Energy Manager Jan/Feb 2020

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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A revolution in business energy targeting, monitoring and reduction..

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JAN/FEB 2020

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INSIDE: 4

News

14

Cover Story

16

Opinion

20

Metering & Monitoring

28

Energy Supply

31

Heating

32

Energy Storage

34

Net Zero

36

Ventilation

38

Heat Pumps

40

CHP

42

Lighting

44

Exhibition News

46

EMS/BMS ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

3

NEWS

ØRSTED APPOINTS REMAP PROJECT SOLUTIONS TO MARKET FLEXIBLE GENERATION AND REVENUE OPTIMISATION SERVICES

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rsted has appointed REMAP as marketing agent for its flexible generation and revenue optimisation services in the UK. Ørsted has granted REMAP a licence to use insights from its unique Balancing Mechanism algorithm, to provide project development support to third-party developers and asset owners. Access to Ørsted’s Balancing Mechanism algorithm gives REMAP the capability to provide the best-in-class revenue modelling, to realise the true value in storage assets.

Kyle Worthington, Head of Power Origination at Ørsted, said: “Ørsted is a market leader in third party revenue optimisation in many technologies, so it made sense to expand our services to cater for batteries and flexible generation.

We have developed and tested our software on Ørsted’s own UK battery asset, and through doing so, have gained valuable insight and experience which we can now pass on to third party clients.

“The flexible generation sector in the UK has potential for significant growth but

is currently held back by lack of certainty of revenues and a mature route to market. We believe that projects can support unsubsidised revenue strategies, but we also recognise that assistance is needed at an early-stage in order to build a financeable business case. This is where REMAP come in”.

Paul Mason, Director of REMAP, highlights Ørsted’s reputation and track record as a great comfort to investors seeking assurance that the promoted revenue strategy can be delivered over the long term. He added: “The Ørsted-REMAP partnership is a powerful combination, offering developers end-to-end project support: from the earliest periods of project design, through the procurement, contracting and financing stage and

during ongoing operations. REMAP offers specialist experience in Project Finance, revenue modelling, warranty and performance analysis. This fits perfectly with Ørsted’s flexible approach to revenue optimisation, making the most of unique algorithms. Together, we ensure a project is optimised to deliver the specific goals of every asset owner”. orsted.co.uk

Companies urged to re-evaluate contingency plans due to increasing outages

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any companies are in danger of experiencing significant downtime during a power failure as it’s revealed that one quarter of UK energy decision makers do not have a contingency plan in place.

The research of 200 UK energy decision makers, which was commissioned by Aggreko, found that although 82 per cent described power continuity as a major or significant concern, however there are many who don’t have a plan in place in case of an outage.

In the midst of power irregularity and ageing equipment across the UK, companies are increasingly at risk of system downtime. And, while many companies have a contingency plan in place for such events, it is not uncommon for them to become quickly outdated.

As well as regular checks, Aggreko is urging those responsible to consider how effective they would be in a time of crisis.

Chris Rason, UK Managing Director of Aggreko, explains: “There are a number of considerations which UK industry must check when it comes to implementing a contingency plan that works. Whether

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it’s checking the accessibility of the site or whether the connection requirements for cabling or pipework modifications are compatible with the replacement items, the contingency plan needs thorough planning for it to be effective.”

Aggreko has highlighted six key considerations of a contingency plan that UK industry needs to be aware of. Detailed in its latest industry report Planning for failure: How robust is your contingency plan?, Aggreko has created a guide to ensure there are no stones left unturned when it comes to planning for an emergency outage.

Chris Rason continues: “We have seen a growing number of headlines about the fragility of the national grid and many companies appear ill-prepared for the impact. Whether it is the recent power outage experienced across London and the surrounding areas, or the fluctuating climate causing coolers to fail, UK industry cannot afford to sit back and wait for things to improve.”

“Implementing a contingency plan has a number of benefits, in addition to reassurance and protecting reputations.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

Unfortunately, when something happens which causes downtime, there are a number of suppliers who will look to inflate their costs, so ensuring that your contingency plan includes a fixed rate for replacement power should be essential.”

Additional benefits, according to the report, include the possibility of reduced insurance premiums, as well as immediate activation. If a thorough site survey is undertaken as part of the contingency service, suppliers can immediately activate the plan with the full knowledge of building infrastructure and cost approvals.

Chris Rason concludes: “Unfortunately, power outages and equipment failure is becoming a common occurrence and as a result, companies must think seriously about their current plans.

Running the risk of losing power is unthinkable and avoidable and we hope that our report helps to answer some of the questions companies may have about contingency plans.”

Aggreko’s report is available to download by visiting: www.aggreko.com/contingency

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NEWS

Optima Energy issues stark warning on pass-through cost validation following Targeted Charging Review

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ptima Energy Systems, a leading developer and provider of advanced energy management software, predicts that business energy users could be left unprepared for the changes implemented under Ofgem’s Targeted Charging Review.

Optima, who work with some of the largest energy users and consultants in the UK, say a major area of concern is pass-through costs. It warns that organisations need to urgently review their bill validation processes or they could be at risk of collectively wasting £millions on incorrect energy bills.

Industry experts estimate that utility invoices currently contain errors of between 3% and 5% by value of overcharging. A rise in the complexity of energy contracts means the error rate only looks likely to increase over time.

Optima Energy Systems’ Business Development Director Steve Kemp says “the introduction of the Targeted Charging

Review over the next two years means it will become increasingly important for organisations to check whether passthrough charges are being validated correctly. We know from experience that whenever new charges are implemented this always results in a rise in billing errors.”

Mr Kemp comments: “It’s something that was probably historically overlooked or considered not that important when bill validation software was first developed as pass-through costs only accounted for circa 30% of the delivered rate. But these costs are rising and now account for more than 50% of the total bill, and this will increase to as much as 60% in the future. With the changes being made it is more important than ever to ensure all pass-through costs are being thoroughly and comprehensively validated.

Not doing so could result major discrepancies in energy bills being missed by your software.

“As a leading software provider to the

energy market, we feel it is our duty to ensure customers are charged correctly for the energy they use. And as such we validate 100% of the bill giving businesses that extra peace of mind. As we work towards the implementation of the Targeted Charging Review we will continue to monitor changes in the market to ensure all charges continue to be validated correctly and in full.”

Optima Energy Systems is an active participant at the Charging Futures Forum, run

by National Grid. The forum is where users of the electricity network learn, contribute and shape the future of charging arrangements, including the Targeted Charging Review and the Access and Forward-Looking Charges Review. It will also be implementing the final decision on the Access and Forward-Looking Charges Review within the pass-through validation of invoices when it is introduced.

For more information visit https://www. optimaenergy.net/products/bill-validation/

MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES ENABLING HUGE CARBON REDUCTIONS IN RESPONSE TO CLIMATE EMERGENCY

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he use of mobile technology enabled a global reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of around 2,135 million tonnes CO2e last year, according to a new study commissioned by the GSMA – a quantity approximate to the total emissions emitted yearly by Russia The emissions savings were almost ten times greater than the global carbon footprint of the mobile industry itself.

The new GSMA report, produced in collaboration with the Carbon Trust, an independent sustainability specialist, is being presented at the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25) held in Madrid this month. It found that the majority of avoided emissions made possible by mobile technologies were the result of significant reductions in energy and fuel consumption. In 2018, mobile technologies such as Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and the Internet of Things (IoT) enabled a 1.44 billion MWh reduction in energy and saved 521 billion litres of fuel, globally.

The Carbon Trust examined 14 markets around the world to form a representative sample of the ‘enablement effect’ of the mobile sector’s ability to reduce emissions. The results indicate an even split between the enablement effect

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of M2M/IoT technologies, and those enabled through behaviour changes from the personal use of smartphones.

The majority of avoided emissions from M2M technologies are primarily in buildings, transport, manufacturing and the energy sector – sectors that make up a large portion of global GHG emissions. For example, savings in buildings are a result of technologies that improve energy efficiency such as building management systems and smart meters. In the transport sector, the use of telematics can improve route optimisation and vehicle fuel efficiency.

Meanwhile, personal smartphone usage is enabling emissions reductions due to encouraging behaviours such as reduced travel, increased use of public transport, remote home heating control and online shopping.

The report provides a high-level analysis of six categories of enabling mechanisms, along with case studies. The biggest category of avoided emissions is ‘Smart living, working and health’ (39 per cent of total avoided emissions in 2018), followed by ‘Smart transport and cities’ (30 per cent), ‘Smart manufacturing’ (11 per cent), ‘Smart buildings’ (10 per cent), ‘Smart energy’ (7 per cent), and

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

‘Smart agriculture’ (3 per cent).

‘The Enablement Effect: The impact of mobile communications technologies on carbon emission reductions’ is produced by the GSMA and the Carbon Trust. The report provides a breakdown of the results and the assumptions used in the calculations, including a full methodology. https://www. gsma.com/betterfuture/enablement-effect Many of the world’s largest mobile operator groups have agreed to start disclosing their climate impacts as part of a major new GSMA-led initiative to develop a mobile industry climate action roadmap in line with the Paris Agreement[i]. The disclosures form the first phase of an industry-wide, climate action roadmap.

The GSMA is working with participating operators and partnering with the international community, climate experts and third-party organisations to advance industry progress, establish best practices, and support disclosure and target setting.

The work forms part of the industry’s journey to support the delivery of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG #13 on Climate Action.

Please visit www.gsma.com/climate to find out more.

NEWS

GRIDSERVE completes game changing hybrid solar farm for Warrington Borough Council

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RIDSERVE announces the completion and hand over of the UK’s most advanced solar farm to Warrington Borough Council in a project which paves the way for a nationwide expansion of subsidy-free renewable power, to meet the UK’s net zero power commitments.

The 34.7MWp solar farm at York is the largest to be completed since 2016, and it is pioneering a new commercial model using 30 MWh of battery storage and sophisticated technologies to maximise revenues and help balance the grid – both during the day with direct solar generation and at night with energy stored in the 30MW battery.

The project, which generates enough energy to supply a town, also demonstrates how local authorities can partner with developers to deliver projects which cut carbon, supply clean electricity, and generate millions of pounds for councils to fund essential services.

In addition to the York hybrid solar project, Warrington Borough Council is also purchasing a second 25.7MWp solar farm at Hull, which is due to be handed over early next year. GRIDSERVE will operate and maintain both projects over their lifetimes to maximise system performance and value for the council.

Warrington expects the two projects to generate millions of pounds in profits every year and generate an operating surplus of over a hundred million pounds over 30 years to invest in essential services. Electricity from York hybrid solar farm will be sold on the open market while Hull will supply all the council’s energy needs. The deal will make it the first local authority to produce all its own electricity.

Warrington Borough Council Leader, Cllr Russ Bowden, said: “The completion of this groundbreaking project is a huge milestone for the council. This investment strengthens our commitment to tackle the climate emergency, and will also help us secure our energy supply, give us control over our energy prices, and contribute to reducing fuel poverty.

“At the same time, the solar farm is an important part of our ‘invest to save’ programme, and we expect it to generate an operating surplus of millions of pounds that can be ploughed back into delivering vital council services.

“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with GRIDSERVE on this cutting-edge scheme and we are proud to have delivered the UKs most advanced solar farm. It’s great news for Warrington and also sets the bar for other local authorities in what can be achieved by working with the right partners, with a shared ambition.”

The York hybrid solar project, which produces enough energy to power more than 20,000 electric vehicles every year, was completed in just five months, a process documented in a breathtaking timelapse video. GRIDSERVE installed more than 90,000 solar panels, 30MWh of batteries and 500 kilometres of cable on the 198 acre site – an area the size of more than 100 football pitches.

The project demonstrates a number of “firsts” for the UK solar industry: • It uses cutting edge technologies to increase solar generation by 20%. York hybrid solar farm is the first UK solar farm to use bifacial solar panels, which generate electricity on both sides. It is also the first large-scale UK project to use trackers which follow the sun, maximising generation over the whole day, and minimising pricing risk from solar farms with fixed solar panels, which typically produce peak output at the same time each day.

• It is able to control energy flows to maximise income and support the grid. Its 27MW(ac) lithium-ion battery storage system and two-way grid connection allows the project to store electricity to achieve better power prices and provide

services that help National Grid balance supply and demand.

27MW(ac) Hybrid Solar-Battery energy project pioneers new grid connection Engineering Recommendation G99. This is the first “Type C” (greater than 10MW) project within Northern Powergrid’s network area, meaning GRIDSERVE was required to undertake challenging live witness tests to demonstrate dynamic voltage control, frequency response, and reactive power capability. York is one of the first and most complex generators in the UK to undertake these G99 tests, meaning new and unique implementation test plans were required to be drawn up. GRIDSERVE worked closely with the DNO and Power System Consultants to validate the system behaviour and will be applying these learnings to its pipeline of future project.

• It will support the electric vehicle revolution. Adjacent to the site GRIDSERVE plans to build one of the first of a network of over 100 Electric Forecourts® designed specifically for the needs of electric vehicle drivers. The Electric Forecourt® will offer convenient, ultra-fast, low-cost charging for private and fleet vehicles, supplied by the solar farm.

In order to connect York hybrid solar farm to the grid, GRIDSERVE has had to demonstrate full control over mitigating the project’s impact on grid voltage. Renewable generation fluctuates with the weather and changes in output can affect voltage, and GRIDSERVE was successful in demonstrating sub-second response times to stabilise the system. www.gridserve.com •

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 Kandlin quarter page.indd 1

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NEWS

How a month of green energy exchange is like planting one million trees

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t’s vital to act now to combat climate change and this urgency is reflected by the UK’s move to become the first major country to put ‘net zero’ targets into legislation this June.

National Grid is working hard to maximise the role we play in the country’s drive to decarbonisation and our interconnectors – undersea cables that allow us to exchange surplus electricity with neighbouring countries – are crucial to the switch to greener energy. To show the huge impact interconnectors are already having we’ve built an interactive tool that reveals, in real time, how they’re helping to reduce carbon emissions - Power of Now carbon dashboard.

The Power of Now carbon dashboard provides by the hour information on the CO2 emissions interconnectors reducing – translating how many tonnes of carbon they’ve helped us to save into the equivalent number of cars taken off the road or trees planted. You can even see this information broken down by hour, day, week or month. For example, the site shows us that in the month to November 27th 2019, our interconnectors saved just under 30,000 of CO2 – that’s equivalent to removing a staggering 19,000 cars from the nation’s roads or adding a million trees*.

You can also see the individual contributions each different interconnector is making.

“In the month to November 27th 2019, our interconnectors saved just under 30,000 of CO2 – the equivalent of taking 19,000 cars off the road.”

The fundamental principle behind interconnectors is that they allow countries to share and co-operate to make their energy systems greater than the sum of their parts. Think of them as akin to international super-highways for zero carbon electricity, ensuring excess clean energy from generation sources such as wind farms can travel from countries and regions where it’s more plentiful, to where it’s needed most.

So, for example, as the UK develops more offshore wind farms, it will be able to export any excess power on windy days to its European neighbours. But when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine, we can quickly import energy from our connected countries. This ability to react quickly to rapid changes in the supply of intermittent renewables is also critical for future energy security.

As well as allowing access to more secure

renewable energy and improving reliability, interconnectors also make for a more cost-effective energy system. In fact, we’ve calculated that if the Government hits its Clean Growth Strategy target of 17.9 gigawatts of interconnectors, UK consumers would save around £20bn over a 25-year period.

At the moment, National Grid owns and operates three interconnectors – BritNed to the Netherlands, Nemo Link to Belgium and IFA to France. Three more are under construction (North Sea Link to Norway, Viking Link to Denmark and IF2 to France), which will be in operation in the next four years. The existing interconnectors already provide significant benefits but this will only grow as more interconnectors go live. www. nationalgridcleanenergy.com/powerofnow/

ENERGY EFFICIENCY SET TO SEE BIGGEST IMPACT FROM FM DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

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ew research from Mitie has shown that almost half (48%) of Facilities Managers (FMs) are missing out on the benefits of digital transformation by not adopting new technology. The report, Digital Transformation: Is Facilities Management Ready?, reveals that just seven per cent of FMs say they are constantly seeking to identify, trial and implement new technology solutions to stay ahead of the curve.

Almost one in ten (8%) say they are not interested in deploying new technology, with almost a third (32%) saying they will only use mature or proven technology.

A further eight per cent say, although they are interested in new technology, they simply don’t have the bandwidth.

The research revealed that energy efficiency is one of the areas most likely to be highly impacted by digital transformation. In fact, energy seems to be ahead of the curve, with 92% of FMs saying they were already making progress in digitising their energy management. The research showed that respondents believed supporting energy management with digital infrastructure will help businesses manage the impact

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of energy prices, which are expected to spike over the next five years.

