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Training

Monitoring & Metering

Boilers & Burners

Energy Management

Energy Storage

Energy Supply

District Heating

Renewable Energy

Driving the Future – EV Charging

Product Showcase

Legislation

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

NEWS

RINNAI ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF THE TRUST PARTNERSHIP WITH INSTALLER NETWORK

innai, a global leader in heating and hot water units & systems for both commercial and residential sites, has announced the launch of the Trust Partnership with the formation of an installer network specifically for its domestic product range, the Zen & Zen Plus. The installer domestic partnership network will be offered to all bona fide, Gas Safe registered, installers of residential heating and hot water units and systems. The launch is complementary to the recent introduction of the Rinnai Zen and Zen Plus domestic heating hot water system. “This is our response to the advent of online direct sales platforms and companies where the installer is working to a rigid formula and facing downward price pressures on their rates. All sites and installations are unique in their own way and we want to create a domestic installer network - a Trust Partnership - where quality and price are the criteria. Not just price being the first, last and everything about a job. “In the Zen and Zen Plus we have a quality concept backed by high performance products and we want to work with those installers who aim to work at the mid to top end of the market, rather than scramble around the pricedriven lower ends of the industry,” says Rinnai Managing Director, Tony Gittings. The Rinnai Trust Partnership will include comprehensive training and realtime instant-response technical support. “We will also be initiating a complete programme of benefits - including liveried work clothing, suitable for all the seasons, plus individualised marketing and business support,” adds Tony Gittings. Rinnai, global leaders in continuous flow hot water heating products and systems, recently introduced the Zen and Zen Plus home hot water & heating system which marries established and proven manufacture durability with new technologies to offer great energy efficiencies, user control and, importantly, unparalleled level of comfort. The Rinnai Zen and Zen Plus system will increase comfort and reduce energy usage whilst also providing a highly economic solution for today’s changing marketplace. “Our core expertise is the mass production of long-term reliable combustion products with advanced

technologies – we are a global leader and make over two million water heating units every year for domestic, residential and commercial applications. We have been researching and monitoring the UK domestic heating market for several years and would only launch when we had a proven system. That time is now, and we are offering hot water heating units together with a superior performance combi boiler in 24, 29 and 35-kW outputs”, says Chris Goggin, head of Rinnai UK operations. “We are not launching into the mass UK boiler market – that is, in our view, a saturated and oversubscribed market which is in the throes of a major upheaval in its structure due to the advent of online direct sales platforms. We are offering something very different. And we are aiming to serve a market sector previously overlooked and almost ignored - the provision of luxury levels of hot water at affordable sums to the middle and top end of the marketplace. “Another major difference with the Rinnai Zen & Zen Plus is that the route to market is with installers. We are committed to working with installers as our route to market. The installer is still the major player and, in our view, always will be.” Some of the features of Zen & Zen Plus are: IOT controller as standard; Fast heating mode; DHW pre-heat function – saving wasted water; Energy monitor function allows user to monitor energy usage; flue runs up to 30 meters, Rinnai boiler App for android and IOS; constant temperature-accurate hot water delivery at continuous flow rates. There is also smart Wi-Fi controller and App benefits; The Rinnai app seamlessly connects to the controller in the property; the user can control the boiler remotely adjusting temperature, setting weekly and daily programmes, receiving alarm functions, monitor energy usage and set limits. The Wi-Fi and boiler controller also uses GPS from the user’s

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

mobile to bring on the heat when you are getting close to home to ensure the house is warm when you arrive. Rinnai Zen & Zen Plus is available for use with both natural gas and LPG. Rinnai UK will be launching this innovation plus several other cuttingedge appliances during 2019. The Rinnai Corporation was founded in Nagoya, Japan in 1819 and today operates in 17 nations and regions around the world with sales of kitchen appliances, air conditioners, hot water heating & home heating units in over 80 countries. Says Rinnai UK Managing Director Tony Gittings, “The company has evolved and developed into a group that produces a diversity of products and services that directly benefit ordinary people in their daily lives. “Our policy is to help enrich the lives of people in local communities by providing optimal solutions that fit the lifestyle culture, climate conditions, and the energy situation of each country around the world. The threeyear period is aiming at connecting the first century to the next one. The theme will be named, ‘Connected in passion for the next 100 years.’” This follows the other significant corporate developments on the global presence of Rinnai – the issuing of a new logo and a new brand statement – ‘A Healthier Way of Living’. http://www.rinnai-uk.co.uk/

NEWS

AMP CLEAN ENERGY SECURES PLANNING FOR 50 MW OF FLEXIBLE URBAN RESERVE PLANTS

istributed energy company, AMP Clean Energy, has announced it has secured planning for 50 MW of its marketleading Urban Reserve flexible generation plants in areas of high demand, providing energy when and where it is needed most across local distribution networks. Energy turnkey solutions provider, Vital Energi, has been appointed to deliver the first four projects, which are already in construction. The 13 plants – which are being developed across the country – are designed to both support the growth of intermittent renewables by providing on-demand electricity to keep the system balanced, and to help provide additional capacity in places of high demand, such as urban and commercial areas. Following the major power cut on 9 August, the need for a decentralised, flexible system to both help the UK transition towards net zero and to provide emergency power in the event of a major outage was highlighted, as Mark Tarry, Managing Director at Urban Reserve, comments: “National Grid’s final report into the power cut on 9 August recommended that a review into the amount of emergency power available is needed to avoid blackouts happening in the future – particularly as we head to a net zero future, which

will put increased pressure on the resilience of the grid. “Decentralised, flexible generation will therefore play a critical role in helping the UK transition towards its net zero ambitions in the most cost-effective way, while providing much-needed support for the grid. Urban Reserve plants are connected at a local level and can swiftly respond to maintain the balance between supply and demand. “Smaller-scale distributed energy is making an ever increasing contribution towards the UK’s energy requirements. As supply becomes more intermittent and demand rises to power commercial use, electric vehicle charging and, in the future, the electrification of heat, these small-scale plants will be critical to keeping the system balanced and avoiding expensive network reinforcement. “Our ambition for Urban Reserve in 2019 was to deliver 40-50MW low-carbon projects, so we’re delighted to have secured planning for all 13 of the plants, with the first four sites already under construction.” One of the first plants under construction is the 2.3MW facility in Romney Warren, which was announced following UK Power Network’s flexibility auction in July.

As well as providing power to the local network, the plants will also have the potential to supply heat and power to local businesses and residents in the future. Mark Tarry continues: “It was a real achievement to be awarded the contract as part of the UK’s biggest competitive tender for flexible energy. That said, to achieve the full potential of distributed generation, more networks must now focus efforts on anticipating future demand growth and pinpointing hot spots for future constraints. This would help to provide clear market signals for investment in flexible generation, when and where it is needed most. “With the UK’s eyes now firmly on net zero, flexible solutions that ensure demand peaks are manageable will be vital.” https://www.ampcleanenergy.com/

SHELL TEAMS WITH PASSIVSYSTEMS TO LAUNCH B-SNUG SMART HYBRID HOME HEATING SYSTEM Shell UK and PassivSystems are pleased to announce the launch of B-Snug, a smart hybrid heating system for British homeowners.

he B-Snug system uses advanced technology to manage a combination of an air source heat pump and a traditional boiler. The intelligent controls continuously monitor the temperature in the home and analyse weather forecasts to automatically switch between two heat sources: a newly fitted Samsung Air Source Heat Pump and the customer’s existing boiler. The system’s controls use machine learning to select the most appropriate heat source to deliver warmth and comfort, favouring use of the heat pump whenever possible. With the majority of heat for the home being provided by the air source heat pump, the system reduces heating bills. And, by providing homeowners with a way to use electricity to heat their homes, this initiative enables consumers to reduce their use of oil or LPG thereby helping Great Britain to reduce carbon emissions from domestic properties.

B-Snug’s smart hybrid approach offers a viable solution particularly for larger and hard-to-insulate homes where fitting an allelectric heat pump in isolation may be too expensive. It is currently aimed at homes that use oil or LPG for heating. B-Snug uses PassivSystems’ technology platform and will be delivered as one of its Advanced Smart Control Services. “The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has given a clear message that we need to decarbonise homes to achieve the government’s net-zero emissions target by 2050,” said Colin Calder, Chief Executive Officer at PassivSystems. “The B-Snug smart hybrid heating system offers an affordable, cost effective and easy-to-install option, moving households towards a more sustainable, low-carbon energy source without having to make any changes to their existing heating system. PassivSystems is

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

delighted to be a key supplier and technology provider in this new product launch, which directly contributes to meeting the CCC’s goal of deploying 10 million hybrids by 2035.” “In PassivSystems, we found a great partner to launch B-Snug – our first smart hybrid heating system,” says Brian Davis, Vice President Energy Solutions at Shell. “By leveraging Passiv’s technology and experience we can now offer a more cost effective and cleaner heating solution to our customers.” www.b-snug.com

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MAY 2019

NEWS

OVER £100M INVESTED IN CARBON REDUCTION ACROSS NHS

alix Finance is celebrating a significant milestone after achieving £100m worth of committed funding within the NHS to enable savings of over £24m annually. Salix, a government-funded organisation which provides interest-free loans to the public sector to improve energy efficiency, has now contributed more than £100.8m by supporting over 600 energy reduction projects across 70 English NHS trusts in the last decade, with future savings of up to £391m over the lifetime of the energy efficient technologies. The work undertaken by the Salix NHS programme aligns with the landmark 2016 Lord Carter report1, which investigates how operational performance and efficiency could be improved in English NHS acute hospitals. The report revealed that the sector spends more than £500m a year on energy bills, highlighting the huge potential for significant cost and energy savings to be made through the strategic management of estates. Following the findings of the Carter report, a recommended annual target of £36m of savings was set through reduced energy consumption every year up until 2020. The 1 Operational productivity and performance in English NHS acute hospitals: Unwarranted variations An independent report for the Department of Health by Lord Carter of Coles, February 2016. https://assets.publishing.service. gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/499229/Operational_ productivity_A.pdf

energy efficiency projects enabled through Salix funding will contribute to this target, with nearly £25m of annual energy savings already estimated and with further opportunities to expand upon this achievement. In addition to addressing the potential energy savings within the NHS, Salix are taking widespread action to reduce carbon emissions across the UK public sector as a whole. The Sustainable Development Unit’s Strategy for the Health and Social Care System 2014 – 2020 outlines ambitious aspirations to achieve a 34% reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from building energy use, transport and procurement of goods and services by 20202, with the NHS already demonstrating a carbon emissions reduction of 18.5% between 2007 and 20173. Salix’s contribution to this strategy has also been noteworthy and has allowed the NHS to lower carbon emissions by more than 108,000 tonnes annually. 2 Sustainable, Resilient, Healthy People & Places: A Sustainable Development Strategy for the NHS, Public Health and Social Care system. Produced by the Sustainable Development Unit, for Public Health England and NHS England, in January 2014. https://www.sduhealth.org.uk/policy-strategy/ engagement-resources.aspx 3 Reducing the Use of Natural Resources in Health and Social Care: 2018 Report. Produced by the Sustainable Development Unit, for Public Health England and NHS England, in 2018. https://www. sduhealth.org.uk/policy-strategy/reporting/naturalresource-footprint-2018.aspx

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust were able to utilise Salix funding to develop their estate and to support their carbon management plans in line with these targets and the influential 2008 Climate Change Act4. Clare Topping, Energy and Sustainability Manager at the Trust said: “The loans from Salix have allowed us to access energy efficiency measures sooner than would otherwise be the case. Not only has this helped to keep us on track to achieving our 2020 Carbon Target but we have also improved the environment for staff”. Sameen Khan, NHS Programme Manager at Salix Finance said: “We’re very pleased to have helped the NHS to achieve these remarkable energy and carbon savings. The £100m we have funded in the sector to date has reached a third of the NHS Trusts and there is still considerable potential. Simple measures such as upgrading inefficient heating, lighting and ventilation equipment can provide significant longterm financial and maintenance savings for organisations and help to mitigate against the effects of climate change. We are striving to continue this success and to engage with more NHS Trusts. The opportunities in the NHS are expansive and we’re very excited to be able to play our part in taking action towards the reduction of the NHS’s carbon footprint.” www.salixfinance.co.uk 4 Climate Change Act 2008. http://www.legislation. gov.uk/ukpga/2008/27/contents

BRISTOL AIRPORT SWITCHES TO 100 PER CENT RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY

n a significant step towards reducing its carbon footprint, Bristol Airport has switched to a 100 per cent renewable electricity supply. The announcement follows the recent publication of a carbon roadmap setting out how the Airport will become carbon neutral by 2025 for emissions within its direct control. The new three-year agreement with global renewable energy supplier, Ørsted, will see the Airport’s annual electricity use of 17 million kWh powered entirely by renewable sources. Electricity is the largest contributor to carbon emissions from on-site airport operations. In addition to the electricity used in the terminal and other buildings, a growing number of aircraft stands are equipped with Fixed Electrical Ground Power (FEGP), reducing the need to use diesel powered engines for essential pre-flight services. Over the duration of the contract an estimated 14,000 tonnes of carbon will

be saved across the Airport site as a result of the move to renewables – equivalent to the emissions from driving 34 million miles in an average car. Simon Earles, Planning and Sustainability Director at Bristol Airport, said: “From next month our terminal and other facilities will be powered by renewable energy – a significant step on our journey to carbon neutrality. There is more to do, but this is a clear statement of our intent to reduce our direct emissions.” Ashley Phillips, Managing Director at Ørsted Sales (UK) Ltd said: “It’s exciting that an international airport like Bristol is placing such strong emphasis on sustainability. At Ørsted, we want to drive the transition to low-carbon energy systems in the UK, and support organisations like Bristol Airport that share this ambition of creating a greener energy future.”

