Energy Manager March 2020 by Abbey Publishing

MARCH 2020

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Protecting your business from rising energy prices is easier than you think

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Major Energy Usersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference and Exhibition

2020 Vision: Bringing your energy and water strategy into focus! 12 March, IET London: Savoy Place www.meuc.co.uk/london1203

12 March, IET London: Savoy Place Free-to-attend for end users in the public and private sector. Speakers include: HM Treasury, Ofgem, BEIS and many more. Targeted exhibition providing supply, products and services. Conference sessions: 5 hours CPD Water - Managing Water, as well as the bills Energy - New Government, New Budget Energy - Forecasts, Charges and Opportunities Energy - Net-Zero: Carbon, Renewables, Heat More details and to register for your place: www.meuc.co.uk/london1203 Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make 12 March in London? Register for our 24 March Leeds event with the added bonus of the co-located Public Sector Energy Event running in parallel. Details at: www.meuc.co.uk/leeds2403 | www.publicsectorenergyevents.co.uk

FRONT COVER STORY:

Protecting your business from rising energy prices is easier than you think. See Page 10

MARCH 2020

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INSIDE: 4

News

Cover Story

Opinion

Metering & Monitoring

Driving the Future

Smart Cities

Energy Management

Boilers & Burners

Heating

Drives & Controls

Lighting

Water Management

Rnewable Energy

Legislation

Energy Storage ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

NEWS

HELLOEV LAUNCH NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLE FLEET SHARING TECHNOLOGY IN UK

n electric vehicle solutions company have launched an app in the UK that enables fleets of EVs to be shared. helloEV have introduced the innovative platform to the UK as part of its vision to help tackle the climate emergency, via technology. The app is designed to help organisations and communities with EVs to create a car-pooling system, managed via a keyless booking app. The technology also helps organisations reduce the number of vehicles it requires to operate. The company was founded in Oxford by smart city experts Antony Page and Jason Warwick to supply EV sharing, mobility and energy solutions to tackle the climate crisis. helloEV Managing Director, Mr Page said: “We are passionate about reducing environmental impacts from petrol and diesel fleet vehicles. The current climate emergency is well documented, and we can all play a role in tackling this together in the commercial and public sectors.

At least 18 cities are implementing zero emissions or clean air zones. These include charging fossil fuel vehicles to enter the zones or excluding them completely and workplace charging levies. In total the Government required 29 cities to review air quality levels under the Clean Air strategy. helloEV was set up with funding from the European Commission and European Investment Bank ELENA programme. It provides advice on current government

grants for EVs and charge points, in addition to guidance on taxation and wider benefits of going electric. It includes providing test drives and demonstrations of EVs and sharing systems to help raise awareness. www.helloev.city

TRIPLE POINT HEAT NETWORKS AWARDS £40 MILLION TO PROJECTS

he first projects to receive gap funding for heat network schemes have been announced today by the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in partnership with Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management. With over £30 million awarded to five local authority projects and a further £10 million awarded to two exciting private sector projects in South East London and Liverpool. Marking another step forward in the government’s Clean Growth Strategy, the money will come from the £320m Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) fund. These projects are the first beneficiaries to be formally announced by the scheme which is open to public and private sector organisations in England and Wales. The Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) has offered funding to: Barking Town Centre Strategic Distribution Energy Scheme (Funding Award: £5m) To create a low carbon district heating scheme in Barking Town Centre, serving a mixture of new developments comprising more than 8,000 homes as well as a number of existing buildings. Bristol City Council: Old Market Heat Network (Funding Award: £6.59m) To support the installation of a key phase of the city centre-wide provision of low carbon heat. The Network will supply 17 buildings

including 10 office blocks, 4 residential blocks, two hotels and one school. Bristol Redcliffe Heat Network (Funding Award: £3.6m) To expand the existing network and the installation of a second low carbon energy centre, supplying heat to a number of new commercial developments. Leeds City Council (Funding Award: £2.4m) To extend a recently completed heat network into the city centre. The extension will deliver low carbon heat from the Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility (RERF) to five council buildings and has been oversized to allow existing buildings and developments to connect in the future. Energetik: Meridian Water Heat Network (Funding Award: £5.5m) To supply low carbon waste heat to 10,000 homes and eventually connect to three other housing developments in the Borough to supply over 15,000 homes. The network has capacity to expand and the company hopes to connect to supply heat to neighbouring London boroughs. Veolia: South East London Combined Heat and Power Heat Network (Funding Award: £5.5m) To create a new pipework branch from South East London Combined Heat and Power (SELCHP) – a major energy from waste plant – to transport waste heat to 3,500 new homes. Peel Energy, part of Peel L&P: Liverpool

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

Waters Heating Network (Funding Award: £1.3m) To support the supply of heat to multiple residential and commercial buildings with a temporary energy centre and an accelerated transition to a low carbon heat source. Ken Hunnisett, Project Director at Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management said: “We are delighted to offer funding to these highly deliverable projects, each of which scored well in the opening funding rounds in terms of the key scheme metrics of heat delivered and carbon saved. “Of course, this is only the beginning of the story. We know that there is a substantial pipeline of projects out there and as such this announcement today will be the first of many. We hope it helps to build confidence in the market and that it encourages others to come forward and take advantage of this unique opportunity. People need to engage with some urgency as HNIP is a time-limited scheme that closes in March 2022. Heat networks offer a unique opportunity to utilise a range of heat sources to deliver low carbon heating and cooling to multiple properties. We look forward to working with future applicants to support them throughout their application journey.” www.tp-heatnetworks.org

NEWS

Free hot water energy audit for all hospitals and medical centres — courtesy of RINNAI

innai is offering FREE audits for all hospitals and medical centres in order to maximise energy and financial efficiency in the delivery of hot water at the point of use. Maximising efficiencies can lead to fuel savings, alone, of up to 30% on current energy prices as the hot water is heated only when it is used – turn the tap off and the energy costs can stop immediately. The audit, in close co-operation with the site, measures all data concerning use and presents a full and detailed report prepared by CIBSE recognised engineers. This is all free of any charge. Rinnai is the world’s leading manufacturer of continuous flow hot water systems a range of units that can be manifolded to supply, virtually, limitless temperature accurate water to a site of any size. It also means less space spent on plant rooms and no or little maintenance as all units are proven to be robust with extended working life and warranties to support this. Rinnai’s Sensei N Series water heating range offers a new and compact design with enhanced combustion that allows for easier and quicker installation – and gives high levels of operational performance. All components in the range are designed and manufactured by Rinnai, and this ensures maximum quality and reliability from

the world leader in commercial continuous flow water heating products and systems. The Rinnai Sensei N Series is also the first ever continuous flow hot water heating unit manufactured with stainless steel heat exchangers to be available in the UK - this gives a greatly extended working life. Added to this is the Sensei N Series market leading extended warranties. The advanced burner controls with the Sensei N Series models ensure that all the appliances are well ahead of the NOx requirements set within ErP. The current level of permissible NOx set by ErP is 56 mg/Kwh. The Sensei N Series range have been third-party tested at 28 mg/Kwh making them one of the greenest water heating appliances available. As the units do not incorporate storage their ‘green credentials’ are further recognised by BREEAM and score additional credits under the building regulations. In answering the threat of Legionella proliferation – continuous flow technology is recognised as heavily reducing the risk of Legionella proliferation when compared to other types of hot water delivery. The main reasons for this are that there is no storage, system turn over is regular and the area for debris is

much lower than storage type systems. The industry uptake of Rinnai’s continuous flow heater systems is proven to be more energy efficient than conventional storage systems and are increasingly the experts’ preferred method of hot water provision. Email: info@rinnaiuk.com www.rinnaiuk.com

LOGAN ENERGY SELECTED AS HYDROGEN REFUELLING PARTNER FOR £1.9M IRISH TRANSPORT PROJECT

lean energy solutions provider, Logan Energy, has been selected to supply and maintain a hydrogen refuelling station in Belfast to support the rollout of three hydrogen-fuelled double decker buses in the city. The ‘Northern Ireland Hydrogen Transport’ project, which is being led by Energia Group and public transport partner, Translink, received £1.9 million of grant funding from the Hydrogen for Transport Programme (HTP) – an initiative launched by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), which supports the development and deployment of zero emission road transport. The Edinburgh-based firm has been contracted by consortium partner, Energia Group – Northern Ireland’s leading energy supplier – to design, deliver and maintain the hydrogen refuelling station for the project at Translink’s

Milewater Service Centre in Belfast. Logan Energy was selected as the project’s hydrogen partner due to its strong track record and experience in delivering hydrogen refuelling stations and integrated hydrogen technologies. Bill Ireland, CEO of Logan Energy, said: “We are pleased to have been chosen as the hydrogen partner of choice for this significant project in Belfast. “The refuelling station we intend to supply will be our largest capacity yet and will be the first one intended for the refuelling of double decker buses. Our role in this project will be extremely valuable in building on our already extensive experience of delivering hydrogen refuelling stations across the UK and Europe.” He continued: “With the demand to switch to a low-carbon economy greater than ever before, this pilot project will provide an opportunity to further explore

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

this innovative technology for bus travel as an efficient and economic zero emission solution, with potential for more vehicles to be introduced into the fleet in the future.” The new fuel cell buses will be powered by renewable hydrogen produced through electrolysis on Energia’s Long Mountain Windfarm near Rasharkin in County Antrim. www.loganenergy.com

Bill Ireland, CEO of Logan Energy,

NEWS

AMEY CALLS FOR URGENT ACTION TO DECARBONISE THE UK’S BUILT ENVIRONMENT

mey has published its second white paper on the UK infrastructure market. Focusing on the need for urgent, wide-ranging action across the public and private sectors to decarbonise energy and heating in the UK’s built environment, Amey makes three core recommendations and calls for immediate action if the UK government is to reach its Net Zero targets by 2050. The three recommendations are: 1. Clear and consistent government policy to steer the market in the direction of low carbon technologies. 2. Clear investment models so that local authorities are better equipped to engage with the market and investors can invest with more confidence. 3. Local authorities and central government organisations empowered to make decisions by having in place business models and funding that work for them. Amey sets out the stark challenges ahead, making the point that heat accounts for 31% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions and there are just three decades remaining to reach a target of Net Zero emissions by 2050, which the government legally committed to in June 2019. The required scale of investment by government and the private sector, the report says, is immense, while the roll-out of decarbonising technologies will need to be rapid and supporting by considerable government policy. Commenting, Nick Maggs, Business & Development Director, Amey, said: “Notwithstanding initiatives such as recent consultations on heating in Scotland and the Heat Network Investment Project, the public and private sectors need to move much faster. In the case of heat networks, there is a lack of understanding of how the technology works and very little publicly available information or policy from the Government backing this and other carbon saving technologies. Heat networks and district heating schemes which significantly reduce carbon emissions only deliver about 2% of UK heat currently. There is huge potential to act on the technologies that are already available – opportunities that we as a country have not yet fully grasped.” The white paper suggests that the size and scale of the investment required means it is essential that local authorities and government departments use business models that encourage a plethora of market entrants, which in turn will lead

to strong competition that will drive down prices and deliver technical innovation. There is also a call for standardisation around technology, corporate funding structures and around the process of due diligence. This approach would overcome some of the difficult commercial and technical challenges and would enable the market to move forward and accelerate third party funding. Amey points out that despite over 100 local authorities having declared a climate emergency and many of them making good progress in their stated carbon neutral targets, many still lack the guidance and policy clarity from central government on what carbon saving approaches are permissible and possible. Given the urgency of the task ahead, Amey urges a revamped and much stronger relationship between local and central government. At the same time Amey emphasises that there is an abundance of private sector companies ready to invest in the market if there are clear, stable, investable structures that allow them to finance new developments and if they can understand where funding comes from to repay their investment when projects are successfully delivered. Core to Amey’s recommendations is for less fixation on achieving off balance sheet classification for contracts between the public and private sectors. Trying to ensure private sector concessions are off balance sheet in other infrastructure sectors

has led to inflexible contracts, too much risk transfer and the inability to adopt models which are more collaborative between the public and private sectors. Amey believes that past mistakes in balance sheet treatment of infrastructure projects need to be avoided in energy and heating infrastructure. Nick Maggs added: “Central government departments are fertile ground for implementing major heating and energy efficiency schemes that can have immediate effects – financial savings as well as carbon reduction. Without the complexities faced by local authorities of disparate households and businesses, departments can implement more radical solutions, more quickly on their estates. They face similar challenges around balance sheet treatment and business models as their local government counterparts. Yet the scale of the investment required will attract investors prepared to take risk on delivery, savings and energy efficiency – departments are likely to benefit from a highly competitive market.” Finally, Amey points out that the supply chain needs to be fully resourced and trained with knowhow and skills in low carbon technologies to move forward with the scale of the transition needed. This requires strong government backing and follow through to ensure that the supply chain serving the public sector can fully advise decision-makers on the solutions available and have the technical expertise to deliver low carbon solutions. www.amey.co.uk

Cornwall Insight comments on 52% growth in EV charging devices

t the end of 2019, there were ~17,000 public electric vehicle (EV) charge points, over 29,000 connectors, and over 10,500 charging locations recorded on Zap-Map. Research shows that there was a 52% increase in the number of charging devices in 2019 compared with 2018. Within the overall growth of the public network, the number of ultrarapid charge points has grown from 300 units to 800, and contactless bank card accessible charge points have also risen from 300 to approximately 1,000 through 2019. Tom Lusher Analyst at Cornwall Insight, said: “Alongside this encouraging growth in EV charge points,

2019 also witnessed a range of new market entrants, such as IONITY and Fastned. Although these networks are small at present, there is room to grow. “The rollout of devices that enable contactless payment is particularly positive as it is providing EV drivers with a version of network interoperability via ad-hoc payments that allow e-mobility to increase. This is particularly beneficial to fleet operators, who need access to a range of networks. “The scale of the network at present highlights the need to further advance the rollout of contactless payment systems, thereby giving more businesses confidence that their fleet can operate as normal when running on electricity. New investment from European market players may also improve the situation through new business models that emphasise convenience and usability.” www.cornwall-insight.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

NEWS

WORLD’S FIRST AND FASTEST POWER TECHNOLOGY PAVES WAY FOR DECARBONISATION

K Power Networks has installed the world-first Power Electronic Fault Limiting Circuit Breaker device at a substation in Tower Hamlets. The technology can detect and protect from a fault on the electricity network in just four-thousands of a second; 20 times faster than any existing circuit breakers. The devices make it easier and cheaper for low-carbon energy technologies such as wind, solar and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units to connect to the grid. CHP – spinning turbines which produce both heat and electricity – is especially popular in big cities at places like hospitals and can play a crucial role in district heating and community energy projects. The efficiency of CHP means the Greater London Authority aspires for CHP demand to rise by 500% over the next 15 years. UK

Power Networks is helping to enable this additional power to connect safely to the network while spending less of customers’ money on physical infrastructure upgrades. That is where Powerful-CB comes in. The super-fast circuit breaker will protect the network from any issues created by faults 250 times faster than a person can blink. As a result, more CHP and other low carbon generation can be safely connected a lower cost, and the benefits passed on to customers. The devices are a quarter of the size and half the price of the current limiters being used. Savings of up to £400m would be driven by an additional 460MW of distributed generation the device would facilitate connecting to the network. The increase in CHP has the potential to deliver up to 3.8 billion kg of cumulative reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. That is the equivalent of emissions generated by 800,000

PowerFul CB team Jack McKellar (L) and John Moutafdis (R) with the PowerFul CB device, which is being trialled at a substation in Poplar, East London

petrol or diesel-powered vehicles in one year. Powerful-CB devices are reusable, unlike fuses which perform a similar function. Engineers at UK Power Networks’ can also operate the devices remotely, meaning that the lights can be turned back on faster without needing to visit the site, should a fault occur. Device trials will continue until 2021 to gather data on Powerful-CB devices’ performance in different configurations. The £6.188m project is part of the Ofgemfunded Network Innovation Competition. www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk

New tool launches to help energy managers deliver on their business energy goals in 2020

helpful toolkit for business energy managers has been launched by npower Business Solutions, Energy HQ: Making the business case for a long-term energy management strategy. The toolkit includes a presentation template which energy managers can use to present to their C-Suite. nBS research has found that 20 per cent of UK energy managers say that less than half of their energy efficiency plans have been implemented into business policy, suggesting they are struggling to get buy-in from senior executives to adopt a comprehensive energy management strategy, which we know is key to achieving long-term business energy efficiency and sustainability goals. To help energy managers overcome this obstacle, nBS has published a ready-made presentation template and other resources, equipping energy managers with the context, insights and statistics they need to make the business case to their boards for adopting a long-term energy management plan. Included in the presentation are five resolutions energy managers should make,

and campaign for internally, this year: 1. Navigate big policy changes. Business consumers that have invested in flexibility initiatives are likely to face higher energy bills as a result of Ofgem’s recently announced shift to a fixed network charge, now set for 2021. Without being able to reduce charges by powering down during peak-demand times – including the most expensive ‘Triad’ periods – energy managers should make the most of new opportunities emerging to earn revenue from flexibility. 2. Check you’re on track to meet netzero. The business case for achieving net-zero emissions goes beyond mere green credentials. Non-commodity energy costs are set to rise by at least 20 per cent over the next five years, mostly coming from green levies. Business energy managers should follow government guidance – ensuring their buildings have strong energy performance ratings, decarbonising transport and encouraging greener ways of working – to meet their businesses’ own sustainability goals and to help offset future charges and penalties. 3. Promote healthy carbon behaviour. One of the most effective ways, energy managers can reduce consumption is by promoting greener behaviour among staff. Energy managers can kickstart this by commissioning a carbon psychology assessment to ascertain

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

key drivers for staff engagement and then identify bespoke measures to increase staff awareness and encourage ownership of energy savings. Taking this a step further, they can even deliver a companywide ‘switch-off’ campaign. 4. Invest in onsite generation and battery storage. While onsite generation and battery storage require up-front financing, they allow businesses to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and, at the same time, pave the way to start engaging in demand side response (DSR). This gives energy managers greater control, allowing them to sell surplus energy back to the grid during periods of peak demand, simultaneously earning extra revenue while also helping to support the evermore renewably-focused grid of the future. 5. Drive efficiency with effective reporting and monitoring. Most energy managers are already well aware of the need to install smart or AMR metering, but it is vital that this is also underpinned with advanced reporting and monitoring processes. However, energy managers should consider upgrading to a more sophisticated package that allows them to undertake more active management, as well as forecasting future consumption to drive greater efficiencies and cost reduction. www.energy-hq.co.uk/emt

