Energy Manager Magazine April 2021

APRIL 2021

Carbon emissions are on the rise again, what can be done?

www.energymanagermagazine.co.uk

See page 26

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

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22

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Hydrogen boilers for UK’s first 100% Hydrogen Public Showcase

Reducing energy costs – use less of it or buy it cheaper?

De-carbonising your energy supply: The options to explore

FRONT COVER STORY:

Carbon emissions are on the rise again, what can be done?

See page 26

APRIL 2021

PUBLISHER: Ralph Scrivens ralph@ energymanagermagazine.co.uk PRODUCTION: Sarah Daviner sarah@ energymanagermagazine.co.uk

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ACCOUNTS: accounts@ energymanagermagazine.co.uk

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PRINT: Mixam Print

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All contents © Energy Manager Magazine 2021

26 Climate

12 Opinion 13 Training 14 Interview

– Stephan Marty

16 Monitoring

& Metering

20 Interview –

Pilgrim Beart

22 Heating 24 Interview –

Giles Barker

25 Energy

Change

28 Energy

Management

32 Energy from Waste

36 District

Heating

37 Water

Management

40 CHP 42 Legislation 44 Boilers & Burners

Supply

ISSN 2057-5912 (Print) ISSN 2057-5920 (Online)

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

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NEWS

WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION LAUNCHES INDUSTRY’S FIRST BETA CONNECTED DATA PORTAL

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estern Power Distribution (WPD), the electricity distribution network operator (DNO) for the Midlands, South West and South Wales, has launched its Beta Connected Data Portal. This makes WPD the first DNO to make its data open to access through a centralised, easy to use platform. The new system acts as an online data catalogue, presenting data in a consistent format to optimise its use, value and benefit.

The new Beta Connected Data Portal offers open access to a wealth of data across WPD’s network, providing information about energy consumption, generation and network loads in a consistent, standardised and easily understandable way. The data can be accessed by a range of users from academics to businesses, governments both devolved and central, local authorities and local stakeholders and customers. When accessing the portal, users will be able to

investigate and interrogate the data, building interactive graphs and network maps, all without needing to download. The platform’s in-built functions allow for more readily available and faster access. The Portal also incorporates Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which enable users to automate the gathering and processing of datasets to support their business needs.

WPD believes the Beta Connected Data Portal will help stakeholders to get a better understanding of their local and regional energy system, supporting a new generation of energy technology innovators to develop smart solutions to the UK’s energy challenges. For example, raw data extracted from the Beta Connected Data Portal could be used to support community apps, informing energy customers of the best times to charge their electric vehicle when energy consumption and tariffs are low. Alternatively, the standardised open

data could help local authorities to plan efficiently for new low carbon infrastructure, like distributed solar or wind generation and energy storage, in areas with limited network capacity. Finally, the data will prove invaluable to academics, providing consistent energy data to aid research.

WPD hopes to set the industry standard, eventually enabling all energy network data from across the UK’s gas and electricity transmission and distribution networks to be easily accessed and understood.

The portal can be found at https:// connecteddata.westernpower.co.uk/ To ensure that users are getting the most out of the platform, WPD has introduced a registration and subscription function allowing them to follow specific datasets and be kept up to date on new data tranches as they become available. As the portal develops further and WPD continues to standardise its data, new sets will be added.

WATER COMPANIES’ APPS WAY OFF EXPECTATIONS OF GEN Z DIGITAL NATIVES Whilst 36% prefer to use an app to manage their essential services, only 25% do.

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ater companies must improve their mobile applications and strategies in order to engage the next generation of water bill payers, according to a new report.

Research into the attitudes and habits of the digital native Generation Z, commissioned by Echo Managed Services, and published in A New Wave of Customers report found that while more than a third (36%) of those yet to become bill payers say they would prefer use an app to manage their essential services, only 25% of Gen Z bill payers actually do.

Water companies’ apps are therefore not meeting the expectations of, or the company hasn’t communicated them well enough to, one in 10 (11%) of its customers. Reducing this gap is important in light of research which shows that mobile is Gen Z’s channel of choice, over PC or laptop, for all online activities.

The Institute of Customer Service’s UKCSI in January 2021 found that app usage in the water sector was also below the level of that in the energy sector – 1.4% of water customers said an app was their most recent point of contact vs 4.5% of energy customers. For context, the same UKCSI

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figures show that 12.7% of all banking customer experiences were conducted via an app – the highest of any sector.

Vicki Dixon, head of operations at Echo Managed Services, commented: “It is important that water companies continue to develop their digital platforms to meet the needs and expectations of the latest generation of billpayers. Currently there is a gap between those that want to use apps to manage payments and meter reading submissions, and those that do.

“To make the time and investment in a mobile app worthwhile, water companies must create an easyto-use interface that is easy to navigate and use across different devices.

It must also present a clear purpose and clear engagement opportunity, in order to enable a meaningful and effortless experience for customers.

When built well, apps can build enhanced recognition and improve customer engagement. The key challenge to overcome

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

when creating an app is keeping customers engaged, currently there is little need to interact regularly with a water company.

It must be personally relevant and useful beyond meter readings and billing.

The UKCSI figures have also highlighted that, where customers use an app to interact in the banking sector, a higher than average customer satisfaction score was given.

For more information about Echo Managed Services, and to read its Generation Z Report: A new wave of customers for water companies in full, visit: https://www.echo-ms.com/knowledgecentre/research-resources/a-new-waveof-customers-consumer-research-report

NEWS

Cambridgeshire County Council announces energy partners to pave region’s way to net zero

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SE Enterprise and Bouygues Energies & Services have been named preferred partners to develop a series of framework energy projects intended to support Cambridgeshire County Council and its regional local authority partners in meeting their commitment to decarbonising the region by 2050.

SSE Enterprise and Bouygues Energies & Services shall work as a consortium to deliver for the framework. The joint venture will see the two partners work on the design, construction and delivery of projects to help the county reach its goal of 100 percent clean energy and net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The estimated value of projects planned under the framework is £80 million over its four-year term. Projects will include work to improve the energy performance of publicly owned assets, such as buildings and car parks, using measures to boost energy efficiency and generate low or zero carbon energy from rural estate, transport and other assets. Other projects will explore opportunities for energy storage and low carbon heating solutions, including district and community heating schemes.

In transport, the framework will look at local opportunities to support the transition to electric vehicles through the provision of essential infrastructure such as EV charging points and hubs.

As part of the green economic recovery envisaged following the Covid-19 pandemic, Cambridgeshire County Council and its local authority partners intend to leverage the framework to generate additional business opportunities that will develop low carbon and smart communities.

Equally, the local authorities wish to achieve annual energy savings through innovative smart building solutions to decarbonise their buildings via a combination of energy efficiency and zero carbon generation technologies.

The decarbonisation of heating forms part of the ambitions for the energy projects developed under the framework and will also improve air quality and reduce pollution across the region.

In 2017, Cambridgeshire emitted more than 6.1 million tonnes of CO2, almost half of which came from homes and buildings.

Schools, housing, transport, public buildings and farm estates will be targeted for carbon reductions in the new framework.

Green measures already implemented by Cambridgeshire County Council include investment in the generation of renewable heat and electricity and the installation of Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS). Together, these initiatives have generated annual savings and additional revenue in excess of £1.3 million and reduced the county’s annual carbon emissions by almost 7,000 tonnes.

In the three years since it began operations, the 12MW solar farm located on the outskirts of Soham has exceeded expectations, raising several hundred thousand pounds of excess revenue beyond it’s targeted generation that has been reinvested to fund Adult Social Care services.

Under the agreement, SSE Enterprise and Bouygues Energies & Services will work with five Cambridgeshire authorities: Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridge City Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

The framework will also be available to other local authorities in England thanks to an access agreement arrangement. The value of projects which may be undertaken under the access agreement is estimated to be up to an additional £30 million over the four-year period. www.sseenterprise.co.uk www.bouygues-es.co.uk

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NEWS

DON’T SCRAP EPCS, BUT REDESIGN THEM TO SHOW COST, CARBON AND ENERGY METRICS

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nergy Performance Certificates (EPCs) should give equal prominence to metrics for cost, carbon and energy, using the familiar design and the visual approach used in food labelling.

Energy performance assessment specialist Elmhurst Energy is calling on the Government to make the change, to enable better formulation of future energy efficiency legislation.

In its response to the Environmental Audit Committee’s (EAC) ‘Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes’ re-port, Elmhurst Energy says the new EPC central register is the perfect opportunity to make these metrics available to the public for more than 20 million homes, while also improving the information accessible to consumers and professionals, clarifying the majority of misunderstandings of EPCs. It is also calling for all homes to have Occupancy Assessments to help households understand their energy consumption and the actions they can take to reduce it.

Martyn Reed, managing director, said: “In the face of our goal of net zero by 2050, EPCs can and should be made to work harder to allow land-lords, homeowners and the Government upgrade the energy efficiency of our existing housing stock.

“It is easy to say that EPCs are ‘not accurate’ but most of that comes down to a lack of understanding that the EPC is fundamentally a cost-based asset rating. This approach has had huge value in identifying homes in fuel poverty, for example. We agree that an overhaul is required, but don’t scrap the continued use of a vital data record of more than 20 million EPCs now in the public domain.

“There are many misconceptions about EPCs. But the Government’s new Energy Performance of Buildings Central Register that has been deployed for England, Wales and Northern Ireland since last September is an excellent chance to address these. This new technology can leverage EPC information to help everyone strive for improved energy efficiency, reduced carbon consumption and lower fuel costs.

“The EPC itself should be redesigned to show cost, carbon and energy. Legislation can then refer to the metric that it is intending to improve – for example, fuel poverty legislation could continue to be based on tracking the cost metric, and climate change policies could focus on targets using the carbon metric.

“We are pleased that these ideas are included in the recommendations of the EAC report (see para 142), which reflects the submission we made to the committee last July and points raised within the Elmhurst Manifesto.

“We also agree that measurements should better reflect real-world performance of homes and energy usage, so we would like to see routine measurement of energy performance introduced through the use of Smart Meter technology, such as we include in our Smart HTC solution. This will enable us to close the gap between the calculated

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and actual energy demand.”

Elmhurst Energy also recommends that EPCs last no more than three years, to ensure consumers have more up-to-date information available when seeking recommendations to improve their homes.

Martyn added: “In addition to some of the EAC recommendations, we would also like to see more trigger points introduced for the commissioning of EPCs. Only those homes that have been put up for sale or rent in the past decade will have one, which means more than 50% currently don’t. Increasing trigger points will enable us to collect more usable data for benchmarking and updating energy efficiency policy.”

Commenting on the EAC’s verdict on the Green Home Grants scheme, Elmhurst is calling for patience and a longer-term approach. Martyn Reed says: “The Green Homes Grant has not been the success that everyone hoped for, but it is fundamentally good with significant levels of checking to identify potential fraud and to assure quality.

The problem was its short-term nature.

“The PAS2030 process for installers had not been adopted by some sectors of the installer market meaning that there were not enough. And by declaring a six-month race, which became four months after some logistical delays, this frightened installers from taking consumers on a process that they may not be able to deliver. Delays in possessing vouchers made things more difficult, clearly with devastating effect on some installers.

“But there is no doubt that the demand for such a scheme is high, and in our opinion, it can easily be improved. What is needed most of all is more time, with longer-range targets.” www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk

Ofgem approves Radbot for ECO

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estemi’s smart heating control, Radbot, has now been approved by energy regulator, Ofgem, for use under the energy efficiency scheme, ECO (Energy Company Obligation).

Radbot was selected in June 2019 as one of just five new technologies to be trialled to support Ofgem’s increasing focus on leveraging innovation to improve energy efficiency in UK homes.

As a smart heating control, Radbot heats each room when occupied and automatically reduces the temperature when empty without the need for the user to programme schedules, control heating via an app or even connect to WiFi. The UK-wide trial was sponsored by EDF and supported by London South Bank University, Parity Projects, and Bays Consulting. Taking place over a twoyear period, Radbot demonstrated an impressive 12% average reduction in gas consumption for space heating compared to standard Thermostatic Radiator Valves.

Under the current phase of the scheme, ECO3, energy suppliers that are under the obligation must spend

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

about £640 million each year installing approved efficiency measures in eligible low income and vulnerable households.

By reducing heat wastage and carbon emissions, Radbot works towards the UK’s net zero goal. With many suggesting this can only be achieved with technology that needs little consumer intervention, Radbot supports this approach as it is a “fit and forget” product that doesn’t require people to change habits or sacrifice comfort.

Radbot can be used in any home that has wet radiators, which is currently around 24 million homes in the UK. Of this, an estimated 4.5 million are eligible for ECO funding under the current scheme rules. www.radbot.com

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NEWS

MANAGING RESOURCES SUSTAINABLY IS KEY TO CUTTING UK GREENHOUSE GASES

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ith much of the debate ahead of the COP26 focused on the energy agenda and how to decarbonise energy supply and reduce demand, the authors of a new report Net Zero: why resource efficiency holds the answers warn that focusing exclusively on energy is only half of the solution to tackling climate change associated with carbon emissions.

Quick wins in resource efficiency could help the UK cut its annual emissions by around two billion tonnes of CO2e, between now and 2050. Improving resource efficiency in goods and services is crucial to tackling climate change, say the report authors, but simple resource efficiency strategies that drive forward action without costly interventions or new technology are being overlooked in work toward net zero.

The report, Net Zero: why resource efficiency holds the answers was produced by environmental charity WRAP in partnership with researchers from The Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS), based at Leeds University. It points out that, between now and 2050, using natural resources more sustainably and extending the useful lifetime of products – and preventing loss or waste – could reduce the greenhouse gas emissions incurred by UK consumption by two billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

That is the equivalent to eliminating the combined annual territorial greenhouse gas

• UK could cut CO2e emissions by 100 million tonnes in ten years by using resources more efficiently.

• Using resources sustainably, extending the useful life of products and preventing waste could save UK GHG emissions on par with annual territorial GHG emissions of UK, France, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium & Austria combined. emissions of the UK, France, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Austria.

From reducing food loss and waste to moving to more resource efficient business models, and using more recycled materials in manufacturing, the eight strategies put forward are based on real-world projects that have been proven to work. One of the benefits of the strategies is that they can be implemented easily, and straight away. And with the impacts of climate change relating to cumulative emissions over time, the authors are keen to show how their recommendations – which cut carbon today – should be prioritised over those that do not deliver results for years.

Net Zero: why resource efficiency holds the answers shows how simple changes to the way we use materials could reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions by 100 million tonnes CO2e between 2023 and 2032, equal to taking every car off the road for around

1.5 years. The report also shows how actions we take in the UK can reduce global emissions, with the resource efficiency strategies offering the potential to reduce global emissions by 2 billion tonnes CO2e between now and 2050, and an additional 89 million tonnes CO2e avoided towards the 6th Carbon Budget. The report can be found here: https://wrap.org. uk/resources/report/net-zero-whyresource-efficiency-holds-answers WRAP and CREDS believe that their recommendations could offer 50% more territorial greenhouse gas emission reduction in addition to the UK government’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, with upward of an additional 100 million tonne CO2e GHG emissions and help the UK meet its commitment to net zero carbon by 2050.

Including reductions overseas, the gross reduction of these strategies could be as high as 364Mt CO2e between 2023 to 2032.

GRANTS AND SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES GO GREEN FOR 2021

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number of Clean Growth grants are available from Worcestershire County Council to encourage local businesses to become greener and cut costs for 2021.

Something as simple as changing to LED lighting can help businesses make energy savings on their utility bills whilst reducing carbon emissions.

Both the Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP) and the Low Carbon Opportunities Programme (LOCOP) offer free assessments and grants to eligible local businesses to support clean growth and help businesses save money.

Over the last four years, Worcestershire County Council and its partners have supported 700 local businesses and awarded £2.7million worth of grants, helping local businesses make a massive saving of over 6,000 tonnes of greenhouse gasses.

BEEP offers free energy efficiency

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assessments and grants of up to £20,000 for eligible businesses within Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire who wish to reduce costs and improve their environmental impact.

BEEP’s recommendations will, on average, reduce energy bills by around 30%.

