JULY/AUGUST 2021 www.energymanagermagazine.co.uk
Integrated thermal energy management and billing made easier than ever.
See page 12 INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
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Supply or demand?
Innovation enables water meters to be converted easily
Why are heat pumps so hot right now?
Because insight beats hindsight
Achilles UVDB is operated as a “Qualification System” under Regulation 77 of the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 and Regulation 75 of the Utilities Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016
In a fast moving utilities market, we know it is essential that you have confidence in your supply chain. Balancing customer expectations and increasingly stringent regulation is critical to success in the UK utilities industry. We help utility companies manage risk and comply with UK regulations. Access data from over 6,000 fully validated and qualified suppliers in the UK Utilities industry including health and safety, environment, financials, CSR, product and services, and more. With more than 25 years’ experience in this field, when it comes to ensuring you have a transparent and accountable supply chain we’re the name to trust. Learn more about Achilles UVDB at www.achilles.com/uvdb.
Utility Sector Regulated Procurement Academy. This course starts: 18 August 2021 The Achilles Utility Sector Regulated Procurement Academy is designed to improve understanding of the principles and objectives of the regulated procurement legislation from the fundamentals of the Procurement Principles and the Utility Regulates 2016 to how they translate into practical application. Learn more at www.achilles.com/training.
FRONT COVER STORY:
Integrated thermal energy management and billing made easier than ever. See page 12
JULY/AUGUST 2021
PUBLISHER: Ralph Scrivens ralph@ energymanagermagazine.co.uk
www.belimo.co.uk
PRODUCTION: Sarah Daviner sarah@ energymanagermagazine.co.uk
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ACCOUNTS: accounts@ energymanagermagazine.co.uk
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PRINT: Mixam Print
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE is published 10 times a year by Energy Manager. www.energymanagermagazine.co.uk 42 Wymington Park, Rushden, Northants, NN10 9JP Tel: 01933 316931 Email: mail@ energymanagermagazine.co.uk REGISTRATION: Qualifying readers receive Energy Manager free of charge. The annual subscription rate is £80 in the UK, £95 for mainland Europe and £115 for the rest of the world. Single copies £10. Some manufacturers and suppliers have made a contribution toward the cost of reproducing some photographs in Energy Manager.
PAPER USED TO PRODUCE THIS MAGAZINE IS SOURCED FROM SUSTAINABLE FORESTS. Please Note: No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior permission from the publishers. The publishers do not accept any responsibility for, or necessarily agree with, any views expressed in articles, letters or supplied advertisements. All contents © Energy Manager Magazine 2021
14 Monitoring
& Metering
17 Boilers and Burners
18 Energy
Management
22 Heating 24 Opinion
34 Ventilation/ AC
37 Training 38 Heat Pumps 43 BMS 44 Renewable Energy
46 Behaviour Change
28 Driving the
48 Energy from
30 Water
50 On-site
Future
Management
Waste
Generation
ISSN 2057-5912 (Print) ISSN 2057-5920 (Online)
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
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NEWS
BETTER BUILDING DESIGN BOOSTS WELLBEING Wellbeing, health and comfort are moving up the agenda in terms of construction and building management.
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n turn, schools too are now beginning to be seen as much more than just a place where teaching and learning happens, and more as a part of the solution itself: an effective, positive learning environment where the very fabric of the building and the features within it can contribute to the students’ success.
Comfort in class Basic human conditions and the environment we are in play a huge part in how much we can physically concentrate. Being hungry, overtired or the room being too light, dark, hot or cold can seriously affect how much attention we can pay and how much information we can process.
Concentration levels Thermal comfort plays an extremely important role in our ability to concentrate. Being too hot or cold seriously impairs our comfort level and can distract us from being able to focus on anything else – our human instincts guide us to redress the balance and adjust our temperature to ‘just right’.
In schools, this mismatched comfort can lead to less concentration, disruption and ultimately, a lack of effective learning. In terms of the educational environment, choosing the right solution to suit the age group of the students and the space and layout of the room is crucial.
Lighting up young minds Another important consideration in creating the ideal learning environment is light. A University of Cambridge study presented at the British Educational Research Association in 2007 showed that if classrooms were too bright, students developed headaches and other symptoms which prevented them from concentrating in class. Flickering fluorescent panels were found to be not only too bright but also a source of distraction and discomfort for classroom occupants.
The solutions Zehnder’s integrated Multi-service ‘Foil’ solution, which combines heating
Zehnder ZFP with LED
and cooling, lighting and acoustics all in one panel – is ideal for smaller learning spaces including classrooms. And for sports halls and large commercial spaces, Zehnder has combined radiant ceiling panels and LED technology to bring heating and lighting together, to provide an integrated solution from a single source. Launched in August 2020 the Zehnder ZFP radiant ceiling panel uses infrared radiation while the LED 2.0 uses light – both systems transmit energy in the form of radiation. Combining LED 2.0 lighting with radiant ceiling panels optimises the available space on the ceiling while ensuring pupils and teachers are in a comfortable environment, which is critical to helping people to reach their full potential. www.zehnder.co.uk
Businesses need greater financial support to fund Net Zero transition, report finds
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usinesses are calling on the government for greater financial support to help them fund their decarbonisation plans, with many saying that the current initiatives including the recently launched National Infrastructure Bank - don’t go far enough. The report from npower Business Solutions (nBS) - ‘Plot Your Path to Net Zero: A Focus on Funding’ - asked over 60 businesses from industries including manufacturing and transport, as well as the public sector, how they fund sustainability projects, who should bear the most responsibility for funding the net zero transition, and whether they believe the existing government policies go far enough to encourage investment. It revealed that two thirds (67%) of organisations use funds from within their business to finance energy efficiency and
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sustainability projects, with 15% choosing to partner with a specialist funder and a small number (5%) taking out a business loan. Businesses were also asked to estimate how much of their annual turnover they anticipated needing to invest to fund their sustainability ambitions. The responses revealed that 70% felt it could be up to 15%, while a further one in six (16%) believed that it could be as much as 20%. Some anticipated it would cost even more to hit the net zero timelines set out by the government. However, there is low confidence that the most recent government policies
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
and strategies - including the Ten Point Plan, Energy White Paper and Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy - offer enough incentives for businesses to invest in decarbonisation measures. 75% of respondents felt they didn’t go far enough, and there was also doubt that the recently launched National Infrastructure Bank would be enough to spur the necessary investment needed for low-carbon measures. While just over one fifth (22%) thought it would, 44% thought it wouldn’t go far enough. That said, the majority of organisations (72%) agreed that the climate benefits of funding net zero outweigh the potential cost impact. npowerbusinesssolutions.com/ roadtonetzero
NEWS
University of Sussex releases plan to become one of the world’s most sustainable universities
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he University of Sussex has outlined ambitious plans to achieve a net zero carbon footprint of its entire operations within 15 years. A newly published sustainability strategy, called Sustainable Sussex, details how the University plans to overhaul its heating, transport and supply chains over the next decade in order to become one of the world’s most sustainable universities. The strategy, which has been co-created with the University’s students, staff, partners and stakeholders, outlines how the University will meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The University is looking to build on existing sector-leading performance on key issues of sustainability including: • Becoming the first UK university to introduce an aerobic digester for food waste • Having the largest on-campus solar farm of any University in the UK • Significantly reducing the use of disposable cups via an innovative hot drink pricing scheme The University was also named among the world’s top 50 for delivering on the UN SDGs in research, teaching, stewardship and outreach in the Times Higher Education (THE) World Impact Rankings 2021. Other aspects of the wide-ranging strategy include: • Sustainable Procurement Principles Framework ensuring University suppliers meet a high level of social, environmental and economic sustainability. Currently more than 60% of the University’s emissions are indirectly from purchased goods and services. • Sustainable food priorities ensuring at least 80% of the University’s supply of fresh pro-duce, excluding dairy, come from local producers, piloting a food sustainability traffic light system and the opportunity to end or reduce the sale of beef and lamb-based meals by 2023 if supported by students and staff. • An expansion of biodiversity programmes could see the creation of bee hotels, butterfly banks, orchards, therapeutic gardens and areas of passive rewilding on campus. • Investigating feasibility of sustainable transport hub, upgrading electric vehicle, scooter and bike charging; and exploring the potential for an ultralow emission vehicle leasing scheme for staff. • Investigating feasibility of considerable investments to replace fossil fuel dependent infra-structure such as Combined Heat and Power Plant with lower carbon alternatives from 2026. Building an additional on-campus solar farm. www.sussex.ac.uk
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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
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NEWS
THE XACOM ODYSSEY – 10 YEARS IN THE MAKING Xacom Project Controls celebrated its ten year anniversary in February 2021. It has been a remarkable journey from modest beginnings to being one of the UK’s most respected Project Controls consultancies. FEBRUARY 2011 AND MICHAEL HIGGINS HAD A DECISION TO MAKE.
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oes he stay in his corporate role or leave and enter the world of self-employment? It was a difficult decision to make as his senior employed position provided a comfortable lifestyle for himself and his family. But Michael had a bigger mission and wanted to deliver quality and value to organisations which he saw first-hand was lacking from most external consultancies operating in the Earned Value Management and Risk Management space. Driven by his own personal core values Michael took the latter approach and Xacom Project Controls was born. Fast forward ten years and the business, whilst still true to its core values of delivering maximum value and outstanding quality in an environment of mutual trust, is vastly different. Today Xacom Project Controls is a fully fledged APMG Accredited Training Organisation specialising in Earned Value Management (EVM),
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Risk Management, Planning and Scheduling, Primavera P6 Training, Deltek Training and Schedule Reviews. Commenting on his business journey Michael said ‘Establishing Xacom required a leap of faith. Whilst I knew I had the expertise, drive and passion to be successful, leaving a stable employed position always throws up doubts in your mind. But when I stepped back and considered my core values I knew I had to do it’. Xacom operates on an international scale with a base of associates who are experts in their field. This ‘specialist’ approach enables the consultancy to tailor its services precisely to meet client requirements using a dynamic and experienced team. The consultancy services are structured around Scheduling and Planning, Earned Value Management and Risk Management and are delivered to an extremely high standard with a focus of adding value at every stage. Xacom also provides multiple Project Controls associated training at their training venue in Preston, on site at client premises or in a virtual environment. There have been many milestones in the company’s 10 year history - from setting
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
up the Magnox Contract in May 2011 to consulting on the Hinkley Point C project in July 2014 to assisting in the Ignalia Nuclear Decommissioing project in April 2016. As part of the development of the company Michael and his team undertook a brand re-development exercise in May 2020. The new logo, colour palette and corporate values were defined to be more representative of both the company and its vision for the future. Michael also took centre stage in a number interview style videos which have been highly acclaimed by industry peers. You can learn more about Xacom Project Controls at www.xacom-projectcontrols.com
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NEWS
Uponor’s extends market-leading sustainable pipe range with launch of Ecoflex Aqua VIP
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ponor has extended its innovative EcoFlex VIP portfolio with the introduction of Ecoflex Aqua VIP, a high-performance pipe designed to make hot and cold water transportation around a home more sustainable than ever before. The pre-insulated pipe, introduced specifically for domestic water distribution, combines marketleading heat loss performance with outstanding flexibility, ease of installation and a service life in excess of 30 years. By adapting ground-breaking Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP) technology, the next generation pipe delivers hot water efficiently to its distribution point by significantly reducing the heat losses that typically occur when water travels from a heat source around a building. What’s more, Uponor, the total solutions provider of systems for the safe transportation of water around a building, has designed the new pipe to be as flexible as soft foam insulated products, but with a diameter up to 30% smaller. This means that less space is needed to run the pipework around a building, saving on time and labour while also making it easier to find suitable pathways for the pipes to run. In addition, Ecoflex Aqua VIP is also highly flexible and durable, making it ideal for complex designs and projects where the installer is working in confined spaces. With up to 60% less bending force
compared to alternative solutions on the market, Ecoflex Aqua VIP can be navigated around obstacles or laid across bumpy ground without requiring additional connections. These qualities help to reduce the installation time of the pipes by up to 20% compared to hard foam insulated flexible pipes, and by more than double compared to steel pipes. This also minimises potential weak points that could lead to leaks after the pipes have been laid. Ecoflex Aqua VIP joins Ecoflex Thermo VIP in the innovative range, which now provides developers and installers with the complete sustainable solution for all a project’s pipework requirements. Commenting on the portfolio, Mark Dowdeswell, Senior Category Manager at Uponor, said: “Vacuum insulation panels have already proven to be one of the best insulation materials, as they are widely used for applications in healthcare, vehicles, construction and household appliances. By adapting this technology to our Ecoflex VIP range, we have managed to achieve high insulating performance with less insulation material. The flexible, multi-layer aluminium diffusion barrier also makes our pipe extremely compact and easy to handle.
“The system can be utilised for a great variety of applications, from an extensive supply network to a single connection for one building, with the flexibility of the pipe material, the convenient connecting methods and the well-attested service life, all contributing to projects being completed quickly, economically and reliably.” For more information on Ecoflex VIP Thermo visit www.uponor.co.uk/ecoflex-vip.
MITIE HELPS ESSEX SCHOOLS CUT THEIR CARBON WITH SOLAR PANEL ROLLOUT
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itie Communities has worked with Essex County Council to manage the installation of roof mounted solar panels at 15 schools across the county. The new panels will help to significantly reduce carbon emissions and energy costs for the Council. The panels will produce around 700,000 kWh of renewable energy every year, equivalent to the energy needed to power 185 homes, saving 180 tonnes of CO2 and around £115,000, with an estimated payback of around 10 years. Mitie, who provides full Facilities Management and maintenance services to Essex County Council, managed the entire installation process. This included a full review of the Council’s estate of more than 250 locations to identify the priority sites, creating business cases and feasibility studies, and securing government funding, as well as overseeing the selection of specialist suppliers and installation. Mitie has also
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installed remote monitoring equipment in the panels to track the performance of the panels, the carbon savings achieved and any maintenance requirements. With the project focused on helping to tackle the climate crisis and reduce emissions for generations to come, it was fitting that Mitie Communities and Essex County Council prioritised schools for the first phase of solar panel installation. The project will now move on to phase two of the solar installation programme, installing roof-mounted panels at another 12 schools and 16 core council buildings, such as libraries and children centres, to help drive emissions down further. Following their installation over the next three months, this will cut the Council’s carbon emissions by an extra 220 tonnes a year. This project builds on Mitie and Essex County Council’s ongoing partnership to fight climate change by reducing energy
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
use and helping the county reach net zero carbon emissions target by 2050. Some of the installations were delivered as part of a project called Empower 2.0, which aims to empower citizens in Essex to take an active role in the energy market as the UK transitions to a low carbon society. www.mitie.com.
Integrated thermal energy management and billing made easier than ever.
Belimo Energy Valve™ and Thermal Energy Meter Belimo, the leading manufacturer of damper actuators, control valves and sensors for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technology, brings the worlds of “energy control” and “certified energy measurement and billing” together. The new range of Belimo Energy Valves™ and Thermal Energy Meters integrates energy metering, energy control, and IoT-enabled billing in one device. Belimo brings together what belongs together. Find out more
www.belimo.co.uk
BELIMO Automation UK Limited sales@belimo.co.uk, www.belimo.co.uk
NEWS
FOI reveals half of NHS trusts are charging ahead with EV infrastructure, but off track on overall decarbonisation targets
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ccording to figures released by power management leader Eaton, half (51%) of NHS trusts in the UK have installed EV Charging Infrastructure (EVCI) on-site for their staff, patients and the wider community. While this is a positive step towards a low-carbon future, a similar proportion (53%) of NHS trusts are either behind on decarbonisation targets or do not have a clear set of emissions reduction goals in place. This new data was obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, issued to 173 NHS Foundation trusts across the UK, with 142 of them responding. While half (51%) of NHS trusts already have EVCI on-site, a further 43% either plan to install charging facilities onsite within the next five years or are in early stage planning around how best to integrate such capabilities. In fact, just 6% of NHS trusts had no plans to introduce EVCI at the moment. This
promising trend towards upgrading facilities to meet the public’s changing needs while reducing overall emissions is positive news for consumers thinking about switching to an electric vehicle. The FOI revealed that over half (53%) of NHS trusts are currently behind on their decarbonisation targets or do not have clear emissions reduction targets in place. Just two fifths (38%) are on track to meet their goals while only 5% are tracking ahead at the moment. However, when asked about the decarbonisation measures currently in place, the vast majority of NHS trusts reported that they have either already installed, or will be installing, lighting upgrades (93%), increased building control and automation (90%) and upgrades to insulation (69%) within their facilities over the next five years. Only one responding NHS trust reported having no initiatives in place or planned at all. When asked about the impact of EVCI
on existing electrical infrastructure, half (53%) of NHS trusts flagged that they would need greater electrical capacity, while two thirds (41%) said it may incur additional energy costs through greater peak demand. Just a quarter (24%) recognise the potential to create new revenue streams from new charging facilities. Vehicle to grid (V2G) technologies allow electric vehicles to store energy and discharge it back to the electricity grid when it is most needed, creating a bi-directional relationship that offers up new opportunities for estate and facilities managers. The FOI revealed that very few NHS trusts (11%) are currently participating in selling energy back to the grid through energy storage technologies. One fifth (23%) plan to use energy storage to start selling energy back to the grid in the next five years, but two-thirds (65%) have no plans to do so. www.eaton.com
MENTAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP REDUCES CARBON EMISSIONS BY 565 TONNES AND ENERGY COSTS BY £243,000
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n NHS Trust is on course to reduce its annual carbon emissions by 565 tonnes and make an annual saving of £243,000 on its energy costs. Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust has achieved this by undertaking a series of infrastructure refurbishment projects, including a new Building Energy Management System (BEMS), LED lighting replacements, improved pipework insulation, electric heating, air conditioning compressor controls as well as the installation of solar PV and Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP). The Trust used £24,300 from the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF) provided by Salix Finance to establish the feasibility of the BEMS, LED, Solar PV and ASHP project proposals. Technical surveys were carried out to identify energy savings resulting from the installation of the various technologies. Following this process, the Trust then bid and was awarded a £4.5 million grant from Salix through the Public Sector
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Decarbonisation Scheme to complete the project. Luke Champion, Energy and Sustainability Manager at the Trust, said: “We have always been keen to improve the way we use our energy, not only because we want to do our bit to be more sustainable - but also because saving money is a big motivational factor.” The Trust is now on track to, not only achieve the Government’s net zero carbon emissions target by 2050, but is also hoping to reach it earlier by 2030. The projects carried out so far have allowed the Trust to make approximately 30% of its estate more energy efficient. The most energy intensive buildings were focused on, including inpatient wards and other
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
buildings which were high energy users. Luke Champion added: “We focused on the buildings which use the highest energy, primarily our inpatient units and also office buildings where the consumption is generally high, or where there was an older less energy efficient technology that needed to be replaced. “On one of the smaller sites, we still had electric storage heaters from the
NEWS
NEW GUIDE SHOWS NINE PRACTICAL WAYS TO DELIVER CARBON REDUCTION
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entrica Business Solutions has published a new free guide that sets out 9 practical and cost effective actions organisations can take to reduce carbon emissions. The carbon reduction guide cuts through the net zero noise to focus on simple, proven energy solutions that can help businesses improve environmental performance and save money. “Decarbonising your operations and embedding sustainability at the heart of your company is the most important step you can take to tackle climate change”, said Ian Hopkins of Centrica Business Solutions. “The good news is that going green also makes great financial sense. By taking action now, organisations can get ahead of climate regulation and protect themselves from higher future energy and carbon prices.” The report explains the steps organisations can take to transform their
energy performance and deliver on their sustainable energy goals, including: • Measuring and base lining carbon emissions • Delivering fast, cost-effective, carbon emissions reduction • Driving ultra energy efficiency with data • Gaining access to 100% renewable energy supply to save money • Switching to an electric vehicle fleet • Converting on-site energy assets into additional revenue • Reducing the carbon intensity of heating and cooling • De-risking businesses from future carbon and energy costs • Delivering complex integrated energy projects via OPEX savings Centrica Business Solutions partners with organisations across all sectors to help implement, finance and manage
early 1990s, so instead of maximising the number of sites we could cover with the funding, we favoured those energy intensive sites and replaced them with energy efficient alternatives. It’s about the proportion of energy saved long-term.” This is the first time that the Trust, which provides community and inpatient mental health services across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, has had a chance to complete a granular review of its buildings, having previously upgraded a proportion of their lighting to LED and installed solar PV in the 2000s.
