create a whole system view, based on replicas of physical world assets.

As well as delivering more effective grid management on a day-to-day basis, the VirtualES could also help society plan for the future by creating “what if?” scenarios within the virtual grid. By building digital replicas of potential future energy solutions and plugging these into the virtual grid, organisations would have the ability to emulate and monitor operational performance in real-time, in order to understand future scenarios. This removes the need for expensive physical trials and helps accelerate decision-making that would have previously taken months or even years. The VirtualES would be able to test, model, and create accurate forecasts, thus providing intelligence to help guide management decisions on a national scale, ensuring businesses make more environmentally friendly choices. In the long term, forecasting scenarios could even help business consumers see how they can reduce their daily energy use.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Now is the time for businesses to focus on reaching more efficient and environmentally friendly energy targets, and a singular virtual view of the energy system could help do just that. To achieve this goal National Grid ESO needs to work with businesses and energy stakeholders across Britain. By participating in the VirtualES, stakeholders would be investing in a shared asset that delivers Britain with the essential tools to plan for more efficient energy decisions and help the same organisations accelerate the path towards a net zero future.

For more information about the VirtualES please visit www. nationalgrideso.com/futureenergy/virtual-energy-system

Carolina Tortora, Head of Digital Transformation and Innovation Strategy at National Grid ESO

TEAM’S NEW YEAR ENERGY DIET IN FIVE STEPS

For businesses, the rising energy costs have become an inescapable truth that is forcing them to think seriously about energy consumption.

And it’s not only from a cost perspective. Pressure to reduce carbon emissions is also mounting.

So, like any new year diet, an energy reduction strategy needs to work for the long term and not just offer a fast, but short-lived drop.

To get off to the best start, the latest TEAM Energy blog encourages you to consider these five steps:

DON’T LET ESOS PHASE 3 SLIP THROUGH THE NET

If you are in scope for the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme the qualification date was 31 December 2022. This date must be included in your 12-month audit so it’s a good time to start your data gathering now. Whilst the ultimate compliance deadline of 5 December 2023 may seem far away, ESOS is not a quick tick list exercise, it’s worth building a plan now that considers securing resource and compiling hard to access data.

STAY AHEAD OF LEGISLATION CHANGES

The 1 April there will see two key changes come in that will affect the price of your energy and building certificates. Firstly, as part of Ofgem’s Targeted Charging Review, the TNUoS charging methodology will change. With this transmission reform around 90% of the charges will be changed from being based on an organisation’s Triad consumption to being charged on a fixed rate basis which is aligned to your available supply. Rates will be determined by bands, when these are published at the beginning of April, you may need to review your available capacity to keep the costs low.

Secondly, there will be a change to the Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) legislation. Currently, if you want to sell or let your commercial property, you will need to have a valid EPC before the property is placed on the market to inform prospective buyers or tenants about the building’s energy performance. You will need to be able to provide the EPC at the time of exchange of contracts by law.

From April 2023, landlords of all privately rented properties will need to have a valid EPC rating of E or above in accordance with the Minimum Energy

Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations. Check in on your current rating and take the time to make improvements to your buildings to avoid any problems with your tenancy agreements.

ARE ALL YOUR CERTIFICATES UP TO DATE?

Looking ahead over the next 12-months, are your Display Energy Certificates (DECs), Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and TM44 Air Conditioning Reports due for renewal? Get ahead of the game by planning your renewal.

You can also take advantage of your existing Recommendation Report that accompanies your energy certificates. It contains specific energy-saving measures that were identified as part of a site survey and great tips that can be a huge benefit to your building and therefore your business. Many of these recommendations will be very low cost to implement or free just by simply changing the behaviour of how you use energy in the building.

BUILD ENGAGEMENT AND CONDUCT RESEARCH

What better time of year to reach

out to everyone in the organisation to make them aware of how they can help get involved in your energy efficiency projects. Engage with the wider organisation and highlight the benefits of an energy reduction strategy through training sessions and create an energy awareness information pack to help with motivation, where possible allocate and share energy management and monitoring responsibilities.

Before starting any carbon reduction journey, it is important to understand what within your operations and infrastructure is responsible for your emissions. This can be challenging, especially for large, multi-site organisations with extensive supply chains. Start the year on a good foot by establishing what you need to include in your scope. Plan buildings and operational audits to gain an understanding of your Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions; conduct a staff survey to help benchmark emissions associated with hybrid working.

START YOUR NET ZERO JOURNEY

If you have been putting off making a meaningful start to a net zero and carbon reduction strategy, then now is a perfect time to make some changes.

When starting on this journey, it is important to take into consideration your organisation’s business objectives and if you have any sustainability or net zero based commitments in place already, this will help shape a timeline.

Work with the senior decision makers and determine appropriate and realistic targets for your organisation. Keep in mind that a successful carbon reduction plan must be unique to your business and come with commitment and support from the whole organisation. When better to make a fresh start and begin to foster a company-wide culture of sustainability and engage with staff.

Throughout the rest of the year, monitor how your energy-saving goals are delivering. Embrace some great reporting tools and communicate your achieved targets to your stakeholders and staff; this will boost motivation. www.teamenergy.com

The organisation’s 35-year history of collaborating with energy and sustainability professionals has led to the development of proven, scalable cloud-based solutions and service innovations for optimised reporting, cost recovery and compliance. www.teamenergy.com

CARBON EMISSIONS AND FUEL BILLS DRAMATICALLY CUT IN GROUND-BREAKING EQUANS HOUSING SCHEME

An innovative £9million project to make 190 Leeds homes warmer and greener has had dramatic results, with the properties now amongst the country’s most energy-efficient.

As part of the scheme – completed by energy and regeneration specialist Equans, in partnership with Leeds City Council - the flats in Holt Park have been fitted with a range of eco-technology to drive down carbon emissions and reduce energy bills for residents

The whole-house retrofit has seen the flats’ – 150 of which are council-owned –Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings drastically improved to an A-rating – a level achieved by just 0.2% of homes in England.

Despite recent price rises, residents of the properties can expect their bills to be cut by up to 70% – saving them as much as £1,600 per year1

To achieve these efficiency levels, new high-performance windows, doors and insulation have been installed alongside specially-designed ‘warm roofs’ - keeping the homes warmer for longer and reducing the energy needed to heat them.

Inefficient, carbon-intensive gas boilers have been replaced by environmentally-friendly air source heat pumps, controlled by smart thermostats.

Top-floor flats also have newly-fitted solar panels, allowing residents to generate their own free electricity, and LED lighting has been incorporated throughout – all of which contribute to carbon emissions now being -0.1 CO2ton per annum, compared to 2.8 CO2ton per annum previously.