For businesses interested in investing in solar or other renewable technologies, LOCOP offers renewable energy assessments and grants of up to £100,000 to businesses within Worcestershire in eligible sectors.

Advice and grants are also available

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

through LOCOP to help businesses within Worcestershire and Shropshire develop and commercialise innovative ideas, that help others to be green.

This is part of the County Council’s commitment to creating a thriving low carbon economy which sup-ports the creation of jobs and stimulates investment across the county.

Both programmes are part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

For more information about eligibility, please visit: www.businesscentral.co.uk/clean-growth

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Optimising energy costs sustainably

NEWS

BAXI HEATING AND WORCESTER BOSCH PROVIDE HYDROGEN BOILERS FOR UK’S FIRST 100% HYDROGEN PUBLIC SHOWCASE Baxi Heating and Worcester Bosch are once again leading the way in the road to net zero and lowcarbon technology. Both companies are proud to be able to showcase hydrogen boilers in the UK’s first 100% Hydrogen Home public demonstration.

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he project will demonstrate the use of hydrogenfuelled appliances in a real-world setting, and signals a clear step in the progression of clean, sustainable hydrogen technology for heating, hot water and cooking in UK homes.

The innovative semi-detached properties, built in partnership with Northern Gas Networks, the Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and gas distribution network company Cadent, will be located at Northern Gas Network’s Low Thornley site, near Gateshead.

The modular homes will be built by the end of March with appliances installed by the end of April. Alongside the hydrogen boilers, prototypes of hydrogen-fuelled fires, cookers and hobs will also be installed by partners working with BEIS on the Hy4Heat project.

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This real-world demonstration of the technology marks a step change for the boiler manufacturers’ progression of hydrogen ‘from lab to field’, as more appliances are installed in trial projects across the UK and Europe.

Both companies have already been involved in a number of trials including ‘HyStreet’ at Spadeadam in Cumbria, where hydrogen boilers were installed in specially built demonstration houses, to enable tests and research to prove the safety of converting homes and gas networks to hydrogen fuel.

Karen Boswell, Managing Director at Baxi Heating UK and Ireland, said: “Baxi Heating’s innovation and expertise with hydrogen technology, from lab research to participation in real-world trials, forms a key part of our commitment to a sustainable heating future. We are thrilled that this development will be used as a benchmark to educate the next generation in how we can provide clean,

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

green energy to the homes of the future.”

Carl Arntzen, CEO of Worcester Bosch, added; “The Hydrogen House project will help spearhead the safe implementation of hydrogen gas into the gas network and ultimately our homes. The trials underway there are an important step towards a zero-carbon future and we’re proud that our hydrogen boiler prototype is playing a pivotal part.”

Stella Matthews, Business Development Manager at Northern Gas Networks said “We’re excited to work with both Baxi Heating and Worcester Bosch to bring hydrogen boilers to the public for the first time. The boilers look and feel just like those we use today with one key difference – they don’t create carbon when used. We hope to reassure visitors to the houses that they can still enjoy a safe and reliable gas supply in the future with minimal disruption to meet the government’s net zero target.”

For more information on Baxi Heating’s sustainable commitments and research, visit – www.baxiheating.co.uk/sustainability For more information on Worcester Bosch and its involvement in the fight for decarbonisation, please visit its ‘Decarbonisation Hub’ – www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/ professional/decarbonisation .

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OPINION

LITHIUM-ION LEADS THE WAY TO SUSTAINABILITY Environmental credentials are a fundamental component of corporate CSR initiatives. In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to legislate an end to its contribution to global warming by 2050, requiring the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by this date. After rising steadily for decades, global carbon dioxide emissions fell by 6.4%, or 2.3 billion tonnes, in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic drastically restricted economic and social activities worldwide. A great reduction, but as the world reopens, will we see these numbers rise once more? Businesses bear the responsibility both to deliver the infrastructure and change that helps shape a modern, post-pandemic economy, while doing it in a way that effectively measures, evaluates and reduces carbon impact.

Alexander Baal, Director Sales Operations, Jungheinrich UK, explains how deploying Lithiumion-powered material handling equipment is one method that can not only significantly support businesses’ CSR initiatives, but also help them to unlock valuable productivity and efficiency gains.

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GOING GREEN The market trend for businesses to move away from transportation and industrial equipment powered by fossil fuels has been gaining momentum for many years and this includes warehouse equipment such as forklift trucks. Climate change, with its true reality and impact on the planet, forms a significant part of everyday discussion for businesses, all of whom can contribute significantly both positively and negatively based on the decisions made around managing their business.

When considering the area of materials handling equipment, great strides in innovation have been made in recent years to deliver an alternative to gas and diesel power that not only supports the move to more sustainable energy sources, but also provides invaluable efficiency gains. The numbers speak for themselves that electric forklifts offer a significant positive effect when compared against their diesel or gas counterparts. For example, if a comparison is taken for a standard 2000 kg electric counterbalanced truck working 2000 hours per year with its diesel and gas counterparts, we see that the electric truck would produce circa 4,600 kg of CO2 in that year compared to circa 13,980 kg for the diesel and circa 17,640 kg of CO2 for the LPG. This means electric trucks provide a CO2 saving of 67% per year against the LPG equivalent and 74% saving over the diesel truck counterpart.

COST SAVING It is true to say that an electric forklift embraces a higher initial outlay than its diesel or gas counterparts, however it also benefits from lower maintenance costs as there are fewer moving parts and hence fewer service items involved. Whilst short term savings can be made by the acquisition of the I/C engine trucks, the longer-term total cost of ownership of Lithium-ion-powered trucks can offer distinct value. There will always be differences in the amount consumers pay for diesel, LPG and electricity, however, typically the pricing for electricity remains far more stable than the long term pricing for any bi-product of crude oil, which is an important factor when considering decisions for the business. Depending on how many forklifts are being serviced at any one time, the outlay for electricity comes up trumps in the fight against fossil fuels.

THE BENEFITS OF LITHIUM-ION The benefits for materials handling fleet operators to consider Lithium-ion are considerable for both efficiency and reliability.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

Lithium-ion supports 24x7 logistics operations without the need for regular battery changes due to its short charging times, high power and energy density, meaning there is no drop-off in power over the life cycle of the battery. Moreover, operators don’t need to factor machinery downtime into their operation, resulting in higher productivity throughput. Business savings are made as no maintenance is required and no period of battery resting is needed after each charge.

During the recharge process, less energy is wasted as heat thus cost saving to further the business contributing to renewable energy, resulting in lower energy costs.

In order to become more sustainable, businesses will inevitably need to adapt to using cleaner sources of energy. Many will therefore need to overhaul their diesel equipment and consider more energy efficient power alternatives, such as Lithiumion. EV Batteries will require less lithium by over half over the next decade and the amount of cobalt required will drop by more than three-quarters and nickel by around a fifth according to analysis by Transport and Environment. Compared to diesel or gas equivalents, electric machinery will consume far less raw materials, making it the clear choice for a sustainable future. Therefore, by deploying a Lithium-ion powered alternative to warehouse equipment, businesses can increase efficiency and sustainability in the long-term, providing a key competitive advantage and advancing CSR goals.

CONCLUSION The fall of carbon dioxide emissions as a result of the pandemic has provided a global opportunity for change and identified initiatives that can contribute to the continued reduction of CO2. Businesses have a crucial role to play to promote clean energy and deploy or scale-up new sustainable technologies to make equipment more energy efficient. Striving to deploy Lithium-ion powered handling equipment in future operations is one of the many proactive measures companies can take to ensure that their carbon footprint is reduced and sustainability is increased – especially with the significant rise of ecommerce which is set to continue, and that many businesses have already benefited from.

Crucially, businesses must capitalise on this opportunity for change for the better.

Not just to support global sustainability efforts to save the planet, but realise the additional benefits that come alongside – including cost savings, productivity gains and no downtime. www.jungheinrich.co.uk

TRAINING

ACCREDITED MASTER IN RENEWABLE ENERGY AWARD

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he Renewable Energy Institute welcomes you to join the Accredited Master in Renewable Energy Award. You will have the opportunity to study 13 expert-led training courses in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, with the choice to study up to 3 courses in the Live Virtual Classroom.

The courses and the overall pathway for the Master in Renewable Energy Award is accredited by the CPD Accreditation Service.

COURSE BENEFITS • Slides and Videos on-demand: Receive all videos and slides on-demand to learn at your own pace.

• No Travel: All courses are delivered online, so you can take part from anywhere in the world.

• Internationally Recognised Certificate: All successful participants will receive the internationally recognised Galileo Master Certificate for each course.

• Membership of the Institute: which gives professionals and students the opportunity to gain recognition and status within the industry.

• Peer-to-peer networking: Live interaction when you register for a Live Virtual Classroom course.

Secure your place please go to: https://www.renewableinstitute.org/training/ or email training@renewableinstitute.org and one of our course advisor will be happy to help.

ENERGY CONSCIOUS ORGANISATION (ENCO) TRAINING PROGRAMME

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STA – Energy Services and Technology Association, jointly with the Energy Institute, have officially launched a new innovative training programme, which is aimed at focusing the mind of businesses and organisations of all types and sectors, both public and private, of the efficacy of using a holistic, structured behaviour change programme to supplement and enhance the use of technological solutions to use less energy.

EnCO is a global programme designed to encourage greater energy efficiency for all organisations using behaviour change as a bedrock. Behaviour change is the adaptation of human behaviour to make best use of technological solutions and to facilitate the reduction of energy usage.

The programme is both innovative and proactive – helping to promote an energy efficiency system that supports the technological solutions whilst offering a relatively quick payback

period and a low-cost method of using less energy.

External consultants and key internal staff are now being trained to deliver the programme to all types of organisation.

Once the course has been completed and the examination passed, the delegate will become a Registered EnCO Consultant.

The submission of two case studies verified by our panel will lead to the consultant becoming an Approved EnCO Practitioner.

The programme will certify energy-conscious organisations, acknowledging the considerable benefits of their reduction of energy usage.

The global training programme can be delivered face to face or online. It comprises of four, two-hour modules plus preparatory reading, totalling 10-12 hours of learning. The programme is delivered by ESTA, certified for CPD and accredited

by ESTA and the EI. Cost – free to ESTA members, EI RPEC members and MEI Chartered Energy Managers. £495+VAT, if applicable, to all others.

As a reader of Energy Manager magazine, you are able to claim a 20% discount off the above cost of the EnCO Training Modules.

For more information, see www.energyconsciousorganisation.org.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

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INTERVIEW – STEPHAN MARTY

ON THE CREST OF THE GREEN WAVE – INTERVIEW WITH STEPHAN MARTY, CEO OF WATTSTOR Meet Stephan Marty – the CEO of Wattstor, ex-CCO of Kiwi Power. In this interview, he shares his view on the status of the energy market, impact of the pandemic, and how he continues to be on the forefront of the green evolution.

You graduated with an MSc in Engineering in Zurich, moved to California, completed an MBA and exchanged a career in GE’s Energy business for leading the way in energy flexibility startups: Kiwi Power and now Wattstor. What were the defining points of your career, and how did they align with the Renewable Energy landscape?

I think I’ve changed a lot together with the energy industry over the last 20-odd years. I joined the energy industry when it was not “sexy”. You could see a few wind turbines here and there in Europe – but otherwise there was no renewable energy on the horizon.

My first job focused on upgrading old coal power stations to be more flexible, and this is already when you can start to see the link with what was about to become my future work.

I decided to move to Los Angeles to undertake an MBA at UCLA. There, I had an opportunity to work for a startup “Solar Reserve” – and I learned how to work in a smaller company.

After the 2008 crash, I secured an opportunity to join GE Energy on a rotational leadership programme with the first stint being in London, where we were defining “Smart Grid” – the new hype at that time.

Most of my job was to look into the future and see how the next 5 – 10 years were going to shape the new energy economy – wind, smart grid, solar, large gas turbines, distributed energy – we were working hard to get the big tanker

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that is GE moving more in this green direction. You could see the world changing – but there were obstacles and people who thought differently as well.

It is unthinkable now, it was only 2012 when I lived in France, I was chosen to give a Christmas speech around the future of the energy world to GE employees at our gas turbine factory.

I talked about the changes towards renewable energy, and how the world had to adapt. Right after my presentation came a renowned professor from a big French University, arguing exactly the opposite point – that things in energy will be the same and that there can never be more than 5% renewables in the grid, because the grid wouldn’t be stable enough to accommodate it. Now we have 50-60-70% renewables in the grid – and we’re not stopping there.

Of course, at the time Renewable Energy was outrageously expensive.

Even so, by then we had lots of solar coming in driven by feed in tariffs, so we looked at GE’s gas turbine business, and for us it was clear – it was just a matter of time until renewables will become more prevalent, and the business model will have to change.

Why did you join Kiwi Power, when you had a good, secure career at GE? I was headhunted to join Kiwi Power and never looked back. It was the best decision I could have made. I left a great company after a 6 year career, where I had a generous package, and took a significant pay cut to do so and never had any regrets. At Kiwi , I was a key part of the team that built a successful company from a start-up, and we were at the

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

forefront of things that were important then and now – Demand Response (now DER Management) and Battery Energy Storage. My key responsibility was growing the company internationally – we went from 0 to 14 countries outside of the UK by shifting from a direct aggregator to a SaaS business model, while also working on battery storage from 2014 on – with basically no ES around – starting with the Leighton Buzzard project with UKPN. Following that learning, we built the battery storage side of Kiwi from scratch – and at one point we had the biggest battery in the UK – 6MW, which was big then – marking another step towards the green transition.

Since then, the price of batteries has come down drastically, the revenue stack has changed, and our strategic focus changed to a software and trading (“optimisation”) offering.

Now that Kiwi Power is a major player, you have decided again to abandon a comfortable CCO position in an established business and lead a startup. Why? You can see a pattern here (laughs).

I was always keen on bringing flexibility to the BTM (Behind The Meter) space, because I believe it’s essential for the new energy system to work. Wattstor’s mission is to empower Commercial and Industrial sites and local energy communities to reduce CO2 and electricity cost – that’s how we’re enabling the wider energy system to go green.

If you think forward a few years – batteries will be even cheaper, as well

INTERVIEW – STEPHAN MARTY Interview by: Kris Kobi, Principal Consultant, Climate17 - Cleantech Headhunting Company kris@ climate17.com Climate17.com as solar, and you are going to see more price volatility, and dynamic tariffs that follow the supply of renewable energy – historically power stations ramped up when electricity demand increased, such as at half time in football when everyone turned their kettle on. Right now, electricity demand needs to follow supply – there’s a need to use the energy when sun is shining, wind is blowing etc.

Also, with the carbon reduction agenda gaining traction, EVs starting to go main-stream, CSR becoming more important and social movements like Extinction Rebellion, companies are going to be under increasing pressure to be green, and Wattstor is here to help them realise that dream – that’s what our mission and our vision is. We do energy storage as well, we provide the battery system, but the core part of our future offering will be software. We will be the go-to company for agnostic software to optimise any kind of on-site distributed energy resource – tapping into markets and price signals where required.

Agnostic is key – we want to give our customers the freedom to connect any asset and select any route to market.

How do you define your personal mission?

Happiness is the most important and hardest thing to get in life. Key part of it for me is to do a job that is fulfilling and serves a purpose. We’re doing something that changes the world. I saw dirty coal power stations – and loved them as an engineer, but it’s just not the future. The green transition is absolutely necessary for our world.

In established companies life is constant, like a straight line – it can be a good life, everyone to their own - but life in a start-up is different. It’s a roller coaster, you are on the frontier, you make decisions, it’s more volatile, but because you’re on the front edge, you can make real change. I love it, it is the right thing to do, and it’s exciting.

How has COVID19 impacted the transition to green energy?

In the last two years the climate change agenda has conquered the main political parties – we have a conservative government in the UK pushing 40GW of offshore wind! It is not a green party – it’s great to see that it has reached people’s understanding, and that there’s a political

consensus. If you push smarter energy systems, offshore wind etc. – it creates jobs, so boosts economies and you can go green at the same time. It’s a nobrainer really – particularly after COVID. As soon as COVID came in – you could see a glimpse into the future. We saw how the electrical system is going to operate with a much higher share of renewables in the system, because of lower overall demand* – and there were problems - prices dropped to negative in the balancing mechanism and National Grid introduced a new ancillary service – in record time - to cope with too much power in the grid.