Sameen Khan, Programme Manager at Salix, said: “It’s been great to see the Trust committing to energy reduction over the years and the grant is just the capital they needed to take the next steps towards energy efficiency and decarbonisation. “With the support from Salix, Luke and his team will be able to take this from commitment to completion. This has been achieved whilst they have also had to deal with the numerous challenges during the Covid pandemic.” Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust also involves its staff when it comes to becoming greener. Its sustainability group encourages members of staff to contribute and give feedback. “Our staff are really passionate about the role we can all play in reducing carbon emissions, not just at work but in our personal lives too. We have established a sustainability group, which
integrated decarbonisation projects across power, heat and transport. Download the guide ‘ Practical Ways to Measure & Mitigate Carbon Emissions’: https://www. centricabusinesssolutions.com/ practical-ways-measure-andmitigate-your-carbon-emissions
meets regularly to look at and implement the creative ideas our staff are proposing. “Sustainability group members presented the case for our Trust to declare a climate emergency and to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. “We all recognise that by making small changes to the way we work, we can make a significant difference to our environmental impact.” In addition to the infrastructure projects, the Trust has switched all its sites to a renewable energy electricity tariff and has introduced 28 electric bikes for community teams and staff to use, as well as its first twin charging point for electric cars. It has also adopted digital technology to enable staff and patients to take part in virtual meetings and appointments, which was essential during the pandemic but is set to stay in place to reduce unnecessary travel. Luke also reports a lot of positive comments on the Trust’s successes and has been able to share them with other mental health trusts who share the same challenges when trying to secure funding for carbon reduction projects. www.salixfinance.co.uk
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
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COVER STORY
INTEGRATED THERMAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND BILLING MADE EASIER THAN EVER. Belimo, the leading manufacturer of damper actuators, control valves and sensors for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technology, brings the worlds of “energy control” and “certified energy measurement and billing” together. The new range of Belimo Energy Valves™ and Thermal Energy Meters integrates energy metering, energy control, and IoT-enabled billing in one device. Belimo brings together what belongs together.
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he unity of the certified BelimoThermal Energy Meter™ and the enhanced Belimo Energy Valve™ allows for transparent thermal energy management. The new MID-approved Thermal Energy Meters assure high accuracy and reliability, allowing for easy and efficient billing. But measuring reliably is only the beginning. The Belimo Energy Valve™ instantly controls the thermal flow and optimises the energy supply to the user. With this important combination, Belimo is stepping into a new era of integrated thermal energy management. The new range of Belimo Energy Valve™ and Thermal Energy Meters integrates energy metering, energy control and IoT enabled billing in one device. It offers seamless and direct integration to the BMS or to IoT-based monitoring platforms, with IoT-based monitoring, performance tools and billing data. Bringing together performance features to save you time and money. The Belimo Energy Valve™ offers
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certified energy metering (MID) and pressure-independent flow, energy efficiency, power control and delta T management in one device. The Energy Valve also monitors and instantly optimises energy consumption for optimal system performance. The Belimo Thermal Energy Meter™ is certified according to EN 1434/ MID and is equipped for remote, IoT-based billing. Belimo’s patented automated glycol monitoring and compensation, ensure that your measurement remains accurate, even if the glycol concentrations change. Apps and web tools support the design process and offer fast and simple commissioning at your fingertips. A truly digital approach and full transparency on the end users energy data, makes life easier. Seamless and direct integration to the BMS and equipped for IoTbased energy monitoring and billing, integration of energy-data has never been easier. One device provides all the
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
information you need to improve the energy performance of your system.
HIGH-QUALITY MEASUREMENT Thermal Energy Meters use ultrasonic transit time technology and as a result are dirt-resistant, wear free and they measure precisely. This is achieved thanks to a fast-measuring cycle. The multipoint wet calibration of each individual meter in production, ensures high accuracy over the entire flow measurement range.
MULTI-APPLICATION DEVICE The BelimoThermal Energy Meter™ can also be installed either in the return flow or in the supply flow of the system. The application and installation position are provided to the valve during setup using a smartphone and the Belimo Assistant App or using a laptop and the built in web-server.
COVER STORY NEWS CERTIFIED ENERGY METERING Belimo’s certified Thermal Energy Meters meet the requirements of EN1434 and have Type approval in accordance with the European Measuring Instruments Directive 2014/32/EU (MID). The certified devices bear the accompanying MID conformity marking. They provide validated data for invoicing purposes, which can be used for direct tenant billing. The Thermal Energy Meters are approved according to MID, for heat metering in pure water systems. Permanent glycol monitoring means that an alarm can be triggered if glycol is present in the water.
EVEN HIGHER ACCURACY USING AUTOMATIC GLYCOL COMPENSATION Our Thermal Energy Meters are also available as variant without MID/ EN 1434 approval. They can reliably measure energy, even when there is glycol in the water. They automatically and continuously measure the glycol content in the fluid, compensate for it and in doing so, ensure reliable ultrasonic volumetric flow measurement. The results in precise determination of the thermal energy. This model should be selected if you require automatic compensation for glycol such as sub-zero applications.
SIMPLIFIED ENERGY BILLING The Belimo Energy Valve™ and Thermal Energy Meters are ready for remote, IoT-based billing. Authorised users can access the data via a cloud interface. This means it can be easily integrated with other platforms and in turn, gives you maximum flexibility, when choosing your service provider. Thanks to the high data quality, the data can also be used for various other applications.
SIMPLE COMMISSIONING AND ACTIVATION THANKS TO NFC The Belimo Energy Valve™ and Thermal Energy Meter with NFC interface (Near Field Communication) enable easy configuration and maintenance directly from a smartphone. With the Belimo Assistant App, the devices can be configured intuitively and commissioning values can be logged. Key performance indicators, which make it easy to determine the “health status” of the device, ensure reliable operation. Numerous diagnostic parameters
show how the device interacts with the system during operation. If servicing is required, it is possible to draw up a failure analysis quickly.
EUROPEAN MEASURING INSTRUMENTS DIRECTIVE Depending on the desired application, Thermal Energy Meters that meet requirements of EN 1434 and have type approval according to the European Measuring Instruments Directive 2014/32/EU (MID) or devices with automatic glycol compensation are available. If the application requires a calibrated heat measurement, which can be used to settle the costs directly, the MID-approved Thermal Energy Meters are used.
FEATURES • Accurate measurement based on ultrasonic transit time technology • Ready for IoT-based billing • Simple setup and configuration with the Belimo Assistant App • Analogue/digital signal conversion of passive and active sensors or switches
• Analogue output (DC0...10V) is available and can output the flow rate or temperature of the fluid • Seamless integration in the building management system via bus communication • Device can be powered and data can be transferred directly via an Ethernet cable (PoE)
MULTIFUNCTIONAL DEVICES WITH CONNECTION TO THE CLOUD Connection to the Belimo cloud offers not just an extension of the guarantee by two years to seven years but a whole host of benefits. By maintaining a digital twin of the Energy valve in the cloud, authorised users are free to interact with the data directly, or device owners can authorise a third party to provide billing or even analytical services. The possibilities are endless and continue to grow daily. www.belimo.co.uk
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
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MONITORING & METERING
SUPPLY OR DEMAND? At present, there’s a lot of discussion in print and online about the future of our electricity supply networks, and in particular, about the changes that will be needed to meet future requirements such as providing power for charging electric vehicles. Much of the discussion focuses on ways of increasing network and generating capacity but, says Julian Grant of Chauvin Arnoux, is this really the right place to start?
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t’s hardly a secret that the demand for electrical power is growing: in 1970, energy usage in the UK was 170 TWh, but by 2017 this had increased to 301 TWh. Projections for future growth in demand vary, but even the most conservative of the four principal scenarios currently being considered by the National Grid shows a large increase. In fact, it has been predicted that electric vehicle charging alone will result in an increase in peak demand of between 3.5 and 8 GW. To put this in perspective, the existing peak demand is around 60 GW, and the output of the massive new Hinckley Point C nuclear power station will be 3.2 GW. Clearly, finding this extra power will be no trivial exercise – especially bearing in mind that we’ve considered only electric vehicles and that there are sure to be other factors that will increase electricity consumption. The good news is that the supply authorities have expressed confidence that they will be able to reliably support our electrical power requirements for the foreseeable future. The steps they are taking to deliver on this promise are widely reported: new and ever bigger windfarms, huge solar PV installations and, of course, Hinckley Point C. But are we missing a trick? Sure, adding more generating capacity is an important element in ensuring future energy security, but it’s not without its downsides – although these receive far less publicity. Downside number one is that all this extra capacity costs money – a lot of money. And where will this money come from? Ultimately from you, the energy consumer. Downside number two is that, although much of the new generating capacity is ‘green’, that doesn’t entirely break the link between energy usage and environmental impact. In reality, whatever the energy source, energy consumption adversely affects the environment. Wind and solar power are, of course, much more benign in this respect than coal and oil, but there’s still a significant effect. What can be done? Actually, the answer is in your hands, especially if you are an industrial or commercial consumer of
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electricity. The first step is to realise that, although all the razzmatazz about meeting future energy needs is focussed on the supply side – those new power stations and wind farms – there is at least as much to be done on the demand side. This is much less ‘sexy’, of course, and therefore much less likely to make the headlines. Look at it this way, though. If your car is delivering poor fuel consumption because you have a leaky fuel tank, you probably wouldn’t say there was a need for additional filling stations so you could be sure of keeping it topped up. Hopefully you might first tackle the leak! So it is with energy. As long as energy is being wasted, it is surely folly to concentrate all our efforts on building extra generating capacity to feed that waste; a better solution has to be to stop or at least minimise the waste. At this point, you may well be thinking that reducing energy wastage is unlikely to make a significant dent in the future growth of energy demand. If you are, here are a few statistics to consider. The Carbon Trust says that 20% of energy used in business is wasted because of inefficient equipment. A British Gas survey has revealed that 46% of energy is used out of hours, when the business is supposedly closed. Incandescent lighting uses five times the energy of modern LED luminaires for the same amount of light and fitting variable speed drives can, in many applications, reduce motor energy usage by 50% or more. Finally, and perhaps most shockingly, a recent survey has shown that as many as 50% of businesses have electrical installations with power factors of 0.7 or worse and so are, in effect, paying 30% more than they need to for their electricity. To put all of this in a nutshell, almost any business can, with a little effort and only modest expenditure, reduce its energy usage dramatically. Chauvin Arnoux’s experience is that, in most cases, savings of 20% are easily achieved. The benefits are threefold: loading on the grid is reduced, which helps to ensure the security of future energy supplies; the carbon footprint of your business is reduced, which is a factor increasingly often considered by
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
customers who may be thinking of awarding you a contract; and, last but very definitely not least, your energy bills will fall, delivering savings that will go straight to the bottom line of your company’s balance sheet. That has to be excellent news all round, even if it isn’t quite the material headlines are made of! But where do you start to make those energy savings? The old adage that what you can’t measure you can’t control is pretty threadbare but is nonetheless apt in these circumstances. To identify where you can save energy in your business, you need to accurately measure when and where you’re using it. The best way to do this for electrical systems is with a PEL – a portable energy logger – such as the Chauvin Arnoux PEL103. You can easily install this at almost any point in your electrical installation, where it will measure and record all key electrical parameters such as voltage, current, power, power factor and harmonics. Armed with this information, identifying opportunities for saving energy becomes a straightforward and rewarding task, as has been discussed in more detail in previous articles in this series. If you didn’t see these articles or if you would simply like more information, contact us at Chauvin Arnoux and we’ll be happy to help. And don’t forget, it’s not just the supply side that needs to change to ensure the security of future energy supplies – change is equally important for the demand side. You have your part to play and, unusually for a situation where you’ll be benefitting others, you will also be saving money! www.chauvin-arnoux.co.uk
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MONITORING & METERING
DATA – THE MEASURE OF SUSTAINABILITY ON THE ROAD TO NET ZERO
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nergy managers in industrial and commercial (I&C) settings have a critical role to play in greening Britain’s economy. The good news is that the enabling technologies that can transform energy efficiency in buildings already exist. This matters because the government aim is to reduce emissions in the UK by 2030 by at least 68% compared to 1990 levels. Indeed, the goal is to achieve a 78% reduction by 2035, but achieving this will require a transformation of building energy efficiency, particularly in the I&C sector. In this context, metering, monitoring and data analytics have never been more important. In short, data is now the measure of sustainability. Industrial and commercial metering and data specialists, Energy Assets, is working closely with Energy Managers to turn halfhourly gas and electricity data delivered automatically by advanced meters into benchmarks measuring energy efficiency. “The availability of monitoring and reporting portals coupled with innovations in machine learning is helping managers to cut through huge swathes of data to bring greater clarity than ever before to decision-making around energy and sustainability,” said Stewart Love, Group Commercial Director at Energy Assets. “With new and evolving digital tools in their armoury, organisations are able to bear down on energy consumption, to shape their efficiency strategies and to contribute to the nation’s wider sustainability challenges on the journey to Net Zero. “This will be increasingly important as businesses adapt to a future characterised by greater electrification, the integration of renewables and innovations in demand response.” Energy Assets has developed an end-to-end suite of services to help organisations sharpen their focus on saving energy, including advanced metering, an aM&T dashboard – WebAnalyser – and an AI-informed machine learning service that progressively learns what optimal energy performance looks like – AMR DNA. “Even now, it’s still surprising how many businesses look upon energy consumption as a fixed overhead, but with the insights available through metering and monitoring systems, managers can actively develop robust and long-term energy management practices…and save money,” said Stewart.
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“For example, according to the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), companies with a progressive aM&T regime can achieve average energy savings of 10-15% over nonmonitored estates.” WebAnalyser integrates data from gas, water and electricity meters to give clarity over consumption profiles. This platform includes the ability to set alarms to flag deviation from defined consumption parameters, and to rank and compare site efficiency and carbon performance vs benchmarks over defined periods. It is also possible to track the impact of renewables on energy costs and carbon emissions and filter building reporting by footprint area. Energy Assets believes that one area often overlooked in energy optimisation strategies is sub-metering. Said Stewart: “Whether it’s electricity or water, sub-metering can be an incredibly valuable way of understanding utilities consumption…and saving money. “For larger single site operations – such as offices, industrial plants or hospitals sub-metering provides the ability to monitor energy usage by floorplate or function. It also enables the collection of data linked to carbon reduction obligations and the Energy Savings Opportunities Scheme. “In multi-occupancy settings, such as retail centres, service stations or transport hubs, sub-metering enables businesses to monitor their energy usage more accurately – and make positive changes - rather than being charged on a broader measure such as footprint.” Having all this data available, whether through fiscal meters or sub-metering, offers exciting opportunities to leverage the power of machine learning. For example, through its data analytics service - AMR DNA - Energy Assets is helping companies analyse reams of consumption data using machine learning informed by artificial intelligence. AMR DNA uses this data to develop energy consumption profiles and, as the dataset grows, the system can spot tell-tale ‘fingerprints’ of energy waste
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
– such as heating or cooling controls incorrectly set - and then provide a checklist of priority actions to drive up efficiency and reduce energy costs. All the while, using meter data, the system progressively learns what optimal performance looks like, taking account of variables such as weather information and consumption on comparative sites. This enables AMR DNA to spot patterns outside the expected norm – and once learned, it continues to analyse half hourly data progressively to provide checklists of opportunities for enhanced efficiency. “In short, machine learning does the heavy lifting for energy managers when it comes to making sense of data,” said Stewart. “The software will free up staff time and enable skilled professionals to get on with managing energy performance rather than poring over data, thereby opening up more opportunities for cost savings and carbon reduction.” Indeed, carbon reduction is increasingly a focus for Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance strategies as organisations align themselves with the roadmap to Net Zero. This means that management teams will be watching how their energy performance compares with similar organisations and mindful of the opportunities for better carbon performance enabled by innovation. www.energyassets.co.uk Energy Assets provides utility suppliers, third party intermediaries, developers, contractors, and industrial and commercial end-users with a broad spectrum of expert multi-utility metering and energy-related services. This includes enabling customers to collect, monitor and analyse energy consumption data.
BOILERS & BURNERS
DO WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN Commissioning of new boilers and heating systems must be prioritised if the anticipated energy and emissions savings are to be achieved, says Neville Small, Key Accounts Director at Baxi Heating.
