February 2020 EIBI by Energy In Buildings & Industry

FEBRUARY 2020

PROMOTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY

www.eibi.co.uk

In this issue Lighting Technology CHP & District Heating CPD Module: Energy Purchasing Heat Recovery & Ventilation

Through the lighting maze Make sense of regulations

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Providing cost savings Why CHP still has a role

High efficiency ventilation The key to healthy offices

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FEBRUARY 2020

PROMOTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY

www.eibi.co.uk

In this issue

Contents

www.eibi.co.uk

Lighting Technology CHP & District Heating CPD Module: Energy Purchasing Heat Recovery & Ventilation

Through the lighting maze Make sense of regulations

Providing cost savings Why CHP still has a role

High efficiency ventilation The key to healthy offices

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FEATURES

12 Lighting Technology

Neal Paley looks at the bewildering array of regulations and energy labelling requirements that energy managers now have to confront

Heat networks can play a key role in the tough and urgent challenge of decarbonising the UK’s heat supply, says Richard Slee (28)

The new generation of ‘smart’ wireless solutions will deliver greater flexibility while addressing sustainability, wellbeing and safety concerns, says John Allden (14)

Creating a ‘digital twin’ of a CHP installation using simulating and optimisation software can provide energy managers with an insight into more economical operation, says Chris Davis (30)

Specialist contractor, NeuxPark has completed a major LED project to refit the lighting in four international station car parks (16)

CHP helps fitness chain to 32 per cent cut in gas consumption while local authority opts for metering and billing for communal heating schemes (32)

EcolightingUK has recently been specified for LED lighting at the 1,920m2 warehouse at the Brockton Business Park in Telford (17) Signify has supplied Interact Pro with Philips Interact Ready luminaires for installation in the Innovation Room at TATA Steel’s headquarters in Deeside, (18)

36 Heat Recovery & Ventilation

CHP & District Heating

Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery is a well-established method of ventilation. However, as Paul Harrington explains, it is crucial that systems start to incorporate cooling technology The Energy-related Products (ErP) Directive is an essential basis for assessing the efficiency of various components and devices, says Daniel Gebert (38)

High efficiency CHP will continue to play an important role as global economies work towards net-zero, says Luke Bannar-Martin

Ventilation helps air quality at university entertainment centre while London offices get a refurbishment boost (39)

REGULARS 06 News Update Sainsbury’s aims for ambitious zero-carbon target while new EU ecodesign laws will require electricity-consuming products to be more energy efficient

10 The Warren Report There’s overwhelming public acknowledgement that action has to be taken on climate change. But only a minority want to make changes to our lifestyle

19 ESTA Viewpoint Now that we have some political stability Mervyn Pilley looks at the prospects for energy saving as we enter a new decade. Will the UK lead the way or lag behind?

20 New Products

34 Energy Purchasing

New for the energy manager this month is a new fan coil unit and an online tool to check R-32-based air conditioning systems for safety compliance

21 The Fundamental Series: CPD Learning

Will we still be purchasing gas in the years to come? Or is hydrogen set to take over? John Williams examines the pros and cons of a hydrogenbased energy future

40 Products in Action

Gareth Veal examines some of the first steps to be taken when embarking on an energy purchasing strategy

25 View from the Top Keeping a close watch on energyrelated data requires careful thought, but it is essential if a company is to maintain operational efficiency, writes Peter Stockwell

Cosmetics retailer opts for energyefficient air conditioning and a longterm controls partnership helps a US retailer

42 Talking Heads Preparing for 2050 is an impossible task, believes Stephen Whatling. Especially when it comes to the IT sector that is moving at such a fast pace

Follow us, ‘like us’ or visit us online to keep up to date with all the latest energy news and events www.eibi.co.uk FEBRUARY 2020 | ENERGY IN BUILDINGS & INDUSTRY | 03

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Editor’s Opinion

Someone else’s problem

www.eibi.co.uk

The EiBI Team Editorial

fast enough when it comes to emissions

change but the real change will need to come from

Managing Editor Mark Thrower tel: 01483 452854 Email: editor@eibi.co.uk Address: P. O. Box 825, Guildford GU4 8WQ

reductions is a very bold statement of

he news that supermarket chain Sainsbury’s has decided the UK is not going

sustainability and climate change. So organisations are beginning to push forward you and me and how we change our behaviour in our

Advertising

intent. Its pledge (see page 8) to get to zero carbon by

own lives. A recent opinion poll in the i newspaper.

2040 is ten years ahead of the Government’s own

The survey (see page 10) found high levels of concern

ambitious commitment.

over the threat which unchecked climate change

Sales Managers Chris Evans tel: 01889 577222 fax: 01889 579177 Email: chris@eibi.co.uk Address: 16-18 Hawkesyard Hall, Armitage Park, Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 1PU

The retailer will increase its use of renewable

poses to everyday life for people in the UK, with 67

energy, while reducing overall energy usage. Fridges

per cent saying they expected it to have a negative

will be made as efficient as possible through the

impact, against just 12 per cent who still hoped it might

use of innovative technology and increasing the

be positive. However, it also revealed here is overt

use of natural refrigerants– as well as increasing the

resistance to doing anything that would increase

percentage of its fleet using alternative zero and low

monthly fuel bills. Some 60 per cent say they would

carbon fuels to 20 per cent by 2025. By the end of 2022

refuse to co-operate with any changes unless their

all Sainsbury’s stores will be 100 per cent lit by LEDs.

overall bills actually went down considerably. Whereas

Sainsbury’s action is being replicated across a whole

46 per cent reckon they could be using less energy (still

host of other major organisations. And this example

lower than most other Europeans), only 14 per cent of

is now feeding to smaller organisations that have

us would ever consider changing boilers.

been notoriously slow in following suit. Now, 24 per

With business now leading the way in emissions

Russ Jackson tel: 01704 501090 fax: 01704 531090 Email: russ@eibi.co.uk Address: Argyle Business Centre, 8 Leicester Street, Southport, Lancashire PR9 0EZ Nathan Wood tel 01525 716 143 fax 01525 715 316 Email nathan@eibi.co.uk Address: 1b, Station Square Flitwick, Bedfordshire MK45 1DP

cent of SMEs have improved the energy efficiency of

reductions the huge obstacle to be overcome is our

their premises in the last year, while 22 per cent have

own attitude. It’s not someone else’s problem, it’s yours

utilised suppliers that offer greener products and

and mine.

Classified sales

8). 22 per cent claimed they are primarily motivated

MANAGING EDITOR

Circulation

by customer and consumer pressure regarding

Mark Thrower

Sue Bethell Tel: 01889 577222 Email: circulation@eibi.co.uk

Sharon Nutter Tel: 01889 577222 Email: classified@eibi.co.uk

services, according to a new survey from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking’s Business Barometer (see page

Administration/ production Fran Critchlow Tel: 01889 577222 Email: info@eibi.co.uk

THIS MONTH’S COVER STORY Neal Paley of TÜV SÜD looks at the bewildering array of regulations and energy labelling requirements that energy managers now have to confront Manufacturers of lamps and luminaires have to meet the rising demand for energysaving lighting products that can reduce utility costs. However, while there are similarities in the regulatory framework of each country, there are differences and subtle variations in the conformity assessment process. That process is further complicated by the lack of international harmonised standards for energy-efficient lighting products. See page 12 for more details Cover photo courtesy of TÜV SÜD

Publishing Directors Chris Evans Russ Jackson Magazine Designer Tim Plummer For overseas readers or UK readers not qualifying for a free copy, annual subscription rates are £85 UK; £105 Europe airmail; £120 RoW. Single copies £10 each. Published by: Pinede Publishing Ltd 16-18 Hawkesyard Hall, Armitage Park, Nr. Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 1PU ISSN 0969 885X This issue includes photographs provided and paid for by suppliers

Printed by Precision Colour Printing Origination by Design and Media Solutions ABC Audited Circulation Jan-Dec 2018 12,179

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Reduce the energy consumption of your buildings.

Achieve your energy saving

Retrofitting fans Retrofitting fans TheThe power power ec@uk.ebmpapst.com www.ebmpapst.co.uk

ec@uk.ebmpapst.com www.ebmpapst.co.uk

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news update For all the latest news stories visit www.eibi.co.uk

Energy storage ‘must hit 30GW’ At least 30GW of energy storage will be required to reach net zero, according to new research. The analysis, produced by Imperial College for energy giant Drax’s Energy Insights paper, states that as intermittent generation from renewables like wind and solar grows, the country will have to increase its storage capacity tenfold. As efforts to decarbonise power continue, Britain is likely to source 70-80 per cent of its power from wind and solar power by 2050. Storage will be needed to balance the peaks and troughs created by such generation, with the majority of power generated in the middle of the day and the highest demand in the evening generally. The analysis looked at 28 scenarios from 24 independent studies and how they forecast renewables growth, and the following need for storage. It showed that within these 70-80 per cent renewable scenarios, GB would require storage capacity of around a third of peak electricity demand. At the moment, on average, renewables make up a quarter of the country’s electricity mix, according to the analysis. With each unit of intermittent power added though, an additional 0.2 units of energy storage capacity will be needed to keep the grid stable and the supply smooth. This could be a huge challenge for GB, which currently only has 3GW of storage, but will need to increase it to 30GW. The lead author Dr Iain Staffell said that storage stood to play a pivotal role in dictating the pace, scale and cost of the energy transition. “Along with other technologies, such as interconnection and flexible generation, energy storage helps integrate more renewables onto the system, which makes it easier to manage the grid and enables greater decarbonisation at lowest cost.”

ECODESIGN LAWS FOR ELECTRICITY-CONSUMING PRODUCTS

More efficient, easier to repair goods New EU ecodesign laws will require electricity-consuming products to be easier to repair or recycle, as well as even more energy efficient. The new rules were agreed in principle by all 28 EU member states back in January 2019, and are among the final measures applying to the UK as a full member. This will mean all TVs, monitors, fridges, freezers, washing machines, washer-driers, dishwashers, and lighting products sold anywhere within the EU market from April 2021 will have to meet minimum repairability requirements. Up until now, the Ecodesign Directive has focused on making sure products are more efficient, so that they perform better while using less energy. But EU policymakers are now pushing a step further into the circular economy concept, making sure products both last longer and are easier to repair and recycle. Consequently, the updated

Directive is removing the most wasteful products from the market, replacing them with appliances that meet higher energy efficiency standards and are designed to be easier to repair or recycle. The move is aimed at extending the lifetime of products, in order to save consumers money while also slashing greenhouse gas emissions generated by product manufacturing, waste disposal, and inefficient products. Together with these new energy efficiency requirements, ecodesign measures are reckoned to

save around 5 per cent of the EU’s electricity consumption (140TWh) cutting around £22bn from energy bills in the process. Nevertheless, there remains concern that eco-labels have yet to be adopted covering office equipment such as computers, displays, and servers (see EiBI April 2019). Chloe Fayole, strategy director at environmental group Ecos, hailed the new rules as a turning point in the way products are manufactured and used in Europe. “With these measures, Europe has taken a big step towards a more circular economy, which should inspire the rest of the world,” she said. “We now expect EU decision makers to replicate this approach to many other products. Notably electronic products such as smartphones and computers, to minimise their environmental impact.”

London gets its own renewable-only energy supplier Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched London Power, a new renewable-only energy supplier. The joint partnership between the Mayor of London and Octopus Energy offers a 12-month fixed tariff, dubbed My London fixed yearly plan, which it claims will be within the cheapest 10 per cent of similar tariffs, estimating an average household could save £300 a year. A separate plan, My London top-up plan, will be available to prepayment customers. “London Power is a different kind of energy company. For the first time we have a fair, affordable, green energy company specially designed for Londoners,” Khan said. London Power offers no exit fees and a roll-over into the cheapest similar tariff at the time a customer’s contract ends. Profits are set to be reinvested into community projects helping those living in fuel poverty, working to tackle the climate emergency and working to make London zerocarbon. Stuart Jackson, co-founder and CFO of Octopus Energy, said

Octopus “couldn’t be happier” to launch London Power, offering “a good deal on planet-friendly power”. The launch of the supplier comes as part of the Mayor’s Energy for Londoners programme, aiming to make London’s homes warm, healthy and affordable, its workplaces more energy efficient and its energy supply more local and clean. Over 1,000 Londoners have registered interest in London Power. It was unveiled in September, with an

original go-live date of December. Nina Skorupska, CEO of the Renewable Energy Association, said: “London Power embodies the future of energy companies in the UK; localised, affordable and 100 per cent renewable. “The interest already shown demonstrates the growing appetite amongst consumers to feel a personalised connection to their energy, knowing where it comes from and who it is benefitting.”

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GOVERNMENT PROMISES COMMERCIAL SECTOR BOOST

IN BRIEF

Greener UK offices on the horizon

Milestone for actuator maker

The UK Government has promised the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) that they will introduce new plans intended to “dramatically” improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings in the private rented sector. The CCC had urged that a binding target should be set for all rented nonresidential properties to hit Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band B by 2030. Currently, commercial landlords are required only to ensure that new leases are at minimum D standard. The rules could usher in a new generation of greener office and commercial buildings, while cutting carbon emissions equivalent of 500,000 homes, the government has told the CCC. It is committing to “go further and faster to tackle climate change”.

Belimo, the Swiss manufacturer of field devices for controlling and regulating heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems has delivered its 100 millionth actuator. The PR actuator is part of a motorised butterfly valve that is used in water applications and, thanks to a power consumption of only 20W, it reduces energy consumption by over 80 per cent compared to competitive products, says the company.

In addition, a formal consultation this summer will also consider introducing mandatory in-use energy performance ratings for all business buildings, in an attempt to get businesses to crack down on wasteful energy use. One option initially promoted by former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron would be to expand the use of Display Energy Certificates (DECs) into the private sector. For

the past 12 years, all public sector buildings over 500m2 to which the public has access, have been required to display” in a prominent place” details of progress in reducing actual energy-use. Whereas all EPCs only measure theoretical energy usage, many property professionals have long argued that DECs tell a more accurate story on energy efficiency, since these are entirely based on a building’s actual fuel use. There are also considerable concerns regarding the failure by local councils’ trading standards departments to enforce the provision of EPCs for rental properties. Because DECs are by definition far more visible, it is reckoned to be more difficult for these to escape purposeful oversight.

Energy performance targets for commercial offices The UK Green Building Council has published new energy performance targets for commercial offices that are aiming to achieve net zero carbon in operation. Following direct engagement with industry and analysis of the projected zero carbon energy capacity of the UK, UKGBC is recommending that the offices sector should reduce energy demand by an average of 60 per cent by 2050 to help the UK achieve net zero. The targets were developed as an addition to UKGBC’s 2019 report ‘Net Zero Carbon Buildings: A Framework Definition’, which sets out guidance for buildings seeking to achieve net zero for construction and operational energy. They have been

developed in collaboration with Verco, Better Buildings Partnership and BPF, with support from Arup, Carbon Intelligence, JLL UK and TfL. The new energy targets represent more stretching requirements for commercial offices claiming net zero in operation and set out a trajectory of tightening energy performance requirements over the next fifteen years. Offices seeking zero carbon for operational energy should first meet the energy performance targets, then meet demand as far as possible through renewable energy and finally offset any remaining carbon. This data should then be independently verified and publicly disclosed on an annual basis to demonstrate how the net zero balance has been achieved.

Richard Twinn, senior policy advisor at UKGBC said: “At the start of the decade of action, the most important action that the building sector can take is to drive down energy demand. This will be crucial to decarbonising our energy systems in the most cost-effective way, and ensuring that buildings only use their ‘fair share’ of energy in a net zero carbon economy. Details of the energy performance targets are set out in a recently published short paper that includes a trajectory of targets starting from current best practice with tightening targets every five years up to 2035. By this date, all offices aiming to be net zero should be operating at the energy performance standards that will be needed by 2050.