The project received funding from the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) - introduced by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) - to improve the energy performance of social-rented homes – in turn reducing pollution and tackling fuel poverty. The Government aims to ensure the UK’s most fuel-poor homes are improved to achieve an EPC rating of C or above before 2030.

Susan Neale is one of the Holt Park residents to have work completed to her home. She said: “This winter I won’t be scared to have my heating on.

1 based on 2021’s energy usage and current energy prices.

“My home is completely different now – it’s warmer and quieter and I feel better knowing that I won’t be struggling or worrying as much about my bills. I hope more people get the chance to have the same work done.”

Steve Batty, Head of Sustainability at Equans, said: “This project has been vital in demonstrating what can be done to decarbonise the UK’s housing stock. It has really led the way when it comes to meeting the Government’s goals to upgrade fuel-poor, inefficient homes.

“At a time when many are worried about recent energy price hikes, we’re proud to be able to use our expertise to demonstrate how a ‘whole-house’ approach to retrofitting homes can deliver outstanding results.”

James Rogers, Director of Communities, Housing and Environment at Leeds City Council, said: “It is fantastic news that we have completed this project, which supports our ambition to deliver a range of significant environmental improvements for people living in 190 flats on the Holtdale estate.

“This will not only help us reduce carbon emissions and make the 190 homes on the Holtdale estate more energy efficient, it will also play a huge role in helping to cut energy costs for people in these homes by up to 70%. We know that unfortunately too many people suffer from fuel poverty in Leeds and it’s work like this that will help cut those costs and make real positive impact to people’s lives.”

The homes in Holt Park will continue to be monitored to inform the way ahead when it comes to reducing carbon emitted from the country’s housing stock.

To find out more visit equans.co.uk

SUPPORTING THE TRANSITION TO AN ELECTRIFIED NHS FLEET WITH MODERN BATTERY TECHNOLOGY

Donald,

The deadlines for the decarbonisation of the NHS are looming, and many Trusts feel that these will be difficult to achieve in the given timeframe. At the same time, the NHS has a staffing crisis, including strike action by some of our most valued workforce and record levels of vacancies. While Electric Vehicle (EV) charging may not seem immediately front-andcentre when looking at these issues, consideration of the infrastructure necessary to support EV, and the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) technology needed to support it, points to one area where energy management policies across this vast organisation can make a tangible difference both for sustainability and for a more motivated employee base.

Alongside ambitious overarching net zero targets, as detailed in “Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service”1, are targets specific to transport and travel – with zero-emission ambulances, and a shift to zero-emission vehicles for the rest of the fleet by 2032. It’s unsurprising that travel should be a major focus in the NHS decarbonisation strategy, given that approximately

1 https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/wpcontent/uploads/sites/51/2020/10/deliveringa-net-zero-national-health-service.pdf

3.5% – 9.5 billion miles – of all annual road travel in England is undertaken by patients, staff, and NHS suppliers.

Equally important, especially in the current political and economic climate, is the need for a motivated workforce. And the recent “Estates and Facilities Workforce Action Plan”2 includes some key pointers as to how to make this happen. Most pertinent

2 https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/ uploads/2022/06/B0292-NHS-estates-andfacilities-workforce-action-plan.pdf

when considering energy management is the need to “invest in what matters to our people”, recognising the benefits in investing in a Greener NHS, to engage employees and boost recruitment. The Action Plan specifically highlights a shift to Electric Vehicles (EV) to facilitate this, “Greening the NHS fleet, particularly ambulances, by transitioning to low, ultra-low and zero-emission vehicles was highlighted, along with the associated need for electric vehicle charging.”

As we move further into a new year, and into an even more difficult time for the NHS, Andrew

Senior Business Development Manager at Powerstar, offers an overview of two aspects of NHS policy, both highly relevant to energy managers.

While a shift to an electrified fleet makes clear sense – particularly as petrol, diesel and even hybrid vehicles are phased out – the infrastructure to enable this is complex and requires new energy management strategies to make it feasible. A key component of this is Battery Energy Storage (BESS), which is already helping NHS Trusts across the UK make the most of their on-site renewable energy generation, while maintaining the Uninterruptible Power (UPS) needed to ensure critical equipment continues to function in the event of disruption to power supplies.

On-site EV charging facilities are vital for the decarbonisation of the NHS fleet, but capacity issues can mean this is not feasible, where demand can far outstrip the total allowable capacity from the National Grid. While a rapid charger can take an EV from 20% to 80% charge in around half an hour, this is dependent upon a power supply that can support a sudden 50kW load, and the most modern highspeed chargers can require up to 350kW. An additional connection to the Grid may seem an option to address this problem but can be either prohibitively expensive – particularly for NHS Trusts where budgets are already under extreme pressure – have extremely long wait times or may even be denied by the Distribution Network Operator (DNO), making this option a non-starter. This is where BESS plays a pivotal role, acting as a buffer between the EV charger and the Grid. Here, electricity is stored as DC, rather than the usual AC supply – which is crucial since DC charging is far faster. Where NHS Estates already have on-site renewable power generation – largely solar – the capability of BESS to store energy as it is generated for use when required is a key component of effective EV charging. In its capacity as a buffer, the battery can both store energy generated on-site and also draw energy from the Grid at times when prices are lower. Since the chargers are connected directly to the battery, vehicles can be rapidly charged directly from this stored energy, without any impact on the Grid supply and without affecting the general, operational power redemands across the Estate.

Further benefits intrinsic to BESS technology make his solution ideal for the NHS. The capability to store energy means that Trusts can take advantage of new revenue streams, through engaging with grid balancing services and Demand Side Response (DSR). For one

Powerstar NHS client, this solution is facilitating up to £100,000 of additional income each year, alongside cost savings of £225,000 through deploying the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) capabilities of BESS technology over a traditional UPS system.

Where government funding, through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), offers significant sums of money – and NHS Trusts are key beneficiaries of this support – specifically to implement energy efficiency projects such as solar and BESS, it is unsurprising that the NHS is increasingly looking to battery energy storage, smart microgrid technology and further on-site renewable power generation to facilitate Net Zero strategies. As a vital component of EV charging infrastructure investment in BESS technology can help Trusts meet Net Zero targets, while signalling to staff who

ENERGY STORAGE

ENERGY STORAGE TRENDS AND IMPORTANT APPLICATION AREAS 2023

The expansion of storage capacity is one of the most important levers in the implementation and acceleration of the energy transition. Energy experts agreed on this even before the current energy crisis. The exploding energy prices as well as supply bottlenecks and the fear of blackouts have fuelled interest in storage applications even more. Even in areas of application where decision-makers were previously reluctant, it is now clear how quickly the investments will pay off. Battery storage expert BYD and EFT-Systems, official EU partner for BYD Battery-Box and C&I systems, summarize which application areas are currently particularly attractive and which storage functions offer important advantages. The specific examples come from the German market, but the trends also apply to many other regions.