It became clear that we need to further address balancing the grid as soon as possible. Wattstor is making on-site flexibility available which is a key part of balancing the grid, and when in the future you have a stronger electricity price signal, we will be in a position to use these signals in our decision algorithm on site to the benefit of our customers and the overall grid.

What are the biggest challenges for our sector?

Ultimately, it will be setting the right policies, not doing piecemeal interventions. The UK is actually good at setting the incentives and policy triggers right. The UK energy industry can pick up an opportunity and run with it, finance is plentiful with the right * https://www.energylivenews. com/2020/04/03/coronavirus-lockdownknocks-electricity-demand-by-13/

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policy support. The biggest risk is that the government will be too slow. Solar is already cost-competitive everywhere, wind not far behind, and we’re clearly moving away from diesel/petrol for cars, which is another major shift, so right now it’s setting clear and simple policies across the field to ensure there’s an incentive to go green. Once policies are in place, there’ll be companies running with them – the entrepreneurial spirit is strong in the UK.

What do you think the foreseeable future of renewable energy is?

The cost of green solutions – solar, wind, EVs, battery energy storage – is falling, and will continue to fall. Renewables will be everywhere and will dominate the electricity supply. There will be a need to address the resulting volatility in the electricity markets and grid constraints.

This is where Wattstor plays its part in the energy transition – by utilising onsite energy resources to proactively face the challenge of balancing the grid in this transition and enable more renewables to be installed.

One other key missing piece of the puzzle is long-term energy storage but you can see solutions, such as Hydrogen, appearing on the horizon.

Overall, still much more has to change in the coming years to really switch the energy system to a fully carbon neutral one – we have not seen anything yet compared to what is to come. The last 10 years have been outrageous, but the next 10 will easily be more so. https://wattstor.com

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MONITORING & METERING

THE NEW U1000-WM (WALL MOUNT) IS A SIGNIFICANT ADDITION TO THE MICRONICS ULTRAFLO RANGE OF CLAMP-ON, HEAT/ENERGY AND FLOW METERS U1000 Heat/Energy and Flow meters are now available in the original pipe-mounted or new wallmounted, display & keyboard format with an extended pipe range!

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he U1000MKII is a “Best Value” Clamp-on, Ultrasonic heat meter alternative to traditional inline energy meters, for energy management and billing applications in domestic and commercial, district or shared heating or cooling systems, which offers significant installation cost and dry maintenance benefits over traditional in-line products.

And the new U1000 Wall Mount version offers the alternative of Clamp-on pipemounted flow and temperature sensors but with a wall or control panel, display and keyboard plus an extended range to cover larger pipe size applications.

Micronics has built on its success with the ULTRAFLO U1000 heat/energy & flow meter range to develop a WM (Wall Mount) version, which extends the pipe size to cover applications from 25mm – 225mm (8”) OD pipe and the temperature range to 135°C. And whilst the U1000MKII-WM can still be used as a stand-alone product, in the all important area of

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connectivity the new product supports optional Mbus or Modbus RTU slave and RS485 serial communications for aM&T or BEMs systems.

Still simple to install: connect power and enter the pipe inside diameter, adjust the sensors and clamp-on the pipe with no specialist skills or tools required but now with the added flexibility of an alternative wall or panel mounted keyboard and display and a wider range of application the U1000 MKII heat/

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

energy and flow meters continue to offer a “Best Value” clamp-on non-invasive alternative to traditional in-line meter installation, with no drain-down required plus dry servicing, providing minimum downtime and maximum availability.

For further information on this product or the Micronics range call Micronics on +44(0)1628 810456, visit www.micronicsflowmeters.com or take a look on YouTube.

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MONITORING & METERING

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ENERGY SAVING The Covid-19 breakout and subsequent lockdowns have been a reality for the UK for more than a year now. Many of us, from office workers to children and students were forced to move our operations into our homes. This change has left most public buildings empty, which in theory should mean less overall energy utilisation. But did you know that 40% of all energy usage happens at night, when nobody is in anyway? Here at Chauvin Arnoux, we take a holistic approach to energy saving, so in this article we come to the aid of facilities managers by showing them the best ways of keeping on top of energy costs effectively.

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ENERGY MANAGEMENT TIPS For many organisations, lighting is perceived as a tiny fraction of their energy bills, but in reality, it actually accounts for up to 40% of a building’s electricity consumption.

One very effective way of creating savings in this department is to switch to LED light sources, which use 80% less energy than incandescent lamps for the same light output.

Another important issue that involves heating and office equipment is out-of-hours usage. A recent British Gas survey of 6,000 small- and mediumsized businesses that had smart meters found that no less than 46% of their energy use was outside their normal business hours, and there’s no reason to believe that the figure would be significantly different for public sector organisations. Some out-of-hours energy use is of course, necessary and unavoidable, but once non-essential usage has been identified, big savings can often be achieved by measures as simple as installing time switches.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

SPACE HEATING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS Motors consume about two-thirds of the energy used by UK industry.

Of course, your organisation may not be industrial and, therefore, it would be easy to assume you don’t need to worry about motors. Yet motors are everywhere, not least driving fans in

MONITORING & METERING

air-conditioning systems and pumps for boilers and water supply. If they were installed a while ago, chances are that those motors have ordinary starters which means the motors are either stopped or running at full speed. This can be very wasteful.

Most fans in air conditioning systems only need to operate at full speed on a few really hot summer days. For the rest of the year, their speed could be reduced to 80% or less, without affecting building comfort levels. And this would mean big savings, because at 80% of full speed, a fan uses only 50% of the energy it uses at full speed. Fitting variable speed drives that will allow speed to be continuously controlled from zero to maximum is therefore a very worthwhile investment.

LOOKING AFTER THE PLANET Good ventilation, or at least good circulation of air, is necessary to prevent the build-up of carbon dioxide, but also necessary during the pandemic.

But a poorly designed ventilation system can lead to draughts that unnecessarily remove heat from the building. The solution is to monitor airflow, carbon dioxide levels, temperature and humidity.

The information provided by them will allow air quality to be optimised while minimising unnecessary loss of heat.

CASE STUDY: saving energy in a typical school

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hen invited to help create an energy strategy at a secondary school in Kent, the Chauvin Arnoux team started by logging the usage readings over an eleven-day period, which also included the half term holidays, a week of term time and a weekend. What they found was that the total energy consumed in the period came to just over £2,000, which meant an annual electricity bill of around seventy thousand pounds.

But even at the weekend, when there was no activity on the premises, there was still a load of around 30 A per phase.

Another important finding from the investigation was that harmonics were unexpectedly high, which is actually a common problem given the proliferation of non-linear loads in our fast-moving

FINAL WORDS The pandemic has brought many changes for all of us, and in virtually all industry sectors. However, saving money, reducing energy consumption and supporting the environment, are more important than ever. The one common thread that unites all effective

technological world. In this case, the data showed that the third- and fifth-order harmonics were dominant. Third-order harmonics are typically caused by personal computers, office equipment and electronic lighting, while in this installation the fifthorder harmonics were probably being caused by servers and UPS systems. The easiest solution to this problem was to simply educate staff to turn off lighting and equipment at the end of the day or even install systems to turn it off automatically.

methods of energy management is the need to measure – after all, what doesn’t get measured, doesn’t get managed! So make sure to call on the experts at Chauvin Arnoux and follow their tips on holistic energy saving solutions for your organisation! www.chauvin-arnoux.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

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INTERVIEW – PILGRIM BEART

SMART METER PIONEER ON THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF SMART ENERGY We talk to Pilgrim Beart, cofounder and CEO of DevicePilot: Tell us a bit about your background?

As a computer engineer, I’ve worked in the tech industry for over 30 years in the UK and Silicon Valley and having co-founded five companies I suppose I now have to accept the dubious badge of “serial entrepreneur”. My start-ups include antenova – which has sold billions of multiband smartphone antennas – and AlertMe which was eventually bought

by British Gas as the basis for its Hive™ platform, and that gave me some early experience in the Smart Meter space.

What impact would you say Smart Meters have had on the energy market thus far?

In the decade since the start of UK Smart Meter rollout, they have been somewhat underwhelming. In general, they have been limited to streamlining the billing process for utilities and allowing customers to keep track of their energy consumption, which doesn’t exactly amount to a revolution. With around 10 million Smart Meters now installed, we are yet to see them really deliver on their potential, largely due to factors out of their control.

What has been holding them back?

Several challenges have held Smart Meters back. In the early days of SMETS1, there was no centralised mechanism for managing meters, so when the householder changed their supplier, the meter often reverted to “dumb” mode.

A second round of development gave us SMETS2, which solved that problem with the DCC as the central clearinghouse for meter communications.

Smart Meters were also perhaps a little before their time. A lot of their potential is as an enabler for other Smart Energy technologies, particularly in the context of the shift to renewables, but

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these other technologies have taken a while to arrive, leaving Smart Meters still waiting to deliver their promise.

Why are Smart Meters coming into their own now?

Finally, we are starting to see an abundance of other Smart Energy technologies infiltrate the home en masse. Technologies like PV generation and connected heating (Hive, Nest etc.) are mainstream, and electric vehicle charging, heat pumps and battery energy storage are not far from becoming everyday items that ordinary consumers will discuss down the pub (once COVID ends!), and this will only accelerate as the country pushes on towards net zero.

This shift is also causing the wholesale price of electricity to fluctuate much more, as the grid struggles to balance varying generation with varying demand. This – along with some very big consumption peaks driven by electric car charging and heating – is driving the arrival of the domestic Agile tariff, where pricing changes half-hourly, over a huge range from 5p-30p/unit and can even sometimes go negative when there is oversupply.

This all creates an ecosystem where Smart Meters are finally starting to prove their worth, helping to regulate energy consumption, reducing the cost of energy for many customers and enabling the grid to become greener as renewable energy can now be managed in a much more dynamic way. Smart Meters are the key to joining all of these previously siloed dots together, bringing dynamic pricing signals into the home, along with fiscal accountability.

What does the future hold for Smart Maters?

As we move towards a grid that will increasingly – and one day wholly – rely on renewable energy, Smart Meters will play a larger and larger role in managing our energy. The sun shines when it shines, and the wind blows when it blows – we can’t control that. However, Smart Meters allow a lot more dynamism in the grid.

As an example, if the wind is blowing at an off-peak time – such as the middle of the night – and there is an abundance of cheaper energy generated, a Smart Meter might tell your EV charger to start charging

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

your car or tell your boiler to start heating hot water to be used later on. This not only will mean cheaper energy for consumers but solve the problem of unpredictable energy generation for utilities.

What hurdles will they experience along the way?

Smart Meters have overcome many hurdles to get to the point where they are today, but a major one still remains – the quality of service they are able to deliver.

I have seen this first-hand. Once service providers have rolled out a large number of devices, it becomes difficult to keep track of these devices and their state. Before this point, it might be possible to use a mixture of brainpower and spreadsheets to log faults and complaints, but the sheer number becomes rapidly overwhelming, to the point where you can’t “see the wood for the trees”. Questions around whether a provider’s Smart Meters are actually delivering the promised results become harder and harder to answer, and providers have very little idea what is happening on their devices.

While the Smart Meter was just a way to save the cost of a “man in a van” to read them, these problems were merely an irritation. But now that the whole ecosystem is changing, Smart Meters are becoming the lynchpin of Smart Home Energy, and this kind of poor performance just isn’t acceptable anymore.

The result, from a customer perspective, is meters that fail soon after installation, or have unreliable connections, or don’t update their tariffs properly, or a whole list of problems. This leaves customers irritated as their Smart Meters aren’t that Smart, but the provider won’t know this until the customer has complained, by which stage it is too late to provide a great service.

How can this problem be solved?

Service Management technology holds the key. It offers a ‘single pane of glass’ view of a provider’s entire fleet of devices, and enables automated processes to identify and resolve problems, enabling a much more proactive stance towards customer service, rather than constantly having to respond to angry complaints. www.devicepilot.com

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HEATING

REDUCING ENERGY COSTS – USE LESS OF IT OR BUY IT CHEAPER?

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oo many organisations focus on the unit cost of energy rather than their consumption.

It is considered a cost, rather than a service.

But careful energy control will show a significant impact on an organisations bottom line; its carbon footprint; by becoming more appealing and greener; by being perceived as fore runners; and as a major contributor to its Corporate Social Responsibility.

If energy is viewed as a service in the same way as IT or facilities management, for example, the sooner the advantages of maximising the use of that service will be appreciated, rather than simply buying it cheaper.

A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY IS WASTED EVERY YEAR – HEATING EMPTY ROOMS! Using energy only when it is required, monitoring its use and effective procurement simply adds up to good business sense.

The student accommodation sector could be saving millions of pounds simply by using more efficient methods of energy control.

Using smarter technology cuts waste and enables the monitoring and management of living environments more than ever before. But, while developers and builders aim to yield maximum profits by installing the minimum requirement of control, it is up to Energy Managers to demand that buildings use the minimum amount of energy necessary.

Student accommodation is a good example of this. There are 2.3 million students in higher education throughout the UK with over 650,000 living in purpose-built rooms. Providers of accommodation have to carefully balance efficiencies with comfort.

The student lifestyle does not generally comply with routine norms. Not wishing to perpetuate stereotypes, but nocturnal comings and goings, sleeping in until lectures beckon and extended periods away from campus for home-cooking and free washing – all contribute to the need for flexible monitoring and managing of energy supply to their living spaces.

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Heating control that switches on at 7am for 2 hours and then again at 6pm for four hours takes no notice of whether the energy input is used effectively. Likewise, a continuous flow of hot-water, ever-ready for student-demand will prove expensive.

Lee Williams is the Halls Operation Manager at Bangor University and since 2009 has been responsible for ensuring the smooth running of all-things accommodation across the 2500 rooms at the Ffriddoedd Village site – including complaints from students about their heating provision.

He explains “The temperature was limited by sensors in the stairwells to 21°C and if the external temperature was any warmer than 19 degrees then the heaters wouldn’t operate”. He continues, “We had a lot of issues because the sensors were in the stairwells and corridors which are less frequently used areas with large windows and are inherently colder. In the springtime, when the sun was shining, the foyers would become hot, but not necessarily because of the outside temperature. Conversely, in the winter when the outside temperature was cold, the foyers were probably a bit warmer than outside, subsequently the heaters wouldn’t come on!”

He was finding that the balance between using energy efficiently and maintaining student comfort was not possible with the system that had been in place for 20+ years.

Prefect Irus is designed specifically for the unique conditions of student accommodation. Irus can ‘see’ when a room is occupied (PIR) and keep it at a comfortable level (Setback) – Students can raise the temperature to suit their comfort (Boost), but predetermined temperatures cannot be exceeded and won’t prevail if not required.

The PIR sensor is most efficient when set to Absence detection, this way, on entering a room the student needs to press the button to activate the Boost mode, which

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

will run at a higher temperature for a preset time (usually 45 mins) if the occupant leaves the room, after 10 minutes the thermostat will switch to Setback mode.

Irus also reduces heat input when windows are opened or the room is empty for longer periods (typically 12 hours), this is when Frost mode will engage. Irus observes Triad warnings and works with DUoS timings so it reduces energy input when electricity tariffs are at their highest.

IN SHORT – UNNECESSARY USE OF ENERGY IS ELIMINATED Using the buildings existing electrical wiring (Mains Borne Signalling) negates the need for trunking and laying of data cables and all the inherent disruption, interference to a building’s infrastructure and mess, making it quick and cost effective to install. Sophisticated error-correction technology ensures data is reliably and accurately transferred from point-to-point.

Lee concludes “In terms of the system it’s amazing to have a view of everything that’s going on in a room, not just in terms of the temperature, but the lighting, humidity and the decibel levels as well. Now, if we have a complaint, we’re able to see a live representation of what’s going on in that room on the system – we have data to hand without ever setting foot in the room!”