Commissioning under the spotlight The first ‘Making Buildings Work’ conference is due to take place on March 31 at The Crystal in London. This one-day conference, supported by EiBI, is aimed at property developers, architects, main contractors, facilities management consultants and MEP service providers – all of which have a vested interested in ensuring the commissioning phase of any build project is delivered correctly. Delegate fees are £95.00 +VAT per person, which includes all refreshments and a buffet lunch. The Commissioning Specialist Association has gathered together speakers including Ian Ellis of Siemens Building Technologies, Adam Muggleton, the renowned Building Whisperer, Liz Day of CWT Consultants, and Terry Sharp, vice president of the BCIA. • For more information, including the full programme, and to reserve your place, please visit the website – www.csa-conference.co.uk - or call/ email the CSA office on +44 (0)1403 754133 or office@csa.org.uk.

Toshiba Carrier invests in Poland Toshiba Carrier Corporation is investing approximately Yen3bn in a new manufacturing subsidiary in Gniezno, Poland, to enhance its business foundation and presence in Europe. The new manufacturing subsidiary, its first in Europe, is scheduled to start operations before the end of this year. The new manufacturing facility will allow Toshiba Carrier to reduce product lead time by one-third, reduce product cost, and bolster its product lineup in Europe.

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Pressure grows on Scots owners Homeowners in Scotland could be forced to improve the energy efficiency of their property before they are able to sell, under new proposals unveiled by the Scottish government. This would be an unprecedented step in the UK. The plans, which would take effect from 2024, would see all owner-occupied properties required to reach EPC C rating when they hit certain “trigger points”, such as a sale or renovation. If a seller is unwilling or unable to bring their home up to standard before sale, then the responsibility would fall upon the buyer to bring the property up to an EPC C rating within 12 months. The Scottish Government said this extra burden would be reflected in house prices for such properties. Fines would be levied for noncompliance, although the Scottish government has not indicated at what level they would be set. Although emissions in Scotland have fallen rapidly in recent years, harder-to-reach sectors such as housing are proving trickier to decarbonise. Homeowners in particular currently have little incentive to undertake more costly energy efficiency improvements. Scottish Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse and Housing Minister Kevin Stewart reckon Scotland’s adoption of a 2045 net zero target means Scotland needs to go “further and faster” on cutting emissions. “In the context of a global climate emergency we must look to all parts of society to take action to cut emissions,” they wrote in a joint statement. “This government wants all our homes to be warmer, greener and more efficient, and for housing to play a full part in Scotland’s efforts to tackle climate change.” If confirmed, the rules would mark a major step towards addressing emissions from houses not covered by policies. Former LibDem building regulations minister Lord (Don) Foster is introducing a Domestic Premises (Energy Performance) Bill in the Lords to press for similar requirements in England. It is understood that the Johnson Government is considering opposing it.

PLEDGE TO REDUCE NET EMISSIONS TO ZERO

Sainsbury’s makes bold statement Sainsbury’s has pledged to reduce its net carbon emissions to zero over the next 20 years. The supermarket chain has committed to investing £1bn over twenty years towards becoming a Net Zero business across its own operations by 2040, aligned to the highest ambitions of the Paris Climate Change Agreement and a decade ahead of the UK Government’s own target. 1,400 Sainsbury’s stores have been fitted with aerofoil technology, keeping fridges cool and aisles warmer and saving 15 per cent of the energy used by the fridge. 17,547 tonnes of CO2 were saved through colleague behavioural change project The retailer will increase its use of renewable energy, while reducing overall energy usage. Fridges will be made as efficient as possible through

the use of innovative technology and increasing the use of natural refrigerants– as well as increasing the percentage of its fleet using alternative zero and low carbon fuels to 20 per cent by 2025. By the end of 2022 all Sainsbury’s stores will be 100 per cent lit by LEDs. Sainsbury’s will minimise the use of water in its own operations, driving towards water neutral by 2040. As the first retailer to be

certified with the Carbon Trust Water Standard, Sainsbury’s uses 1bn litres less water annually than in 2005. 170 stores are fitted with rainwater harvesting facilities and these are fitted as standard in new stores. Sainsbury’s will also review every aspect of water use in its business, measuring and lowering the amount of water used in bathrooms and will look to recycle water from areas such as ice on fish counters and carwashes. The retailer’s current carbon footprint is 1m tonnes, which is a 35 per cent absolute reduction in the last 15 years despite its space increasing by 46 per cent over the same time frame. For the last six years Sainsbury’s has been awarded an A rating for taking action on Climate Change by the CDP, the highest rating of any UK supermarket.

Europe ‘underestimating charging point numbers’

SMEs boost energy efficiency Twenty four per cent of SMEs have improved the energy efficiency of their premises in the last year, while 22 per cent have utilised suppliers that offer greener products and services, according to a new survey. Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking’s Business Barometer surveyed 1,200 companies in November 2019.. While 64 per cent claimed they wanted to become more sustainable, 63 per cent have taken steps to improve environmental performances in the past 12 months. Lloyds Bank Global Transaction Banking’s head of asset finance, Keith Softly, said: “With environmental sustainability high on the agenda for firms of every size – whether that means they’re doing what they can to reduce energy consumption or cut waste – businesses understand there is often a financial benefit to making their operations greener.” Just under a quarter (23 per cent) of respondents admitted that their organisation is primarily driven by making long-term costs savings, and that any investment into sustainability would have to generate such returns. However, 22 per cent claimed they are primarily motivated by customer and consumer pressure regarding sustainability and climate change, which has heightened in recent months due to the climate strikes and new net-zero legislation introduced by Government.

Europe will require far more electric vehicle charging points by 2030 than the European Commission is currently estimating to support the EU’s goal of becoming “climate neutral” by mid-century, according to new research. Three million public charging points will have to be available by 2030 in order to sustain the rise in electric vehicles needed for Europe’s long-term climate objectives, according to a new report by campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E). The report assumes 44m electric vehicles are on European roads by 2030. That means a fifteen-fold increase on the 185,000 public chargers currently available in the EU, the research found. Both T&E and the Commission agree however that around 13m electric vehicles will be on European roads by 2025, although the EU executives also include “low-emission vehicles” such as hydrogen fuel cell cars into the mix. But the number of charging points is not the only challenge. Other important changes also need to happen on the side of the electricity grid and the organisation of power markets and digital payment systems.

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Five cities are ‘wasting £60m’

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE PLEDGES ZERO-CARBON STANDARD

Bloomberg’s bold promises for USA Former Republican New York City Mayor and leading US Democratic presidential candidate, Michael Bloomberg, is promising to ensure that every new building in the country will be constructed to zero-carbon standard with a “hyperefficient” performance. Historically, no president has ever mandated any national energy consumption standards for buildings. These are usually organised at either state or even township level. The proposal is part of Bloomberg’s overall goal for cutting US carbon pollution across the economy by 50 per cent by 2030 in order to hit full decarbonisation before mid-century. This target would mirror the legal 2050 target set in the UK by former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May. The clean buildings plan unveiled by Bloomberg deliberately prioritises low-income and middleclass minority communities. Its interventionist measures include fuel bill rebates, tax credits, and lowcost financing for both appliances

and building renovation. One of the richest men in the world, Bloomberg plans not just to set zero-carbon high-efficiency standards for new construction. He is also promising to ramp up energy efficiency standards and healthrelated pollution restrictions for existing buildings. • Meanwhile, the European Commission has unveiled plans to mobilise €1tr over the next 10 years, as part of an unparalleled investment strategy to drive the decarbonisation of the continent’s economy. The Sustainable Europe Investment Plan also details plans

for a Just Transition Mechanism, to support those regions facing a particularly far-reaching transformation proposes. It will direct a quarter of the EU budget to climate and environmental spending, a move that will channel €503bn into decarbonisation efforts between 2021 and 2027. At the same time, the European Investment Bank is being reoriented to become Europe’s “climate bank”, increasing the share of its financing dedicated to climate action and environmental sustainability to reach 50 per cent of its operations by 2025. This wide-ranging investment programme is to form the financial foundation for the EU’s Green New Deal announced in December, (see EiBI Jan 2020) which envisages a radical transformation of the trading bloc’s economy to become net zero emission by 2050. Europe is now firmly committed to an unprecedented mobilisation of public and private finance, as it seeks to build the world’s first net zero emission continent.

Energy efficiency jobs grow while solar takes a hit The number of jobs in the solar sector has dropped since 2015, figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show. They form part of a wider report looking at the low carbon and renewable energy economy (LCREE) in 2018 in the UK. It shows that employment dropped in the solar sector from 9,000 full time employees in 2015 to just 6,600 in 2018. This was mirrored by a drop in turnover too, falling from £2.7bn to £1.8bn over the course of the three years. However, the energy efficiency sector was the largest in 2018 as it had been before, and accounted for 36 per cent, or £16.7bn of the LCREE turnover, and 51 per cent of employment, or 114,400 full time employees. This is largely due to the end of the feed in tariff (FiT), which was announced in 2015 and officially finished in 2019, leading to a drop in solar projects throughout the country. At the time, the government predicted that there would be 18,700 fewer jobs in the industry due to the changes in FiT. Solar Trade Association chief executive Chris Hewett said: “These numbers will come as no surprise to the solar industry as they cover the period from peak deployment of 4GW in 2015 to a trough in 2018. In that time many jobs in installation and development either folded completely or transitioned into operations and maintenance. “As the economics of solar improve, alongside deployment of energy storage and other smart and

flexible energy technologies, we are expecting the solar jobs market to gradually recover over the years, and the need for O&M will only grow as the stock of solar systems out there become older.” In 2018 there was roughly 224,800 green jobs in the UK. This is a marked drop from 2014, when an estimated 235,900 people were employed in green professions, such as within the renewables sector. Amy MacConnachie, head of external affairs at the REA added: “It is unsurprising to see that job numbers have fallen after years of uncertainty and subsidy cuts in the sector. However, a lot has changed since this data was taken; the UK legislated for net zero emissions by 2050, the landmark wind sector deal was signed and the Prime Minister himself pledged his support to achieving our climate goals. “Whilst the statistics published today are disappointing, we’re expecting to see jobs in the sector grow over the next few years in line with the political shift towards a net zero UK.“ Elsewhere the ONS report there were positives for the LCREE, including the turnover rising from an estimated £40.4bn in 2015 to £46.7bn in 2018. Overall employment increased in the years to 2018, but this did follow a dramatic drop in employment between 2014 and 2015. It was estimated to be 224,800 in 2018 and 200,800 FTE in 2015.

Energy being wasted every year by a few thousand office buildings across five UK cities could power over 100,000 homes and is costing businesses £60m in unnecessary energy bills. The scale is largest in the capital. Wasted energy by the City of London’s offices is equivalent to the amount used to power over 65,000 homes, similar to the housing stock of the London Borough of Kingston upon Thames. This is costing the City’s businesses £35m a year. It also has a climate impact, generating the same level of carbon emissions as 46,000 cars every year. The problem is widespread across other UK cities. Energy currently wasted by less than 3,300 office buildings in the cities of Manchester, Bristol, Leeds and Birmingham could power over 42,000 homes, costing businesses across the four cities £25m a year in unnecessary bills. There have been limited efforts to address this. Most of the UK’s commercial buildings are energy inefficient and, overall, energy consumption per square metre has flatlined since 2002. A new report from the think tank Green Alliance, written for its Tech Task Force, highlights that better use of digital technology is one obvious solution, to save both money and carbon. Examples of how it can help reduce energy use include smart sensors and algorithms, to track and modulate energy use in different parts of a building. Evidence shows that these technologies can vastly improve the energy performance of commercial buildings. There are substantial opportunities for immediate and easy gains. Artificial intelligence energy optimisation systems already on the market could cut energy use by as much as 14 per cent in commercial buildings with pay back in just a few months. For the City of London, for example, businesses could save £13m on their collective energy bill within a year. If this level of progress were achieved in the City of London, its business energy bills would come down by a total of £367m over the next decade.

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THE WARREN REPORT

02.20 Andrew Warren is chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation

How far are you prepared to go? There’s overwhelming public acknowledgement that action has to be taken on climate change. But only a minority want to make changes to our lifestyle

o argument. The overwhelming majority of UK citizens are convinced that radical steps need to be taken to combat the threat of climate change. Certainly by Government. And, just as much, by individuals. The question remains: just how ready is each of us to undertake radical steps in our own lives? Every recent opinion survey endorses acknowledgement of the threat. To take just one recent opinion poll (far from an outlier) was published in the i, the fastest growing newspaper. This poll revealed overwhelming support for radical change to end the UK’s net carbon emissions by the end of this decade. Some 70 per cent of those questioned by pollsters BMG said they supported the target of net-zero emissions by 2030, with only 7 per cent opposing it. The UK is currently legally committed to reach net-zero emissions, but by 2050. Support for swift action over the next 10 years was high across all age ranges, social groups and parts of the country, countering any perceptions of a generational or urban/rural split on the climate emergency. The survey found high levels of concern over the threat which unchecked climate change poses to everyday life for people in the UK, with 67 per cent saying they expected it to have a negative impact, against just 12 per cent who still hoped it might be positive. Plus 21 per cent who thought it might not make any great difference

(or who frankly didn’t know). Given that response, we might logically assume the vast majority should be prepared to take all the steps we can in our own lives to ameliorate this threat. But are they? The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is the nation’s official watchdog. It warns what needs to be done to minimise the problem. It has becoming increasingly agitated at the failure of so many of us to address what we are doing about the place where we are most likely to be making the greatest contribution to emitting the greenhouse gases that cause climate change: specifically, our homes.

Residential sector insulation down 90 per cent Firstly, we certainly should be doing more to insulate the fabric of our homes; the Committee has revealed that installations of residential sector insulation have fallen by 90 per cent within the past five years. The numbers of homes having energy-efficient glazing installed has fallen back too. Even though we continue to occupy some of the draughtiest homes in western Europe. The average home could certainly cut consumption by half with ease - and end up a lot more comfortable. But our heating itself remains very fossil-fuel dependent. The UK is one of only three European countries where the majority of homes rely upon natural gas as the main heating source. The CCC has long argued for transferring heating away from gas to electric. Right now gas boilers are to be found in 72 per cent of British homes. In contrast, 11 per cent use district or communal heating, just 8 per cent have an electric heat pump. The trade body Eurogas, transparently an interested party, has also carried out extensive opinion polling (by Savanta ComRes) across Europe. Helpfully, they have broken down responses received country by country. UK opinions are in many cases very similar to other Europeans, certainly regarding the severity of the threat of climate change. We are among the highest in acknowledging the responsibility that falls upon individuals to “do their bit” 69 per cent think we should all be doing so.

‘The average British home could certainly cut consumption by half with ease - and end up a lot more comfortable’

But we Brits put changing our heating system very low down on the list of actions we are willing to consider. Whereas 46 per cent reckon they could be using less energy (still lower than most other Europeans), only 14 per cent of us would ever consider changing boilers – although 34 per cent did concede that heating systems needed to alter. While this reaction could be ascribed to inertia, there is overt resistance to doing anything that would increase monthly fuel bills. Some 60 per cent say they would refuse to co-operate with any changes unless their overall bills actually went down considerably (by far the highest percentage in western Europe). And we evince the greatest hostility to change if any upfront capital expense was required. What should we read into these two sets of opinion polls? The lessons I would draw are salutary. Yes, there is an unequivocal acknowledgment of warnings expressed by climatologists. Yes, climate change is a major and serious threat, which must require significant lifestyle changes to combat. Some - possibly 1 in 5 – are prepared to embrace such changes, even to make personal sacrifices to assist. But the vast majority of us have yet to do more than respond intellectually. We might well be prepared (prompted by some judicious incentives and/or regulatory requirements) to reduce the amount of energy we burn, particularly if we can be more comfortable in consequence. But we are simply not yet prepared to endure any disruption to our present heating arrangements, particularly if we end up out of pocket even a bit. All of which might argue for making rather more of a push into greening the gas network, probably via hydrogen, than hitherto. As well as ensuring that there are some effective incentives and regulations introduced to ensure that we reduce the overall amount of fuel that running the network requires. Otherwise in the words of St Augustine, it is “Lord, make me chaste. But not yet.” 