NEWS

ENGIE JOINS MIDLAND METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL PROJECT

eading energy and services specialist, ENGIE, is playing a key role in developing the new £475 million Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick in the West Midlands. Work will now re-commence following two years of delays due to the collapse of Carillion, with the project now set to be completed by Balfour Beatty. Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which will run Midland Met, said that securing the services of ENGIE, which aims to embrace a lower carbon and more efficient way of working, was a big step towards opening the hospital. Mark Harris, divisional managing director for ENGIE UK & Ireland, said: “We are very pleased to be working alongside the trust to bring their new flagship site online over the next two years, before becoming a strategic partner at the hospital. “ENGIE has long-term experience in successfully providing facilities management services to a wide range of healthcare establishments

across the UK, including primary care facilities and major acute hospitals. We look forward to working closely with the trust and serving the local community.” Trust chairman Richard Samuda said: “This is a key long-term relationship for us, with a shared commitment to local procurement, local employment and the living wage.” Trust chief executive Toby Lewis said: “ENGIE is a major energy provider with a focus on sustainability. We know that our future will move towards a zero carbon position and we want to be at the forefront of that movement. “ENGIE provide facility management services in over 30 hospitals across the NHS and we look forward to working successfully together.” www.engie.co.uk/places

BUSINESS STREAM WINS BACK SCOTTISH PUBLIC SECTOR CONTRACT

RINNAI CELEBRATES ITS FIRST 100 YEARS OF MANUFACTURING PRODUCTS TO SERVE ITS CUSTOMERS

dinburgh-based water retailer, Business Stream, has been awarded the Scottish Government Public Sector Procurement Framework for Water and Waste Water Billing services. The three-year contract, worth around £200 million, covers Scottish public sector bodies including Local Authorities, NHS Scotland, Scottish Fire & Rescue, Police Scotland, Scottish Prison Service, universities and colleges and Scottish Government. Business Stream will provide water and waste water services to public bodies under the Framework, with a key focus on supporting the delivery of initiatives to reduce water use, to help contribute towards the Scottish Government’s ambitious net-zero carbon targets. This deal represents a significant win back for the water company who recently announced that it is now the second largest water retailer in the UK, following its acquisition of Yorkshire Water Business Services and success in securing over £280 million of new contracts since the English market opened in 2017. Scotland’s non-domestic market opened to competition in April 2008. Since then, Business Stream customers have saved more than £242 million in discounts and water and energy efficiencies and over 43 billion litres of water – the equivalent of half a billion filled bathtubs. www.business-stream.co.uk

innai, best known in the UK for its comprehensive range of hot water and heating home units, is globally celebrating its first 100 years of manufacture in serving its customers with a threeyear period of planned anniversary related events to connect to the start of the company’s next centenary. 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 three-year period is aimed 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’. In the UK Rinnai is the acknowledged leader in continuous flow hot water heating technology. The company offers a comprehensive range of A-rated units plus large systems for any size of site or application. www.rinnaiuk.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

NEWS STORY COVER

PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS FROM RISING ENERGY PRICES IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK Think you have exhausted all your cost saving options? Have you ever considered using solar energy to power your business but found too many hurdles? Fronius Renewable Energy Solutions discuss how you can reduce building energy overheads even further and protect your organisation from future price hikes for years to come.

t’s not surprising that energy costs are a significant portion of an organisation’s overheads. Workstations, printers, machinery, lighting, air conditioning, EV charging, the list of energy hungry appliances is exhaustive, but despite the development of more efficient technologies, we continue to encounter constant energy price increases and the emergence of new electricityreliant innovations. Facility and energy managers are already on the case when it comes to renegotiating contracts and switching energy providers, or at least they should be. But it is possible to significantly reduce the business’ electricity costs much further, whilst also protecting it from rising energy costs.

WHAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE Installing a Solar PV system allows you to achieve immediate savings by producing your own green electricity, but with a considerable initial investment required and a payback period that could take years, this has often led to companies often considering the large investment, but putting it off or deciding against it entirely. This is where leading solar inverter manufacturer, Fronius, has a solution. With their short and unique leasing model it is possible to achieve huge savings on your energy bill from day one, with zero upfront investment. Unlike Power Purchase Agreements where you sell your generated electricity to offset grid required energy and the system cost, this model simply allows you to lease the equipment required to generate your own green electricity over a 15 year period, with the option of ownership thereafter.

A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR BOTH BUSINESSES AND EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS Specialising in the highly efficient and intelligent conversion and control of energy for over 70 years, Fronius has partnered with some of the UK’s biggest brands to deliver financial savings, carbon reductions and energy independence. Fronius technology is also helping businesses and education establishments up and down the country to achieve their clean energy goals, such as Cranfield University’s recent 1MW solar farm installation which not only provides both financial and carbon savings, the large PV system provides the university a key renewable energy research facility for its students. The University has a target to reduce their carbon emissions by 50% by the end of the year and the PV system will significantly contribute to their reduction target. Beate Ruebig, managing director of Fronius UK comments, “We recognised that the upfront cost associated with a Solar PV installation was prohibiting some companies from achieving enormous savings with the technology. Our vision is to see a future powered 100% by renewables, so we wanted to open up the opportunity to businesses so they can produce their own green electricity and this spurred the creation of our unique lease offering that offers customers savings from day one and greatly reduces their carbon footprint.” The intelligence of the products used in a PV system delivered by Fronius does not just stop at the core products used to generate your green electricity.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

The Fronius inverter that will be used comes complete with their free online system monitoring, Solar.web, which will show you, simply and graphically, the energy produced by your PV system and the savings you have made.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Throughout the duration of the lease, the monthly fixed payments will be lower than the cost of that same electricity if purchased from the energy supplier at today’s rate KWh for kWh. (This is based on consumption remaining as per the original calculations in the quote and the accuracy of data provided by you). This enables you to make huge savings from the outset and protects you against increasing energy prices for years into the future. Furthermore – there is a production guarantee for the duration of the contract. This means that if the system produces less than guaranteed, a reimbursement will be issued for the underperformance – a risk-free arrangement for you. Gone are the days of feed-in tariffs where the aim was to send as much electricity back to the grid as possible in exchange for a nice sum. Instead,

COVER STORY NEWS

the system should be sized to generate as precisely as possible the amount of electricity required to run the building within peak hours during the day. Although the system is optimally sized for your building’s consumption, electricity required above that generated, or used in non-daylight hours will still be taken from the national grid and billed via the energy supplier. This means that the lease will not completely replace your electricity bill, but it will be significantly reduced.

WHO INSTALLS THE PV SYSTEM? After completing a thorough analysis of the roof or land space available and current electricity usage, the optimal size and set-up can be established. A certified Fronius System Partner will install the PV system to the highest specification. High quality engineering drives everything that Fronius does, so you can rest assured you’ll be

getting the highest quality products from the very best manufacturers.

WHO MAINTAINS THE SYSTEM? There are no ongoing maintenance costs, this is all included. You won’t need to worry about maintenance or insurance of the system throughout the duration of the lease and in the unlikely event that something does go wrong, one of our Fronius System Partners will be able to rectify any issues. It really is a win-win. The message here is clear: Don’t miss out on the benefits of photovoltaics for your organisation because investment priorities lie elsewhere right now. Find out how much you could save now by calling 01908 512300 or visit www.solaryourbusiness.co.uk

MORE ABOUT FRONIUS Headquartered in Austria and established almost 75 years ago, the technology company has over 1,200

• • • • • •

Production guarantee No upfront investment No ongoing maintenance costs Immediate savings Protection against rising electricity costs Go green!

granted patents and over 3,800 employees worldwide. In the UK, Fronius has a large Technology Centre in Milton Keynes that houses their warehouse, tech support team, classrooms, product showroom and offices. The vision of the company is “24 Hours of Sun” – with the goal to create a future where 100% of the energy needs of the planet come from renewable sources. Dedicated to building products that will last a lifetime in the harshest conditions, all Fronius products go through extensive tests. Its high standards have named them quality leader in solar electronics since 2002. Learn more about Fronius: www.fronius.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

OPINION

BEHAVIOUR CHANGE NOT CLIMATE CHANGE While the emphasis in energy efficiency is often on technology, behavioural change is a vital factor in the equation. Jes Rutter.

he urgent need for action to meet the 2030 targets of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the more recent recommendations from the UK’s Climate Change Committee has now been widely recognised. Reducing energy consumption and associated carbon emissions is one of the leading ways that organisations can contribute to this objective. While attention currently focuses on equipment and technology because they can lead to significant energy savings, there is hard commercial evidence to show that changing behaviours to embed and maintain a good energy culture can easily make savings equal to or in excess of traditional engineered improvements (bit.ly/ESTAbeh). These opportunities to change behaviour are largely ignored, but could prove to be a significant part of the solution. Behavioural change means saving energy by transforming practices to reduce or avoid consumption. This includes obvious measures such as turning off devices from lights to air conditioning, setting conditions at the right level or time, and identifying simple low-cost energy improvement projects both for organisations as a whole and the individuals they comprise. But good energy behaviour goes far beyond this: it is about senior management decision-making, standards, policies, plans and, importantly, optimising the technology used. Many organisations believe that they are already behaving responsibly by investing in a building management system (BMS), for example; but it would be wrong to assume that such a system is managing energy efficiently after being installed, and most are in fact wasting vast amounts.

Changing behaviours to embed a good energy culture can make savings equal to or in excess of engineered improvements. Continual monitoring and review of the BMS is required – including control strategy, settings, schedules, weather compensation, sensor accuracy, the accuracy of user interfaces, system useability and day-to-day operation and maintenance – to ensure its ongoing overall efficiency. A health check and system optimisation review can often identify the potential for substantial energy savings. Both at commissioning and on an ongoing basis, technology needs to be optimised in terms of four key factors: wastage, efficiency, levels and time (WELT). These are not matters addressed effectively through technology alone. Organisations that optimise WELT will not only save significant energy but in turn improve individuals’ energy efficiency behaviours in their homes and communities, as well as enabling other productivity improvements throughout those organisations. We know that training can be an extremely effective way of engaging personnel to reduce energy use and costs in an organisation. When the culture, structure and processes of an organisation also change, engagement

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in, awareness of and commitment to savings achieved through training is reinforced and maintained. A programme to embed a good energy culture may include the following steps: • developing a bestpractice energy policy • engaging senior directors to ensure buy-in at the top level • resultant communication and project plan • reviewing and modifying energy management systems and procedures • identifying training needs, including training the trainers to embed significant knowledge in house where possible • including energy awareness as part of induction training • creating a structure of energy roles and responsibilities among staff • running a tailored energy training and behaviour change programme • supporting recruitment of personnel with dedicated energy roles

OPINION

• • • •

developing an energy action plan tracking the implementation of projects mentoring staff with energyrelated roles to run the projects developing and implementing an energy communications programme.

BETTER BEHAVED Evidence from case studies of programmes in parts of organisations suggests that behavioural change can enable around 50 per cent of total potential energy savings; the other 50 per cent comes from technology, but typically represents 99 per cent of the resource input and policy attention from organisations and government. So a shift is required, and soon, to ensure that the savings available from behavioural change are realised. At one global power systems manufacturer, for instance, a behavioural change programme significantly reduced energy consumption quickly after implementation. A longer-term evaluation demonstrated that additional savings of nine per cent had resulted from raising employee awareness as part of the programme. The reduction in energy consumption was measured using the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP), a globally recognised methodology. Good behaviour is now embedded in the organisation, and consumption continued to fall in the year after the programme was implemented. The nine per cent savings from behavioural projects were the same as those from a new factory LED lighting scheme that the company had installed. However, the internal and external costs of the behavioural savings were £30,000, with a payback time of just three months, compared to the £480,000 spent on the lighting, which took almost four years to pay back. This is a rare example of the success of such a programme all the same. One of the main barriers to the widespread adoption of holistic behavioural change programmes is the paucity of such case studies to encourage decision-makers to take action. It is for just this reason that the Energy Services Technology Association (ESTA) has launched the Energy Conscious Organisation (bit.ly/ESTABchWg). The objective is to promote behavioural change as a significant contributor to energy savings and to make it an integral part of all

organisations’ energy strategies. ESTA’s vision is that embedding such energy consciousness could get the UK at least halfway towards its clean growth target for energy efficiency by 2025. The target could easily be exceeded by organisations adopting codes of practice to take a more structured approach. Until now, even the best case studies only covered at most 25 per cent of the potential areas of behavioural change, whereas all elements could be joined into one cohesive initiative. The potential is significant because this opportunity remains largely untapped. Evidence also shows that payback from behavioural change projects starts quickly and builds as they continue, and that they require relatively little investment, even including the cost of internal resources. The only major issue is that, unlike technical projects, they do not reduce energy use overnight. Instead, behavioural change typically takes 12–18 months to be fully adopted, at which point savings become measurable. It also needs ongoing resource investment to maintain and improve energysaving opportunities and outcomes. The Energy Conscious Organisation’s target is to provide 100 proven case studies for medium to large energy consumers using IPMVP methodologies by June 2022, which it conservatively estimates will save £12.5m per year on an investment of £9.5m. The potential savings from

more widespread implementation could therefore be significant. Other financial benefits not defined here include reductions in the need for infrastructure – resulting in lower capital costs and embedded energy use – and the subsequent optimisation of consumption for individuals in their homes and other communities as described above. While the Energy Conscious Organisation is pushing to raise awareness and provide a model for embedding and maintaining a good energy culture there is no reason to wait, and every advantage in acting now. ESTA’s Independent Energy Consultants Group (bit.ly/ESTA-IECg) includes a number of organisations qualified and experienced in running behavioural change programmes that can be consulted on the right approach for your organisation. What more could you be doing now to slow climate change? Jes Rutter is managing director, JRP Solutions and chair of ESTA’s Independent Energy Consultants Group jes.rutter@jrpsolutions.com Article originally published in RICs Property Journal Jan 20 and reprinted courtesy of RICs.

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OPINION

DILEMMAS OF AN ENERGY MANAGER THE CHALLENGES OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT The obstacles faced by energy managers are constantly evolving. This is primarily because energy management challenges are always changing, meaning that managers need to keep ahead of the latest trends in order to ensure a building is running as efficiently as possible. Not only this, but the difficulty of implementing these changes can be seen as another obstacle in itself; especially if you’re working with a tight budget. It can be difficult to justify the costs of new technology to an Executive Board, even if it’s likely to save the company time and money in the long term. The increased reliance on automation is another key concern for many energy managers. By passing off processes that were once handled manually, how do you avoid the risk of having an energy solution that is essentially a black box? It’s important for energy managers to maintain full visibility, and they risk sacrificing it when they decide to work with a new energy management service provider. Navigating issues such as these can leave energy managers in frustrating positions, and so they need to collaborate with advisors who can guide them effectively.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOK LIKE? Smart buildings and automation are increasingly becoming the future of the energy management industry. We can expect to see huge advances in how companies conserve energy in their buildings over the next decade, just as we have seen in the last one. Though there are many companies that have resisted these advances, they are increasingly becoming the minority. It’s a shift that’s inevitable, and so energy managers must face it head on. Resisting is only likely to make the journey a more difficult one and increase the risk that a company will be left behind by its competitors. As a result, it’s essential to find the right energy service advisor to guide

you through this shift and make it as smooth as possible. Luckily, the benefits of doing so are numerous.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN BENEFITS OF SMART BUILDINGS AND NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGY? While automation can be seen to risk turning your energy solution into a black box, with the right provider this energy management challenge can be easily avoided. At ETS we offer a turnkey service, allowing us to provide clients with full transparency on how their solution is working. We remotely monitor realtime energy consumption, meaning that changes to a strategy can be made swiftly when they are needed. Additionally, if there’s any confusion about any aspect of it, we will be on hand to explain things in a straightforward manner. The rewards provided by automation are significant. With it in place, you can make sure that your building is only running on the minimum amount of energy needed. When systems aren’t required, they will be switched off. By having these activities carried out automatically, you reduce the margin for human error and save time and money. There’s a clear, visible line from automation to cost savings, making it a solution that’s worth implementing in any company. This makes it easier to present to Executive Boards, with the benefits being easy to see.

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WHAT STEPS SHOULD BUSINESSES TAKE? While the benefits of automation are clear, the process of implementing it can still seem overwhelming. It’s important to remember that you aren’t alone. ETS is a trusted advisor when it comes to energy management and we can help you identify the right strategy to satisfy your specific needs. Companies and buildings come with a myriad of different operational requirements, meaning there isn’t a single solution that suits all of them. ETS can help you identify what your company needs to maximise its energy efficiency. While energy managers can attempt to navigate the different options available to them by themselves, it can be a costly and stressful experience. Partnering with an organisation with a proven track record in energy management will give you peace of mind when it comes to selecting the right strategy.

QUESTIONS ABOUT ENERGY MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY? If you have any questions regarding the energy needs of your business, our expert team at ETS are always here to help. You can contact us by calling 0117 205 0542 or by dropping us an email at enquiries@energy-ts.com.