When asked whether they agreed that facilities management will have undergone extensive digital transformation by the year 2030, four fifths of FMs (80%) strongly or mostly agreed with this. This suggests that over the next ten years FMs who are currently wary of new technology will have been convinced otherwise, whilst those struggling with capacity will have found a way to tackle this restraint.

With over a third (35%) stating that cost efficiency is the most important factor shaping FM service delivery today, any technology will need to prove return on investment. However, along with energy efficiency, security and access control, and mechanical and electrical (M&E) maintenance are also highlighted as the areas deemed most likely to be highly impacted by digital transformation. Likewise, many FMs (90% for security/access control and 84% for M&E maintenance) cite that they are already making progress in digitising these areas.

For many FMs, the adoption issue is closely linked to a lack of knowledge. Around

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

a third of respondents (31%) reported ‘lack of internal expertise to select suitable facilities management solutions’, or a ‘lack of understanding of digital transformation technologies’ (27%), as the top barriers to investing in digital transformation. Moreover, three in ten (30%) also cited ‘lack of staff expertise to run facility efficiency projects’ and a ‘lack of staff bandwidth to analyse and act on data’ (28%) as the top barriers to realising business value from it.

To help address these issues, Mitie has continued to invest in technology and embed it into the range of services it provides. This includes its data-driven Connected Workspace offering, as well as its market-leading MiTec centre in Belfast, Global Security Operations Centre (GSOC) in Northampton, and Service Operations Centre (SOC) in Bracknell. The insights gained from these technologies and centres of expertise allow Mitie to offer customers an increased level of flexibility and control, bringing the benefits of digital transformation to their FM services. www.info.mitie.com/digitaltransformation.

NEWS

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LOCAL AUTHORITIES SHOULD EMBRACE HYDROGEN With over two-thirds of local authorities in the UK declaring climate emergencies, the North West Hydrogen Alliance (NWHA) argues that hydrogen is a vital part of the solution.

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his comes as Halton Borough Council becomes the latest organisation to join the growing membership of the Alliance.

The local authority is the first to join the NWHA having taken a leading role on hydrogen in the Liverpool City Region.

The Liverpool City Region declared a Climate Emergency earlier this year with hydrogen forming a critical part of the city region’s planned response. Targets include replacing all natural gas with hydrogen from the city region’s gas grid by 2035; delivering a network of at least eight zero-carbon refuelling stations (hydrogen and electric charging) across the city region by 2025; and meeting the city region’s hydrogen demand from transport, industry and heat from clean hydrogen produced within the city region from 2023. Other local authorities in the North West that have declared climate emergencies, include Manchester City Region and Cheshire West & Chester Council.

Halton is home to INOVYN’s Runcorn site which has been producing hydrogen for over a hundred years. The Council is working with INOVYN, and other industrial partners, to identify markets for the hydrogen, which could include for heat, decarbonisation of industry and transport fuels.

Professor Joseph Howe, Chair of the NWHA and Executive Director of the Thornton Energy Institute, said: “Local authorities across the UK are facing a significant challenge in these austere times. Hydrogen could make a significant contribution as we continue on the journey to net zero. We’re already seeing the public sector embrace the technology with projects such as hydrogen buses in the Liverpool City Region. The local authorities that get behind hydrogen can become centres of innovation, creating jobs and skills that can be exported to the rest of the UK and beyond.”

Across the North West the public and private sectors are working together to deliver the UK’s first low carbon industrial cluster by 2030. The Liverpool and Manchester Mayors and Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) are working directly alongside industry to develop a roadmap for the North West Energy and Hydrogen Cluster. Lead by the North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT), the Cluster could deliver 33,000 jobs, over £4bn investment and save 10 million tonnes of CO2 per year. www.nwhydrogenalliance.co.uk/

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9

NEWS

TARGETING CLIMATE CHANGE: GROWING MOMENTUM FOR CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE

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arbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has seen growing momentum and increased ambition in 2019. This vital suite of climate change technologies is expected to play a fundamental part in achieving the transition to a netzero economy and help decarbonize energy-intensive industries globally.

A major report launched by the Global CCS Institute, a think tank, at the UN climate change conference COP25 finds that the deployment of CCS has continued to gather pace, with the pipeline of CCS projects continuing to grow the second year in a row, up 37 per cent since 2017.

Global CCS Institute CEO Brad Page emphasised at the launch of the Global Status of CCS 2019 Report: Targeting Climate Change: “This has been one of the worst years on record for climate.

The clock is ticking, the world must act.

Global emissions continue to rise, and climate impacts are expected to increase and have very dangerous implications.

Bold climate action is needed to keep global warming to 1.5°C. CCS needs to be part of the climate solutions toolbox to tackle this challenge head on”.

There are now 51 large-scale CCS facilities in operation or under development globally in a variety of industries and sectors. These include 19 facilities in operation, four under construction, and 28 in various stages of development. Of all the facilities in operation, 17 are in the industrial

sector, and two are power projects.

The United States is currently leading the way in CCS development and deployment with 24 large-scale facilities, followed by 12 facilities both in Europe and the Asia Pacific region, and three in the Middle East.

“Despite this increased momentum and progress in CCS deployment, the number of facilities needs to increase 100-fold by 2040, and scaling efforts are just not happening fast enough”, warns Mr. Page.

“Now is the time to rally for greater policy support and for capital to be allocated to build on the positive CCS progress of the past two years”, Mr. Page adds.

Speaking at the report launch at COP25 in Madrid, Dr Julio Friedmann, Senior Research Scholar at the Center for Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, said: “The urgency of climate change and the harsh arithmetic of emissions demand CCUS deployment without delay. Policies that provide clean and durable alignment with markets and support continued innovation, especially expansion into new applications like heavy industry, hydrogen, and CO2 removal, will make or break our future”.

The report shines light on the next wave of CCS projects globally, while also highlighting the flexibility, applicability and increasingly positive economics of applying CCS to a range of emission sources. The next wave of projects is expected to focus on large-scale abatement, through development of

hubs and clusters. These capture CO2 from multiple industrial installations and use shared infrastructure for the subsequent CO2 transportation and storage to drive down costs.

Commenting on the report, Grantham Institute Chair, Lord Nicholas Stern, said: “We need to change the way we think about climate change as a global challenge, and start to regard it as an opportunity for innovation and growth.

Against this backdrop, CCS becomes an ever more vital part of the process for reaching net-zero emissions”.

At the same time, hydrogen is also receiving policy attention not seen for decades around the globe. CCS, as a means to produce clean hydrogen on a large-scale, has gained momentum as part of this renewed interest in hydrogen as a clean energy vector of the future.

“Perhaps the most compelling development in the last 12 months though is that increasingly, CCS is a stand- out technology to genuinely deliver a just transition for many fossil fuel-based communities,” said Mr. Page.

The report features commentary and contributions from a wide range of leaders and influencers who draw on their expertise from across climate change, energy, academia, polar exploration, finance and CCS in voicing their support for the technology.

The report can be downloaded at globalccsinstitute.com

Full throttle on global vehicle-to-grid trials

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he world’s first picture of ‘vehicleto-grid’ technology around the globe, has revealed more than 60 projects are now live, according to research by UK Power Networks.

A new website called V2G Hub, launched by a team led by UK Power Networks, has gathered a complete picture of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) projects in one place to help industry collaboration.

V2G is a relatively new technology which enables electricity to flow from an electric vehicle (EV) back into the local electricity network. It means EVs can be operated as commercial energy storage, generating additional income for their owners and offering extra capacity on electricity networks.

The website includes detailed information on all projects, as well

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as insights into the market and the opportunity for people to publish information about their own EV project.

V2G Hub has identified 65 projects, in 15 countries across four continents, involving thousands of EVs and chargers.

The projects range from a plan to make Portuguese island Porto Santo completely fossil fuel-free, to a Japanese project delivering 4,000 charge points.

Ian Cameron, head of innovation at UK Power Networks said: “We’ve scanned the world to find out what’s happening in the V2G landscape and pulled it all together in one place that people can access freely, to help progress technology.

“We are dedicated to being a leading enabler and facilitator of electric vehicles. Creating important resources like this that benefit the whole industry,

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

is a key part of what we do.”

Marco Landi, V2G and electric vehicle lead at Innovate UK, said: “There is an increasing industry interest around V2G, due to both advantages for customers and the whole energy system.

Innovate UK is at the forefront of V2G innovation: together with BEIS and OLEV we launched in the UK what is currently the most ambitious programme of real-world V2G trial in the world, with more than 2500 EVs involved.”

The new website has been jointly commissioned by UK Power Networks as part of its TransPower project, and Government funding body Innovate UK. It has been delivered in partnership with consultancies EVConsult and Everoze.

Find the new website here: www.v2g-hub.com

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NEWS

AT LEAST 117 MILLION TONS OF UK EMISSIONS GENERATED BY ‘LOST’ ENERGY More than a quarter of UK energy emissions generated from energy which is lost or wasted.

Easiest wins in tackling climate change ignored by government, business and consumers, new Schneider Electric research finds.

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mbivalence towards energy waste permeates every facet of UK life, new research conducted by Schneider Electric has found. The firm has calculated that at least 117 million tons of UK emissions were created in 2018 by wasted energy: energy that was lost in the generation and transmission process or wasted due to inefficiencies in UK buildings1. The figure does not take into account emissions from energy lost in the food supply chain, industry or transport sectors.

The research findings, published in a new report: Rethink Energy, examined the behaviours, priorities and investments in relation to sustainability of 400 large businesses, 120 SMEs and 2000 consumers in the UK. The research commissioned by Schneider Electric found that even though business decision makers and consumers are aware energy is being wasted in their day to day lives they are taking no steps to change consumption or behaviour.

BUSINESS ATTITUDES Schneider Electric’s research found that on average business decision makers estimate that 36% of the energy their business consumes is wasted, primarily through inefficiencies in buildings (e.g. lights left on, heating and air con systems failing to adapt to changes in the weather, poor insulation etc). With the average 1 Business estimated on average 36% of the energy used to power buildings/office space (lighting, heating, IT systems etc.) is wasted

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energy bill for a large business running at over £11,000/month (£136,944/year) energy waste is not just a significant cost for the planet but for businesses, too.

Despite 100% of respondents believing their business wastes energy, almost half (44%) said that they hadn’t or didn’t know if they had implemented any energy saving initiatives in the previous 12 months. A fifth of all businesses admitted they don’t currently measure energy waste within their business.

The difference between the approach of big business versus small businesses is stark. 58% of SMEs hadn’t or didn’t know if they had implemented energy saving initiatives versus 39% of large businesses. Almost three times (40%) of SMEs reported they don’t currently measure energy loss within their business, compared to just 14% of large businesses.

A significant barrier for businesses to adopt energy saving measures appears to be the perceived cost of doing so.

84% of businesses said they were torn between the anticipated cost of tackling waste and doing the right thing. However, Schneider research has shown that the average project aimed at tackling waste energy pays for itself in 3 years, and a 30% reduction in energy use equates to a 10% reduction in operating costs.

Whilst 85% of businesses polled claim to have policies or guidelines in place to encourage energy efficiency and reduction of waste, 64% of employees said their employer did not provide any guidance on energy consumption or were not sure if their employer had policies in place to tackle energy waste.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

CONSUMER ATTITUDES It isn’t just businesses that are failing to tackle the issue of waste energy. The Schneider research has revealed that approximately 6.4 million2 adult UK consumers (12%) have no intention of curbing their energy use and 76% believe they already do enough when it comes to saving energy, recycling and curbing waste and have no plans to do more.

In addition, 58% of consumers blamed others for energy waste in the home, with 25% claiming their partner or spouse was the worst culprit for leaving lights, devices or appliances switched on at home.

“This research is a wakeup call. Energy waste cannot be overlooked in our fight against climate change, just because it’s invisible,” said Mike Hughes, Zone President UK & Ireland, Schneider Electric. “We may not be able to see the impact energy waste is having on our planet as graphically as that of plastic waste in oceans or on beaches, but it is clear that reducing waste energy has a significant role to play in reducing our emissions. Furthermore, it is an easy win. It doesn’t require the same level of investment, time or rely on future innovation that is needed to decarbonise our economy. Most importantly, the effects of reducing emissions from wasted energy could be felt immediately, buying us much needed time to tackle some of the harder measures that society will inevitably have to face.”

The full Schneider Electric research can be downloaded here. https://bit.ly/37nmdQG 2 Calculation based on UK population of 66 million people; 81.9% of whom are aged 16+ (ONS)

NEWS

NEW E-BOOK AIMS TO HELP NHS PROTECT ITSELF AGAINST ENERGY DATA SECURITY BREACHES

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new guide aimed at helping NHS energy and IT professionals beat the growing threat of cyber-crime has been published by a leading energy management software company.

Optima Energy’s The Good Sleep Guide provides insight into the 7 ways the NHS can prevent energy data security nightmares.

The publication of the guide, which is available to download at - https://www. optimaenergy.net/nhs/ - comes at a time when the company is seeing increased interest from NHS trusts and public sector organisations who are seeking to better protect their energy data from the growing threat of cyber-attacks and the ensuing regulatory action.

Steve Kemp, Business Development Director at Optima Energy, comments: “When it comes to energy data security, we believe there is a role for specialists like Optima Energy to guide healthcare

professionals and organisations through the entire process – from ensuring that the software they are using meets current and future requirements, to undertaking regular updates and health checks once the system has been installed.

“We have published our e-book to show energy and IT professionals working within the healthcare sector how we can help keep them protected for the long-term. The number of online threats may be growing all the time, but by investing in secure energy management

software, they can have peace of mind and let our experts take the strain. The e-book also covers other non-security issues facing NHS energy professionals including the need for validation of pass through costs on energy bills.”

To download The Good Sleep Guide; 7 ways we prevent energy data security nightmares, visit www.optimaenergy.net/nhs/

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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NEWS STORY COVER

NGP launches ALPHA.Lite – New Energy Software as a Service platform

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uilding on the news it was ranked the 25th UK business with the fastest growing sales in the prestigious Sunday Times Fast Track 100, Northern Gas and Power has launched its ground-breaking new Energy Software as a Service (eSaaS) – ALPHA.Lite.

As the energy consultancy looks forward to continued growth throughout the new decade, the global business has rolled out its highly innovative new energy management software, after a hugely successful 2019, when it was named UK energy consultancy of the

year and also the fastest growing business in north east England.

Headquartered in Gateshead Quays, Northern Gas and Power is part of Global Procurement Group (GPG) – a leading, global energy consultancy working across three continents.

ALPHA.Lite is a ground-breaking new M&T system from GPG’s ClearVUE technology lab. The technology lab comprises up to 100 developers and engineers who specialise in the development of innovative new energy hardware and software technologies, to help businesses

better manage their energy.

Cloud-based, and accessible on any platform, ClearVUE’s ALPHA.Lite offers businesses a hassle-free online subscription with the ability to view vital energy data in minutes of sign-up. It requires no expensive hardware or site visits and provides businesses valuable insight into their energy consumption, identifying inefficiencies and helping them reduce energy costs and waste.

Businesses gain the opportunity to manage their business energy consumption and costs across multiple sites from anywhere in the world and analyse vital energy fundamentals, including kWh, kW, kVA, Power Factor, cost and more. ClearVUE’s ALPHA.Lite analyses down to half-hourly energy data alongside supplier, distribution, transmission and government charges right up to yesterday’s consumption.

GPG had a stellar 2019, after posting revenue for 2018 of £29.6m; and it heads towards £40m, having achieved compound annual growth over the last four years of 148%, with Images on this page: GPG at EMEX in London late last year, demonstrating its new energy software platform to energy management leaders over the two day event.

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

COVER STORY NEWS Highlights of NGP’s 2019 annual conference

profit growth standing at 144%.

Revenue growth has been a key factor in its success, but it’s also the growth of its people across the globe and its technology which has set it apart. Its ability to develop its own in-house energy management software and hardware through its energy lab, ClearVUE Systems, has enabled the business to respond to the rapidly changing energy landscape.

Fokhrul Islam, CEO and founder of NGP and GPG, said: “There is the opportunity to totally transform how businesses use and manage energy,

as we move towards a sustainable, low-carbon economy. People want change – businesses tell us they want to become more eco-friendly, but technology has limited their ability. We know there is a real demand for change in people’s behaviours and we need to drive that through technology.”

In addition to new energy management technology, the company has also launched two energy price comparison sites – Business Energy Quotes and Energie SuperMarché.

Targeted to the UK and French markets

these are the fastest and easiest low-cost, online business energy price comparison sites available in their respective markets. Requiring minimal customer input, just business name and post code, can generate a comprehensive range of competitive tariffs from a variety of suppliers.

