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VITAL ENERGI AWARDED CONTRACT TO DRIVE SMART TARIFF INNOVATION

Vital Energi are leading a consortium of experts to drive innovation in the development and support of smart tariffs.

Smart tariffs today are energy tariffs which vary depending on when energy is consumed – tomorrow’s smart tariffs may be even smarter. Smart tariffs are a critical part of the UK’s ability to achieve the 2050 net zero target. Typically, a smart tariff rewards consumers for using energy when it is abundant, thus enabling higher levels of intermittent renewable power generation that are key to achieving carbon neutrality. By encouraging reduced consumption during periods of peak demand, smart tariffs will also facilitate cost effective grid management.

Consumers who can be flexible about when they use energy, through setting appliances or charging their vehicle, need innovative new tools to help them find the tariffs that work best for them. The consortium will develop a comparison prototype tool that gives consumers an easy way to find the most cost-effective tariff options to suit their needs; the prototype will also encourage and enable more informed adoption of low-carbon technologies like electric vehicles and heat pumps. Smarter comparison tools will help consumers see the benefit of smart meters; having a smart meter will mean they have a wider choice of tariffs and are able to get accurate price comparisons based on actual consumption

The tool will be open source which means that every energy supplier, price comparison web site and low carbon technology provider can use the solution at no cost to help consumers make the best tariff and technology choices to suit their lifestyle and budget. Our work will be based on extensive research with consumers and energy sector stakeholders complemented by complex model development to deliver a customer-centric solution. The £400,000 Smart Tariff Smart Comparison project is funded through the Department for Business, Energy

and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Energy Innovation Programme. By funding the development of this prototype and the related learnings, BEIS is giving industry a tool to encourage suppliers and low carbon technology providers to develop innovative new tariffs and solutions for the market. At the end of the project BEIS will publish reports and hold events to disseminate findings.

Vital Energi will lead the consortium and other partners on the project include. • Hildebrand Technology (prototype delivery and smart meter data access) • davies+mckerr (consumer research) • Love Experience (user experience design) • The Carbon Trust and Dr Richard Carmichael of Imperial Consultants (subject and sector expertise) The project was conceived and funded by BEIS with the Vital Energi-led consortium delivering the winning bid. The project is expected to be completed by March 2021. A project web site will be launched within the next few weeks. About Vital Energi Vital Energi provide energy generation, energy distribution and energy supply and consumption management to help both the public and private sector decarbonise their estates and developments. We provide multi-technology solutions for your campus, city and new and existing developments that achieve your carbon reduction and energy cost targets for both now and in the future. Combining both renewable / low carbon generation solutions with optimised consumption measures allows new and existing homes and buildings to contribute towards carbon reduction targets. With over 30 years’ experience in the Heat Network market, we uniquely have access to 100 million metered data points coupled with the continued investment in products and services which allows us to develop and deliver secure and feasible energy solutions. www.vitalenergi.co.uk About the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS)

BEIS is a ministerial department supported by 41 agencies and public bodies. It is responsible for developing the UK’s Industrial Strategy and supporting business, science, research and innovation, energy and clean growth and tackling climate change.

The funding for this project forms part of the BEIS £505 million Energy Innovation Programme, which is dedicated to harnessing and rolling out cutting edge technology to fight climate change. More information can be found at: www.gov.uk/ guidance/energy-innovation#beisenergy-innovation-programme

How energy companies can implement temperature screening to ensure staff safety post-lockdown

As lockdown restrictions are being solutions, such as FOTRIC 226B, use How can this help care gradually eased across the country, AI face detection to automatically homes to re-open safely? industries of all types must now check an individual’s temperature consider additional health and safety These imagers also incorporate a body It goes without saying that companies measures, to ensure a safe re-opening. temperature calibration algorithm, which must implement a range of additional