OPINION

THE FUTURE OF HEATING In last month’s EMM, John M Armstrong, head of operations – city energy at E.ON, shared his thoughts on the key drivers for the low up-take of heat pumps in UK homes. Guy Ransom, Commercial Director of Finn Geotherm, one of the UK’s leading heat pump companies, explains why he believes heat pumps should not be overlooked.

hile it is true that the cost of oil and gas has come down compared to the high prices we’ve seen in recent years, it is important to remember that oil and gas are fossil fuels. As such, the prices will still fluctuate as they are affected by volatility in the market. While there is simply not enough green gas available to fuel boilers in every home, the electricity used by a heat pump has become greener than ever in recent years. We’ve even had some customers running their heat pumps using their own solar or wind generated power! It is an obvious fact that any building can be heated by matching the energy loss at a given target temperature with energy input. A heat pump is simply an efficient means of supplying a given amount of energy. As such, the system can be scaled to meet the needs of a one-bedroom bungalow, perhaps 5kW, or a 27-bedroom stately home, perhaps 120kW. The key then is not the source of the heat, but the appropriate means of distributing it. A well designed heat pump system can ably heat properties of all ages and sizes. Low EPC ratings and levels of insulation are not a barrier to a heat pump installation. Finn Geotherm has been installing heat pump systems since 2006 and includes several large, listed stately homes within its project portfolio. It is a fact that, despite the age, low EPC rating and lack of insulation of these large country houses, the occupants have been more inclined to complain of being too warm following their heat pump installation than too cold! Heat pumps work most effectively at a lower operating temperature than combustion boilers – typically 50°C versus 80°C flow. They are also however designed to work with longer duty cycles so, rather than providing a rapid inrush of heat, energy is delivered steadily over a longer period than traditional boilers (we are very familiar with this principle in underfloor heating). In the case of older properties with thick single-skinned walls for example, a heat pump actually utilises the thermal mass of the property to heat up the entire building,

effectively turning it into a giant storage heater. Safety is also worth considering here too as radiators with 80°C flow temperatures are scolding hot to the touch and so can present a risk, particularly among children and older or more vulnerable residents. The correctly sized radiators are totally effective in working with heat pumps to maintain desired room temperatures, even in the draughtiest of buildings. Most heat pump installations do not need an entire set of new radiators – we are typically able to retain at least half of those already installed. Some customers do choose to replace old radiators anyway as part of their heating renovation project. Heat pumps work effectively with both radiators and underfloor heating. Putting in extra insulation is not always necessary and in some properties, such as listed buildings, it is simply not viable. The Government’s latest insulation regime, which has been designed to help reduce emissions by reducing heat loss can only have a limited impact. Additional insulation and cladding can only save up to around 50% in the best possible cases. However, if we examine the system actually producing the heat and therefore the emissions instead, there is so much more potential to make a real difference. By replacing electric or gas heating with a heat pump, energy consumption can be reduced by around 75%, meaning that emissions are also reduced at the same rate. In addition, schemes to provide insulation do not deliver any additional benefit to the property owner, whereas the RHI does – and will do so for seven or 20 years. It is true that the installation of a ground source heat pump system will be considerably more expensive than installing a traditional oil boiler, perhaps three times as much. Given the fact that a heat pump will last typically three times as long as a condensing boiler and that, during every year of its life, it will generate significant savings on heating, this additional upfront cost is more than paid for during the system’s lifetime. Coupled with the additional benefit of the RHI

which is currently available, heat pumps have a relatively short payback period. Under the DECC Energy Act 2011, landlords must ensure private rental properties have a minimum EPC rating of E. Properties which are heated properly will have an increased marketability and value so installing a good heating system is always in the landlord’s best interests. In cases where a landlord owns more than one property in one location – for example, a series of terraced houses or a set of flats, there is a great opportunity to install a district heating system. District heating enables two or more homes to be heated using a heat pump and as such will qualify for the 20 year Non-domestic RHI. We have proven with our installations for housing associations that this is also an ideal way to ensure affordable heating bills for tenants. In addition, district heating provides great benefits for the landlord in terms of servicing and maintenance as the heat pump system can be serviced without disturbing tenants. Indeed, the incidence of failure is significantly reduced too compared to fossil fuel boilers, as a district heating system uses two or more heat pumps working in tandem, so there is always a back-up in the unlikely event of a breakdown. The ideal of selling heating as a service is actually already operating in district heating schemes such as those we have installed for Flagship Group in East Anglia. Tenants are simply charged for the heat they use. If we are to start making an impact on the climate emergency, we need to shift our mindset to new ideas – although buying water and electricity has been done in this way for years! We have to end our love affair with high temperature heating and stop simply replacing one condensing boiler with another one as this is what we’ve always done. Heat pumps are not new technology (they were invented in 1945!) but we must start dispelling the myths and changing perceptions on these systems to get them installed right now. www.finn-geotherm.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

OPINION

HOW THE BUILDING INDUSTRY CAN MAKE A MARK ON SUSTAINABILITY With 2020 fast approaching, we are about to enter a transformational decade for building and construction. Gail Cook, Global Head of Marcomms, Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation predicts the key building trends we can expect to see in the coming decade.

opulation projections suggest that 340,000 new homes are needed each year in England until 2031. Set this against the Government’s targets to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and the building industry must adapt. With its high impact on our natural environment, the building sector has an obligation to reduce its carbon footprint. Almost half of all emissions (45%) in the UK are linked to construction, operation and maintenance of the built environment. As a result, the challenge today is to provide high quality, attractive homes that are also low carbon, energy and water efficient and climate resilient. Customers are also demanding buildings that are better for the environment and the climate. Indeed nearly 8 out of 10 people (78%) in the UK believe that the environmentally sustainable performance of a building is important when choosing a new home.

GOING MODULAR As the industry responds to changing requirements and demand, there are growing trends in green building technologies that will become more popular as we move through the next decade. This is especially relevant given all new housing must be Nearly Zero Energy (nZEB) by December 2020, paving the way for ultimately achieving Net Zero Carbon (NZC) buildings. Modular housing will also become more popular in the drive to deliver carbon neutral construction. Often referred to as a ‘prefabricated building’, a modular build is pre-built in sections. Each of those sections is then transported to the location where the building will stand and the building is assembled on-site. Modular buildings are subject to the same regulations and planning laws as traditional builds but this won’t stop

modular builds developing at a fast pace. Modular builds represent a quick way to rectify the housing shortage and this will be a key driver in the growth of modular builds in the UK. A collective of organisations that includes Homes England, Urban Splash and the largest modular house building company in Japan, Sekisui House, has come together to support a £90 million initiative that will see the building of modular homes increased in the UK. Not only does a modular build require less time and labour, the controlled environment means it generates less material waste too. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) shows that a 90% waste reduction can be achieved by increasing the use of off-site construction.

BUILDING MATERIALS TURNING GREEN Rethinking building materials and sourcing locally will contribute significantly to gaining nZEB status. Materials with practical and ecological benefits such as cross laminated timber will, over time, usurp virgin concrete that uses more energy and depletes natural resources. Fitting heat pumps and mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) systems will support high energy performance in new buildings and achieve low household bills, a double win for meeting carbon cutting targets and the homeowner’s back pocket. Renewable energy itself will continue to experience its surge in popularity, propelled by technology innovations. Advances in battery storage will help to combat the fluctuating natural sources of wind, solar and water. Cutting-edge sensors and devices will take smart technology to a new level, with heating, cooling, lights and water controlled in more intelligent ways.

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THE INDUSTRY MUST SHOW AND TELL In an effort to address climate change, builders and engineers can embrace these green technologies in 2020 and beyond. The industry can also respond in other ways: 1. Understand the language of sustainability. The UK Green Building Council is working with the Government to help shape the meaning of the ‘net zero’ terminology but understanding its precise definition and what it means for your business and your customers is essential. What is the shift to carbon neutral buildings? 2. Educate customers. A home can have excellent energy efficiencies but maximising them is reliant on those who live there. Many construction companies now provide energy efficiency training to new residents with and motivate them by sharing performance data on their nZEB homes. 3. Make a declaration. Using products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) is becoming increasingly important for the construction industry. These green certifications demonstrate sustainability credentials, helping to improve a property’s longterm value and attract and retain tenants and residents. There is no silver bullet for global warming, or the challenges generated by a growing, urbanised population. However, the building industry is a significant driver of social change and a substantial contributor to the environmental footprint. Now is the time to rise to the challenge. https://www.gdhv.com/

OPINION

CHANGING ENERGY LANDSCAPES Moving beyond energy price rhetoric and towards ethical success.

here has never been a better time to talk about energy. In the 1960s, the UK started to transition away from coal-fired power and turned to the oil and natural gas buried below the North Sea. We are now on the precipice of yet another major change to our energy industry, driven by multiple factors which see climate change at their core. The global effort to mitigate the impact of climate change is transforming the energy sector forever, profoundly reforming the market. Alongside this, a fundamental shift in consumer behaviour is contributing to this change, with an increased demand for energy coming from sustainable, renewable energy sources. At the same time, the UK electricity market is becoming increasingly competitive, with fifty-four registered suppliers this year (and counting). As these new entries – whose focus is supplying energy from renewable sources – drive prices down, the buyers’ market gets stronger, and the “big six” continue to lose market share. According to Ofgem, this has led to small and medium-sized suppliers growing to a combined market share of 30% in electricity and 31% in gas. As the market rapidly evolves, new suppliers entering (and subsequently exiting) the market create instability, with many firms failing due to unsustainably low-price offerings. As such, it would make sense to ask where this will take us long term, and how the market can adapt and reform to fulfil customer demand and stabilise both price and supply. In the words of Dan Bates, Founder and CEO at Rebel Energy, a new energy supplier seeking to enter

the market, the answer is simple: digitalisation, decarbonisation and decentralisation. These, in his view, are now the key energy drivers, which need to meet the public’s demand for sustainable energy, and address the fuel poverty gap experienced by the UK’s most vulnerable people. Working in close partnership with Climate17, a leading clean energy recruiter, Dan is driven to make Rebel Energy the UK’s leading socially responsible energy supplier. “Providing energy with a big heart,” Dan is set to positively disrupt the energy market, proving that an energy supplier can successfully balance a focus on pursuing a responsible and sustainable agenda while being profitable and financially stable. Dan proposes the debate is centred not only on how competitive prices can be, but also how much businesses are going to be able to engage with the public in its entirety. This fuels questions about how energy suppliers have so far complied with their legal requirement of supplying disadvantaged individuals and communities, and also points towards an understanding of how the market is radically changing from “centralised energy infrastructure” to fragmented, decentralised supply. He explains that “such huge change in technology means that that model, that paradigm where we viewed the world is completely changing (towards) much more local and small grids – and really, the winners are going to be the ones who have access to customers and also those who have access to and can work with communities, providing energy to the most vulnerable people”. This energy needs to be sustainable, clean and ethical, and somewhat closes the loop. Mark Carney, Bank of

England Governor, said last year that “companies and industries that are not moving towards zero-carbon emissions will be punished by investors and go bankrupt […]” (The Guardian 2019). In a world where energy customers become your investors, believers and supporters, where clean energy and social commitment become basic requirements of energy supply, Dan’s view falls into place, shedding new light on the energy competition debate. This, in turn, sees the energy supplier radically changing in structure, goals and delivery systems. With the support of Climate17, Rebel Energy will aim to lead the industry towards that change. Building their foundations on legally binding social and environmental commitments through B-Corp, they are building a team of experts who share this vision and are going to be part of this radical contribution to the UK’s energy supply. Climate17 will support Rebel Energy with the recruitment of a number of specialists across Sales & Marketing, Energy Market Pricing and Business Operations, helping to build a core team of experts who will drive change forward. There is no doubt the market will remain competitive, driven by new entries, exits and price. It is reasonable, however, to think that the focus will still move away from profit towards profit-for-purpose and social and environmental stewardship. Competition is no longer about only providing the cheapest service; it is about being able to embody our new future, and embracing changing customer expectations, behaviours and developing technologies. Author: Stefania Allegrini Marketing and Communications www.climate17.com

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OPINION

5 BIG CHANGES THAT WILL SHAPE THE ENERGY MARKET IN 2020 Ben Spry, Head of Flexibility Services at Energy HQ, npower Business Solutions shares his views on the key changes shaping the industry next year which energy managers should be tracking closely.

020 marks the beginning of many big changes, politically manifest in Brexit and a new Conservative government. But the UK energy industry similarly anticipates new adjustments. Recently, there have been big structural shifts, across policy, products and market dynamics that will take hold next year and affect that nature of energy usage and management for business consumers of all sizes and industries. Energy managers’ biggest concern in 2020 will be trying to adapt to this sheer degree of change, so they can continue to meet their businesses’ commercial and sustainability targets.

END OF TRIADS TRIADs have been fundamental to the way in which businesses manage energy consumption and costs. Ofgem’s recent announcement on the Targeted Charging Review, and the move from a penny per unit charge on consumption over the 3 TRIAD peak periods to a fixed charge, signals and end to this system. Crucially, the regulator brought forward the date of implementation from 2023 to 2021. With this tighter window, businesses next year will be quickly trying to understand what these changes mean for them and their impact on their budgets and businesses cases. Businesses which have invested in flexibility services will be particularly affected. Those with on-site generation that had TRIAD revenue as the foundation

of their investment case will be eyeing replacement services that can recoup some of the lost revenue.

REINTRODUCTION OF THE CAPACITY MARKET Following the judicial review from the EU commission, the end of 2019 saw the reintroduction of the Capacity Market. The impact of this can be expected to materialise in early 2020. The reintroduction means the charging window during the winter is back in effect, and suppliers have already begun back charging customers for their energy use during this period last year. This is will continue at pace in 2020. As part of this, the capacity market auctions will start happening in the first quarter of next year. Energy managers will be looking to watching to see how these unfold and may look to participate to try and gain some revenue.

REACHING NET-ZERO 2019 was certainly the year when we’ve seen real momentum on moving towards a more sustainable energy future. This culminated in the UK Government’s commitment to bringing emissions to net-zero by 2050. Although setting a clear target on carbon reduction is a positive step, there is currently a disconnect with what’s coming out at a policy level. To date, the TRIAD system has been a key factor for energy managers when weighing up the business case for investing in flexibility and sustainability initiatives. While on-site generation and battery storage require up-front financing, energy managers were able to offset this amount in the long-run by being able to rely on using these technologies to curtail consumption and avoid charges like TRIADs and red rate distribution charges. However, it is uncertain whether some form of similar incentives will exist in future that provides the incentive for investment. Despite the financial incentive lacking real clarity, the case for investment in on-site generation remains strong from an operational resilience point of view. The large grid frequency drop on 9th August 2019, which rendered many critical services and businesses

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offline, further highlights the need for businesses to have adequate resilience and provisions that protect them against any type of re-occurrence that could impact their operations. With many of the UK’s traditional fossilfired generating plants that previously provided the stability required to prevent this either retired or nearing retirement, arguably the need for greater onsite resilience has never been greater. Although energy managers may wish to wait for greater clarity on a policy front, the commercial and environmental imperative for investing in these types of initiatives remains clear, and so, they should not hold out.

NEW FLEXIBILITY PRODUCTS As we enter a new decade, a new wave of flexibility products will also start to enter the market with both National Grid and Distribution Networks looking at their product suites. Both are geared towards making products transparent, easy to access and ultimately attractive to customers. Just this month, National Grid announced a revamped set of frequency response mechanisms to be launched early next year, which will be procured at much shorter intervals. These new products – Dynamic Containment (DC), Dynamic Moderation (DM), and Dynamic Regulation (DR) – will help support an increasingly decentralised, renewables-focused grid.

ACCELERATION TO EV Although electric vehicles (EVs) were once shunned, the move away from fossil fuels is accelerating at breakneck speed. According to International Energy Agency projections, we can expect to see 130 million EVs around the world by 2030, up from just 3.1 million in 2017. While there is a lot of noise on the consumer front, businesses with a fleet of vehicles should also look to make the investment to transitioning their fleets. With the cost of EV batteries dropping by more than 80 per cent in the last eight years alone, the business case is becoming ever more difficult to ignore. https://energy-hq.co.uk/

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MONITORING & METERING

THE SUM OF THE HARMONICS VS SOME OF THE HARMONICS Harmonics in power systems are a growing problem that can have serious and costly consequences. A key step to controlling and mitigating this problem is to trace harmonics to their source. Julian Grant of Chauvin Arnoux explains how this can be done, after giving a brief overview of what harmonics are, how they are produced, and how they affect electrical installations and equipment.

A distored waveform is made up of multiple sine waves added together

uch has been written about harmonics in power systems, not least in earlier articles in this series. However, they are such an important issue that it’s worth providing a brief refresher, especially as this will lay the foundations for the second part of the article which discusses how to trace the sources of harmonics. Electricity supplies to consumers are, almost without exception, AC supplies with a nominally sinusoidal waveform of a fixed frequency. If you were to use an oscilloscope to look at the supply waveform, you would probably see that it really is quite close to being a sine wave; if no harmonics were present, it would be a perfect sine wave. Often the supply waveform is somewhat distorted and it can be shown that any distorted waveform is made up of a large contribution at the supply frequency (50 Hz in the UK), plus smaller contributions at whole-number multiples of this frequency, as is shown in the example. The smaller contributions are the harmonics. For a 50 Hz supply, they occur at 100 Hz (second harmonic as its 2x the supply frequency), 150 Hz (third harmonic), 200 Hz (fourth harmonic), 250 Hz (fifth harmonic) and so on. There are two things you should note. The first is that, depending on the type of distortion in the supply waveform, not all of the harmonics may be present. It is perfectly possible to have the third and the ninth harmonic but not the second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth. The second thing is that in theory, the harmonics go on indefinitely. There could be a 1,000th harmonic at 50,000 Hz, for example, but in practice the magnitude of the harmonics falls off quickly with increasing frequency and in power systems, it’s rarely worth considering harmonics above the 50th (2,500 Hz). If harmonics are distortions in the supply waveform, what creates these distortions? The answer is non-linear loads. These are loads where the current drawn from the supply is not always proportional to the applied voltage. A good example is a load where the mains supply is rectified and applied to a capacitor. Loads of this type tend to draw a large spike of current for a relatively small part of the positive and

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negative cycles of the supply and virtually no current for the rest of the time. Non-linear loads are becoming more and more common. Examples include PCs and other office equipment, power supplies, compact fluorescent and LED lighting systems, televisions and microwave ovens, and most significantly in industrial facilities, variable speed drives for motors. With so many of these loads connected to a typical electrical installation, it’s little wonder that significant levels of harmonics are introduced. But why does that matter? Harmonic currents have a range of negative effects. They cause sensitive electronic devices to malfunction, they increase heating – sometimes dramatically – and they produce mechanical stresses. They are common causes of computer crashes, flickering lights, IT equipment freezing up, electronic component failure and overheating in neutral conductors, transformers, motors and generators. This overheating can lead to failures that are not only costly to repair but also result in downtime that costs even more than the repairs. Also, high levels of harmonics in an installation can affect metering accuracy, so it’s perfectly possible that they’ll result in inflated energy bills. Harmonics are bad news, but what can you do about them? The first step is to confirm the level of harmonics in your installation and this is most easily done either with a power quality analyser or with one of the more capable portable energy loggers (PELs) that are available. We’ve discussed these in detail in previous articles but they’re basically all-in-one instruments that will measure, and crucially record, key electrical parameters for an installation. A good PEL should be compact and easy to install, as you’ll probably want to use it in multiple locations, and if you’re going to get the best value from it, it should also be versatile. Crucially the PEL should measure and record harmonics. The recording function is important because harmonic problems may not be continuous – for example, they could be associated with a piece of equipment that only operates at certain times of day or even on certain days of the week. Recording over a

MONITORING & METERING

Harmonic data captured with PEL103 Power and Energy Logger

period of time will quickly reveal this, whereas spot measurements may not. Almost all PELs will let you measure total harmonic current distortion, which is calculated from the sum of the squares of the harmonic currents, using this formula:

In this formula, I1 is the current at the supply frequency, I2 is the current at twice the supply frequency, I3 is the current at three times the supply frequency, and so on. In practice you don’t need to worry about the formula as the PEL will do the calculations for you. It is important to note, however, that the THD figure tells you the total level of current harmonics in your installation, which is useful and important to know, but it tells you nothing about the levels of the individual harmonics. That’s a serious shortcoming because knowing about the levels of individual harmonics can help you to find out which item of equipment is producing them. This is because different types of equipment produce different “mixes” of harmonics, as the table shows. For example, if the third and ninth harmonics predominate, with slightly less fifth and seventh, this indicates that the source is likely to be LED lighting, whereas if the 11th and 13th harmonics are dominant, the source is more likely to be a 12-pulse variable speed drive. Of course, things will not usually be as clear cut as this, because your supply system will be affected by current harmonics from multiple sources. In these cases, valuable clues can be obtained by looking at the recordings from the PEL and noting how the harmonic levels change over time. If there’s a lot of third and ninth harmonic until the administrative section closes for the day, this is a good indication

Power and Energy Logger with harmonic measurement capability

that the source is computers and office equipment. This can be verified by deliberately turning the suspect equipment on and off while monitoring how the harmonic levels change. Further valuable insights can be gained by moving the PEL around, installing it in different distribution boards and noting how this affects the levels of the individual harmonics recorded. The levels, particularly of the higher order harmonics, will usually be greater nearer their source. With all of this in mind, it’s clear that to get to grips with harmonics it’s important to have a PEL that not only records the sum total of the harmonics, but also the levels of individual harmonics. But how far should you go? What is the highest order of harmonics you need to look at? Based on practical experience and some of the standards that are out there, the answer is that a PEL which records harmonics up to the 50th will ensure you cover all existing requirements. Having located your harmonic sources, numerous measures are available to mitigate their effects.