Also under the GPG global umbrella is Energies France, NGP Americas and ClearVUE Systems. GPG manages over 29TWhs of energy for tens of thousands of customers across the globe. www.ngp.co.uk/lite

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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OPINION

2019: THE YEAR OF THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY

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xtinction Rebellion protests, Greta Thunberg’s shaming of world leaders and rallying cries to declare a climate emergency across the world will be one of the enduring memories of 2019. As we at Origami look back at the year, it’s clear that the energy transition is accelerating under the weight of public opinion.

The biggest policy announcement of the year was Britain’s decision to legislate for a legally binding net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050. Britain was the first member of the G7 group of industrialised nations to make this commitment and in so doing, propelled the ‘net-zero’ phrase into everyday use. Britain is making year-on-year progress towards net-zero. According to National Grid, it is on track to generate more of its electricity in 2019 from zero carbon sources than fossil fuels for the first time since the industrial revolution. This is fantastic progress from where we were, even 10 years ago, but there is still a very long way to go!

Businesses too, are waking up to the multi-trillion-dollar opportunity and need to deliver net-zero by 2050.

Investment will come in different forms, such as renewable energy, EVs, grid networks as well as smart and powerful technology to intelligently link millions of diverse assets to new markets and novel sources of value.

To accelerate this transition, we need to unleash the full force of clean energy, using powerful digital technology. Only by making a success of renewable energy everywhere, can we limit the effects of climate change.

Technology is key to doing this.

We are supporting multiple innovation projects, investigating commercialisation of new flexibility services for Distribution Network Operators (DNOs). As DNOs transition to Distribution System Operators (DSOs), local flexibility services will become paramount. As part of the TRANSITION project, we have been running a series of market simulation workshops with our project partner Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).

The workshops explore use cases and market rules for future flexibility markets.

By participating in a trading game, we

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have achieved incredibly high levels of engagement from a wide range of stakeholders who are learning about how these new services will impact them.

While we war-gamed future flexibility markets, the EU approved the return of the UK’s Capacity Market, which was suspended in 2018 following a ruling from the European Court of Justice. The UK government said that they are “committed to implementing certain improvements to the scheme for the future,” which may mean new rules for types of capacity, as well as guidelines for minimum capacity entry.

For a two-week period in May 2019, Britain met its electricity needs without burning coal. This was the longest period that the country has gone coal-free since the 1880s! Going from a coal-free fortnight to a coal-free forever will require a fusion of policy and technology.

The record coal-free period was characterised by some extraordinary volatility in the energy markets, including around 11 hours of negative pricing in one 24-hour period. Negative prices are a function of high and inflexible power generation corresponding with periods of low demand. The growth of renewable energy, particularly wind (which often has high generation when demand is low) and the move in 2018 to change how system prices for imbalance cost are calculated, make volatile prices increasingly common – presenting both a threat and an opportunity for those that can quickly act.

Dealing with plunging auction prices is another challenge for energy companies to manage. Alongside Renewables Obligation (RO) commitments and Capacity Market payments, the sector is facing a raft of financial pressures that has led to at least 28 ‘new entrant’ utilities going bust since the start of 2018. The use of technology is key to mitigating trading risks and accessing opportunities in volatile markets and enabling energy companies to differentiate their customer propositions.

The major UK power cut in August lasted for only 15 minutes at grid level, yet for multiple reasons, the consequent disruption was widespread. As we lose thermal plant on the system, we need

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

new technology to replace the services they provide. One way of doing this is by connecting more fast responding energy storage assets to the grid.

Looking forward to 2020 and beyond, we expect to see an increasing role for powerful, smart technology to make sense of the complexity that comes from a greener, more digitalised and decentralised world. Technology is required to help keep systems in balance and reliable, to enable better financial outcomes for energy companies and to enable them to improve their offering to customers. In 2020 we expect to see an explosion of new commercial customer propositions, supported by new partnerships between energy companies and new-technology companies.

We also expect to see a lot more renewables, more batteries and an uptick in the growth in EVs (the latter boosted in the UK by changes in tax on zero-emission company cars). The clean energy revolution is entering an exciting subsidy free phase, which will require commercial innovation powered by smart technology.

We need to make a success of renewable energy – beyond building more wind and solar farms. That means having the policy, processes and smart technology to optimise and trade renewables. Success for renewables means that they must reach a price point which renders fossil fuels uneconomic, that way we can solve the intermittency problems. Only then, will we be able to demonstrate that net-zero powered by renewables is a realistic goal.

We expect to see more users of our platform providing greater access to the Balancing Mechanism and all other valuable market opportunities. www.origamienergy.com

OPINION

2020 PREDICTIONS: UKS CLEAN, DECENTRALIZED, FLEXIBLE POWER MARKET

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n the past 12 months, we have seen many noteworthy developments made in the climate and clean energy field in the UK. We saw many ambitious targets and deadlines set to achieve ‘net zero’ in the coming years. We also saw large additions to the renewable energy fleet, extended multi-day zero coal generation operation and >50% clean energy moments in the grid, along with the small but significant growth of EVs. With several momentous developments in the climate and clean energy domain in UK in 2019, there is a clear onward march towards a renewable and decentralised electrical power system.

Here are our predictions for what lies ahead in 2020:

FINANCE & INVESTMENT The New Year should see the continued flow of greater investment finance into clean energy assets and other clean tech with a manifestation in the onward rise of renewable energy and associated operational, market and system integration solutions. The economics facts on fossil fuels and fossil fired electricity generation, adding to a growing aversion to long-term carbon exposure and reputational hazards, will continue to divert investment dollars towards clean energy sources.

Commercial & Industrial organisations will invest to reduce exposure to higher carbon intensive energy costs and reap benefits from the growing opportunities from clean, smart, flexible energy options.

Policy and regulatory stability and forward looking measures will create some further confidence in such investment.

SCIENCE AND POLICY We expect more clarity of communication of climate science including accounts of the observed and experienced impacts of climate change (e.g. extreme weather, ice cap/glacial melting, biodiversity and agriculture attrition). There are likely to be many more climate emergency declarations, 100% renewables policies enacted, more ‘net zero target’ setting and a rolling forward of timelines to

reflect the urgency. In 2020 Glasgow (Smarter Grid Solutions HQ) hosts COP26 and we expect more coherent policy announcements and heightened urgency for implementation.

NEW PLAYERS & ENTRANTS We expect to see a greater prominence for new, emerging and growing participants in electricity supply chains as well as direct market participants including EV provision, EV charging, energy storage, behind the meter aggregation, flexibility service providers, hybrid energy solutions and heating and cooling (service) solutions.

This will start to have a profound effect on the nature of clean, decentralized energy systems and on the wider system.

Aggregations of EVs and smart inverter connected PV systems will cement the place of technology providers in the operation of the system. The growing impact of the information technology and data companies on customers, system operation and markets will continue.

REGULATION Regulators will respond to the climate science, policy, investment, customer demand and changes in the energy system through new market and system measures that tilt the sector towards clean energy. In the networks, we expect that investment plans will increasingly reflect decentralised, clean energy integration and enhanced customer participation with value attached for those that can flex to support a more dynamic system.

Means to monetise the value of customer participation, selfproduction and flexibility are likely to be ongoing trends, balanced by the need for fair contribution to grid infrastructure. Regulators will reflect the technical advances in energy and network technologies, system changes and opportunities, all while incentivizing utility business model changes and the adoption of competitive, non-wires solutions to network infrastructure challenges.

Graham Ault, Exec Director at SGS THE COMING DECADE We can now see many of the effects of the last decade of innovation, policy, regulation and investment in the clean energy transition. At the same time, these changes are only the starting point for the complete decarbonisation of energy with the accompanying creation of a smarter, more flexible and more decentralized, customer focused energy system. The coming decade will see massive changes in the structure and experience of clean energy with a major shift from a select few markets to all corners of the world. www.smartergridsolutions.com

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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OPINION

IS YOUR COMPANY EMBRACING THE BIG CHALLENGES IN POWER-GEN? Maria Temple is a Business Consultant specialising in the power gen talent market. With experience working on behalf of major clients globally, Maria has built an impressive network of senior figures in the market.

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acing challenges to become more diverse, digitalized and environmentally friendly - while meeting strict regulations - it’s testing times for companies in power generation (power-gen).

With the industry in transition, adaptability holds the key.

After speaking with countless senior contacts in my network, I’ve identified four companies who exemplify adaptability and are embracing the challenges heading into 2020:

DALE POWER Readers of my Previous Articles this year will know that I’m a strong advocate for encouraging female professionals into the industrial sector. So, it’s no shock I’m again championing Dale Power who are building a platform for women to grow working within their diverse environment.

The Dale Power apprenticeship scheme alone has been recognised by the Star Women in Business Awards, IET Women in Engineering Awards and won the Large Employer category for the National Apprenticeship Awards in recent years. Speaking with their Head of Marketing, Christopher Grimes, it’s clear that that a diverse workplace is a priority.

While the Dale Power offering includes innovations like multiasset remote monitoring and a containerised UPS system, it’s the investment Dale Power put into their people and infrastructure that makes the company stand out – reflected by countless accolades.

“Our people make the difference.

From the technical expertise helping us deliver unique solutions across the UK and offshore, to the business accreditations that the team push for to ensure our solutions surpass the requirements of the supply chain and our clients.”

They were among the first to receive the Princess Royal Training Award and one of the few to gain the Queens Award for Enterprise, in promoting opportunity, which sits alongside two other Queens Awards for Export. They’re also a Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer.

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Moving forward Dale Power will continue to invest in its people, product innovation and client solutions for more sustainable ways to provide seamless, continuous power for clients.

I believe this will set them in very good stead for the future and leaves the UK’s number one service and solutions provider of standby power systems well-placed for growth.

SAUER COMPRESSORS Sauer Compressors are also in a healthy position, having long been a market leader in air and gas compression.

William Koester, Product Marketing Manager at Sauer Compressors, contributes their market success to more than just a great product offering.

He explained how they’ve developed a culture that provides a “know-how” advantage over the competition.

Throughout its history, the company’s insightful leadership has been able to identify future issues and begin to proactively provide solutions before anyone else.

Take helium scarcity, for instance.

Sauer Compressors has been supplying special compressors for helium recovery and recirculation to customers in the university and research and development sectors since the 1970s. Such work puts them in a great position to handle the scarcity issue.

This standing will be strengthened by the introduction of their Orkan high-pressure air-cooled compressor series, set to go on market in 2020.

These are designed for gases like helium, hydrogen and CNG; offering oil-lubricated high-pressure piston compressors for air and gases of up to 110 kW for final pressures of up to 500 bar(g), plus booster solutions with inlet pressures of up to 16 bar(g).

With the market transitioning toward more green, renewable solutions where gases such as hydrogen and CNG will play a key role; Sauer are likely to be well-positioned again to solve a major industry issue again.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

GENERTEK POWER INDUSTRIES Looking to solve another issue in power-gen, cost, single source power generation solution providers, Genertek Power Industries (GPI), are leading innovation for costeffective rapid response solutions.

Their global offering includes a single source solution for designing, packaging and constructing power plants. This is coupled with a power generator solution to safely deliver and install power stations and support infrastructures.

GPI offers the only medium speed 2-cycle (750-900rpm) engine driven generator sets, that offer a 1000kW, 1500kW, 2000kW, 2500kW, 3000kW and 3350kW generator set in ether a 50HZ or 60hZ configuration – all packaged in a single container or a single trailer package.

These medium speed generator sets are six times less costly to maintain than any high-speed engine driven generator set, require the lowest number of site present manning hours and are designed to be operated in either manned or unmanned power stations from 1000 Kilowatts to 100 Megawatts.

GPI have virtually eliminated unnecessary failure and unscheduled down time. The GPI control system makes you constantly aware of the exact real time operating condition of the unit, ensuring that the generator set is always performing in optimal running condition.

The cost of ownership of a GPI medium generator sets, spare parts, overhaul parts and consumables for these remarkable two-cycle engines provide owners the lowest O&M cost per kW over any high speed or medium engine/generator set available in the market today.

CLARKE ENERGY While cost is clearly important, so is service. That’s where Clarke Energy come in, who are an international specialist

OPINION

in gas-based embedded powergen, operating in 25 countries.

Their Knowsley headquarters, near Liverpool, hold the largest inventory of INNIO Jenbacher spare parts in the world, beside its manufacturing facility in Austria.

As well as offering full scheduled maintenance, this northern powerhouse also provides reconditioned swing-engines and service exchange items at customer sites to ensure the lowest downtime for their engine.

This means they can provide rapid support for any unscheduled repairs or maintenance, making their service quicker than any competitor and helping them become a market leader.

Speaking with Alexander Marshall, one the UK’s top 10 ‘Most Engaged Marketers’ and Group Marketing and Compliance Director at Clarke Energy, it was clear reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during energy production for climate control is key.

According to Alexander, improving the efficiency of Clarke Energy’s Jenbacher gas engines is INNIO’s day-to-day business. Using a combined heat and power (CHP) application, high GHG emission reductions can be achieved. With the introduction of CHP gas engines, CO2 emissions will reduce by 70%.

Gas engines can also play a vital role in enabling intermittent wind and solar power. With projections indicating up to 12GW of flexible gas engine generation being required to balance demand and supply on the UK grid by 2030.

Clarke Energy are in a strong position going into 2020. Their adding new products and services to their offering - including biogas upgrading plants – and demonstrating that they’re ready to meet the 2050 decarbonisation targets.

As the industry evolves to meet new expectations, companies will continue to diversify, digitalize and become more environmentally friendly. While these companies appear to have adapted well to the challenges, there’s no doubt that achieving a successful balance will prove problematic for others behind the pace. mariatemple96@hotmail.co.uk

SMART ENERGY SUMMIT 2019: THE RISE OF THE PROSUMER

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ast week I attended the Smart Energy Summit in Brussels. This year the focus was on prosumers and how a wider range of actors can make meaningful changes to our increasingly integrated energy system.

My key takeaway from the summit was the overwhelming sense to highlight the need for greater levels of system integration with active involvement from end users and within our energy system.

On this note, I believe it is important to highlight the context in which the term prosumer was used. There was a notable shift away from simply stating that prosumers operate in a closed system where one would generate and consume within their small, domestic system.

Rather, prosumer was expanded to include commercial and industrial customers, larger residential complexes and to virtually trading generation over large, unbounded geographical areas. With the increase in digitisation and internet enabled platforms there is a growing landscape of prosuming across geographical regions. A person in the south of a country could be producing excess solar generation that is virtually shared with another person on the same platform in the north.

This idea of virtual trading was another key theme among presenters with talks from Glen Dimplex on enabling home participation, PowerPeers on local energy peer-to-peer trading and Siemens on smart building infrastructure.

It is my opinion that these systems not only facilitate greater renewable energy integration and reduce the need for costly grid upgrades, but also increase the inclusivity on the grid.

They begin to include those constrained due to where they live, the building infrastructure of their home, or budgetary constraints who would not traditional act as prosumers.

As part of the summit, Delta-EE Director Jon Slowe was invited to facilitate a breakout session on community energy. The session focused on the idea of physical and virtual communities, the former being physical locations where generation and consumption are on the same site; the latter referring to energy communities that do not intend to match supply and generation within the same area. Rather, virtual communities share a common ideology or virtual network, with such communities ranging from a group of waste water treatment plants, to a group of like-minded households acting towards a common goal. Below are the discussion points from the session: Not all communities are driven to maximise economic value, rather noneconomic values such as ownership, participation and location are important.

Price signals for network congestion will help

Lucinda Murley, Analyst, Delta-EE to provide the right price signals to community energy schemes. Should, for example, a new local energy system minimise its connection capacity with the rest of the grid? Or maximise it so it can maximise trade in services with the rest of the grid? Cost-reflective network pricing could help, although this raises equity issues if network costs aren’t socialised.

Schemes will need service providers or organisations to support them and facilitate scheme development: in time, the market should respond to this demand – indeed, it already has in some cases. But in the short term, there could a role to play for policy makers and / or regulators to provide support to help such service providers to work with communities to develop this market more quickly than it otherwise would develop.

For me personally, this discussion draws attention to how we define community energy.

SmartEn use the terms virtual and physical to categorise community energy. The Local Energy System Research Service here at Delta-EE uses a local energy typology with parameters focusing on ownerships models and levels of grid interconnectedness.

Traditionally, when one thinks of community it’s easy to see the quaint little village or the suburban estate. However, these definitions highlight the necessity to think of community energy on a spectrum - ranging from virtual to physical or off-grid to highly interconnected.

While the wide range of definitions is encouraging and necessary to develop the prosumer and community energy sectors, they create many as yet unanswered questions. Are all energy platforms that share a common ideology classed as community energy? Where do you draw line between community and a group of energy users sharing the same generation? Do you have to actively participate to be part of a community or is situation circumstances enough (being part of an islander energy network for example)? These are questions that form part of our ongoing research, and I welcome anyone’s thoughts and opinions.