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Lighting Technology

Neal Paley is specialist lighting designer at TÜV SÜD

For further information on TÜV SÜD visit www.eibi.co.uk/enquiries and enter ENQUIRY No. 125

Through the lighting maze Neal Paley looks at the bewildering array of regulations and energy labelling requirements that energy managers now have to confront

anufacturers of lamps and luminaires have to meet the rising demand for energysaving lighting products that can reduce utility costs, and they must also remain abreast of rapidly changing regulations and energy labelling requirements. However, while there are similarities in the regulatory framework of each country, there are differences and subtle variations in the conformity assessment process. That process is further complicated by the lack of international harmonised standards for energyefficient lighting products. Directive 2009/125/EC, also known as the EcoDesign Directive, is the primary regulatory instrument in the EU regarding all energy-using products, including lighting. It establishes a broad framework for product-specific design requirements, with the goal of reducing overall energy consumption. The Energy Label Directive (2010/30/EU) complements this by providing a framework for requirements regarding labelling and other means of providing endusers with product-specific energy consumption information. The EU Ecolabel is a voluntary product certification established in 1992 by the European Commission to assist consumers in identifying products that achieve the highest levels of energy efficiency. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive 2012/19/EU sets collection, recycling and recovery targets for electronic equipment placed on the market. Such waste can no longer simply be placed in landfill as targets have been set by the European Parliament for member states to recover certain percentages of their waste via recycling facilities. Lighting plays a key role here, as some manufactures charge a WEEE levy at the time of purchasing lighting products, which then goes into the recycling scheme. In the UK, the Energy Saving Trust operates a voluntary product

There is a lack of harmonised standards for energy-efficient lighting products from country to country

certification scheme for energysaving products. Lighting products include compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), halogen and LED lamps and luminaires, and compliance must be verified through an independent third-party test report.

Recognised benchmark BREEAM is the UK property industry’s recognised benchmark for the environmental rating of new and major refurbished buildings, helping to lower running costs, maximise returns through the market value of a building, as well as attract and retain tenants by providing desirable places to live and work. A study from the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA) found that over 40 per cent of construction industry respondents recognised “return on investment” and “operational savings” as benefits of implementing BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method). As part of BREEAM, ‘innovation credits’ provide additional recognition of a development in the field of sustainable performance. We have worked alongside other planning and development disciplines to produce a credit checker, which gives everyone involved the complete picture of credit targets to ensure that

environmental ratings are achieved. Regulations for energy efficient lighting products vary significantly across the world. The USA’s ENERGY STAR is a voluntary testing and labelling programme to help consumers identify products with the highest levels of energy efficiency. Eligible lighting products include CFLs, LED lamps and luminaires, decorative light strings and lighting fixtures. Minimum standards for LED lamps in Australia and New Zealand have been introduced in line with EU standards. The phase out will remove remaining incandescent and a range of halogen lamps from the Australian market, where an equivalent LED lamp is available. Timing of the new regulation will align with revised EU minimum standards that will apply to LED lamps (planned for September 2021). Energy efficiency is now a key feature of any lighting design as

schemes must meet the latest criteria. However, there are many other important reasons for implementing energy efficient lighting innovations, ranging from the more obvious reduction of power consumption, to benefitting from incredibly low-maintenance requirements and associated costs. As LED costs continue to fall, so sales of them are on the rise. However, the enormous range of available energy-efficient luminaire products and lamps can be overwhelming for the designer, as the market for these products has undergone profound changes. In Europe, designers and engineers should look for the CE marking on lighting products. This is a manufacturer’s or importer’s self-declaration that the product conforms to European requirements. Such a product should come with a Declaration of Conformity that states to which standards the product has been tested. Depending on the outcome of Brexit negotiations, at the time of writing this article, it is likely that UK lighting manufacturers will need to replace the CE marking with a new ‘UK Conformity Assured’ symbol, for the British market. UK lighting manufacturers will still be able to sell products which have been made and assessed against EU regulatory requirements and which carry a CE marking, for a certain transition period. High-efficiency lighting technologies offer up to an 85 per cent improvement in energy efficiency compared with conventional lighting technologies, while providing an equal or better quality of light. However, implementing energy-efficient lighting into a well-designed scheme can be a complex procedure, as the lighting designer must ensure that efficient luminaires are used. This makes it necessary to think about the design as a whole, both creatively and technically - from the downlight, associated drivers and right through to the lighting control system. 

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Lighting Technology

John Allden is managing director of Tamlite

For further information on Tamlite visit www.eibi.co.uk/enquiries and enter ENQUIRY No. 126

Wireless systems offer flexibility while opening up greater opportunities in the future

Simplicity, flexibility and connectivity The new generation of ‘smart’ wireless solutions will deliver greater flexibility while addressing sustainability, wellbeing and safety concerns, says John Allden

s the need for building systems to perform both effectively and costeffectively has become more acute, so has the demand for control solutions that allow building managers and other end-users to get the most out of their systems. With the debate around climate change and the shift towards a carbon-neutral economy intensifying again in recent months, the expectations of control networks will only continue to grow. The good news is that, increasingly, technology is beginning to catch up with customer needs. Take lighting, considered by many to be the most fundamental building service, as an example. Until recently, the preponderance of wired networks meant that connecting even medium-sized lighting installations to control systems could be an expensive and time-consuming business. Traditionally, luminaires have been connected through wired networks that incorporate each and every fitting to achieve total control. While the benefits of such networks – often controlled using the DALI protocol – can be considerable, they can also lead to significant additional

cabling requirements for contractors and designers, with all the attendant cost implications that one would expect. Intricate cabled networks are also more difficult to amend when luminaires fail or need to be updated. These legacy-style systems have also tended to possess limitations in terms of flexibility. The fact that they have generally required a central access point to act as the building management system (BMS) has reduced the capacity for remote operation and/or control by multiple users. Needless to say, this has also contributed to overall lighting installations being more complex and, arguably, more susceptible to faults and security threats. Viewed in this context, the advent of a new generation of simpler, ‘smart’ lighting control systems using wireless technology will likely prove to be the ideal solution.

Move from wired to wireless The benefits of moving from a wired to wireless infrastructure are extensive and begin with the luminaire itself. In a wireless system, integrated wireless nodes are housed within the luminaire and communicate with each other, eradicating the need for a connected

network with substantial cabling requirements. Other components include integrated PIR and daylight harvesting sensors, with each node communicating with the overarching control system – allowing basic but critical parameters for each fixture to be amended quickly and easily. Not only do wireless systems facilitate greater flexibility in the present, they also open up more opportunities in the future. With the extra cabling needs removed, networks can be scaled up with a minimum of fuss, while additional spaces or even separate buildings can be brought under the control of the same system. For designers and consultants, this means that lighting installations at the time of commissioning no longer need to be set in stone. Instead, they can be adjusted painlessly as the occupancy and usage patterns of individual spaces or entire buildings change. Contemporary lighting systems are also far more conducive to tracking energy consumption and making adjustments accordingly. For example, live energy monitoring allows building managers to be better informed on how their facility is being used and make

corresponding amendments to lighting schedules and settings. It’s also easier to set up individual lighting scenes and schedules, with sensors and photocell receptors able to be customised to suit the requirements of different groups and usage patterns. Scenes can be set and reset, and then controlled by endusers via wall-panels allows users to select the scene that suits their needs. For example, in a meeting room, the lighting can be immediately dimmed to ‘presentation’ mode, if needed. Such control is also particularly useful for facilities that host a range of activities and user groups. For example, employees in their low 20s tend to perform better in cool light, while those older often prefer to work in warmer white.1 This is critical given the nature of the modern working environment, which has more disparity than ever with regards to age. With the retirement age increasing and young people looking to initiate their careers, it is vital that workplaces are geared towards the preferences of a variety of age groups. Inevitably, safety and security are priority concerns with all building systems, and lighting is no exception. Once again, it’s an area in which the latest generation of smart wireless systems can prove their worth, with the vast majority operating at a frequency (often 868MHz) outside of the spectrum occupied by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth systems. This renders them significantly less susceptible to disruption, allowing the wireless network to operate in a secure and stable way. Not surprisingly, an increasing number of vendors are now moving away from wired systems towards wireless-based solutions. With an ever-growing focus on circular economy, enhanced occupant wellbeing, greater control of energy consumption and safer buildings, the needs of end-users in these key areas can be achieved simply through the power of simpler, smarter lighting. 

Reference 1) Maher, Laura J. Mrs., “Aging-In-Place Home Modification: LED Lamp Color Temperature Preference Among Adults” (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 110.

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Lighting Technology For further information on products and services visit www.eibi.co.uk/enquiries and enter the appropriate online enquiry number

LEDs cut costs and reduce maintenance in international station car parks Specialist contractor, NeuxPark has completed a major Goodlight LED project to refit the lighting in four international station car parks in the south of England with long-life, energy-efficient LED lamps and luminaires from the Goodlight range. 3,000 LED luminaires including 400 emergency kits were installed in multi-storey and open car parks across these sites, providing the car park owners with up to 80 per cent energy savings. NeuxPark was commissioned to replace the outdated fluorescent and metal halide luminaires in the car parks at St Pancras, Ebbsfleet, Stratford and Ashford, with a total capacity of up to 8,000 spaces. The new luminaires reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint as well as providing brighter illumination for increased safety and security. The operators of the

car parks sought longer lasting lights to reduce the frequency of replacement thus eliminating maintenance costs. NeuxPark, an approved partner for Goodlight, installed a selection of Goodlight LED lights including G360 LED SON Lamps (Daylight

and Natural) in 20W, 30W and 60W which deliver a high lumen output of 140Lm/W brightness from its 360Â° beam angle. Due to its advanced cooling system, the G360 LED chips can be run up to 30 per cent brighter, which is perfect for a car park environment. Also specified

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were T8 LED Tubes (Natural) in 5ft 25W that achieve up to 120Lm/W brightness. These were a perfect replacement for the standard fluorescent fittings in the car parks as they are robust, impact resistant and glass-free. The T8 LED Tubes easily retrofit into existing lamp fittings and operate independently of external control gear. Once installed, they deliver a superb even light spread with no shadowing. Eco LED Battens were also chosen (Natural) in 5ft 50W together with Emergency Self-Test versions, delivering up to 110Lm/W. They are ultra-reliable and designed to replace outdated fluorescent fixtures with brighter, more energy efficient LED battens. In addition, 120W GX1 LED Low Bays (Daylight) were selected, delivering a bright output of 110Lm/W. Â&#x201E; ONLINE ENQUIRY 127

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Lighting Technology For further information on products and services visit www.eibi.co.uk/enquiries and enter the appropriate online enquiry number

LED lighting specified for warehouse set for £61,000 savings EcolightingUK has recently been specified for LED lighting at the 1,920m2 warehouse at the Brockton Business Park in Telford for client CML. CML stores and delivers a wide variety of food products across the ambient and chilled temperature ranges and offers a series of added value solutions to its clients. CML tailors a logistics package to suit each customer’s requirements, regardless of size, and has gone from strength to strength in recent years after it struck a joint venture agreement with Culina Group in 2014. As part of its continued growth, CML expanded from its 7,000m2 property on the Brockton site, which it leased in 2009, to assume full occupation of the 15-acre Business Park site in January 2012. Following a long-standing relationship with Culina Group, Ecolighting was chosen for its reduced costs against competitor prices and the efficacy of its fittings to replace the

lighting in place. The logistics giant needed efficient lighting for its three chill warehouses, link tunnel and packing area and chose Ecolighting’s Pegasus LED high bay, Sapphire Linear and Altos emergency LED lighting for the installation. The site was assessed by Ecolighting and 268 160W 120o beam angle Pegasus LEDs were selected for the three warehouses, with an added six for the link tunnel, 33 60W Sapphire LEDs were fitted in the packing

area and Altos emergency lighting luminaires were also installed. Robert White, group facilities manager at Culina Group, commented: “As part of some general improvements to the warehouse we decided to switch to LED lighting to reduce our running costs. We chose to work with Ecolighting as we have worked with them for years and have always been impressed with their work and the savings we make. We are very pleased with the results.” Ecolighting’s Pegasus uses Osram drivers and LEDs giving 166 lumens per watt and up to 80 per cent energy saving in installations. At CML, this will result in an annual saving of more than £61,000 in replacement lamps, climate change levy reductions, maintenance and carbon credits. Ecolighting’s compact Pegasus luminaire is an LED High Bay luminaire and one of the company’s most popular light fittings. It is

used by Ecolighting frequently for a wide range of applications from industrial, warehouses, cold stores and manufacturing to sports halls and retail stores. For the Telford site’s packing area, the Sapphire luminaire was chosen. Sapphire from Ecolighting is one of the company’s most popular LED luminaires for use in commercial and industrial environments. Manufactured by Ecolighting in the UK, Sapphire features high output chip-on-board LEDs and OSRAM driver encased in a linear body with a polycarbonate diffuser, all rated IP54. The Altos emergency luminaire from Ecolighting is part of the company’s flagship LED high bay lighting solutions designed for use in mezzanines, warehouses, in manufacturing, freezers/chillers and areas with high ceilings. ONLINE ENQUIRY 128

Service and financing scheme for refurbishing obsolete lighting schemes TRILUX Pay Per Use is a new service and financing model for refurbishing obsolete lighting systems or planning new ones. As part of an all round package TRILUX plans, installs and operates the tailor-made lighting solutions with customers paying only a consumption-based monthly usage fee. This enables companies to take advantage of efficient, networked LED lighting without any risk or own capital expenditure: safe, transparent and in a balance sheet neutral way. Obsolete lighting installations consume an unnecessary amount of energy and are not ideal in terms of lighting quality. This makes upgrading to energy-efficient LED solutions a viable alternative for the future. However, many companies shy away

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from the high complexity and costs associated with refurbishment. TRILUX has developed a capital and resource-saving service model specifically for

such clients: with TRILUX Pay Per Use, customers receive from TRILUX a newly planned LED lighting system installed and ready-to-use – paying only a monthly fee for use. This consists of a fixed basic fee along with a usage-dependent component and the contract period is usually seven years, although this can be specified individually. TRILUX will then dismantle the system. Alternatively, customers can assume ownership – in a similar way to leasing. TRILUX Pay Per Use thus offers companies easy access to ultra-modern, networked, intelligent LED lighting without investment costs and while protecting their capital. ONLINE ENQUIRY 129

Lighting Technology For further information on products and services visit www.eibi.co.uk/enquiries and enter the appropriate online enquiry number

Control system allows employees to take charge of lighting needs Signify has supplied Interact Pro with Philips Interact Ready luminaires for installation in the Innovation Room at TATA Steel’s headquarters in Deeside, north Wales by their in-house engineers. This has provided the company with a quick and cost-effective connected lighting installation. The Interact Pro system has put TATA Steel and its employees in control by letting them tailor light levels according to their requirements. It allows them to customise scenes and schedules through easily tapping the Interact Pro app, facilitating the productivity and well-being of employees. Also, it ensures that the lighting in the room is only used when it is needed, significantly reducing energy costs. By pre-setting the room, employees can create the right mood for a range of client presentations and access valuable insights into energy usage. The system is easy and straight forward enough for employees to use day-to-day. Also, it provides effective

lighting control to allow the creation of an impactful ambiance for the customers who visit each year to learn about the latest innovation in the steel industry. Interact Pro uses a wireless Zigbee Mesh network to connect luminaires, sensors and switches. This means that it is much easier to install than many existing

lighting control systems and doesn’t require additional cabling, making the process swifter. Users can quickly set up the connected lighting system via the Interact Pro app. The Interact Pro connected lighting system has been so well adopted by TATA Steel’s employees that the light switches put in place are no longer needed – meaning that light is only used when required and reducing overall energy consumption. “From early consultations we knew Interact Pro with Philips Interact Ready luminaires was a system that would help TATA Steel make an impact with customers to reflect their innovation while being more energy efficient,” said Stuart Jolley, trade and specification director for Signify in the UK and Ireland. “We look forward to continuing the partnership in the future to continue to deliver the most innovative systems through lighting.” 