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nergy efficiency measures are vital to help the UK achieve its 2050 net zero emissions target. But gaps in building performance can be holding some businesses and organisations back from reaching their environmental goals. So how can energy managers avoid an energy performance gap? When it comes to heating, a straightforward solution to optimal performance is to ensure thorough commissioning of new heating equipment and heating systems. Heating is widely acknowledged as a natural target to increase efficiency and comfort in buildings. Depending on the nature of the building and the available budget, improvements might take the form of a full refurbishment of the heating system or replacement of ageing and inefficient boiler plant with more energy-efficient condensing boilers. Whatever the approach, it’s essential to bear in mind that heating equipment will only perform as designed if it is installed and maintained correctly – regardless of its efficiency credentials.
ACHIEVING OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE Take boilers, a key component of the plant room in most non-domestic buildings. Whether the sole provider of heat or working alongside low carbon technology, it’s essential that boilers are installed in such a way that they perform optimally from the outset. The next step is to maintain them according to manufacturer instructions to ensure that they continue to achieve the same high efficiencies throughout their lifetime. Commissioning has a fundamental part to play in ensuring energyefficient boiler operation. It is the critical stage of a commercial boiler
installation that provides assurance that the specified output, efficiency and emission levels will be achieved. In other words, commissioning ensures that the boilers do what they say on the tin.
WHAT DOES COMMISSIONING INVOLVE? Boiler commissioning consists of a series of installation, safety, operation, performance and failure checks, carried out by certified professionals – typically the manufacturer’s specialist engineers. • Detailed installation checks ensure that the system is installed according to the specification and manufacturer guidelines. • Rigorous safety checks ascertain that the system operates safely and responds correctly in all conditions. • Comprehensive operational testing makes sure the system operates and responds appropriately. • Full performance testing ensures that the boiler performs as is intended, producing the specified output, efficiency and emission levels.
WHOLE LIFE EFFICIENCY A robust commissioning process will identify any potential issues or mistakes at the outset and enable them to be caught and fixed prior to handover. The larger the boiler, the greater the requirement for thorough commissioning to ensure optimum performance and avoid additional energy consumption in the short and longer term from incorrect installation. As commissioning takes place at the end of installation, there can be a tendency to rush the process on projects that have fallen slightly behind schedule. But in so doing, important opportunities can be missed to involve operational managers and facilities management providers in the efficient running of the equipment. For example, this is the chance to record the initial settings that the manufacturer specifies, and to note any tips for the operation and future maintenance of the boiler. Information like this will help avoid unnecessary increases in energy consumption, emission levels and maintenance costs and will prolong the lifespan of the boiler.
SAFETY FIRST Crucially, commissioning provides peace of mind that the product will work safely. Heating systems and equipment that are not commissioned properly can pose safety risks to the building occupier. But carrying out thorough boiler commissioning will ensure both the predicted high performance from the equipment and its safe operation. It will test that it responds in a safe and controlled manner during failures or shutdowns. It is important to note that commissioning is a legal requirement to ensure adherence to Building Regulations and GasSafe guidelines1.
EXTENDED WARRANTIES Many local authorities specify manufacturer-led commissioning for certainty that the commercial boiler is set up according to manufacturer recommendations from day one. After all, no-one knows a product or how to optimise its efficiency better than the manufacturer. A further benefit is the extended boiler warranty – up to five additional years in some cases – that some heating manufacturers offer on condition that the appliance is commissioned by their own engineers. It’s a win-win scenario as manufacturers as much as energy managers and building operators want to ensure that their equipment will perform as intended.
ACHIEVING GOALS Ultimately, the importance of boiler commissioning cannot be overstated given its potential to secure the ongoing high performance and safety credentials of a heating system. Opting for manufacturer-led commissioning is a great way to access enhanced warranties and to set the boiler controls so that the system works efficiently and can easily be maintained through regular servicing. Occupant comfort aside, commissioning provides energy managers with the assurance of maximum efficiency gains and carbon footprint reduction. By ensuring that the boilers do what they say on the tin, energy managers are one step closer to achieving their environmental goals and setting their buildings on the path to net zero. www.remeha.co.uk/ customer-support/commissioning 1 Ref: IGEM/UP/10 Edition 4 Section 10
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ENERGY MANAGEMENT
COST EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES TO BUILDING ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
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he revolution in the student accommodation sector over the last decade has provided practically every university town with developments that offer a real home from home experience for their occupants. Draughty halls of residence with wafer thin mattresses are now few and far between. With 2.8 students vying for each room, demand is high and providers are enticing freshers with comfortable, well-appointed accommodation that includes superfast broadband, private bathrooms, their own cooking facilities, gyms, pools and even cinema rooms. To make moving in even more attractive many offer all-inclusive packages that include utility bills. Great news for the students who don’t need to worry, at the end of the month, whether they have sufficient funds for the gas, water and electric bill. But, for an energy manager trying to balance the books, giving free reign, to a building full of students with control over their own environmental temperature, can prove to be a headache! There are building energy management systems that provide excellent features to manage the use of energy across these types of buildings, but these call for serious capital expenditure and can be disruptive to install. Often, they are too big for the job – the proverbial sledgehammer to crack
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a nut. At the other end of the scale are wall heaters with built in thermostatic controls. Most can be set and then locked, the intention being to restrict the length of time a higher temperature can be held, however, the average undergrad will soon work out or Google search, that holding the button for three seconds gives them full access to ‘set the controls for the heart of the sun!’ Occupying the middle ground are intelligent thermostatic controls that are programmed locally. Most commonly they are connected to electric panel heaters or fluid-filled radiators but they can also control ‘wet’ systems. The benefit of a thermostat that isn’t part of the heater is that they monitor temperature more accurately and the combination of a no-control heater and the thermostat is more cost effective than an integrated heater/control. An added benefit is that if either part malfunctions, only the heater or the thermostat needs replacing, as opposed to an expensive integrated unit. Thermostats such as the ecostat2 range from Prefect controls operate the 3-stage student profile – Setback, Boost and Frost modes. Setback mode keeps the room at a predetermined temperature often 18-20°C. If the occupant requires more heat, they simply press the ‘up’ button which activates Boost mode, this raises the temperature
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
for a set period of time, commonly 22°C for 45 minutes. When the time has elapsed, the programme reverts to Setback temperature. If the button isn’t pressed again for a set period, often 12 hours, Frost mode engages which reduces energy input but maintains the room temperature at a level that avoids frost or damp, often 10°C. The 3-stage profile ensures energy is only used when required. The range of thermostats includes, units for corridors or communal areas that have no user controls; units with Boost/off user control; and PIR models, which when set to absence detection will cut short the Boost mode if the occupant leaves the room during operation. All models feature open-window detection. Heaters can only operate when fitted with the patented EnergyLock key which is supplied with the thermostat, making the system fully Lot20 compliant. A dedicated handset is used to programme the thermostats with time and temperature details. When programming is complete each unit is locked, meaning adjustments can only be made by authorised personnel. All responsible accommodation providers are painstakingly looking at how to achieve their net-zero targets. Reviewing the control of unnecessary energy use could be the remedy for that headache. prefectcontrols.com
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ENERGY MANAGEMENT
DO YOU NEED A CONSULTANT?
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n odd question for the Managing Director of a consultancy to pose, I’ll grant you that… But the answer isn’t as clear cut as we would like it to be. A better question for you to first ask is “What am I trying to achieve?”. With over a thousand Third Party Intermediaries (TPIs) in the UK energy market, there is a consultancy offering to meet almost every budget and service requirement, which can vary drastically from organisation to organisation. However, regardless of whether you are a micro entity or a global corporation, almost all organisations have or will soon have similar core requirements and responsibilities regarding energy. Some of these are outlined below: • Purchasing Management - ensuring costs are reduced and budgets are protected while achieving any additional qualitative business requirements. • Financial Auditing and Reporting - ensuring budgets are set, accruals are accurate, and bills are validated prior to payment. • Consumption Monitoring, Reporting and Targeting - ensuring that the organisation can set, reach, and exceed consumption reduction targets. • Carbon and Legislative Reporting – ensuring that constantly moving and improving reporting requirements are met accurately, to aid the organisation and wider global community to combat climate change. • Data and Portfolio Management – ensuring that an accurate database of sites, meters, contracts, costs, consumption, and carbon data is maintained to enable all other functions to operate efficiently and accurately. Whereas the above list is by no means exhaustive, it provides a baseline for discussion by enabling organisations to ask three important questions - Do I have the knowledge? Do I have the time? Do I have the tools to carry out these functions internally? It is also important to remember that these questions can be asked and answered independently for each of the functions listed, because engaging with a consultant is not an all or nothing decision. As it is not a consultancy’s role to decide if an organisation needs their help, but the organisation itself who should have the power to make the decision, we have designed the below decision matrix to aid independent decision-making. The matrix is designed to identify strengths that would enable an organisation to manage their own energy affairs, and weaknesses that may require
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support from a third party. For the purpose of this article the matrix has been pre-filled with answers from an example organisation. To use the matrix yourself, simply answer between 1 (Does not have Knowledge/Time/Tools) and 10 (Has Knowledge/Time/Tools). Any function with a score of lower than 5 may require a consultant’s assistance, those higher than 5 may be managed internally. In the scenario provided we can see an organisation that has strong knowledge in purchasing, consumption monitoring and portfolio management, but lacks the systems for purchasing and the time to effectively monitor usage. Given access to the correct tools for purchasing, the limited time available to apply to this function could in fact be enough to carry it out internally, if the tools save time on processing and analysis. The organisation is close to being self-sufficient in terms of energy monitoring but may benefit from consultancy support with planning and implementing change. Unfortunately, the organisation does not have strong enough knowledge, available time, or adequate tools for financial or carbon reporting to accurately perform the functions internally. For these functions the organisation would benefit from appointing an external consultant. The social, environmental, and financial cost of energy management
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
Alex Hill, Managing Director – ZTP
within any organisation is of critical importance, especially given the current period of rapid change in reporting requirements, technological advancements and charging structures. This can lead to organisations opting to outsource all energy-related functions to an external team that are seemingly better placed to mitigate these risks as they have more knowledge, time and better tools. However, this may not always be the best approach, as we can see in the scenario. Sometimes a hybrid approach may yield the best results, with the organisation taking more ownership of the functions where they are stronger and augmenting their team with consultants in areas where they are weaker. The benefits of this approach lie not only in reduced consultancy costs for the organisation, but from having in-house hands-on personnel who know the business, engaged in its energy management journey. Do you need a consultant? Possibly…but first consider your internal strengths and build from there. www.ztpuk.com
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HEATING
RINNAI N SERIES LIMITLESS HOT WATER UNITS ‘HYDROGEN BLEND READY’ NOW Hot water heating unit and system manufacturer Rinnai has announced that, after an extensive testing and verification process, its current Sensei N Series range is ‘Hydrogen ready’ now for the proposed initial supply of hydrogen blends fed through the existing gas infrastructure.
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he Sensei N Series can by powered by a blend of up to 30% hydrogen, Rinnai UK is also in advanced development of units which can handle the complete hydrogen gas supply. The appliance is described as ‘out of the box’ design engineered and approved to be installed for use on natural gas. But the same unit is futureproofed - because following a conversion and re-commissioning process in the field it will then operate safely and efficiently solely using a hydrogen supply. The launch of this next phase Rinnai appliance will align with the grid blend upgrade to ensure natural product lifecycles can be followed. All Rinnai units are guaranteed to provide limitless volumes of temperature accurate hot water flows, provided fuel and water connection are constant. The Rinnai Sensei N Series continuous flow hot water heater range offers a more compact, enhanced combustion design that allows for easier installation, superior operational performance as well as ease 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 are the market leading extended warranties, that accompany these hydrogen ready appliances. The four models are: the N1600i giving 954 litres per hour; the N1600e (external) also giving 954 litres per hour (at 50 degrees);
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the N1300i giving 775 litres per hour and the N1300e also giving 775 litres per hours of temperature controlled at 50 degrees. The two 1600s have load profiles of XXL and are water efficiency class A rated, while the 1300s are load profile XL and are also water efficiency class A rated. The range are also low-NOx, and the futureproofed continuous flow water heaters have several global patents on main components. The range utilises Rinnai’s patented advanced technology with a 13-1 turn down ratio – the largest on the market – with extremely quiet operation. Integral controls on the units enable the water heater to achieve high efficiencies because of advanced burner control and high modulation ranges. This wide range of modulation means that energy usage is completely optimised as the water heater, through smart inbuilt controls, will only heat the water to the temperature required, thus preserving energy. Other features include: • Flue up to 30+ metres for concentric • Turbo Fan • Built-in controller as standard on both internal and external models • Cascade Cable assembly allows up to 24 water heaters to be connected and function as one total and complete system. Any number of N-series Rinnai water heaters can be manifolded together enabling the largest capacities on the market. • Built in flue damper
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
• Air inlet filter • Frost Protection – minus 15°C on the internal versions and minus 20 °C on the external versions • New PCB Design • Controller as standard – Lockable, set up of appliance, Temperature set up to 75°C • Maintenance Monitor for engineers Rinnai is a true global player in the manufacture of domestic and commercial appliances and operates in almost 50 countries. Rinnai is the world’s leading manufacturer of continuous flow hot water systems - it makes and sells 2 million units each year. The range of units can be manifolded to supply limitless hot water to any size of any site in any industry or sector – healthcare, hospitality, manufacture, leisure parks, foodservice, retail, office blocks and hospitals. For more information on Hydrogen including CPD courses, training and Hydrogen capability within situ Rinnai appliances call 01928 531 870 or email engineer@rinnaiuk.com or sales@rinnaiuk.com www.rinnaiuk.com
All student accommodation requires heating. Thermostats are the go-to device to regulate many heating systems. However, thermostats are a very blunt instrument for energy efficiency.
Why have thermostats when you could have control? Both our systems work in similar ways; they give students control over their room temperature; are programmable for temperature and time periods; and reduce energy use in unoccupied rooms. ecostat2 is a self-contained local control - while Irus is accessed from a secure internet portal. Irus captures data from each room including humidity, light, decibel and CO2* levels. It also controls water heating, detects leaks and produces water safety reports (in terms of Legionella risk). Our controls are always striving to minimise the use of heat. The 3-stage profile keeps students comfortable while they are in their rooms but, ensures energy isn’t wasted when rooms are empty – making potential savings of 30-40%*.
ecostat2 Programmed locally
Irus - Centrally controlled via the internet portal
prefectcontrols.com • 01787 320604 The ETL symbol is a UK registered certification mark of the Department of Energy and Climate Change - Authorised User: 02371
* Savings are dependant on building, current control methods and settings used.
OPINION
ELECTRIC VEHICLES –
SUPPORTING POWER DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES AS THE UK SHIFTS ITS FOCUS TO RENEWABLE ENERGY Supply chain risk and performance management firm, Achilles
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ustainability is a prominent feature on everyone’s agenda – we all understand the importance of tackling the climate crisis. Ambitious government targets are now in place to achieve zero carbon status and businesses measure their environmental impact via investorlinked ESG measurement tools. But, while slashing carbon emissions is essential, and we all understand the need to introduce new tactics to support that goal – including switching to renewable energy sources – it’s a huge shift that brings many challenges. Transport is one of the most pressing concerns, not least due to the scale of the task ahead. Most UK households now run more than one car; then there are commercial vehicles to add into the equation. The phasing out of petrol and diesel cars and the introduction of Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) by 2030 is essential to attain zero carbon status by 2050 – but is the UK positioned to make it happen?
MAKING THE SWITCH TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES 6.5 million households plan to purchase an electric car or a plug-in hybrid within the next five years; 1 in 4 UK households. By 2030 no new internal combustion vehicles will be sold, at which point the government anticipates around 18 million battery and hybrid vehicles to be on the road. By 2035, all new cars and vans must release zero emissions from the tailpipe. The figures illustrate the scale of the challenge for the utilities industry, with increasing pressure on power networks and infrastructure as the number of charging stations grow, along with battery storage for ULEVs. Networks and dated infrastructure must be able to support
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new forms of power and the increased demand. Will UK power companies be able to support the shift?
FUTUREPROOFING UK POWER NETWORKS The reality is, most of the UK’s power grids were designed many years ago for a much simpler set-up, with large fossil fuel plants delivering power in one direction only; infrastructure that is no longer fit for purpose when managing a system with large-scale, intermittent energy generation and new technologies including electric vehicles, batteries, wind turbines and solar panels. However, UK utilities companies are focused on ensuring that the country’s networks and infrastructure is fit for the future, yielding extraordinary innovation and exciting new technologies. These new innovations are underpinned by notable capital investment – Ofgem has channelled millions into the creation of a more flexible energy system to support the electrification of vehicles, renewable energy generation and low carbon heat, supporting the huge transformation expected in the coming years.
SUPPLY CHAIN ASSURANCE At a time of significant change and huge investment in innovation
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
programmes and new technologies, it’s more important than ever for utility companies to maintain transparency within the supply chain, ensuring that their suppliers are supporting their wider sustainability priorities while adhering to the utility sectors’ stringent regulations. As power companies strive to deliver exciting new projects and groundbreaking new technologies, Achilles’ UVDB pre-qualification system is helping utility firms to achieve the highest standards of supply chain assurance. Achilles supports the utilities supply chain with the data tools needed to find the right suppliers for the job, with buyers sourcing partners via UVDB. It allows power companies to make better, more informed decisions about their suppliers, leaving them free to focus on the innovations that will transform society.
OPINION UK POWER NETWORKS - TRANSFORMING INFRASTRUCTURE UK Power Networks (UKPN), a buyer within the Achilles UVDB scheme, is an excellent example of the work taking place to create new technologies and ensure energy infrastructure remains fit for purpose. UKPN recently announced the creation of a ‘virtual power station’ to aid in managing increased demand for electricity at peak times at lower cost, helping to manage the shift towards low carbon energy technology. Sul Alli, director of strategy and customer services at UKPN, said: “Britain is leading the world at harnessing the power of all these electric vehicle batteries that are going to be connected and using them for public good. Three years ago, this market didn’t exist and now it’s offering as much capacity as a gas-fired power station. We’re working with some of the most exciting startups out there, and we’re proving it in the real world. There’s a long way to go and no silver bullet, but the way we’re using technology and data is going to be a big part of the answer to meeting the challenge of reaching Net Zero.” Our ability to embrace renewable energy rests on these new technologies, re-defining what is possible.