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

As well as addressing direct emissions, Bristol Airport’s carbon roadmap includes a commitment to offset road journeys by passengers and explains how flights will tackled through the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) – an international agreement aimed at stabilising emissions at 2020 levels. Email: pressoffice@bristolairport.com https://orsted.co.uk/

NEWS

BREXIT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE ENERGY SECTOR

ince the Supreme Court ruling on the prorogation of Parliament and MPs arriving back in Westminster, attention has been re-focused on the UK’s departure from the European Union. The country is being told to get prepared for Brexit on the 31 October, and businesses are trying to navigate what it means for them and their respective sectors. The energy sector is no different with developments at the macroeconomic level – such as exchange rate volatility, investment risk and regulatory uncertainty – jostling for dominance with matters specific to the energy sector. The future of carbon pricing, crossborder energy flows and the potential for new energy tariffs are all among the issues under consideration which will affect the future direction of wholesale prices, and hence customers’ bills. Dr. Craig Lowrey, Senior Consultant at Cornwall Insight, said: “With the uncertainty over the UK’s future relationship with the EU showing no signs of clearing, it is essential to understand what the main challenges

could be for the UK’s energy sector – both ahead of 31 October and beyond. “The wholesale market is likely to be in a state of flux. With the risk of a depreciation of sterling, there is a real possibility of higher prices in both the electricity and gas markets. This will have an adverse effect for consumers with potential price rises and withdrawal of cheaper fixed tariff deals. “The UK’s departure from the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is set to result in the introduction of a Carbon Emissions Tax. However, the UK government has stated that its preferred long-term solution is a UK ETS. The outcomes of this transition will have consequences not just for carbon-intensive generators, but will also be reflected in wholesale prices – and again, impact on customers. “As with other areas of the UK economy, investment in the energy sector will be dampened with the overall economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit. In the longer term, the industry may be adversely affected by the removal of the support from the European

Investment Bank – which has committed c. €16bn to the UK energy sector – especially if this is not replaced. “Determining the specific impacts of these issues remains difficult while the Brexit situation is still in flux, but it is clear that – like many sectors – the energy market is not going to be unscathed by the effects of Brexit, regardless of whether we leave with or without a deal.” https://www.cornwall-insight.com/

NATURAL GAS ACCELERATES CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH ALARMING METHANE EMISSIONS

he International Energy Agency (IEA) is repeatedly playing down the climate impact of natural gas, thus laying the foundation for national governments to continue to heavily subsidise fossil fuels. Against this background, the Energy Watch Group presented the latest scientific findings on the future suitability of natural gas in a new study released on Monday. The key finding debunks the widespread picture of natural gas as a climate-friendly bridge technology: The switch from coal-fired power generation and oil-fired heating to natural gas increases the greenhouse effect of energy supply by around 40% due to alarming methane emissions. Thus, contrary to what is widely communicated to the public, natural gas does not contribute to climate protection, but instead causes an additional acceleration of climate change. The study of the independent Berlin Think-and-Do-Tank calculates for the first time the climate impact of a fossilfossil substitution by natural gas based on the latest research on methane and carbon dioxide emissions of the entire supply chain. The climate impact was evaluated with regard to the 20-year horizon relevant for potential climate tipping points. The study comes to the

conclusion that possible CO2 savings from natural gas are far outweighed by its high methane emissions. A switch from coal and crude oil in the electricity, heat and transport sectors to natural gas even significantly exceeds the highly negative climate impact of coal and crude oil. “The IEA, which many governments regard as a reference for their energy policy decisions, deceives us with outdated figures and problematic assumptions about the actual climate impact of natural gas – with devastating consequences for our climate and the economy.”, explained Thure Traber, co-author and leading scientist of the EWG. “The economic risks of natural gas are significant: If the climate targets are to be achieved on national and international levels, then it is simply impossible for investments in natural gas to pay for themselves. What will remain are stranded investments in the billions.” “The study confirms that the production of highly climate-damaging natural gas will further exacerbate climate change”, added Hans-Josef Fell. The former member of the German Parliament and President of the Energy Watch Group, who was involved in the study as co-author, calls for a rethink in the current political debate about the future of the energy

sector. “Existing and new subsidies for natural gas are incompatible with the Paris climate protection targets. Instead, we urgently need more investments in renewable energies, because only these have an immediate and lasting positive effect on the climate.” What exactly politics has to do in order to establish a sustainable energy system is clear to the authors of the study: an immediate abolition of all subsidies for fossil fuels and a comprehensive introduction of emission-free, renewable technologies; the existing natural gas infrastructure can alternatively be used for climate-friendly biogas and green gases such as hydrogen from green electricity. Since a worldwide transition of the energy system to 100% renewable energies would save 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions, this measure must be at the centre of all climate protection efforts. The study points out that fossil energies have no place in the future energy system and calls upon politicians to correct the false image of natural gas as a climate-friendly bridge technology. The study is freely available at: http://energywatchgroup.org/ wp-content/uploads/EWG_Natural_ Gas_Study_September_2019.pdf

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

NEWS

NEW CENTRICA REPORT UNCOVERS POTENTIAL FOR £5.6 BILLION SAVING ON PUBLIC SECTOR ENERGY SPEND BY 2035 The public sector could unlock more than £375m in cost savings every year by adopting modern energy technology, according to new research released by Centrica Business Solutions.

he saving, which amounts to over £5.6bn over a typical 15-year energy contract, is identified in a new study that aims to assess the economic opportunity of the healthcare, universities and defence estate adopting green technology such as solar panels and combined heat and power units. Investment in this area would also drive an additional positive impact for the UK economy, supporting 25,000 jobs. The Powering Britain’s Public Sector report found that if just half of public sector organisations within these three sectors updated their energy infrastructure, they would reduce emissions by eight per cent and save 660,000 tonnes of carbon each year the equivalent of taking over 435,000 cars off the road. The carbon reduction savings could be doubled with the injection of around 20% green gas – a type of gas created from biodegradable material – into the fuel mix. The NHS has the lion’s share of potential savings, with a total annual savings opportunity of £187m, enough to pay the salaries of more than 5,800 nurses. Combined, the three public sector estates are responsible for more than 7.8million tonnes of carbon emissions each year and have been challenged by the Government to reduce emissions by 30% by 2020/21 and hit net zero by 2050. Iain Conn, Centrica Group Chief Executive, said: “Government bodies have two very clear challenges, to operate more cost effectively and more sustainably. New energy technologies, adopted aggressively, have the potential to unlock both. “Over the last four years, Centrica has been building the capabilities in energy services and solutions to satisfy the changing needs of our customers, and to enable their transition to a lower carbon future. This report sets out how we can help our customers in these critical sectors of the UK economy.”

Richard Hookway, Chief Executive of Centrica Business, said: “The Government has announced £1.8bn of extra capital funding for the NHS. Investing a fraction of this in distributed energy technology would not only improve the resilience of trusts but would create long term savings that could be redirected towards new nurses, new infrastructure and protecting vital front-line services. “What’s needed now is for government and public sector leaders to work together on making this opportunity a reality. Centrica has committed to helping the public sector deliver £300m in energy efficiency savings by 2030

as part of our responsible business ambitions, so we are ready to support.” To enable the public sector to push forward these changes, Centrica makes four recommendations to Government, including the simplification of procurement frameworks and a stable and long-term regulatory environment. www.centricabusinesssolutions.com

Case study: Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E)

he Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E) is set to reduce its energy costs by £800,000 a year, following a £7 million investment in sustainable energy measures. The project, delivered by Centrica Business Solutions, will see state-of-the-art energy technology installed at five sites across Exeter, helping the RD&E to cut its energy costs by 17 per cent. Design and construction is set to be completed by the end of April 2020. It includes the installation of a new 1.5MW combined heat and power unit that will generate power onsite at Wonford Hospital, as well as roof mounted solar panels at Wonford and Heavitree Hospitals and Mardon

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

Neuro-Rehabilitation Centre in Exeter. Wonford and Heavitree Hospitals will also benefit from new LED light fittings and improvements to the air conditioning systems, while Mardon Neuro-Rehabilitation Centre will profit from the installation of new energy-efficient boilers. Once complete, it will reduce annual emissions by more than 2,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide – the equivalent to taking more than 1,450 cars off the road.

TRAINING

RINNAI USER-SPECIFIC TRAINING COURSES FOR 2019 Rinnai UK, a registered provider of CPD courses, has implemented a series of training modules which are specifically designed to engage with heating engineers & contractors. The courses are all aimed at objectively showing the energy saving benefits of gas fired continuous flow hot water heaters.

ith Rinnai now fielding the only complete and comprehensive range of highly efficient ErP labelled A-rated continuous flow water heaters - from the smallest domestic models through to super-size industrial units - the demand from engineers wanting more knowledge of the appliances is increasing. The company is offering tailormade, flexible courses that allow engineers the opportunity to explore at first hand the practical and energy saving benefits of continuous flow gas fired water heaters and familiarise themselves with the technology, from system design and installation, through to servicing and maintenance.

The hands-on training courses, which are tailored to Rinnai customer needs, cover both traditional and new technologies for commercial water heating as well as highlighting the big energy and money savings that can be achieved by installing a continuous flow hot water system. Courses can be arranged to suit individual requirements either at Rinnai’s Runcorn, Cheshire HQ in the dedicated training facility or if preferred, the company’s training team will take the module to the workplace or other venue convenient to delegates. Courses available include: Continuous flow and future of water heating; Intermediate water heating; Continuous flow, excellence in design; Service &

fault diagnostics – water heaters and Energy saving warm air units; Maximising renewable gain in hot water design; Understanding ACOP L8 and hot water design and Continuous flow as a method of satisfying energy & regulatory demand. “Our flexible training offering ensures key market personnel at all levels can benefit from nationwide training from our highly skilled team of technical experts, guaranteeing they are up to speed with changes in legislation and product developments,” says Chris Goggin, Rinnai UK Associate Director. For more information on Rinnai training courses call +44 (0)1928 531 870 or email training@rinnaiuk.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

MONITORING & METERING

METREG TECHNOLOGIES FISCAL AND NON-FISCAL, HIGH-PRECISION GAS METERS

etreg Technologies offers a complete product range for fiscal and non-fiscal gas measurement for industrial and commercial applications. Metreg measuring devices stand out thanks to their high precision and robust design with each meter being individually calibrated and tested to approved and international standards on traceable flow and pressure test benches. The different types of Metreg gas meter can all be fitted with various low, medium and high-frequency pulse outputs. All devices can be connected to various electronic ancillary devices such as Electronic Volume Converters (EVC’s) remote ATEX flow displays, data loggers and data telemetry devices for monitoring and reporting.

MTM TURBINE GAS METER - MID & OIML APPROVED MTM Flanged Gas Turbine Flow Meters have Approvals to MID Class 1 (DIN EN 12261:2002) OIML R137-1&2: 2012, PED (PED 97/23/EG). The MTM Gas Meter is suitable for installation in hazardous areas of Category 2 (Zone 1) II 2 G c IIC T4 X. MTM Gas turbine flow meters are ideal for commercial metering and custody transfer measurement applications, suitable for measuring natural gas in pipe sizes from DN50 up to DN300 and larger. The flexible measuring cartridge of the MTM turbine meter is exchangeable for different pressure housing designs. It can be calibrated in each diameter size to the different G-ratings. Operating pressures up to 100 bar and a volume flow rates of 5 m3/h up to 6500 m3/h depending on the different meter sizes at operating conditions. Available with a choice of flanges, these robust flow meter models have an Aluminium rotor and body made of anodized high strength Aluminium, Carbon Steel or a welded steel construction dependant on size and spec. A Low frequency pulse is included as standard with HF and multiple pulse options for remote monitoring, data recording and linking with Building Management Systems (BMS) as well as with our MID approved (EVC) gas volume correctors and Telemetry devices.