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Headquarters building uses smart lighting to boost efficiency Arm Holdings, a developer of computer processors and microprocessors, has recently moved in to a new £90m 18,580m2 headquarters building in Cambridge. It is one of the most technologically advanced and extensive implementations of smart lighting in the world. The facility accommodates 2,500 of Arm’s innovators providing office, research and meeting spaces. Prolojik delivered the detailed design and all active equipment for what is one of the world’s largest power over Ethernet (PoE) lighting installations utilising the company’s Lightmatrix system. Over a dozen suppliers integrated Prolojik’s LX-LED drivers into everything from downlighters, through office lights to linear fittings, providing both constant current and constant

voltage drivers in wattages up to 60W over PoE. Around 6,000 light sources are independently controlled over PoE in the building. Integration with sensors, switches and scene panels, enables optimised occupation, illuminance and scene control. All lighting is wired back to the IDF rooms using CAT6 cable using a data basket, with the cabling quantity defined by wattage allowing daisychaining of luminaires. Prolojik provided 42U services racks containing its 48-port LX848 PoE lighting switches. Each switch provides up to 3kW of lighting power at 56V fed from integral auto-changeover hot-swappable power supplies. In total, Arm ABCD contains 70 LX848 switches internetworked between eight IDF rooms using CAT6 and Fibre networks using our LX800E

fibre gateways. Arm ABCD deploys over 1,000 of Prolojik’s Proxima Bluetooth LBS (Location-Based Services) multi-sensor, networked through 30 Bluetooth hubs. The sensor network supports lighting management with occupancy and illuminance data and enables detailed space usage insight. The Proxima sensors have been engineered to allow accurate trilateration of people and assets within

the building, achieving 1m radius accuracy within 30 seconds. The sensors additionally support Google Eddystone and Apple iBeacon protocols allowing indoor way points and targeted messaging. Prolojik’s PN350 AV gateways are installed in 120 locations to provide integration between the audio/video system and the lighting control. 

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Polar research vessel feels the benefits of energy-efficient LED lighting LED lighting specialist Glamox has supplied energy efficient LED lighting to the polar research vessel, RRS Sir David Attenborough. Commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council and built by Cammell Laird, the RRS Sir David Attenborough is operated by BAS, an organisation that delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. According to BAS, RRS Sir David Attenborough is designed to provide UK polar researchers and their international collaborators with access to a multidisciplinary research platform to enable the study of a wide range of marine disciplines. Glamox has supplied more than 2,200 state-

of-the-art LED luminaires to RRS Sir David Attenborough, including downlights, indoor and outdoor technical luminaires and interior lighting.

The LED products chosen for the vessel have a ‘green’ profile. They consume less than half the energy of conventional lighting and produce less waste, as there are no fluorescent tubes that need replacing. Also, the need for maintenance of the lighting is virtually eliminated. According to the vessel’s operator, British Antarctic Survey (BAS), RRS Sir David Attenborough is one of the most advanced polar research vessels in the world and will play an important role in improving our knowledge of the key polar atmospheric and oceanic processes.  ONLINE ENQUIRY 132

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ESTA VIEWPOINT

For further information on ESTA visit www.estaenergy.org.uk

Entering a decade of discovery Now that we have some political stability Mervyn Pilley looks at the prospects for energy saving as we enter a new decade. Will the UK lead the way or lag behind?

t last we have some clarity on the political front. While there are still many things to be agreed going forward, one must hope that business can start addressing what they need to do in terms of supporting all efforts to save the planet. While we have now left the EU, 2020 is going to be a year of ongoing challenges as trade deals are sorted out that will potentially impact on the priorities of business. For most of 2019 the economic uncertainty in the UK meant that for many businesses staying in business was the priority. Saving the planet, which should be priority number one, slid down the list especially when energy prices have continued to rise quickly. As I write this, the jury is still out on what is going to happen in terms of energy policies. There have been rumours about ministerial reshuffles and indeed a big reorganisation of Government ministries themselves. I would certainly welcome the moving of energy out of BEIS and giving it its own ministry. DECC may have had its challenges but it did at least focus on its key purpose. As a relatively small subset of business in BEIS, there has been so much noise about trade deals and Brexit that energy has rather lost its voice. It would also be good to have an energy minister who understands energy. The days when ministers could expect to stay in post long enough to totally understand their brief are regrettably, in my opinion, long gone. Unlike sectors like housing and construction where there has been a total lack of consistency due to a merry go round of ministerial appointments energy has at least had a bit more consistency albeit not with a real voice in cabinet. Around

‘The 2020s really are going to be a critical decade for us all’ the world far too many politicians talk the talk but totally fail to walk the walk when it comes to real, tangible and urgent policy decisions.

Is the UK leading the way? Many people argue that we in the UK are leading the way. However, in some areas I don’t believe that the solutions can all be left to the free market to solve. I am aware that that statement sounds rather counter intuitive to my stated goal for ESTA for 2020 which is to get work for our members. Government interference may be the last thing some businesses would want but a lot of pump priming, potentially through tax allowances is needed with many more carrots than sticks needed to encourage businesses to act. Taking away the enhanced capital allowances scheme is, in my opinion, a very bad example of how removing an incentive is not going to help the situation. Despite the usual challenges of January, I have started the process of delivering some of the change

Mervyn Pilley is executive director of ESTA (Energy Services and Technology Association)

programme I worked on developing last year. A more positive outlook on the economy should help and I am more positive that the initiatives that stalled last year should move more quickly this year. I know that I have a mountain to climb. Remembering that we are a UK-wide trade association is vital and at the very time that the Union seems to be more at risk than ever before I am looking to ramp up our activity in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In addition, post Brexit, I am determined to explore global opportunities for ESTA members and indeed look at international businesses which may be looking at the UK market. If we don’t get swept away by WTO rules or tariffs there is strong potential out there. Developing more collaborative relationships with other like-minded organisations is also vital. Collaboration on a vast scale is needed. Getting more potential customers and end users of our members’ services is going to be a priority at our events in 2020. In addition, ESTA is moving towards areas of energy efficiency that it hasn’t traditionally looked at before. With the speed of technology developing, new solutions, together with the wide range of existing solutions out there, growing our membership and groups is certainly on the agenda. I have always liked disruption and innovation. As the son of a highly innovative engineer and inventor who died leaving some thirty odd patents in his name, that is one of the positive traits I have inherited. The 2020s really are going to be a critical decade for us all. In my case I suspect that I may not still be working by the end of the decade and there is a good chance that my three-, soon to be four-year-old grandson might either never get to a state retirement situation or indeed he might never have a life of work that I have experienced due to those AI solutions. He certainly won’t have much of a carbon budget to spend. • If any readers of this column are interested in joining me/us on a voyage of discovery with ESTA please get in touch. Even if you aren’t interested in membership there are many other possible ways that we can work together for mutual benefit.  ENERGY IN BUILDINGS & INDUSTRY | FEBRUARY 2020 | 19

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New Products For further information on products and services visit www.eibi.co.uk/enquiries and enter the appropriate online enquiry number

Fan coil units for heavy-duty areas Based on the successful Lynx fan coil unit, Super Lynx has been designed specifically to serve high duty areas. With outputs up to 15kW, the new Super Lynx Series of horizontal waterside control chassis fan coil units have been developed to accommodate high duty areas, while meeting the demands of the high-end commercial market sectors, where high quality components and proven reliability are essential pre-requisites. The new models join the current Lynx range, an established and important part of Dunham-Bush’s fan coil product offering. Super Lynx is a 385mm deep concealed, horizontal fan coil unit available in two size variants producing air flows up to 1400 l/s and 1900 l/s. It uses the latest EC motors driving all-metal fans with specific fan powers of less than 0.6 W/l/s for system resistances of 100 Pa. Standard features on all models include a rectangular discharge plenum and galvanised condensate drip trays. A variety of options are available to meet most installation requirements, including single rectangular or multiple circular spigots, 400mm and 600mm inlet acoustic attenuators, stainless steel condensate drip trays, a 200mm drip tray extension to accommodate larger valves sets ONLINE ENQUIRY 101 and condensate pumps.

Online check for R-32 safety compliance Toshiba has developed an online tool that automatically checks R-32 refrigerant-based air conditioning designs for compliance with the safety requirements of European Standard EN 378. EN 378 – Refrigerating Systems and heat pumps: Safety and environmental requirements sets out limits for refrigerant charge size in occupied spaces. These vary according to the toxicity and flammability of the refrigerant, the size of the occupied space, the accessibility of the area, and the scale of possible exposure by individuals and the public in the unlikely event of a refrigerant leak. “The calculation for specific projects under EN378 becomes quite complex, due to the number of variables involved,” said Oliver Sanders, TCUK’s new equipment pre-sales manager. “The tool enables designers to quickly input the key details for a project and simply hit return; it automatically calculates whether the proposed system is compliant or not.” If a proposed design proves to be non-compliant, the tool suggests practical mitigation measures that can be used to ensure the project meets the requirements. These may include installation of a fixed refrigerant monitoring and alarm system, use of isolation valves, and/or installation of ventilation fans in the area affected by a potential leak.

ONLINE ENQUIRY 102

Commercial floor-standing water heaters Water heater manufacturer Lochinvar has launched a range of high performance electric floor standing storage water heaters for commercial and large residential applications. Cavalier water heaters are available in seven models all of which meet the requirements of the EcoDesign (ErP) directive and can operate at working pressures of up to 8 bar. These fully packaged water heaters represent a significant advance for this type of technology because they feature factory-fitted multiple immersion elements for rapid hot water production. This ranges from three 3kW elements in the lowest output model (9kW) up to nine 6kW elements powering the highest output (54kW) water heater, which is capable of providing up to 929 litres of continuous hot water per hour at a temperature rise of 50ºC. The immersion elements operate in sequence to provide fast recovery of hot water and better efficiency, especially during off-peak demand periods. The independent operation of each element provides stand-by in the unlikely event of any individual element failure. The water heaters also work with Lochinvar’s Amicus range of heat pumps when installed as part of a ‘hybrid’ system, making them ideal for projects requiring a hot water solution with zero on-site emissions. As they produce no on-site carbon or NOx emissions, they are BREEAM and ‘London Plan’ compliant. Storage capacities are either 200 or 300 litres and the enamelled steel storage vessels include an integral magnesium anode for cathodic protection. They are insulated with 65mm polyurethane foam and encased in an enamelled grey jacket to ensure heat losses are substantially lower than the standard required by Part L of the Building Regulations. The Cavalier range is designed for ease of maintenance with all of the electrical components accessible from the front of the units. “This product is an important addition to our portfolio as we are seeing growing demand for all-electric, zero on-site emission solutions in a wide range of buildings,” said Lochinvar sales director Liam Elmore.

ONLINE ENQUIRY 103

Panel mount analyser for 3 phase systems Carlo Gavazzi has extended its product offering by launching the WM15, a 96x96 panel mount power analyser for three phase systems (MID versions available) which can be installed into any switchboard to manage and control energy consumption, main electrical variables and harmonic distortion. The WM15 is easy to install due to the intuitive setup and navigation whilst the wizard and wiring check on first startup provides a quick, guided and error free installation and commissioning via the free UCS software. This new 3 phase power analyser is particularly suited to the measurement of main electrical variables, voltage, current harmonic distortions, measures active and reactive energy, apparent energy and load operating hours. All measurements are displayed on the easy to read backlit matrix LCD display in both digits and bar graph format. Its front panel uses a simplified 4 push button user interface for easier switching between pages, and fast scrolling through the readout. Providing error proof installation by using selfpower supply and phase sequence detection the WM15 offers various interfacing capabilities such as digital output for pulse transmission or alarm, optional RS485 Modbus RTU (100ms data refresh) and continuous sampling of each voltage and current. The onboard optical port provides fast, easy and remote programming for mass production of electrical panels via the Optoprog battery powered device. The embedded Bluetooth 4.0 communication allows the user to connect a Smartphone (via UCS Mobile Android APP) or a PC (via UCS Desktop software) to the meter, allowing fast and easy configuration.

ONLINE ENQUIRY 104

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“ Energy in Buildings and Industry and the Energy Institute are delighted to have teamed up to bring you this Continuing Professional Development initiative ” MARK THROWER MANAGING EDITOR

SERIES 17 | MODULE 08 | ENERGY PURCHASING

Energy purchasing – the next step by Gareth Veal, PhD, MEI, CEng, CEM, ESOS LA

nergy often represents a significant and tangible cost, so the development of an energy procurement strategy typically creates a period of heightened interest in energy-related issues. Therefore, this decision point represents an excellent chance to promote opportunities, both for the organisation and the environment. Two questions that may help expand the scope of the energy procurement discussions are explored below: 1) Is all of the energy purchased actually required? Is it all put to productive use? Consider setting aside a portion of the energy budget for an efficiency campaign. Energy systems are often compared to leaky buckets. The argument is fix the leaks, as opposed to simply buying more water. Along these lines, in 1989 Amory Lovins coined the phrase ‘negawatt’ after spotting a typo for ‘megawatt’ in the popular press. The term relates to the power saved through efficiency measures and was proposed as a way of highlighting the potential for energy efficiency to help mitigate/ meet rising energy demand. Negawatts and negawatt hours are equally relevant to energy procurement discussions, prompting the question ‘is all of the energy purchased actually required’? While this may seem a blindingly obvious question to ask, it is worth remembering that energy procurement, consumption and budgeting are visible, tangible activities that are easily understood by all involved. In contrast, energy efficiency opportunities are often hidden, intangible, and in many cases unquantified. Significant effort is required to raise the profile of energy efficiency opportunities and when requesting what often amounts to seven figure sums for the energy

budget, this is arguably an ideal time to request to propose setting aside some budget to reduce consumption. For example, could a portion, perhaps 5 per cent, of the energy budget be allocated to an efficiency campaign and other non-capex energy savings? One such project could be to support a review of BMS and other control settings and routines. These housekeeping measures can offer as much as a 30 per cent energy saving, potentially eliminating a significant proportion of future energy demand by converting it to Lovins’ zero cost negawatt hours, as opposed to expensive megawatt hours. 2) Could there be a more attractive option than a traditional energy supply contract? Two examples of alternatives to continuing with a traditional energy supply contract are presented below. Consider engaging an Energy Service Companies (ESCO) thereby paying for the outcome, not the energy. ESCOs seek to replace the purchase of energy as a system input with the purchase of an ‘energy service’ as an output from the energy system. In doing so,

organisational interests are aligned with those of the supplier. While a traditional energy supplier benefits the more energy that is consumed, and sees no incentive to support year-on-year reductions, an ESCO’s business model depends upon them achieving savings. Energy services can range from relatively lighttouch options, to those amounting to full outsourcing. Examples of services provide by ESCOs include: energy analysis and audits, energy management, project design and implementation, maintenance and operation, monitoring and evaluation of savings, property/facility management, energy and equipment supply, and provision of services such as space heating and lighting1. An ESCO business model typically comprises2: • guaranteed cost savings and/or environmental improvements; • a service level agreement defining the required system outputs and performance levels; • a potential funding route to replace aging equipment and reduce backlog maintenance; and • a remuneration agreement that is typically on a ‘share of savings’ basis. While ESCOs can potentially offer benefits, such as access to Produced in Association with

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SERIES 17 | MODULE 08 | ENERGY PURCHASING

specialist expertise and systems, as well as access to finance for system upgrades; they do also come with their own challenges. In contrast to traditional energy supply contracts which are relatively short term commitments; ESCOs typically require a longer contract period of around five to 30 years. They also require a significant upfront investment of time and effort to set up. Entering into an agreement with an ESCO will also naturally involve the loss of a certain level of autonomy and control as the system is handed over to a third party.