BATTERY STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION Along with energy generation and
managing power through the grid, battery storage and distribution must also evolve to support an electric-powered society. Homes will need to be altered to facilitate at-home charging, with curb-side charging installed for millions of people who don’t have a driveway. Britain’s energy regulator approved a £300m capital injection to help triple the number of ultra-rapid electric car charge points across the UK as part of its efforts to accelerate the shift to clean energy. Ofgem has also given the green light for energy network companies to invest in more than 200 low-carbon projects across the UK over the next two years, including the installation of 1,800 new ultra-rapid car charge points for motorway service stations and a further 1,750 charge points in towns and cities. In addition, Foresight recently announced an investment of up to £12.7m in a new battery storage project in the UK, which is expected to be completed and ready for commercial operation by October 2022.
KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND COLLABORATION Knowledge sharing and collaboration will play a major role in driving new innovation and creating new technology as we target a zero carbon future Northern Powergrid’s project to create the UK’s first ‘silent power van’ illustrates the benefit of collaboration in tackling a challenging and complicated issue. Northern Powergrid is responsible for delivering power to 3.9 million homes
and businesses across the North East, Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire. It created the SilentPower vehicles in partnership with British energy storage SMEs, Hyperdrive Innovation and Offgrid Energy, revolutionising temporary power restoration in the UK. Its on-board energy storage system eliminates noisy, polluting diesel generators, cleanly restoring power to homes and businesses during temporary maintenance or power outages. As part of Achilles’ UVDB network, Northern Powergrid was able to ensure that supply chain partners met the right criteria, reducing risk and giving the business confidence to press ahead with the project.
SUPPLY CHAIN ASSURANCE With significant capital investment at stake as the utility industry makes the switch to renewable energy and the mass introduction of ULEVs, it’s vital that utilities companies understand their supply chain capabilities, pinpointing weaknesses and ensuring that suppliers share the same sustainability credentials. The industry is tackling one of the biggest shifts in its history – while the UK is not quite there yet, exciting new technology and emerging capabilities will facilitate the transition to ULEVs, including fit for purpose power networks, new infrastructure and the capacity to meet additional demand for electricity. Creating and maintaining a sustainable, innovative supply chain will be key to success. www.achilles.com
Public Sector
Sustainability Promoting sustainability across the public sector
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR SUSTAINABILITY ASSOCIATION Register now to receive your digital issue of PSS Magazine FREE of charge www.pssa.info ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
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OPINION
STEPPING UP TO NET ZERO BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE
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s pressure mounts on UK businesses to be working towards the Government’s net zero target, now is the time for them to address how a net zero strategy can become part of their purpose. Whilst 2050 seems like a long way off, mitigating climate change, improving climate resilience, and protecting our planet for the future rely on decisions that are being made here and now. Decisions that require bold action to turn net zero pledges, into plans. As a reminder of the global pledge to tackle the climate emergency, leaders at the recent G7 summit made a commitment to phase out coal-fired power and deliver $100bn to help low-income nations decarbonise. They also agreed to produce a roadmap that sets out concrete pathways to net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2050, as well as a commitment to introduce mandatory climate reporting, both to be agreed on before November’s COP26 conference. Adding further pressure, a recent independent report published by the Climate Change Committee, concluded that the UK is struggling to keep pace with climate change impacts. To ensure that societal, economic, and environmental goals remain achievable in the face of climate change, it urgently calls for leadership from the UK Government, stressing that the longer action is delayed, the greater the cost of managing the negative effects climate change will bring. Later this year leaders at COP26 will call on countries to back more ambitious carbon reduction targets, find ways to help economies adapt to climate change, and harness innovation in a bid to drive down carbon emissions to net zero. It is widely expected that the decisions made will enforce greater action more quickly, hitting commercial markets in a way net zero policy hasn’t before. The message is, if net zero hasn’t been a priority for you yet, it soon will be.
BENEFITS FOR BUSINESS Many organisations are used to the idea of practicing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and increasingly, setting in place an Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) strategy to work towards specific corporate goals, but actively reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions can be complicated and taxing on resources. So, it is understandable when given the choice,
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many organisations want to know first what is in net zero for them. For starters, elevating a business as a leader of sustainability can attract investors, customers, and talent, make stakeholders happy and differentiate it from competitors. Increasingly in a world where consumer opinion is king, and attitudes to products and services have changed due to concern about climate change, successful businesses need to be aligning their strategy with that consumer demand. Driving down emissions can also help organisations meet and even exceed regulatory and compliance requirements, which can be used to promote their green credentials. Often these requirements can be seen as unwelcome and costly, an expense that many organisations can ill afford. However, on the pathway to net zero, the ambition to lower their carbon emissions can for some organisations be prioritised over cost. We work with organisations, for example, who are choosing to make big changes to their operations, such as turning off polluting generators, in order to reduce their emissions. These changes will cost them more to implement, but they have made the decision to prioritise their net zero roadmap. Finally, there are big cost savings to be made from aligning a business strategy with net zero. Making operational efficiencies, adopting new tech that can automate and streamline processes and, instilling good energy efficient habits in workforce all help reduce overheads, relieve resources and cut costs.
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Legally obliged to or not, beginning the process of reporting scope 1, 2 or 3 emissions is a valuable step in reprioritising objectives and putting net zero higher up on the business agenda.
THERE CAN BE CHALLENGES Adopting a net zero roadmap and taking those first steps towards reducing emissions is a significant undertaking for any businesses. With COVID-19 causing much disruption for over a year, leaders are expectedly compelled to focus on rebuilding their core business. They may have a strong desire to reduce emissions and build a net zero strategy but financing dramatic operational change or training is often seen as a barrier, particularly for SMEs. Many businesses lack a dedicated energy department and will feel held back by lack of knowledge and resource to implement effective carbon-reduction strategies. Further challenges may come from managing net zero activities up and down the supply chain which falls outside of an organisations direct control. This is where purchasing power can be utilised to encourage suppliers to set their own net zero targets. This isn’t always a credible option for some organisations, especially in the SME space, but it is becoming an increasingly important factor in maintaining a competitive edge. Reaching net zero in just under 30 years seems like a mammoth task, but it is not insurmountable. Because every area of a business is impacted by carbon reduction, embedding small changes
OPINION within the culture of the organisation can have a big impact. In order to be successful though, change needs to come from the policy makers and leaders, those with the ability to choose and deliver on those net zero promises.
STEP CHANGE The overall responsibility, strategic direction and priorities for net zero must come from the top. This means creating meaningful space at board level to ensure that strategic development is accompanied with net zero in mind. The Climate Change Committee’s 2021 progress report to Parliament calls for the Government to introduce a “net zero test” that would ensure every policy and regulation passed meets the criteria for achieving net zero by 2050. This approach can be replicated in business. To accelerate success, net zero must be weaved into the fabric of an organisation so that every decision made works towards meeting the net zero goal. An approach like this is supported by developing a company wide understanding of a carbon reduction journey. Net zero is something that will affect all people; an organisation’s actions can inspire and educate the behaviour of their workforce beyond the business and into their personal lives. Shifting the entire organisation’s mindset to think about the energy they use, how they use it and its impact to them
personally through behaviour change is invaluable when it comes to paving the way for a long-term net zero strategy. An engaged workforce can advance energy efficiency measures that help to drive down energy usage, eliminate waste, and deliver financial savings. Not only will it create a more comfortable working environment but seeing change through reporting will help to provide clarity to inform a board’s net zero strategy. It will also put things into perspective when it comes to what long term projects will boost further carbon savings and help to prepare for future change. With that in mind, an overarching, board level plan that builds and gains momentum is more achievable when various milestones are set and there is room to pivot with changing operations, new technology, and inevitable legislation updates.
SEEKING GUIDANCE Businesses, particularly SMEs, who may be less prepared for net zero, will be welcoming more guidance from the Government. As an outcome of G7, a dedicated strategy is expected to be published prior to the COP26 climate summit later this year, outlining how efforts to deliver a global transition to net-zero will be reached. But more mandatory reporting, also proposed, could be challenging for those who are not used to environmental reporting. Along with
tackling energy efficiency measures, changing behaviour towards energy use within your organisation, and building in monitoring and targeting will help to protect your business from any tighter regulations in the future. The expectation is that climate leaders will use COP 26 to accelerate the transition to and support the net zero economy. So, for organisations that have yet to be impacted by current legislation, or have been planning to wait until nearer 2050, they should be ready to respond to any new regulations. Yes, it is Governments that set the targets and implement the policies, but it is businesses around the world that must deliver the change.
ABOUT TEAM TEAM is the UK’s leading supplier of carbon and energy management solutions committed to driving the efficiency and sustainability of energy consumption and environmental awareness. Its expert team works in partnership with organisations to design and deliver tailored management strategies supporting the provision of efficient and effective energy conservation. The organisation’s 35-year history of collaborating with energy and sustainability professionals has led to the development of proven, scalable cloudbased solutions and service innovations for optimised reporting, cost recovery and compliance. www.teamenergy.com
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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
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DRIVING THE FUTURE
EVOLVE YOUR FLEET
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ransport electrification is a hot topic. The 2030 ban on new fossil fuel and hybrid vehicles is just a couple of replacement cycles away, so it’s no surprise that many organisations are challenging themselves to take greater steps towards positive change. The good news is, electrification poses a real opportunity for organisations with significant transportation needs. If you’re considering electric vehicles (EVs) for your business, you’re moving in the right direction.
WHY ELECTRIFY YOUR FLEET?
Start with a full review of your current fleet usage to understand your operational requirements. Consider factors like mileage (per trip and per day), load requirements, areas of operation and resting locations as a starter for 10. Follow with a total cost of ownership (TCO) calculation. Influential factors include cost of ‘refuelling’ with electricity versus diesel or petrol, ongoing maintenance requirements, and any tax benefits and toll, levy or congestion-charge exemptions. The insight from your fleet review and TCO come together to create your business case.
ZERO TAILPIPE EMISSIONS
2 VEHICLE RECOMMENDATION
EVs produce no carbon dioxide (CO2), no nitrogen oxide (NOx) and no tailpipe particulates (atmospheric aerosol particles).
LOW MAINTENANCE COSTS With no engine, no transmission and no gearbox, there’s less to go wrong in an EV, meaning lower running costs.
RENEWABLE ENERGY ADVANTAGES EVs form part of a business’s sustainability plan. Savvy businesses with on-site renewable energy generation can charge their fleet at no additional fuel cost.
UNBEATABLE INSIGHT EV fleets can leverage state-of-the-art telematics, building an accurate and realtime overview of your fleet operation.
FUTURE-PROOF BUSINESS The government has mandated the end of new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030 – putting the UK on course to be the fastest G7 country to decarbonise cars and vans.
8 STEPS TO ELECTRIFICATION Electrification isn’t something you can achieve overnight. There are many moving parts to consider before you start reaping the benefits. But this process doesn’t need to be problematic. There are eight essential steps that put fleet managers on the road to electrification. Whether you embark on the journey solo, or engage a specialist partner, planning will help you implement, manage and optimise an EV plan that has success and sustainability at its heart.
1 EV SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT Before you introduce EVs into your fleet, you’ll want to understand and prove the benefits.
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Next up, choosing the right electric vehicles for your business. Much like traditional vehicles, you’ll look at drivability and function versus form. But for EVs, you’ll also look at specifications like engine range (miles per charge, measured in units of energy, kWh) and charging capability (do you want standard charging speed, or rapid charging capability?) Some partners arrange EV demonstration days. These let drivers and decision makers try recommended vehicles before committing to purchase.
3 CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE ASSESSMENT At this stage, you’ll decide two things: what kind of charge points you want and where they’ll go. You might think you need charge points at every site you own. But unless your vehicles regularly travel over 100 miles per day, you may be surprised at how few charge points you actually need. As for type of charge point, this is all down to speed. Slow charge points are cheaper and ideal for overnight charging. Ultra-rapid charge points cost more, but allow for charging at rest stops.
4 ELECTRICAL SITE SURVEY Once you’ve chosen your charging locations, the site survey makes sure your installation is practical and efficient. Groundworks can be inconvenient, so managing them effectively – such as taking advantage of existing electricity infrastructure – can help minimise disruption and expense. This is the last stage before committing to location.
5 HARDWARE IMPLEMENTATION Time to get plugged in! At this stage, you’ll be ordering and installing your charge point hardware. Getting your charge points in the ground
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might require specialist contractors, such as charge point programming experts or a site manager to take responsibility of site works and project management. Consider using installation day to raise awareness in your business and communicate why you’ve spearheaded the change.
6C HARGE POINT MANAGEMENT Charge points are user-friendly but sophisticated pieces of tech. Their initial set up will let you enable clever functionality, like programming different tariffs for different types of users. Some EV partners will provide software that gives real time visibility of your charging network usage. Certain products even let you remotely lock and reset your equipment, to even better self-manage your fleet.
7M AINTENANCE AND SERVICING What happens if your charge points need updates or develop faults? Even the best products in the world aren’t immune to faults. Potential charging infrastructure issues to be aware of include outages and failures. But charging technology is smart; manufacturers or specialists can often detect (and correct) faults before the enduser is even aware that anything’s wrong.
8E NABLING THE POWER OF TELEMATICS Once your electric fleet is up and running, you can use data to optimise the value of your investment. EV-specific telematics data can provide valuable information, like how efficient your drivers are. Even minor tweaks to driving styles can make journeys more power efficient, which adds up to operational savings. The more you use your EVs, the more data you gather and the more you can maximise your operation. For more information on fleet electrification, download the 8 steps to electrifying your business guide: energy.drax.com/8-steps-guide
Ecotricity is working with the Isle of Wight Council to help move the Island towards net zero carbon “Sustainable green energy from Ecotricity is one of many measures we at the Isle of Wight Council are adopting to help realise our ambition of becoming a net zero carbon council by 2030”
Transport, waste and recycling, urban regeneration – the list of local council responsibilities that have an impact on the environment and climate change is an extensive one.
Cllr Chris Jarman, Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance, Transformational Change & Resources, Isle of Wight Council
One area where councils can make an immediate difference is in their choice of energy supplier. The Isle of Wight Council is one of several local authorities that has chosen Ecotricity for its green energy.
And, with the UK government committed to cutting carbon emissions to 80% of the level they were at in 1990, local councils have a big role to play.
Sustainable green energy Ecotricity doesn’t just supply green electricity to The Isle of
Wight Council’s offices. A whole range of council services are using sustainably generated green energy including care homes and leisure centres. Across the county, the Isle of Wight is helping create a greener Britain by using Ecotricity’s green energy. Currently, 110 sites run by The Isle of Wight Council are supplied by Ecotricity. It’s just one of the many councils in the UK that we are helping to become more sustainable. An increasing number of public sector bodies are using our green energy generated by the sun and wind in order to meet their sustainability objectives, including St Albans Council, West Suffolk Council and Greater London Authority.
One of the biggest and simplest things you can do to help achieve your net zero targets is switch to 100% green electricity and carbon neutralised gas. Get a no-obligation quote from Britain’s first green energy company
Get a business quote
WATER MANAGEMENT
WHO ARE THE WATER INDUSTRY REGULATORS AND WHAT DO THEY DO? OFWAT – THE ECONOMIC WATER REGULATOR – WHAT IS OFWATS’ JOB?
THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – WHAT IS THE JOB OF THE E.A?
In their own words “To make sure that your water company provides you with a good quality service at a fair price”
The Environment Agency (E.A) is an executive none departmental public body responsible to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Its main aim is environmental protection. Water companies have a key part to play in achieving that goal. The interaction between the E.A and water companies covers many areas including: – 1. Water resource management and drought planning. 2. Water abstraction licensing 3. Disposal of sludge from waste water treatment processes. 4. Monitoring of bathing beaches and bathing water quality.
HOW DOES OFWAT DO THIS? In a number of ways, for example it tries to ensure water companies keep bills as low as reasonably possible. In assessing bills OFWAT recognises that water companies incur significant operational costs and must invest in the infrastructure to ensure it is in a fit state for future generations.
WHAT IS OFWAT’S STRATEGY? OFWAT sets out three strategic goals 1. To transform water companies performance for customers 2. To drive water companies to meet long term challenges 3. For water companies to serve a wider public purpose, delivering more for customers, society and the environment
THE DRINKING WATER INSPECTORATE – WHAT IS THE JOB OF THE DWI? The Drinking Water Inspectorate or (DWI) is a section of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) its a role to ensure our water is fit to drink. The DWI provides independent scrutiny of water companies activities, it publishes statistics on the water quality and enforces UK water quality legislation.
THE CONSUMER COUNCIL FOR WATER – WHAT IS THE JOB OF CCW ? The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) is another departmental body. It is not an official regulator but does have a role representing domestic and none domestic customers interests. Helping customers with complaints and offers impartial advice on water issues. Importantly CCW is independent from the water companies and not regulated to OFWAT or any other regula-tory body. It also have no powers of enforcement.
SCOTLAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND. In Scotland and Northern Ireland things work in a slightly different way. The aims are similar with different bodies involved. The market structure and water company ownership in Scotland is different from those in England and Wales .
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ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
The main water company is Scottish Water which is a public corporation directly accountable to the Scottish Parliament. It has production, treatment and delivery responsibilities for water across the whole country. Domestic customers are billed direct and business customers have a competitive market as the none domes-tic market was deregulated. In fact it was the first country in the world to deregulate its water market in 2008 allowing none domestic customers to switch water supplier to various licensed providers. Thus reducing their water bills in a competitive market so customers can choose their water supplier. The main supplier in Scotland was Business Stream which is actually part of the Scottish Water group but is a legally separate company. The economic regulator for the Scottish water market is the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS). The bodies that work along side WICS are – • The Drinking Water Quality Regulator • The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) • Consumer Futures which represents consumer interests • The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman who investigates complaints (SPSO) In Northern Ireland there is just one water company – Northern Ireland Water but several regulators: • The Utility Regulator which performs the role of economic regulator • The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) which looks after environmental issues • The Drinking Water Inspectorate who is responsible for regulating drinking water quality. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk
PUBLIC SECTOR WITH NO SIGN THAT THE SQUEEZE ON GOVERNMENT SPENDING WILL BE RELAXED ANY TIME SOON, PUBLIC SECTOR FINANCES WILL CONTINUE TO BE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE.
THE WATER AUDIT EXPERTS
The challenge laid down to public sector bodies is simply this – find more efficient, cost-effective ways to spend taxpayers’ money, while maintaining service levels. Waste is simply no longer an option, from procurement through to utilities.
H2O Building Services helps public sector bodies reduce unnecessary costs by cutting their water bills. By lowering water usage, improving efficiency and monitoring bills for overcharging, we save organisations an average of 30% on their water costs. When you are looking for ways to keep a lid on budgets, that is not to be sniffed at.