Prosumers and community energy are establishing themselves across many European countries. While still small in compared to the overall energy sector, the SmartEn’s event in Brussels added more weight to my view – they’re set for lots of growth in the next years. www.deltaee.com or email lucinda.murley@delta-ee.com.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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MONITORING & METERING

ADVANCED GRID ANALYTICS: MAKING SMART USE OF SMART METER DATA

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orward-looking distributions system operators (DSOs) are already using grid analytics to optimize asset management, secure grid operation and achieve operational excellence. They are doing so by combining smart metering data (still mainly used for billing purposes) with information from their distribution system, opening up new possibilities for identifying voltage violations, predicting equipment failure and providing optimal strategies for grid development.

Advanced grid analytics solutions normally comprise a powerful enterprise platform and modular software packages designed to perform very specific analytical tasks. Such software modules typically provide user-friendly interfaces that offer graphical representations of live data trends.

Some examples of advanced grid analytics applications include those for asset management, distribution system monitoring, reliability planning and distributed energy resource optimization.

One of the key challenges for asset managers is to get a visualization of the assets distributed within their territory, and an accurate understanding of their condition. Geographical information systems (GIS) have traditionally been at the core of many utility asset registration and accounting processes, providing vital information about assets’ geo-spatial locations. However good these systems are, they often leave utilities with an incomplete view of their assets’ loading throughout the day, the week and year, and most utilities today cannot otherwise rely on conventional maintenance and replacement inspections for asset management. With advanced grid analytics utilities can be more proactive and efficient, particularly when the data they need are already at their disposal via smart meters and smart grid solutions.

Asset loading applications analyze realload and production profiles from smart meters to calculate and visualize the power flow across an entire distribution system.

This overview provides operators with insights on overloaded or over-dimensioned grid areas, enabling them to take decisions which have immediate positive impact on grid efficiency and reliability. This use of data analytics ultimately helps utilities to optimize their grid investment strategies.

Grid monitoring applications provide operators with system-wide voltage monitoring, based on dynamic data from

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Ifigeneia Stefanidou, Head of Product Management Grid Edge EMEA, Landis+Gyr

smart meters, sensors, and geographical information systems. Meter events can be used as alarms for system outages and enable fast restoration and, therefore, increased customer satisfaction.

Reliability planning applications are designed to enable the analysis of network outages and enhance grid reliability. They draw upon information from historical outage events to provide the necessary data for optimizing grid investments and maintenance decisions under specific budget constraints.

Last but not least, distributed energy resources optimization applications are being used to determine the optimal amount of distributed generation that can be integrated into a given network without violating power quality standards.

In each of these cases, existing smart meter data are being captured and

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

leveraged to support utilities’ investment strategies, while also introducing control schemes (flexibility management and new grid tariffs, for example). The use of this technology is an important step forward for the industry and a logical extension of smart grid solutions.

Moreover, it supports the wisdom of the phrase coined by famous management consultant Peter Drucker: ‘You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” https://www.landisgyr.com/

PEL 103

Power & Energy Logger

Bridge the energy gap between today and tomorrow.

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Our future energy needs are changing and businesses need to improve their energy efficiency. You can reduce required power generation, save money and increase productivity.

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Discover power factor, phase balance and harmonic issues.

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CHAUVIN ARNOUX UK Ltd 125 YEARS IN BUSINESS 30 YEARS IN THE UK 1 Flagship Square | Shaw Cross Business Park | Dewsbury WF12 7TH | T: 01924 460494 | E: info@chauvin-arnoux.co.uk

MONITORING & METERING

YOU KNOW YOU WANT ONE… If you’re looking to cut your energy costs, you definitely should be interested in buying a PEL (portable energy logger).

But beware, not all PELs are the same, says Julian Grant of Chauvin Arnoux. Follow his advice to choose a PEL that’s versatile, convenient and easy to use, and that will help you to access the full range of energy saving opportunities.

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n any commercial or industrial electrical installation, there are numerous ways in which energy can be saved – or wasted. Just a few of the very common issues that are needlessly inflating business energy bills are unnecessary out-of-hours operation of equipment, inefficient lighting, unbalanced three-phase supplies, poor power factor and high levels of harmonics in the supply system. Action can be taken to address all of these issues, but before you can correct a problem, you need to know you have it!

So how do you go about identifying power supply problems? There’s the hard way, which involves taking a lot of measurements with multiple instruments of various kinds and then using a lot of time and expertise to analyse and interpret the results, or there’s the easy way, which is to use a portable energy logger (PEL).

In a nutshell, a PEL is an all-in-one instrument that measures a whole range of electrical parameters, such as voltage, frequency, current, real power,

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reactive power, harmonic levels and much more. Crucially, the PEL doesn’t only measure these parameters, it also stores the results over a period of time that can range from a few minutes to months. This is essential, as some key issues, like unnecessary out-of-hours operation of equipment, can only be identified by looking at time-stamped energy usage records, while other issues, such as harmonic levels, often change throughout the day and from day to day.

We have therefore already identified the first requirements for a good PEL: it must be able to store a large number of results and these results must be easy to retrieve. A convenient solution is for the PEL to store results on a standard SD card. These are inexpensive, readily available and, since the cards can be changed when they fill up, they provide virtually unlimited storage capacity. Another benefit is that almost any computer can be used to read data from the cards.

So far so good, but now let’s look at some even more basic aspects of a PEL: safety, convenience and ease

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

of use. Since the PEL is most likely to be used in distribution boards, it is essential that it should have a CAT III safety rating in line with IEC 61010 and, for use on three-phase systems, this rating should ideally be valid at 1000 V. Moving on to convenience, it’s important to remember that a PEL is, by definition, a portable device and, if you’re to get the best from it, over time you will undoubtedly want to use it many different locations. This means that versatility is important – it should be suitable for use on single-phase, split-phase and three-phase systems.

Ease of installation is equally important.

If equipment has to be taken out of service for anything other than a very short time to install the PEL, it’s quite probable that this will be considered too much trouble and the PEL will spend most of its life sitting in a cupboard instead of helping to save you money.

Fortunately, this problem has been solved with the best PELs, which use Rogowski coils for current sensing. This may sound very technical, but in fact a Rogowski coil is a flexible device that is

MONITORING & METERING simply wrapped around the conductor in which it is required to measure the current flow. No direct electrical connection is needed, so installation is fast, simple and safe. For voltage sensing, magnetic probes are available. These can literally be stuck on MCB screw heads, or other suitable connection points, which means that the existing wiring doesn’t have to be disturbed.

For convenience, the PEL should also be compact, because it will often have to be temporarily mounted in switchboards and control panels where space is limited. A magnetic back is another very useful feature, since it allows the PEL to be securely mounted on any convenient steel surface – such as an enclosure door or wall – almost instantly.

Naturally, the user interface will play a big part in the usefulness of the PEL, which should have a large easy-toread display and a clear logical menu system for selecting the parameters to be measured, stored and displayed. The PEL should be supported by powerful yet intuitive software that can be used on a PC to analyse results. Further, in many applications the ability to monitor and analyse results in real time from a local or even a remote PC is valuable.

Where real time monitoring is a requirement, attention needs to be given to the types of connectivity offered by the PEL: Bluetooth is very convenient for local connections and, of course, needs no cables; USB connections are reliable and easy to set up, but are again limited to local connections; while Ethernet is an excellent option for remote monitoring. Ideally, you should look for a PEL that supports all of these options.

Let’s now look at measuring options.

Some of these are straightforward: you’ll want to be able to measure frequency, voltage and current, and it’s probable that every PEL can do this, although you should check that the measurements are true RMS. Then you’ll want to measure power and reactive power along with power factor. Critically, you’ll also want to be able to record energy usage. Note that this is not the same as power – energy is power multiplied by time and it is energy, rather than power, you pay for.

The PEL should also be capable of measuring individual harmonics, because modern workspaces are brimming with non-linear loads like variable speed drives, LED lighting systems, IT equipment and UPSs, all of which produce harmonics in the supply system. And harmonics are bad news. Not only do they reduce energy efficiency, they generate heat and can lead to equipment malfunctions. With this in mind, it’s worth noting that PELs

vary considerably in the way they measure and record harmonics.

Some may only provide measurements of total harmonic distortion (THD), which is a useful figure but doesn’t give you enough information to trace the likely source of the harmonics or to guide appropriate remedial action.

Other PELs are limited to measuring only low-order harmonics but, for the most meaningful results, measurements up to the 50th order are invaluable, so it most definitely pays to choose a PEL that can provide such measurements If you follow the recommendations contained in this article, you will almost certainly end up with a PEL that’s safe, convenient to use and that will help you to identify areas where you can make significant energy savings. And don’t forget that once you’ve put energy saving measures in place, your PEL is far from redundant as you’ll want to use it to confirm the effectiveness of those measures and also to check, from time to time, that there have been no subsequent changes in your plant that might be reducing energy efficiency.

In other words, buy the right PEL and it will prove to be a very profitable long-

term investment. One final suggestion, however. When you’re choosing your PEL it pays, as we have seen, to think carefully about the instrument you’re buying – but it also pays to give a little thought to the instrument manufacturer. PELs are not hard to use, but there may be times when a little advice and guidance will be welcome, so choose a supplier that not only has a reputation for delivering quality products, but also for providing expert support should it ever be needed.

With all of this in mind, it’s time to buy your PEL. Go on – you know you want one! www.chauvin-arnoux.co.uk

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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The easy way to meter, measure and control your energy supplies.

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0845 230 4535 sales@energycontrols.co.uk

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ENERGY CONTROLS

Metering, Measuring and Managing Resources

Energy Controls is an award-winning supplier of electricity SMART meters and prepayment metering systems.

With over 25 years’ experience behind us we know everything there is to know about providing the best metering solution tailored specifically for our customers’ needs.

Our SMART meters are ideal for all types of sub-metering applications ranging from Landlord properties to Holiday Parks and Housing Associations.

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E470 GSM SMART meter Our GSM SMART meters offer the most flexible metering solution to give you complete control of your energy supplies.

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Key features

Energy Controls is the UK’s No.1 operator of prepayment metering services to the Landlord sector. We have invested heavily in our IT infrastructure to ensure that we have the most reliable and robust online payment solution.

We have joined forces with PayPoint so that Landlords and Park Operators can offer their customers a convenient ‘Pay-As-You-Go’ service for making energy payments.

● Approved to new MID standards ● Prepayment of your energy supplies ● Exclusive access to PayPoint retailers ● Top-up online or via our FREE App ● Friendly disconnection override ● Remote disconnect/reconnect of supply ● ‘Fit for FREE’ solution!

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❝ The way that we manage our electricity supplies is vitally important to our business and to the customer service that we provide, but it can involve significant investment. With Energy Controls the entire process has been completely cost-neutral, from the supply and installation of the meters to the infrastructure and training. It’s all covered by a small daily service charge, that we can pass on to our customers through the meter. ❞

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Energy Controls Group Ltd. PO Box 1141, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 1XN Tel: 0345 230 4535 email: sales@energycontrol.co.uk www.econtrols.co.uk

ENERGY CONTROLS

Metering, Measuring and Managing Resources

MONITORING & METERING

NEW APP-BASED METERING SOLUTION FOR HEAT NETWORKS LEADS DIGITAL CHARGE SAV Systems and Insite Energy join forces to launch the first-to-market digital smart metering app for heat networks. The solution is designed to reduce capital and operational expenditure and make energy data accessible to both the heat supplier and consumer.

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URVE – the UK’s first app-based metering solution for heat networks – has been launched as the result of a collaboration between industry specialists, Insite Energy and SAV Systems. The digital metering app is set to transform energy metering, billing, and payments with a system that is more affordable, flexible, functional, easy to install and cheaper to run than established pay-as-you (PAYG) alternatives.

Kurve Technologies is a streamlined package combining a Kamstrup energy meter, prepayment valve, heat interface unit (HIU) from SAV or other provider, and a Kamstrup Master Multiport. The KURVE install is pre-wired and does not require an in-home display device.

KURVE’s design not only cuts time spent on installation and commissioning, it also significantly reduces service, maintenance and administration costs compared to other PAYG alternatives.

KURVE is estimated to deliver CapEx and OpEx savings of up to 62% and 53% respectively, relative to competitor metering solutions. Billing costs are estimated to be reduced by 19%.

Coming largely as a result of the system’s smart Mbus infrastructure, a

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standard network set-up enhanced for two-way communication, these OpEx savings can be passed on to residential customers via their heat tariffs – an area which is increasingly under the microscope of consumer watchdogs.

For just a few pounds a year, heat network operators specifying KURVE will gain access to data diagnostics including energy consumption and VWART (Volume Weighted Average Return Temperature) from each connected meter. Analysis of this detailed data provides valuable insight into usage patterns and enables operators to optimise network performance, improve efficiencies, and reduce costs through to the end-user. This functionality has only been available previously with premium prepayment metering solutions which have proven to be out-of-reach to low-cost developments outside of the London market.

“SAV has been working with designers, manufacturers and heat network operators for many years, finding increasingly innovative ways to optimise heat network efficiency and data visibility,” observed SAV Director, Jan Hansen. “Providing digital metering and billing solutions will deliver significant benefits for heat network operators as well as their customers.

“This functionality is something that both SAV and Insite’s clients have been requesting for some time. By combining our experience of heat networks and application of new technologies with Insite’s billing and metering expertise, we have developed KURVE as our response to that feedback.”

ADDED FUNCTIONALITY Kurve Technologies’ integrated web-based app provides a user-friendly platform by which residents can view, monitor and manage their energy account from any internet-connected device, at any time, and from any location. By making consumption data available for the day, week, month and year, the system aims to encourage a better understanding of energy spend, highlight areas for improvement and help to reduce energy waste.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

With access to their account balance, credit and payment status, end-users can keep track of their account remotely and, if necessary, take action to manage or avoid debt. Payments can be made securely via PayPoint through the KURVE app, in any PayPoint outlet, or over the phone.

For heat network operators such as housing associations, local authorities, developers and managing agents, KURVE offers the flexibility to set up and adjust customer accounts according to the needs of individual residents or criteria specified. For example, it can enable remote switching between PAYG and Credit modes.

“Moving heat metering into the digital space with KURVE is an exciting transition and one which will deliver significant benefits for heat network operators and residents alike – particularly in terms of cost savings,” added Anthony Coates-Smith, Managing Director of Insite Energy. “Consumers are more than ready for the convenience of managing their energy accounts from a smart device, while heat providers are increasingly demanding greater access to data without the associated costs.

“KURVE also addresses the very topical concerns around managing debt risk and reducing customer heat tariffs. With the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) calling for heat networks to be regulated, there has never been a better time for network providers to introduce greater levels of transparency and encourage positive consumer engagement.”

KURVE complies with the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) requiring all new meters to be remotely readable from 25th October 2020. In addition, all existing meters are to be upgraded by 1st January 2027 so that consumption data can to be regularly shared with the end consumer.

KURVE’s first site is due to go live in February 2020. Kurve Technologies will be supported by a dedicated customer service team (both on and off-line) managed by Insite Energy. Housing associations, local authorities, managing agents, developers, specifiers and M&E contractors interested in learning more about KURVE for new builds or retrofits, should direct their enquiries to enquiries@kurve-tech.com.

MONITORING & METERING

BEST VALUE CLAMP-ON METERING SOLUTIONS FOR ENERGY MANAGEMENT, BUILDING SERVICES AND GROUP OR DISTRICT HEATING SCHEMES

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dentifying waste, optimising use and accurate sub-metering and billing of energy and water are a key requirement for the efficient operation of existing and new buildings. Whether you’re operating a public sector office block, hospital, university campus, school or housing/accommodation you need to optimise energy and water consumption.

In existing buildings with limited drawings and old pipe-work, which goes who knows where this can be a daunting task. The first step in managing the consumption is to find out “what’s flowing where” i.e. to measure consumption by accountable areas but how? The answer is clamp-on, non-invasive water flow and energy measurement from Micronics, yes that’s right clamp-on i.e. no need to drain down systems and cut into existing pipe-work! Micronics can supply or rent a simple to use portable instrument such as the PF330 for the initial investigations i.e. to help you build a picture of what’s going on. And as a next stage they can provide fixed clamp-on solution such as the U1000MKII-HM to provide the essential ongoing measurement and monitoring for effective energy management and user cost centre monitoring. The New U1000MKII-HM is a “Best Value” Clamp-on, Ultrasonic heat/energy meter alternative to traditional inline energy meters, for energy management and cost centre monitoring in district or shared heating or cooling systems, which offers significant installation cost and dry maintenance benefits over traditional in-line products.

Micronics has built on its success with the U1000 heat meter range to develop a MKII version, which extends the pipe size to cover applications from 22mm – 180mm (6”) OD pipe.

And whilst the U1000MKII-HM can still be used as a stand-alone product, in the all important area of connectivity the new product supports optional Modbus RTU slave and RS485 serial communications for aM&T or BEMs systems with Mbus communication.