Some typical harmonic currents associated with modern equipment

In most cases, these measures are relatively inexpensive to implement yet they can save you an awful lot of trouble – and money! Don’t forget to use your PEL to confirm the effectiveness of the measures after you’ve put them in place, and periodically thereafter to make sure nothing has changed, especially if your business invests in new systems and equipment. Harmonics can be a real nuisance, causing all sorts of problems for businesses of every kind. Fortunately, a good PEL, capable of measuring individual harmonics as well as total harmonic distortion, can help to locate harmonic sources. And, once you’ve found the source, you’re in a position to put in place the measures needed to consign the problem to history! www.chauvin-arnoux.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

DRIVING THE FUTURE

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR YOUR CARPARK TO BE EV READY? In this article Guy Morrison of Solar Perfect highlights, the importance of ensuring both staff and customer carparks are ready for the transition to electric vehicles, what technologies are available and how best to provide the required energy. Part of the Sunfixings Group, Solar Perfect specialise in all forms of solar PV deployment including solar carports. LOW EMISSION ZONES – WHERE ARE WE AT? Oxford is the latest in a long line of UK cities to announce their intention to restrict petrol and diesel engine vehicles from the city centre. They are however going a step further an Ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) and will be the first to introduce a ZEZ – Zero Emission Zone. This may be seen as a radical step but is excellent news for the health and well-being of those living and working in the city and will further encourage the car buying public and commercial fleet managers to make the transition to electric vehicles. All major UK cities are likely to fall into line sooner rather than later, hastening the demise of the internal combustion engine, and vehicle manufacturers are ramping up production of electric models to meet the anticipated demand.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES CHARGE-POINTS (EVCPS) WHERE AND WHICH As the uptake of EVs turns from trickle to flood, how prepared are we to fuel these electron guzzlers and where will that fuelling take place? For drivers with off-street parking a home charge-point will cover much of their daily needs with several products on the market that

integrate with home solar systems and act as diverters to enable greater self-consumption and to ensure as cars are charged as much as possible from solar power, Solar Edge and myenergi’s Zappi are two such offerings. Connected Kerb and Ubitricity continue to develop solutions for on-street parking. For road commuters the installation of charging facilities at the workplace could provide another substantial chunk of their kWh requirements but this is where the desire to deploy charge-points can start to meet supply constraint. On longer journeys, motorway services have long hosted the Ecotricity electric highway network and the race is on to provide further roadside charging facilities with existing service stations entering the fray alongside new charge station developers like Fastned and the more ambitious energy, charging and retail hubs like Gridserve’s Electric Forecourt and EV Centres UK. The service station model is improving with the development of ultra-fast chargers up to 350kW, but as very few current EV models can accept this rate of charge the hub concept, where shopping, meeting and coffee facilities are available will ensure your time is not wasted while charging. Another piece in the puzzle is destination charging where a mix of rapid, fast and slow chargers are needed and supermarkets, pubs and leisure centres, with the help of charge-point networks, are the early adopters in this space. If the footfall is large enough these network operators will bring in their own electricity supply for public rapid charging but again, the desire for mass deployment

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

of charging infrastructure at destinations like transport hubs, park and ride sites and leisure attractions may be blocked by supply limitations and deployment costs.

EV INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY GENERATION Surface carparks have had little choice but to use free-standing chargepoints which can be expensive to install with civil engineering making up much of a cost that recurs with each further deployment. There is a clear synergy between EV infrastructure and renewable energy generation and the solution being adopted by a growing number of public and private sector organisations, to the dual problems of energy availability and charge-point future proofing, is the installation of solar carports. Solar carports can generate significant energy for EVCPs and adjoining buildings and this energy can increasingly be sold through the charge-points at a premium rate to pay back the investment. They will also share some of the initial civil engineering costs with the chargepoints and hugely reduce the cost of future deployment as demand grows. Some car parks have very limited grid supply and no adjacent building to utilise the solar carport generated energy so batteries are being integrated to soak up excess generation to be discharged through the charge-points when required. While carports offer many benefits including an improved user experience, rooftop solar gives the lowest levelized cost of energy and should also be

DRIVING THE FUTURE considered, where suitable, to help feed any planned EV infrastructure and to defer the cost of upgrading your grid connection and supply agreement.

retention but if energy is sold to staff, even at the same rate they would pay at home, this would help recoup the cost of deployment over time.

WILL BEING EV READY GENERATE REVENUE?

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS?

It certainly can. Early adopter retail and leisure sites have subsidised the energy drawn through charge-points in order to increase customer footfall, loyalty and dwell time. High footfall destination sites can invite chargepoint networks in to lease an area of their car park for a modest fee and/ or a profit share scheme. You can alternatively install, own and operate your own network of charge-points and either charge the market rate for each kWh or offer preferential rates for valued customers. As a CSR initiative and PR exercise there is definite value to businesses providing EV infrastructure in customer car parks to encourage uptake and help alleviate range anxiety. Solar carports and some charge-points can provide advertising space as a further revenue stream. Revenue from staff car parks is possibly less important than employee

At Pilot Group EV we offer a full turnkey solution from manufacture to install of electric vehicle charge points. sales@thepilotgroup.co.uk

Load management is now available from most charge-point manufacturers and is another way to defer grid upgrades. It is essential for many applications where time and quantity of charge can be managed with no adverse consequences for the user. We have touched on the new generation of ultra-fast charge points but there are other innovations coming to market that could affect your decisions on which technology to deploy. Vehicle to Grid (V2G) has very exciting potential as the costs come down and when more electric vehicles are capable of discharging their batteries into the home or business. Vehicles will then be temporarily stationary battery assets and, when used collectively, could help remove issues of peak demand either for individual sites, from homes to airports, or for the electricity network as a whole. Induction charging also holds much promise, again vehicles must be equipped to utilise it but it could remove

• • • •

the need for messy cables and offer further solutions for on-street parking. They will still need a power supply and if you are deploying charge-points now, you are delivering that power supply to parking spaces where it will be needed. Exchanging your plug-in charge-point for an induction charge pad will then be a relatively simple process.

IN CONCLUSION Some carparks will have more demand for charge-points than others. Supermarkets might target a customer base within a tenor fifteen-mile radius and those customers with home charging facilities may never want or need to plug in while shopping. Visitor attractions might target customers from across the country and so a larger percentage will benefit from charging while they enjoy their day out and if your company fleet covers a large area you might require rapid charging for staff. There are many variables to be considered with EV infrastructure deployment and it will be a changing landscape as transport electrification continues. A phased roll out is likely to be the best policy for most but starting that roll out now will offer benefits and show your staff and customers that you support the EV transition. https://solarperfect.co.uk/

Parking Meter Functionality Contactless Payments Including E-Wallet Additional Revenue Through Touchscreen Advertising Charge Point Management System 0161 819 7100

www.thepilotgroup.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

DRIVING THE FUTURE

OCTOPUS ELECTRIC VEHICLES LAUNCHES NEW EV ‘TRANSITION BUNDLE’ FOR FLEET MANAGERS

ctopus Electric Vehicles has launched a new bundle for fleet managers to make the switch to electric driving as easy as possible. The Octopus Electric Vehicles Fleet Solution brings together bestin-class service providers to create a ‘transition bundle’ to enable greener driving. Switching to clean transport can reduce fuel costs by up to 90% and maintenance costs by up to 70% - but is often considered too “challenging” by many businesses. Working with partners Ohme, Alfen and FLEETCOR, the Fleet Solution allows businesses to unlock the financial and environmental benefits of EVs. The Solution overcomes concerns by helping managers select the right EV; smart charging solutions for home, work and on the go; and easy monitoring and management of charging spend. Octopus Electric Vehicles is showcasing the Fleet Solution with its partners at the Great British Fleet event on the 30th January 2020. The Octopus Electric Vehicles Fleet Solution bundle provides full access to the Ohme Fleet Dashboard and FLEETCOR AllStar One Electric - giving access to an integrated network of charging at home, work and on the go. It requires an upfront set-up cost and ongoing monthly payment thereafter. The Octopus Electric Vehicle Fleet Solution includes: • Impartial, independent advice on all pure electric vehicles • Specialist finance and servicing rates with leasing companies set up to manage EVs • Smart chargers for each vehicle at home and work from Alfen • Overview of charging data via the Ohme Fleet Dashboard • Full data integrating with FLEETCOR’s Allstar One Electric reports • A dedicated EV expert support line throughout the contract

ABOUT THE BUNDLE Octopus Electric Vehicles provides independent and impartial advice on the range of electric vehicles and works closely with businesses to plan their electric transition based on the business’ unique needs. Working closely with vehicle manufacturers and the most EV-friendly leasing companies, Octopus secures outstanding rates on the vehicles. The Ohme Fleet Dashboard is an app-based service designed to track and minimise charging costs. It allows charging and vehicle miles to be categorised as home, workplace or destination, enabling a suite of reporting functions as well as reimbursement of expenses for home energy use. The service builds on Ohme’s success with home smart charging solutions, allowing charging to be aligned with EV-friendly tariffs such as OctopusGo and AgileOctopus. Ohme Fleet Dashboard also

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

includes a web platform with a range of customisation and reporting features. This provides fleet managers with visibility of CO2 savings, charging location and charging costs by individual, by vehicle or across the whole fleet. Octopus Electric Vehicles and Ohme have collaborated with chargepoint experts Alfen to offer optimised charging and reporting across a range of smart home and workplace chargers. Using open protocols, Alfen smart chargers are linked to the Ohme Fleet Dashboard collecting all critical information about each driver’s charging needs. FInally, the system is also integrated with the FLEETCOR Allstar One Electric reports, giving fleet managers consistent reporting on a range of public networks. A key benefit of this solution is that fleet operators can have full oversight of reporting for both electric vehicle charging and petrol cars. For more information www.octopusev.com

DRIVING THE FUTURE

THE ROLE OF SOLAR POWER IN THE SUSTAINABILITY OF CLEAN, GREEN MOTORING Thomas Newby, Chief Operations Officer, Tonik Energy

s we move into 2020, the transport industry is under growing pressure to decarbonise, an objective which comes with two distinct challenges; the need to dramatically cut harmful emissions - existing hand-in-hand with a change in consumer attitude - and the need to reduce the grid’s support on nonsustainable energy sources. Both global and regional emissions targets are likely to be a driver of change over the next decade and the sustainability and durability of solar power makes it the linchpin to this rapid time of transition to green fuel. Over the past year, great strides have been taken to support the regeneration of the UK’s transport system; Bristol set a nationwide standard of change by becoming the first city in the UK to ban diesel vehicles and has set a much needed precedent for cities across the UK; the government outlined its Road to Zero Strategy, which is part of a £1.5bn investment into ultra-low emission vehicles; and, a major milestone was reached in October, with one in 10 new cars sold in Britain either being battery or hybrid electric, which represents a jump from 6.9pc a year ago. This agenda is, undoubtedly, bearing fruit. However, as the pollination of EVs spreads across the nation (the UK Government’s aim for all new cars to run on non-fossil fuel by 2040 would result in 33-million electric vehicles (EVs) on UK roads as early as 2038) accelerating the integration of renewable energy into the grid will be paramount. When Britain’s most severe blackout in more than a decade caused rush hour travel disruption last August, it ironically shone a spotlight on our energy usage. The equivalent of ‘flicking the off switch’ highlighted the importance of ensuring we continue to transition our national critical infrastructure from one that has relied heavily on fossil-fuels to one that accepts sustainable and clean sources of energy, like renewables, as its beating heart. Last year has been hailed as the cleanest on record, with UK zero carbon electricity outstripping fossil fuels for the first time - an important landmark in the effort to deliver a safe and secure energy system for all. Over the next few years, mobility-as-aservice models will start to replace traditional taxi and consumer vehicles services and we will see more cities put their green future stake in the ground. With this comes increasing pressure on public sector bodies to meet the new, at-scale public transport demands - from April 2020, company car drivers will have an opportunity to make huge savings on pure battery and efficient plug-in hybrid

vehicles as new company car tax (BiK) rates come into force. Pair the new BiK tax with growing clean air initiatives that influence the consumer choice of vehicle, and it is a logical move for public sector bodies to start collaborating on the development of robust, coherent and innovative energy management and smart transport systems. Preparation for, and fulfilment of, the immediate demand created by the increased uptake of EVs is important, but what’s critical is for the public sector to future-proof energy and charging infrastructure to ensure the system can cope with the continuing need to scale over the next five, 5, 10 and 20 years. Solar is an environmental game-changer in our ability to produce clean power from renewables themselves and reduce our need for ‘grid energy’. One of the major arguments against solar power in the UK has been the weather. And, having seen a spate of flood warnings throughout the country in the middle of summer, it’s not hard to see why. But that is a misnomer. Solar power generation relies on daylight, not sunlight, and while the UK may not have the climate of the Mediterranean, it does not mean solar is a non-starter. Solar is, however, arguably much more chicken and egg than any other renewable. Uptake, investment and interest is reliant on efficiencies, innovations and reductions in cost in a self-perpetuating cycle. Thankfully the news here is also promising. Support and subsidies to date have seen the costs of solar panels fall dramatically. The technological advances in the solar energy sector have made solar panels much more efficient than ever before and this has directly contributed to the falling cost of solar energy up to 50% over the past decade. Whilst the electrification of the transport system will greatly reduce our reliance on dirty fuel, what’s equally as important are changes to the management of electricity networks, particularly to create a sustainable and scalable charging network. The current infrastructure is increasingly unsuitable for significant increases in demand without cities having to face potentially costly upgrades. Whilst many sectors embrace green technology, energy storage solutions will play a crucial part in not only the UK’s, but also the world’s progress towards a clean-energy future. Energy storage adds crucial stability to the grid, benefiting operators and users alike. Installations that come with dynamic load management, which are able to listen to the energy demands of buildings, smooth out loads and optimise charging levels when

power is in demand from a fleet of EVs. It’s a capability that will alleviate power cuts and can also help avoid costly network upgrades. It also means the nation is less dependent on non-renewable power sources like nuclear and coal. Any surplus renewable energy generated can be diverted and stored to charge the EVs, rather than relying solely on the grid – particularly during peak times, which would be more expensive. In addition to saving money on power generation, this storing energy onsite will empower organisations to sell excess energy back to the grid and generate additional revenue. These developments are critical given the increasing role solar power is required to play when it comes to reducing the dependency on buying energy and easing peak pressure on the grid. This will be particularly acute if the projections on EV growth and clean transport infrastructure are to be realised. Embedded solar and storage will be a key method of avoiding expensive grid connection upgrades to cope with the extra power demand from having hundreds of EV chargers on public and commercial sites, for instance fleets or car parks. Thankfully, we’re seeing signs of collaboration between public and private enterprise to bring this vision to life but there’s no hiding that more and immediate action is needed. On the surface, it’s a promising outlook. The International Energy Agency says that solar could surpass fossil fuels, wind and hydro by 2050 to be the world’s largest energy source. Technology is improving year on year, demand is growing, as are applications and consumer appetite for clean, green and sustainable energy has arguably never been higher. But it is vital the solar industry does not rest on its laurels. Stakeholders of government, industry and business have a mandate from the world’s public to create a better, cleaner world for everyone. In both practical and fiscal terms, renewable energy will be a linchpin in guiding us through this period of rapid change with our transport systems – one that will move us closer towards a clean air future. https://www.tonikenergy.com/

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

DRIVING THE FUTURE

HOW EV CHARGING IS SPEEDING AHEAD OF THE CARS Andreas Atkins, Head of Electric Vehicle Strategy at Centrica Mobility Ventures, examines how in charging technology in-car is lagging behind that on the roadside.

t seems that people in the UK want to do their part for the planet by buying an electric car. I’ve seen research over recent times that says more than half are considering it, but only one in four of them plan to do so in the next five years. The backdrop is that Government subsidies have fallen, making electric cars more expensive. And while the market is growing fast, there are still a limited number of models available and potential customers still fear running out of steam. Research from insurance group Aviva found that 81% of respondents are concerned about vehicle range, 74% are worried about finding a place to charge, and 66% think about recharging time. The good news is that change is on the way. By the end of the year, Ionity – a consortium led by BMW, Mercedes, Ford and the VW Group – plans to have installed 500 highcapacity EV chargers across Europe.

These lightning-fast power sources will be capable of discharging electricity at a rate much faster than any car currently on the market can absorb it. That’s because vehicles can only charge at their maximum charge rate. A car with a maximum charge rate of just 7kW won’t charge any faster on a charge point with more capacity. However, once car technology catches up, the latest charging infrastructure is already in place to exponentially improve charging times. Last year, Centrica installed the first 350kW charging points at motorway service stations in Milton Keynes and Maidstone for Ionity. Each is equipped with six charging points, so that nextgeneration electric vehicles will be able to charge from empty to full in less than 20 minutes using 100% green energy. That’s significantly faster than the Tesla Supercharger – currently the quickest on the market – which charges vehicles in 30 minutes. These are the first of 40 highpowered charging stations Ionity is planning to deliver across the UK motorway system by the end of 2020. Meanwhile, car manufacturers are innovating with batteries that can handle bigger currents, catching up with the more advanced charging technology. Porsche will launch the Taycan later this year – the first car capable of utilising the full capacity of these 350kW chargers.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

It charges at seven times the speed of an affordable EV like the Nissan Leaf (and come at nearly three times the price). The successful transition to EV motoring depends on two things: the availability of vehicles and the right charging infrastructure. Centrica is working with Ford to build electric charging installation services across hundreds of dealerships in the UK and Ireland. We’ll also offer a home charging installation service that will allow Ford customers to benefit from charging overnight when energy prices are lower. In addition, we are working with NCP, one of the UK’s leading car park operators, to trial new technologies and approaches to electric vehicle charging for professional drivers, focusing on the challenge of making charging more convenient and creating potential ways to charge commercial fleets and taxis in public spaces. The first pilot ‘charge park’ is expected early this year. New technology offers flexible solutions that could soon become mainstream. Apps like Driivz can map out charging points and even price points for motorists. And to get around the fact many people in cities don’t have driveways where they can plug in their cars at home, the London Borough of Southwark is testing 50 open-access charging points in lampposts. Sometimes, progress really does happen at the speed of light. www.centrica.com/CI

DRIVING THE FUTURE

NORTHERN POWERGRID LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE TOOL TO ACCELERATE EV UPTAKE DNO makes network information accessible to help customers make informed choices about new EV connections

orthern Powergrid launches a free, online tool set to revolutionise its electric vehicle (EV) connections process. The intuitive online system is underpinned by real-world network data to help users identify the best new EV charging point connections locations. AutoDesign can provide an indicative connection cost in minutes, instead of the usual 10-day turnaround. It provides a clear indicator of the possible and most cost-effective locations to install EV chargers across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire. Users of the completely free system will benefit from unique access to accurate data and the ability to easily explore their connections options and quickly create personalised budget estimates, ultimately providing greater transparency about network capacity and enabling informed decisions about where to connect. Derek Fairbairn, System Design

Manager at Northern Powergrid, said: “AutoDesign will provide real benefits and an enhanced level of real-world insight. It will enable local authorities, EV installers and businesses planners to see, in a matter of minutes, the best locations to install chargers and the associated cost. This newly available network data intelligence will significantly improve the EV connections process and help accelerate the clean transport transition.” Approximately three quarters of local authorities across Northern Powergrid’s patch have declared a climate emergency and are looking for practical next steps to reduce emissions. Transport is the UK’s largest emitter of toxic greenhouse gases. In response, the government has banned the sale of internal combustion engines from 2040, when Northern Powergrid predicts there could be almost 4.5 million EVs on roads across its operational area. With more people mapping a ‘road to zero’ for their homes and

businesses, Northern Powergrid has launched the system to put more accurate real-world information in customers’ hands and improve the experience for those looking to connect. The AutoDesign tool uses simple green, amber and red (yes/probably/no) indicators to guide users towards the most costeffective and viable connection options. Customer and stakeholder involvement informed the system design, which was developed with the support of EA Technology using Northern Powergrid’s Network Innovation Allowance (NIA), underlining the company’s approach to delivering customerled innovations and improvements. www.northernpowergrid.com/innovation

PILOT GROUP

t Pilot group we produce innovative technologies that enable the places we live and work to be smart, safe and sustainable. Our businesses cover Energy Management Systems, LED Lighting, Enterprise IT, EV Charging and Traffic Control Systems, working across a wide range of commercial and industrial applications. We are passionate about sustainability and preserving our natural environment which is why we look for sustainability in all of our solutions. As part of this, we are promoting and encouraging the implementation of electric charging infrastructure to enable the adaptation to a cleaner, electric vehicle future.