DESIGN STRENGTH The gas flow is narrowed on an annular cross section, is accelerated and is then directed onto the smoothrunning Aluminium rotor. The number of rotations is proportional to the traversed gas volume, the frequency of rotations is proportional to the actual gas flow. The rotation of the rotor is connected to a speed-reducing gear train and transmitted by a magnetic coupling to the adjustable roller counter mechanism. The lifetime durability of the MTM turbine meter is very stable due to the large dimensioned high precision ball bearings manufactured in Germany, along with the high precision machining of the body and all moving parts on state of the art machines. After machining, all Aluminium parts, especially the turbine wheel, are hard anodized for reduced friction and higher resistance to mechanical wear and tear or chemical attack.

LOW PRESSURE LOSS The pressure loss of the MTM turbine meter is minimized through a dynamically optimized inlet diffusor, very low manufacturing tolerances and high precision, low friction ball bearings. The

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

optimized flow conditions allow a minimal straight inlet pipe of 2 DN for low level flow disturbances and only 2 DN additional straight inlet pipe length under severely disturbed flow profile according to OIML standards. MTM turbine meter housings are manufactured on a standard basis with raised face (RF) flanges according to DIN/EN 1092-1 or ANSI B 16.5 for class 150/300/600 with a maximum operating pressure of 100 bar/ 10 MPa.

MQM TURBINE METERS (QUANTOMETER) These wafer style Gas turbine flow meters are ideal for commercial and industrial applications for non-fiscal measuring of natural gas in pipe sizes from DN50 up to DN150 and larger. Offering a range of wafer styles, these aluminium meters are ideal for secondary metering or in-process measurement. They offer high accuracy and a choice of calibration options. They are mainly used for internal measurements or control tasks. The MQM quantometer is based on the principle of a turbine flow meter. The flow of the gas to be measured causes the turbine rotor to rotate. The gas flow is narrowed on an annular cross section,

MONITORING & METERING is accelerated and directed onto the smooth-running Aluminum rotor. The number of rotations is proportional to the measured gas volume; the frequency of rotations is proportional to the actual gas flow. The rotation of the rotor is connected to a speed reducing gear train and transmitted via a magnetic coupling from the gas pressurized area to the adjustable 8 digit roller counter fitted to the outside of the meter The MQM Gas Meter is suitable for installation in hazardous areas of Category 2 (Zone 1) II 2 G c IIC T4 X. It is designed for flow and volume measurement of non-corrosive and non-aggressive gases like natural gas, nitrogen, air (and other gases on request) in non-custody transfer and process applications. The MQM is available in sizes from DN 25 (1’’) to DN 150 (6’’) with a volume flow rate up to 1600 m3/h depending on meter size. The lifetime durability of the MQM Quantometer is very stable due to the large dimensioned high precision ball bearings “Made in Germany” along with the high precision machining of the body and all moving parts. All MQM Quantometers are equipped with precision machined Aluminium turbine wheels. After machining all Aluminium parts, especially the turbine wheel, are hard anodized for reduced friction and higher resistance to mechanical wear and tear or chemical attack. In case of contamination or dust in the measured gas it is recommended to install an optional oil lubrication pump for increased operating life. During installation and commissioning a temporary Top Hat or Cone filter should be installed to prevent meter damage. The Quantometer is a turbine gas meter and registers the actual volume with an eight-digit mechanical roller counter. Utilizing the LF of HF pulser (reed contact) the volume pulse output sensors allow for remote monitoring, data recording and linking with Building Management Systems (BMS) as well as with gas volume correctors (EVC’s) and our ATEX telemetry systems.

MRM ROTARY DISPLACEMENT METER MID & OIML APPROVED The MRM rotary displacement gas flow meter is designed for fiscal metering of natural gas and is approved according to the European requirements of EN12480, MID (2004/22/EG) and OIML R137-1 & 2: 2012. The MRM rotary displacement gas meter is suitable to be installed in hazardous areas of Category

2 (Zone 1) II 2 G c IIC T4 X. The MRM rotary displacement gas meter is suitable for the following gases: Natural gas, town gas, propane, butane, ethylene, air, nitrogen, with further gases on request. Rotary gas meters are characterized by their very compact design and high accuracy. The MRM rotary meter requires no inlet or outlet straight pipe lengths or flow conditioning and is insensitive to severe gas flow fluctuations (discontinuous operation). The rotary meters MRM are manufactured with large measurement ranges due to the precision machining of the parts and a very reproducible assembly process. The standard calibrated measurement range for the MRM is 1:50. Extended measurement ranges up to 1:200 are optionally available according to approved and certified measurement ranges as shown in the table. The MRM rotary gas meters show very stable and reproducible measurement results. The design of the housings and pressure containing parts has been optimized especially for outstanding operation, even under challenging torsional and bending stresses. The meters can withstand more than twice the specified torsional and bending stresses after installation as defined in EN 12480.

The lifetime durability of the MRM rotary gas meter is very stable due to the large dimensioned high precision ball bearings “Made in Germany” along with the high precision machining of the body and all moving parts. After machining all Aluminium parts are hard anodized for reduced friction and higher resistance to mechanical wear and tear or chemical attack. Utilizing the LF of HF pulser (reed contact) the volume pulse output sensors allow for remote monitoring, data recording and linking with Building Management Systems (BMS) as well as with gas volume correctors (EVC’s) and our ATEX telemetry systems. Email: mail@bellflowsystems.co.uk or call 01280 817304 for more information on the selection of Metreg gas meters. www.bellflowsystems.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

MONITORING & METERING

MAINTAINING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR EFFICIENCY There can be very few buildings that don’t have some form of environmental control. Whether it’s a simple heating system or a complex HVAC installation, those responsible for operating and maintaining it face two challenges: they must preserve a comfortable environment within the building, and they must minimise energy consumption. Measuring and monitoring are the keys to meeting these seemingly conflicting challenges, says Julian Grant of Chauvin Arnoux.

s most of those responsible for managing buildings and workplaces will surely know, measuring and monitoring the performance of systems that have an effect on the environment in these locations is no longer optional. To meet the requirements of Part L of the Building Regulations, for example, HVAC systems and the like must be commissioned in line with the design intent, which necessarily means evaluating their performance. And the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations require all but the smallest air conditioning systems to be inspected regularly at intervals that must not exceed five years. There are also more general regulations, such as The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. These don’t explicitly require measurement and monitoring beyond specifying that thermometers must be provided, but they do say that “during working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside building shall be reasonable”, and “effective and suitable provision shall be made to ensure that every enclosed workplace is ventilated by a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air.” It is also worth noting that lighting is an important element of the work environment and that there are many regulations and guidelines relating to the provision of adequate lighting. A useful guide in this instance is HSG38 “Lighting at Work” which can be downloaded free of charge from The Health and Safety Executive website. With so much regulatory weight behind the measurement and monitoring of environmental control systems, it would be easy to see these tasks as thankless burdens that absorb time and money while delivering little in the way of tangible business benefits. That would be a mistake. As a quick web search will readily confirm, there’s an enormous amount of evidence to show that a good working environment boosts worker productivity and efficiency, and those are benefits that no company can afford to ignore. In short, effective environmental control not only keeps the regulators happy, it also helps businesses to operate more profitably.

So, measuring and monitoring the working environment is a key ingredient of business success, but which aspects of the environment need to be measured and monitored, and how exactly do you go about it? In most cases, the first question is easy to answer. The essential aspects to measure and monitor are light levels, temperature, air movement and humidity. But that’s not quite all. As well as confirming how well the environmental systems are performing, it is absolutely crucial to monitor how much energy they are using. Shortly we’ll move on to look individually at each of the key aspects of environmental measurement and monitoring, but first let’s answer a simple but important question: what is the difference between measuring and monitoring? The answer, for our purposes at least, is that a measurement is a one-off event – “the temperature in the office right now is 21 ºC”, for example, whereas monitoring involves recording the temperature (or another parameter) over a period of time, which might be just a few hours, but it could also be months or even years. The benefit of monitoring, which is usually performed by instruments that have a logging function, is that it provides much more useful information than individual measurements. It might reveal, for example, that the office temperature is still above 20 ºC in the middle of a winter night, when it could well be allowed to drop to, say 10 ºC, which would save a lot of energy. Monitoring over extended periods will also allow circadian and seasonal effects to be detected and evaluated. For measuring and monitoring light

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levels a logging luxmeter, such as the Chauvin Arnoux C.A1110, is required. These instruments are typically small enough to be handheld and the best will give accurate results with virtually any type of light source: daylight, LED, incandescent, fluorescent, etc. A good luxmeter will also provide a mapping function that allows the light levels over an area or room to be mapped to determine whether or not they are uniform. Some models have a sensor with a magnetic base which is an added convenience as it allows the user to position the sensor and move away to avoid casting their shadow across it. The magnetic base is also an advantage when the sensor is installed semipermanently for monitoring purposes. Temperature can, of course, easily be measured with a simple and inexpensive thermometer. Indeed, as has already been mentioned, employees are required by law to provide thermometers. Nevertheless, there are distinct advantages to using more sophisticated instruments not least because they are likely to be more accurate and, of course, if they are logging types like the Chauvin Arnoux C.A 1227, which also incorporates an anemometer, or the C.A 1246, which incorporates a hygrometer, they will allow monitoring to

MONITORING & METERING be carried out over extended periods. The logging of temperature over extended time periods is particularly useful as it can reveal when heating and cooling systems are being operated unnecessarily, when rooms are prone to overheating in sunny weather and when they cool too quickly in cold weather. These findings point the way to simple and often inexpensive remedial measures, such as fitting reflective foil on windows or installing additional thermal insulation, which can lead to big energy savings. Instruments for measuring light levels and temperatures need little justification, but what about anemometers and hygrometers? In reality, these are also easy to justify. As we saw, the Health and Safety at Work regulations require the provision of ventilation, but prudent users of energy will want to be sure that this provision is met without wasting heat through draughts. An anemometer enables air movement to be identified and measured, which makes it easier to provide draught-free ventilation. A hygrometer measures humidity, which is important because excessive humidity can lead to sweating and discomfort, while insufficient humidity

can lead to dry, sore eyes. For these reasons, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers recommends that humidity in the workplace should be maintained between 40% and 70%. As always, the first step to achieving this is accurate measurement. While measuring and monitoring the effectiveness of environment control systems is vital, so is measuring and monitoring the amount of energy they consume. For systems that are electrically powered, this is most easily achieved with a portable energy logger (PEL). These are typically installed at the distribution switchboard feeding the environmental control systems and the best types have been designed so that installation can be completed quickly and easily with a minimum of disruption to the plant fed by the switchboard. Once in place, the PEL will record all major aspects of the energy supply, including not only the energy used and peak loading, but also other important parameters such as power factor, phase imbalance, harmonics, peak loading and much more. This information, when analysed, will help to show whether

energy usage by the environmental control plant is in line with design expectations and it will also help to identify areas in which energy efficiency improvements could be made. Maintaining a comfortable workplace environment is good for staff morale and productivity while maintaining efficient operation of environmental control plant is good for the bottom line. Fortunately, it is now easier than ever to achieve these desirable objectives thanks to the availability of affordable and easy-to-use instruments for measuring and monitoring all key environmental parameters. For advice on choosing the instruments best suited to your needs, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sweat or shiver, simply talk to the expert in the field, Chauvin Arnoux! https://www.chauvin-arnoux.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE â&#x20AC;˘ OCTOBER 2019

MONITORING & METERING

DEER TECHNOLOGY LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE METER READING SYSTEM WHICH AIMS TO DELIVER GAMECHANGING BENEFITS AND WATER CONSUMPTION COST SAVINGS

elsh-based engineering and technology innovators DeeR Technology have developed a new game-changing meter reading device which aims to deliver substantial savings and efficiencies for the water industry and its customers. In addition, the UK manufactured invention will enable commercial utility companies to better deliver on their sustainable water management policies. A team of experienced and awardwinning entrepreneurs are behind the development of the LimpetReader technology, an optical meter reading device that provides a more cost-effective meter reading solution than traditional Automated Meter Readers (AMR). The device and its accompanying software system address the challenges that commercial water utilities are facing on two key fronts set by the government regulator OFWAT – improving on water leakage targets and providing accurate data collection for regular billing. The business benefits of the LimpetReader include rapid installation; requires no wiring or interruption of supply; avoids inaccurate or estimated billing and regulatory fines; adoption even in the most inaccessible locations; can be retro-fitted to avoid the costly ripping out of old units; reduces time and resources required for meter reading; improves health and safety due to local and remote reading capability and contributes to a water sustainability programme. Major water retailers including Wave and Castle Water, have completed field trials, with installations on-going in several locations across the country. End customers with large water consuming sites including Burton & Derby NHS, Gloucester NHS, BMW and Sunderland City Council have also successfully concluded trials. The LimpetReader establishes a new standard for water meter reading services. Its sealed housing contains micro cameras which take photographic

images which are then converted into digital readings and delivered via a secure data connection to the end user. The device, together with associated products, removes the need for human interaction to collect the data. The LimpetReader simplifies how commercial water meters are read at less than half the price of traditional automated reading solutions on the market. Designed and developed by DeeR Technology founders Hugh Mort, who has 25 years of experience in industrial systems engineering and Dr Garry Jackson, an electronics engineering, product design and wireless communications expert. Additional technical and product development input has been provided by Dr. Gwyn Brooks, co-founder of global success story Sandvik/Osprey the market leader in the manufacture of highly alloyed products and metal injection moulding and entrepreneur and businessman Ian Brown. Both Brooks and Brown have been awarded MBE’s for their services to Industry. Combined, the four experienced