The MKII also incorporates a new cross correlation flow measurement

system and 1Mhz transducers to improve performance on poor older thick wall pipes and larger pipe-work, now up to 180mm (6”) OD!. And there is also a new water/ glycol option for chilled water applications.

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 a wider range of application the MKII heat meter offers a clamp-on non-invasive alternative to traditional in-line meter installation.

If you’re a Building Services Engineer working on the design and wholelife operating cost of a new building, Micronics can provide fixed clamp-on solutions, which are far more costeffective than large in-line meters, when the installation cost is taken into account and will provide lower ongoing servicing costs through dry maintenance i.e. no need to drain down pipe-work for repair or maintenance, which is a significant benefit in critical system installations

such as Hospitals or University research areas.

However, we recognise that clampon is not the only solution and so in areas such as consumption measurement and billing of residential or commercial district/ group heating or chilled water we can supply a cost effective in-line solution using an advanced range of in-line heat/energy meter products.

So if you need to measure, monitor or provide accurate billing for energy or water consumption in your facility we believe we have the solution and we would value the opportunity to discuss your requirements. Please take a look at our website: www. micronicsflowmeters.com and if you have any questions or specific applications you’re considering we would be pleased to provide an FOC no obligation proposal and you may also benefit from our “Try before you buy” promotion.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

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ENERGY SUPPLY

SMART CITIES GRAPPLE WITH HOW TO POWER A CLEAN, LOW-CARBON FUTURE

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ccording to McKinsey, global electricity demand is set to double by 20501. Soaring demand is changing the way our energy is being delivered. As cities shift from fossil fuel usage towards smarter energy networks, an array of breakthrough technologies is emerging to help power an energy market that not only addresses environmental concerns but also makes renewable energy more cost competitive.

Cities are huge consumers of power, using up two-thirds of the world’s energy and producing a similar proportion of global carbon emissions. Modern city authorities, planners and utilities need to discover new ways of developing the electrical infrastructure, which supports economic growth and quality-of-life while lessening the impact on the environment.

And as urban hubs look to redefine the energy mix and distribution systems 1 https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/ McKinsey/Industries/Oil%20and%20Gas/ Our%20Insights/Three%20game%20 changers%20for%20energy/Three-gamechangers-for-energy.ashx

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Microgrids transform urban energy into localised, efficient, resilient and sustainable systems. the energy system has been evolving; transitioning from a centralised model of power generation to a more diverse network comprising multiple sources of power, mixing the conventional grid with renewable modes of generation to create more efficient, resilient and sustainable energy systems known as microgrids.

Microgrids contain all the elements of a complex energy system, maintaining the balance between generation and consumption. Critically, they can operate on and/or off grid, storing excess energy for later use; balancing out supply and demand. These intelligent energy systems are ideal for supplying power to remote regions or locations and have also made a marked difference for the decentralised generation and storage of electricity in buildings, campuses, hospitals, ports and local government estates.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

A wide range of energy sources are being leveraged from photovoltaic and wind-power plants to hydro-power and biomass-power plants. Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries also form part of the centralised future. Intelligent control systems coordinate the energy sources, many in conjunction with biodiesel generators, emergency power units and storage modules to guarantee the supply of power. Smart cities will use real-time data and communication to efficiently manage assets and resources of the microgrids with sophisticated software controls optimising power usage on demand, selecting advantageous utility prices, feeding excess power back into the grid and many other operations, all while ensuring the safe operation of the network.

The city of Manchester has been participating in the 5-year long European

ENERGY SUPPLY Commission (EC) sustainable cities project, Triangulum. As part of the initiative Manchester City Council, Manchester University (UoM), Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and with Siemens assessed energy consumption, ways of cutting costs and emissions and how to boost renewable energy sources in Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor. Over the course of the project microgrid systems were deployed to optimise energy consumption in that section of the city.

At MMU’s Birley campus, a 400kWh lithium-ion battery has been installed to integrate with the rooftop solar panels at the site. A microgrid controller selects the best energy source to use between the pre-existing Combined Heat Power (CHP), solar panels and the battery to supply power to 900 student rooms and a large academic building. The battery will store energy and help stabilise any variation in power loads, storing or releasing energy as and when required.

A cloud-based energy management platform served as a virtual power plant for three sites around the city, optimising energy at the Central Library, Manchester City Council’s town hall extension and three other buildings at the UoM. The controller integrated with the BMS systems and switched non critical assets like heating and cooling on and off in response to demands on the grid to maximise energy efficiency; compensating for different weather conditions or changing populations in any of the buildings. The solution optimised energy consumption, reduced CO2 and lessened the area’s dependence on the grid.

Scaled citywide the central controller could potentially save Manchester approximately 57,000t CO2 emissions per annum which is the equivalent of taking 12,000 cars off the road each year.

At Finland’s second largest shopping centre, Sello in Espoo, another smart energy system has taken shape. A smart power microgrid has been built at the shopping complex and is connected to the broader energy system. A storage battery system constructed within the premises enabled smart electricity storage and usage, and is designed to reduce the country’s need to invest in backup power plants as well help the grid to secure its energy production. In tandem a 500kWp solar energy system stored any excess solar energy in the battery. Sello’s microgrid combines energy efficiency, storage, optimisation of peak loads, and its own electricity production balancing generation and consumption in realtime. The centre has saved €125,000

on its annual heat and electricity costs and reduced its CO2 emissions by 271 tonnes. In addition, it has also been able to supply its surplus energy to the reserve market giving an annual income of around €480,000 annually.

Microgrids are part of an interlinked energy future that focuses on decentralisation, decarbonisation and digitalisation. Decentralisation means we are moving away from the grid. Renewable sources allow energy to be generated locally within microgrids, that are now able to supplement national grid systems and flexibility needs. Decarbonisation is about the commitment by the energy industry to reduce CO2 emissions. By using primarily renewable alternatives microgrids can contribute significantly to reduce emissions. Digitalisation is about harnessing the power of useful data, often connecting everything of value together. Technology and sophisticated secure IT systems balance the energy sources, providing 24/7 power, to ensure a consistent and secure power supply at least cost, least carbon or the best mix of either. Extracting the most value from data will help operational efficiencies and identify structural improvements.

The pilots at Manchester and Espoo have proven low-carbon cost-efficient smart cities are achievable, repeatable and scalable. While these demonstration projects are great proof-of-concepts, initiatives will need to be scaled-up across cities and regions to make any meaningful impact on decarbonisation or to meet carbon neutrality targets.

Cities have tended to turn to the public sector to fund these kinds of projects but there is a growing realisation

that civic budgets are falling short of providing adequate funds. Publicprivate partnerships and performance contracting are encouraging greater collaboration and are necessary if global decarbonisation targets are to be met.

And by working with an industry partner with proven technology and the ability to deliver on time then the exposure to risk will be greatly minimised.

To pave the way for more energy projects Siemens recently announced a partnership with UK100 to help unlock more than £100 billion of clean energy schemes. The agreement will see a network of 94 political leaders and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) work together to bring financing from local authorities, private capital and government investment to projects across the country. Siemens also has its own specialist consultancy that looks at smart city financing options such as performance contracting to enable delivery of these projects without the upfront capital cost.

The benefits of investing outweigh the costs. Microgrid investment will be critical to the future operation of the energy system if we are to manage local energy sources while balancing the grid and avoiding dropouts when demand soars. Ultimately, investment will improve a city’s standing, competitiveness and sustainability creating environments that care.

For further information on Siemens Intelligent Infrastructure, please see https://new.siemens. com/uk/en/company/topic-areas/ intelligent-infrastructure.html

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ENERGY SUPPLY

10 REASONS TO CONSIDER YOUR NEXT ENERGY CONTRACT NOW Why waiting until your energy contract expires may cost you..

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aiting until the last minute to address a need or to accomplish a task often results in negative consequences.

For instance, you may spend more money because you didn’t give yourself enough time to explore all of your options or you might overlook important details in your rush to meet a fast-approaching deadline.

Energy procurement is no different. Many businesses fall into the habit of delaying the review of their current contracts or investigating their options for renewal. When they do finally get around to it, it is often too late to make a significant difference and businesses are therefore forced to pay higher market prices as they run out of time to investigate the best deals. Worse still, some find themselves on ‘out of contract’ or ‘rolled-over’ rates, for failing to act on renewal notices. A more strategic approach to energy purchasing can help you avoid this.

With an advisor’s help, you can obtain an energy contract that fits your budget and the overall needs of your business. The longer you give an advisor to understand your needs and survey potential suppliers, the more rewards you will reap. Instead of only using contract expiry dates as the sole driver for energy procurement activities, an energy advisor will identify strategic sourcing opportunities by constantly monitoring market dynamics to identify the best possible purchase opportunities.

Here are 10 reasons to investigate your next energy contract now instead of waiting 1. It’s one of your largest overheads.

According to the UK Office for National Statistics, retail electricity prices have doubled in the last 10 years while natural gas prices have nearly tripled. How often does your company review its costs of goods and services to ensure it’s getting the best deal? Energy is often overlooked, but outside of the cost of labour, it’s likely to be one of your largest expenses. Therefore, your energy budget may have the largest amount of room for cost savings.

2. Timing is everything. The wholesale energy market can be volatile. A volatile market presents opportunities to buy lower cost energy when prices dip. But there is an equal risk of having to pay a premium during a peak period. Waiting to purchase energy until the end of your current contract minimises your options; you have to buy energy at the going rate at that moment, even if it’s at a peak level.

When you plan ahead, you can often wait until the price fits within or even below

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your budget before locking into a contract.

3. Swapping suppliers takes planning.

If you’re looking for the best value deal you will need to search the market.

Business customers must give adequate termination notice (which can be as much as 90 days) if they wish to swap suppliers. Researching new suppliers, comparing offers and negotiating the best price also takes time. You therefore must act at least seven months ahead of your current contract’s expiry date 4. Avoid expensive automatic renewals and out of contract rates. If you fail to renew your existing energy contract or switch to a new supplier, you can easily find your business locked into uncompetitive, out of contract (or rollover) tariffs for as long as 12 months, paying more than 50% above standard rates.

Out of Contract Rates: Occur when businesses give notice on a contract but fail to have a new one in place before it ends. Automatic Rollover: Businesses pay more because their utility contract gets automatically renewed without negotiation.

5. Market your business as an ideal client. On average, energy suppliers earn a 6% margin on the energy they sell (lower for large business customers).

Therefore, they tend to be selective on their clientele in order to protect this profit. Show your current supplier and potential new ones why you would make an ideal client. If you are a large, industrial business, then you would be an ideal customer for a supplier that specialises in working with these types of operations.

Same goes for a mid-sized office complex or a company that has a large estate with many buildings. Marketing your business as an attractive client ahead of time provides the opportunity to maximise bids from potential suppliers for your business. Waiting until the last minute, on the other hand, creates a seller’s market. Also, if you have special requirements or circumstances making contact with the right suppliers early can greatly improve your outcomes.

6. You may need to develop a risk management strategy. An energy risk management strategy establishes your objectives, limitations and preferred approach to buying energy. Once established, it forms the framework for all purchasing decisions, helping your energy supplier spread the risk and protect against market volatility.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

Starting the process early means you can select a supplier that will help you deliver your chosen strategy, and gives time to then monitor the market before purchasing has to start.

7. You need time to check terms and conditions. Suppliers’ contractual terms and conditions are becoming more and more complex, (e.g. as they add clauses that allow them to ‘passthrough’ additional charges during your contract term). You need to take the time to understand the small print of your T&Cs and their consequences, to enable you to make the right choice 8. Your business is changing. Make sure your next contract considers the changes occurring in your business.

You may have grown in the past few years or perhaps had to streamline your operations. In addition, if you have recently undergone energy saving initiatives that have consequently reduced your energy usage, you may need to renegotiate your minimum usage levels on renewal.

9. Understand the energy contracts on offer to you. With a wide variety of contract types and added value services to choose from, you need time to ensure your new contract is right for your needs.

Ensure you research your options and understand the difference between each offer. One approach will be more suitable than another depending on your attitude to risk, budgetary requirements and internal plans for efficiency improvements.

10. Leave time for complications. When you start to investigate your renewal you may come across unexpected complications that could take time to resolve. Common problems include supplier queries, unidentified meters, complex incumbent contracts and credit check issues. These need to be sorted out before your new contract can begin and if time is short you could find yourself locked into an uncompetitive contract.

SUMMARY Poor energy procurement decisions will hit your bottom line. Energy prices fluctuate, which can significantly affect your energy bill and performance against budget. By taking a planned approach to purchasing energy, you can better control your costs.

Save valuable time and money partnering with E&CM in the management of your gas and electricity contract renewal process.

Get in touch… info@ecm.co.uk www.ecm.co.uk

HEATING

WATER HARDNESS CRITICAL WHEN SPECIFYING WATER CYLINDERS

As the quality and hardness of water varies by region throughout the UK, an industry expert is urging contractors and facilities managers to consider the local water composition before specifying water heaters in commercial buildings in a bid to avoid products that are less susceptible to corrosion.

Although many electric water heating products and cylinders use sacrificial anodes on steel-glass-lined and low-grade stainless-steel tanks, Alan Clarke, Technical Support Manager at Heatrae Sadia, advises that they do not always work effectively in soft water areas.

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lan comments: “The anode acts as a sacrifice, whereby the water within a cylinder attacks it causing oxidisation and consequent corrosion, protecting the cylinder’s inner shell. As soft water has low electrical conductivity, this reaction with the anode does not take place, and although initial inspections may not show the cylinder to be in bad condition, undetected corrosion may be taking place.”

As a result, Alan is encouraging the industry to opt for cylinders that use corrosion-resistant materials for the inner vessel, removing the need for an anode. These are often designed with the UK’s make up in mind using high-grade copper or duplex stainless steel which feature low reactivity.

He continues: “There is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to water heaters, particularly with the water

composition varying so significantly throughout the UK. However, by choosing a water heater that doesn’t require a sacrificial anode, the end user can not only benefit from a longer-lasting cylinder, but maintenance costs which are considerably reduced.

“Lower cost of ownership is desirable for any commercial building, as is investing in hot water products that prioritise efficiency and longevity, resulting in environmental benefits.

“Although there is undeniably a place for systems that include sacrificial anodes or powered anodes in the UK, the industry needs to take the local water composition into consideration before making any final decisions. This will ultimately ensure the most appropriate water cylinder is specified for the commercial building.” www.heatraesadia.com/products/cylinders-and-hot-water.

RINNAI INTRODUCE THE SENSEI N SERIES

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he new Rinnai Sensei N Series water heater range offers a new and more compact and enhanced combustion design that allows for easier installation and enhanced operational performance together with increased levels of serviceability.

The Rinnai Sensei N Series is the first ever continuous flow hot water heating unit manufactured with stainless steel heat exchangers to be available in the UK - this gives a greatly extended working life at optimum performance to each of the four models in the range. Added to this is the Sensei N Series market leading extended warranties.

In reducing Legionella proliferation, Rinnai has developed additional ‘SMART’ controls for secondary return DHW systems in the form of an advanced temperature control system which allows for safe running of water at 42°C core temperature during the day and 60°C overnight.

The advanced burner controls with the Sensei N Series models ensure that all the appliances are well ahead of the NOx requirements set within ErP. The current level of permissible NOx set by ErP is 56 mg/Kwh. The Sensei N Series range have been third-party tested at 28 mg/Kwh making them one of the greenest water heating appliances available.

As the units do not incorporate storage their ‘green credentials’ are further recognised by BREEAM and score additional credits under the building regulations. www.rinnaiuk.com

RINNAI AND THE ART OF ZEN + ZEN PLUS

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innai is introducing the Zen and Zen Plus home hot water & heating system which marries established and proven manufacture durability with new technologies to offer great energy efficiencies, user control and, importantly, unparalleled level of comfort.

The Rinnai Zen and Zen Plus system will increase comfort and reduce energy usage whilst also providing a highly economically solution for today’s changing marketplace.

Some of the features of Zen & Zen Plus are: IOT controller as standard; Fast heating mode; DHW pre-heat function - saving wasted water; Energy monitor function allows user to monitor energy usage; flue runs up to 30 meters, Rinnai boiler App for android and IOS; constant temperature-accurate hot water delivery at continuous flow rates.

There is also smart Wifi controller and App benefits; The Rinnai app seamlessly connects to the controller in the property; the user can control the boiler remotely adjusting temperature, setting weekly and daily programmes, receiving alarm functions, monitor energy usage and set limits. The Wifi and boiler controller also uses GPS from the user’s mobile to bring on the heat when you are getting close to home to ensure the house is warm when you arrive.