WHY CHOOSE PILOT GROUP EV CHARGE POINTS? Pilot Group EV chargers are compatible with every plug-in vehicle. We offer a range of features not yet provided by any other UK provider. Our Plus+ and Classic chargers come with an open and closed loop payments system, enabling users to quickly charge their electric vehicles while enjoying the

convenience of paying through credit cards, prepaid cards, e-wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, or QR codes. Our smart-grid ready products are sleek, robust and compatible with every EV model at Level 2 capacity.

CASHLESS PAYMENTS Pilot Group EV chargers are powered by Nayax’s VPOS Touch, an awardwinning cashless payments technology available worldwide for unattended automated machines. VPOS Touch enables the acceptance of all forms of payments with integrated clearance, monitoring, and management.

TELEMETRY Get complete visibility into your EV charging stations with a telemetry system (machine status, electricity consumption, OCPP 1.6 compliance, payments).

MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES Take advantage of consumer engagement and additional revenue generation by displaying advertisements. Remotely monitor and market by setting the date and time for when an advertisement is to play and receive

monthly reports on engagement metrics.

CHARGE POINT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CPMS) Manage all machine attributes from your smartphone or tablet. Pilot portal management and reporting suite provides powerful capabilities for every level of operation.

PARKING PAYMENT ABILITY Pilot EV Plus+ and Classic have the added ability to be utilised as a parking meter, this will ensure premium EV charging bays in areas such as city centres and busy carparks are used in a cost effective and efficient manner. We also offer a wide range of business solutions such as our energy management system for buildings, providing a comprehensive and innovative technology, allowing building manager’s to reduce their energy usage by up to 60%. Our system allows the user to control heating, lighting and air-conditioning from any remote location. Couple this with our LED lighting, it is a perfect building solution to help your business meet the new UK government carbon reduction guidelines. www.thepilotgroup.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

SMART CITIES

BUILDING THE CITIES OF TOMORROW Jordan Appelson, CEO of Hark

ustainability has become a huge driving force for many people and many companies. It is driving transformation, innovation and improvement across all aspects of society. To reduce their carbon footprint, forward-thinking cities have made sustainability their focal point and have begun integrating smart technologies such as IoT. A smart city can be defined as a city that utilities IoT sensors and technology to create interoperability between components across the city to derive data, meaning local authorities can better manage assets, resources and services. Allowing them to become as efficient as possible and improve the overall quality of life for residents. They operate as a data-driven ecosystem to avoid accidents, emissions and congestion. Although the concept of a digitalised city sounds futuristic, they are already being integrated into cities across the world and the global smart cities market is predicted to reach $3.6 trillion by 2025.

SENSOR SUSTAINABILITY For cities to truly become more efficient and provide actionable improvement, they require mass amounts of accurate data. This integrated suite of applications produces accurate real-time data derived from the IoT sensors. For the city to truly become ‘smart’ it needs to analyse this data using machine learning algorithms to provide insightful information at a highly detailed level. Many platforms then visualise this information in a clear and diagrammatic form. Across a city, the sensors can monitor energy usage, traffic flows, air quality, footfall and so much more. This provides local authorities with the power to, firstly, gauge their current emissions for benchmarking purposes and gives vital information that can form a citywide environmental improvement strategy. The tracking of environmental factors such as energy usage, water and waste tracking can reduce GHG emissions by 10-15%, produce 30-130 fewer kilograms

of solid waste per person each year and save up to 80 litres of water each day per person.

SMARTER INFRASTRUCTURE To truly become a sustainable city, core changes need to be made to the infrastructure to ensure it is designed with technology in mind. New infrastructures, whether it be houses or transport systems, need to be built with integrated technology, so instant monitoring of core features such as energy usage and heating can begin. One of the major contributors to carbon emissions is traffic, so new transportation infrastructures need to be designed with this in mind. For example, smart parking improves drivers’ experience in a city but also simultaneously reduces traffic levels, which in turn reduce car emissions. In terms of the energy supply, cities need to reduce their pressure on the National Grid and seek alternative sources of energy. Smart grids need to be introduced across the city, localising the energy supply and providing greater control over energy consumption. Buildings should be integrated with solar panels to generate sources of renewable power and they can even become entirely self-sufficient by using technology such as solar windows.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

CONNECTED CANADA Toronto is probably one of the best examples of a smart city implementation with their Sidewalk Labs proposal. In Quayside, a 12-acre area is covered in IoT sensors to monitor and optimise processes across the city. They are using this technology integration to optimise building systems through managing energy usage, harnessing clean energy from a thermal grid and introducing a smart disposal chain. This climate-positive district aims to cut greenhouse gases by 89%. Smart cities have so much potential to improve quality of life and create a more sustainable environment. To achieve this, cities need to effectively combine a smart physical layer with a smart digital layer, turning data into decisions. https://harksys.com

PSSA

Public Sector Sustainability Association

BECOME A CORPORATE MEMBER The Public Sector Sustainability Association (PSSA) provides a professional association and network for all those working in the Public Sector who have a common interest in sustainability. The aim of the association is to bring together a wide group of people working across all areas of the Public Sector – to help educate, train, support and connect as we work towards a more sustainable future.

Corporate membership of the Public Sector Sustainability Association is available to any private sector organisation wishing to reach committed and influencial sustainability professionals in Government, Local Authorities, NHS, Education and Housing Associations. MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS • • • • • • • •

Comprehensive listing in Suppliers Directory Unlimited opportunity to supply press releases, articles & news to feature on PSSA website One release for inclusion in monthly Newsletter. Logo on PSSA homepage Introductory email sent to our members as the latest Corporate Member to join the PSSA Logo - ‘Member of the PSSA’ to use on your own websites/materials 25% off Website/Newsletter banner advertising 25% off Newsletter sponsorship

WHAT DOES IT COST The introductory rate for annual membership is £495+VAT.

Interested in becoming a Corporate Member of the PSSA? Get in touch today - call us on 01933 316931 or email us at corporate@pssa.info

www.ps s a.info

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

HOW TO USE ENERGY PROFILES TO FIND ENERGY WASTE

he patterns (or profiles) of energy usage contained within interval energy data are great for discovering where a building is wasting energy. The fine-grained detail of interval data (such as half-hourly data) is key - daily, weekly or monthly data doesn’t carry anywhere near as much information about how energy is being used.

ENERGY PROFILE CHARTS AND HOW TO CREATE THEM Patterns of energy usage are often referred to as energy profiles. An example of a month’s worth of energy profiles is shown below:

to be used, that’s an indication that energy is possibly being wasted, and something for you to investigate.

UNDERSTAND THE BUILDING TO UNDERSTAND THE ENERGY PROFILES To make sense of the energy profiles, you need to have good idea about what goes on in the building. Not everything that goes on in the building, just the things that relate to energy consumption. Every building is different, but the following factors are commonly relevant:

OCCUPANCY - WHEN PEOPLE COME AND GO •

•

A month’s worth of energy profiles created using Energy Lens software

HOW TO CREATE ENERGY PROFILES FROM INTERVAL DATA The charting features of Microsoft Excel will allow you to create your own energy profiles from interval data. However, you may wish to make the process faster and easier with specialist software such as Energy Lens.

HOW TO LOOK AT ENERGY PROFILES - A GENERAL PHILOSOPHY Looking at energy profiles to find energy waste requires you to have some knowledge of the way that the building is operated. The key is to try to link the patterns of energy usage with the operations of the building. Energy profiles show how much energy is being used at particular times-of-the-day and days-of-theweek - you want to be able to have a pretty good idea of what equipment is using that energy, and why it needs to be using it at the times in question. If the profiles show energy being used on times or days when you’re not aware of a good reason for energy

What are the core occupancy hours (e.g. 9 to 5)? Are there multiple shifts (e.g. a day shift and a night shift)? Do people ever work on-site outside of the core occupancy hours? Do certain staff stay on after the official closing time? Does anyone come in on weekends or holidays?

HVAC - HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING •

What fuels are used for heating (e.g. gas, electricity - see note below)? • Is there air conditioning? Is it used just for cooling in summer, or is it used all year round (e.g. to keep equipment cool)? • How is the heating controlled? Is it on a timer? When is it set to switch on and off? Are there different timer settings for weekends and holidays? It’s important to be aware that most forms of gas heating also use electricity for fans, pumps and controls. For example, for a heating system consisting of a gas boiler connected to radiators, 5% or more of the total energy used will typically be electricity. This is particularly significant in cost terms because electricity usually costs several times more per kWh than gas. Heating systems that involve ducted air will typically use a considerable amount of electricity (40% or so is not uncommon). Air conditioning also usually consumes a lot of electricity. The upshot of this is that HVAC energy wastage can usually be identified from patterns of electricity consumption alone. But if you do have interval metering on your gas supply it’s

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

well worth taking a closer look at your patterns of gas consumption too.

LIGHTING •

What controls when the lights come on and off? Are they automatically controlled (e.g. by a sensor that detects movement or light-levels), or are they turned on and off by staff? • Do lights remain on when they’re not needed (e.g. when staff have gone home, or when they’re on lunch-break)? • Are there enough light-switches? For example, if one person is working late in a large open office, will they have to light the entire office just to light their desk? NB Most buildings have different sets of lights for different purposes (e.g. a set of lights in the main office, a set of lights in the meeting rooms, a set of lights in the warehouse, a set of security lights outside). Your answers to the questions above may depend on which set of lights you’re talking about.

OFFICE EQUIPMENT •

Do staff turn their computers off when they leave work? • Is there office equipment such as photocopiers / printers? Is it turned off when not in use? (NB Whilst interval data is perfect for looking at larger patterns and trends, it won’t help you to figure out how much energy an individual computer or photocopier uses... For that task you’ll want to plug a simple watt meter between the equipment and the wall socket.)

OTHER ENERGY-CONSUMING EQUIPMENT / PROCESSES This could include anything from a printing room, to a fork-lift-truck charger, to specialist production-line equipment. • What processes or items of equipment exist that use energy? • What sort of energy do they use (e.g. electricity, or gas, or both)? • When do they use energy? When do the processes run? When is the equipment switched on and off? It’s important to note that industrial processes can often dwarf all other types of energy consumption in a building. If a building has processes or items of equipment that consume a lot of energy, even small changes to the way that they’re operated can often make a big difference to the energy bill. www.energylens.com

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

PILOT GROUP ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO SAVE ONE MILLION TONNES OF CO2 IN 2020 • The new Pilot EnergyMgr 2.0, launched in October has already seen a strong start to sales • Pilot Group expect to save businesses more than one million tonnes of CO2 in 2020 and guarantee at least 25% saving on fuel bills • New features added to the system means Pilot Group can meter energy usage

ilot Group’s EnergyMgr 2.0, launched in October, is expected to save more than one million tonnes CO2 being produced in 2020, following a strong start to sales. Pilot Group has also made several new features available and numerous upgrades to the system to ensure that the energy management system delivers savings in both costs and energy usage using the latest technology. The new intuitive interface will make it easier for customers to navigate menus with a new dashboard that displays utilities and equipment in real-time. The addition of a multi-site feature means that customers can view performance, energy usage and make changes to each site from any internet enabled devices, providing customers ultimate control and visibility. In addition, with a new intelligent reporting tool, the EnergyMgr 2.0 will automatically convert kWh burned to CO2 tonnes, which allows customers to keep on top of CO2 used month on month, year on year. By measuring how much energy is used, businesses can begin to see how changing some processes and ways of working can significantly reduce the overall carbon footprint. To achieve this, Pilot Group will work with customers to help create a bespoke energy saving strategy ensuring that optimum energy efﬁciency is realised. The Energy Management System is on course to revolutionise the monitoring, control and management of heating, air

conditioning systems and compressors as Pilot Group expected it to. In addition to improved control and management of heating, the upgraded EnergyMgr 2.0 system can now control an existing lighting system, or new system which can be supplied by Hilclare, resulting in an all in one, cost effective management system. The EMS integrates a central control unit with an intelligent software and highly accurate digital sensors to optimise the performance of industrial heating systems. Since acquiring Vickers Electronics, an energy management specialist with over

28 years’ experience of providing energy savings in industrial and commercial businesses, Pilot Group has invested heavily in product development. All systems come with a complimentary 12-month warranty and service agreement, which includes an onsite annual health check. The warranty and service can be extended at any time to ensure that the energy management system contributes to energy savings with maximum efficiency. The agreement includes full parts and labour warranty, annual service, engineer callouts and software updates. www.thepilotgroup.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

BOILERS & BURNERS

TURNING UP THE HEAT ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY As we strive for carbon neutrality by 2050, it’s important not to overlook the role of energy efficiency and retrofit in achieving our goal, says Tom Murray, Baxi Heating’s Specification Manager

s the public sector looks to scale up decarbonisation activities across its estates, heating, which accounts for 37% of total UK emissions, is a clear target for action. Non-domestic buildings in the UK account for 17% of our energy consumption and 12% of greenhouse gas emissions. Great strides have been made in new build developments, where buildings are designed to require less heat. But arguably the toughest challenge is to find suitable solutions for the variety of existing public buildings, especially those with heritage elements. As manufacturers, we are working to deliver a combination of technology and techniques that will meet the different requirements. The feasibility of repurposing the existing gas grid to transport green gas is also being explored by ourselves and others to offer a low disruption solution towards decarbonising our older building stock. But all the while we actively innovate to explore these options, we must continue to address the inefficiency of our existing buildings. With that in mind, let’s consider the critical role of retrofit in the path to net zero. Given that many older public buildings rely on ageing, inefficient boilers for their heating, there is still huge scope for significant energy and emission savings from a low-cost plant upgrade. Replacing dated, wasteful boiler plant with modern, high-efficiency condensing

boilers, for example, has the potential to achieve transformational results, reducing gas consumption by as much as 48% in our experience.

RELIABLE LIFETIME PERFORMANCE So how to guarantee that the optimum result is achieved? While energy efficiency remains a key priority when selecting replacement boilers, it’s increasingly important to ensure that today’s products can be relied on to deliver high operational performance throughout their lifetime. One means of assessing the reliability of the product is through the manufacturer reputation for quality. A second is through the warranty. The market-leading warranties that accompany Remeha’s condensing boiler range, for example, instil confidence in the products’ ability to keep on going and going.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

As with all products, adopting a regular maintenance and servicing programme will help maintain optimum performance throughout its lifecycle. Factoring in ease of maintenance, servicing and part replacement as well as installation and capital costs will therefore provide a more realistic assessment of a boiler’s energy-saving potential.

FLEXIBLE DESIGN While manufacturers prepare for the future, they are also engineering to overcome design hurdles on refurbishment and retrofit projects. The arrival of flexible, ultracompact floor standing boilers is just one example. The ability to arrange these boilers in space-saving modular and cascade configurations provides greater design flexibility, enabling high heat demand to be installed in restricted or difficult-to-reach areas.

BOILERS & BURNERS

Some manufacturers also offer the opportunity to use pre-assembled and integrated plate heat exchanger and low loss header kits to achieve hydraulic separation on older heating systems. Time and space-saving solutions like these effectively protect the new boilers from any debris and contamination, again optimising their long-term efficiency.

PROGRESS TO NET ZERO Relatively simple, affordable boiler replacements have the potential to make dramatic improvements in the energy performance of public sector buildings. As such, tackling this low hanging fruit offers local authorities a real and achievable opportunity to reduce emissions while delivering cost savings for the public purse. And with experienced manufacturers working with energy and estates managers to evaluate the most suitable

When the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) refurbished a series of heating systems at its Harwell Campus, the goals were to reduce energy usage and simplify future maintenance and servicing.

and emission savings in the region of 30%.

The first project was to refurbish an old packaged plant room feeding two buildings. Since the installation of the original boilers, cladding and double insulation had been added to improve the building fabric. With the installed heating capacity reduced by 40%, three Remeha Gas 220 Ace floor standing condensing boilers were specified to replace the six ageing boilers. The Remeha boilers were then connected directly to the site Building Management System to optimise efficient operation. The estates team anticipate that the refurbishment will deliver additional energy options, we can ensure that long-term high-performance heating is achieved

The second project involved combining two plant rooms, again with a view to ensuring more straightforward maintenance moving forward. With limited available space in the low-ceilinged basement boiler room, the project required compact boilers that would enable a large output to be achieved within a small footprint. Three Remeha Gas 220 Ace boilers were selected to meet the doubled heat output capacity in this plant room. The ability to strip out the old plant also meant that the team could treat and remove asbestos from the boiler room. STFC is part of UK Research and Innovation and operates world-class largescale research facilities at its Harwell Campus.

for more comfortable, more efficient buildings. Email: info@remeha.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE â&#x20AC;˘ MARCH 2020

HEATING

FIVE CONSIDERATIONS EVERY HEALTHCARE MANAGER SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A HEATING AND COOLING SOLUTION

he healthcare sector has long been one of the UK’s largest capital construction sectors – nudging the £3bn mark at present. Much of this funding is aimed at providing new hospitals to meet our growing population and healthcare needs. However, a significant proportion is benchmarked for improving the efficiency of current healthcare facilities, whilst delivering cost savings, enhanced productivity and energy efficiency. Of the many key factors that influence decisions made when considering heating and cooling solutions for the development of new sites, or the improvement of existing ones, there are five that are absolutely critical. These decisions will help healthcare facility managers satisfy industry regulations, best practice guidelines and the need to deliver a sustainable, lasting-value solution while delivering a comfortable, healthy environment for patients, staff and facility users. They are: 1. Cost 2. Reducing the risk of infection 3. Ease of installation 4. Comfort 5. Adaptability In this overview of how our Radiant Heating and Cooling (RHC) ceiling panels can ensure healthcare managers meet these requirements, we will focus on each of these areas to reveal the benefits that they deliver.