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industrial entrepreneurs have based this start-up in Port Talbot, Wales, where the LimpetReader is produced. DeeR Technology’s Brooks, chairman of the business, comments: “Water companies, end users and other key stakeholders have worked closely with us in delivering this unique device that provides a solution to a problem the water industry has been crying out for. There has been a tremendous amount of investment in gas and electricity with SMART metering, but not in the commercial water industry, until now. I believe the LimpetReader will play an important role in helping the industry to deliver on its promises to a more efficient and sustainable water cycle.“ https://deertechnology.com/

BOILERS & BURNERS

EFFICIENCY STARTS WITH THE DESIGN

Space and whole life costs are two of the major considerations when selecting commercial condensing boilers. Ryan Kirkwood, Specification Manager for Remeha, evaluates the design options that will make best use of plant room space and optimise boiler lifetime performance

he UK has been set a new, more ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emission levels to net zero by 2050. If we are to come anywhere near this goal, we must address the energy efficiency of our existing buildings and their heating systems. Boilers are at the heart of the heating systems in many commercial buildings, so it’s essential that they operate efficiently. Of course, each building will have its own unique requirements. But many facilities and energy managers are turning to modular boiler designs to meet the tighter environmental requirements, particularly in buildings with fluctuating heat demand. Forward-thinking manufacturers offer an extensive range of reliable, energy-efficient solutions that enable accurate matching of the actual heat requirement to optimise overall system efficiencies. And if we design for easier future servicing, the lifetime of the boiler will increase still further. But arguably the two most common design hurdles are space and capital costs. So let’s consider how we can design better with careful boiler selection.

GOOD BOILER SELECTION As space within plant rooms remains at a premium, the size and design of the boiler will be key, making achieving a high output in a compact footprint a frequent challenge. Restricted plant room access? The logistics of physically getting the plant into the building – and safely removed at the end of its lifecycle – is another aspect that will need to be addressed. Fortunately, the arrival of smaller, more lightweight condensing boiler models means that they can be manoeuvred safely into position. Additional features like the inclusion of integral wheels or the ability to disassemble high output boiler into parts again smooths access constraints and associated costs. But maintenance areas, access space and walkways also need to be calculated when determining boiler selection. With that in mind, let’s evaluate the options.

DESIGN OPTIONS Modular boiler arrangements can normally be separated into two categories: stacking and floor standing. Stacking units are designed to be

positioned vertically. Typically, a stack of around six to nine modules, usually combined using a vertical header at the rear, will achieve the required output. A key advantage of vertical stacking style arrangements is their ability to offer a larger heat output in a smaller physical footprint. However, as these arrangements require access on all sides of the plant and pipework arrangement, this generally results in the units being ‘islanded’ in the plant room. The vertical headers will also need careful attention to ensure that the boiler pumps, system pumps and overall hydronics are set up to perform as intended.

COMPACT DESIGN Floor standing modular configurations occupy a similar footprint in terms of plant, but access is usually only required at the front. As a result, they can achieve an equally, if not more, compact configuration overall. When it comes to servicing and maintenance, a multiple floor standing boiler design offers several compelling advantages. Fewer modules will typically be required to match the heat load, so maintenance and servicing costs will be correspondingly lower across the lifecycle of the boilers. And while interconnecting pipework tends to be placed above the units, at a similar height to a verticalstacking arrangement, the modules are all at the same height, so maintenance can be carried out safely at a lower level.

BOILER LONGEVITY Regardless of the design, with all modern condensing boilers, quality construction and longevity are critical. The heat exchanger is central to this, as many floor standing boiler arrangements and most vertical stacking systems use aluminium heat exchangers to keep weight down and efficiency up. Look for boilers with monobloc heat exchangers as they will allow constant thermal expansion across the whole heat exchanger, reducing

the need for large joins and improving performance, reliability and lifespan. Understanding how the connecting pipe kit holds up to the overall job specification, with quality parts, pumps and valves, is also advisable. How flexible and how readily available are the products and accessories? And how easy are the boilers to control?

EFFICIENCY STARTS WITH THE BOILERS When it comes to heating, efficiency arguably starts with the boilers. Modular boiler designs can provide a time saving, energy-efficient solution to meeting heating requirements in restricted plant rooms. But it’s essential to think carefully about how the plant space is allocated and to ensure good boiler selection. Reliable performance, future ease of maintenance and part replacement are all factors that should be considered from the outset. And with manufacturers like Remeha helping energy and facilities managers to evaluate the various options, we can achieve the best, most energy-efficient commercial heating solution every time. remeha.co.uk,

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

ENERGY-AS-A-SERVICE: GIVING BUSINESSES MORE CONTROL, BETTER RESULTS Kimberly Littlefield, Enel X

he ‘as-a-service’ business model has redefined the way we access a multitude of information technology resources. For example, software, file storage, servers – are all commonly available as-a-service. This model enables more dynamic access to applications and resources, allowing businesses to control spend based on need. It simplifies procurement, management and output across an enterprise. In short, ‘X’-as-a-service (XaaS) gives businesses better control over their IT, and it can do the same for energy. The arrival of cloud technology disrupted software procurement and is key to enabling the XaaS model. Today, the energy industry is undergoing a seismic shift from centralised generation to the use of decentralised – or distributed – energy resources. This is accelerated by digitisation, leveraging cloud-based software and hardware control solutions that increase visibility and intelligence. This new ‘energy cloud’ of assets and the technology connecting them is set to disrupt the traditional one-way business model that has been embedded in the energy industry for many years.

GIVING BUSINESSES MORE CONTROL Just like XaaS, Energy-as-a-Service, or EaaS, is fundamentally about giving businesses more control. Given that energy is a major cost item for most industrial and commercial businesses and often disparately managed across a variety of business functions, EaaS offers a unique opportunity to gain transparency, enhance strategy, and make better decisions. The plethora of choices available to transform your energy portfolio present a growing list of decisions for industrial, commercial and institutional organisations... Beyond simply agreeing to a bespoke tariff for

your energy use, you can also choose how your power is generated; use of renewables; the pricing/payment/ billing model; financing; onsite/offsite generation; resilience measures; the use of energy management technology and your own distributed assets for generation, demand response or storage, and many other choices. Outside of the facility, there are other forces at play offering opportunities to improve the bottom line. The rapid uptake of distributed renewable sources is challenging grid operators to manage the intrinsic intermittency of renewable generation. Increasingly, grid operators are valuing new sources of ‘flexibility’ over power generation. Schemes like demand side response (DSR) reward businesses for reducing demand at peak times; major energy users make use of their own assets, often supported by technology, to turn-down or turn-off demand when required. However, it’s not just technology that is driving change. Regulatory frameworks are changing to support governmental and grid operators’ needs. For example, regulators refine the rules governing DSR schemes to change market behaviour, such as delivering faster response times, longer response durations or to use low-carbon sources of generation. They also review charging schemes that are intended to support the funding of grid improvements. While it offers new opportunities, this transition to a new, decentralised, technology-driven, low-carbon energy landscape is evidently far more complex than it was before. It’s now more challenging than ever for energy managers to keep up to date with the latest regulatory changes and the proliferation of new technology. For businesses looking to optimise their energy use, the choices can be bewildering. For most organisations, energy in itself is not a core business competence and implementing an energy strategy

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that addresses a range of priorities takes knowledge and expertise and a current understanding of regulatory and compliance issues. EaaS leverages outsourced strategic partnership to ensure a holistic approach that puts the business’s needs first.

EAAS IN ACTION Today’s EaaS providers aim to understand your business and from there create and execute a plan aimed at achieving objectives. The plan may be a single or multi-pronged approach depending on considerations like energy maturity, industry benchmarks, and resource capacity. Common components of such a plan may include:

Procurement Advisory:

Manage market risk, reduce costs, create more accurate budgets, integrate renewable energy.

Demand Side Response (DSR): Earn revenue and build resilience by adjusting energy consumption at times when the grid system needs support.

Demand Management:

Reduce energy spend by strategically reducing energy consumption at times when suppliers calculate costly demand charges (Triad management).

Energy Storage and Microgrids: Improve resiliency

and power quality through energy storage and onsite generation.

Utility Bill Management:

Reduce time spent managing large volumes of utility bills across an enterprise, avoid late payment fees and access data for reporting and visibility into financial and sustainability performance.

Energy Efficiency:

Eliminate unnecessary energy consumption and costs by monitoring and controlling equipment. Sustainability: Develop a strategy to improve sustainability performance and streamline reporting to regulations and industry standards such as ESOS.

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Renewable Energy: Navigate a complex vendor landscape – from purchasing renewable energy from offsite sources or integrating renewable generation assets onsite.

priorities include sustainability – moving to lower carbon sources of power; quality of supply – to ensure business continuity and reduce risk by adopting measures that improve energy resilience; and operational simplicity.

Implement a charging solution infrastructure that ensures minimal impact on finances and operations today, whilst futureproofing for the technology of tomorrow.

BETTER RESULTS START HERE

Electric Vehicle Charging:

PROJECT FINANCING One of the biggest barriers for any organisation acquiring new technology is the cost-justification for CapEx-funded projects. The ‘as-a-service’ model overcomes the CapEx barrier by enabling services to be paid for as they are used. Energy-as-a-service providers have been particularly innovative in offering new ways to acquire energy, assets and technologies through ‘funded’ models, power purchase agreements and even efficiency service schemes where the business pays for performance (i.e., a shared savings model). While financing is at the heart of EaaS with a shift away from capital expenditure, its scope goes beyond cost measures. Other business

Energy was once the exclusive domain of the facility manager who minded a single energy cost driver: how much you use. Now, organisations that want to create new opportunities out of their energy spend focus on three ‘cost drivers’: how you buy it, how much you use and when you use it. These cost drivers inherently impact each other and therefore should be managed together. Externalities like climate change dialogues and energy market volatility should also be considered. For effective results, today’s energy strategies need to be holistic and ideally have board-level backing. The decisions you take will have implications for your operations team whilst enhancing your core business – especially if you are a manufacturing firm looking to bring on new revenue streams by participating in schemes like DSR.

So how do you transition to an EaaS model? The biggest challenge in embarking on any change programme is often winning support from key stakeholders. The realisable value in energy management depends to a large degree on how well aligned and informed your stakeholders are. Assessing your current state; looking at your current energy management successes, comparing them to peers and making a preliminary business case will give you the beginnings of a framework for change. As EaaS gains ground, major energy users will see the benefits of taking a holistic approach to implementing energy strategy, without the barriers of having to find capital to fund improvements. One of the key benefits of EaaS is increasing visibility into the overall impact of your energy strategy and its business contribution. Partnering with energy specialists that can offer on-going advice and technology as-a-service, enables businesses to deliver higher cost savings and lower long-term risk while addressing the growing complexity – and opportunities – presented by the new energy cloud. https://www.enelx.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

ENERGY STORAGE

ENERGY STORAGE: FILLING THE GENERATION GAP Carl Ennis, Siemens

nergy management gets more interesting or challenging, depending on your perspective. From buying electricity from Government run power stations, we moved to buying electricity from a range of providers and then to generating our own electricity, mainly with solar power or wind turbines. Now we are looking at selling electricity to the grid or alternatively storing electricity generated in low demand periods to use at busier times. With electricity demand set to double by 2050, the UK’s energy system has reached a turning point and there is a shift underway. The energy system is developing into a more diverse network with many sources of power; combining the traditional centralised model of power generation and distribution with renewable generation and more local, decentralised distribution.

The increasing focus on the decentralised generation and storage of electricity, where multiple local sites – including buildings, campuses, hospitals, air and sea ports and local government estates, amongst others – generate and manage their own electricity. Consumers are now becoming generators and can develop new business models to make an income or massive savings from their energy – becoming prosumers. This calls for intelligent distributed energy management and interconnected microgrids. Many of our facilities, and our client’s, are committed to zero emissions, in Siemens case by 2030, and seeking to become selfsufficient in energy in the process.

OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES Because solar and wind power, the most common options for selfgeneration, are intermittent, we have to

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

look at either using the grid to replace our own generated electricity when the wind drops or at night, or we have to generate and store the excess to balance out supply and demand. One of the interesting opportunities for storage, much in the news at the moment, is the use of electric vehicle batteries. The proposition is that when electric vehicles are not in use, they are connected to the grid, national or micro, and through smart management able to supply electricity to the grid or draw power to be charged when needed. Since at any given time 95% of cars are parked, this is an attractive proposition; electric vehicles can generally store in their batteries more than an average home’s daily energy demand. Government policies are pushing the rapid development of ever faster charging and higher capacity vehicle batteries to make electric vehicles more attractive to consumers, so the potential can only become greater as all vehicles in the UK going electric could

ENERGY STORAGE

advanced very rapidly and we have to hope that this will continue through the efforts of manufacturers like Siemens and others coupled with, and working alongside, the research efforts of universities. Ideally we should be moving away from rare earth metals, essential to the current wave of battery development. Lithium, cobalt, vanadium, copper and so on have a clue in their generic name, they are rare. Furthermore, these minerals are mostly found in countries with unstable or inimical political systems and where mining practices do not always meet the basic human rights standards we would wish for.

match or exceed the current 38 million. Passenger cars, taxis, buses and light vans account for around 75% of transport CO2 emissions, which account for 15% of overall CO2 output. If the majority of vehicles are electric by 2050, the current target, which many feel should be reduced, that offers an enormous reserve of power held in the vehicle fleet. Using energy stored in the batteries of electric vehicles in the car park to power large buildings not only provides electricity for the building, but also increases the lifespan of the vehicle batteries. Researchers at Warwick University have demonstrated that vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology can take enough energy from idle electric vehicle batteries to be pumped into the grid and power buildings, without damaging the batteries. V2G storage capabilities can also enable EVs to store and discharge electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, with output that fluctuates depending on weather and time of day. There is also consideration that electric vehicle batteries, when exhausted beyond effective use in the vehicle, could still be useful for electricity storage, thus extending their useful life. Battery systems technology has

ELEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE While electrochemical battery systems have been the technology of choice in most of the storage applications to date, our group of Siemens scientists continue to research and develop, with particular effort in the higher capacity technologies which will better compliment current capabilities and future system needs. Hydrogen, one of the most common elements on earth, has always played a major role in the fuels we use but it is also a potentially very important fuel in its own right. We have produced hydrogen power cells for on-site storage of solar and wind generated electricity; off-grid charging of electric vehicles – including performance cars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed; to augment power connections in car parks or fleet vehicle parks for EV charging at multi story car parks, shopping centres, parking for buses, ambulances and police cars; for powering trains on the systems of many countries and for powering heavy goods vehicles. Others have used it to fuel internal combustion engine cars and, most famously, as the propellant for space rockets. Hydrogen fuel cells, generate electricity by combining

hydrogen and oxygen. They are reliable and quiet, with no moving parts; have a small footprint and high energy density and release no emissions - when running on pure hydrogen, their only by-product is water. Fuel cell facilities can, therefore, produce hydrogen when electricity is cheap, and later use that hydrogen to generate electricity when it is needed. We have recently installed hydrogen fuel cells for storage at Keele University as part of a major demonstrator development to make it self-sufficient and save £2million per annum in energy bills. Hydrogen cells are also being used as primary and backup power for many critical facilities e.g. telecom relays, data centres and credit card processing. Green Ammonia is another avenue we are exploring. In a world first, Siemens opened a £1.5m pilot project in Oxfordshire employing ammonia, produced using green power, as a new form of energy storage. We believe ammonia has potential advantages over other emerging storage technologies because it is repurposing existing technology and hardware.

BE AMBITIOUS The success or failure of energy production and storage projects are not solely related to the technology. Much of the funding for these projects will come from private sector investment, which may be looking at 15 to 20 years for payback and profits. This means they will have to be convinced that policies at local and national level will be stable around subsidies or support; buying and selling transactions with grids over the investment period. The other problem that needs to be addressed is planning consent, which for many projects will involve several planning authorities; decisions need to be in a realistic time frame and avoid costly and time consuming appeals. Storage, in all its forms, both existing and not yet developed, is a critical element in our ‘future grid’. We are underestimating the scale of the task but also the amount of relevant technology already in existence. We need to raise our ambition. siemens.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

ENERGY SUPPLY

WINTER IS COMING – WHAT ENERGY USERS CAN EXPECT Wayne Bryan, Senior European Energy & Commodity Analyst at Alfa Energy

e are now at the beginning of the winter energy season and over the next six months volatility will be heightened by a plethora of supply and demand fundamentals. These fundamentals while not so important in summer, now become significant. One key metric is the return of LDZ (domestic heating demand) as a barometer of UK and European gas demand. Temperature movements in either direction can cause big shifts in residential demand. Information relating to supply, demand, storage levels, nuclear availability and LNG imports are of great significance in the winter months, and with it an increased risk of shortterm price spikes and ensuing panic buying! The run up to 1st October normally brings increased volatility. Not only is it the start of winter period, but also the ‘October round’ where traditionally energy buyers for large industrial and commercial users would look to fix their energy contracts. Energy buying has evolved over recent years from just fixing once a year to more a dynamic way of purchasing (risk managed products). So the October round effect on pricing is declining, but we have still seen the 2019 Oct start date contract trade in a range of around 6p/therm Last year in the run up to winter we saw the price (see chart above) of a twelve-month gas contract (1st October start) surge to a contract high of 82p/therm. Prior to September the average price of said contract was 58p/therm, September averaged 78p/therm – an increase of 34%. There were several fundamental issues at that time which also contributed to the bullishness. However, a look back in time will show several instances of September rallying without just cause, so this was no surprise. Bullish factors last September included European gas storages at three year lows, French and Belgian nuclear availability was of huge concern, Hydro levels across Europe were below average, gas maintenances had been extended and LNG deliveries into North West Europe had slowed ahead of peak Asian demand and storage restocking.

COMMODITY PRICES In the wider commodity market: • Carbon was trading at ten-year highs • Crude was volatile, trading at a four-month

•

low before US sanctions on Iran saw it surge to a 6-week high Coal was trading towards $100/t having benefitted from the summer heatwaves across Europe, strong Asian demand and elevated gas prices

BEARISH MARKET DRIVERS Fast forward twelve months: coal, oil, gas and power markets had been drifting lower on a raft of bearish drivers, including but not limited to record EU gas storage, renewable growth, a ramp up in Atlantic basin LNG cargo arrivals, softer coal and crude, and falling industrial demand exacerbated by global market concerns. It seemed likely we would head into this winter with front month gas at prices last observed in 2016-17. The absolute bottom this summer saw month-ahead hit a ten-year low on 26th June. These drivers gave the impression it would be one of the most bearish winters of recent years.

BAD NEWS COMES IN THREES – OR FOURS Then came a trifecta of bullish news on Tuesday 10th September,

which reverberated across European gas and power markets. The bulls seized the opportunity to lift prices from the floor resulting in a +20% upside on front month and around 10% on seasonal contracts. • Nuclear reactor parts, specifically welding on steam generator parts manufactured by Framatone (partly owned by EDF), have ‘a deviation from technical standards’ leading to a return of French nuclear production fears. • Dutch lawmakers further lowered production at Europe’s largest gas field (Groningen) to 11.8 BCM/ year and surprisingly announced that production would shut down from 2022, eight years sooner than previously announced. • Lastly and more surprisingly was the EU supreme court overruling a previous 2016 court ruling that had allowed Gazprom 80% access to OPAL, Europe’s largest gas pipeline, which links Nordstream to Germany. Then, on Sunday 15th September, a drone/missile attack on Abqaiq, the world’s largest crude processing facility in Saudi Arabia, removed 5.7Mbpd of supply from global markets and

Driver

Sep-2018

Sep-2019

European gas storage

80p/therm

46.60p/therm

Brent Crude

£82

$62

European coal front year

€98/t

€69/t

Carbon front year

€22.47

€25.95

LNG cargo arrivals into North West Europe

258

506

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

ENERGY SUPPLY

saw crude oil jump +14.6%, the largest one day percentage rise on record. Barring that week’s events, 2019 had been in complete contrast to last year in terms of supply demand fundamentals. Geopolitical risk has increased as a result of ongoing trade spats (US/China) and US sanctions on Iran/Venezuela, as well as a potential hard Brexit looming in the UK. The effects on global demand will continue to spread to the wider energy complex. Weak global manufacturing PMI data indicate falling production, while the most recent Chinese economic data was amongst the weakest observed in the last twenty years and Germany looks to be heading into a technical recession.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME – AND WHERE WILL THE MARKET GO NEXT? There is still chance for a plethora of supply disruptions to materialise, but at present the chances of similar upside to last year are questionable. The latest weather models forecast a warmer remainder of September with October, November also looking milder than normal. If the status quo persists across power, gas and related fuels, the levels of volatility observed in 2018 will not be repeated. The key word here is ‘IF’. There is still plenty of time for the current situation to change, but as things stand we go into winter 2019-20 in a much better position than last year. Saudi Arabia expects to return to pre attack production levels within two weeks. Extant obligations have been met from storage, Russian gas exports are back to pre-Opal restriction levels after some rerouting, and EDF has released a statement saying they are confident affected reactors do not need to be taken offline. Latest weather models don’t see any sustained cold spells in October November. Round 1 of the Tri lateral talks between Gazprom, Ukraine and the EU apparently went as well as could be expected. when considering the extant delicate political situation. Russian supplies around a third of European gas needs with much of that transiting Ukraine. Ukraine requires the transit fees ($3bn)and Gazprom need to defend market share so one can envisage a deal being struck but the longer it drags on the more risk premiums will be added to 2020 gas, power, coal and carbon futures. These events demonstrate that despite strong fundamentals the energy complex is still vulnerable. While we are again currently looking at a bearish October, one thing we can guarantee is that volatility will continue pre- and post- October 1st. www.alfaenergygroup.com This article was prepared on 30th September 2019.

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ENERGY SUPPLY

TOP THREE THINGS ENERGY MANAGERS SHOULD BE DOING Ben Spry, Head of Flexibility Services, npower Business Solutions, Energy HQ.

he host of challenges surrounding climate change and the future of energy exist at such a global scale and involve so many stakeholders, it can be tempting to think that energy managers – responsible only for one organisation – can have little impact. Yet, when you consider the amount of global energy use that is made up by institutional organisations it’s clear that the combined energy manager community has both a significant impact and responsibility to help to achieve relevant Sustainable Development Goals. With this in mind, here are the three most crucial things I believe energy managers should be doing to help achieve these goals:

1. S UPPORTING GROWTH IN RENEWABLES Firstly, they can invest in renewables directly with onsite generation. While wind power is a viable option in only some cases, installing rooftop solar panels on buildings can be done relatively easily and often is a low-risk, competitive business case. Accelerated by the UK Government’s target to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, many local authorities have set in place sustainable objectives to help reduce their carbon emissions. To help West Sussex County Council (WSCC) meet this commitment, the team at npower Business Solutions, Energy HQ, worked closely with WSCC to develop a business case for co-locating a 4MW/4MWh Lithium-ion battery with a 7.4MW solar PV array at one of its disused landfill sites at Westhampnett, near Chichester. Though this was a big investment for WSCC, it not only spurred them towards their goal of becoming more sustainable, but the energy generating and storage capacity of the combined pieces of infrastructure reduced the local authority’s energy costs and justified itself over time. Secondly, organisations can ensure that a portion of their energy is being generated from carbon-free sources in a less direct way, through Power Purchasing Agreements (PPAs). These allow companies to provide support for renewable projects, such as an off-shore wind farm, by committing to purchase energy from that generator at a given price. This helps decarbonise the UK fuel mix and provides a more structured and secure way for an organisation to know for certain that a percentage of their energy is coming from renewable sources.