Rinnai Zen & Zen Plus are available for use with both natural gas and LPG. www.rinnaiuk.com

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ENERGY STORAGE

ENERGY STORAGE MODEL TO OFFER CLEAREST EVER VIEW OF ITS FUTURE ROLE

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new whole energy system modelling tool is to provide the most comprehensive view to date on how storage and flexibility technologies could help the UK decarbonise at least cost.

The Storage and Flexibility Model (SFM), launched by Energy Systems Catapult, has been built in response to the increasingly complex challenge of balancing supply and demand in the energy system.

Storage technologies, such as hot water tanks and batteries, are predicted to become a more integral part of the future energy system. As demand for electricity is expected to see a big rise, these technologies will help ensure networks can cope and allow homes and businesses to avoid peak times when energy is more expensive.

To tackle this challenge and address a collective lack of knowledge about the extent of the role storage and flexibility could play in the future, the SFM was designed to provide the clearest ever picture of how these technologies could assist as we move towards a net-zero economy.

Alex Buckman, Networks and Energy Storage Practice Manager at Energy Systems Catapult, said: “As the UK energy system decarbonises, the ways we produce, transport, store and use energy will need to change, resulting in an increasing challenge to balance supply and demand. This will lead to a changing role for storage and competing flexibility technologies.

“Without a deeper understanding of how these technologies could help in balancing energy networks, we will at best end up with a system that costs

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more than it needs to and at worst one that fails to manage supply and demand.

“The Storage and Flexibility Model fills a crucial space in the current energy system modelling landscape, enabling us to see more clearly than ever how energy storage and flexibility could help the UK transition to net zero at least cost.

“These insights are relevant in a number of use-cases, including longterm capacity planning, assessing the value of specific storage technologies, and identifying the service requirements of future energy systems.

“This groundbreaking new model is on offer to any organisations in the sector that want the clearest possible view for what role flexibility could play in our energy system in the not-to-distant future.”

The SFM can represent future grid scenarios at a second-by-second level, looking across multiple seasons, vectors, network levels and geographic regions to provide uniquely valuable insights about the role of storage and flexibility. What’s more, it can also explore short term uncertainty to understand which technologies can contribute to a resilient energy system

EARLY FINDINGS Early indicative runs of the model found that a least-cost 2050 energy system is likely to require significantly more electric and thermal energy storage than previously thought.

To achieve an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 (compared with 1990 levels), the model calculated a need for nearly 1,400 gigawatt hours of electric and thermal storage volume, 55% higher than previous estimates1 and equivalent to 125 Dinorwig Power Stations.

This rises even more if carbon capture and storage (CCS) is unavailable and creates more demand for the electrification of heating, gaseous fuel production (natural gas and hydrogen) and transport.

However, these findings require further investigation and there are plans to run the model according to the government’s current more ambitious target of reaching netzero emissions by 2050.

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WHO CAN USE IT AND WHAT CAN THEY LEARN? The Catapult is offering organisations within the sector the chance to work with our experts to gain insights from the SFM, including government, energy technology innovators and network operators.

Commissioned by the Energy Technologies Institute and developed

by Baringa, the SFM allows a range of important questions around the future role of storage and flexibility, including: • Taking a whole energy system approach, what is the future role of energy storage and flexibility?

• What is the scale of the different future service requirements (e.g. in MW, MWh) for storage and flexibility?

• What is the value of various forms of storage and flexibility to the system?

• How do the key drivers of uncertainty (both short and longterm) affect the potential role of storage & flexible alternatives?

Jonathan Wills, Chief Executive Officer at Energy Technologies Institute, said: “We’re pleased to have commissioned the Storage and Flexibility Model, as part of our Energy Storage and Distribution programme. This tool will provide valuable insights to industry when undertaking a whole systems approach to cost-effective decarbonisation for the UK. “As the ETI draws to a close at the end of this year, much of the research from our Energy Storage and Distribution programme is being taken forward by the Energy Systems Catapult, to help advance the UK to reach its climate goals. All available data from our 12 years of research is available on our website until 2025.”

To coincide with the SFM’s launch, a new report ‘Balancing Supply and Demand’ has been published describing the experience and knowledge gained from developing and running it, what it can be used for and best practice for using it.

The report can be downloaded at https://es.catapult.org.uk/news/ balancing-supply-and-demand/

NET ZERO

DECARBONISATION – THE COUNTDOWN TO NET ZERO As the countdown to the UK’s 2050 net zero goal continues, an element of uncertainty still remains.

What can be done to decarbonise our energy supply? How can a better, more far-reaching use of renewable energy be achieved, and how can supply chains become cleaner and greener? One thing is clear, businesses need to start adapting buildings and sites now, as Adam Pigott, engineering manager at Kinect Energy Group, explains.

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espite targets being set for 2050, there is the possibility they might be brought forward. For those that leave it too late, social pressures and government legislation could force them to comply and by then costs will have rocketed.

By auditing all areas of your business, from energy consumption, waste and transport, to how you heat buildings, finding ways to adapt will put you in a prime position to roll out any modifications in time – and more importantly will help save you money in the long-run.

DECARBONISING HEAT Oil and gas currently power roughly 26 million commercial boilers across the UK, and with heating accounting for over a third of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, phasing out these traditional fuel sources is at the top of the hit list. New schemes are being introduced to gradually phase out conventional boilers powered by gas and oil, but the question everyone is asking - what will they be replaced with?

Unfortunately, there’s not a one size fits all approach and many solutions are still in their infancy and not ready to be rolled out at scale.

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Low carbon heating alternatives have been introduced over the years, such as electric heat pumps and biomass boilers, and as people commit to becoming greener adoption is on the increase. However, uptake is still low and only scratching the surface.

Schemes are being rolled out that will involve the replacement of boilers with electrically driven heat pumps, either a ground or air source. While this switch might benefit smaller commercial sites, for larger establishments an alternative would be needed. If you think that most buildings use radiators that are sized for a boiler that outputs water at 80oC, a heat pump can only achieve a water temperature of between 50 to 55oC, which deteriorates the higher this temperature is pushed. Heat pumps would be put under pressure during colder months and unable to maintain a sufficient temperature.

Industrial boilers are much larger and many processes require heat at many hundreds of degrees or even higher, therefore, heat pumps are not a solution.

Hydrogen may take more of a role, as this can be burnt without the emissions.

Some high temperature industrial heat requirements may be resolved using hydrogen, but the economics behind producing the fuel means that this is unlikely to be a widespread solution.

Cities, such as Leeds and its H21 Leeds City Gate scheme, are looking at low carbon heat networks, such as hydrogen to reduce heat emissions.

It could be that hydrogen is a viable solution, as the only substance we can burn where nothing else can replace fossil fuels. However, questions still need answering over how practical it is at scale for space heating.

Underfloor heating is another solution that can be used as a heat exchanger and can accept a much lower temperature heating medium. New builds are certainly one step closer boasting certain design elements that will support any modern adjustments, such as installing underfloor heating and heat pumps.

For older buildings less so.

Underfloor heating only works if the building has solid floors. Floorboards with a void below present an entirely new set of issues. Retrofitting underfloor heating is both expensive and disruptive and involves ripping up floors to lay

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pipes, screeding, installing new pipe manifolds and control systems.

As with anything significant, seeking expert help is crucial before you undertake any alterations to your buildings or sites.

INCREASED RENEWABLE PENETRATION Generating and storing power from renewable sources such as solar and on/offshore wind will play a vital role as we move away from fossil fuels.

Intermittency is a challenge, however, trying to generate the same quantities from conventional fossil fuel power when there is limited or no sun or wind.

Storing energy using batteries has been mooted as a solution to help alleviate the issue of intermittency and increase opportunities for businesses to utilise on-site renewables.

Businesses benefit from resilience against system outages and can take advantage of cheaper tariffs or even sell energy back to the grid.

Before you embark on battery storage it’s worth noting that this technology is still being developed and there may be further efficiency benefits that are yet to be identified. Current battery storage options may not be technically or financially feasible for every organisation, so it’s important to obtain advice to see whether it’s the right option for your business.

Some businesses with larger sites are turning to solar power, installing panels on roofs, enabling them to produce the required energy on-site.

ELECTRIFYING FLEETS Switching fleets to electric vehicles (EVs) can be a useful step in reducing a company’s carbon footprint, however, certain challenges need to be taken into consideration.

Electrifying commercial transport on a large scale will have implications on electricity supply, potentially creating an increase in capacity at times of peak demand. This is where we are likely to see the evolution of smart charging, which measures the optimal time to charge depending on local and national demand, price signals, time of day, charging preferences and battery charge state.

The number of charging points will need to be considered to accommodate

NET ZERO

demand, as well as how to manage them. If you think that most fleets will charge at the end of the day or overnight, some businesses are devising ways to use charging points at low peak times and allowing employees and local EV users to access the charging points during the day, and therefore generating an additional income for the business.

For heavy transport requirements, it is clear there is still work to be done to develop solutions, other than moving freight by rail, rather than road.

REDUCING WASTE Waste management will also come under scrutiny, so start thinking now about how you can reduce, reuse and recycle. Effective waste management can support reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Processes will need to be audited to minimise waste, including sites and supply chains.

Getting buy in from staff makes it a team effort. Simple things can be considered, from what can be recycled, how packaging can be reduced, to going paperless.

The new Resources and Waste Strategy has introduced an extended roll-out of initiatives such as extended producer responsibility schemes, new product standards and more efficient design to prompt businesses and individuals to repair goods or equipment over discarding and buying new.

ACTING NOW AND REAP THE BENEFITS Net zero goes beyond how we will heat and light premises; it will affect supply chains and have an impact on customers and employees.

However, being savvy and planning ahead to implement changes to your business will stand you in good stead. Those that choose to wait may get hit with higher costs.

Energy experts, such as Kinect Energy Group can help you identify and integrate the best solutions into your business strategy, so it’s important that you seek advice before embarking on any significant changes to your building or site to ensure they are fit for purpose. https://world-kinect.com/

ACHIEVING NET-ZERO IN THE UK: LESSONS FROM EUROPE Tim McCoy Head of Communications, Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, EDF Energy.

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ecarbonising all of our electricity generation is the first and easiest step in the huge effort to get the UK to net-zero emissions. Taking fossil fuels out of transport, heating and cooking also means that we are going to have to double the amount of electricity we need to produce – whether for electrification or for hydrogen production.

Lessons from Europe can tell us a lot about how to do this, because there are already winners and losers in the race to decarbonise. The electricity map shows you who’s leading the fight against climate change.

SO WHAT LESSONS CAN THE UK LEARN? RENEWABLES WON’T MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IF POLLUTING FOSSIL FUELS STAY IN THE MIX Germany has spent more than €500bn on renewables – but its emissions have barely changed. That’s because renewables are intermittent and need to be complimented by something else – like storage or a reliable baseload. Since Germany started to move away from nuclear much of that back-up power is from dirty brown lignite coal. Mixing renewables with fossil fuels like coal and gas doesn’t cut emissions far or fast enough.

France, Sweden and Norway have the lowest European emissions from electricity generation.

Sweden combines low-carbon renewables with low-carbon nuclear. France does the same – albeit with more nuclear in its mix. Storage has an important role to help us manage short-term supply fluctuations, but long-term storage is prohibitively expensive. The UK needs low-carbon renewables to work with a low-carbon base load.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR GEOGRAPHY TO CREATE ELECTRICITY (IF YOU’RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO!) Norway leads the way in low-carbon electricity. Hydropower regularly accounts for more than 95 per cent of total Norwegian power production, with the remainder made up by thermal power and, more recently, wind.

However, Britain doesn’t have this option – we don’t have enough mountains, lakes and glaciers.

The UK does, however, have some of the world’s best wind conditions and has access to some relatively shallow seas. That’s why a big deployment of onshore and offshore wind make sense – and it explains why we are a world leader in offshore wind generation. Even though it’s not

very sunny, solar can play a useful role in meeting demand for low-carbon energy, but it won’t be as useful as it is in Chile, California or Spain.

USE NUCLEAR AS A RELIABLE “BASE LOAD” OF ELECTRICITY Europe shows that no one energy source can get the UK to net-zero on its own. We need a lowcarbon electricity mix to ensure we hit our targets.

We should see the reliable, low-carbon electricity created by nuclear as the enabler of the growth of wind and solar. Whereas currently, the UK tops-up electricity supplies by switching on coal and gas-fired generation (which will not be possible in a net-zero scenario), Sweden and France use low-carbon nuclear to make up the difference.

WHAT THIS MEANS IN PRACTICE FOR THE UK: • The Committee on Climate Change forecasts that we will need four times the current amount of low-carbon electricity generation to hit the UK’s netzero targets and almost 40% needs to be reliable or “firm” low-carbon electricity.

• The most abundant source of renewable energy in the UK is wind - and solar can play a part - however they are both intermittent.

To reach net-zero we will need to find a lowcarbon replacement for coal and gas “top ups” when supply doesn’t meet demand.

This balance also avoids us having to build massive amounts of overcapacity in wind.

• Nuclear power provides a reliable “form” low-carbon electricity – currently the only baseload low-carbon power proven at scale. Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCuS) is not yet developed, nor is its efficiency and costs known - so we can’t yet rely on it to get us to net-zero.

• The Government wants nuclear to be cheaper – and we agree. Finance is key to making nuclear and big infrastructure cheaper for consumers – the cost of money is the single biggest expense. Lower finance costs have played a big part in bringing down the cost of future offshore wind as replication and experience has lowered risk. That is why we are proposing to make Sizewell C a near replica of the existing UK EPR design at Hinkley Point C. www.edfenergy.com

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VENTILATION

BREATHING BUILDINGS PROVIDES TOP-CLASS LOW-ENERGY VENTILATION SOLUTION TO RIBA AWARD-WINNING SCHOOL

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reathing Buildings, the UK’s leading provider of natural and hybrid ventilation systems, has designed and delivered a low-energy ventilation system to a RIBA award-winning school in Southwark, London. The £8m project at Ivydale Primary School involved the construction of a new two-storey building to double the school’s capacity.

A key element of the project was to provide a healthy learning environment, which meant it was vital to provide good indoor air quality and thermal comfort within the school. To achieve this, Breathing Buildings’ e-stack units were specified and installed to naturally ventilate the school.

As part of the ventilation strategy at the Ivydale Primary School project, a pair of Breathing Buildings’ e-stack A-500 units were installed in each of the eight ground-floor class rooms, while thirteen actuated louvre-damper units were installed at a high-level in the atrium. This allowed an atrium crossventilation strategy in the ground floor class rooms, which did not have direct access to the roof. Plus, this had the added benefit of providing ventilation to the atrium so that it could be used as an additional social/breakout space.

Meanwhile, on the first floor the eight class rooms, which benefit from good access to the rooftop, are ventilated directly through the roof using eight Breathing Buildings’ e-Stack R-Series units with Mushroom roof terminals. All the ventilation is then controlled via a bespoke control panel, also provided by Breathing Buildings.

The Breathing Buildings e-stack A500 unit is an assisted atrium system.

By providing a flow path through the building, it also aids the adoption of a natural ventilation strategy for the surrounding rooms. The innovative low-energy system can be deployed in buildings with one storey where rooms are connected to a central atrium as well as multi-storey buildings. In winter, high level vents or windows in the atrium are used to bring fresh cold air into the building as well to exhaust the warm stale air. The air mixes naturally

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in the atrium and the e-stack A500 units then exchange air between the atrium and adjacent occupied rooms.

In summer air enters through exterior windows in each room before flowing into the atrium through A-Series transfer units. The air rises within the atrium and exits through high level vents at the top of the space.

Meanwhile, the Breathing Buildings e-stack R-Series system is designed for rooms which have direct access to the exterior via the roof. The system is ideally suited to school classrooms, or small-to-medium sized office spaces, with occupancy levels in the range of 10 to 40 persons. In summer, opening windows brings fresh air directly onto occupants and the R-Series unit with its roof terminal acts as a high-level exhaust vent.

In winter, a mixing ventilation strategy operates – this eliminates cold draughts without the use of preheating radiators/ heating batteries and hence has major energy saving benefits. By using this patented e-stack strategy, incidental heat gains which arise in the room are used for heating the incoming air during cooler weather, reducing the need for radiators or heater coils that are often used in conventional natural ventilation systems.

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The heat gains in heavily occupied spaces (e.g. school classrooms) are sufficiently large that heating is not needed until the external air temperature falls below ~7°C. Breathing Buildings is committed to excellence in school ventilation design and has launched a new sectorspecific brochure titled ‘Ventilation for Schools’ which can be downloaded from https://www.breathingbuildings. com/knowledge/ventilation-inschools/schools-brochure/.

For further information on natural and hybrid ventilation systems, as well as other products and services offered by Breathing Buildings, visit www.breathingbuildings.com.

Or call us on 01223 450 060.