OPTIMIZATION OF SELFCONSUMPTION AND ENERGY INDEPENDENCY

PV self-consumption optimization is one of the most relevant and attractive fields of application for battery storage. “With the expected cost reductions, investing in a PV battery storage system can be worthwhile for a large number of households if it can significantly increase the degree of selfconsumption,” confirms a recent BMWi report. Consumers have recognized this, which has led to strong growth in the residential market. In the course of the energy crisis, the advantages are becoming even clearer: the investment costs are amortized faster and at the same time, there is a growing desire for independence from the energy market and for stable energy costs and a secure energy supply, or at least for backup in the event of energy bottlenecks. Additionally, in the current situation, electric vehicles are by far most profitable, if you generate the electricity yourself and recharge the EV at home.

BUSINESSES RECOGNIZES THE POTENTIAL OF COMMERCIAL APPLICATION

According to the Agency for Renewable Energies, only 13.2 percent of the installed system capacity from renewable energies was in the area of commercial operators in 2021. Even if commercial decision-makers have been rather cautious so far, interest has increased significantly in recent months, as more and more decisionmakers recognize the high potential for savings and decarbonisation. In addition to self-consumption optimization, commercial storage can be used to stabilize the power required from the grid and thus avoid peak loads, or to provide emergency power in the event of a grid failure.

PEAK-SHAVING FOR PRICE SPIKES

A commercial electricity bill consists of energy-related and performancerelated costs. The costs for the service refer to the maximum service in the

billing period. This means that a brief power peak can already cause high costs for the entire year. The service prices can also depend high-load and low-load time windows. With price-peak avoidance or peak shaving in the highload time window, commercial storage is used precisely in these high-load time windows. At a wholesale store in Borna, Germany, for example, the 260 kWh BYD Battery-Box Commercial C130 commercial storage system, which is coupled to a 200 kVA PV system, is used for a few hours a day to reduce the commercial customer’s electricity bill. In the high-load time window, the storage system manages to reduce the power drawn by around 70 kW. With a performance price of ca. 170 €/kW, this leads to high annual cost savings.

DEMAND PEAK SHAVING

Peak shaving can also be economically interesting without a highload time windows. If the power price is above 100 €/kW, this option should always be checked. If there are sharp peak loads or load profiles that can be planned, the installation of a commercial storage system can be economically interesting and help to reduce the high cost-pressure. Some companies have the option of coordinating and thus reducing the power requirement on the consumption side, for example by using an energy management system (EMS). This option does not exist for others, since the processes specify the performance requirements.

LOAD MANAGEMENT AND EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE

The performance of the energy network is limited. Due to the conversion of the energy system to renewable resources and towards a more electricity-based energy system, the demand is increasing. This results in costs and in some cases, it is not possible or sensible to adapt the power of the network to the ad-hoc demand. Especially infrastructure projects for EV and charging on company premises can massively increase the required connected load.

Hotels and car dealerships are often

confronted with this problem. Customer and corporate expectations call for the rapid installation of charging stations. During the planning, it often turns out that the permissible connected load at the transformer station cannot be further increased. Load management for the charging infrastructure can then regulate the charging park in a targeted manner.

To avoid times in which charging is not possible, a commercial storage system can help. This can be charged with low power over a long period of time and, if an e-vehicle needs to be charged, it can be supplied with high power.

HIGH SAVINGS POTENTIAL IN AGRICULTURE APPLICATIONS

Problems caused in the agricultural sector are often forgotten when considering the current development of energy prices. Operating agricultural machinery and caring for livestock is energy intensive. A dairy cow needs to be warm and milked regularly in the mornings and evenings, causing peaks in the load profile during these times. A study by the HTW Berlin was able to show that there is great potential for savings in the agricultural sector in particular by operating a self-consumption storage system connected to a pv system.

ESSENTIAL STORAGE FEATURES FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS

A high degree of flexibility in use is expected from commercial storage systems even more than in the residential sector. The storage system is only one component in the energy system of the future and must be able to be flexibly adapted to it.

• Peak shaving applications require rapid performance and high C rates.

• Open and flexible: The commercial storage system must also be able to communicate easily with the other components in the energy system – as independently as possible of the manufacturer and as flexibly as possible.

• EMS integration: The sector coupling of electricity, heat and mobility requires cross-plant communication. The integration into various energy management systems will therefore be a mandatory exercise for commercial storage in the future.

• Flexibility in power electronics –inverters: in the international market local requirements (network codes) are added to power specification and functions such as emergency and backup-capabilities. A flexible

ENERGY STORAGE

in selecting a compatible inverter and a supplier with local support is very helpful.

“The high degree of flexibility in using the BYD Battery-Box and the possibility of combining it with various inverters has already been able to support the energy transition in the residential market,” explains Christian Bausch, commercial energy storage expert at EFT-Systems.

“Due to the energy price development in the commercial sector, a similar need reemerged in this market. The new commercial energy storage system Battery-Max Lite, combines the solution benefits of the residential market solution with the featured needed for the commercial market. Both capacity and performance are adjustable over a wide range. The flexibility in communication is given across systems with the Battery EMS interface. A wide selection of different, compatible inverters will allow a wide range of applications. The system can therefore be used in all of the scenarios presented and help to survive the energy crisis.”

https://bydbatterybox.com www.eft-systems.de

Christian Bausch EFT-Systems

17.5% ENERGY SAVING WITH NEW WATER TANK CONTROL

Since 1868, when the first instantaneous water heater was patented, we have witnessed a long evolution in the heating of water. With each innovation, safety, efficiency and convenience have incrementally improved, but the fundamental principles have remained the same.

A supply of cold water accumulates in a tank. This is heated, either by electric elements, or a coil of pipe through which water from a boiler transfers heat, which warms the tanks contents.

Although the method of heating hasn’t changed, the current concerns regarding water scarcity and the cost of energy, means control has become increasingly important to ensure efficiency in the consumption of both commodities.

Prefect Controls have been working closely with the cylinder manufacturer, Gledhill, to produce a cylinder that combines the latest tank technology with state-of-the-art monitoring, measuring and management.

The Irus SMART tank is an unvented stainless steel direct cylinder and is factory fitted with high-grade long-life titanium elements. It leaves the factory pre-plumbed and pre-wired, meaning installation is simply a case of connecting the cold-water supply, output feeds and electrical wiring to the mains.

The brain of the tank is the control box. This is pre-wired to the elements; water meters; probes; sensors; and optional leak detection equipment.

Two integrated water meters monitor supply in, and output to, the hot water system, they provide accurate data on the volume of water being used. Additionally, by monitoring flow, should a tap or shower be left running, an alert is sent to managers.