Being able to accurately monitor energy use, take action to control levels and collate proof in the form of reports goes a long way to ensure every kWh counts and budgets are maximised. Using less energy and more effectively, must be the answer to reducing energy costs. www.prefectcontrols.com

INTERVIEW - GILES BARKER

A GLOWING EXAMPLE OF GREEN ENERGY

With almost 20 years’ experience in solar energy, Vital Energi’s Pre-Construction Manager, Giles Barker, gives us an insight into how solar technologies can provide organisations all over the world with a bright and sustainable future.

Why did you choose to specialise in solar?

I first installed solar panels in 2004 during a social housing development project, and really liked the idea of residents being able to save money on energy costs and benefit from free electricity, and properties as a whole being more self-sufficient. I enjoy thinking outside the box to overcome different challenges when improving energy efficiencies, introducing solutions which will truly benefit the client. Solar energy is good for the planet too, so I’m passionate about introducing it wherever I can.

What are the main advantages of using solar?

Using solar energy reduces your dependence on the grid and fossil fuels. It’s a mindset. It also saves you money, a fair amount depending on your system size. It reduces carbon and your carbon footprint, and once installed, it’s low maintenance and there are minimal running costs.

How does Vital make use of solar panels?

At Vital’s HQ in Blackburn, there are 264 solar panels on the roof which power the fleet of electric vehicles. Many of the company vehicles are electric and there is the facility to charge 22 vehicles at once.

So far, the solar panels have powered over 400,000 electric miles, saving 8,000 gallons of fuel, which is really impressive!

Does solar PV work best as a standalone energy source or combined with other technologies?

Solar PV works very effectively both independently and connected to further technologies. It works incredibly effectively with both Air Source Heat Pumps and Ground Source Heat Pumps.

How does solar benefit the environment?

Do solar farms pose an environmental threat?

It’s a renewable source of energy, so it won’t run out, plus it’s environmentally friendly because it doesn’t generate greenhouse gases. Renewable energy technologies help reduce your carbon footprint, meaning you’ll personally be doing your bit for the environment.

There is a common misconception that solar farms pose environmental challenges, however when installed correctly, they can have a positive impact on the surrounding land. For example, the land where solar farms are located can be used for active grazing, and the solar panels create man-made shelters for livestock, which stops them overheating during summer months.

Can you share any surprising facts about solar?

1.

2.

90% of the aluminium frames are produced from recycled materials.

Installed product prices have reduced by 75% in 10 years approximately.

Do solar panels still work on cloudy days?

Solar panels work all year round. It’s actually radiation from the sun, rather than temperature, heat or direct sunlight, that enables solar PV panels to generate

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electricity. The most optimum conditions are surprisingly on a sunny winter’s day, because cold temperatures help solar panels convert energy more efficiently.

Have you introduced any unique techniques to add value to solar projects?

Yes, bee bombing! Not all fields have to be mowed, so I have introduced wildflower meadows to fields where we’ve installed solar farms. The beauty of wildflower meadows is that the flora and fauna grow to roughly the same height as the solar panels, so they don’t affect efficiencies. This of huge benefit to the

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

environment, as the world is short of bees (mother nature’s gardeners), and these meadows provide a feast for them.

What advice would you give to an organisation who are considering going down the solar route?

Listen and take advice from experts and people who have experience in solar energy. Think about how solar can work with other low carbon technologies such as battery storage and heat pumps to provide more significant benefits. If it’s installed properly, you can reap the benefits for many years.

What kind of solar projects has Vital been involved in?

During my time here at Vital, we have delivered a broad range of solar schemes from freestanding solar farm projects and private wire schemes, to on roof schemes delivered as part of larger projects. It’s fair to say Vital Energi can deliver it all.

If you would like to know more about how you can benefit from solar technologies, don’t hesitate to get in touch. www.vitalenergi.co.uk

ABOUT VITAL ENERGI Vital Energi operates in the Energy sector providing a comprehensive service including design and installation, operating decentralised energy generation and multi-utility network distribution schemes based on low carbon / zero carbon technologies. The company also provides tailored energy management schemes to measure, monitor and manage energy consumption.

Vital Energi continues to produce energy efficient heat and power systems and consumption reduction solutions with long term cost benefits for clients in a broad range of markets including Healthcare, Education, Industrial, Commercial, Residential, and Local Authority. Vital Energi has also started to build its first Waste to Energy plant at a site in Drakelow, Derbyshire.

ENERGY SUPPLY

DECARBONISING YOUR ENERGY SUPPLY: THE OPTIONS TO EXPLORE Scott Parlett, head of public sector at BiU, explains that there is no “one size fits all” solution for public sector organisations who want to switch to greener energy.

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or the public sector, climate change is no longer a future threat; it’s already here. The most recent survey from the Local Government Association found that eight out of ten councils in England have been affected by a climate-related incident in the past five years, mostly flooding. Other public sector organisations are dealing with different climate-related problems, such as changing migration patterns and health issues.

So most public sector organisations are now fighting on two fronts: adapting to the changes we face, while trying to mitigate their own effect on the climate by cutting emissions. And despite limitations on their budgets and powers, many are making progress that puts the private sector to shame.

Decarbonising your energy supply is a key part of any emissions reduction strategy, and it’s worth considering all the possibilities before deciding how to do this.

SWITCHING TO A GREEN TARIFF Switching supplier may seem like a simple matter of choosing the best-value green tariff, but it’s not quite that straightforward. The UK’s system of secondary trading in green energy certificates (known as REGOs) means that it is both legal and common practice for suppliers to advertise “100% renewable” tariffs while really getting most of their energy from fossil fuel sources.

You have to ask potential suppliers directly how much of their energy mix comes directly from renewable sources. The more detailed the information you get, the better.

Geographical location of your supplier’s sources is important too. If your organisation is a local authority or has other strong links to the local community, it would be preferable to support the local economy by choosing a supplier who invests in renewables projects in your area.

CORPORATE POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS (CPPAS) If you’re looking for more control over the

source of your energy, a renewable corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) may be a better option. Rather than using a supplier, you sign a contract directly with an electricity generator, typically for a period of between five and 20 years.

There are many benefits to this route. At a time of shrinking public sector budgets, a PPA is likely to deliver savings by giving you energy that is cheaper than market price. You also have more choice about how you want the pricing to work. For example, you may want pricing to track wholesale energy prices so that you benefit from any future lockdown-related price plunges. Or you may want an option that delivers more certainty in a volatile market.

Another benefit of PPAs is that you may be able to get one with a local generator, supporting green jobs and infrastructure in your area as well as decarbonising your organisation’s energy supply.

However, while the range of possibilities is an advantage, it can make it hard to choose the right contract for your organisation. BiU’s CPPA procurement service can offer expert advice on this.

GENERATING YOUR OWN ENERGY For even more control over the source of your organisation’s energy supply, you could consider owning and managing a renewables project (or several). Installing solar panels on your organisation’s buildings is one option, but the project doesn’t necessarily have to be on site.

Morriston Hospital near Swansea and New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton are both working on full-scale solar farms, which will supply their respective hospitals but are located off site.

OFFSETTING The word “offsetting” says “greenwash” to many people, but unfortunately you may not be able to avoid it. If your organisation uses gas, it is likely that a high proportion of it comes from fossil fuel sources, because there simply isn’t enough green gas to go round. This means that most “green gas” tariffs are “greened” through offsetting. You’ll need to do your due diligence by checking that they use a recognised offsetting scheme for this.

Another option is to think beyond just “greening” your supply to the other impacts your organisation could have.

Could you support a local renewables project? Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority have invested in a community-owned wind turbine that will power thousands of homes and also create an income stream to support core council services.

IT PAYS TO GET ADVICE At BiU, we work with many public sector organisations to help them explore their energy sourcing options.

We can help you come up with a strategy to fit your organisation’s culture and resources. Working in the public sector means facing difficult decisions on a daily basis, but our expertise can make deciding on your energy supply a lot less tricky. www.biu.com

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CLIMATE CHANGE

CARBON EMISSIONS ARE ON THE RISE AGAIN, WHAT CAN BE DONE? Jordan Appleson, CEO of Hark

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ou might have heard the word sustainability so much recently that you believe we are on a steadfast path to carbon neutral, but we’re not quite there yet! According to research, global greenhouse gas emissions are on track to rise again to their highest level in history.

So, although progress is being made, there is still a lot of work to be done.

TEMPERATURE IS RISING The climate crisis puzzle is yet to be solved. At this point in time, 195 countries have signed the Paris Agreement, acknowledging their commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

The momentum now needs to be converted into action and according to the Committee on Climate Change, the government isn’t tackling climate change fast enough, as the UK continues to deal with flash floods and loss of biodiversity.

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As the temperatures continue to rise, so does the rate of natural disasters; the number of climate-related disasters in the last 30 years has tripled. Just this last year, California experienced one of its worst forest fires in history, destroying miles of wildfire and relocating thousands from their homes. This movement is now being referred to as ‘Climigration’ when people are forced to move due to climate change.

TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE HEAD ON Time is of the essence and to achieve carbon removal at scale, sustained technological innovation is required. A

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whole new arsenal of tech is emerging in the fight against climate change, one of those is negative emissions technologies.

To counteract the emissions that are being let out into the atmosphere, these innovative technologies use direct air capture which uses chemical reactions and energy to capture ambient carbon dioxide and concentrate it for storage

CLIMATE CHANGE

or use. MIT engineers have been developing a new way to capture air, this new system can capture carbon dioxide from a stream of gas at virtually any concentration level. The device is essentially a large, specialised battery that absorbs carbon dioxide from the air passing over its electrodes as it is being charged up and then releases the gas as its being discharged.

Many businesses have pledged to become carbon neutral, but some have taken this one step further and plan to become carbon negative. For example, Microsoft announced that it aims to be carbon negative by 2030 and plans to remove all the carbon out of the atmosphere they have emitted since its founding in 1975 by 2050.

IOT – SILVER BULLET FOR CLIMATE CHANGE These capture technologies are essential, but it is imperative to be more preventative rather than reactive and aim to reduce the level of emissions being released in the first place. Companies may not be able to tackle all of the planet’s problems, but they can focus on their own carbon footprint and drive carbon neutrality in their operations.

The need for innovative energy solutions to reduce carbon emissions has never been so urgent. IoT technology can be used both on a company specific basis and also in city-wide monitoring to measure the impact on industrial processes through sensors, monitoring

air and water quality, pollution levels and even monitor environmental ramifications such as coastal erosion, making us aware of the issues so that interventions can be made.

When used in a business format and combined with artificial intelligence, the technology can make sense of the raw data and provide insight into operations. This could be how much energy a supermarket is consuming through their lighting or how much a manufacturer consumes during one production cycle. In addition, it enables predictive analysis as it can identify anomalies in assets, so that they can be repaired to avoid additional loss in energy and thereby excessive emissions being released. Combined energy solutions also enable assets to be controlled automatically to offer ultimate efficient operations, driving down carbon emission production. Through technology integration, Vodafone UK has already saved 100 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy and 25,000 tonnes of CO2.

The next decade can be one of renewal, both for the environment and UK businesses. Cutting-edge technology is part of the answer to the climate change puzzle, and with innovations continuously being developed, strives towards carbon neutral can be achieved, it just needs one thing: action! https://harksys.com

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ENERGY MANAGEMENT

UNLOCKING ENERGY COST AND CARBON SAVINGS WHEN PUBLIC FINANCES ARE TIGHT

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s organisations turn their attention to a green recovery, the pressure to control costs and improve services is greater than ever. Managing energy more effectively is a great place to focus. That’s because using heat and power more sustainably delivers both financial and environmental benefits.

But how do you achieve energy cost efficiencies while also achieving your net zero goals? How do you avoid incurring extra cost? And how do you reduce the time and cost burden of complying with environmental regulations?

MOVE BEYOND THE ‘QUICK WIN’ SAVINGS Implementing energy efficiency improvements is an effective starting point, but many public bodies have already exhausted the ‘quick-win’ opportunities. Indeed, energy efficiency measures alone are not sufficient to deliver on net zero goals.

A much more ambitious integrated approach to sustainable energy management is required. This is likely to include solutions such as: data intelligence; energy optimisation, renewable generation and battery storage; CHP, electric vehicles and low carbon heating and cooling.

Digital innovation and the rising popularity of distributed energy solutions are bringing technology costs down. As such, technologies such as solar, battery storage, heat pumps, data insights, optimisation and management platforms and electric vehicles, are all becoming more affordable.

Growing numbers of public bodies are looking at on-site solar with battery storage as a cost effective way to power both their estate and electric vehicles. In this way, you can secure uninterruptable back-up power and use power flexibly to manage peaktime energy costs and earn revenue from demand side response markets.

Solar can also help power cost effective heat pump installations.

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) remains a key technology for the public

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Public sector organisations have borne the brunt of the pandemic. But despite the difficulties and disruption this has caused, net zero commitment remains strong, says Phil Bryant of Centrica Business Solutions. sector and can deliver rapid cost savings that can be re-invested in sustainable energy projects with a longer return on investment. Green gas CHP and emerging hydrogen CHP technologies can play an important role in carbon reduction.

There are many more opportunities to deploy distributed energy technologies for both cost and carbon reduction. If you’re not in a position to install onsite generation, or don’t have space for battery storage, Renewable Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) can help accelerate decarbonisation, particularly in the earlier stages of a net-zero journey. However, it is preferable to select certified agreements that support funding of additional new renewable generators, resulting in additionality.

Many public sector organisations are already committed to purchasing green energy as a small part of their commitment to the environment.

Our sister company British Gas has helped NHS Property Services (NHSPS) to switch its entire property portfolio to 100% certified renewable energy. That’s 10% of the entire NHS estate – supplying 3,500 buildings

ENERGY SAVING IN ACTION We’ve worked with many hospitals, care homes, councils, leisure centres, schools and universities to cut energy bills, reduce carbon emissions, improve resilience and turn energy into a revenue stream, rather than purely a cost centre.

We’re helping Gateshead Council to improve energy resilience after installing one of the UK’s largest commercial battery storage schemes.

The 3MW/3.33MWh system ensures that the Gateshead District Energy Centre can respond to any fluctuations in demand in

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under a second.

It is capable of storing enough energy from the CHP system to meet the needs of 3,000 homes for one hour.

This ensures that the local businesses and residents benefit from stable and reliable power, without being exposed to any fluctuations.

We’re providing various optimisation services and commercialising the battery in a number of Demand Side Response flexibility services.

This enables the Council to earn an income to support its public services, while securing the reliability of its site operations and also contributing towards balancing and stabilising the Grid.

The NHS is demonstrating the benefits of its integrated approach to energy management and we’re partnering with many Trusts to deliver funded projects. St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will achieve guaranteed cost savings of £1m per year as part of its 15-year sustainable energy partnership with Centrica Business Solutions. The integrated energy project was delivered as part of a 15-year Energy Performance Contract (EPC).

OVERCOMING CAPITAL CONSTRAINTS At a time when public finances are tightly stretched, you may lack the capital to invest in sustainable energy projects and the skilled resource to manage them. But this doesn’t need to frustrate your sustainable energy ambitions.

ENERGY MANAGEMENT The government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) is a good source of funding for organisations in England. As selected suppliers, we’re ready to support the rapid delivery of approved projects within tight deadlines.

We are also experienced delivery partners for funded integrated energy infrastructure projects across the NHS. For those organisations who can’t access these grants, there are other opportunities to implement complex energy sustainability projects – without any capital expenditure.

Distributed energy technologies that can fast track energy sustainability provide such strong and predictable returns on investment that projects can be funded off balance sheet via a performancebased operating cost model.

PAY AS YOU SAVE Our flexible finance solutions are supporting thousands of organisations globally to overcome barriers to investment. In this way, we can help you to unlock opportunities that reduce energy and operational costs, improve energy resilience and boost environmental performance.

By moving from a capital cost model to an operating cost model, you can use energy as a service.

You can then share in the cost and carbon saving benefits of distributed energy projects, without the risk, upfront investment or ongoing asset responsibility. You simply pay for the power/cooling/heat or other guaranteed outputs, such as carbon savings, over an agreed contract term.