CUTTING WATER COSTS Our professional consultancy team can draw on more than 30 years’ experience1 in the water industry. We understand water supply and sewerage services inside out and we specialise in managing costs across large, complex organisations. We offer a complete end-to-end service for water cost reduction, from checking your bills are accurate and fair through to installing on-premise systems which will help save you money over time. We have earned a strong reputation for outstanding service and achieving impressive results for public sector clients. Read about how we saved Haringey Council £40,0002 after carrying out a full audit of water usage across all of its premises. Or find out how we saved HM Prison Service £57,0003 after identifying a water leak at HM Pankhurst, and also by cutting sewage charges for laundry effluent.
GETTING STARTED In the first instance, we will ask a public sector client to supply water billing records for all of its properties, stretching back several years if possible. We understand that public sector organisations are large and may operate a high number of premises. But this is a crucial step which can straight away help us identify whether charges look right for the type and use of the property. After carrying out a thorough analysis of billing records, we will audit water use4, including carrying out site visits where we think it necessary. The water audit will form the basis of all recommendations we make for cutting water costs, from reducing water use to seeking refunds for overcharging, tackling leaks and waste to ongoing monitoring.
WATER BILL REFUNDS
ONGOING MONITORING
If we spot mistakes in the water bills for any of your properties, we will advise whether they have led to you being overcharged. If you have paid too much for your water services, our experienced consultants will seek a refund on your behalf from your water supplier.
We understand that reducing costs is not a one-off exercise, but part and parcel of daily life for public sector organisations. We can help you keep on top of your water billing long term, making sure you are never charged more than you should be and keeping your water usage in check.
REDUCING WATER WASTE One of the biggest causes of inflated costs on water bills is waste. If, for example, you have one or more leaks at any of your properties, you will be charged for that excess water which you never use. In addition, you could be incurring extra costs for water drainage, not to mention potentially massive bills for water damage repairs. We offer full site surveys as part of our consultancy service, including water leak detection5. If we identify a problem, we will first compile a full report, outlining the size of the leak, the potential damage it might be causing, and the impact on your bills. We will then submit a cost proposal for repairs, aiming to achieve a robust, quality solution in the most cost-effective and least disruptive way possible.
Through our water bill validation8, we will check each bill before your receive it, vetting it against actual usage and resolving any discrepancies with your supplier before it comes to authorising payment.
We also offer
Advanced Meter Reading (AMR)9
We can also recommend installations aimed at
improving 6 water efficiency at your premises.
These include things like Flow-Tec P.I.R urinal flush controls, Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs) and Aeroflow low flow showers. We can also advise on water recycling7 for using waste water in things like lavatory systems. Again, all proposals are fully costed, and we will also include an expected payback period, usually achieving an average of between 9 and 12 months.
1. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/about-us/ 2. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/case-studies/haringey-council/ 3. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/case-studies/hm-prison/
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a highly sophisticated water tracking technology, which can monitor water flow on an hourly basis. Any unusual spikes in water usage automatically trigger an alert, which we will pick up and respond to straight away.
4. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/water-audits/ 5. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/water-leak-detection/ 6. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/saving-water/ 7. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/water-recycling/ 8. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/bill-validation/ 9. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/amr/
Call a your public sector water experts now on
0845 658 0948 Alternatively, you can email us at
info@h2obuildingservices.co.uk
WATER MANAGEMENT
WHAT IS THE OPEN WATER MARKET AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
Under the Open Water Market, all eligible businesses within England and Scotland – as well as third sector charities and the public sector – can now choose their own providers who supply water, wastewater and trade effluent services to their workplace. But, what exactly does this mean for your business? Read on to find out exactly what this change means for you and your business and why it might just pay to shop around for a new supplier.
THE OPEN WATER MARKET IN A NUTSHELL The Open Water Market is a market deregulation whereby many businesses are now entirely free to shop around for which company they want to supply their water. This move was introduced in Scotland in 2008, and by 2017 it had been launched in England also. The effect of its introduction could mean a sizable saving for you and your business and, not to mention, some perks you may not have previously considered.
THE BENEFITS OF THE OPEN WATER MARKET First and foremostly, the primary benefit of the Open Water Market is that you are likely to save much more money on your bills and charges - thanks to the increase in competition amongst water suppliers. Now businesses can switch providers, and many suppliers are conveniently offering cheaper rates and tariffs. All in a bid to lure and/ or retain business customers. Water suppliers are also providing more access to businesses to allow them to become increasingly water-efficient. This means, longterm, bills should decrease. Water providers are also clambering to provide increasingly superior customer service due to this new regulation – after all, who wants to remain with a company that insists you speak to generic internet A.I. bots when you really require a human to understand your complex issue?
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TO SWITCH OR NOT TO SWITCH WATER SUPPLIERS? With the introduction of the Open Water Market, businesses have never had so much choice regarding who supplies their water. So, where to start with that loaded question? Firstly, it’s a good idea to contact your water supplier and ask them if there’s a better deal you could be getting. Since the introduction of the Open Water Market, business owners are finding that their suppliers are often more than happy to re-organise company contracts due to the threat of their clients jumping-ship to a new supplier. If contacting your current supplier doesn’t yield positive results, you may find it’s time to switch your business water supplier to keep costs down.
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Costs which could be utilised much more effectively within your business.
THE IMPACT OF THE OPEN WATER MARKET ON YOUR BUSINESS There’s no denying that the introduction of the Open Water Market has been a breath of fresh air and opportunities for many businesses within England and Scotland. This change brings a new onus on businesses to ensure they are getting the value for money that they need and deserve. So, if your business isn’t getting the treatment it deserves from your water supplier, don’t be afraid to take the plunge and switch providers. Because, sometimes, the grass really is greener on the other side. www.castlewater.co.uk
WATER MANAGEMENT
INNOVATION ENABLES ANALOGUE WATER METERS TO BE CONVERTED EASILY TO SMART METERS IN A COST-EFFECTIVE WAY Deer Technology has launched the LimpetReader which enables analogue water meters to be converted to smart meters, simply and cost-effectively. This ingenious device offers substantial benefits to water wholesalers, water retailers, asset managers and consumers.
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ithin the UK nonhousehold water market there are circa 1 million dumb meters that could be easily converted to smart meters using Deer Technology’s patented LimpetReader system. Analogue meters are converted by retrofitting a compact, batterypowered LimpetReader above the meter dial using optical adhesive bonds. Installation typically takes 15 minutes or less, with no need to interrupt the supply. A clear optical path is always maintained between the optical reader and meter. The waterproof adhesive bond ensures the readings can be taken even if the meter is submerged in water or mud. If necessary, the meter can still be read manually without disturbing the LimpetReader. To ensure the LimpetReader’s overall envelope is extremely compact, the opto-electronic device uses multiple micro-cameras to capture date- and time-stamped images of the meter’s register. These are sent automatically to Deer Technology’s secure servers using GSM technology over any of the UK’s established mobile phone networks. Once on the server, the individual images are stitched together with image
processing software to create a single, distortion-free register image. This is converted to a numerical value for the water consumption. The LimpetReader is already in use with several customers across the UK and is supplying data that is helping customers to better manage water consumption, improve their environmental credentials and reduce costs. Work is also underway to secure full regulatory approval for the device and this is expected to be completed soon. From the water wholesaler’s or retailer’s perspective, the LimpetReader offers multiple benefits. Most significantly, the availability of accurate billing information without the need to take visual reads, which is often expensive and could be difficult to undertake. In addition, there are environmental benefits associated with not having to use vehicles to visit meters, and health and safety is improved through the elimination of site visits. LimpetReaders also put an end to fines for failing to read meters, and highly detailed water consumption
data is always available. Customer satisfaction and retention are improved because there is no need to rely on estimates and billing is accurate. Customers benefit from having access to their meter reading so they can validate the bills they receive and identify any billing errors based on near real-time data and an image of the actual meter reading not estimates. They also have better visibility of consumption data, which can be used to identify areas of waste and give an early warning of leaks. Building owners can implement LimpetReader technology for sub-metering and billing tenants on a daily basis if desired. Deer Technology’s comprehensive service includes consulting with customers - who could be water wholesalers, water retailers, asset managers or consumers - to identify the optimum overall solution to the problem of meter reads and data management. The company then installs the LimpetReaders and provides a data service for reporting, visualisation and exporting data to the customer’s databases as required. The National Trust, an early adopter, said: “The LimpetReader is a great solution and gives us accurate meter reads and, importantly, we are only paying for what we use.” For more information about Deer Technology’s LimpetReader for converting analogue water meters to smart meters, go to www.deertechnology.com or email hello@deertechnology.com.
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VENTILATION/AIR CONDITIONING NEWS
VENTILATION AND COMFORT CONTROL IN THE POST-COVID WORKPLACE Fabrizio Petris, Senior Business Development Manager, Omron Electronic Components Europe bv
E
mployers across Europe are starting to think about bringing their teams back into the office environment. Yet, after a year of lockdowns and health warnings, it’s natural that many employees will feel anxious or apprehensive about returning to shared workspaces. As they do, their safety of course is paramount, but at the same time issues like carbon footprint and costs have not disappeared. A great example of an issue that straddles both the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ normal is ventilation. A well ventilated space is lower risk from the perspective of transmitting COVID and other viruses – but also improves worker comfort leading to greater willingness to return to office working and productivity. At the same time, the costs are too great to be ignored. Deploying the latest sensor technologies can ensure that ventilation systems operate at the optimum efficiency, generating the greatest effect for the minimum energy input and hence the lowest carbon and economic footprint.
VENTILATION Ventilation, clearly, is based on maintaining the right air flow through a space. Too little, and the room quickly feels airless and can develop odours. Too much, and it becomes too draughty and expensive to heat. Fans can be a low cost and efficient way of providing adequate ventilation, but some form of air velocity control is needed not least to ensure that the regulations for ventilation are being
complied with. For example, in the UK, the Building Regulations stipulates the provision of adequate mechanical ventilation rates. Sensors such as the Omron Electronics D6F-V MEMS Air Velocity Sensor can improve efficiency by monitoring the exact air rate which is extracted by the fans. This sensor uses a unique flow path structure for highperformance flow rate measurement. The compact sensor element measures mass flow directly, and most models for air measurement are protected by a unique dust segregation system to avoid long-term performance degradation in contaminated environments. To help improve air quality further, these devices can also be used to detect clogged filters in ventilation and air-conditioning systems, thereby improving reliability and efficiency. Air conditioning systems too need careful monitoring to ensure that peak performance is maintained. The difficulty is that many conventional airflow sensors aren’t accurate at the very low flows normally encountered in an air conditioning system. Omron’s D6F-PH digital differential pressure sensors overcome this issue by using MEMS technology to create a micro miniature heating element in between two thermopiles (Figure 1). The sensor measures flow by the shift in the resulting hot spot. Temperature difference between the two thermopiles is directly proportional to the mass flow across the sensor chip. Such accurate maintenance of pressure enables OEMs to maximise the
Figure 1: Omron D6F MEMS differential pressure sensor
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performance of HVAC systems, especially variable air volume (VAV) systems where the dumper can regulate the airflow in ducts and thus achieve noiseless and efficient control. Embodied in devices like the new Omron D6F-PH, this offers better accuracy than conventional differential pressure sensors – especially in low flow conditions. The standard range features units capable of measuring 0 to 250Pa, +/-50Pa and +/-500Pa.
THERMAL SENSORS Heating and ventilation systems use a lot of energy. With most employers phasing the return to the office, clearly many spaces like meeting rooms will see lower levels of use. Accurate people detection systems allow heating and ventilation systems to be throttled back when a space is empty, and their output scaled appropriately to the occupancy when it is in use. Temperature measurement sensors are much more effective than movement sensors for this purpose. Not only are they more reliable at detecting the presence of people, but they can also be used to monitor the background temperature and confirm the effectiveness of the system. In the context of a room, thermal sensors need a wide field of view, so that they can detect the presence and location of people in a space accurately and reliably. For example, Omron D6T thermal sensors (Figure 2) are based on an infrared sensor which measures the surface temperature of people and objects without touching them. It achieves this by using a thermopile element,
Figure 2: Omron D6T thermal sensors are based on an infrared sensor which measures the surface temperature of people and objects
VENTILATION/AIR CONDITIONING NEWS which absorbs radiated energy from the target object. The state-of-the-art MEMS thermopile is integrated with a custom designed sensor ASIC that bundles a signal processing microprocessor and algorithm into a tiny package. As a result, the sensor is reputed to offer the highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the industry. For HVAC applications, the D6T 32x32, a wide-angle version of the device based on 32 x 32 elements, provides a view across 90.0° by 90.0°. This equates to a field of view measuring 3.6m x 3.6m at 2m distance, so allows people to be detected in a wide space. When applied efficiently, such thermal sensors can not only control energy consuming services, but also monitor movements around the building and occupancy ratio for a better usage of office space.
AIR QUALITY MEASUREMENT Maintaining a comfortable office environment is a matter of juggling many factors. In addition to temperature and air flow, parameters like humidity, light level, UV, barometric pressure and air quality (including the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOC)) are all significant. The best solution is to employ
a multi-purpose environmental sensor, which makes it very easy to deliver a wide range of measurement functions from just one small component. This will save development time by providing numerous options that can be tailored to the user’s needs. It communicates via a USB interface or a standard wireless protocol like Bluetooth Low Energy. These sensors offer easy to interpret data that can then be analysed, stored on the cloud and used to set parameters and make real-time adjustments. For example, the Omron 2JCIE offers multiple sensors in one unit that has built-in memory and connectivity through beacon communication (Figure 3). The sensor can accumulate data for approx. 3 months (based on a communication frequency of once every 5 mins) and connect to multiple devices, such as smartphones, via Bluetooth 5.0. The 2JCIE Environmental Sensors are cloud compatible with no need for additional hardware. Bespoke threshold values can be set to provide alerts that notify the user of any abnormal sensor readings.
CONCLUSION The technologies described in this article are not new – but are receiving
Figure 3: Omron’s 2JCIE offers multiple sensors in one unit that has built-in memory and connectivity through beacon communication
much greater focus in the post-COVID world. The benefits of returning to the office are too great to ignore. Many appreciate the social aspects of office life, and not all have a home environment that is conducive to productive work. At the same time, the perceived risks of returning to the workplace need to be counterbalanced by recognition of the new safety concerns, as well as by making office spaces as welcoming and comfortable as possible. All this needs to be achieved at an affordable cost to the employer and to the environment. Sensor technologies such as MEMS air flow sensors, thermal sensors and all-in-one environment sensors can work together to provide a workplace that is safe, comfortable and affordable for all. http://components.omron.eu/e0506om
MONITORING OF INDOOR AIR QUALITY NEEDS TO MEASURE MORE THAN JUST CO2
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ith ventilation continuing to dominate the news agenda, a leading ventilation specialist is stressing the importance of monitoring pollutants beyond just CO2. CO2 is a widely used indicator of room occupancy and the need to ventilate, which according to Elta Fans has proved useful in encouraging more engagement with improving IAQ. However, as structures become increasingly energy efficient and airtight, there is a danger that other types of outdoor air pollution will become trapped in these spaces. There is the risk that if these are not monitored, they will build up to unsafe levels, ultimately undermining the journey towards healthier indoor air. A more sophisticated approach is therefore required to move beyond merely measuring CO2, and take into account a wider array of pollutants. Ana Cross, AHU product manager at Elta Fans, comments: “One of the defining features of the past 18 months has been a renewed focus on IAQ, and how we can improve the health of our buildings. CO2 has served as a useful proxy to measure
progress in this, but we now need to work towards a more sophisticated approach. “Other pollutants can come from a range of sources – everything from general traffic, industrial, commercial, agricultural, and domestic activities. As structures become better insulated, we have to ensure that our ventilation systems are equipped to meet this challenge. One cannot mitigate against the invisible, which is where more advanced monitoring becomes key.” Some of the most health-critical pollutants to address are particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs). Given the main source of some of these, natural ventilation such as opening a window can actually have adverse effects in certain locations e.g., city centres. In these circumstances, mechanical ventilation
offers the most protection for building occupants. Alongside pollutants, there is also the issue of relative humidity (RH). Humidity levels in indoor spaces play an important role, from supporting good human health and wellbeing, to helping preserve stored food, electronic equipment, artwork etc. Too high humidity levels can cause damp and condensation problems, and at the opposite end of the scale, too low levels of humidity can lead to a dryness of the skin, eyes, nose and throat. This is crucial, as the human body’s first line of defence against airborne agents (both chemical and biological) is the mucosa lining at the top airways (nose and throat), and if this dries out, the body’s immune response becomes compromised. Thus, achieving healthy levels of humidity within an occupied space is an important step towards delivering optimum levels of IAQ for good health and wellbeing. https://eltagroup.com/
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VENTILATION/AIR CONDITIONING NEWS
HVAC COOLING SEASON IS HERE – make a thorough
inspection to ensure your cooling tower is up to the task
SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.’s Parts & Service Manager – EMEAI, Stephen Andrew discusses the importance of regular maintenance and a thorough yearly inspection.
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egular inspection of HVAC systems is vital to ensure they are functioning well, are in good condition, and ready to deliver dependable service in the coming year. An annual inspection of evaporative cooling systems, such as cooling towers, is recommended as warm weather arrives and these systems begin working at full capacity. Now is the time to review your cooling tower user manual and inspect all components. It’s important to consult with your safety officer and follow all safety protocols before beginning the inspection process. Always shut off electrical power to the cooling tower fan motor using lockout/ tag out procedures before proceeding. A thorough cooling tower inspection involves using a methodical process to review and document the condition of multiple components and systems. The checklist below is based on our experience and comprises recommendations in several important areas.
TOWER CASING • Inspect the exterior of the tower for leaks and cracks. We recommend walking around the tower twice. • First, be aware of trip hazards as you focus on the lower portion of the tower. • The second time around, look higher for cracks and leaks, signs of vibration and loose hardware, and the presence of rust or biological fouling could indicate a damaged water distribution system.
LOUVERS, HEAT TRANSFER FILL & DRIFT ELIMINATORS • Check louvers for deterioration and excess scale build-up. • Inspect the fill media for excess scale, algae, and other contaminants. Some light scale is typical on fill and can be removed with brushing in a crossflow application. Inspection of counterflow fill can be performed using an endoscopic camera. If the fill
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is heavily scaled or damaged, tower performance will be adversely affected. • Drift eliminators should be clean and free of debris. Ensure the seals are in place and in good condition.