Energy companies in particular, are works to prevent false negatives. This measures to ensure safety when faced with the problem of re-opening the algorithm works by automatically collecting easing lockdown restrictions. workplace as before, without risking a face temperatures in different scenarios By implementing thermal imaging second wave of infections amongst staff. for self-learning. It then adjusts the body temperature screening solutions as part of This is where fever screening can play temperature alarm threshold in real time these additional measures, energy firms will an important role. By instantly identifying by adapting to ambient temperature be able to identify any potential members those with abnormal temperatures, changes. This prevents false alarms of staff approaching the premise who may energy companies can prevent those from people who report abnormal body unknowingly have symptoms of COVID-19. who may be infectious with COVID-19 temperature due to morning or night-time It’s important that businesses then from entering the workplace and in turn, temperature differences, for example. have a strict procedure in place to allow potentially spreading the virus to others. Here, Lasse Tonnesen, Managing Director at Test Meter Group, explains What happens if someone has an abnormal temperature? these staff to be removed from site in a safe manner and without coming into contact with any other person. exactly how thermal imaging temperature If an imager detects an abnormal Companies can then use the images screening works to identify those with temperature, it emits an automatic captured by the imager to keep a record abnormal temperatures, and how energy alert, which allows for a rapid on-site of those persons who have reported firms can implement this technology identification and prevention of the person abnormal temperatures to ensure to ensure their safe re-opening. from entering the premises. The imager they do not return to the workplace How does thermal imaging temperature screening work? will also automatically capture the photo of the detected person, which can be used for further statistics and analysis. within seven days, as well as to identify any trends or patterns emerging in the data. www.test-meter.co.uk Infrared thermal fever screening

ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FEEL THE BENEFIT! • Energy consumption reductions, decreased carbon footprint • Single point of control for maximum comfort • Minimum disruption at the time of installation • Increased staff productivity by improving working environment • Reduced maintenance costs • Downloadable reports

NEWS

ELECTRIC NATION VEHICLE TO GRID TRIAL SHOWS THAT THE EV STREET OF THE FUTURE MAY BE HERE SOONER THAN WE THINK

Applications to join the Electric Nation electricity networks needs to be managed. 100 people for the trial to help Distribution Vehicle to Grid (V2G) trial suggest that Electric Nation - a project of Western Network Operators (DNOs) and others clustering of electric vehicles (EVs) may Power Distribution (WPD), in partnership to understand how V2G charging could already be more common than many people with CrowdCharge - is recruiting 100 Nissan work with their electricity networks. expect. The project aims to demonstrate EV owners in the WPD licence areas of the Electric Nation is different to other how V2G technology can provide a solution Midlands, South West and South Wales V2G projects because it is using up to to potential electricity grid capacity issues to take part in the trial of Vehicle to Grid five different energy suppliers instead as the numbers of EVs increase. smart charging technology. Currently, only of just one. This means that the trial is Over 20% of applicants to the Electric Nissan EVs are able to be used for V2G a more realistic simulation of a future Nation Vehicle to Grid trial already have charging due to their CHAdeMO technology. world in which many streets will have two or more EVs at their property, and 48% One week after the Electric Nation a number of EVs using V2G chargers are either likely or very likely to acquire V2G project was launched, 200 EV operated by different energy suppliers. a second EV in the future, or they have drivers had applied to join the project, In the Electric Nation trial each supplier already ordered a second EV. Although and the following data had emerged: will use their chargers to test their various the Electric Nation Vehicle to Grid trial is • 95% of applicants have a Nissan LEAF, energy services utilising CrowdCharge’s currently only recruiting households with 5% have a Nissan e-NV200 demand management charger platform, one EV, these figures show that numbers • 20% of applicants currently have two which provides optimised charging sessions. of EVs per household are rising alongside EVs at their property The V2G trial follows the first Electric increasing nationwide EV adoption rates. • 1% of applicants have more than two Nation project from 2018/19 which at Charging an electric vehicle at home is EVs at their property the time was the world’s largest EV smart equivalent to an extra house in terms of • 3% of applicants with one EV have charging trial, providing real life insight electricity demand. With many households ordered a second EV into people’s habits when charging their liking their electric car so much that they • 18% of applicants with one EV are very vehicle. The trial provided data from more either already have a second EV or are likely to acquire a second EV in the than two million hours of car charging, considering getting one in the near future, future revealing the user habits on timings this ‘clustering’ will place further load on • 27% of applicants with one EV are likely of charge, where and for how long, as the local electricity network. However to acquire a second EV in the future well as the impact of different tariffs. by using V2G technology, EVs can put • 41% of applicants with two EVs also had By plugging in at specified times and energy back into the grid at peak times, a Nissan LEAF as their second EV. putting energy back into the grid, active so reducing the need for extra electricity As well as many households having participants of the Electric Nation Vehicle generation or network reinforcement. more than one EV, applicants are already to Grid project are expected to earn a A number of surveys have suggested taking action in the area of energy, with minimum reward up to the monetary value that people are giving more consideration 45% having solar PV installed at their of £120, available over the one-year trial to EVs as we come out of lockdown, and property, and 14% having a domestic period from March 2021 to March 2022. green number plates are set to be rolled stationary battery storage device. Recruitment is taking place from June 2020. out from autumn to help encourage drivers The Electric Nation Vehicle to Grid trial is Trial applicants: to make the switch to electric vehicles, offering the free installation of V2G smart • Must be resident in the Western under plans to drive a green economic chargers worth £5,500 to Nissan electric Power Distribution (WPD) licence area recovery. This is all good news for local vehicle (EV) drivers who live in the three (Midlands, South West and South Wales) air quality, but the extra demand on local WPD regions. CrowdCharge is recruiting • Must have a Nissan EV with a battery capacity of at least 30kWh or more • Need to have the vehicle until the end of the trial (March 2022) • Need to have off-road parking • Will use the CrowdCharge mobile app to manage charging • May need to switch to a new energy tariff if required by their assigned project energy supplier • May need to have a new smart meter put in/updated as part of the project participation. Although the application process for the Electric Nation Vehicle to Grid project is now open, the timescale for charger installations is subject to confirmation based on government advice in relation to COVID-19. For more information and to apply to join the project visit www.electricnation.org.uk