Terms of the agreement Close attention should be paid to the terms of the agreement entered into, as it can often be challenging to verify savings, and it would be reasonable to assume that an ESCO will want to maximise the savings claimed since their income depends upon doing so. Tracking savings can be especially difficult in settings where the ESCO’s operations overlap with other activities, making it difficult to attribute outcomes to one party or the other. A useful reference point with regards to this topic is the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol, typically referred to as the IPMVP standard. This standard should be applied by a qualified professional to propose how performance of the ESCO can be tracked and associated payments can be calculated. Close attention should be paid to the agreements which are developed. An example of an onerous clause seen in an ESCO offering is one which stipulated that once the ESCO identified an operational saving, the customer had ten working days to support and enact its implementation, after which the saving would be banked towards the share of savings calculation, regardless of whether the improvement had been made or not. Since many operational routines would take longer than ten days to adjust (think shift patterns, new risk assessments and a potential need to conduct new training) this would seem to be a reasonable example of a clause that disproportionately favours the ESCO. The typical stages involved in the lifecycle of an engagement with an ESCO are:

• site survey and preliminary evaluation; • investment grade energy audit; • identification of possible energy savings and efficiency improvements; • financial presentation and client decision; • guarantee of the results by proper contract clauses; • project financing; • comprehensive engineering and project design and specifications; • procurement and installation of equipment; • project management, commissioning and acceptance; • facility and equipment operation and maintenance for the contract period; • purchase of fuel and electricity; and • measurement and verification of savings. While these considerations are important to ensure successful engagement with an ESCO, there are still many successful ESCO partnerships in place and the need for the attention to detail required shouldn’t rule out the option of engaging an energy services company. But if you’re buying renewable energy, make sure it is ‘additional’. First, consider installing onsite/local renewables capacity, or entering a power purchase agreement. Renewable energy is often purchased with an ambition to do the right thing for the planet and to communicate an organisation’s commitment to responsible business. As such, the aim should be to select a procurement route which supports the development of

‘additional’ renewables generation capacity, instead of simply buying the output from renewables facilities that already exist. While this question of additionality may seem a fairly esoteric topic, it is becoming part of the mainstream consumer debate on sustainability. See for example Which?’s recent review of the considerable number of renewable energy tariffs available in the consumer market3. Which? scored tariffs based upon the percentage of the electricity supplied that was renewable, whether the supplier invests in their own renewable generation capacity, and whether they purchase renewable electricity direct from generators. The level of scrutiny of renewable energy procurement methods is rising and this topic is increasingly becoming one where informed questions from consumers should be anticipated.

Achieving 'additionality' Looking in a little more detail, the United Nations states that ‘additionality’ is achieved when an investment results in GHG emission reductions beyond those which would have occurred in absence of the investment taking place4. As an example of the difference between the purchase of ‘additional’ and ‘nonadditional’ renewables, see the two scenarios below which are given in DEFRA’s guidance on GHG reporting and how to present renewable energy consumption5: Example statement for ‘nonadditional’ renewables: “In the period covered by the report the company has purchased xMWh of

renewable energy attributes, in the form of Guarantees of Origin from Norwegian hydroelectric power plants. The facilities do not receive subsidies, but the renewable power is not expected to be additional due to the age of the facilities.” This statement provides reassurance that renewables were purchased, through the reference to the acquisition of ‘Guarantees of Origin’. However, the criticism of this purchasing strategy would be that the renewables facilities are long-term and pre-existing assets and that they would have been operating in any case, regardless of which particular party bought the power generated. Compare this with DEFRA’s example statement for the purchase of additional renewables: Example statement for ‘additional’ renewables: “In the period covered by the report the company has purchased xMWh of renewable energy attributes via a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with an offshore wind farm in UK waters. The attributes are backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs), and the renewable power generated is expected to be additional as the PPA has a material impact on the financial viability of the wind farm (assessed using the UNFCCC ‘Tool for the demonstration and assessment of additionality’: http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/ PAmethodologies/tools/am-tool-01v7.0.0.pdf).” This statement can both prove that renewables power was purchased, via REGOs; and that the purchase delivered additional renewable capacity, since the long-term Power

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Purchase Agreement ensured the financial viability of the wind farm. It is unlikely that the power purchased in the second example would have been at a premium price over that purchased in the first example. However, the second example is clearly delivering a higher level of environmental impact and organisational credibility with respect to the claims of environmental stewardship. The two clearest routes to additional renewables are through the installation of onsite or local renewable generation capacity for direct consumption, or by entering into a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with a renewables generator at a remote location. These two scenarios are discussed in more detail below. Onsite or local renewables are sometimes referred to as a ‘private wire’ arrangement or a ‘behind the meter’ installation. This involves investment in onsite or local renewables capacity and direct consumption onsite, without use of the national grid to supply the power, hence the ‘private wire’ and ‘behind the meter’ synonyms. The generation capacity can be directly owned and managed, or a third party can invest in the assets and sell the renewable power back via a local ‘private wire’ to the consumer. One of the benefits of this arrangement is that a significant proportion of the unit cost of electricity is currently made up of supply and

distribution charges which these local arrangements avoid, since they do not use the national grid to deliver the power. Consideration should however be paid to regulatory developments which look set to reduce this incentive, as the regulator adapts to a future power system that will likely be increasingly decentralised.

Agreement with generator Long-term renewables Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) In this scenario, the company enters into a form of direct agreement with a generator, as opposed to purchasing power off the open market. Additionality can be ensured by seeking to support the development of a renewables project that is made feasible through their entering into a long-term power purchase agreement which gives the generator certainty of income. There is a number of variants of this arrangement, the two most common variants are ‘sleeved PPAs’ and ‘virtual PPAs’. Sleeved PPAs, also known as Physical PPAs, are the most commonly employed mechanism in the UK. In this arrangement an energy supplier sets up back-to-back contracts to take the output from the renewables project and deliver it through the grid/energy market direct to the end customer, without offering it for sale on the open market. The PPA customer directly purchases both the Renewable

Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) and the power generated. Since the end customer’s consumption will not exactly match the renewable project’s output, the supplier also undertakes to balance the supply and demand for the PPA customer, trading away excess generation from the renewables project at certain times, and making up for a shortfall between the renewable project’s generation and the PPA customer’s demand on other occasions. The supplier is remunerated for ‘sleeving’ the supply through the grid/energy market and balancing the supply for the PPA customer. Virtual PPAs, also known as Synthetic PPAs, are more common in overseas markets. Under this arrangement the PPA customer maintains a separate ‘standard’ energy supply contract and the generator supplies the power produced to the open market, as opposed to the PPA customer. The virtual PPA arrangement is used to allow the customer to purchase the renewable energy attribute certificates via a price guarantee arrangement which gives certainty of income to the renewables facility and some shelter from market price volatility to the PPA customer. While the suggestions to consider negawatts, ESCOs and ‘additional’ forms of renewables will not be relevant to all organisations and situations, it is hoped that these options offer the opportunity to broaden the scope of traditional

procurement discussions, possibly providing opportunities improve outcomes for the organisation and the environment. Finally, note that two further CPD articles on the topic of energy procurement are available online: • Series 15, Module 8 - February 2018 Purchasing energy; and • Series 12, Module 4 - September 2014 - Successful utility purchasing These articles provide an oversight of the considerations relevant to placing traditional utilities contracts, refer to the online CPD archive for further details6.

References 1) https://e3p.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ communities/energy-servicecompanies 2) https://assets.publishing.service. gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/395076/guide_to_energy_ performance_contracting_best_ practices.pdf 3) https://www.which.co.uk/ news/2019/09/how-green-is-yourenergy-tariff/ 4) https://cdm.unfccc.int/Reference/ Guidclarif/glos_CDM.pdf 5) https://assets.publishing.service. gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/850130/Env-reporting-guidance_ inc_SECR_31March.pdf 6) https://energyinst.org/whats-on/ search/events-and-training?meta_ eventId=CPD%20articles

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SERIES 17 | MODULE 08 | FEBRUARY 2020

ENTRY FORM ENERGY PURCHASING Please mark your answers below by placing a cross in the box. Don't forget that some questions might have more than one correct answer. You may find it helpful to mark the answers in pencil first before filling in the final answers in ink. Once you have completed the answer sheet, return it to the address below. Photocopies are acceptable.

QUESTIONS 1. What does the term ‘negawatt’ refer to? ■ Power generated using renewable energy sources. ■ A parasitic load within an energy system. ■ Power saved through energy conservation or efficiency measures. 2. Why is the concept of a ‘negawatt’ relevant to energy procurement discussions? ■ The concept encourages those considering their energy procurement strategy to avoid taking their energy demand for granted and to consider options to reduce demand. ■ The concept can be used to support the uptake of renewable energy sources. ■ The concept can be used to ensure that power purchased has a low GHG content. 3. Energy Services Companies typically generate their income by? ■ Providing ‘energy services’ as efficiently as possible and taking a share of the savings. ■ Selling servicing and maintenance support, for example as part of a facilities management package. ■ Selling energy intensive services as a specialist niche provider. 4. Which of the following answers best describes the core elements of a typical ESCO business model? ■ Guaranteed cost savings and associated environmental performance improvements ■ A potential funding route to replace aging equipment and reduce backlog maintenance ■ A combination of all of the above 5. What does the abbreviation IPMVP stand for? ■ The ‘International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol’ ■ The ‘Internal Power Management Variation Protocol’

■ The ‘Initial Power Margin Validation Parameter’ 6. The United Nations states that ‘additionality’ is achieved when: ■ An investment results in GHG emission reductions beyond those which would have occurred in absence of the investment taking place. ■ An investment results in GHG emission reductions, plus additional sustainability benefits, e.g. an improvement in air quality. ■ An investment results in greater GHG emission reductions than forecast in the original modelling. 7. Why is the concept of additionality important during the consideration of renewables procurement? ■ To appropriately manage any additional costs incurred by pursuing this option ■ To manage the additional regulatory obligations involved in buying renewable energy ■ In order to maximise the environmental benefits of a commitment to purchase renewable energy. 8. Which of the following is another term commonly used to refer to a ‘behind the meter’ renewables installation? ■ ‘private wire’ arrangement ■ ‘public wire’ arrangement ■ ‘private meter’ arrangement 9. Which cost elements of a traditional energy contract can be avoided by supplies from ‘behind the meter’ installations? ■ Costs relating to supply and distribution ■ Costs relating to account management ■ Costs relating to bill validation and payment 10.What does the abbreviation PPA stand for? Power Purchase Additionality ■ Power Purchase Additionality ■ Power Pooling Agreement ■ Power Purchase Agreement

Please complete your details below in block capitals Name ......................................................................................................................................................................... (Mr. Mrs, Ms) ....................................

How to obtain a CPD accreditation from the Energy Institute Energy in Buildings and Industry and the Energy Institute are delighted to have teamed up to bring you this Continuing Professional Development initiative. This is the seventh module in the seventeenth series and focuses on Energy Purchasing. It is accompanied by a set of multiple-choice questions. To qualify for a CPD certificate readers must submit at least eight of the ten sets of questions from this series of modules to EiBI for the Energy Institute to mark. Anyone achieving at least eight out of ten correct answers on eight separate articles qualifies for an Energy Institute CPD certificate. This can be obtained, on successful completion of the course and notification by the Energy Institute, free of charge for both Energy Institute members and non-members. The articles, written by a qualified member of the Energy Institute, will appeal to those new to energy management and those with more experience of the subject. Modules from the past 16 series can be obtained free of charge. Send your request to editor@eibi.co.uk. Alternatively, they can be downloaded from the EiBI website: www.eibi.co.uk

SERIES 16

SERIES 17

MAY 2018 - APR 2019

MAY 2019 - APR 2020

1 BEMS 2 Refrigeration 3 LED Technology 4 District Heating 5 Air Conditioning 6 Behaviour Change 7 Thermal Imaging 8 Solar Thermal 9 Smart Buildings 10 Biomass Boilers

1 Batteries & Storage 2 Energy as a Service 3 Water Management 4 Demand Side Response 5 Drives & Motors 6 Blockchain Technology 7 Compressed Air 8 Energy Purchasing 9 Space Heating* 10 Data Centre Management*

* ONLY available to download from the website after publication date

Terms: in submitting your completed answers you are indicating consent to EiBI’s holding and processing the personal data you have provided to us, in accordance with legal bases set out under data protection law. Further to this, EiBI will share your details with the Energy Institute (EI) with whom this CPD series is run in contractual partnership. The EI will process your details for the purposes of marking your answers and issuing your CPD certificate. Your details will be kept securely at all times and in a manner complaint with all relevant data protection laws. For full details on the EI’s privacy policy please visit www.energyinst.org/privacy. • To hear more from the EI subscribe to our mailing list: visit https://myprofile. energyinst.org/EmailPreferences/Subscribe

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Completed answers should be mailed to: The Education Department, Energy in Buildings & Industry, P.O. Box 825, GUILDFORD, GU4 8WQ. Or scan and e-mail to editor@eibi.co.uk. All modules will then be supplied to the Energy Institute for marking

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VIEW FROM THE TOP

Peter Stockwell is managing director of Concept Energy Solutions

Unravel your energy data Keeping a close watch on energy-related data requires careful thought, but it is essential if a company is to maintain operational efficiency, writes Peter Stockwell

n an era when utility costs frequently appear in companies’ lists of top three operational expenses, a structured process of tracking and reacting to energy data is vital to help building managers and FMs identify excessive energy spend – and do something about it. Surprisingly, we find that this is far from being universally realised at present. We are in no doubt that many companies across different sectors are still not embracing the need for even basic management of their energy data. The current push for ESOS (the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme) compliance has introduced us to many new clients and this has highlighted just how many businesses still do no more than rely on invoices (and perhaps periodically updated spreadsheets) to gather details of consumption. However, “information overload” is equally problematic. We work with companies that have had sub metering installed to gain a more granular picture of energy use - but all too often we find that this has not been supported by a decent metering strategy and the meter hierarchy may be incomplete or inconsistent, leading to misleading output data. With the cost of sub metering coming down, building operators should avoid the temptation of “saturation metering” where too much information can blur the picture. There are also issues around interpretation of, and reaction to, the data, meaning that the potential of the investment can never be realised. If the inhouse team does not have the knowledge and/or resources to sift through the data meaningfully, then it can easily become an issue that is continually overlooked until rising costs become visible and the damage is done. For all of these reasons, it makes sense for companies to think about adopting a full-circle approach to energy data – from the accruing and processing of information, through its interpretation, and on to developing a plan of action that enables energy usage to be optimised. By defining a considered and structured