COLD WATER BASIN • It is vital that your cold water basin and anti-vortex screens are properly placed and free of debris. • If your cold water basin includes equipment such as basin sweepers that go to side filtration, check nozzle placement to ensure proper water flow. • Inspect water level probes, whether manual or electronic, for corrosion. • When the basin is clean and components are operational, refill the cold water basin to the recommended operating level.
HOT WATER BASIN (IF APPLICABLE) Remove the basin covers to clean the water distribution system basin and nozzles. Then properly secure the covers.
WATER DISTRIBUTION PIPEWORK • Check that all pipes are positioned correctly and secure. • Check that all the nozzles or spray arms are installed correctly. • Tip: (Counterflow application) Removal of an air inlet panel at low level during operation can allow you visibility of the flow from the underside of the fill pack. Any areas of noticeable heavy flow may be the result of a dislodged lateral pipe or missing nozzle. • (Crossflow application) Noticeable dry spots on the fill media may be the result of a blocked nozzle in the hot water basin.
PIPING • Check all supply and return piping to and from the tower; confirm valves are open and the water treatment system is operating properly.
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MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT FAN: • Check the fan; blades must turn freely with equal tip clearance between the blade and the shroud. • Verify blade pitch to eliminate vibration. Ensure the blade angle is consistent across all blades. • Check that the fan drain holes are clear.
MOTOR: • Turn the motor manually and confirm hardware is tight and free of corrosion. • Moisture and heat are detrimental to motors. Check that open drain holes match motor orientation.
BELT DRIVE: • Check tension and wear on your belt drive. • Inspect pulleys for corrosion and loss of metal in the grooves.
GEARDRIVE: • Check oil level. • Check oil appearance for cloudiness or particulates, signs of water and other contamination. • Check and lubricate bearings. • Check seals for signs of leakage.
DRIVESHAFT: • Check alignment of driveshafts and couplings. • Inspect for corrosion and damage. • Check rubber components for cracks and brittleness. This article provides an overview of the various considerations necessary to safely and thoroughly inspect an HVAC evaporative cooling system. Always consult the cooling tower user manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommended practices. www.spxcooling.com As additional resources, we recommend following industry water management best practices as outlined in Health and Safety Executive’s HSG274 Part 1: https://www. hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg274part1.pdf
TRAINING
ACCREDITED MASTER IN RENEWABLE ENERGY AWARD The Renewable Energy Institute’s renowned online courses are open to participants worldwide, regardless of which country or time zone you live in. With 24/7 access to all the course materials, including the tutorial videos taken from the live classroom courses, you can study from any location, whenever it suits you.
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he REI now have part-funding available for you to study the Accredited Master in Renewable Energy Award. Current part-funded price: £3330.
UPCOMING LIVE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM COURSES:
You will have the opportunity to study 13 certified training courses in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, with the choice to study up to 3 courses in the Live Virtual Classroom.
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The courses and the overall pathway for the Master in Renewable Energy Award is accredited by the CPD Accreditation Service. As an REI Alumnus, you will automatically qualify to become part of the Renewable Energy Institute Membership Programme: https://www. renewableinstitute.org/membershipprogramme/ which provides monthly advice bulletins from global experts and fellow professionals, which you can use for your career development. To enquire, please go to: https:// www.renewableinstitute.org/masterin-renewable-energy-award/ or email training@renewableinstitute. org and one of our senior course advisors will be happy to help.
www.pssa.info
The Public Sector Sustainability Association (PSSA) provides a professional association and network for all those working in the Public Sector who have a common interest in sustainability. The aim of the association is to bring together a wide group of people working across all areas of the Public Sector – to educate, train, support and connect as we work towards a more sustainable future.
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
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HEAT PUMPS
WHY ARE HEAT PUMPS SO HOT RIGHT NOW?
Vital Energi’s Elliott Sharpe explains all.
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ir, ground, and water source heat pumps are one of the most effective technologies for reducing carbon, and with a potential 500% efficiency, they are a great solution for projects of all sizes. With almost 15 years’ experience in the industry, Elliott Sharpe, Vital Energi’s Design Director in London, leads the design and CAD departments to deliver high quality design solutions that set new standards in best practice. Elliott is helping Vital remain at the forefront of renewable technologies, driving continuous improvement and energy efficiency, with a strong focus on heat pump technology, which is helping the UK’s journey to net zero. Elliott gives us an insight into heat pump technology, covering the benefits, for businesses and the environment alike, the factors that have to be considered when thinking about heat pumps, and he tells us about some of the large scale heat pump projects he’s worked on, including the UK’s largest water source heat pump.
What types of heat pump are there and how do they work? Heat pumps can appear quite complicated at first glance, but the technology has been around for quite some time. Think about your fridge at home or an air conditioning system for an office - these are using heat pump technology. A heat pump takes energy from a source such as water, the ground, or surrounding air, and then using a
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refrigerant and power from an electrical supply, this heat is transferred into your home, at a higher temperature than the source. I know what you’re thinking, how does water from a lake or cold air outside turn into hot heating water coming out of the heat pump. This is the clever part inside, the heat pump is compressing and expanding a refrigerant in a cycle, and it’s this process that is able to take water from that cold lake and turn it into heat for your radiators.
What are the key benefits of heat pumps? Efficiency! In the right conditions, a heat pump can operate at 300, 400, dare I say 500% efficiency. What this means is for 1 unit of consumed electrical energy, the heat pump is producing 5 units of energy.
Are there any other renewable technologies that work well alongside heat pumps? Yes, heat pumps are a key part of a wider technology mix, that when combined together can provide a low carbon solution. This might be solar thermal panels that are adding heat into the ground to recharge the thermal energy taken out by the heat pump, or a biofuel CHP engine that’s used to feed electricity to the heat pump.
What factors have to be observed if considering a heat pump? Consider where you’re going to source energy for the heat pump, do you
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have a river nearby or can you drill deep into the ground on your site? Maybe you have lots of outdoor space for an air source solution. Then think about your local electrical infrastructure, depending on how large your heat pump installation is, this could be a significant factor to consider. When it comes to water source heat pumps, there is also the potential to drill down and utilise aquifers, which are bodies of water that lie under the surface.
Tell us about some of the heat pump projects you’ve worked on… We are currently developing and delivering seven heat pump projects, with the most recent completion being the UK’s largest district heating connected water source heat pump project at Queens Quay, Clydebank, where we installed two 2.65MW heat pumps to extract energy from the River Clyde, providing heat and hot water to surrounding homes and businesses. We’re also really proud of our recent work with Southwark Council to provide a more efficient low carbon heat supply using water source heat pumps to supply and decarbonise over 2,000 properties, using ground water abstracted from and reinjected into locally drilled boreholes.
Can you explain the difference between an open and closed loop system? Let’s take a couple of examples to explain. An open loop system is where we are directly extracting energy from the source, such as taking water from a river. We pump water from the river,
HEAT PUMPS
extract energy back at the heat pump and we pump this water back into the river, so because we are interacting directly with the river water, this is an open loop system. For a closed loop system, let’s take pipework installed in boreholes deep into the ground as our example. Within this pipework, we have a fluid that is transferring energy from the ground, which we then pump back to the heat pump, extract this energy and pump it back into the ground around this closed loop. So unlike in our first open loop example where we directly pumped the river water, here we are transferring energy from the ground via a heat transfer fluid inside a close pipework circuit.
What type of businesses can benefit from heat pump technology? Anyone looking to decarbonise energy production can benefit, whether you have an existing installation and are looking to come away from gas, for example. Or you have waste heat or waste electricity which could be used alongside a heat pump installation. Of course, each case has to be looked into to determine the feasibility of applying this technology.
What size network can a heat pump power? Heat pumps come in a huge variety
of sizes, from one heat pump in your back garden serving that single dwelling, all the way up to large centralised district heating production serving thousands of end users connected to a heat network.
How easy is it to retrofit heat pumps into an existing network? It comes with its challenges of course. First, we have to determine the appropriate source of energy for the retrofit heat pump, is this water, ground or air source? Then we have to consider how hard are we asking the heat pump to work, what I mean is, the temperature we are asking the heat pump to produce. Older systems often operate at higher temperatures, which heat pumps can achieve - the trade-off is a reduction in efficiency, so it’s about finding a balance between modifications to the existing network to lower temperatures and the heat pump selection. So, it depends on a project by project bases how easy it is, but it’s certainly possible.
Why are heat pumps becoming more popular? Changes in planning policy and the decarbonisation of the electrical grid are major factors. With the electrical grid becoming less carbon intensive, people are turning to electricity as a source of fuel - remember heat pumps require an electrical supply.
How are heat pumps renewable if they rely on electricity for power? Good question! We’ve talked about how heat pumps can use energy from water, the ground, or air, but quite rightly, they need an electrical supply. In some cases, it could be that this electrical supply is coming directly from a renewable source itself, such a PV panels. However, for the majority of installations this electrical supply will come from the grid, so we have to consider how clean is this electricity supplying the heat pump. Some may argue that the grid isn’t quite as low carbon as future planning policy is indicating, but generally speaking, we can see that the grid is on a path of decarbonisation, so the electricity we power the heat pumps with is coming from a greener source each day. Combine this with the efficiency a heat pump can operate at and you start to see why a heat pump is a low carbon technology. With over 30 years’ industry experience, Vital Energi specialise in the design and installation of the latest renewable and low carbon energy generation, distribution and consumption technologies. If you have an energy project in mind, or would like more information about how we can help decarbonise your business, please contact us today. www.vitalenergi.co.uk
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HEAT PUMPS
GAS BOILERS VS. GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS Around 85% of UK homes use gas-fired central heating. To reduce carbon emissions, combat air pollution and help stop climate change, there must be a radical shift in how we heat our buildings. But how does the lesser-known heat pump compare to the familiar boiler? Kensa Heat Pumps looks at how the two technologies compete in efficiency, emissions and more. THE FUTURE OF GAS VS. GROUND SOURCE HEATING WHY ARE GAS BOILERS BEING PHASED OUT? To achieve the UK’s legally binding target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, it’s vital that fossil fuels, including natural gas, are phased out and replaced with renewable alternatives. Ground source heat pumps future-proof properties - both in terms of sustainability and conforming to regulation. From 2025, the government has confirmed that gas boilers will no longer be an option for new builds. They are even set to commit to cutting carbon emissions by 78% by 2035, meaning a significant amount of gas boilers will have to be ripped and replaced.
HOW THEY WORK GAS BOILER A gas boiler heats water by pumping it into pipework over a series of gas flames. Just like liquid in a pan, the water is heated up as it passes the flames. It is then used to deliver central heating and hot water to the home. There are different types of boilers, such as combi boilers, which give you instant hot water – meaning you don’t need a hot water tank.
GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMP A ground source heat pump is an electrically-powered heating system. Using buried pipework filled with a heat transfer fluid (usually glycol), the system absorbs low-grade heat energy from a renewable energy source, such as the ground or water. The heat pump then compresses this heat energy to raise its temperature. Heat exchangers transfer the additional heat energy from the glycol fluid to the water piped through the home’s heating distribution system, upgrading this to a higher temperature.
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The newly heated hot water can be used for space heating delivered by radiators or underfloor heating, and also for domestic hot water stored within a cylinder. The underground pipework, known as a ground array, can be installed on an individual or communal level - providing a sustainable source of heat for either a single home or a whole street. Kensa has pioneered an infrastructure that facilitates the installation of ground source heat pumps on a larger scale. This is known as a Shared Ground Loop Array.
CARBON EMISSIONS & ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT GAS Some 37% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from demand for heat (of which 17% is space heating and 4% hot water), which is mostly met by burning natural gas.1 The typical emissions from a gas boiler are 226g/kWh, which add up to 2.7 tonnes per year for an average house. This level of emissions equates to travelling 12,000 miles in an average family car – that’s enough to get you from London to Auckland with miles to spare.2 As gas is a fossil fuel, it releases carbon dioxide (CO2) – a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Fossil fuel heating systems also contribute to air pollution.
GROUND SOURCE Ground source heating is certainly the winner when it comes to reducing carbon emissions. By its very nature, the system is sustainable, as the ground or water from which the heat energy is extracted are renewable heat sources. 1 Rethinking Heat: a utility based approach for ground source heat pumps, Regen, 2021 2 Based on 12,000 kWh of heat. Gas boiler carbon intensity calculated using SAP figure, which has been divided by typical gas boiler efficiency.
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Ground source heating uses some electricity which creates some emissions, but the emission levels of a ground source heat pump is just 53g/kWh, delivering a whopping 77% saving on emissions versus gas.3 One of the main reasons the emissions are so low is due to the heat pump’s high efficiency. And it gets even better. As the electrical grid continues to rapidly decarbonise due to generation from renewable sources such as solar or wind farms, so does that small amount of electricity consumed by the ground source heat pump – meaning the heat pump you install today will emit fewer carbon emissions in the future.
EFFICIENCY GAS Modern condensing gas boilers can be around 90% efficient. This means that 90% of the energy used by the boiler goes to heating the home, while the remaining 10% is waste heat that is passed through the flue to the outside. The heating system isn’t as efficient as it could be because of this wasted heat.
GROUND SOURCE Ground source heat pumps can be 300 – 400% efficient, which means they can deliver three to four times the amount of energy they consume from 3 An average carbon intensity of 181 g/kWh for electricity, which has been divided by typical heat pump efficiency of 3.5. Gas boiler carbon intensity calculated using SAP figure, divided by typical gas boiler efficiency.
HEAT PUMPS electricity. When multiple properties are linked to a shared ground array system, there is a chance to increase this performance by utilising waste heat from applications such as server rooms and supermarkets.
UPFRONT COST GAS The upfront cost of a gas boiler installation is cheaper than a ground source heat pump. This is to do with the fact that around 1.6 million gas boilers are installed each year, compared to around 30,000 heat pumps. While the upfront costs of a gas boiler may seem appealing, it’s important to think about the impact fossil fuel heating has on the environment. A 2021 report by Regen on ‘rethinking heat’ recommends that the government changes the environmental levies on the electricity bill into a carbon levy on electricity, gas and oil bills, based on their carbon impacts. If implemented, this could see gas bills rise substantially.
GROUND SOURCE Like many renewable heating technologies, installing a ground source heat pump requires a capital outlay that is significantly higher than a gas boiler. However, as deployment volumes increase in line with government ambitions to install 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028, we expect to see significant drops in prices for heat pumps and the provision of the ground array.
RUNNING & REPLACEMENT COSTS GAS Gas heating has been long recognised as a cheap source of heat, but the running cost of gas fluctuates with many factors, such as market reforms or world events that affect the availability of gas.
GROUND SOURCE Ground source heat pumps compare favourably with gas and were very similar until recent gas price drops. However, we expect the running costs of ground source heating to further drop with the adoption of methods such as load shifting. This means, using smart controls and time-of-use tariffs, the heat pump can automatically run when electricity is low in cost and carbon. Load shifting means you can avoid expensive times, and even take advantage of the fabric of the building. For example, if you like to have your heating on at 20ºC by 5 pm, most heating systems would turn on at 4.30 pm and gradually
bring your house up to temperature for, say, when you get home from work. However, if this system looks ahead at energy prices and realises it will be expensive between 4.306.30 pm, it might turn the heating on at 2 pm – bringing the temperature up to 22ºC and cooling down to the perfect 20ºC when you return. Smart controls learn your heating preferences and devise a customised heating schedule for your home that provides optimum comfort, while saving money. Projects such as Energy Superhub Oxford estimate that this could deliver savings of up to 25% compared to a standard ground source system. On average, this means that ground source heating can be cheaper than gas. The savings can increase even further when using physical energy storage, which means you can store the heat following consumption at offpeak times and use it when required. As for lifetime costs, an average boiler will need replacing every 10 to 15 years, whereas ground source heat pumps will typically last 25 years and do not require annual servicing. The ground array pipework used to extract the heat energy will last for 100 years, so installing this infrastructure is a one-off investment to provide heat for generations.
INSTALLATION Unlike a gas boiler system, a ground source heat pump has no flue or ventilation requirements, no more landlord gas safety checks, and simple and clean servicing. It can be installed inside the home. The groundwork part of the installation is completed outside, minimising disruption. Once the ground has been restored, they are visually unobtrusive.
MASS ADOPTION GAS For the majority of households connected to the gas grid, a gas boiler is a trusted technology. But the way we heat our homes has to change. If we are to achieve the net-zero target, the UK must adopt another tried-andtested, but renewable, technology.
GROUND SOURCE Switching domestic properties to non-combustion heating systems would significantly reduce harmful emissions and move the UK closer to its net-zero target. Kensa sees a future where the ground array infrastructure imitates the gas grid and facilitates the mass installation of ground source heat pumps. Deployed on a street-by-street basis, the adoption of this 21st-century network would allow households to simply ‘connect’ their heat pump to the network. The only cost to the household would be the unit itself, as the ground array can be funded by a separate entity that benefits from a modest ‘standing charge’, similar to when connecting to the gas grid. We call this the split ownership model. www.kensaheatpumps.com
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HEAT PUMPS
WHY SHARED GSHP LOOP SYSTEMS ARE KEY FOR DECARBONISATION
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he UK Government made its intentions clear in March, when it announced its blueprint to deliver the world’s first low-carbon industrial sector. The industrial decarbonisation strategy outlines the government’s goal of cutting the nation’s emissions by two thirds in the next 15 years, with the aim of reaching net zero by 2050. Decarbonisation has become a top priority for many organisations. Not only would it significantly benefit the environment, but in many cases, the solutions that will help these businesses achieve net zero also prove to be highly cost effective and greatly improve operational efficiency. While much focus is often placed on the decarbonisation of electricity, the true challenges actually lie in heating, ventilation and air cooling (HVAC) systems. However, by optimising existing systems with shared ground source heat pump (GSHP) loops, HVAC technology can be decarbonised effectively.
GSHPS MINIMISE CO2 EMISSIONS GSHPs work by absorbing heat from the ground and transferring that heat into buildings, without the need to burn fossil fuels. By using pipes that are buried underground to extract heat, the system is able to use the extracted heat for radiators, underfloor or warm air heating systems, as well as hot water in homes. With the ground remaining at a fairly constant temperature under the surface across all four seasons, GSHPs provide a viable solution for heating homes year-round. Defra publishes projections of the carbon grid intensity each year in grams of CO2 emitted for each kWh generated. This includes the relative carbon emissions for different forms of heating, compared to burning natural gas for the same purpose. It shows that combustion methods, such as burning natural gas and coal, produce double the amount of CO2 to that of heat transfer methods like
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Steve Wilkinson, Head of Commercial Projects at Cenergist those utilised through GSHPs. It is clear that heating by heat transfer is the attractive alternative.