Two in-built pockets at optimum alignment with the elements contain temperature probes that monitor water temperature at the core of the tank. This provides managers with precise data for controlling heating patterns and will alert them in the unlikely event of a failing element.

The Tundish sensor monitors any throughput and alerts that hot water is being wasted. Sensors attached to the cold inlet and hot outlet, monitor the temperature of water entering and leaving the tank. While another input, with the addition of a leak sensor, will detect any leak from pipework within the cupboard and inform of its intensity. The environmental conditions within the vicinity of the tank are also recorded including, humidity, light and sound pressure levels.

The SMART tank connects to Prefect’s Irus Central Control system and the data is displayed on the dedicated internet portal. This enables managers to control tanks remotely and, gather information without the need to visit individual flats or cupboards where tanks are located.

Will Mills, Senior Project Manager at Prefect Controls commented, “For

student accommodation and other sites with multiple hot water tanks, this innovation will significantly reduce unnecessary energy consumption. But, it also provides energy managers with data to inform their future energy strategies and understanding of energy-use patterns.”

In the summer of 2021 Prefect equipment was installed at a student accommodation site and controlled 39 existing tanks. The performance of the tanks was monitored accurately for the first time. In Spring 2022 these were replaced with Irus ready tanks. Data collected between September and November for both years provides a direct comparison between old and new. The data is very encouraging and shows energy savings of 17.5% during the 3 month like-for-like monitoring periods. www.prefectcontrols.com

STEAM HAS HELPED REVOLUTIONIZE MODERN INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY.

With clean, efficient steam systems, we can sterilize medical equipment for an operation, produce vaccines and other pharmaceuticals, and even brew the beer on offer in your local pub. But as we fight the climate emergency, is it realistic to talk about steam as an essential component of the journey to zero carbon? Can steam generation be decoupled from fossil fuels, making it a genuinely sustainable technology?

With Natural Technology, that is exactly what we are aiming to address. Today’s boilers are highly efficient, minimizing the amount of energy needed. Steam also has a high heat content and energy density, which means that the production infrastructure and pipework can be compact, thus saving space and using less raw materials. As the world moves towards more electricity production from renewables, steam will become even more sustainable and low carbon: it can be produced by clean electricity, green hydrogen or in biomass boilers, so making steam with reduced carbon emissions achievable right now. For example, it is a key part of energy solutions such as thermal storage and combined heat and power (CHP) systems.

Managed correctly, steam is intrinsically clean and safe. With no fire risk or toxic waste products, the only by-product is water. This can be condensed and re-used in a similar way to the natural water cycle of rain and evaporation that keeps our planet alive.

The potential benefits offered by steam are massive. For example, 35 per cent of all the UK’s industrial heating is achieved by steam systems. As 73 per cent of the UK’s total energy demand is for heat, improving the efficiency of steam generation will have a big impact1

CLEAN TECHNOLOGY

To support these environmental objectives, Spirax Sarco is developing new technologies to ensure steam is a long-

1 Source: Aggreko Report (March 2021), included at https://www.natural-technology.com/en

term part of our decarbonized future.

When used with 100 per cent renewable power sources, such as hydroelectric, solar and wind, electric steam generators have no emissions and generate no carbon dioxide. They can convert renewable electricity into steam at 97 per cent energy conversion efficiency2

Another option is using green hydrogen as the fuel to heat water and generate steam. This technology also reduces flue gas volumes by 10 per cent, thus significantly improving boiler efficiency3

Steam can also be generated by combustion of organic waste materials such as olive pulp, rice husks and palm kernel shells, which are the by-products of food production. This biomass can be used to generate electrical energy as well as heat, when used in a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system. The reduction of organic waste and the utilization of biomass improves environmental sustainability, while also reducing energy bills.

STEAM IN PRACTICE

Clearly, there are benefits to be derived from different approaches to steam, but what does a steam system actually consist of?

The core of a steam system is a boiler, which today often burns fuels, but could instead be run using electricity or biomass. The heat from the burner sends hot gases through tubes in the boiler, which run through the tank of water that is being heated.

Once the water is hot enough, it boils, and bubbles of steam are produced which are then routed through pipes and valves in the steam system. The temperature of the steam depends on the pressure in the boiler and might typically be >150ºC.

2 https://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/anuscientists-set-solar-thermal-record

3 https://www.natural-technology.com/en

Once the steam reaches its destination in a factory or plant, there are many ways it can be used: for example, in an ‘autoclave’, which is a steam-filled chamber to sterilize medical equipment, or to boil or cook food, using a ‘jacketed pan’ which surrounds the pan with a jacket filled with steam.

Typically, the flow of steam will be measured at multiple points throughout the system, enabling energy consumption and efficiency to be closely monitored. As part of the growing digitalization of industry, including the shift to the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT), this presents an opportunity to optimize and automate the new steam technologies, to save money with preventative maintenance, and to drive greater efficiencies.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Steam is a tried and trusted technology, based on well-understood principles with reliable outcomes. Steam provides a lowrisk, low-cost way to reduce emissions on the route to net zero, without requiring the ‘rip and replace’ of existing infrastructure.

Natural Technology is supported by decades of engineering expertise. It is based on specific, measurable outcomes, which are substantial enough to make a real difference – and which enable organisations to clearly demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.

It will enable industry to de-couple from fossil fuels and embark on a more sustainable route to zero carbon steam systems for heat, power, and sterilization.

Find out more about steam in your sustainable future at www.natural-technology.com

POWERING THE UK WITH SOLAR TECHNOLOGY –WHY THE UK SHOULD FOLLOW THE EU’S SOLAR ENERGY PLAN

After COP27, Mary Robinson, chair of the Elders Group, said that the world remains on the brink of climate catastrophe and progress made on cutting emissions has been too slow. As the UK watches the aftermath of this summit, all eyes are on Rishi Sunak’s new cabinet to ensure the UK increases its efforts to reach net-zero. Here Dr Franky So, Chief Technology Officer at nanotechnology research company NextGen Nano, explains why the new UK government should look to the EU for inspiration on increasing solar energy infrastructure in the UK to help hit net-zero targets.

According to the UKCCC, there is not a clear strategy to make all the UK’s electricity come from clean sources by 2035. Should the government wish to stick to its Net-Zero target by 2050, it will need to focus more on implementing new renewable energy initiatives, scaling up existing infrastructure and building better energy storage. Some inspiration can be taken close to home from the EU.

In 2022, the European Council agreed to phase out Europe’s dependency on Russian energy imports with a plan named RepowerEU. The plan focuses heavily on substituting fossil fuels with renewable energy, particularly solar. One proposal in its solar strategy is to install rooftop solar panels for all new buildings and all existing buildings where the energy performance is class D and above.