2. M AKING DEMAND MEET SUPPLY Energy managers also need to play their part to help ensure the stability of the energy grid as it supports ever greater levels of renewable energy generation. Indeed, energy generated from the sun, wind and other carbon-free sources fluctuates in ways that may not match changing demand across the grid, putting the entire network under strain. Therefore, in a low-carbon world, when supply may not always meet demand, it follows that measures must be taken to make energy demand meet supply. This means that businesses must look to proactively manage their consumption, particularly if they are large consumers. This is where Demand-Side Response (DSR) comes in. By limiting energy use in peak hours, businesses can help alleviate the pressure the grid faces, giving National Grid more flexibility to balance periods of stress on the electricity system. In turn, this decreases the need to rely on standby generation, which is often from high-carbon sources. Indeed, DSR capacity is certainly increasing, which could have a profoundly positive impact on the environment. The Association for Decentralised Energy estimates that around 9.8GW of potential DSR capacity could be delivered by the industrial and commercial sector by 2020. That’s the equivalent of having three new Hinkley Point nuclear power stations (and is significantly cheaper that the £19.6bn and rising cost of building just one). And for doing their bit to support the stability of the grid, energy managers can also deliver significant cost-savings benefits for their organisations through DSR and selling surplus energy back to the grid. From our experience, customers can generate between £65k and £120k per megawatt a year from our range of DSR services. Onsite battery story can greater increase the potential benefits of DSR, by allowing organisations store greater amounts of excess energy which can then be sold back to the grid as and when they choose. Furthermore, alongside onsite generators, battery storage can serve as a useful asset that enhance an organisation’s energy resilience. In the even of a power outage, like the one in August that caused widespread disruption across the UK, organisations can switch to their own source of power to continue day-to-day business and mitigate the risk of this threat.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

3. L OOKING AT YOUR ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN Often energy managers think the remit of their role only applies to their immediate organisation. However, if a business wants to be truly sustainable and reduce the environmental impact of all its operations, it’s not just about what they do; energy managers must also consider the practices of their company’s suppliers. Indeed, a company may have the most efficient energy consumption in the world, but if they have a large and complex supply chain across many product lines, then their own energy use may only make up a fraction of their true energy consumption. However, achieving energy efficiency across all the facets of an organisation’s supply chain can appear like a seemingly insurmountable task for energy managers. Given the distance between them and their suppliers, it is very difficult for managers to gain an intimate understanding of how environmental their suppliers are, let alone to get them to adopt more energy-efficient practices. What then can energy managers do when so much seems out of their control? In the first instance, and most crucially, they can make having good environmental practices a key criterion when issuing a new tender. By putting a clear emphasis on environmental credentials – and not just price – during the tender process, it means that right from the outset they can filter out third-parties that do not share their commitment to sustainability. Organisations should also play an active role in encouraging and helping their suppliers be more environmentally friendly. For example, one of our clients, McDonald’s, we help one of our clients hold an annual conference that brings together their suppliers so they can share best practices on ways to drive energy efficiency. Beyond this, energy managers should also profile energy initiatives that are focused on their supply chain as part of their CSR campaign. This will help drive awareness of this too often overlooked aspect of energy consumption and encourage other companies to consider energy use across their entire supply chain. Too often energy mangers face a series of internal pressures, emphasising the importance of achieving cost-savings above all else, which can make it difficult to get internal stakeholders to take a long-term view and to see the advantages of investing in these initiatives. However, energy managers have a collective responsibility to push for the adoption of environmental best practices and to make the business case for their organisations to endeavour to be more sustainable. www.npower.com/business-solutions/

ENERGY SUPPLY

ISLANDS OF ENERGY: THE FUTURE OF GENERATION David Hall, Power Systems VP UK & Ireland at Schneider Electric

limate change is surely the greatest threat to face humanity in thousands of years. Adverse climatic conditions and freak weather events can create massive disruption for people, businesses and the energy network. We experienced this in the UK only last month, when trainlines across London were closed to prevent the tracks warping amid record high temperatures. Addressing climate change demands collective action. To meet the country’s 2050 net zero carbon target, policymakers and enterprises must work together to ensure our energy mix is renewable, clean and sustainable at the local level. However, we need also to be mindful of grid resilience. Renewables are the future, but their unpredictability can cause imbalances and uncertainty in supply unless properly mitigated. Power has never been more important for the development of our cities, towns and people. Encouraging renewable generation is crucial, but we must do it in a way that doesn’t disrupt current power needs. Local authorities and operators can achieve this by fostering greater self-sufficiency and grid localisation. The importance of microgrid and battery technology shouldn’t be overlooked.

DEMAND AND SUPPLY Populations centres don’t just need lots of energy, they need a reliable supply of it every minute and hour of the day. Our relationship with energy is changing as our old understanding of consumption and peak times is turned on its head. The once one-way flow of energy has become multidirectional as many energy prosumers start making their own. What’s more, when they aren’t trading their own energy during the day, they’re charging their electric vehicles overnight. As consumers have become not only consumers but generators of energy, we’re reminded that energy is not an inexhaustible resource, but one we need to manage carefully. All this makes energy supply security critical. When energy reliability is tied to mobility, a power cut or interruption can cause massive disruption with

far-reaching consequences for local communities. The Royal Academy of Engineering estimates the value of load lost (VOLL) in the event of a UK blackout to be over £6,000 an hour at peak times. This a cost felt by local businesses and households, and one they could do certainly without. This is why the growing use of renewables can be problematic. As renewable energy plants best operate in isolated areas, modern energy production has scattered, forcing grid extension at a time when demand has become centralised towards our growing urban centres. Renewable sources such as solar and wind can be seriously affected by sudden changes in the weather. If output suffers, this can lead to imbalances in the grid. Operators are experts at balancing supply and demand across their network, but they can’t create power from nothing. Inevitably some areas will experience supply difficulties and, in the worst cases, failure.

A DECLARATION OF ENERGY INDEPENDENCE As renewable energy sources grow in popularity, the limitations of grid capacity will only increase. Ultimately, in a future of dispersed renewable energy generation communities need a backup to depending on the main grid. Fortunately, greater grid localisation offers a path to both improved supply security and energy sustainability. Having a decentralised, smart microgrid system connected but detachable from the main grid can prove highly beneficial for a community. A microgrid has the ability to island itself from the main grid to become selfsufficient. That means when the main grid encounters a problem, such as a lack of supply from renewable sources, the microgrid is quickly decoupled but can still continue to deliver energy from the local sources it’s connected to. Microgrids can be used as standalone power generation sources — as they are in both rural or off-grid electrification, or disconnected, remote geographies — or, as back-up power

stations that ensure an uninterrupted power supply to critical systems. New financing models, such as microgrids-asa-service, mean communities can invest in a self-contained microgrid system without any upfront costs. Access to a microgrid not only delivers power resilience, it can also encourage greater local renewables adoption and help communities achieve their environmental and sustainability goals. In a microgrid, energy is typically generated from renewable sources like wind turbines, solar panels and sometimes tidal power. In fact, if the community is able to operate completely detached from the wider grid then it’s possible for it to be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy. Often a familiar component of microgrids, battery storage also has a vital role to play in mitigating against renewable uncertainty. As the technology becomes cheaper, it is growing into an economically viable route for reducing the level of demand on the grid. The ability to store the energy generated from distributed, renewable sources provides a dependable power source regardless of weather conditions. Battery storage also provides a valuable reservoir of backup power, which can ensure a consistent power supply when parts of the grid are shut off. As Oxford’s Project LEO (Local Energy Oxfordshire) shows, the future of British energy lies in the interplay of clean, local energy sources on a smart electrical grid. The greater localisation of generation and distribution not only boosts energy reliability, it supports greater renewables adoption. Microgrid and battery storage technologies afford new-found energy independence, cost-optimisation and reliability, ensuring that the lights stay on even when the wind isn’t blowing. https://www.se.com/uk/en/

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

DISTRICT HEATING

DEMAND RESPONSE SPECIALIST FLEXITRICITY HAS TRANSFORMED THE WAY GATESHEAD COUNCIL MAXIMISES VALUE FROM ITS AWARDWINNING DISTRICT ENERGY SCHEME

lexitricity’s partnership with Gateshead Energy Company was the introduction of the first behind-the-meter generation asset into the Balancing Mechanism. The award-winning Gateshead District Energy Scheme is a low-carbon energy centre owned by Gateshead Council, and operated by Gateshead Energy Company, which provides low-cost heat and power to homes, organisations and businesses in the urban core of Gateshead. In 2017, Gateshead Energy Company started working with Flexitricity to ensure business objectives were being met in the most energy efficient way possible. As a publicly owned company, one of the most important objectives is to deliver schemes that provide benefits to the consumers within the local community whether that’s cost, carbon or environmental. Gateshead District Energy Scheme incorporates elements that go beyond the traditional heat network, including a private wire network to supply high voltage electricity to customers, on-site heat storage and electricity storage via a large battery. It is the full integration of heat and power generation, and heat and power storage which sets the scheme apart from others. Flexitricity’s role is to identify flexibility within the scheme’s site and make that flexibility available to National Grid at the right time and the right price, maximising revenue for the site. The demand response pioneer operates a 24/7 control room from its Edinburgh headquarters, which is connected to Gateshead’s combined heat and power (CHP) engines via a remote outstation allowing Flexitricity to automatically stop and start the engines when it receives a signal from National Grid. When public bodies like Gateshead Council can unlock revenue streams from working with Flexitricity, more energy schemes are able to become commercially viable in the future which

is both good for business and good for the wider community. Demand side response not only allows businesses and the public sector to avoid higher energy prices during times of peak demand, it also creates revenue for those organisations when they support the grid. The additional revenue can be invested back into the organisation or community to support growth and transform outcomes for users and customers. Jim Gillon, Energy Services Manager at Gateshead Council, said that working with Flexitricity has brought benefits for both the local authority and the wider community. He added: “The main challenges in the industry are around price volatility so we need ways to make our business plan more resilient and that’s where grid services come in, extra income streams diversifies the way we can generate revenue and that makes our business case much more stable. “For us as a publicly owned energy company the process of working with Flexitricity has been seamless, every step of the way we’ve been supported. Their professionalism and reliability have been second to none. “Price challenges within the energy

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

Photo credit: Greg Macvean

Here we discuss how the partnership has given Gateshead the power to maximise revenue, deliver benefits to the local community whilst reducing its environmental impact and balancing the UK electricity network.

market is an ongoing problem. Working with Flexitricity has helped make our business plan stronger and by accessing extra income streams we have been able to diversify how we generate revenue and improve our business operations. “If we can unlock additional revenue streams it makes more schemes viable and allows us to take more schemes through to construction and development which is good for us, it’s good for the community and it helps us pass on the benefits whether they are cost or carbon reduction to the wider community.” https://www.flexitricity.com/

DISTRICT HEATING

SECOND PHASE OF STOKE-ON-TRENT’S HEAT NETWORK GETS UNDER WAY

he second phase of Stoke-OnTrent’s heat network began Thursday, 26th Sept when civic and business leaders, and students from Stoke on Trent College’s Urban Heat Academy attended a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the beginning of the latest 1.4km installation of flow and return pipework. The district heating network is led by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, and the latest £1.9m phase follows on from pipes being laid under Leek Road in Stoke earlier this year. Sustainable energy specialist Vital Energi is carrying out this second phase of the works which will take 30 weeks to complete. In addition to providing Stoke-onTrent businesses and homes with cleaner, greener energy, it will also provide young engineers with a valuable opportunity to learn the latest industry skills. Councillor Carl Edwards, cabinet member for the environment, helped to break the ground on the project. He said: “This network is all about providing sustainable, cleaner and greener energy to power our city for generations to come. We’re a forward looking city, and we are committed to doing all we can to protect and improve our environment. It’s a pioneering initiative – nowhere else in the country is developing a heat network with the ambition and scope that we are underway with. “Careful mapping of our city’s geology has shown us that there is geothermal energy under Stoke-onTrent, and the deep seam coalmining of the past has helped us to identify its source. It is serendipitous that our energy source of the past could help us in powering our city for the future. Our plans for the network are that it will eventually go on to be powered by these hot underground rocks. “We’re thrilled to be launching this latest phase of works. It is the next stage of a total 18km of pipes that will be installed over the next four years stretching across the city. As the scheme develops, we’ll be talking to businesses and the households to explain how they can be part of the network.” Stoke on Trent College’s Urban Heat Academy will work with contractors and employers involved in the

design, installation, management and maintenance of the District Heat Network to provide apprenticeships and work-related training Skills needs already identified include groundworks, site management and surveying. The academy has also identified training on fusion welding, using new automated ultrasonic testing methods, to ensure the pipe work is installed to the highest standards. As part of this work, college staff have travelled to Denmark to work with specialist pre-insulated pipe suppliers. Ryan Johnson, Campus Director at Stoke on Trent College, said: “Over recent months we have seen just how important an issue climate change is, to young people here in the UK and across the world. “It is important that local people realise that Stoke-on-Trent is leading the way in developing greener energy systems and that, right on their doorstep, there are opportunities to get involved in this important work. “As the UK focuses on renewable energy, projects like the District Heat Networks will create new jobs and an opportunity for young people to skill up in new areas of construction.” Vital Energi will be employing a local apprentice, from the College’s Urban Heat Academy, who will be working on the scheme via day release for the duration of the contract works. Ashley

Walsh, Vital Energi’s Operations Director (Infrastructure) said: “Projects like this can offer fantastic opportunities to deliver community benefits such as employment and training to local people and we are delighted to be working on such a visionary scheme. This project has, not only the potential to expand and become a major heat network, but also to become one of the first successful geothermal schemes in the UK, making it a truly important contribution to the UK’s energy infrastructure.” The district heat network is a multi-million pound programme that has attracted funding from central government and support from the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). Alun Rogers, acting chair of the LEP, said: “The district heat network demonstrates that Stoke-on-Trent is a city of innovation and will provide sustainable energy for communities and businesses. “A key part of this project is involving engineers of the future – developing their skills in what is an increasingly important sector. “The district heat network is one of our flagship projects. We are a pioneering area in terms of green energy development – improving our environment and bringing wider economic benefits.” www.stoke.gov.uk/news

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

DISTRICT HEATING

Solent University Sports Complex successfully connects to Southampton District Energy Scheme Solent University’s new sports complex has been successfully connected to Southampton Geothermal Heating Company’s (SGHC) pioneering district energy scheme after signing a £2.8 million deal with energy and services specialist, ENGIE, over the next 20 years.

he SGHC is a working partnership between ENGIE and Southampton City Council, launching more than 30 years ago. The scheme supplies heat, chilled water and electricity to commercial and residential energy users across Southampton – currently serving a 2km radius of the energy centre. Users already included TV studios, a hospital, shopping centre, student accommodation, residential buildings and hotels; with Solent University tasking ENGIE with the implementation of a new heating connection which would link up existing assets, as well as a new state-of-the-art sports centre. The SGHC currently saves around 10,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum, using heat from a large-scale combined heat and power (CHP) plant, supplemented by geothermal energy and conventional boilers. The University required a new District Heating connection with a substation, to provide heating and domestic hot water for the new facilities with predicted annual heating consumption of 620MWh/ annum and a contractual peak load of 875 kW; which ENGIE is poised to deliver through the connection to SGHC. Approximately 150 m of Pre-insulated District Heating Steel Pipework were installed, adjacent to the Southampton Solent University building on East Park Terrace, Southampton.