With no capital expense, you can balance both your financial and environmental performance by taking advantage of advanced energy opportunities.

The benefits of rethinking energy supply and management are compelling. The sooner you grab the opportunity, the sooner you can feel the benefit of cost and carbon savings and improve resilience against energy supply interruptions.

Centrica Business Solutions finances and delivers integrated distributed energy projects. We provide full energy lifecycle support across insights; optimisation; efficiency; on-site generation & renewables; supply and trading, and electric vehicle enablement.

Further information: www. centricabusinesssolutions.com

SONTAY’S SENSORS ASSURE PATIENT HEALTH AND WELLBEING Stacey Lucas from Sontay

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ospitals are the UK’s lifeblood, providing patients across the country with access to specialised medical care and treatment.

A cornerstone of their communities, hospitals must undergo routine upgrade and maintenance work in order to ensure they continually deliver to their high standards.

King’s College Hospital in south London is a major inner-city hospital managed by King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. As well as being a leading facility for care and treatment, King’s is a large medical hub which is one in a trio of institutions belonging to the King’s College London School of Medicine.

The hospital underwent an £80million extension to its existing coronary care unit (CCU) building to provide vital new CCU and isolation room bed space for patients. To ensure these critical areas are controlled and monitored accurately, it was decided that an extensive range of building control peripherals were needed. A myriad of solutions from market-leading specialist Sontay were specified as part of a sophisticated building management system (BMS).

Siemsatec, a specialist in BMS design, installation and maintenance was tasked with installing the BMS for the new space. The system needed to give simple control over the extension’s HVAC plant to keep patients comfortable, help streamline the hospital’s budget and offer a healthy environment to patients through effective temperature control. A further consideration was to ensure the hospital could maintain the efficient running of the building and enable energy and cost savings.

Working collaboratively with Sontay, Siemsatec undertook full system design and management of the project from start to finish. Siemsatec installed a Trend IQ4 and 963 BMS, along with a range of Sontay solutions, which monitor all of the air handling units as well as the LTHW & CHW plant within the CCU bed spaces.

The versatility of Sontay’s solutions means a range of field devices can monitor all aspects of a commercial building. This allows the likes of

Siemsatec to select exactly what is required for each application. The Sontay products that were specified included temperature and combined temperature, and humidity sensors to monitor environmental conditions on the wards for patient and staff wellbeing.

Immersion and frost thermostats, air and water differential pressure switches, air differential sensors, flow grids, smoke detectors, water detection and thyristor controllers were also specified to monitor the building service equipment.

“The new control system ensured the facilities team could manage and monitor the system with ease in order to improve overall efficiency and respond to the needs of both patients and staff in the building,” commented Joe Bailey, Project Manager at Siemsatec. “We decided to use Sontay because of its reliability and the quality of the products.

All of the solutions were easy to install and worked well once in place.”

This project was extended within a fixed budget and delivered to a tight deadline to ensure the existing CCU unit remained operational. It was essential for the space to remain functional during the renovation process and give patients immediate use of the services.

“The prompt delivery Sontay offered really helped us deliver the completed project on time,” continued Joe. Following the installation and completion of the project, the facilities management team at the hospital can now manage, monitor and adapt the control system quickly and easily. They will also ensure the hospital is operating as efficiently as possible and respond to the needs of both patients and staff within the building. The presence of Sontay’s solutions on King’s College Hospital’s new CCU unit will enable a vital medical facility to keep delivering and pioneering treatment for patients for years to come. www.sontay.com

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ENERGY MANAGEMENT

UNDERSTANDING AND OPTIMISING ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN HEALTHCARE Kas Mohammed, VP of Digital Energy, Schneider Electric

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he importance of the electrical infrastructure within healthcare is indisputable. We rely on electrical equipment to keep our loved ones safe and healthy, diagnose conditions, and find new forms of treatment. Hospitals, therefore, require an extremely reliable electrical infrastructure, immune to power failures and resilient against any issues.

Power quality disturbances are a large cause of issues in the electrical distribution system. Somewhat frustratingly, it is often the electrical equipment itself which causes electrical disturbances. In fact, 80% of power quality issues originate onsite, with the other 20% coming from the energy provider.

Onsite issues originate largely because the components within the equipment distort the electrical signal due to having loads which are non-linear current and voltage changes, such as variable speed drives and semiconductor technology, including LED lighting. These distortions can manifest in a multitude of ways such as: • Network communication issues • Circuit breakers tripping • Data loss • Flickering lights • Unexpected equipment shutdown • Transformers humming This list is far from exhaustive but gives an idea of the type of disturbances to look out for. Ultimately, if the issues go untreated the results are a reduction in efficiency, increased operating costs, and damaged assets. The good news is that these issues can be easily fixed with the right solutions.

However, to select the best solution, we must first understand which particular power quality issue we are trying to fix. Within a hospital, we largely see two types of issues, power factor distortion and harmonics.

POWER FACTOR Power factor issues come about when current and voltage signals do not align with one another, i.e. there is a phase

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difference between them. A power factor of 1 means that current and voltage are aligned and anything below this means there is a phase difference between the signals. This ultimately leads to reactive, sometimes referred to as imaginary, power being generated.

This power is unusable but still charged for in the same way on your electricity bill, meaning we are paying more for our power but getting less out of it.

In fact, the cost implications of a low power factor can go far beyond this. As the power factor does not self-correct, the power we feedback into the grid will maintain any power factor effects caused by equipment on a particular site.

Due to the monetary and sustainability implications of this at a grid level, the government has applied a reactive power charge to sites which are feeding low power factor signals back into the grid.

These show up as an extra line on your electricity bill and mean that, combined with the costs spent on the reactive power itself, you are essentially paying twice for something which is unusable.

HARMONICS Power is also becoming more polluted. As a result, power quality is becoming harder to achieve and maintain. The power electronics present in digital devices generate harmonics, which occur when the electrical signal itself is distorted rather than displaced.

Looking at the electrical signal, it can appear as if another, higher frequency,

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waveform has been superimposed on top of the signal. The cause of this can usually be traced to active electrical equipment containing variable speed drives and semiconductor technology, with X-rays and MRIs being large contributors.

In a hospital, the most common ways that harmonics will manifest are as transformer heating, humming or as disturbances on an ultrasound machine. The issue, however, is not so much the effects they cause but rather the safety and reliability consequences they bring about. Harmonics will cause electrical systems to overheat due to a larger current being drawn which not only affects asset lifetime but also greatly increases the risk of fire. Looking from a pure reliability perspective, 3040% of unscheduled asset downtime is related to power quality issues so without rectifying the problem you will see a significantly lower efficiency for the equipment you have installed.

DIAGNOSIS As a short term means of diagnosis, a power quality survey can be carried out on site by the use of a power quality analyser. These are left connected over the course of a week of normal operation to get an overview of any power quality issues over the seven-day period. This will look at harmonics, power factor, voltage spikes, sags, swells, amongst others.

However, as hospitals are very electro- intensive, a more common solution is to install a range of power

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

meters. These are installed at various stages in the electrical distribution system, from the main incomer to the hospital to various buildings and on individual distribution boards. These meters vary in the depth of power quality analysis, with more high-end meters being able to provide directional analysis to determine whether any disturbances originated up or downstream of the meter. This allows for a fast and reliable means of finding the root cause of any disturbances.

Having these meters provide data into an energy management system is the best means of performing analytics and monitoring alarms and trends.

These options also ensure continuous monitoring of standards compliance and can raise alarms if anything is out of the ordinary. A fully comprehensive energy management system can even help you utilise predictive analytics to preempt issues before they are a problem.

Additionally, smart distribution boards are another advantage in measuring at load level, the root cause of the disturbances. As a new or retrofit option to existing sites, using small, circuit breaker level meters can be a low cost way to ensure individual assets or systems are performing in their most efficient state.

SOLUTIONS Healthcare organisations need to investigate the types of equipment and digital applications that can help them mitigate these problems and achieve and maintain high quality power throughout their electrical network.

Luckily, the solution to most power quality issues is relatively simple.

Installing power quality correction units on site will take care of the problems without manual intervention. As hospitals tend to experience a lot of harmonics on site due to active electrical equipment, the most fitting type of correction unit is active filtering. These effectively take a signal which is experiencing harmonics, low power factor, or other issues and ‘cleans it up’ to output a smoother, more reliable signal. Alternatively, if the issue on a particular site is solely power factor related, the installation of capacitor banks is a cheaper and equally effective means of fixing the issue.

Digitisation and innovation are making it easier to take a more proactive approach to power reliability. To prepare for and preempt the kinds of powerrelated challenges their facilities are likely to encounter – to build resilience – health systems should consider evolving diagnostic and preventive technologies and innovations such as microgrids,

power automation, power events analysis and condition-based maintenance.

Using the above solutions will ensure that you are only paying for the energy that you are using and that you are getting the most out of it. Feeding better quality signals into the electrical equipment will allow them to perform at their best and prevent failures. With the need for hospitals to operate at high electrical capacity for long durations, the benefits of monitoring and acting on power quality effects are soon realised and will both save you money and protect equipment whilst prolonging its lifespan.

Uncertain situations and crises highlight the importance of using emerging technologies and innovations in healthcare systems. To build a future-ready healthcare ecosystem, it is crucial to ensure a sustainable healthcare infrastructure. Healthcare providers need to evolve with time, both in terms of facilities and services to meet the increasing demands and expectations of patients. They need to leverage the emerging technologies to ensure customers have access to disruption-free healthcare facilities.

Ensuring affordable healthcare services given to customers are technology driven and sustainable is essential to ensure a resilient infrastructure. www.se.com/uk

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ENERGY FROM WASTE

THE CHEMISTRY OF CONFLICT: INCENDIARY DISPUTES– PART 2 In the second and concluding part of this paper, Forensic Engineering Expert Professor Robert Jackson and Construction Lawyer Peter McHugh continue to discuss the risks to sustainability borne from the explosive consequences of energy-from-waste (EfW) facilities. This paper further highlights contentious disputes relating to design, construction, operation, environmental impact and personal injury, together with strategies for their avoidance.

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otwithstanding the commendable efforts displayed by energy sector players, as outlined in Part 1 of this article (EM March 2021), the renewables sector remains littered with projects where negligence and/or breach of contract has arisen. This can result from either the designer or the contractor failing to honour the contractual terms and/ or failing to act with reasonable skill and care. The construction of an EfW plant can be a huge undertaking requiring the right team of experts to plan and build. Design-and-Build contracts place a heavy burden on the Contractor who will become liable for matters contractual, technical and operational. EfW plants are not simple production facilities but have great complexity akin to that of ‘mini power stations’ requiring careful design and construction by specialist contractors.

Increasingly, with advances in technology and innovation, new plants can be more cost effective, with enhanced safety and improved environmental benefits. But, failure to design and construct properly can lead to a magnitude of problems for the contractor and developer, as well as greater risks to plant operating staff and the wider general public. The construction of these projects remains ‘complex’ and is often confronted with disruption and disputes. Extra design costs and time delays can have a profound impact on the critical path of build activities and budget planning. Multiple subcontractors are often required due to the interdisciplinary nature of waste projects and EfW plants are challenging and high risk for contractors, engineers, architects

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and designers alike. A common form of contract in this sector is the ‘Engineering, Procurement & Construction’ (EPC) contract which permits the plant owner to manage risk more effectively.

The structure of the EPC allows both project owner & contractors to mutually benefit from this type of contractual agreement by assigning risks to ensure the designed output is achieved whilst administering responsibilities and liability.

For the procurement of a UK-based waste plant comprising an anaerobic digester, a contractor appointed a consulting engineer to develop and complete the design of the process engineering elements of the plant. The consulting engineer completed a detailed design but chose to provide a design which went beyond what was required in the ‘Delivery Plan’ thus adding to the contractor’s cost. It was held by the court that the designer was liable for the contractor’s increased costs. The court declared that a contract appointing a design consultant to develop and complete a waste treatment process required the consultant to comply with specific design and delivery obligations insofar as they accorded with the overriding objective to take reasonable skill and care. Under the contract, the engineer was prima facie liable for the cost consequences of any modifications to the design which did not comply with the specification or ‘Delivery Plan’; (MW High Tech Projects v Haase Environmental Consulting [2015] EWHC 152 (TCC)). Designers of EfW plants are therefore in the firing line when it comes to faults in the design, and consequential losses due to increased operating costs, lost income generation from energy sales, and negligence leading to death or injury.

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EfW plants often rely on the generation of methane as an energy source, but the chemical properties of this gas make its handling inherently troublesome. This difficulty is perhaps well illustrated by reference to a case in the early 80’s.

In 1984, in order to satisfy an increased demand for local drinking water supplies, a new water supply project in Lancashire was commissioned by the then North West Water Authority (NWWA). This required the daily extraction of fresh water from the River Lune and its transfer, by pumping, to the River Wyre. The Lune/Wyre Transfer Scheme comprised the construction of screen facilities at the water intake from the Lune, a pumping station, a transfer tunnel excavated through carboniferous limestone, a valve house in Abbeystead, and an outfall to the Wyre.

During the excavation of the tunnel, there had been a considerable in-flow of groundwater through the tunnel walls which continued to take place even after the rock tunnel had been lined with concrete. Also during excavation, traces of flammable natural gas were detected but these were deemed to be sufficiently low for the tunnel to be considered gas-free by normal tunnelling standards.

Furthermore, the tunnel was designed to run full of water during pumping and to remain full with the pumps turned off. Consequently a feature of the design was that during standstill periods from pumping the tunnel would remain full of water to stop the ingress of groundwater and any gases emanating from the ground. The conditions of contract required the concentration of flammable contaminants to be kept below 10% of their lower explosive limit and there was no concern at the

ENERGY FROM WASTE design stage regarding flammable gases being encountered during tunnelling.

On 23rd May a group of 44 visitors, comprising 36 residents of the local village of St. Michael’s-on-Wyre and 8 employees of NWWA, assembled inside the underground valve house set into the hillside at the outfall end of the scheme to attend a public presentation. This was to demonstrate the operation of the pumping station but when the pumps were started the pumped water travelled up the tunnel and in so doing displaced flammable gas that had accumulated in the tunnel from the ground. The gas was pushed into the valve house where it ignited causing an explosion that completely destroyed the valve house causing 16 deaths. No one escaped without injury, 8 were killed instantly by the explosion, with another 8 people, including an 11-year-old child and his mother, subsequently dying from their injuries in hospital. Every member of the visiting party was either killed or injured, with many suffering from severe burns.

The flammable gas was later identified as methane and its source, determined through geological and seismic surveys, was found to be coal seams located at a depth of 1.2km beneath the tunnel. The gas had collected over millions of years in a natural limestone reservoir from which it seeped towards the ground surface through a complex network of geological faults. The excavation of the tunnel had subsequently intersected these faults and allowed the gas to seep into the tunnel through its concrete lining. The cause of ignition has never been determined.

The Abbeystead disaster is an example of the responsibility on the design team to consider all possibilities including the presence of methane, and investigations later found that the possibility of a methane-rich environment had not been recognised.

The fact that large quantities of methane might be dissolved in groundwater and subsequently released into the atmosphere within the tunnel was not considered by those involved with the design/operation of the system.

In 1987, at Lancaster High Court, the consulting engineers were found to be 55% liable in negligence for failing to exercise “reasonable care” in assessing the risk of methane. NWWA was found to be 30% to blame for failing to ensure the plant was safe for visitors and employees by testing for methane, and the contractor who constructed the works was found 15% liable for failing to carry out systematic tests for methane.