MORRISON DATA SERVICES SECURES FOUR-YEAR METER READING SERVICES CONTRACT WITH E.ON

Morrison Data Services, a leading data welcoming our services provider to energy and water new colleagues utility retailers in the UK and Ireland, to MDS.” has been appointed to deliver nationwide Matt meter reading services on behalf of E.ON. Hardcastle,

The four-year agreement will begin on Morrison 1 September 2020 and also includes an Data Services extension to Morrison Data Services’ existing Director of ‘out of area’ meter reading contract with E.ON. Data Collection,

As part of the mobilisation, a number of added: “As the people will join Morrison Data Services to UK’s leading increase the scale of its meter reading team. energy meter Morrison Data Services Managing Director reading provider

Simon Best commented: “We have continued we have to invest heavily in meter reading activity as significantly we believe that we can help energy retailers invested over achieve cost and efficiency improvements in the last 12 a rapidly changing marketplace. This contract months in our award extends the relationship that we technology and demonstrates that our approach to future have with E.ON which dates back over 10 processes to ensure we deliver a high class delivery is well regarded in the industry.” years and adds further momentum to our service to all our customers. This award from For further information please ongoing growth plans. We look forward to E.ON is testament to our hard work and visit www.morrisonds.com

The Future of Energy - By John Armstrong

The ‘Future of driven us forward; forming About the author Energy’ takes the the cornerstones of a reader through a revolution which has John Armstrong is an engineer whose possible future for energy changed every aspect of career has spanned the extremes of the generation, transportation our daily lives. In 2020 we energy industry – giving him a front-row and utilisation, seeking to stand at a crossroads. On seat on the energy roller-coaster. He make some bold calls on the one hand to continue began his career constructing oil refineries what energy will look like in our existing path reliant before moving to work across fossil and 2030 and beyond. The book on hydrocarbons and renewable electricity generation. More brings together discussion the resultant impact recently John has been leading the growth of on energy and thoughts on on the planet. On the decentralised energy and district heating. the range of topics which other hand, there is an Reviews form the fulcrum of the challenges ahead of us. Written in an accessible way to spark ideas, discussion and debate the ‘Future of Energy’ engages the reader in the future challenges and opportunities of this hugely exciting and important field. The ’Future of Energy’ is available on Amazon as a paperback or as a Kindle ebook. Background Energy is a huge topic, touching every part of society. Without it we couldn’t cook, heat our homes, make steel, travel or pretty much do anything. Since humans first made fire to warm themselves and cook, energy has been a cornerstone of progression and since the times of Watt and Brunel it is hydrocarbons in the form of coal, oil and gas which have alternative route in which we find another way, utilising hydrocarbons differently – and in lower volumes - and finding energy from ‘alternative’ sources including many that already exist and are rapidly moving from niche to main stream. There exists a huge range of information on the ‘energy transition’ with competing technologies and theories vying for supremacy. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing there is an easy answer or ‘silver bullet’ to the huge challenges we face. It is substantially more complicated with an inevitable patchwork of future technologies, rather than a single simple solution. There is no perfect answer to the challenges we face but most will in some way shape the way we use energy through the next decade and beyond. “The author takes you on a journey through a range of environmental scenarios (home heating, air travel, industrial consumption) where energy is the problem but also, potentially, brings a range of solutions. Enough detail to keep the purists happy but also simply written so the amateur won’t get lost.” Andrew, May 2020. “A very good guide to the challenges the energy industry faces today. I will be recommending it to all my team to get up to speed with the industry – incredibly accessible in how the ideas are laid out.” Seb, Conference Producer, May 2020 “This should be mandatory reading for future undergraduates and graduates as part of our induction process.” Darren, Senior Energy Manager, May 2020. “The author manages to present a complex topic in an engaging and authoritative way.” Andrew, May 2020