COST In a recent Carbon Trust Report – Hospitals: healthy budgets through energy efficiency – it is noted that: ‘Energy consumption in hospitals is growing steadily. Electricity already accounts for over 50% of a hospital’s energy costs and consumption is set to increase. There are still many opportunities to achieve energy and cost savings just by implementing a few basic measures.’ The chart below details where the biggest savings can be made – and heating and cooling plays a massive part (just about two-thirds of the total). Our RHC ceiling panels offer energy savings of up to 42% because they heat water to generate heat, which is more energy efficient and cost-effective than heating air. Further savings are made thanks to the way that they only heat objects and occupants in a room, rather than the entire space of the room. This obviously reduces energy use further. In fact, any cost savings that can be achieved in purchasing air-based systems are incredibly short-term. An RHC system’s sustainable level of performance, according to an ASHRAE study, offers 42% energy savings in the second and third year of operation, when compared to a variable air volume, or air-based systems. RHC ceiling panels also have a very low inertia, making them very easy to adjust and much more energy

efficient than high inertia systems, such as underfloor heating. Maintenance of heating systems can be a significant contributor to ongoing costs as well. Our panels have no moving parts, making their maintenance needs very low and just a cloth and mild detergent is needed to clean them. Compare this to underfloor heating which requires entire wards to be evacuated or closed for servicing, or to air-based systems whose high maintenance needs stem from the hygiene-risk of the build-up of dirt.

REDUCED RISK OF INFECTION Which leads us straight into the second benefit of reducing the risk of infection. Our panels can be supplied with an anti-bacterial coating, which prevents the growth of harmful bacteria such as E. coli and MRSA. This reduces the likelihood of infection and illness. In addition, due to their placement on the ceiling, any risk of blood or other bodily fluids spilling on to the panels is removed. This helps prevent bacteria spreading at certain temperatures. The panels are also unaffected by floor cleaning, which impacts on underfloor heating solutions performance and longevity.

INSTALLATION With no moving parts, RHC panels are simple and quick to install causing minimal disruption. They are incredibly easy to clean – just a cloth and some mild detergent are all that is required. And, RHC systems contain very few serviceable parts – and those that do, offer a very long lifecycle and are fully recyclable at the end of their life.

COMFORT RHC systems achieve an even distribution of heating and cooling and, importantly, they do so silently without the noise that other systems emit. This reduces cold, or excessively warm, areas of wards and other areas. For instance, the cooling

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

HEATING offered by fan coil units is extremely uncomfortable to anyone located in proximity to the unit – it can feel like standing in a cool draught. Beyond issues of comfort, there is also safety as a consideration. Heating systems installed from the ceiling eliminate the risk of injuries or discomfort being caused when touched, or contact is made.

ADAPTABILITY By providing both heating and cooling functions within one system, healthcare managers can deploy an energy efficient solution for both requirements – with neither needing additional servicing or alterations. In addition, RHC ceiling panels can be easily adapted to meet changes in the structuring and organisation of the building’s space. They provide the required heat or cooling output according to the ‘active’ areas within a building, where more people are located for example. This means they are also perfectly suited to handling the heating and cooling of areas which are not always occupied, or which people pass temporarily through, such as corridors, reception areas or storage spaces. The panels will only direct heat where activity occurs, so costs associated with heating are not wasted in areas which are empty or only occasionally in use.

RHC CEILING PANELS AND HEALTHCARE Choosing our RHC ceiling panels will help healthcare managers to deliver a heating and cooling solution: • That is energy efficient and cost-effective • That delivers clear health and safety benefits • That creates comfortable spaces throughout the healthcare setting • That is easy to install and offers minimal maintenance requirements • That can adapt to future uses of the building www.zehnder.co.uk

RINNAI CONTINUOUS FLOW HOT WATER SYSTEM SPECIFIED IN FOOD MANUFACTURE PLANT

Rinnai continuous flow hot water solution has been installed at a large-scale seafood processing and manufacturing plant on the North East coast. The system was installed by H Pickup & Sons having used Rinnai products for several years on major projects. H Pickup Mechanical & Electrical Services Limited were established over 100 years ago and are based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. The company offer a comprehensive range of mechanical & electrical services direct to their clients: Electrical Building Services; Mechanical Building Services; Planned & Reactive Maintenance; Gas Servicing; Heating and Plumbing Services; Electrical & Mechanical Design & Installation Services and Contract Management. The food manufacture site had an old stored hot water system which was no longer able to cope with the demand for the high volume and high temperature hot water needed for cleaning down production areas as the site increased its production lines, as it expanded its market ordering and product range. The site was also looking to substantially increase energy, fuel cost efficiency and reliability by removing the stored hot water. With Rinnai continuous flow units water temperature for distribution is accurate to ±1˚C. The fact that there is no stratification as there is no storage, ensures a continuous, permanent even temperature. There is no requirement to heat a volume of water just to ensure the elimination of Legionella bacteria as the minimum temperature that a continuous flow unit achieves is in excess of advisory levels. The modular nature of the Rinnai Systems also removes a single point of failure from the hot water system, ensuring hot water will always be available and not run out. The site used 3 x HDC1200i Natural Gas Water Heaters and also featured the Rinnai Limescale Protection Package. The Rinnai HDC 1200i continuous flow hot water unit has the capacity to easily deliver in excess of 1560 litres of hot water in excess of 50 degrees C temperature per hour, with an overall gross efficiency of more than 95%. These levels of performance, with unbeatable efficiency levels, mean the Rinnai 1200i is more than capable of meeting and exceeding the hot water demands of all applications. This precision engineered unit can also be combined as multiple units into one single, easy to handle module incorporating cascade frames and common flue. Both the HDC 1200 internal and external models turn in a market leading energy performance of 107% net efficiency and offer superlative ranges of modulation as the systems internal analytical system can modulate the burner modulation range from 54kw to 2.4kw. The Rinnai HDC 1200i is engineered for minimal energy wastage and maximum energy performance. It is worth remembering that Part L of the

Building Regulations 2013 has set minimum thermal efficiency levels of 90% for natural gas and 92% for LPG, consequently outlawing non-condensing gas fired water heaters for use in new build projects. Rinnai is the only manufacturer that can supply a complete range of internal and external ultra-high efficiency condensing continuous flow water heaters, aligned not only to comply but surpass changes on the regulatory horizon. Rinnai units and systems are now the number one choice for any size of site or large building or business with a heavy demand for constant hot water or where high peaks of demand occur at certain times. Any number of modules can be manifolded, so the water handling capacity is truly infinite and there is no risk of the ‘cascade’ of hot water ever running out. The manifolded 1200i units can be delivered direct to site in one complete, easy to manage package and at a very competitive price. For the end user this guarantees considerable cost savings over other forms of hot water generation. The relatively compact footprint of all Rinnai units and systems means it can optimise plant room space and safeguard accessibility for maintenance and servicing. There is huge potential for on-demand style water heaters such as the Rinnai HDC 1200i units to play their part in new build and in refurbishments projects alike, where in the latter there are still many old systems that need replacing. By replacing this older technology with new condensing appliances will help support the UK drive towards greener industry. The Rinnai Infinity HDC 1200i water heater uses heat exchanger technology to allow the largest capacity flow rates, thereby guaranteeing all the hot water needed, when it is needed. As well as increasing capacity, the Rinnai Infinity water heater has lower greenhouse emissions because of the new reduced NOx burner technology and as there is no storage, this scores well with BREEAM. The only time the site uses energy to heat water is when there is a demand, in other words, it is only burning gas when a tap is being run. www.rinnaiuk.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

HEATING

GROUND-BREAKING THERMOCILL COULD SAVE HOUSEHOLDERS HUNDREDS OF POUNDS

cientists’ findings show that a simple yet ground-breaking device could save householders hundreds of pounds a year on their heating bills – and reduce the UK’s carbon emissions. Environment experts at the University of Salford put Thermocill, which is made entirely from recycled plastic, through exhaustive tests in their Energy House thermal comfort laboratory, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Thermocill is fitted above the radiator and under the window board in a home. It redirects the heat under the board and through a vent vertically in front of the double-glazed unit attacking the Thermal Hole within the building envelope. This addresses heat loss through the window thus heating the room more and retaining the heat longer. The scientists’ findings showed that: • Thermocill has the potential to save heating energy depending on the room setpoint temperature of between 16% at 21°C degrees and 3.3% at 23°C, thus operating efficiently at a lower room temperature setpoint which meets today’s standards. • Thermocill reduces the warm-up period in a room by up to 23% at a lower room temperature setpoint (e.g. 21°C in 78 minutes compared to 95 minutes without Thermocill). • Thermocill diverts warm current towards the window and makes the air temperature in the window recess higher regardless of the room temperature, therefore not affecting the room temperature in any way. • Thermocill reduces heat loss through double-glazed windows (U-value) by up to 3% at 21°C and 1% at 23°C increasing the double-glazed unit’s efficiency. Dr Richard Fitton, research lead at the University of Salford’s Energy House who led the research, said: “Thermocill is an interesting technology that we had not seen before.” He added: “We tested Thermocill by looking at a typical double-glazed window that you might find in any

Inventor Keith Rimmer shows off the simple Thermocill components outside the University of Salford’s Energy House

home. We then looked at the thermal transfer between the inside and the outside and how much energy was saved from the heating system that was used to heat up the room. “When we were measuring the thermal transfer through the window we found about a 16% energy saving in our thermal comfort room in terms of how much heat energy was used when Thermocill was in place. Also the room heated up around 23% quicker when Thermocill was used.” Thermocill is the brainchild of awardwinning inventor Keith Rimmer who said: “The University of Salford tests confirmed everything I believed. Thermocill can revolutionise the fenestration and home heating industries.” Mechanical engineer Keith, who won an Ernst & Young North West Entrepreneur of the Year Award for his EcoPod heating system, added: “Thermocill saves energy consumption by reducing heat loss and doesn’t use any form of energy itself. “It is manufactured from plastic waste including plastic bottle tops. It is truly sustainable and where fitted will massively reduce the property’s carbon footprint.” He added: “Another aspect, which the report doesn’t look at, is that Thermocill also alleviates condensation from the

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

internal glazed unit which is a problem of many new efficient window systems.” Thermocill, patent pending (No 1820279.6) and trademarked, is aimed at the housing market and can be fitted retrospectively into properties or integrally into new builds. Keith also sees Thermocill being an energy and cost-saver in multi-occupancy buildings like hospitals, hotels, homes for the elderly and office blocks. It extends from 125mm to 250mm fitting the most common size window boards and comes in three width sizes 500mm, 300mm and 100mm, all of which can be used as multiples to fit the majority of window sizes. The rear ventilation outlet of Thermocill is also adjustable to allow different thicknesses of decorative window board finishes – timber, MDF, plastic or conglomerate and tiled finishes from 10mm to 26mm. When Thermocill is fitted no part will be on show apart from the outlet grill at the back of the window board. Following validation by the University of Salford, Keith believes the potential for Thermocill is so great that he is now looking for a manufacturing partner or licensee to help take the product to the open market. https://www.salford.ac.uk/ https://twitter.com/keithrimmer4

HEATING

HOW TO KEEP THE HEATING ON IN ALL SECTORS OF HEAT AND REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS

With a climate emergency officially declared and every one becoming increasingly aware of environmental issues, a new technology is on to the market that will help keep you warmer and bring carbon emissions down.

n the hospitality industry, the public sector, and in the domestic sector keeping the heating on in the colder months is essential. A warm, cosy room is expected by guests, the public and staff as they work, check-in to stay for the night or just at home. A cold building like a hotel, Bed & Breakfast or home could see the fabrics of the building suffer or quickly see its TripAdvisor ratings suffer. Yet, like in all sectors with central heating and hot water requirements they all face their own challenges to reduce carbon emissions and help tackle the climate crisis. According to the Carbon Trust, just the hospitality and leisure sector accounts for over a third of the UK’s energy consumption. Heating, which is so important to a guest’s overall experience, is one of the key contributors to carbon emissions in hotels. Heating systems also account for up to 60% of hotel energy bills. With everyone now more aware of global warming and a Climate Emergency Declaration made by Parliament in 2019, all sectors are looking for ways to reduce emissions and environmental impact. So, how do you keep the heating on and reduce carbon emissions while still making a profit or a saving at home?

MAKING EXISTING HEATING SYSTEMS WORK SMARTER One new solution recently launched to market, The Hydro Genie System, works with existing gas, electric and oil heating systems to make them much

more efficient, cutting fuel consumption and emissions by up to 35%1 on commercial heating and up to 49% on domestic properties depending on the system installed. Retro-fitted to the pipe work of existing boilers, the Hydro Genie System is an enhanced heat transfer modifier that works with central heating systems that burn natural fossil fuels. Using proven, patented technology, it dramatically improves the heat transfer to the circulating water in your central heating which reduces the amount of fuel your boiler uses. It also removes oxygen from the water which is the cause of rust and sludge build-up in radiators. The Hydro Genie System removes this rust and sludge so that radiators provide up to 20% more heat. Overall, this leads to lower carbon emissions, warmer rooms and much lower heating bills. For hotels, there is also the option to couple the installation of the Hydro Genie 1 As shown in tests carried out by Strathclyde Eco-Innovation Unit on a large secondary school showing a recorded saving of 39% reduction in Gas used and the SETN in conjunction with the University of Strathclyde in a test on a 3 bed house the test recorded a saving in gas used of 49.8%.

System with a smart temperature control system. This allows room temperatures to be controlled from the front desk. So, when a room is unoccupied, or during the night, heating can be turned down, saving fuel and reducing emissions. Guests can even choose what temperature they want their room to be. If a bedroom window is opened, the system will also automatically switch off the radiator in that room. Together, the installation of a Hydro Genie System and a smart temperature control system will dramatically reduce the fuel consumption of boilers, reducing emissions and reducing fuel bills. All while home owners, the public sector and hotel guests enjoy their buildings at the temperature they can be happy in the knowledge that they are warmer, saving money and reducing their Carbon Emissions and for the domestic sector the Hydro Genie Systems are fully installed at 5% VAT a saving of 15% on the whole cost, www.hydro-genie.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

HEATING

RINNAI RE-IMAGINES HOME HOT WATER & HEATING SYSTEMS

innai, global leaders in continuous flow hot water heating products and systems, is introducing 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 economically 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 2 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 until 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 Wifi 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 Wifi and boiler controller also uses GPS from the user’s 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 are available for use with both natural gas and LPG. www.rinnaiuk.com

INNOVATIVE RENFREWSHIRE ‘RETROFIT’ HOUSING PROJECT COULD SLASH HEATING BILLS BY 90%

n innovative housing project in Renfrewshire will help to tackle climate change and could slash tenant’s annual heating bills to £150. Renfrewshire Council’s housing investment team has been given the green light to deliver a £4.5million retrofit of 75 terraced council houses. The popular 1960s-built Paisley crosswall construction properties are being given a retrofit to reduce their carbon emissions and improve their energy efficiency. Together with experts John Gilbert Architects, the Council team has developed a specialist, cost-effective package of works to radically reduce the amount of fuel being burned. The completed works could enable carbon dioxide emissions to drop by almost 100 tonnes per property over the next 25 years, collectively preventing 7400 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide entering the environment. And each property’s energy efficiency could rise from Band D to

Band B, the second highest Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, bringing the 60-year-old houses in line with most newbuild properties. Renfrewshire councillors have approved the project plans and consultation will now get underway with tenants before work is scheduled to start this summer, taking around 18-months to complete. An Energy Performance Survey will benchmark each home’s efficiency before the works start. New external wall insulation, roofing, solar panels, windows, external doors and underfloor insulation are all included, with off-site construction enabling the process at each home to be streamlined to take around 4-6 weeks. The completed works will achieve the EnerPHit standard, one of the highest energy standards in the UK for an energy performance retrofit. Lori McElroy, Director of Housing and Energy (Scotland) at the Building Research Establishment, said: “We’re pleased to help with the planning

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

behind this project, which is taking innovative thinking to the next stage by demonstrating a clear solution to a complex issue. We are committed to supporting organisations to deliver the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficient Scotland targets and look forward to measuring and monitoring the project to ensure the best possible outcomes.” The project is part-funded through £1.8million secured from the UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Whole House Retrofit competition. Email: david.christie@renfrewshire.gov.uk

DRIVES & MOTORS NEWS

WHY NET-ZERO WILL IMPROVE THE UPTAKE OF VARIABLE SPEED DRIVES AND MOTORS

ecent research reports indicate that the global market for variable speed drives (VSDs) will exceed an estimated $33 billion by 2025. One of the most powerful arguments behind this growth is the global interest from governments in achieving a net-zero energy goal. In 2019 the UK became the first major economy to pass a net-zero emissions law specifying a new target that will require the country to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. What is net-zero? The UK government says “net-zero emissions means the total of active removals from the atmosphere, offsets any remaining emissions from the rest of the economy. Sometimes “net-zero” is used to refer to CO2 only and sometimes it refers to all greenhouse gases.” This has massive implications for the public sector where keeping its offices, hospital wards, swimming pools and leisure centres heated, ventilated and air-conditioned is a costly business. For example, according to The Carbon Trust, the annual gas and electricity consumed by the UK’s NHS Trusts is an estimated £400 million. Barts Health NHS Trust, with a turnover of over £1.5 billion and a workforce of 16,000, typically spends £13 million on energy. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust comes a close second with in excess of £11 million. For those in the know, a VSD and high efficiency motor is the most sustainable and cost-effective method to reduce energy consumption, lower CO2 emissions and achieve energy efficient targets. A VSD is used on a motor powering a pump or fan to regulate their flow rate by precisely matching motor speed to load demand. Running an application at the lowest possible motor speed, while maintaining performance requirements, can lead to energy savings from 20 to 60 percent and with payback, in many instances, between one to three years. Varying the speed also reduces mechanical stress on the pump or fan and motor wear and tear, requiring less maintenance and prolonging system lifetime. As such, VSDs are one of the most costeffective ways to maximise efficiency and reduce operational costs, with the savings benefiting the bottom line.