All three parties appealed and a case

was brought by the victims which went to the Court of Appeal. In the case (Eckersley and others v Binnie and others [1988] 18 CON LR 44, CA) negligence claims were brought by the survivors and relatives of the deceased against those responsible Professor Robert Jackson Peter McHugh for the design, construction this did not give rise to breach of any and operation of the works. Bingham duty of care to the plaintiffs and the third L J stated when referring to the first defendants, the local authority, the court defendants, the consulting engineers, held that the evidence did not disclose that: “the original trial judge was any actionable negligence on its part. entitled to find on the evidence that So, ultimately the consulting engineers there was a risk of methane being were found solely liable. Leave to appeal present which should be taken into to the House of Lords was refused and account in the design………..”. in February 1989 most of the injured The court of appeal held when survivors and relatives of those who considering the duties of care owed died accepted out-of-court settlements by each of the three defendants that from the consulting engineers. in relation to the design stage, the In conclusion, sustainable consulting engineers who were the first development can be defined as defendant are expected to exercise ‘development that meets the needs of the skill of a reasonable competent the present without compromising the engineer specialising in the field of ability of future generations to meet construction. The court held that in the their own needs’. Whilst this definition circumstances, a reasonably competent is commendable, it is something of an engineer specialising in the design of oxymoron in that we have little or no water systems ought to have detected insight into anything more than the a risk of methane being present in very basic needs of future generations. the aqueduct. The explosion was Moreover, this article clearly highlights therefore reasonably foreseeable. the imperative of understanding the The consulting engineers were held environmental impacts of the past to be negligent in failing to consider on present and future infrastructure the possibility that methane may be development and if calamities are to be present when designing the aqueduct. avoided then there is a need to recognise The second defendants, the contractor, that ‘conjecture is not expert opinion’ the court found was in breach of its and ‘hope is not a credible tactic’. contractual duty to test for methane, but

The Authors: PROFESSOR ROBERT JACKSON

PETER MCHUGH

Chartered Civil Engineer, Accredited Mediator for Civil & Commercial Disputes, Law Society Checked Expert, Forensic Engineering Expert in Water, Energy, Waste, Construction & the Environment.

JACKSON CONSULTING.

Solicitor & Partner, Chartered Arbitrator & Accredited Mediator, Specialist in Construction Dispute Resolution.

CLARKE WILLMOTT SOLICITORS. T: 0345 209 1069; M: 07825 435981; E: peter.mchugh@clarkewillmott.com.

M: 07976 361716; E: professorrobertjackson@gmail.com.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

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ENERGY FROM WASTE

WASTE IN THE UK’S ROUTE TO NET ZERO

To reach net zero by 2050, as the quickest and most affordable way to reduce emissions, carbon efficiency must be a critical focus writes Helen Murphy, Sustainability Manager for Cory Riverside Energy.

UK AMBITION ON THE ROAD TO NET ZERO Ahead of COP26 in November, Cory Riverside Energy joined 76 businesses in writing to the Prime Minister calling for an ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that is at least in line with the Paris Agreement, the UK’s net zero emissions by 2050 target, and advice from the Climate Change Committee on the UK’s 2030 target.

Cory believes that an ambitious NDC can support the UK’s green recovery efforts, helping deliver significant job creation and growth opportunities.

Clear policy can encourage investment in technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, and resource efficient business models that are essential for a competitive, zero emissions UK economy.

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To reach net zero by 2050, as the quickest and most affordable way to reduce emissions, carbon efficiency must be a critical focus.

WASTE PREVENTION AND THE CARBON BENEFIT OF ENERGY FROM WASTE Today many stakeholders, including the recycling and waste management industry, are working to build a more circular UK economy by focusing on waste prevention and encouraging the development of products that are designed to be used for longer, to be repaired and reused. As a society we must strive to reduce the amount of waste material being produced by minimising the amount of single use material and ensuring that material

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

is recycled to prolong its useful life.

However, there are some materials that cannot be further reused or recycled and have reached the end of their useful life in terms of the carbon cost of reuse. When waste material inevitably falls out of the cycle of reuse, Energy from waste (EfW) provides the lowest carbon solution for managing this waste. Waste management is the primary function of EfW, sanitising and eliminating waste to maintain a clean and healthy society; low carbon base load electrical generation and heat are important by-products of this process.

The carbon benefit of EfW is based on the emissions it avoids and offsets, including methane emissions (which is a greenhouse gas that is 84 times more potent than CO2 over a 20 year lifespan) that would otherwise arise from landfill,

ENERGY FROM WASTE displacing emissions from energy that would be generated by fossil fuel power stations , avoiding the need to the quarry virgin materials for aggregate that can be produced from the by-products of the EfW process (incinerator bottom ash (IBA) and air pollution control residue), and the avoidance of mining to make new metal, because of metals segregation in the pre-treatment of EfW waste and further metals recovered from the IBA. Yet EfW can go even further – and it must. To generate electricity in an EfW plant, heat is purposefully released to the atmosphere, this cools the steam after the steam turbine, forcing more steam across the turbine as it cools.

The simplest way to drive greater carbon efficiency of EfW facilities is to ensure that this heat is used, rather than released into the atmosphere. This additional efficiency directly translates into measurable carbon benefit due to offsetting higher carbon heat generation – the more waste heat is used, the lower the net carbon emissions. All modern EfW facilities in the UK are constructed as combined heat and power (CHP) ready, and there are already a good number of CHP EfW facilities in operation that recover a lot of the waste heat and put it to use. However, the UK is missing a huge carbon efficiency opportunity by not ensuring that the residual heat produced

by EfW facilities provides low carbon heating to local homes and businesses through district heating networks.

DECARBONISING HEATING For the UK to reach net zero by 2050 heating will have to be decarbonised.

Right now, the overwhelming majority of homes are not heated in a low carbon way, with 85% of homes in the UK heated with natural gas.

To get to net zero in the domestic sector, gas boilers need to be replaced with something else, such as low carbon heat networks or heat pumps. This is a major change needed in every home in the UK at an unprecedented scale, with 28m homes in the country this equates to 1 million homes a year to 2050 replacing their gas boilers. The questions of affordability, and who will pay for this profound change, looms large.

Clearly, it will be much more challenging for heat to decarbonise than the electricity grid. Therefore, moving away from the electricity only EfW model, and maximising the carbon efficiency of EfW plants by ensuring that they supply residual heat to district heating networks, can accelerate achievement of the UK’s net zero ambitions.

This is not just a role for the EfW sector, but also requires local authorities and developers to recognise the opportunity to build a more circular UK economy via heat recovery offtakes.

This requires whole systems thinking, with stakeholders across the public and private sectors recognising the opportunity to future proof new and existing housing developments and infrastructure by connecting to heat networks from local EfW facilities and then working together to make it a reality.

CORY AND VATTENFALL’S HEAT NETWORK All this is why Cory and Vattenfall have partnered ( https://heat.vattenfall. co.uk/news-and-insights/2020/04/ vattenfall-and-cory-riverside-energypartnership-to-offer-low-carbonheating-for-east-london-homes ) with the aim of delivering affordable, reliable and low carbon heat to communities in South East London.

The project presents a watershed moment in London’s decarbonisation journey by transforming how a large part of the city is supplied with heat.

The Riverside Heat Network project ( https://www.coryenergy.com/ ) aims to connect Cory’s Riverside Resource Recovery Facility (RRRF), one of the largest EfW facilities in the UK, with properties in the London Borough of Bexley and the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The RRRF has the capability to provide up to 28.6MW of heat, the equivalent of 10,000 home boilers and will form the base anchor load for the district heating network.

In addition, Cory’s recent attainment

of a Development Consent Order for the Riverside Energy Park (REP), a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project which includes a new EfW facility, located adjacent to RRRF, will be CHP enabled with the potential to provide a further 30MW heat offtake.

REP is scheduled for operation by 2025, and together with RRRF, the facilities will be able to supply c.25,000 local homes and businesses with sustainable heat with substantial spare capacity, making the heat network one of the largest in the UK.

THE FUTURE FOR ENERGY FROM WASTE EfW is currently the lowest carbon means of disposing of residual waste, for the EfW sector continue to provide this essential role of waste disposal in a zero carbon future, the carbon efficiency needs to be high as possible by maximising the efficiency of facilities, particularly by ensuring heat recovery, continued efforts to minimise single use materials, ensuring that material remains in the cycle of reuse for as long as possible, and capturing carbon from EfW facilities will be essential.

Cory has been very excited by recent announcements related to carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) projects at EfW facilities in the UK and moving forward will be engaging with our colleagues advancing in this space to see how technology and learnings could be applied to our operations in the future.

This article originally appeared on: https://heat.vattenfall.co.uk/ news-and-insights/2021/03/wastein-the-uks-route-to-net-zero

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 educate, train, support and connect as we work towards a more sustainable future.

www.pssa.info ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

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DISTRICT HEATING

NET ZERO UNIVERSITIES: DECARBONISING HEAT ON AND OFF CAMPUS

C

ovid-19 unquestionably dominated 2020 – the year that was once predicted to be one of climate action – and while optimism is generally at its peak at the start of any new year, 2021 really could offer the turning point we need to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Since the legislation of the UK-wide climate target, we have seen a suite of announcements from businesses, local authorities and institutions declaring emergencies and pledging their own net zero commitments, many of which are decades in advance of 2050.

Universities are among those to have set progressive targets; however, ‘most are still aligned to the old sector target of an 80% reduction of 1990 levels by 2050*,’ says Zamzam Ibrahim, President of the NUS and SOS-UK. With regards to addressing sustainability issues, 94% of students wish to see universities do more to be environmentally sustainable**. There is not only a need to lower emissions and reduce costs but also to showcase the actions universities are taking to tackle climate change. Meeting net zero ambitions will require carbon emissions reduction plans that go much further than they have before, drawing on solutions that address and overcome the challenges universities face today while unlocking opportunities for the future.

One key challenge is that most universities have their own centralised energy systems which date back to the 1980s, meaning that campus heating infrastructure is often old and inefficient. With high population density and predictable high heat demand, university campuses are well placed to benefit from heat networks, otherwise known as district heating.

Heat networks form a key part of the UK’s transition to net zero emissions by 2050 and are particularly suited to high density areas such as a university campus.

They supply heat from a central source through a series of insulated pipes carrying hot water, removing the need for each individual building to generate its own heat on site and subsequently unlocking larger-scale, renewable and recovered heat * https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/ aug/21/all-universities-must-commit-to-net-zeroby-2030-tackling-campus-climate-crisis ** https://www.qs.com/portfolio-items/sustainabilityin-higher-education/?utm_source=website&utm_ medium=blog&utm_campaign=Sustainable2020

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sources. With the ability to heat a few small buildings or an entire city, heat networks are recognised as a cost-effective way to provide reliable, low carbon heating. They could play a strategic role in university carbon emission reduction plans whilst delivering wider benefits. The development of a heat network on campus, for example, could benefit those inside and outside the university community, extending over time to provide low carbon heat to businesses and homes off-campus. £320 million of investment in heat network schemes is being delivered through the Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP), first launched in 2018 by the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy. This large-scale investment is essential to the Government’s ambition to grow and develop a heat network market that thrives long term.

The scheme, now in its third and final year, will continue to offer gap funding through a competitive application process and invites universities, and other eligible applicants, to engage with the scheme at the earliest opportunity.

Newcastle University was the first university to be awarded funding through HNIP last year after securing a £2,900,000 loan to support the extension and upgrade of an existing district heat network on its city centre campus.*** Last year, Newcastle University established a new Centre for Energy to unify efforts across industry, policy, and academia in an effort to bring about a transition to clean, affordable energy and new ways of thinking about energy systems.

A drive for emissions reduction is reflected in the University’s approach to heating its buildings; the project will replace the current gas boilers with a new liquid biofuel combined heat and power plant (CHP) which will deliver substantial carbon savings across the site.

HNIP provides funding by way of grant and loans and can be combined with other funding sources to support sustainability objectives. Unlike the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund which recently closed, HNIP is still accepting applications. Projects need to have drawn down and committed funding by March 2022; however, construction can be completed after this date so if you are already considering decarbonising university buildings, please get in touch. *** h ttps://tp-heatnetworks.org/ innovative-low-carbon-projects-innorth-east-secure-hnip-funding/

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

The Government’s quarterly heat network pipeline includes several schemes which expect to connect to university buildings and schemes initiated and developed by ambitious universities themselves.**** It is expected that other university campus projects will come forward this year for HNIP funding as part of plans to transition to clean, affordable heating. With almost 1500 heat network connections in the UK***** and an increasing interest in this low carbon, technology agnostic solution, it is clear that heat networks have an important role to play in reducing emissions both on and off campus.

For more information about the Newcastle University heat network scheme, visit https://tp-heatnetworks. org/innovative-low-carbon-projectsin-north-east-secure-hnip-funding/ For more information about HNIP, please visit https://tp-heatnetworks.org/ **** h ttps://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/hndu-pipeline ***** h ttps://www.theade.co.uk/resources/ what-is-district-heating

WATER MANAGEMENT

DIGITAL WATER MONITORING PROVIDES COLLEGE LEAK RELIEF

S

cotland’s Rural College (SRUC) Oatridge Campus in West Lothian is set within land covering 2.8 square kilometres.

The campus houses livestock buildings, farm land, college buildings and student accommodation.

Water retailer, Business Stream, began working with the College in April 2020 and provided an Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) device at the site, in order to track water consumption in 15-minute intervals.

Following analysis of AMR reader data in June 2020, Business Stream technicians found that the site was consuming 3,500 litres per hour, every hour of the day. This was highly unusual as the statistics were recorded during the UK’s national lockdown period when large parts of the College were not being used. Business Stream was quick to raise its concerns to the College and set about investigating the matter.

As a result of the work carried out, SRUC was able to save around £46,000 per year in avoidable water and waste water charges and significantly reduce its impact on the environment.

A detailed summary of what was involved in the project is provided below.

SOUNDING OUT THE ISSUE Given the unusually high readings, the water expert’s specialist Leak Detection Team was mobilised to assess whether there was a fault in the College’s extensive pipe infrastructure.

However, this task was complicated due to the campus’ intricate pipe network, with large sections of piping containing several connections and branches.

The team commenced its investigation using sensitive noise correlation equipment. This equipment is designed to identify leaks on underground pipes whilst removing the need to excavate.

Typically, acoustic sensors are placed in contact with the pipe, at two or more points, and will pick up the noise emitted by a leak somewhere between the points.

The highly-tuned equipment helps to identify an exact area of interest on a length of pipe, which can vary from slight cracks to larger, more intense bursts.

Once the acoustic investigation was completed, a number of areas across the campus were identified which exhibited signs of unusual activity and leaks. These anomalies were quickly repaired and the AMR profile checked, but unusually the remedial works made very little

impact on the water consumption figures.

DIGGING A LITTLE DEEPER After discussions with the customer, the decision was taken to install isolation valves across the campus.

This helped the engineers by ensuring they could segregate smaller sections of the campus to examine the pipework in greater detail.

The work was initiated by isolating the valve closest to the meter. If there were no leaks on this section of pipe, the dials on the meter should stop turning indicating that no water was flowing through the section. This process was repeated at each isolation valve and monitored using the noise correlation equipment.

By using this methodical approach, the leak was identified under a road at a significant depth where the burst location was adjacent to a surface water drain.

This meant that the leaking water was running straight into the drain out of sight.

Because there were no visible signs of the water above ground, the engineers would not have been able to identify and resolve the issue without the AMR data and leak identification solutions.

PLOUGHING ON Engineers on the ground noticed a slight dip in the road surface and were told the stop tap chamber in the road had been renewed within the last year.

The team went on to remove the cover so that they could check the chamber using noise correlation equipment, which led to them discovering a noise on the fitting.

Having identified the problem area, the team excavated on the stop tap and located a leak on a coupler. The joint was repaired and the service reactivated and re-sounded, but there was still a continuing noise on the fittings.

To explore this further, the engineers carried out a wider ground-sound and located an area approximately 20m away for further excavation and examination. Again, the team found water surfacing in the exposed site.

Another excavation was carried out on the other side of the concrete and, when the supply was turned on, the burst was confirmed within the ducted sector.

This section of pipe was cut out at either

end, pulled through the duct and replaced with a new 32mm polyethylene pipe.

Once the supply was turned on, an additional fitting just beyond the end of the excavation was found to be leaking, so it also had to be replaced. After the fix had been installed, the engineering team sounded the area and found no sound on the acoustic equipment, confirming successful application.

PASSING WITH FLYING COLOURS In total, four leaks were repaired on one section of pipe and, after checking the AMR profile once the repairs were made, the baseline water consumption level was reduced from 3,500 litres per hour to zero.