The Commission’s analysis indicates that the investment into these proposals will pay off and save the EU €80 billion in gas import expenditures, €12 billion in oil import expenditures and €1.7 billion in coal import expenditures per year by 2030. If the plans were fully implemented, it would also lower gas consumption by 30 per cent by 2030, this is equivalent to 100 billion cubic meters of emissions.

In its Net-Zero Strategy, the UK government said that it will create a facilitative environment for the deployment of unsubsidised rooftop solar. Evidence has shown though that consumers are more receptive to buying solar panels when there are subsidies. Over the last decade, subsidies as a result of EU renewable energy policies have helped decrease the cost of solar photovoltaics by 82 per cent. This has made solar power more accessible for businesses and households, boosting demand. In 2011, there was 52 GW of total installed PV capacity in the EU and this has risen to almost 160 GW in 2021.

The UK government could also reap these benefits by setting up national support programmes to deploy rooftop solar energy in public buildings like schools and administrative offices. UK Government bodies like the Ministry of Defence are already investing in building solar farms with initiatives like Project Prometheus. One of the first pilot sites is already made up of over 4,000 solar panels, spanning four hectares.

Successful solar projects aren’t necessarily the largest solar farms. Instead, the UK government could focus on the integration of renewable energy in government owned buildings. With a property empire of around 136,000 buildings worth £158 billion, the amount of solar energy gained by installing solar panels would be great. If each building had ten 4 kW solar panels, the average number for a three bedroom house, there would be 1,360,000 solar panels generating around 4 billion kWh of electricity per year.

Utilising solar power also brings other benefits. In 2020, the solar PV industry employed 357,000 full-time members of staff, this is expected to double by 2030. Moving to solar energy will also reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels, which has become a contentious topic recently because of geopolitical events and the energy crisis.

Further research into the capabilities of photovoltaics will make innovative solar solutions more accessible for

the UK. NextGen Nano is developing transparent organic photovoltaics (OPVs) using advanced nanotechnology. OPVs, like NextGen Nano’s PolyPower®, are intrinsically stable and can maintain >80 per cent of the original performance for up to 30 years. PolyPower® is also made from flexible and durable earth-friendly biopolymers in an effort to replace traditional solar cells made from toxic metals like lead-based perovskites.

As it is developed at a nano level, the semi-transparent thin layer has the potential to be applied on the windows of buildings to generate more power. This means that roof space no longer has to be an issue when deciding whether to implement solar panels onto newly built buildings like skyscrapers. It can also be used on the sunroofs of electric vehicles to partially power the EV with solar energy.

Enforcing the installation of renewable energy technology, like solar panels, can solve two problems. Not only is it one of the best ways to combat climate change by rejecting the burning of fossil fuels, but it also solves the problem of energy dependence on other countries. To help reach these goals, we need to keep investing in the research of new forms of solar technology.

If you would like to find out more about NextGen Nano’s organic photovoltaic technology, visit https://nextgen-nano.co.uk/ or email info@nextgen-nano.co.uk

CHANGES IN ELECTRICITY CONNECTION COSTS –

ACCELERATING NET ZERO

The UK’s current path to netzero has seen an increased reliance on the electricity system. Projects regarding electrification of heat, powerto-x and electric mobility require large electricity connections to the distribution network to support their processes. Compounded with the needs of other energy intensive industries such as data centres, the electricity distribution grid is under increasing strain. To facilitate the additional capacity needed on the system, significant investment is required on the distribution network.

Although Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) have invested in innovative solutions to these challenges (e.g., flexible connections and active network management), in certain cases a traditional approach is needed, and new capacity needs to be built. Depending on where and how much additional power supply is required, new connections can take anywhere from 8-18 months to potentially 5-10 years where transmission reinforcement is required. Not only are these lengthy timescales on the critical path for decarbonisation projects, but they often come at a high cost.

The cost of a new connection is usually paid for by the customer who is requesting the connection. This customer can be housing developers, data centre owners, district energy developers among others. To obtain the full picture of how much a new connection will cost, the customer requires information from the DNO regarding two key components: non-contestable and contestable works. Non-contestable works can only be done by the DNO as they require specialist skills or relate to work on their existing network. They are primarily composed of the following elements: connection to the network, reinforcement costs and the Electricity Connection Charges Regulation (ECCR). Meanwhile, contestable works relate to all the assets and labour needed from the point of connection to where the new project will be located.

If there is not enough available capacity on the network in the area where the project will be located, the

Carolina Escudero, Senior Project Manager, Power Systems, Ramboll

DNO will need to invest in upgrades to create the necessary additional capacity for the customer. In this case, the customer will be liable for either whole or partial costs of the works required to create this capacity. These are called reinforcement costs. Once the non-contestable offer is received, customers may find they are faced with substantial costs to connect (think millions) due to either reinforcement costs or ECCR costs. This “knownunknown” can make or break the project’s electrification business case.

In May 2022, a significant change to these cost arrangements came into force that could save millions of pounds of development budget for electrification customers and potentially accelerate the green transition. So, what has changed, and what does it mean for your electrification project?

WHAT HAS CHANGED?

In November 2017, Ofgem (the electricity regulator) started reviewing the current connection application process, costs allocation, and assessing if the charging methodologies were fit for purpose for a low-carbon future. In May 2022, Ofgem concluded that the current charging arrangements could hinder the roll-out of electrically-based low carbon technologies. As a result, Ofgem has instructed DNOs to change the way new connections are charged. The proposed changes are planned to be implemented in April 20231

The main impact of the changes is that instead of a reactive approach, whereby DNOs wait for customers to trigger and pay the reinforcement, the network should be reinforced proactively to create capacity ahead of need. Therefore, reinforcement will not be paid for by the customer connecting to the network.

1 Access SCR October 2022 Update – Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks

There will be a difference in approach for large electricity connections as well as generation connections. However, if a demand customer (e.g., housing or district heating developer) requests a connection, the following will change:

• Applications before April 2023: Customer connection offer will include reinforcement costs

Applications after April 2023: Customer connection offer will not include reinforcement costs (except if a highcost cap is exceeded)

This means that for most demand projects reinforcement costs that previously could hinder the project’s business case, will not be included in the connection offer from April 2023 onwards.

This change comes as a significant step in ensuring the low carbon transition can be achieved in a costeffective manner. It will remove a key risk to customers’ and projects’ business cases as well as enabling projects that would otherwise not be feasible due to the high non-contestable cost element. Moreover, the change also enables the DNO to proactively invest in the network to create capacity, instead of waiting for a connection customer to pay for this capacity. This move is expected to result in more capacity being available in the near-future and shortening the time to connect a project. It is hoped that the changes in connection costs will both allow customers to reap the financial savings, and also provide much-needed rocket boosters to the net-zero transition.