Despite being available for over 50 years, the true energy saving potential of variable speed drives can often be overlooked, especially by a new generation of engineers. As David Hughes, ABB UK’s Managing Director argues, the arrival of net-zero could be the catalyst that increases the up-take of the technology. Yet the problem is that those who know about VSDs and motors would appear to be few and far between. In an ABB survey, engineers and the financial community were asked what they perceived to be the most effective way to save energy. The top answer was “change energy supplier”. However, this does not save energy long term, it only moves the energy pricing challenge from one energy supplier to the next, as wholesale energy prices rarely vary that much. The most effective way to save energy is to install VSDs and high efficiency motors, yet this answer languished well down the list, even behind turning off the lights. In fact, one third of the world’s industrial electrical energy is consumed by electrical motors and yet approximately 10 percent of the installed base are fitted with VSDs. This highlights an incredible opportunity for energy efficiency improvements through VSD retrofit installations. There is clearly a need to raise awareness. A new breed of engineers is entering the building services arena, many of whom have not been trained in the benefits of using VSDs and motors. Apart from this skills gap, there is also a lack of energy efficiency engineers which is hindering the ability to find savings and the best way to implement reduction initiatives. To help overcome this, my own company has devised a 2-hour training course which is CPD-certified (Continuous Professional Development). The course shows how to spot those pump and fan applications that can save the most energy and money and, more importantly, how easy it is to make the savings happen. There is even an option, by way of an Energy Snapshot, to have an ABB-certified engineer accompany building services staff and show them how to spot up to five best money saving opportunities in just half-a-day. The improvement in education

extends to building services consultants. All too often, the advanced capabilities of the VSD are not reflected in today’s building services’ specifications. Even the choice of electric motor is more extensive than ever ranging from permanent magnet, induction and synchronous reluctance, with each offering a different mix of benefits, depending on the application. Previously a powertrain, comprising VSDs, electric motors, bearings, couplings and loads such as fans or pumps, were inherently dumb: none of the component parts communicated with each other, let alone the wider world. This results in inefficient maintenance schedules. For instance, many electric motors are often rewound, as this is considered a cost-effective solution as opposed to replacement. There are two schools of thought about whether an electric motor should be replaced or repaired, depending on whether you are a motor manufacturer or a rewind company. A motor manufacturer argues that rewinding a motor loses efficiency and the cost of repair can be as much as the price of a new motor. Rewind companies, disagree, saying a rewind today delivers equal or improved efficiency levels at a competitive cost compared to new. So how does the end-user decide? The arrival of smart sensors will go some way to alleviating uncertainties. Smart sensors convert traditional motors, pumps and mounted bearings into smart, wirelessly connected devices. It measures key parameters from the surface of the equipment which can be used to gain meaningful information on the condition and performance of the equipment, enabling users to identify inefficiencies within their system and to reduce risks related to operation and maintenance. Maintenance can now be planned according to actual needs rather than based on generic schedules. This extends the lifetime of equipment, cuts maintenance costs and reduces or prevents unplanned downtime due to breakdowns. Finally, a word of warning. Don’t always look for a magic bullet to save the energy day. Innovation doesn’t have to mean new technology. There are some well-established technologies out there that are more than capable of saving the planet and which are under-utilised. Today’s variable speed drive may just be one of those technologies. It may be time to take a closer look. https://new.abb.com/

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

LIGHTING

SMARTER, SAFER, BRIGHTER: HOW NEW LED LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY IS EVOLVING IN CAR PARKS Saima Shafi, Sales and Marketing Director, Goodlight

s the dark winter months draw in, lighting becomes even more of a pressing issue for car park managers. Many will be considering steps they can take to provide safer and more welcoming parking spaces without increased maintenance and energy costs. Here, well-controlled LED lighting can be an asset. In 2004, the British Parking Association launched the Safer Parking Scheme. This awarded a ‘Park Mark’ to facilities which met specific criteria for deterring criminal activity and vehicle theft. One of the four award criteria listed is ‘Appropriate Lighting.’ As of 2016, one in four car parks had been deemed worthy of the award, an impressive figure that assures car park users that facilities have been designed and managed with care. It also suggests though that more could be done to make both public and private car parks safer facilities. Whether for stores, businesses or offices, the unique features of LED lighting including its energy-efficiency, illumination and reliability, are perfectly suited to meet the specific needs of car parks. Goodlight has recently rolled out its LED lighting products across a number of large-scale international train station car park projects, introducing many benefits to these spaces. In a recent LED upgrade project, Goodlight LED was specified to replace the outdated fluorescent and metal halide luminaires in the car parks at Ashford, Ebbsfleet, St Pancras and Stratford. The upgrade included over 3,000 Goodlight LED luminaires. Improved illumination was provided to over 8,000 spaces in total and the car park operators achieved up to 80% energy savings. Another exciting project saw Goodlight LED replacing over 1,000 individual lights with long-life LED lamps

in the stairwells and car parks of a Grade 2 listed Bristol eco apartment complex. The installed LED lamps have a 50,000hour life span, effectively eliminating the need for regular replacement. Furthermore, in an ongoing roll-out project for a national supermarket chain, Goodlight provided energy efficient, low maintenance LED lighting into over 100 existing car parks and store canopies. Thanks to the new car park LED lighting installations, all the projects

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saw improvements in cost efficiency, carbon footprint and management.

A VISIBLE IMPROVEMENT Car parks require bright lighting that not only illuminates the space adequately for it to be shared safely by drivers and pedestrians, but also enables security cameras to spot anti-social behaviour. LED lights offer an even spread of light without shadowing or glare that delivers the required brightness. In the case of

LIGHTING

the international train station car parks project, the newly installed Goodlight LED lights included G360 SON Lamps (Daylight and Natural) in 20W, 30W and 60W which, from a 360° beam angle, deliver a high output of 140Lm/W, achieved through an advanced cooling system. Furthermore, these LED lamps are retrofittable and can upgrade existing lighting with limited inconvenience to car park owners and users. In providing new LED lighting for the supermarket chain’s car park, the retrofittable Goodlight LED lights avoided the need to relocate columns or alter existing buildings nearby. In the case of outdoor car parks, LED lighting can respond swiftly through wireless control systems to different environmental changes such as weather conditions and light levels, all vital to keep the facility safe and well-lit at all times.

CONTROLLED SOLUTIONS The benefits of such a tightly controlled lighting system extend beyond swift responses to the external environment. These systems can also be wireless and of great benefit to facilities managers, who need to respond to lighting problems in car parks quickly to avoid damaged vehicles or injured pedestrians. Issues can be identified through automated, wireless LED lighting

control systems, such as Light Boss, which cater for ‘active’ maintenance support, in addition to delivering ‘reactive’ lighting maintenance solutions fast and effectively. Many of these systems, can be coupled with infrared cameras to allow for security management too, something facilities managers will also find helpful. It should also be noted that wireless lighting control systems are easier to install than wired-in systems, providing minimal inconvenience to car park owners and users. Not only does LED technology simplify maintenance but it also lowers the associated maintenance costs. Automated LED lighting control systems reduce the need for surveys and site visits, especially with self-test features which alert facilities managers to faults as soon as they occur. In addition, the LED lights themselves have a seriously impressive lifespan and quality LED lighting manufacturers now offer a five-year guarantee on their products. In fact, LED lamps and luminaires rated at 50,000 hours last three times longer than typical fluorescent lights, giving further savings to site operators. Overall, automated, wireless LED lighting control systems give the flexibility that car park managers need to operate their sites effectively and substantially decrease their maintenance costs.

ENERGY COSTS Whilst the benefits of installing LED lighting are clear, stretched capital budgets unfortunately hold many car park operators back from embracing the technology. However, the installation of LED technology can be funded through the savings made each year on energy bills each month via a tax-efficient leasepurchase scheme, such as the company’s Bright Plan scheme. For example, a car park which implemented LED lighting and controls under the scheme could expect to save 87% on their energy bills and pay back their installation costs in under two years. In the case of the recent station car parks project, the new lighting provided up to 80% energy savings, upgrading to LED lighting alone. Furthermore, as consumers become more attuned to their carbon footprints, a ‘greener place to park’ is something that parking providers could potentially use as a selling-point to promote their facilities against competitors. With significant benefits to car park users and managers, and a straightforward path both to implement and fund the transition, LED lighting in car parks will eventually become the norm. www.goodlight.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

LIGHTING

IOT SECURITY AND CONNECTED LED LIGHTING NETWORKS

THE GOOD NEWS, THE BAD NEWS AND THE WAY FORWARD

little over a decade ago, the introduction of LED lighting seemed to transform commercial lighting overnight. Now we’re seeing it happen again. This time, connectivity and big data are driving the change, creating a profound shift in how new commercial lighting is evaluated, specified and approved. Suddenly everyone is talking and writing about connected lighting, networked lighting, smart lighting controls and the Internet of Things (IoT). As more companies explore networkable lighting and connected smart controls, a new player will be sitting at the table: the corporate IT department. And they’re going to be asking a lot of serious questions about cybersecurity. In general, the more extensively a lighting network is connected to other networks, the greater the exposure to cybersecurity threats. Consider Gartner’s observation in its 2019 review of cybersecurity trends: “Companies have made a ‘smart’ version of basically everything you can think of, but many of those products have glaring security holes.” In fact, according to McAfee, 70% of IoT devices have such security flaws. What’s worse, cybersecurity and IT experts point out, is that instead of “baking in” security measures as an essential ingredient of product development, many IoT device manufacturers are “bolting on” security after the fact. Which is a bit like constructing an office building without plumbing and electricity. Adding it later is expensive and difficult, if not impossible.

LEADING US TO THE BAD NEWS: the security measures protecting the networkable products of many lighting vendors and their customers are almost non-existent or already years out of date.

But doesn’t almost every LED lighting vendor use 128-bit AES encryption and meet the National Institute of Standards and Technology ‘s (NIST) FIPS 140-2, Level 1 requirements? In a word, yes. But encryption isn’t the only issue in smart lighting security, and unless encryption is consistently applied as part of a larger cybersecurity strategy, it won’t satisfy enterprise-level IT departments, because it won’t protect the network from a myriad of other vulnerabilities.

HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS: Cree Lighting developed their smart lighting control networks from the ground up with an IT-grade cybersecurity strategy that has proactively excelled in rigorous independent security evaluations. Cree Lighting recognized from the beginning that its SmartCast® Technology would ultimately serve as an open and interoperable IoT platform. With that in mind, Cree Lighting set out to create a secure architecture to protect data and access. Our benchmark isn’t the best practices of the lighting industry; it’s those of the IT industry. To ensure the security of the platform, Cree Lighting engaged independent cybersecurity consultants to intentionally attempt to hack the SmartCast Intelligence Platform™. After extensive penetration testing, this global firm subsequently ranked the cybersecurity measures of the SmartCast Intelligence Platform™ in the top 10% of all technology companies they’ve tested, which includes leading technology companies that you use every day.

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SO WHAT’S THE WAY FORWARD? Today, anyone involved in commercial lighting projects needs to be guided by four basic assumptions: 1. Every lighting control network will eventually be connected to other enterprise networks and/or the Internet. 2. Any lighting control network that doesn’t provide enterprise-level cybersecurity may compromise the company and put valuable assets and resources at risk. 3. Not all lighting manufacturers give cybersecurity the same priority. 4. Since every IoT-enabled lighting network will require the blessing of the corporate IT department, you’ll want to choose a lighting vendor with cybersecurity that will earn IT department approval. Welcome to the new reality of commercial lighting. Given the stakes, it’s worth the time to learn a little more about IoT security issues and their solutions. For additional information, download Cree Lighting’s FAQ on IoT security, developed for lighting designers and specifiers, or our new Position Paper for IT professionals outlining key security features of the SmartCast Intelligence Platform™. www.creelighting.com

WATER MANAGEMENT

SWITCHWATERSUPPLIER.COM IS HERE TO HELP MAKE THE OPEN WATER MARKET WORK FOR EVERYONE!

raham has a particular passion for the water industry and conservation of one of the world’s most important, yet undervalued, resources. Through his consultancy, he and his team have been championing the customer for years, working with organisations small and large to devise and deliver on water efficiency strategies, identifying incorrect billing, often resulting in significant claims for refunds from the water wholesalers, and helping to correct the water billing data to ensure the customer continues to benefit from the work going forwards. Since deregulation in both Scotland, and more recently in England and Wales, as of April 2017, Graham has been at the forefront of identifying where new issues in billing data accuracy and other side-issues resulting from the technical challenge of the deregulation process, have arisen. With this experience and practical insight, the need for businesses to step forward and help the water industry regulator, market operator and retailers to realise the goals and benefits of an open water market was abundantly clear. Having worked with SwitchWaterSupplier. com’s co-founder, Tim Guest, for nearly 20 years on technology projects for H2O Building Services, Graham needed a business partner capable of sharing his passion to help the water retail market mature and work for both customer and retailer. Tim’s business, Contedia, is a boutique IT services and digital consultancy that has been developing custom and web applications since 2001 and together, Graham and Tim have developed solutions to automate and allow consultative and customer access and analysis of AMR (Automated Meter Reader) data. Tim is a solutions expert, capable of understanding and translating business challenges in to strategic technology solutions, so upon realisation of the opportunity to make a genuine difference to so many businesses in and around the water retail industry, his interest was assured. Together, Graham and Tim set out to provide the water retail market with what it needed, a ‘go to’ organisation capable of representing the needs of the open water market and the general interest in water efficiency, together with the providing the tools to ensure customers and retailers can do business better together.

Our founders have a shared vision and a unique combination of skills and resources that allow SwitchWaterSupplier. com to really address the needs of the UK water retail market. With over 30 years of experience working in the water industry, and the last 20 of those as the co-founder and senior partner of specialist water, waste water and trade effluent consultancy, H2O Building Services, Graham Mann has amassed a vast working knowledge of the non-domestic water retail market.

With deregulation bringing about the possibility for most businesses to seek more competitive costs for their water and waste water services by switching to an alternative water retailer, perhaps aligning themselves with a supplier who provides a suitable service arrangement than their existing supplier, the need for the market to make the consideration of switching a simple, guided and impartial process is clear. Unfortunately, with only limited information and resources made available to-date, and the complex nature of contacting and evaluating comparable quotes, especially for larger businesses or those with more metered sites, the expectation of businesses being encouraged to switch hasn’t been met, and it’s here where SwitchWaterSupplier.com decided to enter the market and begin to offer solutions to the challenges that exist. Based on the experience and skills within the business, SwitchWaterSupplier. com set out to develop the first, completely

independence and impartial water tendering platform, designed to cut through the current barriers and offer the features needed to allow customers to manage their water estates free of charge and easily approach the entire water retail market for like-for-like quotations for their onward water contracts. With additional, value-added services available from SwitchWaterSupplier.com, including water audits, water bill validation, site surveys and leak detection and repair, the business aims to be the only partner for water-related matters an organisation should ever need. A whole raft of further features and services will follow the initial launch of the UK’s first water tendering platform, making SwitchWaterSupplier.com the place to start a customer’s journey for all things water, waste water and water efficiency. www.switchwatersupplier.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

WATER MANAGEMENT

WATER SUPPLIERS: HOW TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHANGE FOR YOUR BUSINESS

ince April 2017, non-domestic English water customers have been able to choose their own water suppliers. This is referred to as ‘market deregulation’. Now, businesses can choose to buy their retail water services from any licenced company, regardless of how much water they use a year. But when it comes to changing your business water supplier, there are a few important things to consider. For example, you need to think about the main differences between your existing and potential new water supplier to ensure you’re getting a beneficial switch. So if you’re a business thinking of making a change, follow our useful guide below to help you through the process.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AN OPEN WATER MARKET? Increased competition in the industry will encourage water suppliers to offer more enticing benefits to customers. Therefore, business owners can expect some of the following incentives: • Reduced costs • Improved service levels • Lower management overheads • Easier to meet regulatory compliance • New solutions to water management challenges • Improved corporate, social and environmental responsibility • A greater understanding of water consumption habits If your business hasn’t switched water suppliers yet, you may be missing out on significant savings. That’s why we’ve created this guide outlining everything you need to know about changing your business water supplier.

HERE ARE OUR SIMPLE STEPS TO SWITCHING WATER SUPPLIERS STEP 1: UNDERSTAND YOUR WATER CONSUMPTION HABITS Take a look at your previous water bills (ideally from the last three years). Look at how much you’re using and how much it’s costing you. If you operate over multiple sites, be sure to audit your business total, as well as the numbers from each individual site.

Key questions to consider for each site: 1. How much water do you use? 2. How much wastewater do you produce? 3. How much are you spending on water and/ or wastewater – average per month and per year? 4. How much trade effluent do you produce and what is the cost?

STEP 2: FIND THE RIGHT WATER SUPPLIER FOR YOUR BUSINESS Finding the right supplier is the most important step in the process. You need to spend time considering your options, as well as thinking about what the supplier can offer you.

Questions to consider: • • •

• •

Is your supplier transparent and helpful in the quoting process? Do you want a transactional supplier? Would you prefer to work with a company that offers a higher level of customer service? Do they offer a wide range of value-added services? Do they offer a deal that suits your consumption habits?

STEP 3: COLLECT AND COMPARE QUOTES Once you’ve narrowed down your list of suppliers, the next step is to collect and compare quotes from them. Some suppliers quote their services differently, so make sure that you’re comparing ‘apples with apples’.

What you’ll need to to get a quote: • • •

•

Your organisation’s name, address and postcode Annual consumption figures Supply pipe ID (a unique reference number on your meter and on your water bills) Your business’ point of contact for water-related services

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

Top tip for a QUICK WIN when it comes to your business water If finding a supplier and comparing quotes sounds like a lot of work, that’s because it is! That’s why many businesses choose to partner with a business water broker who can do all the hard work for you. With their bulk-buying power, a broker may be able to get you cheaper rates than if you were to go straight to a supplier. When you choose to switch using a broker’s services, you just need to sign an agreement and they will take it from there. They will contact your existing supplier to let them know you’re moving and get you set up on the new supplier’s systems. They’ll also deal with any queries and requests you have regarding your water services and can offer a full water management service.

STEP 4: ENJOY THE BENEFITS Switching suppliers can bring a multitude of benefits: • Increased competition in the market can mean better prices and better service. • If your business has several sites, you can consolidate your water to one single supplier, with one bill covering all your locations. • When you use a broker like Smarter Business, you can bundle your water and energy to streamline your business services even further. • You’ll have access to billing and consumption data that can help you optimise your operations. https://smarterbusiness.co.uk/

WATER MANAGEMENT

WATER: THE FORGOTTEN UTILITY While most energy managers already have a comprehensive strategy in place for their electricity and gas consumption, water management is often overlooked. Utilities consultancy, Inspired Energy is urging public sector organisations to give their water strategy the attention it deserves, in order to improve efficiency and bring significant cost savings.

he 2017 deregulation of the water market has returned savings for the sector – allowing public sector organisations to take control of their water management by putting their supply to tender for a better deal. However, procurement is just a drop in the ocean when it comes to water management. Water billing, for example, continues to bring significant challenges for consumers both in the public and private sectors, due to continued billing errors from retailers. Additionally, unidentified water leaks can lead to increased cost and significant damage to property, land and other site infrastructure. It’s clear that procurement must be part of a wider strategy in order to see substantial benefits. By working with a water audit specialist, you can correct historical overcharging, identify inefficiencies and maximise the available savings.