This solution helped SRUC dramatically reduce its environmental impact by preserving water and saved the College around £46,000 per year in avoidable water and waste water charges. In addition, Business Stream supported the College to make a burst allowance claim, which more than covered the cost of the leakage detection and repair work.

By utilising technology, digital monitoring devices and the experience of Business Stream’s technicians, the College can continue to operate efficiently, safe in the knowledge the issue has been resolved.

“If it wasn’t for Julie Lindsay at Business Stream’s vigilance in identifying the increased usage, as well as their Leak Detection Team’s persistence in locating the leak, we would still be losing water at the rate we were – and, more importantly, losing this commodity to the tune of £46,000 per year. I would like to personally thank Julie and the team at Business Stream for the actions that they took and the professional manner in which they carried out the works to a successful conclusion”. Gordon Ogilvie, Faculty FM Business Partner – Central Region – Campus and Estates Services, SRUC. https://www.business-stream.co.uk/

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

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WATER MANAGEMENT

INCREASING SUSTAINABLE WATER PRODUCTION ‘WILL UNDERPIN ALL OTHER CHALLENGES’

T

here is certainly no denying that the climate emergency is incredibly serious and action must be taken now in order to ensure that we do all we can to protect the earth’s finite resources - but when faced with so many unique and different challenges, it can be hard to even know where to begin.

However, prioritising sustainable water production could help drive progress on all other major global challenges, with Madeleine Bell, strategy and special projects lead for Desolenator explaining in an article for the World Economic Forum that, since water is the most fundamental and valuable resource we have, it will “underpin the success or failure of every other challenge that we face”.

She went on to say that it is essential to refocus attention on interventions that can drive progress for numerous challenges at the same time, with clean water the strongest building block there is.

However, 2025 is fast approaching and this is when experts predict that half of the global population will not enjoy reliable access to clean water - and this will certainly affect us here in the UK, despite our famously wet climate.

London, for example, is the ninth global city considered to be at critical risk of Day Zero, when demand outstrips supply, with serious shortfalls expected to be seen inside the next five years.

Prioritising accessible and reliable water supplies will mean that the world will increase its progress towards zero

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hunger (since agriculture makes up 70 per cent of water use worldwide), improve health and wellbeing, increase gender equality (since women and girls are mainly responsible for water collection, impinging on education and other opportunities), improve industrial productivity and so on.

Ms Bell concluded: “The world is still fatigued by the unique challenges of 2020, but we are buoyed by the positive global dialogues such as COP26 and the UN Decade for Oceans. This shows it is more important than ever to focus on high-impact interventions.

“Reliable, accessible and sustainable supplies of clean water are the strongest foundation we have to ensure the long-term success of our other challenges.

Without it, we are effectively building on sand and risk wasting precious time, financing and resources.”

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

Where England is concerned, it seems that action is now being taken to determine the areas of water stress around the country, with the Environment Agency having recently launched a consultation to investigate this.

It will provide evidence on water resources so that water suppliers experiencing the greatest pressure can introduce the most appropriate water-saving solutions to help improve future water management and ensure that streams, lakes and rivers are afforded proper protection.

Water stress maps have now been created, using data from suppliers and the National Framework for Water Resources, taking into account environmental needs, water availability to 2050, the impacts of population growth and climate change, leakage improvements and planned water efficiency. www. h2obuildingservices.co.uk

PUBLIC SECTOR WITH NO SIGN THAT THE SQUEEZE ON GOVERNMENT SPENDING WILL BE RELAXED ANY TIME SOON, PUBLIC SECTOR FINANCES WILL CONTINUE TO BE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE.

THE WATER AUDIT EXPERTS

The challenge laid down to public sector bodies is simply this – find more efficient, cost-effective ways to spend taxpayers’ money, while maintaining service levels.

Waste is simply no longer an option, from procurement through to utilities.

H2O Building Services helps public sector bodies reduce unnecessary costs by cutting their water bills. By lowering water usage, improving efficiency and monitoring bills for overcharging, we save organisations an average of 30% on their water costs. When you are looking for ways to keep a lid on budgets, that is not to be sniffed at.

CUTTING WATER COSTS

Our professional consultancy team can draw on more than 30 years’ experience1 in the water industry. We understand water supply and sewerage services inside out and we specialise in managing costs across large, complex organisations.

We offer a complete end-to-end service for water cost reduction, from checking your bills are accurate and fair through to installing on-premise systems which will help save you money over time. We have earned a strong reputation for outstanding service and achieving impressive results for public sector clients.

Read about how we saved Haringey Council £40,0002 after carrying out a full audit of water usage across all of its premises. Or find out how we saved HM Prison Service £57,0003 after identifying a water leak at HM Pankhurst, and also by cutting sewage charges for laundry effluent.

GETTING STARTED

In the first instance, we will ask a public sector client to supply water billing records for all of its properties, stretching back several years if possible.

We understand that public sector organisations are large and may operate a high number of premises. But this is a crucial step which can straight away help us identify whether charges look right for the type and use of the property.

After carrying out a thorough analysis of billing records, we will audit water use4, including carrying out site visits where we think it necessary. The water audit will form the basis of all recommendations we make for cutting water costs, from reducing water use to seeking refunds for overcharging, tackling leaks and waste to ongoing monitoring.

WATER BILL REFUNDS

ONGOING MONITORING

If we spot mistakes in the water bills for any of your properties, we will advise whether they have led to you being overcharged. If you have paid too much for your water services, our experienced consultants will seek a refund on your behalf from your water supplier.

We understand that reducing costs is not a one-off exercise, but part and parcel of daily life for public sector organisations.

We can help you keep on top of your water billing long term, making sure you are never charged more than you should be and keeping your water usage in check.

REDUCING WATER WASTE One of the biggest causes of inflated costs on water bills is waste. If, for example, you have one or more leaks at any of your properties, you will be charged for that excess water which you never use. In addition, you could be incurring extra costs for water drainage, not to mention potentially massive bills for water damage repairs.

We offer full site surveys as part of our consultancy service, including water leak detection5. If we identify a problem, we will first compile a full report, outlining the size of the leak, the potential damage it might be causing, and the impact on your bills.

We will then submit a cost proposal for repairs, aiming to achieve a robust, quality solution in the most cost-effective and least disruptive way possible.

Through our water bill validation8, we will check each bill before your receive it, vetting it against actual usage and resolving any discrepancies with your supplier before it comes to authorising payment.

We also offer

Advanced Meter Reading (AMR)9

We can also recommend installations aimed at

improving 6 water efficiency at your premises.

These include things like Flow-Tec P.I.R urinal flush controls, Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs) and Aeroflow low flow showers. We can also advise on water recycling7 for using waste water in things like lavatory systems. Again, all proposals are fully costed, and we will also include an expected payback period, usually achieving an average of between 9 and 12 months.

1. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/about-us/ 2. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/case-studies/haringey-council/ 3. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/case-studies/hm-prison/

Share:

a highly sophisticated water tracking technology, which can monitor water flow on an hourly basis. Any unusual spikes in water usage automatically trigger an alert, which we will pick up and respond to straight away.

4. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/water-audits/ 5. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/water-leak-detection/ 6. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/saving-water/ 7. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/water-recycling/ 8. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/bill-validation/ 9. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/amr/

Call a your public sector water experts now on

0845 658 0948 Alternatively, you can email us at

info@h2obuildingservices.co.uk

CHP

HOW TO MAXIMISE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FROM CHP BY ACHIEVING ‘GOOD QUALITY’ ASSURANCE To maximise Combined Heat and Power (CHP) efficiency and gain access to attractive fiscal incentives, your cogeneration system must be certified as ‘Good Quality’ under the CHP Quality Assurance (CHPQA) programme. Luke Bannar-Martin of Centrica Business Solutions explains how to optimise operational efficiency to achieve certification.

MAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY SAVINGS WITH CHP CHP is recognised for its exceptional efficiency and economic benefits. From one single on-site process, cogeneration can supply a building with electricity and thermal energy for hot water, and space heating and/or cooling. With a typical efficiency in excess of 80%, a CHP plant is much more energy-efficient than sourcing electricity from the grid and producing heat in gas boilers. As such, it can reduce energy bills by as much as 40%.

ENJOY THE FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF ‘GOOD QUALITY’ CHP Achieving Good Quality CHP, certified under CHPQA, is financially rewarding as certification is linked to tax incentives and exemptions that reward efficient energy performance. These include: • Climate Change Levy (CCL) exemption. CCL is an environmental tax on the electricity, gas and solid fuels used by most non-domestic customers. ‘Good Quality’ CHP is exempt from paying CCL on gas used to generate electricity for on-site consumption. The financial benefits of exemption from the CCL tax can be considerable and have become even more attractive since increases

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in CCL tariffs on natural gas were introduced in 2019.

• Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) eligibility.

Annual Investment Allowances replaced Enhanced Capital Allowances in 2020. This scheme encourages investment in energy saving equipment, such as CHP, by providing tax relief.

• Preferential business rates.

Using ‘Good Quality’ CHP for on-site energy can deliver access to preferential business rates.

WHAT IS THE CHPQA STANDARD? The CHPQA programme is the Government’s method for assessing the quality of CHP schemes according to energy efficiency and environmental performance. As such, CHP is assessed on its power efficiency and by a Quality Index (QI), which is a measure of the overall energy efficiency and delivery of primary energy saving.

The aim is to monitor, assess and improve the quality of CHP, bringing important environmental, economic and social benefits for users. CHPQA is a voluntary scheme but its financial incentives benefit the user, the environment, and help the government to reach emissions reduction targets.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

Note that CHPQA certification is not a one-off. Reassessment is required annually.

SUCCEED WITH GOOD QUALITY CHP For a CHP system to qualify as ‘good quality’, evidence of energy efficiency must be provided. The project needs to be more efficient, in terms of heat and power, than alternative energy options.

The CHPQA Standard is used to calculate if the proposed CHP scheme exceeds the required threshold criteria by providing the CHP with Quality Index (QI) and power efficiency ratings. Such ratings are achieved by examining data for fuel used, power generated, heat supplied and hours run.

To be confirmed as Good Quality CHP: • Existing systems must achieve a QI of 100, and a power efficiency of 20%.

• New systems must achieve a QI of 105.

CHP THE KEY STEPS TO ACHIEVING ‘GOOD QUALITY CHP’ ACCREDITATION:

6. Record all available data

3. Ensure your metering is calibrated and complies with CHPQA standards.

1. Accurate sizing of a CHP system in tandem with proposed demand reduction measures.

Gather accurate site energy data during the planning phase to size the CHP correctly. In most cases you should limit the maximum size of the CHP to the electrical base load, but you should also take into account your heat demand so that you utilise as much as possible and don’t reject useable heat. Accurate sizing will enable the CHP to operate at full load for the optimum number of hours annually.

The CHP system should be integrated into the site’s utility services so that it operates as the lead heat source at all times.

It is essential to optimise the electricity and power generation to ensure the best financial/carbon savings. Boilers can always be used if there is an exceptional heat demand during peak periods.

2. Ensure CHP acts as the lead heat source at all times.

When integrating CHP into heating systems for new build schemes, select flow and return temperatures of heating circuits to optimise operation and prevent your CHP from ‘tripping’ due to high return temperatures.

It should be capable of capturing fuel use, useful heat produced and electricity generated. We would always advise customers to monitor all energy outputs via quality metering or sensor technology to ensure that both their asset and their service provider are working to the best of their abilities.

4. Design and implement a control strategy that will yield the best performance.

This should be connected to the wider building energy management system, or integrated into the controller - as is the case with Centrica Business Solutions’ PowerRadar system, which is a singleview energy management platform.

5. Implement a robust proactive maintenance and servicing strategy.

Operate assets in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines, to keep your system operating at optimum performance.

A CHP system is a business critical machine that requires daily observation to check for good operation. This can be performed via a remote control and diagnostic system, or by local monitoring.

This will also identify trends that could indicate problems further down the line. Condition based monitoring, including regularly reviewing oil samples, should also form part of your servicing and maintenance strategy to keep your cogeneration system in peak condition.

Use data collection and analysis technologies so you can provide evidence that the system is always operating at optimal performance. By doing so you will increase the system’s chances of achieving ‘good quality’ CHPQA certification, unlocking greater financial incentives along the way.

CHPQA: KEY POINTS • Reduce emissions by using energy saving technologies including CHP to benefit from government incentives and tax exemptions.

• Compliance with the CHPQA programme to ensure Good Quality CHP systems.

• Evidence is required for CHP to be certified as ‘Good Quality’, so prioritise remote monitoring.

• Good Quality CHP can take advantage of tax incentives, such as CCL exemption.

• Create a good maintenance strategy to maximise energy efficiency and keep your CHP compliant.

Centrica Business Solutions is a market leader in CHP, with over 3,200 CHP built in the UK to date and deployed all over the global.

Download Centrica’s technical guide to CHP: https://www. centricabusinesssolutions.com/ reducing-energy-costs-andpreparing-net-zero-transition Further information: https://www. centricabusinesssolutions.com/

Public Sector

Sustainability Promoting sustainability across the public sector

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR SUSTAINABILITY ASSOCIATION Register now to receive your digital issue of PSS Magazine FREE of charge www.pssa.info ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

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LEGISLATION

CHANGES TO REGULATIONS ON STANDBY GENERATORS Owen Jones, Senior Consultant, JRP Solutions

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lot of new detail has been added to The Medium Combustion Plant Directive since it was introduced in 2015 and the post-Brexit move from EUETS to UKETS has also brought some changes. It is essential that owners/operators of standby generators understand what these changes mean to them. They must also keep under review Environmental Permit Regulations as, if thermal input capacity has increased, the operators’ obligations may change.

THE MEDIUM COMBUSTION PLAN DIRECTIVE The provisions of the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD) are enacted in the UK under Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 and similar regulations for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

When the change to MCPD comes into force in 2024 for existing units, Emission Limit Values (ELVs) will be imposed on emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particulates on a range of plant including standby diesel generators. Units installed after the 20th December 2018 need to comply from the date they start operating.

A standby generator is defined as one that is operated for the sole purpose of providing

power at a site during an onsite emergency and must not operate for testing and maintenance purposes for more than 50 hours in each year.

The provisions of the MCPD are enacted through different regulations covering plant with a thermal input of between a) 1 MWth and 20MWth, b) 5MWth to 50MWth and c) “Specified Generators” which can include standby generators if used for load balancing.

The permitted ELV at the compliance date for diesel back-up generators is 190mg/Nm3 oxides of nitrogen (NO and NO2) normalised to 15% oxygen in exhaust gases. This level of emissions can be achieved by new diesel generators now available. Currently unless the standby generator was installed after the 20th of December 2018, and so has to comply with the MCPD, or the total thermal input for the site is greater than 50 MW, there are no specific stack emission limits put on standby generators. When the MCPD comes into force in 2024 for existing units, limits on stack emissions for older generators will be imposed, however as long as the generators run for less than 50 hours testing then the required limits are less stringent.

FROM EU ETS TO UK ETS The EU ETS (European Union Emissions Trading Scheme) is the largest multi-country, multi-sector greenhouse gas emissions trading system in the world, covering more than 11,000 power stations and industrial plants across the EU. Other organisations, including universities and hospitals, may also be covered by the EU ETS depending on the combustion capacity of equipment at their sites. Aviation operators flying

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into or from a European airport are also covered by the EU ETS. The UK ETS, introduced on 1st January 2021, almost exactly mirrors the EU ETS scheme in its requirements and regulations, however as the UK ETS is very recent, further guidance on certain aspects is still outstanding.

The EU ETS/UK ETS are cap and trade schemes where full participants are given a free allowance of carbon credits and further allowances are released via auctions. Participants need to report annually on the greenhouse gas emissions from the qualifying combustion plant they operate and submit allowances to cover these emissions. If they do not have enough from their free allowance allocation they must purchase more from the market or auctions. If they have a surplus they can sell these into the market.

The EU ETS/UK ETS is a mandatory scheme for operators with combustion plant (which may include standby generators) exceeding 20MW thermal input on an individual site.