Andrew Hart, Managing Director for ENGIE’s Urban Energy business, said: “Southampton is an exemplar of district energy solutions that stand the test of time. We have successfully operated in the city for more than three decades – delivering low carbon and costeffective energy – so the addition of Solent University to the scheme is a welcome one. “We have adopted an incredibly flexible approach to our service delivery, to ensure we can continue making connections to the scheme and extend this unique solution. We look forward to working with our partners in the council, as well as the University over the next 20 years to deliver a first-rate service for people and businesses in the region.” Paul Colbran, Chief Info & Infrastructure Officer at Solent University, said: “Solent is undergoing a £100 million estate redevelopment programme to provide new and improve current campus facilities, and the new sports complex is just one element of that programme. “With such a large infrastructure project and our desire to be cleaner,

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

greener and more environmentally sustainable, the geothermal system helps us keep our emissions down and makes sense connecting with the current infrastructure already in place.” ENGIE has confirmed the new system is now operational – delivering heating and cooling for the sports centre and beyond. www.engie.co.uk/places

RENEWABLE ENERGY

“ THE ROAD TO CLEAN ENERGY” was on par with coal. Compared to 1990, coal was the largest by far with natural gas being the second highest.

A NUCLEAR AGE?

BACKGROUND: Farmer Martin Edwards based in north Cornwall in the village of Delabole arguably started the green revolution. After suffering in a storm, his mother stated ‘if only we could use the wind rather than be done by it’ which is where it all started. Fast forward to 1991, Edwards and his brother opened the UK’s first commercial wind farm. They had little objections due to people not knowing what to expect. The original 10 turbines have since been replaced with 4 bigger, more efficient generators of renewable energy. There are now more than 10,000 of these modern-day windmills in the UK – 8,000 of them being onshore and 2,000 being offshore. This has resulted in the price of wind energy generation plummeting since Edwards first installed the turbines.

PRICES: In the last 10 years wind power prices onshore and offshore have decreased, with onshore peaking in 2017. Offshore wind first came around in 2018 and prices have been falling ever since. Around 15% of the UKs electricity currently comes from Wind power which has made it possible for the UK to contemplate a zero-carbon future, with the government committing to 2050. In the past two years, the cost of large-scale renewables had halved, with Britain going just over a week without using electricity generated from burning coal since the 1880’s.

HOW THE UK’S ENERGY GENERATION HAS CHANGED (1990-2018): When looking at 1990 to 2018, the UK has lowered its carbon emissions. In 2018 natural gas was the largest used source with oil coming in at the lowest, interestingly wind and solar

Cornwall could not seem more remote from the epic scale of construction activity at Hinkley in Somerset. Hinkley is the biggest current construction project in Europe, with 4,000 workers on site which is expected to grow to 25,000. Hinkley is in fact much older technology than Edwards fields in Cornwall. In 2008 the UK government announced the dawn of a new nuclear age, in 2010 identifying 8 sites suitable for future nuclear power stations, including Hinkley. There is a need for a reliable source to run alongside wind power, this could be Hinkley. If commissioned in 2025 Hinkley C point alone will produce 7% of the UK’s current requirements. The UK built 19 nuclear stations from 1956 onwards which currently contributes to 20% of the UK’s electricity – these old stations are due to be phased out by 2035. One thing on which everyone agrees is that decarbonising the power supply will need a mix of technologies. Wind, solar, biomass, nuclear, hydro will all play a part – included in this is power storage and a smarter energy grid that matches demand and supply more efficiently.

THE NEXT STEP: Many would be surprised to learn that the biggest consumers of energy are ourselves, heating and driving short distances. In 2017 there was the following results; • Transport 40% • Domestic 29% • Industry 16% • Other 15%

WILL ELECTRIC CARS HELP THE CLIMATE RESCUE?

The government wants the UK to cut carbon emissions to zero by 2050, but is this possible? CENTRAL HEATING: The hardest part of getting to zero emissions is the mass installation of central heating in UK homes, which is accountable for the largest single use of energy in the UK – 85% of these homes with central heating are connected to the gas grid. It is looking likely that £500bn will go to refitting domestic heating in order to get to net zero. Council and social housing can be changed under government initiatives, however persuading owners to change their gas central heating may be a challenge. Hydrogen is seen as a suitable substitute due to its only by-product being water, the Committee on Climate change (CCC) is less positive stating that we have not yet done any large trials for heat pumps or hydrogen. To get to zero by 2050 we will require significant changes to transport and heating systems, as well as seeing effects on what we eat, what we buy, how we travel and how we heat our homes.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion decarbonising the electricity supply can be done with a mix of renewables, with the biggest challenge being decarbonising domestic heating. The task is daunting but not impossible. Global CO2 emissions have continued to rise even after 30 years of low emission targets in the west, going from just over 300 parts per million in 1959 to just over 400 parts per million in 2018. The UK is responsible for just over 1% of global emissions, so why are we bothering? Due to the UK profiting over the years from emitting CO2 we have a moral responsibility to do so – states Baroness Brown. The UK has proved to other countries it’s possible to grow your economy at the same time as reducing emissions and therefore lead by example.

In August 2019 sales of EV’s (electric and hybrid), increased fivefold compared with 2018 and in the last 5 years EV car sales have increased from 20,000 to 200,000. Alongside this the government have announced the intention to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040. However electric cars still only make up 1% of vehicles on the road, along with rising CO2 emissions.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

DRIVING THE FUTURE – EV CHARGING

ACCELERATING THE SHIFT TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES The acceleration towards sustainable transportation is being led by public bodies and commercial fleets, who are grasping the opportunity to make the shift to electric vehicles (EV) says John Hartley of Centrica Business Solutions. In the following article he outlines why organisations are making the change to EV and what they have to consider when they do.

rganisations can make a huge contribution to reducing the threat of climate change by transitioning to electric fleet vehicles, providing atwork charging for employees or turning car parks into EV friendly spaces. EV lowers costs, improves the customer and employee experience and makes a contribution to reducing carbon. Public and business sectors have the scale to realise these benefits in a material way. They also have the advantage of a range of grants and financial incentives to assist them in transitioning to EV and building the required infrastructure. This large scale can also throw up unique challenges, most notably in getting sufficient power to the charge points when there are lots concentrated on one site, as well as the complexity of designing, planning, developing and operating the supporting charging infrastructure.

THREE KEY BENEFITS OF SWITCHING TO EV: 1. Improve your sustainability and environmental compliance Electric vehicles are crucial to

decarbonising transport and improving air quality. By demonstrating leadership in providing EV charging infrastructure and transitioning fleet vehicles to EV, businesses and public bodies can play a major role in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, while inspiring wider EV adoption across society. Organisations that fail to address their environmental responsibilities face a growing raft of financial penalties and green taxes. For example, London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, which is expected to be rolled out in other cities, provides a powerful financial incentive to move to EV. 2. Reduce costs and generate revenue With the economies of scale of fleet management and falling technology prices for batteries, and charging infrastructure, the cost of EVs is reducing. Long term cost savings can be made by making the switch from petrol and diesel. But electrifying transportation also unlocks opportunities to integrate your EV infrastructure with renewable on-site distributed solutions such as solar and battery storage, which can further reduce energy costs and enhance sustainability across your entire estate. Installing onsite battery storage can also enable your business to earn money from your EV strategy by selling any spare power capacity back to the grid via lucrative Demand Side Response (DSR) and supply optimisation programmes. If grant funding is available this can be improved still further as upfront investment keeps ongoing operational costs low. 3. Improve your brand reputation and customer experience Growing public concern about the

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

threat of climate change demonstrates an urgent need to take action on sustainability and improve your environmental credibility. While regulatory targets matter, pressure from your stakeholders can often be a more powerful motivator to make the shift to clean transport. Customers’ expectations are growing and they will value the convenience of using onsite charge points, while workplace EV charging also offers an attractive addition to your employee’s benefits package. Moving your fleet to EV is an effective way of expressing your corporate social responsibility (CSR) and succeeding through delighting all your stakeholders.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN PLANNING AN EV STRATEGY There are huge environmental and commercial benefits to making the shift to EV, but there are also a number of challenges. For example: • How do you connect and coordinate all the silos in the complex supply chain and various elements involved in developing a future-proofed EV project? • How do you secure sufficient sustainable power capacity to meet both immediate and future additional power needs? • How do you fund the cost of expanding your on-site generation and storage infrastructure without raiding your capital budgets? • How do you ensure the efficient long-term management of your EV operation using trusted software and apps that your drivers will find user-friendly? Planning and implementing the

DRIVING THE FUTURE – EV CHARGING complex EV infrastructure for atwork charging or back-to-base fleets requires specialist technical and regulatory expertise. Unless you have the right experience and resources available in-house, it’s likely that you will require expert support to guide your EV enablement package. This involves integrating the many disparate elements of the project, including software, hardware and energy provision; planning control; regulation, installation; operation and maintenance, etc. It’s important to select a partner who has experience across the entire value chain, who will help to facilitate a joinedup approach between suppliers to avoid technical and operational inconsistencies. Future-proofing your EV enablement solution to avoid obsolescence is difficult when technology is evolving so quickly, but this is no reason to delay the transition and the financial and environmental benefits that this can bring. Centrica Business Solutions has created an EV Enablement solution to provide the complete endto-end support to make the transition to EV simple and easy. Further information: www.centricabusinesssolutions.com

CASE STUDY DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL ELECTRIC VEHICLES REDUCE CO2 IN DUNDEE Centrica Business Solutions has designed and built an electric vehicle charging hub in Dundee, introducing fast and rapid chargers, solar power generation and on-site battery storage. • 30% of the city’s buses are now electric • 102 Plug-in taxis are now serving the city • 122 estimated tonnes of carbon reduction in the first year Dundee City Council wanted to kickstart a strategy to encourage the switch to Electric Vehicles (EV) across the city. The Council needed a trusted partner to deliver the work of its flagship EV charging hub, funded by the government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) Go Ultra Low (GUL) award fund. Centrica Business Solutions was selected to help design and build one of the first city charger hubs in the UK to combine EV charging with on-site storage and renewable generation. This involved designing the electrical infrastructure on site,

contributing to the overall project design and budgeting, and programme managing the build, including civil and ground works and finish. The sustainable transportation project entailed working with multiple stakeholders to deliver a coordinated solution, along with the management of the new connection to the grid.