WATER AUDIT 1: ANALYSIS Without a thorough knowledge of the network, with its complex water market and charges, it can be difficult to identify and resolve billing errors, with many water consumers paying more than they should without even realising it. Our team of qualified water engineers have a thorough knowledge of the network and will carry out an analysis of your charges without cost or obligation. Starting with the last 12 months of your water bills, we investigate every

single element of your water usage which has an associated cost. We also look at your consumption levels, benchmarking them against what we’d expect for your site(s). Once our desk analysis is complete, we can go on to conduct an unobtrusive site survey to further validate our investigation.

2: SITE SURVEY Many of our clients come to us having already had their costs validated but without having performed any targeted site visits. Without going to site, you simply cannot check that water charges are correct for complex and non-standard sites. A site visit allows for in-depth checks to be carried out to ensure your site infrastructure and network diagrams correlate with the audit findings. For example, most bills include a fixed standing charge based on the size of your water meter – without visiting the site and looking at your water meter, it’s not possible to ascertain whether you’ve been overpaying.

3: THE REPORT This is where we’ll either give you the news that everything is in order, or we’ll provide details of where you’ve been charged incorrectly. As well as checking your charges, we’ll identify areas of excessive consumption. Where inefficiencies are identified, we’ll tell you what remedial action is required, together with the associated costs and the potential savings, so that you can make an informed decision on whether to

move forward with our recommendations.

4 & 5: I MPLEMENTATION AND RECOVERY If you decide to go ahead with our recommendations, then we will contact your supplier to correct your charges and recover any monies overpaid. You’ll receive a refund of any historic billing errors, as well as benefitting from the long-term cost savings of having your bills corrected. Where excessive consumption is identified, our engineers will identify the cause and arrange for remedial action.

SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT With 2020 dubbed the year of climate action and mandatory carbon reporting forcing energy managers to take control of their gas and electricity, it’s easy to understand why water has played second fiddle. But water management is becoming an increasingly important part of the conversation on sustainability. As part of their Net Zero campaign, the retail giant Sainsbury’s have announced that they aim to become water neutral by 2040. Proof that having a well-established water management strategy in place will not only return cost-savings, it will support your organisation’s sustainability programme in protecting precious resources. For help with your water management strategy, contact our water optimisation team on 01772 689 250 or email water@inspiredenergy.co.uk. https://inspired-water.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

RENEWABLE ENERGY

A GREENER GAS FUTURE

As we travel toward a cleaner net zero future, we must look for alternatives to methane or ‘natural’ gas such as hydrogen. Here Antony Green, Project Director for Hydrogen Transportation, Gas Transmission, explains how National Grid is getting ready for a greener gas future.

he solution to finding a cleaner alternative to natural gas, or methane, is all around us. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, making up 90 percent of all atoms. But while it’s present in nearly all molecules in living things, on Earth, as a gas, it’s very scarce – less than one part per million by volume. Instead it’s found in the greatest quantities as water and in other familiar substances like methane, or ‘natural’ gas. For many years, we’ve used methane to heat our homes and businesses, and for power stations to generate electricity; currently 85% of homes and 40% of the UK’s electricity relies on gas. The reason we’ve continued to use methane is because it’s a readily available resource, it’s cost effective and a cleaner alternative to the coal that we historically relied on for heating and to generate electricity. However, when methane burns it still gives off carbon, which contributes to climate change.

WHY HYDROGEN? Now the focus is on decarbonising our gas industry and hydrogen provides the solution as, when it combusts, or burns, the only by-product it emits is water. But, for hydrogen to be a viable alternative, we need to be able to produce it at scale and adapt our current infrastructure. Hydrogen can be produced from methane in large volumes, by using one of two primary methods. Steam methane reformation is the most common method for producing bulk hydrogen and accounts for most of the world’s production. This method uses a reformer, which reacts steam at a high temperature and pressure with methane and a nickel catalyst to form hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Alternatively, autothermal reforming uses oxygen and carbon dioxide or steam to react with methane to form hydrogen. The downside of these two methods is that they produce carbon as a by-product, so we would need to explore carbon capture solutions to trap and store this carbon. A greener alternative is electrolysis, which is currently available at small scale but offers the greatest opportunity for the future. This process uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen – the benefit being that it produces pure hydrogen with no harmful by-products. Because it uses electricity, it also offers the potential to divert any excess electricity – which is hard to store (like surplus wind power) – to electrolysis, using it to create hydrogen gas that you can store for future energy needs.

WORKING TOWARDS NET ZERO As Britain works towards becoming one of the world’s first net zero economies by 2050, it’s time for the gas sector to demonstrate we have a viable pathway for decarbonisation. At National Grid, we’re testing ways to safely transport hydrogen around the transmission network as part of our Hydrogen National Transmission System (HyNTS) programme. One HyNTS initiative is Project Cavendish, which is exploring ways we could produce, store or import hydrogen at the Isle of Grain in Kent, to get hydrogen to the South of London. The project was named after Henry Cavendish, who discovered hydrogen in his laboratory in South London in 1766. Other projects are getting into the detail of how we might carry either hydrogen or a mix of hydrogen and methane around the gas transmission network. Hydrogen deblending would allow us to start a staged approach to future conversion. This works by feeding a mix of hydrogen and methane through the network, and then deblending the hydrogen to supply areas that are ready to switch with only hydrogen; while continuing to supply other areas with only methane or a specific blend of the two gases. It’s too early to say whether we could convert everywhere to 100 percent hydrogen, as there are other options; such as green gas, or biogas, produced from waste sources. This is synthetic gas produced from breaking down plant feedstocks or waste. This gas does give off carbon, but this is offset by the carbon taken from the atmosphere by growing the plants that end up as the feedstock, or by recovering energy from waste.

THE FUTURE OF HYDROGEN Hydrogen has huge potential to decarbonise far more than the methane we use to heat our homes or cook our food. There are already cars that run on hydrogen fuel cells and, in Germany, there are 60 hydrogen fuelling stations

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

that allow you to fill up just like you would with petrol or diesel. Hydrogen could even be used to fuel road, air and maritime freight – in some countries there are already hydrogen fuelled HGVs on the road and, in Japan, the first liquid hydrogen tanker is under construction. Indeed, this summer’s Tokyo Olympics plans to showcase how the country is developing hydrogen.

GETTING HYDROGEN INTO HOMES To bring cleaner hydrogen gas into our homes will take more than just potential though. Decarbonising heat will mean changes in the home – such as hydrogen boilers, hobs and gas fires. Manufacturers have already built 100 percent hydrogen-ready boilers, so the technology is there; now it needs a joined-up approach to help phase in other hydrogen-ready appliances. If you look back to the switch to digital television between 2007 and 2012 – when the government prepared everyone to swap analogue sets for digital-ready ones – once the final switchover arrived there was very little disruption. The same could happen for hydrogen. If the government were to mandate that hydrogen-ready boilers must be fitted into existing and new properties over a 10- to 15-year period, by the time we switched to hydrogen it would be a smoother transition. Over the last few decades we’ve seen coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, withdraw from the energy mix. That’s great news, but gas has taken up some of that load. If we truly want to reach a net zero, decarbonised future, we need to work together to replace methane with green alternatives like hydrogen and biogases. www.nationalgrid.com

RENEWABLE ENERGY

SOLAR GLASS: HOW A SOLAR PANELLING BREAKTHROUGH COULD TURN OUR SKYLINES INTO POWER PLANTS

olar panels as we understand them have been around for a long time, first used in the 1960s, solar panels were seen as a path to a future not yet realised. Infinite energy from our closest star, what could sound more futuristic to a world still dependent on oil? Times are changing too, Ian McCluskey, a major solar panel distributor from California was quick to point out to me that after some major policy shifts, America’s most populous state now gets most of its energy from the sun. But major innovation in the sector has been incremental and we’re only just beginning to fully capitalise on their potential. One eye-catching innovation of the field has a tantalising hook, what if solar panels didn’t have to be opaque and situated on a roof or wide-open spaces? What if solar panels could have two functions, capturing the energy and serving as our windows? Transparent skyscrapers created by Michigan State University promise to do just that. We wanted to look at what this potentially game-changing technology could mean for some of the world’s most densely populated cities and how it could change the way we look at our skyscrapers forever. But first, a look at the science. Transparent solar panels work by capturing the unperceivable parts of the light spectrum. This means that they allow light as we understand it to pass through the material, making them transparent but converting energy from the other parts of the spectrum. Making glass screens for mobile devices or glass panes that could produce energy is a tantalising reality. Now at the moment, the technology is modestly projected to make about ⅓ of the amount of energy as a conventional solar panel, this number is expected to increase but for the sake of argument, we will use the current statistics. That means that an 8sq metre solar panel of transparent glass would produce about 0.78 kilowatts a day, as opposed to 2.32 for conventional 250-watt solar panels in England. When you consider

that the average UK home uses about 12 kilowatts a day this might not sound like a lot. However, things become substantially more appealing when you remember the scale of modern buildings’ glass facades. For example, the Shard is comprised of around 56,000 square metres of glass meaning that if sunlight was hitting it from all directions for 10 hours a day then it would produce 5460 kilowatts in a single day. Now, this obviously is not how the sun works, especially in England, but even if we divide it in half to account for the rough movements of the sun throughout a clear day, that still leaves us with an electrifying 2730 kilowatts. That’s enough to power 227 average UK homes every single day. You might be underwhelmed by this number, after all, what would be the point of replacing all the glass of the shard just to power 227 homes a day but this is just an example and not even the ideal applications for this potential new technology. For the ideal application, you’d need somewhere incredibly hot and dry, packed with skyscrapers and with a booming solar energy market and if you haven’t already thought of Dubai then you clearly don’t watch many shows about engineering. Dubai is home to the worlds largest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, measuring at 830 metres high and comprising itself of 103,000 square metres of glass. About double that of the Shard. Meaning that the Burj Khalifa along could power 418 homes a day and that is still at the modest estimate of a 10% conversion rate for transparent solar panels. The thought experiment I’m asking

you to engage with requires you to think big, to imagine a world where things are done differently and you might be thinking that this all sounds far fetched. But the underlying business credibility is there for this technology. As green energy becomes cheaper and cheaper to produce, solutions such as this will be a valuable way for a company to eat into their own energy bills. If an upfront investment will calculably pay for itself eventually then this technology will start being adopted and as it becomes ubiquitous, it will become cheaper and more logical to invest in. Matthew Goldsmith is a writer working with CarlenGlass, specialising in technology, sustainable energy and architecture. http://www.carlenglass.ie/

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

LEGISLATION

ZERO CARBON NEW BUILD – NINE PRINCIPLES TO UNDERPIN BUILDING STANDARDS

nergy Saving Trust has put together nine principles designed to underpin any changes to energy and building regulations across the UK. In line with the UK Government and devolved Welsh and Scottish governments’ current and forthcoming consultations on this issue, we’ve been thinking about the key features of energy and building standards for new homes that we want to see in place in building standards across the country. Increasing numbers of individuals and organisations are aware that energy use in homes makes up around 14% of the UK’s emissions of greenhouse gases. Without the near complete decarbonisation of the housing stock, we will not meet the UK’s climate change targets. The fact is, the energy involved in building and then operating every new UK home adds to the UK’s overall CO2 emissions at a time when there is an urgent need to reduce them. As a result, the UK Government’s consultation on changes to energy standards in building regulations for new homes in England has received unprecedented attention. The proposals in this consultation will only apply in England. Each of the other UK nations – Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - have devolved responsibility for building standards in their country. Wales and Scotland also have clear plans for revising minimum standards for energy use in new homes. Wales also has a consultation out currently and Scotland is expected to issue one in the next few months. There’s a common approach being taken

across England, Wales and Scotland: reviews are looking at tightening current energy/ building standards in 2020 or 2021. Moreover, each government is planning for a further change to regulations in 2024 or 2025 to require low carbon heating in all new homes. In Northern Ireland, no equivalent steps have been taken but Energy Saving Trust believes they are as urgently required. The restored government and plans for a new Energy Strategy may mean proposals will shortly be forthcoming. At the Energy Saving Trust, we work across the UK, so we’ve been thinking - not just about the proposed changes in England - but also about this wider UK context. What are the key featuers of energy and building standards for new homes that we want to see in place in building standards across the country? Here are the key principles that the Energy Saving Trust have identified that we think should underpin changes to energy and building regulations – whatever part of the UK you live in. We’ll shortly be publishing a detailed report to look at each of the key principles below, to inform policy makers across the UK.

SUMMARY OF PRINCIPLES 1. New homes should be built to the most efficient fabric standards. 2. Homes built from 2024/25 should only be heated by low/zero carbon heating systems and homes built from 2020 should be future proofed in readiness for low carbon heating systems in the future. 3. New build homes should generate

as much low carbon power as realistically possible. 4. Local planning authorities should be allowed to go beyond national standards, but within a national trajectory for standards. 5. Builders must not be able to build to out of date energy standards. 6. Reducing water use in new homes is inseparable from energy saving. A mandatory government-led water efficiency label for the UK should be introduced and used as a basis for fixture-based efficiency standards in building regulations. 7. Compliance and enforcement measures for building regulations must be strengthened, and incorporate in-use energy monitoring. 8. Governments across the UK should set out timetables for introducing requirements for cutting the carbon used in the construction of new homes, and targets for reductions. 9. Further delays are not acceptable. Zero Carbon homes are affordable to build, deliver wide benefits for occupiers, and are vital to help tackle the climate emergency. Governments across the UK must require homes that meet an operational zero carbon standard by 2025 at the latest. https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/ about-us/ news/zero-carbon-new-build-%E2%80%93nine-principles-underpin-building-standards

Status of proposed changes to energy standards in new build homes across the UK England

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

Section of the building standards / regulations that relates to energy

Part L

Section 6

Part L

Part F

Last time there was a major revision

2013

2015

2014

2012

Key announcements

Chancellor’s Spring Statement 2019: ‘A Future Homes Standard, to be introduced by 2025, future-proofing new build homes with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency.’ ‘…we will introduce a Future Homes Standard, mandating the end of fossil-fuel heating systems in all new houses from 2025’.

Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2019/20 commits to: ‘…new standards to reduce energy demand, and associated carbon emissions, within new buildings by 2021’ and to requiring: ‘new homes consented from 2024 to use renewable or low carbon heat’

Welsh Government’s Prosperity for All report notes they have: ‘recently commenced a further review of Part L, which is intended to be the next step on our journey towards a low-carbon built environment.’

No announcements to date. With the recent restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland, and the publication of a major new consultation on Energy Strategy, we expect announcements in this area over the coming months.

Next steps

Current consultation due to close 7 February 2020, with subsequent consultation due in 2024.

Consultation due in Spring 2020

Consultation currently underway. Next review of Part L due to start in 2022 with subsequent consultation due in 2024.

TBC

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

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ENERGY STORAGE

BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS 2020

“POWERING BRITAIN FOR LESS” Brian Clavin, Director, Total Data Centre Solutions

here was much talk in 2018-19 about how Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) were going to be The Future for big users of Electricity. The promise of meaningful costs savings, additional resilience, positive Climate Change credentials and synergies with On Site Generation are, in 2020, now a reality. Leading the Charge of the UK Battery Revolution is Energy Optimisation Solutions, a modest sized company based in Surrey. EOS has several projects going live in Q1 2020 and a solid pipeline of deals in various stages of being contracted. EOS, supported by Total Data Centre Solutions, are able to deliver proven technical Battery Solutions often enhanced by low-carbon or renewable on-site Energy Generation to both the Public Sector and UK Businesses. Battery Energy Storage Systems coupled with bespoke On-site Generation is now known as “BESS+”. The technologies employed are next generation, if unremarkable technology. I say this not as any sort of criticism, as EOS has correctly decided to employ solid, reliable, first class kit for all BESS equipment and for all Renewable and CHP equipment in order to ensure that they functions seamlessly for the life of the deployments. Where EOS really does stand out, is it’s business model! Imagine being a big user of electricity in an underfunded, cash- tight Public Sector Organisation. (Sound familiar ??? ) You, as Energy Manager, are constantly on the lookout for ways to reduce your spend on Power. EOS has chosen to design, build, finance, own and operate BESS and BESS+ deployments for Public Sector organisations where the Public Sector can reap the benefits of BESS+ with Zero CAPEX and Zero OPEX.

NOW THIS MUST PIQUE YOUR INTEREST!!! The agreements call for the Public body to engage with EOS to examine each site and its related power invoices over the last 12 months. Using some pretty nifty software, coupled with a review of the physical site itself, EOS is able to calculate the Optimal configuration for a BESS or BESS+ Solution

and then provide the host with the details of the technologies to be used and the sizes of each of the main components and the savings that can be achieved. The savings can be up to 10% of your annual electricity bill. Using these Battery Systems in clever ways results in Significant cost savings of around 20%. The savings are achieved in a number of ways, primarily through the battery supplying the energy to the site during peak times and recharging the battery during off peak thereby avoiding the expensive periods for importing power and through the avoidance/minimising of a number of the standing charges that are embedded in all electricity bills and which comprise a large part of the overall cost of an electricity bill. They can also be used to deliver a variety of needed Grid Services. 50% of the Audited and agreed savings are retained by the Public Sector body and the remaining balance goes to EOS to pay for building, owning and operating the Battery Systems as well as the financing, installation and maintenance costs. The contractual arrangements are true off-balance sheet agreements and follow IFRS 16 Rules. There is normally a 10 year contract length for BESS deals and 15 years for BESS+. EOS is currently looking for a select number of Public Sector Organisations across the UK to take them up on the offer to evaluate the feasibility of deploying an Optimised BESS/ BESS+ solution on your site(s). The key criteria to be eligible are: • Power consumption of Circa £500k or more per year • Space on the property to

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2020

locate the needed equipment and agreement from property owner to provide the same. • Commitment to provide EOS with the last 12 months of electricity bills. • Provide details of any existing on-site power generation. • Interest in District Heating/Cooling. • The flattest decision making protocol possible. • An agreement for the Site to act as formal/informal reference site for Energy Managers to visit in order to see the BESS deployment and ask questions regarding your experiences with EOS and the systems deployed. • Agreement with your Management that your particular demands/regulations in respect of IFRS16 and any others which may come into play for contracts to be finalised are met or exceeded. There are 2 projects due to go live in Q1 2020, one outside of Edinburgh and another in Newark. There should be many others contracted and being built through out the year. It is now 2020 and I think it was Lord Redesdale, at EMEXLondon last November, who provided the quote that 2020 is “The Year of the Battery”. He may well be spot on! A lot of organisations are talking about delivering BESS/BESS+ solutions for the UK. EOS is already out there and doing it. Tel: +44(0)77396 00047 Email: B.clavin@tdcs.co.uk www.totaldatacentresolutions.co.uk/ index.php/energy-optimisation

More information coming soon....

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