For a site to qualify for EU ETS/UK ETS, it will need to have an aggregated thermal input to combustion equipment greater than 20MW. When aggregating, only individual units, including standby generators over 3MW thermal input are included. However, 2021 saw the start of phase IV of the EUETS and as part of this new phase a new category of facility was created called an Ultra Small Emitter.

The Ultra Small Emitter Opt Out Scheme (USE) is for UK ETS sites where CO2 emissions do not exceed

LEGISLATION 2,500 tonnes per year. A site generally has to opt into this arrangement if it qualifies at the beginning of the phase or if it qualifies as a new entrant. Once in the USE scheme the participant is still required to monitor annual CO2 emissions and maintain records but does not receive a target or any free allocation of allowances. The participant also does not have to submit any data to the Environment Agency (EA) or submit any allowances or pay a civil penalty for exceeding a target.

If the emissions threshold of 2,500 tCO2e is exceeded in a calendar year for a facility, the EA must be informed and the site may be required to go into either the Small Emitters Opt Out Scheme for sites with less than 35MW thermal capacity, and that emit less than 25,000 tCO2e per annum, or the main scheme where allowances will need to be surrendered each year.

The Small Emitters and Hospital Opt Out Scheme is for all hospitals and sites with less than 35MW thermal capacity and that emit less than 25,000 tCO2e per annum.

In the Small Emitter and Hospital Opt Out Scheme participants are required to have a permit and report on emissions annually to the Environment Agency (EA).

However they do not have to surrender allowances or use an external verifier to verify the emissions. Instead they are given a target based on historical emissions and charged a Civil Penalty for every tonne of CO2e they emit over the target. The current civil penalty charge is £21.93/tCO2e for 2020.

There are both benefits and drawbacks of the Main Scheme ETS Compliance compared to the Ultra Small Emitter and Small Emitter schemes depending on an organisation’s individual circumstances. A suitably qualified consultant will be able to advise on the best for your organisation.

What’s changed post Brexit: On the 31st December 2020 the UK ceased to be part of the EU ETS due to Brexit and compliance was switched to the new UK ETS scheme.

Sites under the EU ETS in 2020 must still report emissions to the EA for 2020 by 31st March 2021 and surrender sufficient allowances to cover the emissions.

Currently it is not possible to trade allowances between the EU ETS scheme covering countries in the European Union and the participants in the UK ETS. However this may change if agreement can be reached with the EU. As part of the UK ETS roll out the UK Government has decided to

be more ambitious than the EU on encouraging emission reductions. To this end, the amount of free allowances issued and small emitter and hospital opt out targets have been reduced by 5% compared to those that would have been in place under the EU ETS.

ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT REGULATIONS The Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) in England and Wales are derived from the EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). A permit is required for all sites where the aggregated thermal input capacity of all the combustion equipment on site is 50MW or greater (Part A) or if a single combustion unit is 20MW or greater (Part B). Multiple generators on a single site must be aggregated to see if the qualifying capacity threshold of 50MW is breached and this should be regularly reviewed to ensure it is not exceeded.

When calculating the rated thermal input a number of criteria need to be taken into consideration: 1. All combustion plant on the site needs to be included irrespective of size or type.

2. The rated thermal input is not the capacity the plant operates at but the maximum at which it can potentially operate.

3. Physical restraints on thermal input, such as circuit breaker ratings, can be used to reduce the rated thermal input below the aggregate equipment rating but restraints on firing must be permanent, not easily reversed and be certified by the installer.

4. Software interlocks that reduce the rate fuel can be burnt can also be used to reduce the total rated thermal input but software interlocks must be protected to restrict access, be able to generate audit logs identifying any changes made

and be certified by the installer.

5. For standby generator sets the maximum thermal input rating must be calculated as 110% of the continuous rating.

REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE SULPHUR CONTENT OF LIQUID FUELS In 2008 the use of liquid fuels with a sulphur content greater than 0.1% (or 1000 ppm) by mass was banned in Europe. However a dispensation was granted by the EA in the UK to operators with stocks of high sulphur fuel to use up existing stocks and at the time no limitation was set on how long this should take.

Some operators of standby generators with particular autonomy requirements may still have significant stocks of high sulphur diesel. The EA have indicated that there is no change to the guidance, however SEPA, who now regulate in Scotland, have indicated that the dispensation will be removed in the next 6 to 12 months.

Operators should regularly monitor the quantity and age of stocks to ensure compliance with any future time limits imposed and it is likely that use of stocks of high sulphur diesel will become problematic due to increased focus on local air quality and any emissions limits imposed by the MCPD, which may require the use of ultra-low sulphur (10 ppm) diesel.

Operators with stocks of diesel that are not ultra-low sulphur should start to plan now on how to mitigate future issues by either using up or replacing high sulphur diesel stocks.

High sulphur diesel stocks cannot be sold unless it is for reprocessing but can be moved between sites in the same organisation to be used up.

Email: info@jrpsolutions.com

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BOILERS & BURNERS

TURN IT DOWN – USING BUILT-IN BOILER CONTROLS AND EXTERNAL SENSORS FOR EFFICIENT HEATING SYSTEM DESIGN Trevor Struck, Area Sales Manager at Hamworthy Heating

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he way heating system design is approached can have a big impact on the energy-saving potential of a building. This not only concerns the choice of heating equipment including setup but also details such as room height and building occupancy. Making use of built-in boiler controls and ancillaries such as temperature sensors to feed information back to them offers an integrated approach to heating efficiency. This way, comfort levels are maintained, which has a positive effect on the wellbeing and productivity of people in the building. Maximising the use of control technology has benefits beyond heating costs.

‘ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL’ APPROACH TO HEATING AREAS When planning a heating system, you should consider what each part of a building is used for. Take kitchens for example, where heat is generated by appliances such as ovens, hobs but also fridges. Another so-called free contributor is solar radiation, especially where the sun shines through windows or large glass panels, causing space to heat up quickly. Where people are present, so is heat radiation.

Additionally, lighting and IT equipment such as servers and computers also emit heat. This is why heat requirements in these areas are lower than in other parts of the building where no or little free contributions are present. On the other hand, corridors are only used intermittently

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Some built-in boiler controls can control multiple boilers at once and help to ensure even use across the installation.

and do not require constant heating, as they are only passed through to get to another part of the building.

It is essential to divide a building into different heating zones to avoid underheating one or overheating other areas. The energy is effectively minimised which reduces the costs to warm the building - heat is provided when it is needed, where it is needed, and at the right intensity.

This also needs to be regularly reviewed. With the current situation of Covid-19, many areas of a building will have drastically changed their occupancy and usage and therefore the amount of heat needed as well as the amount of ‘free heat’ being contributed.

HOW TO TRACK FREE CONTRIBUTIONS? Internal space temperature sensors measure the air temperature

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and do not only monitor the performance of the heat generators and the various heating circuits but can also track heat produced by appliances, processes and people.

The sensors should be positioned in carefully selected locations away from direct sunlight or other factors to avoid affecting measurements, giving an inaccurate picture of the actual room temperature.

BUILDING LAYOUT AND DESIGN AS INFLUENCING FACTOR When it comes to building layout, there are many factors to review for efficient boiler control setup. For one, how quickly a space responds to heat, the thermal inertia of the building, needs to be considered. An office with low ceilings is an example of a space with low thermal inertia. With less air present, it will heat up faster and

BOILERS & BURNERS

reduces the required start time before occupants arrive. In places with large volumes of air, such as in a church, high thermal inertia will increase the needed heat up time dramatically. High ceilings go hand in hand with poor heat distribution, unless suitable equipment to solve this issue is installed. It is vital to calculate an adequate time to switch on the boilers in the morning.

On the other hand, an early switch off before occupants leave can help to achieve crucial energy savings. Modern controls will self-learn this when set up correctly, although fine tuning is still necessary and recommended throughout the first year of occupation.

Another issue to factor in is heat loss. It occurs on surfaces which make up the building envelope which separates a building from the outside (such as walls, floors, roof, windows etc.) but also from gaps in it where cold air can come through. These effects can be felt especially in the winter months with low temperature and winds. Therefore, monitoring the external temperature at any given time to estimate the heat loss from the building is necessary.

MULTITASKING AS A STANDARD Modern boiler controls can ’multitask’. They can optimise the heat output of heat generators, heating circuits, and heating control. However, lack of knowledge means they are often not used to their full advantage.

Correct setup helps to improve efficiencies and extend the lifetime of the products, as it ensures even use across the installation. Given larger turndown ratios – the operational range of the boiler – increases with the number of boilers used, installing multiple boilers rather than one can reap significant energy-saving benefits.

Heat requirements are matched by several boilers which operate in a more efficient mode together rather than only one providing all the heat at a higher, less efficient modulation. This is where built-in boiler controls are especially beneficial.

In multiple boiler arrangements, the boilers can be set to operate in different modes.

In unison control, the controller attempts to hold as many boiler

High ceilings such as in a church or cathedral increase the heat up time dramatically.

modules firing at the same time to match the base load of the building.

The aim of this setting is to have them all modulate to more efficient low fire together. In cascade control, the controller attempts to match the base load with as few boiler modules as possible. Each method has its own merits dependent on the hydraulic configuration local to the boilers.

Another benefit of multiple boilers is the availability of a backup during service or breakdown. While one boiler is out of use, others can step in to cover the heat demand without interrupting the heat supply. Using multiple boilers ensures even use across the installation for a longer product life, avoiding over- and underuse of individual boilers.

LOOKING BEYOND THE BOILER To make the best use of modern technology, the heating system should be looked at as a whole. Efficiencies can be improved by using advanced

In unison control, the controller attempts to hold as many boiler modules firing at the same time to match the base load of the building. In cascade control, the controller attempts to match the base load with as few boiler modules as possible.

boiler controls, sensors, mapping out high/low use areas of a building, and considering heat up time. With the use of multiple boilers in combination with built-in controls, further energy savings can be achieved. This benefits not only carbon emissions and energy costs but can also extend the reliability and lifetime of a system. www.hamworthy-heating.com

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BOILERS & BURNERS

PANDEMIC DRIVES DEMAND FOR MORE EFFICIENT STEAM TECHNOLOGY IN 2021 • 68% of industrial steam users are now more likely to invest in greener steam technology following COVID-19 • Competitiveness, rising energy bills and equipment strain from pandemic demand are top drivers for more efficient technology • Business uncertainty, lack of capex and lack of personnel are hindering green investments • 59% think it is difficult to hire staff with the skills required to operate or maintain a steam boiler because of the impact of COVID-19

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he ability to adapt and recover sustainably and productively will drive business’s demand for more efficient steam technology in 2021. That is the headline finding from Aggreko’s latest industry research, which surveyed over 200 organisations across the public and private sector.

The research, which was commissioned in part to determine how the global pandemic has reshaped business priorities, looked to establish how different factors are influencing uptake in the steam boiler market.

Those interviewed included energy and production managers in manufacturing and petrochemical refineries, as well as facilities managers in hospitals and government departments.

After the disruption that took place in 2020, it would be fair to assume most businesses are reluctant to earmark budget for upgrades. Yet 68% of respondents said they were now more likely to invest in greener technology or new equipment to improve energy efficiency and emissions since the emergence of COVID-19. However, a

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number of businesses found the extra expense difficult to justify as the economic impact of the virus becomes clear. Just under 20% said they were now less likely to invest in new technology, with business uncertainty being the determining factor.

Other results only further highlight the desire for businesses to invest, not just as a means to navigate adverse market conditions but also to keep pace with rival organisations. Some 63% of the sample identified ‘competitiveness’ as the main reason why they would now spend money on a new steam boiler, with rising energy bills and strain on current assets also scoring high at 53% and 52% respectively.

While these results give cause for optimism in 2021, there are still a number of issues that may impede business’s recovery. An overwhelming majority said it had become harder to find people with the necessary skills to operate and fix steam boilers since the pandemic. In addition to the skills

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gap, over half identified an increase in maintenance costs as another key issue.

These problems appear to explain why almost 85% said they would now consider hiring equipment as a way to bridge a gap in demand and minimise the threat of an existing boiler breaking down.

These findings come as Aggreko is set to launch some new steam boilers into its European fleet. The two and five tonne models have a number of benefits, including rapid steam production from cold start, higher energy efficiency ratings and low carbon emissions. The company believes it will not only help meet a surge in demand across various end-user industries, such as power generation and chemical processing, but also help to navigate uncertainties following COVID-19 and the UK’s departure from EU in January.

For more information, please visit: www.aggreko.com/en-gb/steamboiler-report

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MICROWAVE BOILER BREAKTHROUGH SIGNALS END FOR CO2-BELCHING BOILERS Heat Wayv unveils zero-emissions Microwave Boiler which will cut home CO2 emissions by 24%

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eat Wayv, a UK energy technology company, announces the world’s first microwave boiler as a zero-emissions replacement for gas boilers that will start to be phased out in the UK from 2025.

The new boilers heat water using the highly reliable microwave technology already found in over 93% of UK homes.

Their use could reduce CO2 emissions from UK homes by up to 24%* as well as offering a safer and more reliable heating system dramatically cutting maintenance requirements. The new boilers also eliminate carbon monoxide and the associated risk of death from carbon monoxide poisoning.

With a similar overall size, cost and throughput to current gas boilers, the Heat Wayv microwave boiler will be a plumbing-compatible replacement for existing gas boilers and are planned for availability before the cut-off begins.

“The end of the gas boiler is inevitable and scheduled,” explains Phil Stevens, co-founder of Heat Wayv. “But the proposed replacement technologies do not work for consumers as they are either too expensive to install or too expensive to run. We looked for a clean technology where the boiler would cost the consumer the same to buy, same to install and same to run as a gas boiler. The answer is the microwave boiler as it is a trusted technology in our homes already and one that can be brought to market before the 2025 gas boiler shut down begins.”

Gas boilers will be phased out sequentially in the UK starting with a ban on installation in new homes from 2025, progressing to a ban on replacements in 2030 and a planned elimination of all gas boilers by 2038. The EU and * Sources: Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Office of National Statistics (ONS), Committee on Climate Change (CCC).

other countries that have a substantial installed base of gas boilers are also in the process of their elimination.

The Heat Wayv microwave boilers are already in engineering design with reference products completed for small and large home applications.

The company is working with leading semiconductor companies for some of its componentry and a world leading contract manufacturer that should enable the new microwave boilers to be manufactured and available for installation before 2025.

Initial target markets for microwave boilers will be new build homes and housing associations. A total of 170,000 new homes are currently being built with plans to expand this to 300,000 homes per year, and from 2025 these new homes will not be allowed to install gas boilers. The social housing sector in the UK, with its 1,500 housing associations managing some 2.5m households, is also keen to move away from gas boilers for environmental, safety and maintenance reasons. In the longer term, the UK market alone is worth over £3.5 billion per year and sees over 1.6 million boiler units installed.

Microwave boiler alternatives would eliminate up to 54 million tons of CO2 emissions that are currently created annually by gas boilers in the UK, representing 14%* of the total CO2 emissions in the UK and 29%* of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions that come from homes. The microwave boilers are also designed to be networked into an IoT (Internet of Things) configuration where they could collectively be used as a national battery at times of oversupply from renewable energy such as wind, where excess electrical energy could be stored as hot water for later use.

“With the UK moving rapidly towards electrification to meet the demands for an expansion of electric vehicle charging

and the need to decarbonise the home, we knew that we had to provide a solution that quickly and safely meets this agenda as well as delivering plugand-play simplicity to enable ease of transition. The beauty of our microwave boiler platform is that it is completely compatible with existing home radiators, easy to install and maintain, but with zero emissions,” says Paul Atherton, co-founder of Heat Wayv. “As the UK and the world moves to renewable energy, we need to have appliances that are zero-emissions in the home, but also connected so that the devices can work intelligently with the grid.”

Developed over four years by the Heat Wayv engineering team, the microwave boilers use an integrated electronics’ approach to create a highly efficient microwave heating system. This enables an energy efficiency of over 96% which means that consumers’ costs for heating water in the home will be the same or less than with current gas boilers. https://www.heatwayv.com/

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