For more information, please see links below to the Ofgem website: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/cy/ publications/access-and-forwardlooking-charges-significant-codereview-decision-and-direction

THE PROJECTED SCALE OF POWER GRID EXPANSION IS BOTH UNSUSTAINABLE AND UNNECESSARY

Amir Cohen, Founder & CEO of EGM

The current energy security and climate crisis is creating limitless demand for new power grid infrastructure and a rising risk of gridlock. Electricity grids will need to dramatically increase capacity to fulfil growing demand for everything from electric cars to heating systems and incorporate more renewable power amidst a growing energy security and climate change crisis. Yet the enormous grid expansion that is projected could add unsustainable costs to taxpayers and consumers at a time of soaring inflation, and cause disruption to local ecosystems and communities. And few realise that much of the demand for new grid capacity is being driven by wasteful and inefficient usage of existing infrastructure.

Outdated methods of monitoring network conditions and capacity means that global networks are suffering major power losses and running significantly below their true capacity, creating needless congestion and constraints on renewable generation. Cumulatively, this is hampering the electrification of the economy and decarbonisation of power and driving excessive and unsustainable demand for new infrastructure.

THE CAPACITY CRUNCH

A looming power grid capacity crunch is impeding the transition to more secure, affordable, and clean energy. Record amounts of future renewable capacity is caught in interconnection queues while capacity constraints are forcing grid operators to curtail supply from existing renewable

generators. This not only hampers the energy transition but creates a growing risk that soaring demand from electric cars and heating could cause power shortages and outages.

Some reports estimate that the energy transition would require a century of electric grid infrastructure development in just a decade. Even excluding net zero targets, some analysts project that future generation and demand would need at least $14 trillion worth of new transmission and distribution infrastructure by 2050. And global grid expansion is already far behind target due to spiralling supply chain costs, cumbersome permitting processes and land-use conflicts with local communities and environmental groups. The speed and scale of infrastructure envisaged is already facing major resistance due to the potential impact on everything from flora and fauna to water pollution.

BLIND SPOTS ON THE NETWORK

Widespread network inefficiencies are wasting enormous amounts of existing renewable power and network capacity that could avert the need for excessive new infrastructure construction. Many utilities have very limited oversight of primary circuits using basic Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, and little to no visibility of the secondary circuits beyond their substations. Operators currently rely on rough estimates of network conditions or capacity from a few narrow parameters such as weather conditions or faults, leaving major data

blind spots across their networks. This denies them the opportunity to help reduce power loss by pinpointing and preventing electricity losses or seeing where they could share loads between lines. Crucially, limited data prevents them taking advantage of favourable weather to increase power flows without exceeding safe conductor temperatures.

For example, grid operators currently rely on inaccurate, crude calculations based on limited parameters such as windspeed to estimate the ampacity or maximum current that overhead power lines can carry without overheating. This means they are often setting excessively cautious capacity limits and curtailments that fail to take account of the greater thermal capacity of lines during cooler conditions. As a result, many power grids are running at 20% below their true capacity. Under-estimating ampacity also leads to renewable generators being needlessly curtailed and replaced with dirty power sources to lighten the loads on long-distance transmission lines during periods of peak demand. Resolving this would therefore help operators achieve electricity decarbonisation targets and increase capacity with existing infrastructure.

The lack of network visibility also means utilities are missing other opportunities to maximise efficiency and output without new infrastructure.

For example, the lack of current, comprehensive data on loads across feeder lines is hampering operators from balancing loads between parallel lines to enhance grid reliability and flexibility. And outdated grid monitoring systems relying on limited, late information

from call centres or technicians mean that power loss and theft is going undetected across many networks.

A PIONEERING NEW APPROACH

Some pioneering utilities are now harnessing ‘multi-sensing’ technologies that accurately analyse multiple parameters in real-time to minimise power losses, optimise usage and maximise grid capacity. This could help operators enhance grid performance while deferring or reducing capital investment in new infrastructure.

A recent pilot saw the world’s first deployment of multi-sensing systems on transmission lines to enable Dynamic Line Rating, which safely increases power flows without exceeding safe temperature limits during cooler weather conditions. The Meta-Alert™ Grid Operation and Management System was operational within minutes of installation and is analysing data on over 60 parameters from voltage to temperature, helping accurately predict the maximum

current that overhead lines can carry several days ahead. This will help operators harness favourable weather conditions to safely increase capacity, relieve congestion, and integrate more renewable power into networks without unnecessary extra infrastructure. By unlocking spare capacity on longdistance high-voltage transmission lines, this could also remove the need to curtail distant renewable energy generators during peak periods.

The same technology can also use feeder or meter sensors to identify low power levels or leaking grid components and even find common causes of power loss across multiple sites, helping networks conserve power. This could ultimately be combined with machine learning systems to create smart ‘self-healing grids’ that can anticipate and avert power loss or other faults before they occur.

The technology can also accurately analyse load measurements from each section of feeder lines to help operators find opportunities to balance loads between parallel power lines, increasing

the combined capacity of the network. The system can offer load balancing recommendations and even model new load conditions to find the optimal ways of maximising capacity using existing lines. It has additional applications from predictive maintenance to balancing renewable supply and demand in real-time and even improving grid resilience against extreme weather.

Cumulatively, this could drive a sea-change in network capacity with power grids using comprehensive, current data on everything from voltage to temperatures to dynamically boost capacity and reduce power loss across networks. This could create smart, versatile networks that continuously increase flexibility and capacity, helping integrate more renewable energy without excessive new infrastructure. With grids rapidly approaching gridlock and construction lagging far behind targets, increasing network efficiency represents the most economically and environmentally sustainable path to boosting global capacity. https://egm.net/global

A wide group of people working across all areas of the Public Sector – to educate, train, support and connect as we work towards a more sustainable future.

FINANCING THE ROAD TO ZERO

Toby Horne, Siemens Infrastructure Financing Partner, Siemens Financial Services UK

In October 2022, the European Parliament approved the proposed ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2035.1 This target will be hard to achieve and yet it trails the UK’s commitment, announced in 2020, to phase-out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.2 This ban forms part of the UK’s wider strategy to achieve net zero by 2050 and given transport (particularly road transport) is the country’s largest emitting sector, it’s a ripe area for decarbonisation.3

The shift to electric vehicles (EVs) also necessitates significant investment in charging infrastructure. The government reported a total of 32,011 public EV charging devices available in the UK in July 2022, a 31% increase on the same period last year.4 Nevertheless public appetite for cleaner technology and the looming ban on petrol and diesel vehicles have driven sales of EVs meaning a much more expansive infrastructure is required to meet rising demand. While the government has planned for 300,000 public charging points by 2030,5 it is likely that private sector investment will be required to accelerate deployment of the necessary EV charging network.