THE RESULTS Dundee City Council now has the largest fleet of electric vehicles of any local authority in the UK, with 87 to date. In the first year, the project saved an estimated 122 tonnes of carbon emissions. The city now has one of the most extensive charging infrastructures in the UK. Nine out of the top 10 most used rapid chargers in Scotland are located in Dundee. The city also boasts 102 ‘plug-in’ electric taxis and 30% of buses are now electric. Following the success of this initial project, Centrica Business Solutions has also been selected to construct a new Queen Street charging hub. Further information: www.centricabusinesssolutions.com

SCHOOLS OFFERED FREE EV CHARGEPOINT Manufacturer Pod Point has relaunched its Electric Schools campaign for the new academic year, offering selected primary schools a free electric vehicle (EV) chargepoint to highlight the link between EVs and clean air.

od Point’s Electric Schools campaign, which launched last autumn, aims to raise awareness of the many benefits of transitioning to EVs, not least in terms of how they can help fight air pollution – which has been described as a public health crisis – and climate change. The campaign also strives to inspire young learners on how EV technology will revolutionise the way we travel and use energy, by paving the way for driverless cars and energy management systems like vehicle to grid. For the campaign, up to 30 primary schools in highly polluted areas are being given the opportunity to claim a free 7kW Pod Point EV chargepoint and installation, worth over £1,200. As part of the wider campaign, Pod Point’s in-house experts will visit schools nationwide to introduce the technology and

deliver guest speaker sessions on EVs. Under the Electric Schools campaign, chargepoints have so far been installed at primary schools in Leeds, London, Essex, and West Sussex. All primary schools that want to introduce the topic of EVs can benefit from an educational toolkit that Pod Point has created as part of its Electric Schools campaign. The toolkit, which has been developed in line with Key Stage 2 curriculum guidelines, is packed with activities and resources for teachers and children, along with a factsheet for any parents that want to learn more about EVs. Erik Fairbairn, Pod Point CEO and Founder, said: “It feels like young learners are more engaged than ever with the environment and issues like air pollution and climate change. With this campaign

Matthew Andrews, Deputy Headteacher at Three Bridges Primary School

we’re highlighting how EVs can be part of the solution. We also want to make young people excited about the future of mobility and what road transport might look by the time they have finished studying.” Visit pod-point.com/electricschools or email electricschools@pod-point.com to find out more. Schools that don’t qualify for the free chargepoint (including secondary schools) can still benefit from a £100 discount by using the code “ELECTRICSCHOOLS” in the website enquiry form.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

DRIVING THE FUTURE – EV CHARGING

ROAD TO ZERO

o date, a high proportion of public chargepoints have been installed through UK and devolved governmentfunded grant schemes, and local authority match-funding. As the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure market has matured, so has the variety of procurement models and funding options available to public sector bodies. Private sector partnerships and revenue share arrangements are becoming increasingly common and a good choice for some local authorities, depending on the circumstances. In the Road to Zero strategy, published in July 2018, the Government stated its ambition “to encourage and leverage private sector investment to build and operate a thriving, selfsustaining public network”. With the right policy framework and more EVs on the road, the Government expects the market to deliver the public infrastructure needed in the long-term. Moving forward, procurement decisions by local authorities will therefore vary depending on the availability of government or private sector funding, where market failures emerge, the potential profitability of the charging network, and the level of risk that the local authority wishes to carry. Energy Saving Trust’s guide, Procuring electric vehicle charging infrastructure as a local authority, describes the wide range of options open to local authorities to fund and manage public chargepoints, illustrated by case studies. Topics covered within include investing public funding, securing private investment, options around providing

free chargepoints and working on private land, and more. All information is unbiased and transparent, provided through extensive research and firsthand experience in the industry. Six case studies document a range of approaches local authorities have taken to procure chargepoints in the UK.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

Two other guides complement this, altogether providing comprehensive guidance on procuring chargepoints, placing and integrating them, and managing costs. Positioning chargepoints and adapting parking policies for electric vehicles and Minimising the costs of street works and grid

DRIVING THE FUTURE – EV CHARGING connections for charging infrastructure can be found on the EST website, under Developing an electric vehicle charging infrastructure. ( https://www. energysavingtrust.org.uk/transport/ local-authorities/developing-electricvehicle-charging-infrastructure ). Local authorities looking for more tailored assistance, can take advantage of Energy Saving Trust’s Local Government Support Programme. Our three Regional Account Managers are based across England, and work with local authorities on a one-to-one basis, supporting the development of knowledge and sharing best practice. Funded by the Department for Transport, Energy Saving Trust can provide tailored support to help local authorities improve local air quality and reduce CO2 emissions. We can offer impartial advice on chargepoint procurement, planning policies and can facilitate a team workshop or independently review your draft plans. The team can help your local authority identify suitable transport programmes as a local and regional level that can impact air quality, and help you link existing programmes and initiatives to develop a stronger strategy overall. Over the next few months the Regional Account Managers are holding a series of free webinars to help local authority officers build their knowledge and share expertise around low emission transport. Topics include air quality improvements, responding to the climate emergency, and stakeholder engagement. All webinars will be made available as recordings and will complement the charging guides and Local Government Support Programme offering. Energy Saving Trust continues to deliver a range of other projects and funding streams on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT) and Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) that support local authorities in England. The On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme, delivered by Energy Saving Trust on behalf of OLEV, allows local authorities to apply for funding to help with the costs of procurement and installation of onstreet charging points for residential use. Local authorities can also apply to DfT’s eCargo Bike Grant Fund, delivered by the Energy Saving Trust to support the acquisition of ecargo bikes and make last mile delivery more sustainable. Visit Energy Saving Trust’s Transport pages to download a copy of the charging infrastructure guides, and see what other support is suitable for you. www. energysavingtrust.org.uk/transport

MULTI-MILLION POUND SCHEME TO HELP IMPROVE AIR QUALITY LAUNCHES WITH THE LARGEST RAPIDCHARGING ELECTRIC VEHICLE NETWORK IN WEST YORKSHIRE

est Yorkshire’s largest electric vehicle rapid-charging network has gone live with the switchon of the first chargepoint in Bradford. Located in Vicar Lane, the chargepoint is the first of 88 being installed across West Yorkshire as part of the £3 million-plus scheme to help improve the county’s air quality. New locations will be added every week until the network is completed later this year. Each of the new sites, which are free to use until the end of October 2021, will have two bays. One will be exclusively for taxis and private hire vehicles and the second is for all other users. The rapid chargepoints can typically take under an hour to provide a full vehicle charge depending on your vehicle. People can register to use the network online at ev.engie.co.uk where they can also locate their nearest West Yorkshire chargepoint and find updates on the opening of new chargepoints. The scheme is a collaboration between West Yorkshire Combined Authority and its partner local authorities - Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield councils. Following its successful bid for £2 million funding from the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), West Yorkshire Combined Authority appointed Leeds-based ENGIE to install, own and operate the new charging points. West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the partnering local authorities are also providing a further £1.2 million of match funding for the scheme. Cllr Manisha Kaushik, Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee said: “Around 500 diesel taxis and private hire cars are forecast to be converted to hybrid and pure electric vehicles as a result of us rolling out these chargepoints. “Plus, the increased availability of rapid chargepoint locations will help counter ‘range anxiety’, which is currently discouraging people from switching to electric vehicles.

“Just recently West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership launched the Leeds City Region Climate Coalition as part of our commitment to tackle the global climate emergency. This scheme is an important step towards achieving our aims.” Nicola Lovett, CEO of ENGIE UK and Ireland said: “These chargepoints will play a key role in tackling air pollution and creating a greener, cleaner place for people who live and work in West Yorkshire. “At ENGIE we work hard to improve the lives of people in cities and urban areas and we are delighted to launch this electric vehicle charging network in the region. “Providing green mobility solutions is just one part of a wider strategy where we support local authorities and the public in helping shape their environment as we move towards a net-zero carbon world. “There has been a real improvement in carbon reduction where we’ve implemented green initiatives in other cities and we are looking forward to seeing the West Yorkshire region benefit from this fantastic scheme.” Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “As part of our Low Emissions Strategy, we want to encourage residents and businesses in Bradford to consider switching to electric vehicles, and one of the best ways to do this is to make it convenient and free for people to access chargepoints. “We are determined to increase our commitment to reduce the Council’s carbon footprint while staying at the forefront of new ultra-low emission technology. Encouraging the use of electric cars helps us achieve both and we hope that the additional 20 charging points will make Bradford drivers think about making their next car an electric one.” www.engie.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

NEW R32 VRF AIR CONDITIONING PROVIDES COMPLETE SOLUTION

Mitsubishi Electric has launched new R32 VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) air conditioning systems to offer the UK market the first complete range of lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) solutions.

he R32 City Multi YNW range is available in both heat recovery and heat pump variants to deliver lower GWP for large air conditioning systems. For the first time in the UK, this allows customers to use one single lower GWP refrigerant across a complete building or an entire network. “Under the growing pressure of the F-Gas phase down regulations, the market is demanding viable and positive solutions which are future proof for businesses and last the full lifecycle of the product,” explains Mark Grayston, Head of the Product Marketing Department. At a customer conference this month, Mitsubishi Electric asked its partners what the key factors in the adoption of R32 VRF are and the top three responses were: 1) cost; 2) proven VRF concept; and 3) end user CSR. “Customers are looking for products that meet both current and future legislation and with the launch of the UK’s first R32 VRF systems, we are delighted to be able to offer the market a complete range of lower GWP solutions,” adds Grayston. Mitsubishi Electric also announced a warranty extension at the conference for its top partners and will now offer 10-year warranties on all air conditioning equipment installed by its Diamond

Quality Partners (DQPs). “With R32 comes an increased need for quality in both application and installation,” adds Grayston. “Our DQPs are proven to meet the highest standards of installation, including subjecting themselves to an annual independent audit of their work, so we wanted to support their commitment with this extended warranty”. R32 is now the norm for split-type air conditioning systems offering a lower GWP (675) than R410A (2088). Whilst Hybrid VRF has provided a viable R32 solution for larger systems, no standard VRF range using R32 has been available – until now. Utilising the innovative and highly efficient City Multi YNW outdoor unit, this R32 solution offers complete design flexibility, high efficiency and low noise. R32 makes up 50% of the existing R410A refrigerant already found in many current VRF systems, is highly energy efficient and is easy to recycle. A GWP of one third of R410A, plus reduced

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

overall system refrigerant volumes means lower refrigerant total and lower global warming impact. Available to specify from October, the new City Multi R32 models will be in stock from January 2020, offering sizes from 22kW to 34kW in both heat recovery and heat pump variants. With a range of ducted and 4-way blow ceiling cassette indoor units available, the systems provide flexibility of installation for R32 VRF in many applications. They also work with the comprehensive range of advanced controllers to ensure effective and efficient operation. “This new range enables us to offer a complete choice for any building and any customer,” comments Mark Grayston, “Whether CSR is high on the agenda for customers, or whether lifecycle cost or capital cost are more important, there is now a complete R32 choice available from Mitsubishi Electric.” https://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/

LEGISLATION

The countdown is now on for the first reporting deadline for the mandatory Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) scheme, and some businesses will already be 6 months into their first SECR reporting period. However, like the CRC before it, are energy managers struggling to get buy in from the top of their businesses on its importance? Emma Hird, Client Optimisation Manager at Inspired Energy, provides advice on how energy managers can encourage their businesses to go ‘beyond compliance’, when it comes to SECR, so it is seen as an opportunity, rather than a burden.

HOW TO GET SAVVY ABOUT SECR

gainst a backdrop of Net Zero and increasing climate activism, reducing carbon emissions and energy efficiency should now firmly be on the boardroom agenda. SECR, which is designed to replace the reporting elements of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme (CRC) and make energy reporting a simpler process, also allows shareholders and investors to hold companies to account if they are not doing enough to reduce emissions. However, although mandatory, we are hearing from some of our energy manager clients that they are struggling to get buy-in from the top when it comes to SECR compliance. What we have seen with previous schemes is that they can be often be seen as an additional administrative burden when time and cost pressures on a business are already high. This is particularly true today, in the current uncertain economic and political climate. And, while the SECR box will be ticked, there isn’t much appetite – or available resource – to do much more than that. Now, for a significant proportion of qualifying businesses, managing energy consumption is not a new phenomenon – many will already be part of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), and many have announced, or are developing, innovative and ambitious plans on how they will contribute to the UK’s net zero goal. However, there are a considerable number of businesses that will be new to environmental reporting, and those responsible internally for managing the SECR reporting process will be facing pressures to ensure the right time and resource is dedicated to compliance.

So, what is the case for going beyond ‘just’ complying? It really is a change in mindset – i.e. rather than seeing it as something that ‘has’ to be done, savvy organisations are seeing it as an opportunity to take control of their energy consumption and promote their sustainability credentials. At a time when businesses are under increasing pressure to demonstrate they are doing all they can to reduce their impact on the environment, this is a compelling reason to treat SECR seriously. Therefore, arguably, those organisations that take a proactive and progressive approach to SECR will be the ones that see the biggest benefits. CSR is a bedrock for many businesses, and their SECR report is a real opportunity to shout about sustainability – but only if action is taken to improve energy efficiency throughout the year. For example, although businesses are required to include any energy efficiency projects that they have carried out within the reporting year, they aren’t actually required to implement any energy efficiency measures at all. However, if an organisation doesn’t implement any efficiency projects, this will need to be stated in the report. At a time when customers are increasingly expecting businesses to be demonstrating a serious commitment to sustainability, what would be best - publishing a report that is full of proactive efficiency projects, or one that shows no real action to improve sustainability at all? As the SECR report is in the public domain, failing to implement any energy efficiency measures could result in both financial and reputational damage. However, reputational impact isn’t the only benefit of adopting efficiency projects – improving energy efficiency is the only guaranteed way to ensure that a business isn’t paying more than they should for their energy. In fact, increasing energy efficiency through implementing physical and behavioural projects can result in an organisation ultimately making savings on its energy spend. In today’s volatile energy market, many businesses are seeing significant increases in their energy bills, so it’s financially prudent to ensure energy isn’t being wasted. We are now on countdown to the first round of SECR reporting. It will be interesting to see which organisations will have seen SECR as an opportunity to affect real change in how they approach the management of their energy consumption. What is clear is that, as we transition into a low-carbon world, businesses will play a crucial role in the UK’s net zero future – and schemes like SECR should be seen as a means to achieve this, rather than another box to tick. https://inspiredenergy.co.uk/

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2019

regen 2019 www.regen2019.co.uk

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EM October 2019

Articles inside

Driving the Future - EV Charging

Metreg Technologies fiscal and non-fiscal high-precision gas meters