Stockwell: 'many companies are still not embracing the need for even basic management of their energy data'

metering hierarchy, it is possible to see with clarity and confidence where, precisely, energy is being used, so that excessive consumption can be tackled in the right area. And when the strategic decision has been made to equip a building

From analysis to action: the potential of energy data • Review your data sources - do they give you a clear picture of your energy use? Sub meters can collect information on specific assets, helping you to identify immediate savings. • Is your data complete? A comprehensive audit will identify errors and gaps in information. • Do you have an efficient way of extracting the data? Consider an energy monitoring platform which enables the performance of building systems to be assessed in an efficient way. • Interpreting your data is key – an energy expert can help you understand the ‘where, when and why’ of energy use for each asset and site. • Data is only king if you act on it – engage with a provider who can recommend tangible, cost-effective ways to reduce energy waste – with clear costs and RoI.

with sub metering, then it is also necessary to have the facility to interpret the data. Modern software platforms go some way towards assisting with this, but from our experience there remains a need for “human intervention” and this is where the energy management consultant comes in. Site services managers and FMs may not have the time to interpret and respond to performance variation flagged via system alarms, so a well-trained energy bureau, with consultant input, can provide a valuable service supporting the on-site team with expert advice on minimizing excess usage and emissions quickly and effectively. Beyond “basic” energy management, there is a growing movement towards gathering more information on a building’s indoor environment - internal temperatures, CO2 levels, lux levels, and occupancy rates and so on - which is all highly relevant in the building energy management context. Software analysis is becoming increasingly sophisticated in this area, and can even make some of the decisions through automation and machine learning – this is highly valuable to building operators looking to maintain a healthy environment for occupants. However, in our view there remains a central role for the energy expert to work with the data, and data outputs, to ensure that occupant well-being and energy efficiency work in harmony with one another (improved air quality does not, for example, necessarily mean an increase in energy consumption). In these instances, wellbeing and energy efficiency opportunities can only reach their full potential with scrutiny from industry specialists. This is bound to become even more critical as expectations of energy efficiency and climate control increase, which underlines the value of engaging with a specialist who can interpret new data and support hard-pressed personnel. As both internal and external factors oblige companies to monitor their use of energy more effectively, it is certain to be the best way to keep sight of what by its very nature will always be a moving target.  FEBRUARY 2020 | ENERGY IN BUILDINGS & INDUSTRY | 25

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CHP & District Heating For further information on Centrica Business Solutions visit www.eibi.co.uk/enquiries and enter ENQUIRY No. 140

Luke Bannar-Martin is product manager of generator solutions at Centrica Business Solutions

Biogas CHP is already being used by a range of sectors including water and sewage

Green gas to power CHP High efficiency CHP will continue to play an important role as global economies work towards net-zero, says Luke Bannar-Martin

ow much we fly, what we consume, how we heat our homes and what we drive is coming under increasing scrutiny as the scale of the climate emergency starts to get widespread recognition. And while emissions from electricity generation have fallen by nearly 70 per cent since 1990, there quite rightly remain questions over how the energy sector will hit net zero. CHP can play two key roles in the net zero transition. The first is providing significant cost savings for UK businesses. With a return on investment in the region of two to three years, CHP drives cost efficiencies in to the organisation that can be used to fund pure green technologies with longer paybacks and more marginal economics. In addition, moving to a fully renewables-based grid will take time. As we transition, there is no more efficient method of generating power from natural gas than cogeneration - the production of usable heat and electricity in a single process reaches total efficiencies of around 90 per cent. As a local, onsite generation process, it is much cleaner and more

efficient than standalone gas power stations, where more often than not the heat is wasted and around 7.5 per cent of power is lost in transmission and distribution. In the vast majority of cases, natural gas CHP displaces higher carbon centralised gas and coal power plants and rarely displaces renewables or nuclear. This is due to a Merit Order that determines the economics of the wholesale power markets and the sequence in which generators are dispatched to meet demand at minimal operating cost. The most widely used current assessment methodologies undervalue CHP’s carbon-saving benefits because they look at average carbon emissions from the grid, therefore making the false assumption that CHP is displacing renewables. This doesn’t reflect the reality of market optimisation strategies, where CHP actually displaces more carbon-intense sources. While almost 70 per cent of CHP schemes in the UK currently run on natural gas, green gas CHP will play an increasingly important role as the grid decarbonises. This solution combines the efficiency benefits of CHP with a carbon neutral fuel source.

Green gas is generated through anaerobic digestion and the biogas produced through this process is purified to form biomethane (by removing impurities). Biomethane is predominantly methane (>97 per cent). It has similar characteristics to natural gas but must be treated before it is of pipeline quality by removing water vapour and adding propane and odorant.

Three primary waste sources There are three primary waste sources used to produce biogas: food waste, slurries and sewage; plant waste and animal manure; and energy crops. Biogas CHP is already being exploited by water and sewage companies, food and drink manufacturers and agribusinesses, which have access to organic food waste as a potential source. However, the use of anaerobic digestion is under exploited. Most businesses won’t be in a position to generate biogas on-site, but green gas offsetting is available. Centrica has a 50 per cent stake in Barrow Green Gas, the UK’s largest supplier of biomethane – shipping almost half of the green gas used by British homes and businesses.

Through this partnership, customers have access to accredited Green Gas Certificates which represent an amount of biomethane that has been created and injected into the gas grid. Green Gas certificates can be used to offset natural gas used on site – both for running CHP systems and wider gas usage. This provides a robust route to hitting carbon targets and enables scope 1 emissions for that gas volume to be reported as zero. Centrica’s CHP and green gas supply option comes with Green Gas Certificates built in. To further decarbonise grid power, we’ve asked Government to consider establishing a ‘green gas’ obligation on retail gas suppliers, designed to incentivise a gradually increasing percentage of green gas in the supply mix. In the medium-term, significant carbon emission reductions can be achieved by incorporating CHP within a mix of distributed energy technologies. These may include solar PV, battery storage, demand side response and the generation of insights through real-time data analytics. New uses for CHP and other distributed energy solutions are being demonstrated via local smart grids. As an example, Centrica’s Local Energy Market project in Cornwall is connecting technologies such as CHP, solar, battery storage and using monitoring and proprietary software to energise the local community. The potential to cluster CHP with other assets in a decentralised smart-grid or virtual power plant is exciting and likely to become more commonplace in the future. A recent report on the future of the UK’s energy sector by The Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE), explained how onsite generation and energy management from thousands of businesses and millions of homes are vital to achieving a net zero future. In its analysis, ADE reported that CHP (using low-carbon fuels in line with the Net Zero goal and capturing otherwise wasted heat) could increase from over 5GW today to 15GW. This capacity equates to more than seven large power stations. 

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CHP & District Heating For further information on Switch2 Energy visit www.eibi.co.uk/enquiries and enter ENQUIRY No. 141

Heat networks and a net-zero future Heat networks can play a key role in the tough and urgent challenge of decarbonising the UK’s heat supply, says Richard Slee

s global businesses and governments develop action plans for a net-zero future, communities must exploit the full potential of heat networks as an affordable and sustainable solution for heating homes and businesses. The latest UK energy trends statistics show that domestic energy use contributes approximately 18 per cent of CO2 emissions, which come mainly from natural gas used for heating, hot water and cooking. While huge strides have been made in decarbonising power, there has been little progress in eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from heating. Urgent solutions are required, including wider use of heat networks and improving the efficiency of existing district heating schemes. However, most existing heat networks still use gas as their main fuel. The challenge is to make them more efficient and replace gas on existing networks. The government’s Clean Growth Strategy states that heat networks could meet 17 to 24 per cent of UK heat demand, which is a massive increase on the current 2 per cent. Heat networks are a key element of the proposed Future Homes Standard, which aims to ensure that future new build homes emit 75 to 80 per cent less CO2. The Future Homes Standard identifies that heat networks, heat pumps, hydrogen and biogas are some of the key low carbon solutions required to radically improve emissions performance of domestic heating. The proposals take into consideration heat decarbonisation recommendations by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), including a proposed ban on gas boilers in new homes from 2025.

Heat networks could meet up to 24 per cent of UK heat demand

We believe that this radical proposal must go even further if the UK is to meet its net-zero 2050 target. To put this in context, the UK is one of the few European countries to rely on fossil fuel gas as the main source of heating. By comparison, the Netherlands (which is one of the only other gas-reliant European countries) banned new gas boilers in 2012 and is now replacing existing gas boilers.

Mature technology A major advantage of heat networks is that this is a mature technology that can be deployed

‘Urgent solutions are required including more DH’ now to address the decarbonisation challenge. Wherever there is a dense heat requirement, such as in urban areas, district and community heating should be considered. This is particularly important where there are opportunities to utilise waste heat or tie into other local heat sources. The UK wastes more heat than it requires to meet its entire demand, so it’s vital that this ‘lost’ heat must

Complete digital heat metering strategy Wolverhampton Homes, which manages more than 23,000 homes for Wolverhampton Council, has partnered with Switch2 to develop a complete digital heat metering strategy. Residents previously paid for their heating through a flat rate charge included within the rent, but agreed to transition to a more flexible, smart, pay-as-you-go system combining heat interface units, heat meters and smart meters. By giving residents full visibility of how much heat they are using and their minute-by-minute energy spend, they have moderated consumption. This has reduced the average heat bill to £18 per month, delivering projected savings in excess of 30 per cent. The accurate, transparent metering data is also helping to inform efficient operation of the energy plant, leading to optimised performance, higher efficiency operation and lower emissions.

Richard Slee is CEO of Switch2 Energy

be captured and re-used locally. Heat networks provide an effective solution by using heat productively close to the point of generation. The Scottish Government is making significant progress in its zero carbon policy and Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES). This includes a zoning policy that allows local authorities to demand that buildings connect to a heat network both to export their own surplus heat or to consume heat from the network. This could be replicated across the wider UK. Another advantage of heat networks is that they are fuel agnostic, so can accommodate cleaner, new fuels and technologies, such as hydrogen and heat pumps to reflect future advances in technology. While hydrogen is an immature technology that is still evolving, the heat pump market is much better developed. However, one of the barriers to rolling heat pumps out at scale relates to the wider challenge of weaning the UK heating system away from natural gas. This is partly due to the economics of cheaper gas prices relative to electricity, which is used for heat pumps. Gas incurs little carbon tax, with electricity bearing the major taxation burden of decarbonising the grid. This disparity will slow the transition to cleaner heating methods. The transition to cleaner new heat network technologies and 4th and 5th generation systems, which work at lower temperatures and more efficiently, will take time. Meanwhile, improving efficiency across existing schemes is crucial. Residents and businesses, who consume the heat, are key to improving environmental performance. The citizen-led Extinction Rebellion demonstrates the will of the people to impact the climate emergency and this public will is being harnessed in the heat network sector. By combining sustainability awareness campaigns with compliant smart metering technologies that give customers visibility, control and management of their energy consumption, huge emissions savings are achieved. 

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CHP & District Heating

Chris Davis is UK sales manager at Hysopt

For further information on Hysopt visit www.eibi.co.uk/enquiries and enter ENQUIRY No. 142

Maximise CHP operation

Creating a ‘digital twin’ of a CHP installation using simulating and optimisation software can provide energy managers with an insight into more economical operation, says Chris Davis

HP has traditionally scored well from both economic and environmental perspectives, due to the high “spark-gap” energy cost difference between electricity and natural gas; and at the same time high electricity grid carbon emissions, which until recently have been considered to be around 0.5kgCO2/kWh, compared to less than half this for gas. But with carbon savings increasingly becoming the primary Key Performance Indicator for many energy managers, coupled with rapidly decreasing carbon intensity of the UK electricity grid as a result of cleaner forms of generation replacing high carbon intensity coal fired power stations, CHP is becoming less attractive as a solution to deliver carbon savings in new builds and across large commercial and public sector estates. But despite the rapidly changing landscape from a carbon perspective, for those with CHP already installed, the ability to generate on-site electricity which can offset the cost of imported electrical power means that the technology continues to deliver cost savings. The high differential between the cost of purchasing grid electricity and the cost per unit of fuel to produce both heat and power in a CHP unit means that from an energy savings cost perspective, CHP can still make a lot of sense. However, the way in which CHP and boilers are sized and hydraulically connected has an enormous impact on the number of operating hours and thus the electrical generation possible. Also the size of the CHP, the system temperatures and the controls must be taken into account. Hysopt has many years experience of optimising installations that feature CHP, and we’ve found that clients who have invested in CHP - especially in hospitals and universities - are simply not maximising the economic benefit

of their installation - often due to poor design, control strategy and commissioning; inappropriate CHP plant or thermal energy storage sizing; or inefficient hydraulic integration between the boilers, thermal store and CHP.

Understand performance By using HVAC modelling and simulation software, it’s possible to properly understand how these systems perform and how they can be improved to optimise their performance. Fig. 1 shows an example of a typical CHP installation from a recent hospital optimisation project where the CHP engine is unable to operate at its full load capacity. As a result it is producing limited financial benefit for the client in the form of electricity cost savings. In the example, the CHP has a thermal full load capacity of 447kW and is able to modulate down to 225kW. Modelling and simulation

of the CHP and associated hydraulic system using Hysopt’s HVAC optimisation software, illustrates the load duration curve, which shows the full load capacity is never achieved so the CHP system will spend most of its life short-cycling inefficiently and producing very little low-cost electricity. The CHP thermal load share is 11 per cent while the electrical production from CHP is 1,052,759 kWh/yr. The annual (net) energy cost (including electricity production cost saving) is £223,567. Modelling of the installation in the Hysopt HVAC optimisation software helps engineers identify areas where hydraulic optimisations can be applied and measure their impact in terms of energy and cost savings. In the example, the insights provided through system simulation enabled engineers to recommended a number of hydraulic system design modifications - including reconfiguring the connections

Fig. 1 Software allows identification of when CHP is not operating at full load capacity

between the CHP and boilers; changing the hydraulic regime from constant to variable flow; and correctly rebalancing the installation. The CHP now operates at its full load capacity for much longer, increasing its share of the thermal load and subsequently the amount of “free” electricity produced, which has a direct annual energy cost saving. The results include: • CHP thermal load share: 45 per cent • electrical production from CHP: 2,276,157 kWh/yr; • annual (net) energy cost (including electricity production cost saving): £117,371; • annual energy cost saving: £106,195 (48 per cent) • investment cost: £257,000; and • payback: 2.4 years. Correct hydraulic design, configuration and control strategy is crucial to ensure HVAC systems achieve optimal energy efficiency and minimal running costs. And as systems become increasingly complex – particularly with the drive towards the integration of more sustainable sources of heat and energy such as CHP – system efficiencies are increasingly sensitive to correct hydraulic and control strategy. Creating a ‘digital twin’ of a CHP installation using simulating and optimisation software can provide energy managers and building owners with a significant opportunity to increase the financial yield from their installation. All too many systems are designed using rules of thumb with additional safety margins to cover unknowns. Also, they are based on fullload design conditions without transparency of how systems will operate under partial load. It is no surprise then that real-life performance often does not meet expectations and that hydraulic optimisation can typically yield between 30-50 per cent annual energy cost savings, with return on investment in 1-3 years. 