SCALING THE GSHP GSHPs can be used at scale in a shared ground loop, a heating network where multiple properties have an individual heat pump that can be controlled and connected to a communal ground loop. A shared GSHP ground loop can serve multiple dwellings at once. Shared ground loop systems can create highly efficient heating system networks. By using boreholes, over 200 properties could be connected by only 5 communal heating systems. Heat pump boreholes are the vertical pipes used to extract heat energy from rock to a GSHP. They save space and minimise disruption in heat pump installation projects - only requiring approximately 150mm width of per borehole. Each property has its own heat pump that is linked to one of the boreholes, and monitoring data shows that homeowners can potentially save 25% to 50% on their energy bills. With only 5 boreholes provisioning heat to over 200 heat pumps, shared loops can help contractors reproduce GSHPs at scale. Drilling costs can also be reduced by allowing a smaller number of deeper boreholes, those of which can be positioned flexibly across the site, as there is no specific requirement for a borehole within the curtilage of each plot. This is not only restricted to housing properties, but can also be used in flat clusters, bungalows or apartment blocks.
GREEN ENERGY WITHOUT THE SACRIFICE These systems are efficient - a welldesigned ground source heat pump installation can provide three or four
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kilowatts of heat for the consumption of one kilowatt of electricity. Heating is provided without sacrificing comfort, and these efficiency levels provide a significant cost saving. Before recently, finding a GSHP in the UK was a rare occurrence, this was only because of the taxation and levies that were placed on electricity. Taxes and levies placed on electricity in the UK have received considerable attention in the last decade for their social and distributional impacts. So even though installing and running a GSHP system presented lower upfront costs and running fees than a gas boiler, the taxes were too high to make it sustainable. It has now become clear these taxations and levies are working against the UK’s need to lower carbon emissions from domestic heating. In response, the government has provided funding and new regulatory measurements in its recent 10 point plan announcement, that counter the taxes and levies. With new government schemes such as the Homes Upgrade Grant and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, it is now easier than ever for homeowners and social housing properties to access GSHPs and HVAC systems, benefiting from renewable heating and affordable energy. With the government making a big push and funding large areas of the country and the industry itself, it is now easier than ever to acquire a GSHP system. Not only are they ecofriendly with low carbon emissions, but they are flexible and scalable to multiple properties, and they have a higher efficiency rate than other methods of heating. Over the coming years, GSHPs will be crucial in the decarbonisation of the housing industry. www.cenergist.com
BMS
IBECOME PROJECT iBECOME project started in June 2020 and will run until November 2023 for a total of 42 months. The first year of the project has just ended and a lot of work has been performed in this period from all the project partners. The highlights of our first year are listed below: IEQ VIRTUAL SENSORS We have developed computational methods to predict the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) within a room, by using hybrid models that combines physics-based simulations and real data processing using machine learning techniques. The models are able to predict thermal comfort, illuminance, glare probability and pollutants concentration within a room with, accuracy ranging between 60-95%. In comparison, the PMV method predicts thermal comfort with accuracy ranging between 30-40%.
AUTOMATION OF BUILDING ENERGY MODEL CALIBRATION We have improved our process to produce accurate digital twins of buildings, essential for the vBMS to perform predictions of the future conditions. Up until now, the calibration methodology was a desktop study that includes an intensive manual iterative process, followed on desktop application, and relies mostly on the experience of the energy modeller. The Apache Engine, which is the core simulation engine of the IES Virtual Environment can now operate on the cloud and enables the automation of many of the manual steps required in the calibration process. This way, we achieved better accuracy and similar computational requirements with Reduced Order Models. After testing the new method on a case study building we found that the duration of calibration process was reduced by a remarkable 98%, while the accuracy was improved by 27% in average.
CO-SIMULATION Further to the cloudification of the Apache Engine, we managed to enable
the co-simulation capability. The physicsbased simulation engine, which, is now capable to run in parallel with a machine learning model and to interact with it in every timestep of the simulation. This way we combine real and virtual sensors towards the most accurate predictions of the future building conditions. This will be used to inform a number of control functions for optimising building operations at each timestep.
ENERGY MODELLING AND INSIGHTS OF CASE STUDY BUILDINGS To support all the developments above, we collected data from case study buildings from iBECOME partners portfolio and contacts. We managed to calibrate building energy models of various building types and generate very useful datasets in the development of algorithms required by our data analysis toolbox. We have prepared calibrated building energy models for the Helios Building, CEA offices in France, an office and a warehouse owned by Schneider Electric, a manufacturing site by Prior Medical, and finally a Clean Room by Seagate. All buildings were studied in detail and reports with insights on how to save energy have been prepared and shared with the building owners. We will continue testing both methods in more case study buildings, including our demo sites.
REPORTS We have recently published reports on the work that has been achieved towards identifying and calculating appropriate Indoor Environmental Quality metrics in the iBECOME project (view it here) and another report describing the methodology of the developed automated calibration approach used within the iBECOME project (view it here).
WORK IN PROGRESS AND NEXT STEPS The work will continue in the next six months to finalise the software and hardware architecture of the vBMS, and the development of innovative computational methods to implement automated control of building energy systems in order to maximise comfort and minimise energy use. Furthermore, innovative solutions for Fault Detection, Predictive Maintenance, M&V and Demand Response services will be developed. Additional services will also be established including healthcare management for the elderly, a car sharing app and optimised EV charging. In September 2021 we expect to start the work to integrate all the above solutions into the iBECOME vBMS software as a service, that will serve both buildings with or without a BMS and with minimum on-site equipment. In parallel, the work has already started in our retrofit demonstration sites in Italy and France with engagement with occupants, retrofits and audits. Also in progress is the planning and installation of the iBECOME hardware and calibration of building energy models. In our updated “about page” on our website you can find the concept of the virtual BMS explained in detail, as well as the progress against our objectives. If you wish to read more on our results, please visit our downloads section ( https://ibecome-project.eu/ downloads/ ) to get a copy of our public reports. As you can see it has been quite a busy period for the project with more exciting results expected over the coming weeks and months. Get in touch if you are interested in receiving our newsletter or follow the project on social media. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 894617.
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RENEWABLE ENERGY
BIO-LPG – A CLEAN ALTERNATIVE FOR OFF-GRID POWER Chris Goggin of Rinnai looks off-grid at what’s available in cleaner drop-in fuels
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K environmental pledges are committed to net zero by 2050. For decarbonisation of global fuel sources current consumers must now be made aware of separate avenues of heating and hot water provision. 85% of domestic energy consumers access their fuel by a connection to the national gas grid. 15% of listed UK domiciles which are not connected to the gas grid, an estimated 4 million homes, have to rely on alternative forms of domestic fuel to heat their residence and water. It is widely thought to be the same ratios and proportions in the commercial sector. Bio-LPG is an ideal source of energy for off-grid heating and hot water solutions. Bio-LPG is constructed from a mixture of residues and sustainably sourced materials. Bio-LPG can be described as an ecopropane. The chemical makeup of this gas is identical to LPG and is therefore compatible with existing in situ LPG products. Off-grid building envelopes can benefit from high efficiency LPG fired water heaters, as noted in a recent report called ‘BioLPG a viable decarbonisation pathway’ commissioned by Rinnai UK. The report focuses on carbon savings that can be achieved by shifting from oil heating systems to LPG and then upgrading to Bio-LPG. Using another example in Scotland’s distilleries, the WPLGA, (The World Liquid Gas Petroleum Association), published expected financial gains when switching from oil-based fuels to LPG and Bio-LPG in their 2019 report: The Role of LPG and Bio-LPG in Europe. The report states Scotland’s distilleries and brewing companies contribute £3.9 billion to the national economy, equating to 3% of total Scottish GDP. Many companies are based in rural locations using oil to produce steam needed for the distillation process. Islay, a Scottish island off the West Coast contains nine distilleries that annually consume 15 million litres of oil-based fuels costing £8 million. A conversion to LPG will result in a 20% reduction in carbon emission savings and 2.5% off the yearly running costs, rising to 3% when considering saved servicing and maintenance costs.
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If distilleries were to utilize Bio-LPG from 2030 onwards carbon emissions would fall by 81%. Bio-LPG offers identical performance to LPG systems whilst not compromising on the release of emissions. Buildings in the off-grid leisure and hospitality sector that require a constant supply of heating and hot water will find this ideal when considering the purchase of alternatives in energy provision. Liquid Gas UK – the trade association for the LPG and biopropane industry – has published an industry census revealing over £100 million is currently being invested in Bio-LPG, with a further £600 million being invested into the LPG industry over the next five years. The industry is also expected to increase its expansion due to investment that focuses on diversifying production methods. This investment includes the design and construction of both imported and localised Bio-LPG yielding facilities. A bio-economy consultancy firm NNFCC has published a further analysis of the industry concluding there is significant potential for a rapid scale-up in production of indigenous UK BioLPG. UK governmental environment pledges enforced by international policy means that the alternative fuel market is predicted to increase. Bio-LPG supply to the UK is beginning to formalise itself into the chain of consumer demand. Available volumes are increasing throughout Europe. In March 2018, Finland based oil refiner and renewable fuel producer Neste, commenced construction on the world’s first renewable LPG (BioLPG) production facility in Rotterdam. The facility is expected to maintain a yearly yield of 40,000 tonnes, supplying an additional 16,000 tonnes over the next four years. A new green economy will soon be globally functioning. When considering the
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contemporary consumer demographic, who are climate conscious businesses that publicise their green credentials could potentially attract additional customers. End users and installers should be aware that a post energy transition economy that demands eco-friendly sources of fuel can potentially be translated into profit due to significant industry advancements and increased international demand. LPG and Bio-LPG products are suited to the modern climate conscious consumer who does not want to compromise on performance and cost. There is global acceptance throughout industry and government that a cleaner source of fuel must be incorporated to limit environmental damage. LPG and Bio-LPG are pure forms of domestic and commercial energy that are projected to substantially grow in the future across all continents. An LPG market analysis carried out by Grandview Research had the LPG market size value at $122.29 billion in 2020. In 2027 projected revenue will be $164.36 billion, a revenue-based growth rate of 4.4%. Global market demand was calculated at 331.29 million tonnes in 2020, the volume of LPG demand is forecast to rise to 417.11 million tonnes by the year 2027. Both LPG and Bio-LPG are set to play a major role in domestic and commercial energy supply, now and in the future across the globe. www.rinnaiuk.com
RENEWABLE ENERGY
IT’S TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT RENEWABLES IN A MORE INTELLIGENT WAY Stuart Murphy, Founder of TPGen24, explains the benefits of tidal power to the environment and the economy, and how it can no longer be ignored
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reen energy is no longer just talk of the town, it’s talk of the world. Major players across the globe are finding new ways to harness renewable energy, with prominent figures such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett voicing their opinions on the subject via carbon-cutting initiatives and ‘green’ manifestos. Focusing our attention locally, the UK is a global leader in offshore wind power, but many are coming to realise that wind, and solar, simply aren’t enough to meet our rapidly increasing demand for 24/7 green energy. However, there is a solution which exists. One currently woefully untapped, and under-explored: Tidal. This powerful, perpetual natural resource has the potential to solve our on-demand electricity needs. Requiring only the natural rise and fall of the tide, it is weather agnostic, with the ability to deliver a cheaper, more reliable and long-term form of power generation when correctly harnessed. Let me take this opportunity to make the case, using my own project, TPGen24 as one example.
THE TIDES ARE TURNING Although numerous countries, including the UK, are surrounded by water, tidal is often overlooked. However, recent innovation and tougher emissions targets mean it’s beginning to grab the attention of policy makers worldwide. This includes Wales, where the devolved Assembly is renewing its tidal after a handful of recent, unsuccessful initiatives. What the Welsh government has caught on to is that, as our dependence on clean technology increases, current and future levels of renewable energy just won’t be sufficient to power it, particularly if we solely rely on wind and solar. Fundamentally, both are intermittent, relying on the sun to shine and the wind to blow. This reliance on uncontrollable, naturally occurring events means
generation can never dovetail with manmade demand fluctuation. Putting this in context, over the next few decades, our needs will extend beyond low-carbon homes and electric vehicles to larger infrastructure, with the market size of the global smart city industry set to double, from approximately £290 billion to £580 billion by 2025.1 Therefore, while other renewable resources, such as the aforementioned wind and solar, have a part to play in the energy mix, they shouldn’t be the only forms of power that the world relies on. Greater levels of output are essential, and our oceans can provide the solution. That’s why I have been working with the best minds in science, environment and engineering over the last several years to create a tidal energy system, TPGen24, which has been developed to produce power 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. According to current calculations, our technology, which consists of smart-controlled, gated turbines that drive water back and forth within multi-level lagoons, will independently be able to provide baseload, which is the holy grail of renewable energy. It’s set to be a game-changer, not only for the way we power society, but also how we decarbonise and start to reverse climate change.
GREENER ENERGY, STRENGTHENED ECONOMY The positive impacts of initiatives like TPGen24 are wider reaching. For example, the post-industrial economy has hit many of the UK’s coastal towns the hardest, due to a decline in fishing, shipbuilding and traditional manufacturing industries. These communities have often seen a severe dip in opportunity and an increase in poverty and crime. 1 https://www.forbes.com/sites/ forbesfinancecouncil/2020/12/03/investingin-innovation-the-rise-of-the-smart-city/
The construction and operation of a large-scale tidal power plant in these areas could potentially provide a locally-grown, new generation of energy professionals and engineers with exciting new job prospects, and in turn, provide a muchneeded economic boost to the locale. Further, it will champion our academia, and foster a world view of the UK as a forward-thinking nation that is playing a major role in the drive towards Net Zero and in getting the economy back on track. Research and innovation activity has also been affected by the pandemic, which could prove to have long-term negative effects: the UKRI previously estimated every £1 spent on research and development delivers £7 in economic and social benefit. Thus, investment into R&D and new technologies is crucial to the nation’s recovery as well.2
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION The UK is headed in the right direction when it comes to cutting harmful emissions and achieving Net Zero by 2050. With the Welsh Assembly and UK Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee making positive noise around tidal, there is hope for the future of green energy. However, while there certainly has been progress, politicians and businesses both on home soil and further afield need to invest in, and show greater public support for, tidal energy in order for it to yield long-term, positive environmental and socioeconomic results. The wheels have been set in motion… it’s our job now to make sure the momentum continues. http://tidalpower24.com/Tidal/ 2 https://committees.parliament.uk/ work/474/the-role-of-technology-researchand-innovation-in-the-covid19-recovery/ publications/
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BEHAVIOUR CHANGE
PEOPLE POWER: HOW COLLEAGUES IN OTHER ROLES CAN HELP ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS Scott Parlett, Head of Public Sector at BiU, explains how to harness behaviour change techniques to drive carbon reduction.