Recent research from Siemens Financial Services (SFS) estimates the ‘investment gap’ required over the next six years to rapidly deploy EV charging networks worldwide.6 This ‘gap’

1 https://eandt.theiet.org/content/ articles/2022/10/eu-approves-ban-on-petroland-diesel-cars-by-2035/

2 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ government-takes-historic-step-towards-netzero-with-end-of-sale-of-new-petrol-anddiesel-cars-by-2030

3 Taking Charge: The electric vehicle infrastructure strategy – Gov.uk https:// assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/1065576/taking-charge-the-electricvehicle-infrastructure-strategy.pdf

4 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/ electric-vehicle-charging-device-statisticsjuly-2022/electric-vehicle-charging-devicestatistics-july-2022

5 Taking Charge: The electric vehicle infrastructure strategy – Gov.uk

6 SFS Insight Series, Financing decarbonization: eMobility –Accelerating the road to zero, 2021

represents the difference between EV charging infrastructure already being financed, and that still being paid for out of capital expenditure (CAPEX). The global total amounts to nearly $150bn, and in Europe the current gap is $11.77bn but is estimated to grow to $27.23bn by 2026.

Clearly this is a gap that can’t be bridged through public funds alone, but what kind of finance from the private sector is needed to fund EV development?

Smart financing – offered by specialist financiers – enables the acquisition of technology and equipment for competitive advantage in a financially sustainable way and tailored to the organisation’s specific business and cash-flow needs. Specifically, smart finance makes investments possible and affordable by aligning costs with revenues – both for the organisation acquiring the charging infrastructure, and for vendors selling EV charging solutions.

Additionally, it offers three major advantages over generalist finance: technology expertise which understands real business outcomes; a breadth of financing solutions which can meet the organisation’s exact needs; and smooth, sophisticated processes which makes the use of smart finance seamless and easy.

CONCLUSION

Predicted rapid growth in electric vehicles – a major contributor to meeting climate change and sustainability targets – will not happen if the electric charging infrastructure does not expand at a similar rate. Meeting the expected demand for EV charging in the UK will therefore require urgent and significant investment. Given the scale of the task,

Case study: SWW Wunsiedel GmbH

German Utility Company SWW Wunsiedel GmbH has a main strategy which links all aspects of energy generation and distribution for optimal operational efficiency. In its latest development phase, the company wanted to add the early phases of an e-charging infrastructure, but to finance it in a way that aligned with earnings from the charging points. A smart financing arrangement was needed to avoid tying up precious capital.

To help the company realise its ambitions, Siemens Financial Services created a payment plan for the charging units which was designed to fit the projected cash flow from the chargers. E-chargers from Siemens for electric cars were installed. At the same time, payments were aligned to the projected income from charging units so that benefits are accrued at the same rate as payments. The cost to SWW Wunsiedel GmbH for implementing electric car charging units has been spread over time to minimize cash flow impact.

many businesses are turning to specialist private sector finance to facilitate accelerated deployment of charging points. Not only can these financiers help meet targets to create a cleaner, green infrastructure, through their sector expertise and range of smart finance solutions, they can make investment affordable.

https://www.siemens.com/

LIVERPOOL BECOME ONE OF THE UK’S LARGEST EV CHARGING NETWORKS AS UBITRICITY TREBLE NETWORK

was to reduce carbon emissions from transport in Liverpool.

Liverpool’s goal is to make EV charging accessible for everyone, with a particular focus on residents who do not have access to private off-street parking and charging. The rollout is led by community requests, with the Liverpool City Council receiving more than 10 requests a week for new public charge points.

Liverpool City Council has appointed ubitricity, a wholly owned Shell subsidiary, to install a network of 300 onstreet electric vehicle (EV) charge points – with the locations chosen by residents and businesses.

The additional charge points are set to treble Liverpool City Council’s existing network of 150 charge points to 450. This would make Liverpool the authority with the third largest public charging network in the UK behind London and Coventry, using the most recent government data published in October.1

By investing in charging infrastructure, Liverpool City Council is looking to address the northsouth divide in EV adoption and take a big step towards achieving its carbon net zero target by 20302

A lack of accessible public EV charging points is a common barrier to EV adoption, and analysis from the Department of Transport found that as of July 2022, the North-West had

1 According to our own analysis based on the latest Government data available at October 2022. Analysis subject to change

2 Liverpool Net Zero Carbon

2030 : The Climate Challenge

76% fewer public EV chargers per 100,000 people than in London3

The rollout comes as part of a twopart project which will see ubitricity take over the repair of Liverpool’s existing charging infrastructure and then rollout more charge points to help enable residents to make a transition to EV.

The new ubitricity charge points, which are installed directly into existing street lampposts, charge at a speed of up to 5kW and take just under 2 hours to install4. The rollout is planned for key residential and commercial locations, allowing residents to easily charge hybrid and electric vehicles on the street where they live.

After Liverpool City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019, it unveiled its 2030 Net Zero Liverpool Action Plan which laid out a roadmap to tackle its carbon footprint. One of the key aims of this plan, which also includes developing the city’s cycling and walking infrastructure,

3 https://www.gov.uk/government/ statistics/electric-vehicle-chargingdevice-statistics-july-2022/electricvehicle-charging-device-statisticsjuly-2022

4 https://ubitricity.com/en/chargingsolutions/ac-lamppost/

Cllr Dan Barrington, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Highways for Liverpool City Council said: “I’m delighted we’ve begun to install this new network of EV charge points as it provides a huge boost in tackling poor air quality and reducing the city’s carbon footprint. This programme puts down a real mark of intent to provide the necessary infrastructure to help the move away from petrol and diesel powered cars. The fact that the roll-out is being led by community requests means the points are going where the demand is needed most which means they’ll be getting maximum usage. And hopefully the demand will grow meaning the need for more charging points to be installed.”

Toby Butler, UK managing director of ubitricity said “Liverpool is investing in an impressive on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging network, making the transition to EV much more accessible to their residents. In line with their plans to reach Net Zero by 2030 Liverpool is helping to lead the country in decarbonising their roads and improving air quality.

By creating such a large and accessibly public network, Liverpool City Council is paving the way for the residents of Liverpool who want to switch to EV.”

ubitricity first appeared on Liverpool’s streets in 2018. Having taken over the maintenance contract, ubitricity is looking to dramatically improve the reliability of the existing charge points. The rollout of the new charge points began in late September 2022 and is set to complete in Spring 2023. https://ubitricity.com/

Research shows nearly half of public sector employees cut their water use at home because they are concerned about their impact on the environment and a quarter believe their employers could do more to encourage a reduction in water use at work. It shows there is a willingness amongst employees to help reduce water loss – and help the environment.

Being more aware of water that’s used, helps organisations reduce water waste and risks to supply interruptions on site water pipes too.

Tracking water use throughout a year can also provide more benefits – with more than 45 sites, alerted to water issues spotted by data loggers on water meters in just one day after a rise in temperatures following colder weather in December 2022.