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CHP & District Heating For further information on products and services visit www.eibi.co.uk/enquiries and enter the appropriate online enquiry number

CHP helps fitness facilities to healthier energy costs Veolia is now helping Total Fitness achieve a 32 per cent reduction in gas consumption using combined heat and power, CHP, across 17 health and fitness facilities in the north of England and Wales. The 15-year contract will install the latest technology to achieve a 22 per cent increase in electrical efficiency compared to the existing CHP units, lower energy costs and further reduce CO2 emissions from the 134,000m2 of building space. Total Fitness operates 17 Health Clubs in the UK, advising over 100,000 members on their health and wellbeing. The company’s continual commitment to drive down energy consumption, utility costs and further reductions in carbon emissions, is one of the key drivers of the company’s business

strategy. Under the new contract each of the Health and Fitness centres will benefit from new co-generation plants that efficiently generate

electricity and heat from a single fuel source to cover their energy demands. Each onsite plant provides electricity and heat for the whole building, gyms, pools,

showers, saunas, steam rooms, sanariums and domestic hot water. To match the location’s base electrical and thermal loadings the plants are individually sized, ranging from 140kWe to 250kWe and will take the total co-generation capacity across all the sites to 3.17MWe - equivalent to the power demand from 8,400 homes. The contract covers a fully engineered package covering installation and operation of the CHP units that will take pressure off the local electricity infrastructure and provide stable energy costs that are less susceptible to energy market price changes. Also included in the contract is a 15-year operation and maintenance service.  ONLINE ENQUIRY 143

Council provides metering and billing services for communal heat systems Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council has appointed Switch2 Energy to provide metering and billing services for five communal heating schemes. Switch2 will retrofit its pay-asyou-go G6 smart meters to 170 homes across five residential sites – all served by communal heat systems. The initial five-year contract will also include meter maintenance, a pay-as-yougo (PAYG) facility and customer service provision.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council is one of the first councils in England to purchase metering equipment using the Fife heat network (metering and billing) procurement Framework. The framework enables an efficient delivery of heat metering projects to participating local authorities directly with approved suppliers. This provides assurance that a rigorous assessment and duediligence process has already been completed via an OJEU compliant

tender process. The new metering at the five Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council heat networks will comply with the Government Heat Network (Metering & Billing) Regulations. The metering technology incorporates a display unit that shows precisely how much energy has been consumed and costs incurred, together with the resident’s credit status. An audio notification feature is included, which advises if credit is running low and an emergency

credit facility is required. These features will help customers to improve budgeting and energy management, potentially leading to a reduction in their energy consumption and carbon footprint. The G6 also uses smart wireless technology to replace the traditional corner shop/ tokenbased pre-payment system. Residents can instead ‘top-up’ by a smartphone app or online.  ONLINE ENQUIRY 144

Student accommodation feels the benefit of combined heat and power solution Helec Ltd, a specialist in the specification, design and installation of CHP systems, has completed the supply and commissioning of a CHP solution at Crown Place Norwich (formerly St Stephen Towers), which has been converted by Crown Student Living into student accommodation. The system is expected to save an estimated £38,000 in energy costs and 204,000kg of CO2 emissions per year. Helec specified and supplied two 33kWe Energimizer EM33NG CHP systems, which were installed in the plant room by building services company F P Hurley in June 2019. The refurbishment of the 705-bedroom accommodation block opened in September 2019.

Meanwhile, in December 2018, Helec were brought in to commission a solution to the hot water requirements and to help reduce electrical power consumption of Crown Student Living’s Crown Place Cardiff, a 374-bedroom student accommodation block The requirement was to ensure consistent hot water throughout the year while keeping costs to a minimum per residence. Taking into account all individual requirements, an Energimizer EM22NG CHP unit was specified and installed within the building’s plant room. This system is expected to lead to annual fuel savings of £9,900 and reduce annual CO2 emissions by 56,500kg.  ONLINE ENQUIRY 145

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Embracing the fuel of the future Will we still be purchasing gas in the years to come? Or is hydrogen set to take over? John Williams examines the pros and cons of a hydrogen-based energy future.

ydrogen does not emit any carbon when burned and so it could be considered a zero-carbon energy source, depending on how it is produced. It can be used as a replacement for natural gas in many situations, including power generation, industrial feedstocks, process heat, and domestic heat and cooking. It can also be used with fuel cells to decarbonise transport. In short, hydrogen can help decarbonise sectors where a total electrification solution could be extremely difficult and expensive to achieve. The energy industry has grasped the potential of hydrogen and many projects are underway to investigate its production and use. These projects vary in scale from smaller investigations into standalone electrolysers, to blending hydrogen with natural gas in existing networks, hydrogen Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGTs) and the grand ambitions of the H21 project in the north of England. H21 North of England aims to convert 3.7m UK homes and businesses from natural gas to hydrogen, making it the world’s largest clean energy project. For gas producers and network companies, hydrogen provides a possible answer to the existential threat of an all-electric world. If natural gas can be converted into hydrogen with little or no carbon emissions, then the existing gas networks could be repurposed to deliver hydrogen to provide heat to industry and homes. Hydrogen can also be stored in many of the existing natural gas storage facilities and this could allow a form of seasonal storage that renewables alone cannot provide. Any discussion of hydrogen as a fuel source raises questions about its safety. Hydrogen is highly flammable and so there are concerns around transporting and storing the gas, especially in a domestic environment.

Methods of producing hydrogen Electrolysis – electricity is used to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. If the electricity is renewable the hydrogen is considered zero carbon. This is sometimes called ‘Green’ or ‘Renewable Hydrogen’. Steam Methane Reformation (SMR) – refers to a chemical synthesis that reacts steam at high pressure to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide from hydrocarbons such as natural gas. This is sometimes referred to as ‘Grey Hydrogen’. SMR with Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) – where CCUS is added to the SMR process to capture and prevent release of the carbon dioxide, the process can be considered as low carbon. This is sometimes referred to as ‘Blue Hydrogen’. Thermal Methane Pyrolysis (TMP) – this involves natural gas and a low-temperature, high-pressure reaction with no oxygen present to produce hydrogen and solid carbon. This is also ‘Blue Hydrogen’.

Alternative to electrification For industry, hydrogen offers a route to decarbonisation that otherwise could be extremely costly and difficult. It offers an alternative to electrification – which for some may not even be feasible – and an alternative to the installation of carbon capture at individual plants. Converting power to hydrogen allows excess renewable electricity to be used, adding value and creating further revenue for renewables and avoiding curtailment of surplus energy. It also raises the possibility of using hydrogen as a storage medium for electricity. Excess electricity can be used to create hydrogen at times of low demand or price, which can then be stored and converted back into electricity when demand or price increases. In reality, there are many issues that need to be considered before starting to deploy hydrogen as a fuel-source. First, the hydrogen supply chain will need to be significantly expanded to meet the potential demand, including production,

John Williams is senior principal at Pöyry Management Consulting

transport and storage. Unfortunately, there are significant risks to this expansion as there is no certainty that the demand will follow. Second, there are issues with each of the hydrogen production methods. Grey hydrogen (see box below) is not low carbon and so has little role to play in a decarbonised energy environment. Blue hydrogen needs CCS, and although this is a proven technology, we are not yet at a stage where it can be deployed economically at scale. Green hydrogen is the most expensive of the production methods and will require very low electricity prices and reductions in the costs of electrolysis to make it a reality. Pyrolysis is not yet proven to be a scalable solution that is competitive with the other production methods. Despite this, if hydrogen is the solution to decarbonising the difficult sectors of residential heat, industrial heat and the heavier end of the transport sector then these issues will need to be overcome. Pöyry’s study ‘Decarbonising Europe’s Energy System by 2050’ compared a zero-carbon gas pathway with an all-electric pathway and examined the potential role for hydrogen for the heat, power and transport sectors. In the zero-carbon gas pathway, hydrogen demand is expected to grow significantly in these three sectors to reach over 2,000TWh by 2050. Looking at different production costs of hydrogen, the study found that hydrogen production costs from methane reformation were consistently lower than hydrogen produced by electrolysis. This is because by 2050 a flexible demand side made possible by millions of electric vehicles, and high levels of interconnection, mean that there is generally an absence of many very low electricity price periods, which otherwise would support hydrogen production from electrolysis at lower cost than from methane reformation. Subsequently methane reformation is the dominant source of hydrogen production. The potential of hydrogen is clear, but the route to realising this potential is uncertain. There are numerous barriers that will need to be overcome which include creating a business case, acceptance of CCS, public acceptance of hydrogen at home as well as proving how safe hydrogen is. 

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Transformer Technology For further information on products and services visit www.eibi.co.uk/enquiries and enter the appropriate online enquiry number

End users could benefit from avoiding £80m of wasted energy Almost 3 per cent of all energy generated in Europe gets wasted through transformer losses. That’s enough to power Denmark for three years. In the UK, network losses account for 1.5 per cent of the CO2 emissions, 25 per cent of which are caused by distribution transformers. This raises two questions, who pays for this wasted energy and what can we do avoid these losses? The first is a rhetorical question. Most distribution transformers in the UK were installed when energy wastage was not a crucial problem; technology was focused on access to energy with little regard to how efficiently this was done. According to an FOI request to OFGEM, the average age of a distribution transformer in the UK is 64 years and to put that into perspective, this means that most transformers were installed in the 1950s and have not been replaced since then.

ENA Adaptation to Climate Change First Round Report suggests there are 230,000 11kV to 400/230V distribution substations nationally. If we take a 10 per cent sample of these substation transformers and

assume they were installed in the 1970s, not 1950s, as the statistics show, the saving potential if these transformers were replaced could be enormous. This puts a strong case for

23,000 distribution transformers to be replaced with new efficient ones. Wilson Power Solutions manufactures the Wilson e3 Ultra Low Loss amorphous transformer that exceeds ECO Design Directives for transformer losses (due to be effective in 2021) and the new reduced transformer losses make it financially feasible and actually a nobrainer to upgrade these networks. Compared against Ultra Low Loss amorphous transformers, these 23,000 transformers could collectively save 894.8GWh of electricity every year. Taking off the cost of the replacements and considering the total cost of ownership, that results in over £83m savings every year just by doing this single infrastructure upgrade. It’s too obvious to neglect. ONLINE ENQUIRY 133

For all your energy procurement needs. • Save me and money. • Our consultants nego ate costs from over 20 di erent gas and electricity suppliers. To secure your business the best energy rates. • Fix todays rates, for your next contract renewal. As far as 3 years in advance. • Complete Contract Management we can ensure you never fall into out of contract rates again, and we monitor the markets. So you can choose the best me to renew your contracts. • Consolidate your bills, we can align all your sites, services and contract end dates, making it simpler to manage your energy movements. • EV charging points through workplace charging scheme (WCS)

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Heat Recovery & Ventilation For further information on Elta Fans visit www.eibi.co.uk/enquiries and enter ENQUIRY No. 135

Cooling for comfort Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery is a well-established method of ventilation. However, as Paul Harrington explains, it is crucial that systems start to incorporate cooling technology

he ability to heat incoming air by passing it over a heat exchanger has helped to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of our homes. It ensures that thermal energy remains in the building, without incurring high heating bills. This has been a successful process for several decades now, especially during the colder months when the outside air is lower than inside. However, advancements in the insulation of our structures, combined with a warmer climate, has presented a significant issue for strategies which incorporate MHVR, particularly during hotter months. Although widely regarded as an energy efficient way of managing air circulation in a building, it is noticeable that the benefits of MVHR are rarely discussed during the summer months. This is because when the outside air is warmer than inside, this type of ventilation actually raises the internal temperature. Even the summer bypass function, which is almost universally used across MVHR

units, does little to solve this issue. When the incoming air does not need to be heated, the bypass function stops the air from being passed over the heat exchanger. But consider, for example, that the desired temperature within a building is 20oC. If the outside temperature is anything more than this, then the incoming air will be hotter than inside, regardless of whether the summer bypass is in operation.

‘The ability to both heat and cool incoming air is becoming vital’

Towards a climate emergency

has decreased in importance. Indeed, overheating as a result of this type of ventilation is a fairly common occurrence. The combination of a warmer climate and more insulated buildings means that the period of time in which MVHR is viable is shortening, and the need for an alternative system, which is

It is difficult to avoid the fact that we are heading towards a climate emergency, with action groups and changes to climate change policy ensuring it remains high on the news agenda. Regardless of political stance, temperatures in the UK are getting irrefutably higher, and as a result, our summers are getting longer. Furthermore, our structures have become increasingly well insulated, which has meant that they retain heat far better than ever before. Although this has had a positive effect on the amount of energy expended in heating buildings, it has meant that the application of MVHR

MVHCR dovetails extremely effectively with air conditioning

Paul Harrington is head of residential sales at Elta Fans

capable of introducing cooler air into buildings, is increasing. Mechanical Ventilation with Heating and Coolth Recovery (MVHCR) units, such as Elta Fans’ Vigo and PREMA range, are capable of maintaining thermal comfort within buildings, even during warmer months. By essentially acting in reverse, they are capable of passing outgoing cooler air over the heat exchanger, which helps to ensure the incoming air remains ambient. This has a very obvious impact on the thermal comfort for occupants, as the desired comfort level can be maintained, whether the outside temperature is warmer or colder than inside. It also has a knock-on effect on the efficiency and effectiveness of air-conditioning, which has itself come under increased scrutiny over the past few years. Manufacturers of air conditioning units are under pressure to deliver a more environmentally friendly product, in light of the fact that a sizeable proportion of the UK’s energy consumption is linked with the units. MVHR acts in a similar way to opening a car window with the air-con on: the vehicle’s climate control has to work harder to combat the incoming warm air. MVHCR dovetails extremely effectively with air conditioning, because it prevents the coldness within the air from escaping, and instead transfers it to the warmer incoming air. In doing so, it helps to reduce the amount of work that air conditioning units have to do to keep a building cool, as they work in tandem to achieve the ideal internal temperature. MVHCR is the year-round solution, capable of improving thermal comfort across all seasons. As our climate becomes progressively warmer, and our structures are increasingly better insulated, the ability to both heat and cool incoming air is vital in achieving thermal comfort within our homes and commercial buildings. 

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Daniel Gebert is in aerodynamics development at ebmpapst Mulfingen

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Increasing fan efficiency The Energy-related Products (ErP) Directive is an essential basis for assessing the efficiency of various components and devices, says Daniel Gebert

he efficiency requirements for fans have been set out since 2013. They were raised in 2015, and there are plans to raise them again in the near future. The effects of the regulation have become impossible to overlook as energy-efficient EC fans are strengthening their position on the market, reducing CO2 emissions and benefiting the environment. In addition to energy-efficient motors, aerodynamic improvements are primarily responsible for the high efficiency levels of the modern fans. Proper evaluation of a fan’s efficiency means testing the fan as it will later be used. Otherwise it – and any equipment it is installed in – cannot bear the CE marking. There are good reasons for this. Any slight modification, for example in the design of nozzles or support struts, affects the fan’s efficiency and thus its ErP conformity. Support struts cause unavoidable blockage of the air flow at the intake or outlet, resulting in efficiency decreases of a few crucial percentage points depending on the operating point. Nozzle geometry has similar effects, even when the air gap remains unchanged (Fig. 1). The efficiency also decreases by a few percentage points when an axial fan is operated in a short nozzle instead of a full nozzle. Those wanting to be on the safe side of the fan regulation, should select solutions whose energy

efficiency has been determined in the conditions under which they will be used. Otherwise users must prove ErP conformity themselves. In axial fans, losses typically arise at the gap between the rotating impeller and the stationary fan housing. Possibilities for improvement are rapidly exhausted since the gap will always require a certain size for manufacturing reasons. In addition, there are turbulence losses that arise due to differences in flow speed and losses at the outlet.