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ometimes the conversation about energy efficiency becomes dominated by discussions of the latest tech: smart meters, smart thermostats, smart lighting systems. While these tools are important, they ignore a less glamorous but equally important success story unfolding in the energy management world. Ten years ago, the UK government carried out an experiment in using behavioural change to cut energy use. It used itself as the guinea pig, applying insights from behavioural economics and “nudge theory” to get people who work in central government departments to waste less energy. Combining this with practical building management changes yielded impressive results: a 10% reduction in emissions achieved in just one year. This isn’t just a one-off: a North American study demonstrated savings of 8% through employee engagement and feedback, and there have been plenty of other private and public sector success stories in recent years. Organisations are learning this and quietly putting it into practice. The most recent Energy Efficiency Trends report has a list of which energy efficiency projects have had the most uptake from organisations, and “behaviour change” is high on a long list. Although bringing non-specialist colleagues on board may historically have been a challenge, your colleagues could be the key to implementing the best possible energy management strategy. Every year, BiU works with dozens of businesses to improve their energy management, and clients expect the technological solutions we bring, such as enhanced data-gathering and consumption forecasts. But they are often surprised by how much of our work is on behavioural change. Yet this shouldn’t be completely unexpected: all the energy consumed by an organisation’s sites is ultimately because
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a human being made the choice to use it. Once we have identified areas where energy is being wasted through inefficient usage and come up with more efficient processes, we carry out staff training to get everybody on board. This isn’t just about explaining the new ways of working; it is also about instilling a broader awareness of energy management, why it is important and how everybody can contribute. Our goal is for everybody in the organisation to see themselves as part of a bigger effort to cut running costs and achieve climate goals. This team spirit can be a powerful motivator. Bestselling book The Checklist Manifesto made a powerful case for breaking down complex tasks into simple steps, and we have found that this applies to energy management just as well as it applies to surgery or airline safety. Our energy checklists are branded and tailored to the specific organisation, providing an accessible way for employees to ensure that they are following the correct procedures. We then continue to monitor day-today activity, looking for opportunities to cut wastage. Our Energy Alarms use halfhourly data from your energy meters and highlight anything that appears unusual in real time. A team of experienced data analysts can then work out what is going on and suggest changes. This ongoing process of monitoring, analysing, giving feedback and continually improving is how BiU saves its clients millions of pounds every year. Our public sector clients can then channel their savings back to supporting much-needed frontline services. One of the reasons for BiU’s success with a diverse range of clients is that we harness people power. Rather than assuming employees will have to be dragged along with an energy management strategy, we understand that most people want to play their part once they understand that they can make
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a difference. Public sector workers tend to be team players who want to do what they can for the greater good – that’s why they chose the career they did. We are also aware that the climate crisis is a powerful motivator for many employees, particularly younger workers who are just entering the job market. Research from Reuters last year found that almost two-thirds of UK workers would prefer to work for an employer with strong environmental policies, while other research has found that companies with strong green standards tend to have happier and more productive employees. If your HR department is wondering how to keep staff happy or attract the best talent, the answer might lie (at least partly) with your department. BiU’s approach has also helped clients achieve an average reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of over 55%, and many are setting more ambitious goals after achieving their existing goals ahead of schedule. If you’re sceptical about getting your colleagues involved with your energy management strategy, BiU could help by offering some tried-and-tested ways to boost engagement. Otherwise you are ignoring a potentially very useful energy management resource: people power. To find out more, get in touch on hello@biu.com
BEHAVIOUR CHANGE
THE IMPORTANCE OF C-LEVEL PURPOSE-LED BEHAVIOUR IN THE RACE TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE
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n the past ESG issues have often played second fiddle for c-suite executives, as demonstrated by PWC’s 2020 Annual Corporate Directors Survey which found that only 38% of board members think ESG issues have a financial impact on a company. Many CEOs have felt hamstrung by their board members and shareholders, who can often be blinkered by the lure of shortterm results or bound to the archaic belief that companies who focus on ESG issues experience a drag on value creation. And this negative perception of the climate agenda has resulted in many c-suite executives making unrealistic, unconsidered, and empty pledges; pledges that will still need to be met long after they have left the company. But creating a poisoned chalice for future leaders is neither helpful nor ethical. Fortunately however, the refusal to accept the greatest challenge of our time, climate change, has shrunk considerably amongst c-suite executives and sustainability is now firmly on the boardroom agenda. Whilst some businesses spent the decade committing minimum resources to token programmes, curating outlandish claims of commitment, and for a questionable few, thinking they could buy their way to a greener world, a handful of clever companies already had the wheels in motion. It was these companies who had stopped experimenting and instead prioritised at-speed development of much needed sustainable products. At the turn of the millennium, the idea of an electric-only carmaker seemed like an eccentric fallacy, not just to consumers but to every other auto-manufacturer too. Tesla, however, was smart and most importantly it understood that the transition to a low-carbon economy was inescapable. Tesla developed a product to meet the needs of social expectations, regulatory demands, investment and technology trends, whilst other industry titans put on their blinkers, kept their heads down and plugged on, business-as-usual. It was a dangerous strategy and one that’s left an entire industry desperately playing catch-up. More recently, CEOs across all industry sectors have awoken to the power of ESG strategies in building resilience and securing commercial success. By way of example, a PWC survey showed that more than 50% of UK CEOs plan to increase their investment in sustainability and, according to a new report called ‘Taking Stock: A global assessment of net zero targets.’, at least
Chris Bowden, MD, Squeaky one fifth (21%) of the world’s 2,000 largest public companies have committed to meet net zero targets. The companies together represent sales of nearly $14 trillion. This is a victory of many years in the making. To say capitalism has been a powerful movement is not justice enough. Study upon study has noted that today, consumers will spend their money with brands who align with their moral beliefs and have no hesitation in snubbing companies who they believe are not pulling their weight. As I type this, Spotify tells me it has collaborated with O2 to launch the first ever sustainable audio campaign as part of the mobile operator’s commitment to be net zero, by 2025. The activity will see Spotify and O2 investing together in naturebased solutions to offset all carbon emissions from O2’s audio activity on their platform for the next 12 months. It’s a welcome reminder that change is afoot. Employees have an important hand at the table, too; pushing the companies they work for to follow a moral imperative and punishing those who fail to speak out by taking their talent elsewhere. The reality is that if you have waited for someone to tell you to prepare for climate change, you’re putting your business at risk. This is not only evident in the growing maturity of the ESG movement in capital markets and financial services but also with the improvement in the returns on stock with higher ESG ratings. There is a mass of potential in climate risk mitigation, but it requires a shift in perspective from being triggered by fear to planning for opportunity, and that is no mean feat. The flood of legislation delivered by the UK government has provided more certainty, more focus and more precedent. Sustainability professionals have long banged the drum for climate change with little audience. But there is no time left to explain the need to act to the naysayers, and no amount of peer-reviewed research will help either. Business leaders have been called up to join the cavalry and it is down to the CEO to lead the charge. They need to not only make it a priority, but then need to make it the norm. Purpose-led behaviours are key to this transition and the unique position of the CEO can make this happen. It is this individual who can raise the ambition of its employees, reflect honestly on the challenges and shortfalls, and set a definition of responsible leadership. These purpose-led behaviours will then trickle
down through middle management. Afterall, these are not only the people who split budget, develop products, and lead teams, but they are also our future leaders who will carry this weight of responsibility far beyond our days. Disruptor brands have already proven the return on initiating such leadership; in a recent report by edie in association with Centrica, two innovative firms, BrewDog and All Birds, were cited as inspiring organisations who have used product and services to create a deeper and meaningful connection to the planet and communities. Perhaps the biggest CEO challenge is to dig deep to unearth bad practices, seek clarity on myths and ensure the claims they make are indeed true to what they say they are. Only when the CEO holds up a mirror to see its true reflection will this important practice become norm in all levels of a business. Sadly though, bad practices are not uncommon in the supply chain and that includes the renewable energy market. Some suppliers in the UK source energy from fossil fuels and then buy REGOS (or even worse European GOs) and package this up as ‘renewable energy’ for their clients. Imagine claiming that your company has committed to green energy, publicised this to your employees and customers in the media, only to find that you’re buying fossil fuel energy. This is just one of the many bad practices we need to lift the curtain on. Decades of tiptoeing around, ignoring the unequivocable science and embracing the type of box-ticking culture that encourages only standardised environmental, social and governance issues (ESG), has left everyone scrambling to avoid the irreversible impact of climate change. Unless green-thinking, purpose-led behaviours and action runs through the veins of businesses, we will fail to prevent the catastrophic impact of climate change. This is not the time to experiment, this is the time to act. Titans of business may exist as a small collective, but remember, positive change has always been driven by the movement of the minority. www.squeaky.energy
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ENERGY FROM WASTE
‘ AQUA, VIGOR, ET VASTUM’ – SQUARING THE CIRCLE The United Nations assessed that during 2017 in excess of 80% of the world’s wastewater was discharged into the environment without any filtration or disinfection, but wastewater contains plenty of raw material that can be turned into fuel. In the second of three articles, the UN’s assessment has prompted Solicitor Peter McHugh and Forensic Engineer Professor Robert Jackson to discuss the challenges facing the UK in continuing to satisfy its growing needs relating to ‘Water, Energy & Waste’ whilst simultaneously protecting against risks to human health emanating from environmental pollution. 48
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quaring the circle may comprise the extraction and production of energy from various sources of waste, including organic materials that are inherently injurious to human health, whilst simultaneously creating a sustainable source of drinking water. By way of example consider hydrogen gas, the lightest and most plentiful chemical in the known universe and the first element in the periodic table with an atomic number of one. The anaerobic digestion of a number of organic wastes including food waste, agricultural waste and wastewater can produce hydrogen, together with valuable acids. In so doing the process of digestion, using microorganisms comprising anaerobic bacteria, presents a sustainable solution to a number of environmental challenges by:
REMOVING WASTE K CREATING A CLEAN FUEL K PRODUCING VALUEADDED CHEMICALS The circle could be considered ‘squared’ when non-greenhouse hydrogen gas, a zero carbon cleanburning fuel, is burnt in air to produce water and to release energy:
ORGANIC WASTE K (2H2) HYDROGEN + (O2) OXYGEN K (2H2O) WATER + ENERGY Electro-active anaerobic bacteria were first discovered in 1993 and have been identified as living in environments inhospitable to most other life forms. Such bacteria are essential to microbial fuel cells which provide one form of sustainable biotechnology by generating electricity from biological wastes. Electro-active bacteria occur naturally in sewers and wastewater treatment plants, and consume organic matter whilst at the same time producing electrons, electrically charged subatomic particles essential to chemical, electrical and magnetic activity. These bacteria also grow biological ‘wires’ comprising microscopic filaments called ‘pili’, the Latin word for ‘hairs’, that are approximately 1/100,000 the width of a human hair. The electrons produced from the organic matter are subsequently conducted through these ‘wires’ in the form of electricity to produce hydrogen from the wastewater being treated.
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Once again, the circle could be considered ‘squared’. The ‘Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice’ was issued in November 2018 and sets out practical guidance on how to meet waste duty of care requirements. It is issued under Section 34 (7) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in relation to the duty of care set out in Section 34 (1) of that Act. This Code applies to any party engaged in importing, producing, carrying, keeping, treating, disposing of or, as a dealer or broker having control of, certain controlled wastes in England or Wales. Failure to comply with the duty of care is an offence with no upper limit on the court’s power to fine. In some instances a fixed penalty notice may be issued for failure to comply with the duty of care in place of prosecution. The Code is admissible as evidence in legal proceedings for S34 (1) offences and its rules must be taken into account where relevant to questions raised in the case. The regulator for the duty of care is the Environment Agency, the body responsible for environmental regulation in England together with Natural Resources Wales in Wales and local authorities. Excluding industrial and commercial processes, for example in the case of householders who occupy domestic properties, a separate duty of care applies which is limited to requiring parties to take all reasonable measures available to them to ensure their waste is only transferred to an authorised person. Waste not classed as controlled waste include: • Waste listed in Article 2 of the waste framework directive e.g. waste waters, decommissioned explosives, radioactive waste; • Waste containing animal byproducts where it is collected and transported in line with animal by-products regulations; and • Sewage, sludge or septic tank sludge where it is supplied, managed or used in ways described in Regulation 3 of the Controlled Waste (England & Wales) Regulations 2012. To examine current and ongoing problems it is perhaps prudent to reflect on previous cases. 163 years ago Londoners were suffering from ‘The Great Stink’ that emanated from the River Thames and was created by
ENERGY FROM WASTE its pollution from raw sewage. This gave rise to Members of Parliament absenting themselves from the House of Commons due to the resulting intolerable stench. Yet, as recently as a decade ago the Environment Agency’s annual analysis of water company performance stated that four out of nine water and sewerage companies were rated as poor or requiring improvement. Hence despite ongoing efforts within the waste sector to comply with the duty of care code there remains a growing need to address water pollution in England and Wales, and as recently as October 2020 it was reported that England’s privatised water monopolies had recorded their worst ratings for tackling pollution in 8 years. The level of water pollution in UK waters remains in urgent need of attention with none of England’s rivers have ‘bathing water status’ despite the growing popularity of wild swimming. Environment Agency data indicates only 16% of all open waters and 14% of rivers meeting the minimum ‘good’ ecological status with none meeting minimum targets on chemical status. Under the current self-reporting system it is the individual water companies who are required to tell the regulator the amount of untreated sewage and storm water that is released into England’s water ways but questions remain regarding the actual volumes discharged. Rivers throughout the UK are amongst the worst in Europe with not one passing the official test for water purity. Raw sewage was discharged into UK watercourses on 403,000 occasions in 2020 with the worst offender being United Utilities who allegedly poured untreated sewage into river waters for a total of 726,000 hours. This ongoing struggle against mindless and wanton environmental vandalism is perhaps best illustrated by a recent court case. On the 10th July 2021 the Times Newspaper reported a legal case involving a UK water company, Southern Water, which had deliberately dumped raw sewage into the sea and rivers and covered up its actions by "very significant underreporting" of the spills it made. A total of between 16 billion and 21 billion litres of untreated sewage were dumped into the sea resulting in the company receiving a record fine of £90 million. The Environment Agency, who brought the criminal case to court after its largest ever investigation, claimed it was done for financial gain and three former members of Southern Water staff have been convicted of obstructing data collection. The Chairwoman of the Environment Agency stated "Fines for environmental
The Authors: PROFESSOR ROBERT JACKSON Forensic Engineering Expert in Water, Energy, Waste, Construction & the Environment.
JACKSON CONSULTING. M: 07976 361716; E: professorrobertjackson@gmail.com
PETER MCHUGH Solicitor & Partner, Specialist in Contentious Dispute Resolution.
CLARKE WILLMOTT SOLICITORS. T: 0345 209 1069; M: 07825 435981; E: peter.mchugh@clarkewillmott.com
offences are starting to reach the same level as the highest fines for crimes in financial services". The body responsible for economic regulation of the privatised water and sewerage industry in England and Peter McHugh Professor Robert Jackson Wales, the Water Services to food security, sanitation, hygiene, Regulation and resulting burden from disease. Authority (Ofwat), also found that Strictly speaking, ‘squaring the circle’ Southern Water had manipulated water relates to the construction of a square samples and "deliberately misreported equal in area to a given circle with the data" for seven years until 2017 to avoid restriction of being able to complete financial penalties. The Judge, Mr Justice the task by employing only a compass Jeremy Johnson, stated that Southern and a straightedge. In practice this Water had a history of criminal activity geometric problem has no solution and for its "previous and persistent pollution" so this longstanding mathematical puzzle and that the water company's previous became a metaphorical expression board "flagrantly disregarded the law". referring to ‘an attempt to do something Potable water treatment plants impossible’. Perhaps in time the also rely on energy intensive processes conjoined efforts of scientists, engineers to provide reliable, safe and drinkable and lawyers will be able to unpick the supplies to customers though changes in seemingly impossible environmental task the quality of the raw water source may presented by water, energy and waste. require changes to the operation of a water treatment plant with consequential changes in energy use and embodied energy. Coupled with these variations are the inevitable impacts of geographic location and climate change which is expected to bring rises in levels of precipitation and average global temperatures increasing from 34.5°F to 42.4°F by 2100 to varying measures around the globe. Climate change and unsustainable human activity go hand in hand in creating water-stress and water-resource depletion, and threats to water availability/scarcity and quality will remain an important indicator of public health by way of its direct links
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Peter McHugh is a Partner in the Birmingham office of Clarke Willmott Solicitors. He specialises in Construction as well as Green Energy issues and is a Chartered Arbitrator and Accredited Mediator. Professor Robert Jackson is the former Associate Head of the School of Computing, Science & Engineering, and held the Mouchel-Parkman Chair in Sustainable Engineering Technologies within the Department of Civil Engineering, at the University of Salford.
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ON-SITE GENERATION
WHY INSTALLING ON-SITE ENERGY GENERATION MAKES FINANCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND REPUTATIONAL SENSE Anthony Ainsworth, npower Business Solutions (nBS)
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ollowing the publication of the Ten Point Plan and Energy White Paper at the end of 2020, and Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy earlier this year, the focus on reducing emissions from both the public and private sector is growing. However, for many, the challenging commercial environment has resulted in even greater scrutiny on spending. While ‘small’ changes can make a big difference, making the case for larger investments, such as on-site generation, can prove to be more difficult. In our recent report - ‘Plot Your Path to Net Zero: A Focus on Sustainable On-Site Generation’ - we take a closer look at the important role it can play in helping organisations plot their path to net zero, as well as how they can make the business case for investment. We consulted with more than 50 organisations to gauge whether they have invested in on-site generation, as well as the potential barriers to investment, the benefits of generating their own energy supply, plus some practical steps to get buy-in for a project. Encouragingly, the research showed that, despite the challenging economic environment, many businesses are pressing ahead with their on-site generation plans. Over 50% of our respondents said they had already invested or were planning to invest - in their own supply. Solar photovoltaic (PV) is, by far, the most popular choice, with 77% of respondents saying they had already invested in solar PV for their business and two thirds (66%) saying they were planning to invest. The next most popular option was combined heat and power (CHP), which was chosen by 38% of respondents, followed by biomass for 23% and wind for 15%. Similarly, when it comes to investment plans, CHP was chosen by a third of respondents (33%) and wind by a quarter (24%). That said the businesses we consulted with raised some of the issues they face when it comes to building a case for the investment. With the majority (65%) saying that they fund any energy efficiency or sustainability initiatives from within the business, the fight for capital expenditure can be tough. As such, the primary barrier is proving the return on investment (ROI) of an on-site asset, closely followed by access to funding. A quarter (24%) also questioned the suitability of on-site generation for their organisation. So, how can energy managers make the business case for an on-site asset?
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if combined with battery storage - helps to protect businesses from any downtime by increasing self-sufficiency and minimising the reliance on the grid.
5. IT RESULTS IN AN IMPROVED REPUTATION AND SUSTAINABILITY CREDIBILITY For us, there are five clear reasons why on-site generation should be a key part of a business’s net zero strategy:
1. IT REDUCES CARBON EMISSIONS The most effective way to reduce emissions is by switching to a zero-carbon supply. On-site generation options that use 100% renewable sources - such as solar PV or wind - will help a business significantly reduce its carbon footprint. For example, we worked with a venue on a solar PV asset, that not only provided around 5-10% of its electricity, but also helped to save 130 tonnes of harmful carbon gasses each year.
2. IT LOWERS ENERGY COST Installing on-site generation technology can make an impact on the bottom line through a reduction in energy costs. As a site will only generate the energy the business needs to use, it will naturally operate in a more efficient way. There is also the opportunity to avoid noncommodity costs, such as the third-party costs required to maintain and balance the grid, if a business is generating its own electricity. If a business can demonstrate clear savings through installing an on-site asset, then it will make the case for investment much stronger.
3. IT PROTECTS AGAINST PRICE FLUCTUATIONS Linked to a reduction in energy costs, onsite generation helps to mitigate against price fluctuations in the market. As well as avoiding non-commodity costs, having an on-site supply helps to protect businesses against wholesale price volatility, meaning it can plan ahead with greater certainty. In short, it puts the business in control of its energy usage, and allows it to unlock flexibility in terms of demand.
4. IT PROVIDES AN INCREASED STABILITY OF SUPPLY Hitting net zero emissions by 2050 relies heavily on mass-electrification, putting increased pressure on the central grid. Any loss of energy - no matter how brief - can be costly, particularly to those mission-critical businesses that rely on 24/7 supply. Installing on-site generation - particularly
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
As more and more businesses announce their sustainability plans, there has been a greater focus on so-called ‘greenwashing’ where a company’s zero-carbon commitments do not stand up to scrutiny - particularly as the public become more climate aware. In fact, a recent report from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit and Oxford Net Zero showed that, while one fifth of the world’s largest companies have net zero targets, only a little over a quarter of those met the report’s ‘robustness’ criteria. Therefore, installing on-site generation is a clear signal that your business is serious about sustainability, particularly in the eyes of customers and throughout your supply chain.
PLOTTING YOUR PATH TO NET ZERO WITH ON-SITE GENERATION When it comes to making carbon reduction plans, on-site generation needs to be a key consideration. However, if competition for funding is high, it is important to clearly make the business case for investment, particularly when it comes to demonstrating ROI. That said, where on-site generation is not an option due to cost barriers, one route to consider is a power purchase agreement (PPA). These can be arranged via a third party funder, who can install and manage the on-site asset - the organisation then buys the energy from the funder, negating the need for up-front investment. Encouragingly, this was a route that the majority of our respondents (73%) were either already taking, or were considering. Assessing site feasibility is also important. For example, some of the best sites for solar PV are where there is a large south-facing roof space, so large industrial units, manufacturing and process sites, hospitals and retail outlets are ideal. From solar PV to CHP, there is now a great deal of on-site generation choice for businesses, with more innovative technologies on the horizon. The time to act is now. To help your business with its on-site generation plans, npower Business Solutions (nBS) has produced two new resources. These reports outline practical steps for both private and public sector organisations. Discover more: npowerbusinesssolutions.com/ roadtonetzero.
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