VENTILATION

STAY IN CONTROL OF VENTILATION

Choosing a ventilation system requires careful consideration of a number of factors, but as Ana Cross, Associate Product Manager of Air Handling Systems (UK) at Elta Group explains, an increased focus on indoor air quality and energy efficiency of buildings means opting for a system that incorporates controls and energy recovery should be a top priority.

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here’s no denying that seeking out units which boast high efficiency impellers and filters, effective drainage points, and durable casing plays an integral role in meeting ventilation requirements within a variety of buildings. However, a ventilation system will only perform as well as its controls will allow it to, which is why taking the time to consider a system’s accompanying or integrated control strategy is so important.

No ventilation product sits on its own - it needs some form of controls or Building Management System (BMS) to ensure it is working as it should and it can also be adjusted to new requirements within a building. Controls will essentially determine how and when a ventilation unit runs, whether that’s scheduling airflow, linking to a BMS, permitting fault signals and alarms, or communicating that filters need changing. What’s crucial though, is to opt for a ventilation controls strategy which perfectly balances indoor air quality (IAQ) and operating costs.

INDOOR AIR QUALITY It can be easy to take indoor air quality for granted, but with people spending a considerable amount of time indoors, and guidelines now in place that highlight the impact of air quality on the health, comfort and well-being of building occupants1, it has quickly become a key priority in building design. As awareness of the effects of ventilation on our health increases, there is a bigger focus on implementing effective ventilation strategies in commercial buildings.

This is where ventilation controls can play a significant role. As a general rule, they should take into account internal temperature, CO2 and external temperature in order to maintain acceptable indoor air quality, without sacrificing thermal comfort.

However, with the variable high levels of air pollutants present in the outside air, a more technical approach is required.

Indoor air quality and energy 1 http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/ environment-and-health/air-quality/policy/whoguidelines-for-indoor-air-quality

management devices are able to automatically manage ventilation and maximise air quality. Often equipped with sensors to enable demand-controlled ventilation in direct response to occupancy levels and internal temperature, these devices are perfect for managing air within commercial environments, ensuring the supply air quality is delivered into the occupied space at an approximate SUP2 category2 with levels of particulates just below the WHO guidelines (2005).

EFFICIENT OPERATION Aside from improving the air quality within our buildings, the other primary reason for introducing controls into a ventilation system is to maximise energy efficiency. Ventilation units account for a large proportion of the UK’s consumption of natural resources and energy, which has understandably brought attention onto how we can improve its environmental impact.

One of the most effective ways to do this is to adopt innovative, demandcontrolled ventilation which can be monitored in real-time to automatically adjust to occupancy levels. The natural rhythms of buildings such as offices and schools mean that, for substantial periods of the day, they are largely unoccupied.

A defining feature of control devices is the ability to use pre-programmed settings based on occupancy levels and time of year.

Intuitive touch-screen interfaces enable operators to adjust ventilation levels to reflect an empty building, which may be the case overnight or during the summer break.

Choosing to use real-time monitoring and smart maintenance will help to guarantee that new buildings can achieve nearly-zero energy status, while continuing to deliver healthy air and thermal comfort. Summer bypasses and night purge modes further increase the options at an operator’s disposal.

2 Dependent on fine filtration being present in the mechanical ventilation system such as ePM1 55% (and above) fitted in the NRVU, and that the filters are regularly maintained/replaced; Also dependent on ODA categories.

ENERGY RECOVERY UNITS Although not strictly a set of controls, energy recovery units are another way to manage air quality, thermal comfort, and running costs. Mechanical ventilation with heat and cooling recovery (MVHCR) is the best example of this, which alters the temperature of the incoming air depending on the differential between outside and inside temperature.

This helps to keep thermal comfort at a constant level, without spending a significant amount on heating bills or air conditioning.

Through the use of a heat exchanger (which can also operate in reverse), the heat/cool within outgoing air is transferred to warm/ cool incoming air, in an automatic process that keeps the internal temperature at a userdefined comfort level throughout the year.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR Ultimately, a ventilation system is only as good as its controls. For applications where balancing indoor air quality and energy efficiency is paramount, controls should be the first port of call.

Realistically, this applies to all commercial buildings, from offices to educational facilities, which have specific demands when it comes to ventilation. Ideally, controls should allow the user to reduce ventilation rates when required, allow for out of hours use, increase ventilation in summertime, avoid cold draughts, and avoid excessive energy consumption in the heating season3.

With its dedicated platform KINAIRTICO, Air Design is able to fully integrate its own control devices across all air handling and energy recovery products, offering different levels of machine management either locally (in unit or room controller) or via BMS interface protocols (Modbus or BACnet). Project specific control devices that are required to follow a TREND control system’s philosophy are also available.

To view the range, please visit: https:// air-design.com/product/kinairtico/

3 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ building-bulletin-101-ventilation-for-school-buildings

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HEAT PUMPS

HEAT PUMPS AND THE PATHWAY TO A LOW CARBON FUTURE

Following the launch of the industry document ‘Delivering Net Zero: A Roadmap for the Role of Heat Pumps, Graham Wright, Chairman of the Heat Pump Association (HPA), highlights the challenges we face in reducing energy consumption and outlines the steps that must be taken in order to drive take-up of low carbon solutions such as heat pumps.

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here is now little doubt that our climate is changing, the dilemma is how we start to turn this particular ship around before we cross that fast approaching point of no return.

According to a recent study, almost every climate model from the past 50 years has accurately predicted the global temperature changes we have experienced so far. Not only does this highlight society’s long held apathy towards one of humanity’s greatest challenges, it also suggests that projections of future changes are likely to be fairly reliable as well. Reading into the latest climate model projections, if all countries honour their climate policy commitments and pledges, we are still facing global temperature rises around 3C above pre-industrial temperatures by 2100, a catastrophic scenario according to The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL The scale of the challenge may have been brought into stark focus, but there are also a great many reasons to be optimistic. The UK has demonstrated a commitment to tackling the issue by becoming the first major economy to target net zero emissions by 2050, an ambitious but necessary step that must succeed if we

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are to inspire others to follow suit.

A critical part of the plan to deliver a low carbon society and break our dependency on fossil fuels will be the decarbonisation of heating and this is where heat pumps undoubtedly have a role to play. Long established as an effective and reliable alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based heating systems, heat pumps offer substantial carbon emission reductions and can recover heat that would otherwise be wasted. Despite the notable benefits, the number of heat pumps being deployed in the UK heating market is currently too low to make the necessary impact and trigger the much-needed sea change in consumer habits.

Large parts of Europe have already welcomed the widespread deployment of heat pumps and these successes undoubtedly influenced the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) decision to recommend mass deployment within the UK. The next step is to ensure there is a plan in place to meet the

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challenges thrown up by such an extensive change of infrastructure in our domestic, commercial and public buildings. In order to facilitate a genuine transformation and lead the push towards more energy efficient buildings, government and industry will need to come together, using clearly defined policies to outline the future direction of the industry and striving to ensure high standards are met whilst ensuring that there are an adequate number of installers to carry out the work, both now and in the years ahead.

DEVELOPING THE INSTALLER BASE In order to push take-up on to the next level, beyond off-grid properties and new builds and into the mainstream, there needs to be a concerted effort to introduce thousands more fully trained and knowledgeable installers.

This clearly won’t happen overnight but additional training and development

HEAT PUMPS programmes need to be put in place without delay if the industry is to put itself in a position to deal with a significant increase in demand. The HPA is leading the way in its efforts to ensure schemes are available and also supports the offering of apprenticeships to encourage the next generation of installers to enter the sector.

A high proportion of current heating installers are likely to need to upskill to be able to install low carbon heating systems. Heat pump installations require additional considerations on top of those typically carried out for traditional heating systems, such as gas boilers. There is, for example, a need to size heat pumps more carefully according to the heat demand of a building - heat emitters often need to be upgraded to work with lower flow temperatures and hydraulic balancing is carried out to ensure that the distribution of water in heating systems is optimised.

Though there will be new entrants to the installation market, the expectation is that the majority of installers will need to come from the current boiler installer base. As traditional heating methods are gradually phased out, many of these installers will need to retrain in order to fit low carbon solutions.

While the industry as a whole is confident that suitable training pathways can be put in place through the development of qualification schemes, there is another crucial element that can’t be overlooked in the form of a firm commitment on low carbon heating from the government, something that will give potential installers the confidence to invest their time and effort into training.

POLICY SUPPORT Without adequate support and incentives from the government, there is a risk that the message will be diluted and confidence in low carbon solutions as the future of the heating sector will begin to wane, providing current installers with a reason to think twice before upskilling or retraining to fit heat pumps.

The HPA believes the government has an opportunity to preside over policy decisions that will lead us towards decarbonised heating solutions. In this regard, the government should pay close attention to schemes from abroad, such as the ‘Coup de Pouce’ initiative in France – a scheme which provides a grant for heat pumps when replacing an oil boiler. This hugely successful enterprise resulted in a surge in trained heat pump professionals, up 264% compared to the same period a year earlier.

To maintain high standards and guarantee quality, there is a strong case

for bringing in a ‘skills card’ of some sort, specifically for installers of renewables. This would work in a similar way to the current Gas Safe scheme to ensure the quality and reputation of heat pump installations is high and to reassure consumers that they can find a welltrained installer. The skills card could be used to highlight the separation in the abilities needed to install heat pumps, such as the design, install and commissioning functions. This division could allow specialisation across these skills and help to optimise the time for training and increase the labour force.

CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE As with all relatively new technology, consumers are more likely to fully invest if there are clear benefits and if the cost of the new system is not prohibitively expensive.

The benefits of heat pumps are widely documented and well known within the industry, but this message must be better conveyed to the consumer if we are to reach a stage of mass market acceptance. A significant shift in consumer thinking is still required and as a typical gas boiler has an expected lifespan of around 15 years, direct replacements of these systems will need to be phased out by 2035 at the latest if we are to meet the net zero emissions target by 2050.

It is expected that an increase in installer numbers would likely bring about greater competition within the marketplace, helping to further drive

down costs for consumers while it is also anticipated that there would be an increase in maintenance options and a drop in maintenance costs as the number of installations rises.

THE FUTURE OF HEATING Despite leading the way on emissions targets, the UK has some way to go before it can be classed as a pioneer in low carbon heating.

Upcoming policy decisions could help to address this issue but if we are to significantly reduce heating emissions and make the switch to a decarbonised society, government and industry must come together to offer incentives for change, grow the installer base and deliver a strong, united message to consumers and industry professionals, making it clear that highly efficient solutions such as heat pumps are the key to our low carbon future.

To view the HPA document ‘Delivering Net Zero: A Roadmap for the Role of Heat Pumps’ visit: www. heatpumps.org.uk/resources

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39

CHP

UK CHP CAPACITY GROWING GOVERNMENT ENERGY MIX

C

ombined Heat and Power (CHP), also known as cogeneration, creates electricity and useful heat together in a single process, allowing organisations to reduce energy costs, while also supporting energy resilience and sustainability.

For the right sites, high efficiency CHP provides typical energy cost savings of 3040% compared to grid supplied power and heat from boilers. This can often deliver a return on investment within 2 to 3 years.

Cogeneration provides sustainability benefits and can also boost energy resilience by providing an off-grid power supply. This guards against the growing risk of electricity supply disruption.

The Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) provides a comprehensive picture of energy production, with specific chapters addressing an element of the contribution to the UK’s energy requirement. The statistics used in this article are all drawn from the Combined Heat and Power chapter of DUKES 2019.

KEY FINDINGS: 1. UK CHP capacity increased 66MWe to 5,985MWe last year 2. The amount of electricity generated by CHP increased by 5% in 2018 3. Percentage of renewable fuels used in CHP increased to 17.4% 4. Spark spread remains positive The figures show that the number of CHP schemes in the UK increased by 64 to 2,473 between 2017 and 2018 as more industrial sites, businesses, public sector organisations, district heating schemes and others invested in cogeneration.

Overall, the UK’s CHP capacity increased by 66MWe, while the amount of ‘good quality’ electricity produced increased by 5% in 2018.

CHP accounted for 6.9% of all electricity supplied in the UK.

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The latest UK government statistics show that Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is making a valuable and growing contribution to the UK energy mix.

UK CHP CAPACITY

BY INDUSTRY SECTOR CHP remains a popular cost and carbon saving technology for heavy-industrial energy users. The oil and gas sector was the largest CHP contributor by capacity in 2018 and saw a 10% increase in CHP electricity output. The chemicals, food and drink, and paper and publishing sectors also accounted for significant amounts of CHP capacity.

16% of UK CHP capacity is accounted for by ‘other’ sectors, including agriculture, community heating, leisure, transport and commerce.

CHP is ideally suited to the industrial sector with consistent energy intensive operations. In addition, healthcare, Universities, leisure and hospitality sectors, where there is often extended 24/7 demand for hot water, heating and power. In 2018, the statistics reveal that 240 schemes in the health sector had a combined electrical capacity of 212MWe.

IMPRESSIVE COST SAVINGS Cost saving is the fundamental driver of CHP uptake, with businesses of all types and sizes investing in cogeneration to reduce heat and electricity bills.

Edina’s MWM CHP engines achieve extremely high efficiencies of 85% – 90%, almost twice as efficient as taking electrical energy from the grid and thermal energy from on-site boilers. This results in substantial savings on utilities costs.

The economic success of CHP is also determined by the positive ‘spark spread’. This is a simple calculation that compares the price of energy with the cost of fuel used to generate that energy.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

Given that most CHP units are fuelled by natural gas, which over recent years has been consistently in cost and is significantly cheaper than grid electricity, there is a spark spread price advantage, which is illustrated by the latest UK energy statistics.

In the last decade, the spark spread value for natural gas has been consistently positive. It reached a peak of 5.2 in the third quarter of 2016 and has since fluctuated just below this mark. In the final quarter of 2018, the spark spread stood at 4.5.

As gas prices have continued to fall in 2019, cogeneration has become a more attractive proposition. According to month-by-month data from Ofgem the spark spread peaked in January at 8.75 and registered a monthly low of 4.54 in March. In June, the last month for which data is currently available, the spark spread was 5.41.

For organisations investing in CHP, this healthy spark spread leads to energy cost savings and rapid financial returns.

In many cases, CHP generators have provided payback times as quickly as two or three years, which can prove to be a smart investment when you consider that a typical CHP system has a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.

The cost returns of CHP are further enhanced by a range of government initiatives and policies designed to incentivise the uptake of Good Quality CHP in the UK.

CHP These include: • Exemption from the Climate Change Levy (CCL) of all fuel inputs to, and electricity outputs from, Good Quality CHP • Eligibility for Enhanced Capital Allowances for Good Quality CHP plant and machinery • Business Rates exemption for CHP power generation plant and machinery • Reduction of VAT (from 20% to 5%) on domestic micro-CHP installations Read: How Queen’s University Belfast is saving £948,000 per year with CHP technology. www.edina.eu/casestudies/queens-university-belfast/

www.edina.eu/case-studies/queenelizabeth-university-hospital/

IMPROVING ENERGY RESILIENCE

SUSTAINABILITY BENEFITS OF CHP

Increasing demand for CHP is also being driven by the critical need for increased energy resilience. CHP can be configured to operate off-grid in ‘island mode’ to provide power security in the event of grid disruption.

In August, a major power outage that affected businesses across England and Wales heightened concerns about the security of supply in the UK. Power reliability is particularly important for manufacturers, who face heavy production losses, and data centres that can lose critical infrastructure in the event of a power cut.

For these businesses and many others, energy resilience underpins the business case for CHP and onsite generation.

Read: How Queen Elizabeth University Hospital achieved security of power with CHP.

FUELLING THE RISE OF CHP Natural gas remains the fuel of choice for most CHP generators, driving 69% of the total CHP production in 2018 and accounting for 7.3% of the UK’s total gas demand.

The proportion of electricity and heat generated through CHP using renewable fuels did increase slightly between 2017 and 2018 to 17.4%.

Of these renewable fuels, gaseous renewables accounted for 42%, closely followed by biomass at 36% and waste fuels at 20%.

Calculating carbon emissions savings from CHP is complicated, because CHP plants can displace a wide variety of generators using different fuels and technologies, but the economics of the wholesale power market means that CHP is far more likely to displace higher carbon centralised gas or coal power plants, compared to energy generated by lower cost renewable sources.

Cogeneration provides a more efficient and cleaner solution to unabated gas power stations, which continue to make an important contribution to the UK power mix. ‘Good quality’ CHP schemes make at least a 10% primary energy saving compared to the separate production of heat and electricity. By generating heat and power onsite, organisations prevent

the substantial transmission losses that occur from transporting electricity from remote power stations.

Government figures on the absolute carbon savings of installed CHP relative to fossil-fuel power stations in the UK show that there was a slight increase in the carbon savings, from 10.28 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (MtCO2) in 2017 to 10.33 MtCO2 in 2018.