Pressure losses at blades In centrifugal fans, gap losses arise because some of the air is transported in a circle through the nozzle gap. There are also pressure losses at the blades, which do not receive optimum air flow in all areas. For both fan types, the greatest potential for improvement is in the outlet, where high outlet speeds lead to losses as the speed and thus the dynamic pressure, go unused. Much can be achieved by the use of guide vanes or a diffuser on axial fans. Since the rotation of an axial fan’s impeller imparts angular momentum to the expelled air, attaching stationary guide vanes results in a static pressure increase as the kinetic energy conveyed by the angular momentum is converted to static pressure. Diffusers externally mounted at the outlet side offer a means of minimizing outlet pressure losses in larger axial fans. The AxiBlade series was developed

Fig. 1 Nozzle struts can cause blockage of the air flow

Any slight modification of a fan can affect the fan’s efficiency and ErP conformity

to ensure that the axial fans work at the best possible efficiency level when installed and operated at application-specific operating points. Its axial fans operate in a wide range of applications at an efficiency of up to 54 per cent with respect to the static pressure increase. At the same time, the noise level can be reduced by up to 8dB(A) compared with the standard range. Using a modular design, the fans can be combined with guide vanes depending on the required pressure ranges. In this way, the axial fans can be optimally designed for a particular application, with an efficiency increase of up to 40 per cent compared with the proven HyBlade series. The version without guide vanes is suitable for low to middle pressure ranges – up to 200 Pa. In this case, the benefits of the guide vanes don’t come into play. Even without them, the efficiency

and operating noise are much better than the current industry standard. Guide vanes are essential at high back pressures of up to 260 Pa in order to reach high efficiency. Since the footprint of these axial fans corresponds to the current industry standard, virtually no design changes are necessary to customer equipment. As requirements regarding the efficiency of ventilation equipment for residential buildings becomes increasingly stringent, ebm-papst has aerodynamically optimised its proven RadiCal centrifugal fans. To reduce outlet losses, the fans can be combined with a scroll housing that has also been aerodynamically optimised. The scroll housing has an outlet with a round cross section for direct attachment to the pipe fitting on the unit’s air outlet, considerably reducing the usual turbulent flow losses. The characteristic curve becomes very pressure-insensitive, and the efficiency increases by up to 38 per cent compared with centrifugal blowers of the same design (Fig. 2) and noise level decreases by 3.5 dB(A). These fans are also available in a volume-flow-controlled design with a vane anemometer for extremely precise control. For users, we make it easy to be on the safe side of the ErP Directive without great effort, for both centrifugal and axial fans. Aerodynamic optimisation improves efficiency and noise characteristics, even in differently installed configurations. 

Fig. 2 A scroll housing can reduce turbulent flow losses

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Heat Recovery & Ventilation For further information on products and services visit www.eibi.co.uk/enquiries and enter the appropriate online enquiry number

University entertainment centre benefits from ventilation system Brunel University London’s Hamilton Centre is home to a host of entertainment facilities, including bars, restaurants, and the student union. With the link between good indoor air quality (IAQ) and concentration levels becoming increasingly well established, optimising the building’s ventilation system was a top priority. A contra-rotating fan on the roof of the Hamilton Centre, which was directly responsible for ventilating a popular pizza bar in the building, was failing. It had been over specified, which meant it was oversized and using an unnecessary amount of energy. Marcus Sawkins, co-founder and managing director of GFMS Services Limited, commented: “The existing fan was incurring high running costs and CO2 emissions, neither of which are desirable for an expanding university. Plus, the voltage required

to operate the fan was unnecessarily large, which posed a problem as the controls are located in a busy kitchen.” The decision was made to replace the fan with a more energy efficient model, but it was crucial that performance was not sacrificed. Owing to its reduced running costs,

EC motor, and intuitive controls, Elta Fans’ Revolution SLC EC presented itself as suitable for the application. The transition from an AC motor to a low energy EC motor negates the need for a mains powered speed controller. As David Millward, product manager at Elta Group explains, this has a two-pronged

effect: “The EC motor helps to reduce energy bills by up to 20 per cent, which is crucial for meeting environmental targets as well as lowering the total cost of ownership. It is also a more straightforward installation, allowing contractors to complete projects quicker and with less chance of complications.” The previous fan was hampered by complicated controls, which meant that end users often neglected using it at all. For those tasked with delivering a high volume of pizza to students, taking time out of their day to operate ventilation was often impossible. Reducing the electrical voltage and offering a simple dial control system has allowed operators to manage the ventilation output more effectively throughout the day. 

ONLINE ENQUIRY 137

New air handling unit with heat recovery for refurbishment projects Swegon has launched another variant of the GLOBAL spacesaving air handling units with heat recovery, a product for light commercial and refurbishment projects. The GLOBAL LP (low profile) units provide airflows of up to 3,720 m³/h (1,030 l/s) from an extremely compact, low noise product that is designed to be mounted horizontally in the

ceiling. They operate at 85 per cent efficiency thanks to the use of a plate heat exchanger for heat recovery, plug-and-play controls, low energy consumption EC fans and highperformance DC motors. Swegon has developed increasingly effective control strategies with ‘open’ communication via Modbus, TCP/IP, BACnet and KNX to ease integration into the overall management of the

building. GLOBAL LP ventilation units are supplied plug-and-play with the basic functions pre-programmed and most accessories pre-installed, pre-wired and pre-configured in the factory. The generously sized doors ensure ease of access for maintenance and the enlarged electrical cabinet features an integrated safety switch and better control board access. The plate heat exchanger

complies with standard EN308 and is Eurovent certified and the powerful EC fans ensure that sufficient external pressure is available. The composite fan blades also deliver higher operating efficiency than standard aluminium alternatives – another feature in line with ErP requirements. ONLINE ENQUIRY 138

Ventilation system brings comfort to prime London commercial development Airflow Developments has supplied a ventilation solution to Adelphi House, a prime listed commercial building in Covent Garden. Spotify occupies four floors, with two other floors currently being redeveloped. This meant there was a requirement for a new ventilation system which Airflow was chosen for. The specification was met by two Duplexvent Multi-Eco DV1500 and one Duplexvent Multi-Eco DV1100. These indoor units are built accordingly to the project specifications and offer good energy efficiency and performance. They are centralised heat recovery units and reduce energy bills of the premises where installed.

Suitable for commercial and industrial applications, these units are available in a variety of sizes and configurations, they use highly efficient polypropylene plate heat exchangers to recover the heat from the extracted air and use it to pre-warm the incoming cool supply air. Alternatively, for more difficult places to access Airflow offers the compact Duplexvent Rotary thermal wheel range of heat recovery units, which have a smaller overall footprint whilst still achieving high efficiencies with lower specific fan powers.  ONLINE ENQUIRY 139 FEBRUARY 2020 | ENERGY IN BUILDINGS & INDUSTRY | 39

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Products in Action For further information on products and services visit www.eibi.co.uk/enquiries and enter the appropriate online enquiry number

Boilers in residential care home upgrade

Comfort delivered to cosmetics supplier Ethical cosmetics retailer Lush is now able to deliver energy efficient air conditioning to employees at its new office space in Poole, Dorset, thanks to the installation of Mitsubishi Electric’s City Multi VRF heat recovery system. Lush expanded its business with a new unit at Dolphin Quays, a complex made up of both residential apartments and office spaces. The units came equipped with running water and electricity, but Lush needed comforts for employees, including air conditioning, to be installed. The solution came in the form of 12 ceiling-suspended City Multi VRF indoor units and one floor-positioned unit, installed by Modern Facilities Services, a Mitsubishi Electric Accredited Installer. The system is able to move excess heat, generated from an area which is being cooled, to other parts of the building which need heating, helping to deliver the high levels of efficiency that Lush required. The City Multi system also offers good energy-saving performance, advanced control system and flexibility of design for specifiers and installers. The long pipe-runs and ability to connect up to 50 indoor units to one outdoor condenser means that it offers advanced, controllable energy efficient comfort to suit almost any building. Krystal James, project coordinator at Lush, said: “We wanted a system that would create a pleasant working environment for our staff, while fitting comfortably into the office environment. We also wanted to make sure we avoided any draughts for our employees.” Two Lossnay Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) units were also installed at the site in order to remove stale air from the office. The units operate by capturing up to 80 per cent of the temperature of the outgoing air, meaning less energy is needed to bring fresh ONLINE ENQUIRY 106 outdoor air up to the indoor temperature.

Burners replaced at Scottish attraction A burner upgrade project at a prestigious visitor attraction in Edinburgh involved the replacement of the existing 25-year-old burners with Riello ultra-low nitrogen oxides (NOx) premix burners. The Riello RX1800 1.8MW premix burners, commissioned by contractor T-Squared, have shown low NOx levels of just 9-10ppm (around 20mg/kWh) throughout the modulation range. This is around half the 40mg/kWh maximum required by some local authorities and also below the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) criteria of 24mg/ kWh. Consequently, the burner upgrade enabled the ageing cast-iron sectional boilers to comply with current and anticipated NOx regulations, as well as improve energy efficiency – thereby extending the life of the boilers. “The client was very keen to improve energy efficiency and meet future standards for NOx emissions, while retaining the existing boilers for a few more years,” explained T-Squared’s Garry Wallace. “We therefore suggested replacing the older burners to achieve better turndown and temperature control with improved efficiency and reduced NOx emissions. We considered several manufacturers and selected Riello on the basis of product quality and performance, technical ONLINE ENQUIRY 107 knowledge and customer support.

Three XL140 boilers from ATAG Commercial have been installed at Norman Lodge, a residential care home in Bradford, as part of a major renovation project – which included refurbishing the heating system. The project saw the boilers fitted alongside a CHP unit, independent water heaters and calorifiers, replacing the building’s original, 25-year old heating system. The installation was completed in February 2019. Norman Lodge is managed by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. The council has long been a customer of ATAG Commercial, which has resulted in the company’s boilers being installed in a variety of locations throughout the Yorkshire area. Terry Nichols, mechanical works officer at City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, explained: “The previous plant room contained a lot of steel, which was replaced by modern, carbon fittings. New boiler housing and heating circuits were also fitted alongside the XL boilers. The new heating system will ensure care home residents are kept nice and warm, while we know from past experience that using ATAG Commercial boilers can ONLINE ENQUIRY 105 reduce energy bills by up to a third.”

Controls partnership for clothing supplier US based clothing and outdoor recreation equipment specialist, L.L.Bean, is benefitting from a long-term partnership with Trend Control Systems. The company’s 18,600m2 flagship store is located on the original site where Leonwood Bean opened his first shop and today the store draws close to 3m visitors each year. The seven-acre retail campus is also home to L.L.Bean’s Hunting & Fishing Store, Bike, Boat & Ski Store, and Home Store. The company also has 27 retail stores outside of Maine, as well as 10 outlets. In addition to its retail sites, L.L.Bean’s US operation comprises a number of office buildings, call centres, manufacturing and distribution sites, and a data centre. Tom Leslie, heating, ventilation and air conditioning supervisor at L.L.Bean, comments: “With multiple locations it’s important to be able to monitor, manage and reduce energy use and ensure that each building is operating optimally, while keeping customers, staff and visitors comfortable. We have worked closely with FMC Technologies for over 15 years to install and maintain our BEMS infrastructure, with a goal of reduced energy use.” Dave Snowdon, engineering manager and vice president at FMC Technologies, adds: “We implement technology that reduces operating expenses, increases productivity and provides a safe, comfortable working environment. Our long-standing relationship with L.L.Bean began when we were asked to integrate third party building control devices with Trend BEMS technology in the company’s data centre, and since then we have rolled out Trend equipment across 25 locations.” Having visibility into energy use in real time is vital to Tom Leslie and his team. To meet this requirement L.L.Bean’s BEMS is configured around Trend’s pioneering IQ VISION, which integrates Trend controllers, third party smart devices and internet protocols into a centralised software platform that offers ONLINE ENQUIRY 108 the ability to highlight and investigate energy use.

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TALKING HEADS Stephen Whatling

Stephen Whatling is chairman of Business Critical Solutions

Preparing for the unpredictable future Preparing for 2050 is an impossible task, believes Stephen Whatling. Especially when it comes to the IT sector which is moving at such a fast pace.

he declaration of net zero has sent most businesses in the energy sector into something of a frenzy. Many organisations are looking at how their products and services might adapt to the new world. But Stephen Whatling takes a slightly different view of it. The chairman of Business Critical Solutions, a company specialising in optimising digital infrastructure, concedes that the IT sector does have to make some huge strides in optimising its energy use. With continuing growth and demand for IT and data, the sector will be one of the largest global energy consumers he told EiBI. “There’s going to be and has to be an enormous push towards a more sustainable approach to the design of data centre facilities against a backdrop of an unquenchable thirst for more IT technology.” However, Whatling believes that planning for 2050 is an impossible task. “In a way I think 2050 is too far away for anyone to focus on. First, the need is now and we should be doing all we can to focus on energy-efficient design and solutions. The rate of change and growth in the technology during the last ten years has been enormous. You just can’t predict what the industry will look like in 30 years time,” he stated. “Things could be developed now in the technology arena that might make the solutions we develop irrelevant. We are moving towards something in 2050 but we don’t know what the end will look like. So the data centre operator should be focused on the here and now and we should be ready to adapt to what the future may bring." Whatling believes the industry will have to react with a new set of solutions. “In 30 years, we will have a vast array of devices connected to the Internet (IoT) including

Whatling: 'In a way I think 2050 is too far away for anyone to focus on'

‘You don't see many data centre engineers on television’ things like autonomous vehicles. So what will that mean in terms of the huge amount of computer power needed for that network? And how do we supply the cooling for it?”

Greater role for energy management Whatling believes that energy management is playing a greater role than when the company was set up in 2016 along with two colleagues. “We identified that there was a space for a cost consultancy for mission critical work but with a strong focus and alignment to the IT industry. The market is dominated by larger organisations and we saw our opportunity to find a niche. Since then our original customers have stuck with us and we have grown by referral. We’ve just made a job offer to our 25th employee.” Although energy management might figure high on the company’s agenda, Whatling believes that there is a divide between those who are talking about it and effectively greenwashing and those who are serious about doing something. “There is a divide between those who are committed and those who want to be seen to be doing it. Some may say they purchase renewable energy but who’s to say that is actually the case. And renewable energy doesn’t improve the efficiency of the facility. “Greenwashing will go on as a result of the demand from IT

which will often take precedence. There is a 24/7 thirst for IT to continue to grow. But we have to ask how do we use the energy in the first place. The initial design and technology must not be ignored.” Whatling is concerned that UK Government policy is lagging way behind the rapid pace of development in the sector. “We don’t have a coherent energy policy in the UK. It’s far too important to leave to a succession of parties, government departments and committees who have differing views. The UK National Infrastructure commission provides strategy and policy advice to Government but we need action from the Government," he adds. "We need stability to be able to plan. We can only buy the energy that is in the grid. We are running out of it and not turning on renewable resources quickly enough." It’s not just a shortage of energy that might hamper the development of the UK’s IT infrastructure. “It’s difficult to attract people into the industry,” he explains. “It’s amazing how little people know about the data centre industry and what their smartphone is connected to. People know aerospace and other areas of engineering but data centres are off the radar and they too need skilled engineers for the future. But people are interested in the IT side because of people like Mark Zuckerberg. But you don’t see many data centre engineers on television.” Currently, the UK has a shortage of up to 100,000 science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) graduates, believes Whatling. “So we have to adopt a proactive approach to recruiting.” BCS has expanded its graduate and apprenticeship programme. It follows the success of its work with London South Bank and Sheffield Hallam universities which has seen the company offer three fully funded placements as part of its growth strategy. This year it will expand the number of places it offers and work with other universities including Salford, Reading, Kingston upon Thames and Nottingham Trent. “There is a great career awaiting with global-scale challenges,” adds Whatling. “In the next ten years we are going to find ways of designing and building energy efficient engineering infrastructure to support IT technologies and equipment that hasn’t been invented yet. What bigger challenge do you need?” 

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