The Water Plus Advanced Services team was closely monitoring the data feeds to alert organisations too and issues included a burst pipe leaking on a roof of a building at a university – which was isolated on the day it was flagged.

Another site saw its water use increase from 200 litres an hour –to 2,000 litres an hour, tracked by a data logger through the Water Plus online smart portal. They acted immediately when the Advanced

Services team made contact and isolated the issue on a site pipe.

Cutting out any water waste also helps reduce impacts on the environment – along with reducing the carbon emissions linked to water, which is under Scope 3. If less water needs to be moved around by pumps at a site, or if less is used overall, for example, across a hospital or council owned buildings, then there’s an energy saving there too.

Water Plus, the largest water retailer in the UK and a winner of two National Sustainability Awards, is highlighting water efficiency and water pipe messages, to help organisations of all sizes – under their #BeWiseOnWater awareness campaign, including on its online Help area linked below – and on its social media channels. https:// myaccount.water-plus.co.uk/help/ article/cold-weather-advice

Here are some tips, to Be Wiser on Water – for sustainability teams – and public sector employees:

PIPES CAN FEEL THE COLD – JUST LIKE YOU

Cold weather and changing temperatures can make a burst pipe more likely as these can cause ground movements that can affect underground pipes at sites. Plus, even a small trickle or drips on a tap can cause a pipe to freeze.

You’re responsible for the pipework within the property boundary, from the point of the water meter, or from the point of an external stop tap if you don’t have a water meter. So, it’s a good idea to take steps to reduce risks to your organisation – and know how to manage any problems.

Use a lot of water or have more than one meter? Data loggers that can be placed on water meters and feed information on water use into an online portal help you spot saving opportunities too – and highlight additional areas needing attention. This data can also be used to see what seasonal trends there may be for your site – whether the weather is hot – or during the colder months when pipes and the ground can be affected by changes in temperatures.

Noting down meter readings regularly, if the meter is safe to access, and providing these online, is also worth doing to track use and spot any unexpected changes.

So, whether it’s for Estates Returns information for councils, hospitals and PCTs, or to help track reductions in water use in general, there are a few straightforward steps to keep in mind.

HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE

Having a water action plan, so you and staff on-site know what to do in a water emergency, is essential to save time and money if the worst should happen.

Do you have clear channels staff can report water issues quickly and easily – to prevent any issues affecting a building, or its water supplies?

TAKE TIME TO:

Understand your water system and monitor use throughout a year. A survey found 92% of people, from public sector and private sector organisations, said they wouldn’t know if there was an underground leak at their organisation.

• Know where the stop taps are, and make sure staff and facility managers can find them – and turn them off, when needed. It’s worth checking during a year – as part of maintenance routines – that stops taps are in working order and haven’t seized up.

• Check what your insurance covers – know who has financial responsibility.

• Know who to call in the event of an emergency –have numbers ready, so you can respond to leaks or water emergencies quickly and effectively.

Consider a plan for emergency water delivery to your site, in case of a supply interruption.

Insulate exposed pipework, tanks and cisterns –plus, it’s worth checking your site, if it’s left empty at times – and keeping an eye on the weather for additional surface water or icy conditions.

To request data loggers, or additional water efficiency services, contact the Water Plus team at: hello@water-plus.co.uk

INTEGRATED AND INDIRECT LIGHT ENHANCES REFURBISHED UNIVERSITY BUILDING

Zumtobel together with its sister brand Thorn, both lighting brands of the Zumtobel Group, worked with BDP to deliver a collection of standard and custom luminaires for the newly refurbished London Southbank University Hub (LSBU Hub).

The London Southbank University recently embarked on its most extensive and exciting environment transformation programme. Designed to affect how students and staff think, feel and study, the renovated facility is set to revolutionise the student experience.

With the modernisation of the learning spaces and technology, the new LSBU Hub will be fit for the future and serve the needs of generations of students, staff and the wider LSBU community. The goal was to create dedicated zones for learning, teaching, and staff by renovating the 1970s building and making better use of its current spaces across the whole campus.

The refurbished building includes a new 3000sqm library, teaching rooms, offices, lecture theatres, fitness and sports facilities, informal learning spaces, student support and catering facilities.

Architect Wilkinson Eyre and BDP’s lighting and building services consultants were quickly appointed. The project team also consisted of Winters Electrical Services and Wilmott Dixon Interiors as the main contractor.

To meet the demands of this project, BDP sought a lighting manufacturer with a broad, high-performance range of standard luminaires and the ability to engineer custom luminaires for specialised applications. Zumtobel together with its sister brand Thorn were selected for their technical competence and excellent all-round product offer.

The approach to the lighting design process was to complement the architecture with minimal intervention and ensure bright soffits – particularly in areas where daylight is low. The result is a considered and understated lighting scheme which seeks to reveal the interior forms and finishes at their optimal brightness.

Luke Smith-Wightman, design consultant for BDP, explains, “The LSBU Hub project is a refurbishment of a 1970s structure featuring concrete waffle slabs throughout the building. The slabs are

exposed in many spaces and now form an integral part of the lighting strategy – in combination with a custom luminaire engineered by Zumtobel - STRATUS. The STRATUS linear suspension luminaire delivers purely indirect, neutral-white light to the slabs from a very slim aluminium profile. This creates an enhanced perception of spaciousness and, through interreflection, provides the required illumination in the spaces where it is used. The lit effect is calm and blends well with daylight, with excellent light uniformity to walls, soffits, and floors.”

Ed Haslett, Key Account Manager, Zumtobel Group, adds, “We worked closely with the site team as the coordination of the multiple lengths and runs required a combined effort to ensure we delivered the perfect solution.”

In addition to STRATUS, the comprehensive scheme includes Zumtobel’s PANOS infinity downlights, SLOTLIGHT infinity slim continuous rows and the striking ONDARIA pendants in the breakout areas and meeting rooms.

Luke explains, “The theme of linear lighting is continued with integrated SLOTLIGHT infinity slim continuous lines of light framing the library spaces, the main atrium and lighting the bookshelves. PANOS infinity downlights project warm-white light into the library areas, illuminating the spaces without disrupting the bold, wood-clad geometry of the library ceilings.”

Furthermore, PERLUCE luminaires light the stairways and the classic all-rounder TUBILUX lights the fitness suite. RESCLITE

PRO provides emergency lighting, while Thorn’s Omega Pro2 has been used for the lecture halls and Aquaforce in the back-of-house and plant areas.

For more information on Zumtobel, please visit the website https://z.lighting/en/zumtobel/ and for Thorn visit www.thornlighting.co.uk

Photographs: Tom Niven

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14th & 15th March 2023 Telford International Centre, Telford, UK

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