MARKET LEADING CHP EXPERTISE Edina is market-leader in the provision of CHP and is the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for high efficiency MWM gas engines. From its sites across the UK and Ireland, Edina supplies full service and maintenance coverage supported by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year field service engineering support and remote monitoring, control systems monitoring and remote support from our UK Head Office. This ensures exceptionally high levels of CHP efficiency and availability to promote operational resilience.

Our full turnkey/EPC power solution is creating competitive advantage and sustainability savings for organisations across all sectors. www.edina.eu

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41

LIGHTING

HOW TO AVOID THE RISK OF CHOOSING SOLAR STREET LIGHTS

T

he most important thing to purchase solar street lights is to choose a better street light manufacturer, because the wholesale of solar street lights is a relatively large amount of engineering. If the product quality is not good, it will not give people a normal lighting demand, and the whole The investment in engineering funds is also a very large amount, so it can be said that the gains are outweighed.

If the price of integrated solar street lights is not very expensive, then you can let the merchants introduce you to the advantages of some integrated solar street lights, and what aspects of after-sales service are provided, so that it will be relatively reliable and have a certain price / performance ratio. .

In this way, you can buy very satisfied solar integrated street lights. However, there are still some differences between product and product functions.

Different businesses will also give different prices. It is also a headache for everyone to buy a suitable solar integrated street lamp at a lower price.

Therefore, everyone has a knack when choosing a solar integrated street light seller. If you have an acquaintance to introduce it, it is naturally better, the trust will be strengthened, and the product will be more assured.

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LET’S LEARN ABOUT SOLAR STREET LIGHTS FIRST, THE COMPOSITION OF SOLAR LAMPS. 1. Solar panels are divided into monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon. The conversion efficiency of single crystal silicon is high, and the conversion efficiency of polycrystalline silicon is lower than that of single crystal silicon. But when it comes to power, 100W monocrystalline silicon and 100W polycrystalline silicon are a concept, but the volume of polycrystalline silicon will be larger.

2. The battery energy storage part is divided into two types of traditional lead-acid colloid maintenance-free batteries and lithium batteries.

Lead-acid batteries, conventional batteries, have a lower life cycle than lithium batteries. At the same time, they have memory and cannot be discharged 100%. Only 75% of the depth of discharge is not recommended.

Lithium batteries are divided

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

into lithium iron phosphate batteries and ternary lithium batteries. Lithium iron phosphate batteries must be more expensive than ternary lithium batteries. The use is the same, here a ternary lithium battery is recommended.

The key point is why iron lithium is not recommended, because iron lithium is 1/3 higher than ternary lithium. As long as the market uses iron lithium for solar energy, all disassembled batteries are used. Old batteries can only be disassembled. In order to guarantee the price, life is basically not guaranteed.

Therefore, when you see that iron lithium is cheaper than ternary lithium, you know that you must use a disassembled battery. Upstairs is a large factory that specializes in dismantling lithium iron phosphate batteries. It was purchased in large quantities from abroad, then disassembled and re-capacitymatched, and then made solar lamps to the market.

3. Different controllers and manufacturers have different quality. Big brands also have

LIGHTING

problems, mainly depending on the mastery of the assembly plant’s scheme.

4. the lamp housing, this is a lot of moisture. Xiaobian this lamp, now die-cast aluminum material and ABS plastic material. The benevolent sees benevolence, and the wise sees wisdom. Diecast better, anti-typhoon.

SECOND, THE CLASSIFICATION OF SOLAR STREET LIGHT SCHEMES. 1. Constant bright light control time control scheme.

The traditional solution has always been on. Many manufacturers are making articles here. After the light is turned on for 1 to 2 hours, the time control is adjusted to half power, and then it is turned on again to change the power.

This can be extended if the hardware indicators do not meet the standards Battery life.

2. Human body induction scheme People come all bright, people walk 10%. This reduces the configuration, reduces costs, and extends battery life.

THIRD, THE TYPES OF SOLAR STREET LIGHTS. 1. 1, 5 ~ 15W induction small street light, this lamp is human body sensing, cost-effective, of course, many businesses promote it as 20W, 40W, 60W, which are all deceiving, how can a small solar panel emit 60W of electricity Then, the actual maximum editor can achieve 20W, no matter how high the overload will be deceiving. This small luminaire is good for rural and other places. Just make sure to generate electricity towards the sun.

2. 20 ~ 50W induction street light, this lamp is human body induction. The real power and configuration are increased, so that it is used in rural areas where long battery life is required, and the cost is low.

3. 20 ~ 80W conventional timecontrolled light-controlled street lights, this lamp is more commonly used products, but most manufacturers steal

indicators. With less solar panels and less batteries, the profits are huge. The indicators can only be compared and tested, it is difficult to see them with the naked eye, and the indicators are too big.

4. 20 ~ 80W integrated lamps, this lamp is mostly used for engineering foreign trade export, easy to install, can be turned on after fixing, saving labor installation costs.

FOURTH, HOW TO IDENTIFY THE QUALITY OF A PRODUCT 1. Compare brightness and lighting time. The brightness is difficult to define with the naked eye, and only the integrating sphere can accurately measure the light effect value. The brightness is generally compared with the naked eye.

2. 2. Use one stage, the basic unstable solution can expose the problem in less than 1 month.

3. Open the battery box and look at the battery. Check whether the capacity is up to standard.

Fill it with a charger, and then discharge it with a large load.

With time and discharge power, you can calculate whether the battery capacity is the specified index. Now all battery measurements are based on full venting. No tester is accurate.

4. Comparing the size of solar panels, the basic size can also be used as a simple judgment method for stealing indicators.

Or you can basically calculate the power by measuring the current and voltage against the solar energy.

FIVE, UNSCRUPULOUS MANUFACTURERS LIKE TO USE THE TRICK. 1. Stolen swap concept.

Praises that the lamps are good, the batteries are good, the solar panels are good, and the big brands make lamp beads are also divided into 369. The lithium iron battery is very good, but most of the disassembled

batteries with old batteries are not better than ternary lithium. Lithium batteries are protected by protective plates and will not explode.

No matter how good the solar panel is, it also depends on the process and standard made by the manufacturer.

The measured starting power is the correct solution.

2. Stealing indicators The index of the lamp is large, but the actual use is very small. It is hard to see if it is not professional. It can only be detected with the cooperation of instruments or other manufacturers. Therefore, pay a dime for a dime, pay attention to the difference.

3. Step on peers Businessmen say that they are good and step on the quality of their peers. Do not easily believe that only actual measurement is true. Many peers have low prices, which is actually stealing indicators.

The basic manufacturers make batteries, and the 12V / 1AH is not less than 7 yuan. The cost can only be pulled down if the cost is stolen. So don’t easily believe in self-promotion.

In summary, good lamps can only be tested out in time. Choose a professional manufacturer as much as possible. Do not look at the scale. It depends on whether the boss knows the technology. Otherwise, he can’t master the solution. The solar bomb is what he made.

For most buyers, they don’t really understand integrated solar street lights, so they will be very troubled when buying, and they don’t know what kind of products to choose, so there is a suggestion that you can choose some brands that are better Solar integrated street lights, so that at least the quality can be guaranteed. If the solar integrated street lights to be purchased are not well-known brands, they can also be understood according to some methods. www.alisolarlight.com

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

43

EXHIBITION NEWS

FUTUREBUILD 2020: BE THE CATALYST FOR CHANGE

A

clear message to come from the recent climate change demonstrations and declarations of action from government and leading organisations is that we need to work together. Put simply, without collaboration we will fail.

The government’s Clean Growth Challenge intends to halve the energy use of new homes/buildings, as well as the costs of retrofitting to a similar standard to new builds, by 2030. In order to achieve these goals we need to work together as an industry to improve our energy efficiency, and accelerate clean energy innovation and the decarbonisation of energy and heat.

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Futurebuild 2020, which takes place from 03 – 05 March at ExCeL London, will inspire those working in the energy sector to come together to deliver a more sustainable built environment, providing a platform for debate and discussion alongside the most innovative brands. The event will empower visitors to be the catalyst for change that is needed across industry.

SETTING THE AGENDA Futurebuild is recognised for its agenda setting conference and this programme is evolving for 2020. Sessions will follow a three-day progression; the central theme will be on how to respond to the climate and ecological

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

crisis facing us and commit to making a change. The Arena will be home to engaging sessions led by politicians, academics and industry shapers.

For those in the energy sector ‘The future is regenerative’ session chaired by Peter Murray, Chair of New London Architecture will be of particular interest. The session which takes place on day one (03 March) will explore how design and construction needs a circular rethink and how we can make our cities fit for purpose, our buildings net zero and champion green retrofit.

Additionally, on the second day of the conference (04 March) Robin Nicholson, Partner at Cullinan Studio and Convenor of the Edge will chair a session on ‘How

EXHIBITION NEWS

do we achieve ‘100% net zero carbon?’, exploring views from leading industry and academia on how we build a net-zero construction economy.

On day three (05 March) the ‘Living and working green: what behavioural changes are required to bring about a net-zero world?’ session is not be missed. Chair Roger Harrabin, BBC Environment Analyst, will discuss how decarbonising our economy requires a vast array of changes in policy and economics, in technology and infrastructure, and in attitudes and behaviour.

While discussions on the conference stage will focus on the biggest issues facing the built environment at a macro level, the six Keynote Stages will look at the specific challenges impacting Energy, Building, Offsite, Interiors, Resourceful Materials and Critical Infrastructure. This programme of solution-driven sessions will share the latest thinking and research, to educate, inform and inspire visitors to make a positive change.

The six Keynote Stages will address the following challenges: • Energy: accurate data for carbon accounting and reduced clean energy usage • Buildings: retrofitted, reused, net positive and built to perform • Offsite: reliability and efficiency combined with creative placemaking • Interiors: sustainable and health promoting • Resourceful Materials: thinking circular to reduce, reuse and recycle • Critical Infrastructure: delivering integrated green, grey, blue and social infrastructure Each day, the stages will host a focused keynote presentation by a recognised expert in their field.

This and other sessions will look at tangible solutions and approaches which will make a real difference to practice and performance.

The Energy Keynote Stage will deliver the latest thinking on the technologies which will decarbonise the built environment. The stage will shine a light on the interconnections between energy generation, demand management, EVs and charging infrastructure, storage, behaviour change and energy reduction in buildings, the decarbonisation of heat and the delivery of a smart and flexible energy system.

On the second day (04 March), Duncan Law, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Community Energy England will be chairing a session on ‘People power: the role of community energy in enabling a decentralised energy system’. The session will explore how community energy still has a huge role to play in delivering a decentralised and decarbonised energy system.

On day three (05 March), the Active Building Centre will be leading a session titled ‘Active buildings: optimising energy reduction and interaction with energy infrastructure. The session will explore how buildings can be created to not only optimise energy reduction but also interact with the energy infrastructure in a beneficial manner.

BEYOND THE STAGES Around each Keynote Stage there will be an exhibition of innovative brands, offering unique solutions to the challenges discussed in the companion knowledge programme. It will feature some of the largest headline brands in the sector, alongside SMEs and start-up organisations, creating a dedicated platform to connect these companies with forwardthinking specifiers and buyers.

Across the exhibition, brands and organisations that are leading the charge when it comes to innovation will be recognised through the Innovation Trail. A guided route will take visitors on a journey through the event and enable them to learn more about the latest thinking from Futurebuild’s Innovation Partners, which include 540 World, Geberit, Steico and Hadley Group.

The Energy section at Futurebuild 2020 will offer key insights for those in the sector, looking at everything from accurate data for carbon accounting to clean energy usage. Visitors will get an in depth look into the latest thinking on the technologies which will decarbonise the built environment.

In the Buildings area, the new and exclusive Whole House Retrofit Zone in partnership with the Retrofit Academy, a CIC providing training to create qualified Retrofit Coordinators, and Osmosis will be of particular interest for those in the energy sector. The immersive area will enable visitors to deep-dive into how to improve the energy performance of existing buildings. Futurebuild 2020 will be the go-to destination for all the latest thinking and opportunities in this field.

THE GAME CHANGERS ARE BACK Championing innovation is the central purpose of Futurebuild and the 2020 event will see the return of the Big Innovation Pitch. Hosted across the event, in conjunction with BRE as technical partner, the competition will be the industry’s largest call-out for innovation to date and will identify and celebrate novel new approaches to some of the biggest challenges facing us all.

On the first day of the event, SMEs will present their ground-breaking ideas on the six Keynote Stages. On day two, the winners on each stage will go head-to-head in the Arena with a panel of renowned judges determining the overall winner. The winner’s idea will be incorporated into BRE Academy Training, with the solution also being showcased in the landmark BRE Innovation Park.

Previous years have seen innovative solutions, such as a sustainable alternative to plywood produced from mixed waste plastics and energy and cost saving airconditioning units, take top spot.

Martin Hurn, Event Director of Futurebuild added: “The responsibility for tackling the climate emergency lies in all of our hands and we must collaborate in order to find solutions to secure our future. Futurebuild 2020 provides the perfect platform for forward-thinking decision makers across the built environment to come together and play a key part in driving positive change.

“We understand that taking time out of work to attend events can be a challenge, which is why we will make sure that visitors can really get involved across a number of levels, from the world class knowledge programme in the arena and on the keynote stages, to the showcase of the latest innovations across the exhibition. Innovation to us is more than just futuristic ideas, it’s about sharing the latest thinking and ideas, processes and solutions, products and materials. All of these things coming together under one roof at Futurebuild 2020 will inspire people to do things differently and create real change.”

For more information about Futurebuild 2020, the home of innovation, visit www.futurebuild.co.uk.

ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

45

EMS/BMS

BEMS, THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND OPERATING AT SCALE Richard Hurford Chartered Energy Manager, MEI, MA, B.Sc (Hons), Place Partnership

A

s a public sector mutual, we’re a unique business and one that works predominantly within the public sector, delivering a huge range of services for clients including councils, schools and emergency services.

A longstanding issue within facilities management is energy control, particularly in older buildings where individual areas will have very different internal and external factors that can impact on energy usage.

All buildings require heating controls, however use of traditional stand-alone systems – as are found in many legacy buildings – have room for operational error, which can lead to an excessive use of energy and therefore wasted money.

While not a new concept, Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) enable remote monitoring and control of a building’s plant system and have recently seen a significant boost in operational take-up. As with many technologies, the cost of installing and operating BEMS has fallen significantly as the technology and availability of the system becomes more widespread.

The higher profile of BEMS is believed to also be due to the strong energy and sustainability drivers, which we see as: • the continued pressure on costs with budgetary constraints • increases in energy prices

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• •

the Climate Change Emergency pressure from the Greta Thunberg youth movement • the Extinction Rebellion campaign • continued digital/technology developments • the move from fossil fuels to renewable energy • the Government’s target of zero carbon by 2050, and • the continued need to keep building occupants comfortable These factors have led to a significant uplift in deployment of BEMS, to the point where we have had to create a dedicated team that now monitors over 200 sites.

Besides giving precise time and temperature control of heating and HVAC equipment and not having to remember to switch off the lights at the end of a long day, the true benefits of BEMS lies in its ability to remotely manage, control and monitor engineering services in single buildings or groups. The BEMS links directly to the building’s plant, providing direct access to all required Optimisation of a building’s lighting, heating and ventilation through the effective management of a BEMS system can generate significant savings. The 200 sites that we manage under contract have produced an estimated £320,000 of annual savings and a reduction of 2,200

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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020

tonnes of CO2 by reducing energy usage.

Within this portfolio of properties, one of the most prevalent sectors – and one that can generate significant savings – is education. Worcestershire County Council has confirmed a 15% average annual energy saving in schools within the authority that use BEMS with some anecdotal reports driving this figure to over 40%.

For the last six years, the typical gas benchmark for Worcestershire schools has been 25% below the national average thanks mainly to the operation of BEMS. In terms of costs, typical BEMS specification for new schools costs around 2.5% of project cost, or c. £50 per square metre, with a payback period of 8-10 years (based on annual gas and oil costs) with an anticipated system lifetime of up to 30 years.

The adaptive nature of the BEMS system allows it to learn over time how the building responds to temperature change.

User interface systems are generally graphically-driven to enable operators to see at a glance the status of the remotelycontrolled plant, able to make small amends quickly when required and set long-term scheduling to make sure plants aren’t running during non-operational times such as school holidays.

Wayne Stefanovic, BEMS Manager at Place Partnership advises that ‘within the schools’ sector, we’ve also found that installation of BEMS provides significant benefits in terms of reducing emergency buildings closers through early identification of potential plant failure or frost damage’.

This goes a long way to helping keep schools open and operating at times when previously they may have had to shut. While the pupils probably aren’t too happy about it, it’s safe to say that we’re definitely big on BEMS!

More information coming soon....

You have nothing to lose and much to gain!

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