Water, Energy & Environment

April/ May 2014 Issue 91 theenergyst.com

Efficient control of utilities and facilities

Powering your business with support that’s

onest Haven Power explores the benefits of electricity generated from biomass

Fancy reducing your CRC admin costs by 20%?

Using in excess of 6,000 Mwh of electricity through half hourly or AMR meters annually?

You need to be CRC compliant.

Why the fuss?

If you’re not compliant, BIU has calculated that you’ll be fined the equivalent of 14% of your annual utility costs.

Why BIU? Our proven CRC service will save you time, money and an unnecessary headache.

Need a further incentive?

We’ll beat any like-for-like CRC provider’s rate by 20%, including your incumbent’s*.

BIU can start your CRC audit today.

Get in touch to find out how BIU can help your business save time and money on utilities

01253 789816 hello@biu.com www.biu.com @BIUenergy

BRITISH INDEPENDENT UTILITIES, THE UK’S LEADING ENERGY CONSULTANCY * Terms & Conditions apply.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE GAS & ELECTRICITY Editor Tim McManan-Smith tim@energystmedia.com

t: 020 3714 4450 m: 07818 545308 Sales director Steve Swaine

“

Suppliers will readily accept and review data which could have an impact on a company’s risk profile or financial health

Credit risk is still an issue for energy consumers. Logical Utilities suggest ways to help you get the best deal See page 16

DEMAND RESPONSE

steve@energystmedia.com

t: 020 3714 4451 m: 07818 574300

A survey of energy managers found that almost half were unaware of this technology and its energy saving potential See page 22

Production Paul Lindsell production@energystmedia.com

m: 07790 434813 Circulation enquiries circulation@energystmedia.com

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INSIGHT Philips Lighting’s revamp of Notre Dame Cathedral’s lighting has managed to be both sympathetic to its environment while reducing energy spend See page 40

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Front Cover - See page 14 April/ May 2014 Issue 91 theenergyst.com

News & Comment .................................................................. p4 Gas & Electricity ...................................................................... p12 HVAC ......................................................................................... p30 Lighting .................................................................................... p40 Compressed Air ..................................................................... p48 No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. water energy & environment is a controlled circulation magazine available to selected professionals interested in energy, who fall within the publishers terms of control.

For those outside of these terms, annual subscriptions is £60 including postage in the UK. For all subscriptions outside the UK the annual subscription is £120 including postage.

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Efficient control of utilities and facilities

Powering your business with support that’s

onest

Renewable Energy ................................................................ p52 Product News ......................................................................... p62 Product and Service Directory ......................................... p64

Haven Power explores the benefits of electricity generated from biomass

Q&A ........................................................................................... p66

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3

NEWS & COMMENT

You want to help the environment? Live in a city

“

The question should be: would that same population if moved from the city to a rural environment consume more or less?

Common reasoning tends to lead us to believe that cities are polluting and bad for the environment, whereas a bucolic lifestyle is wholesome, more natural and good for the environment. If this is true then problems are in store; in 1900, 20% lived in cities and today more than half the world’s population does. This will rise to 70% by 2050, posing a major challenge for us all? They are concrete islands that suck resources out of the countryside and produce large amounts of waste.

The simple fact is that this isn’t true. Although quite obviously cities are concentrations of energy and resource use in an absolute sense, there is no point in considering this without looking at per capita use of resources. The question should be: would that same population if moved from the city to a rural environment consume more or less? According to the International Institute for Environment and Development, per capita emissions in New York, Toronto and Barcelona are only a third of their national average, and the emissions of Tokyo, London and Seoul come in at about half of their countries’ level. In an energy sense houses are smaller and more efficient to heat, insulation is better, mass transport is more efficient.

In an IEEE Spectrum podcast, William Meyer, associate professor of geography at Colgate University and author of The Environmental Advantages of Cities, says: “I give some maps in the book that show if you map energy use total, then you see, obviously, a big peak in the urban core.

If you map energy use per capita, you see a big crater in the urban core, with higher and higher levels as you move outward from it.”

In an absolute sense total population growth, whether it occurs in cities or the countryside, is a concern but interestingly this is also solved by the migration of people to urban areas. People living in rural areas have more children than those in urban areas. They choose to have less children and invest more in them than having large families, it may also be down to fertility but it is a more humane way of reducing population than prescriptive methods.

People have to live somewhere and although it may seem counter-intuitive it is better that they live together in cities; they do less damage to the environment as a whole and that goes for energy use, water use and contamination plus the control of diseases where a concentration of capital allows pollution to be cleaned up or not created in the first place. In an evolutionary sense agriculture is no more natural or older than city dwelling. Perhaps policy leaders need to acknowledge this and not discourage the development of mega-cities. .

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Ofgem investgates the state of competition in the energy market Ofgem has called for the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate the market to consider once and for all whether there are further barriers to effective competition.

Profit increases and recent price rises have intensified public distrust of suppliers and highlight the need for a market investigation to clear the air.

Ofgem’s reforms have come into force from April to protect consumers and help them get a better energy deal Ofgem has acted to remove uncertainty from the energy market by proposing a market investigation by the CMA. A market investigation will once and for all clear the air and allow the CMA to ensure that there are no further barriers to effective competition. An investigation would reassure consumers and complement Ofgem’s reforms for a simpler, clearer and fairer energy market.

The State of the Market assessment, prepared jointly with the Office of Fair Trading and CMA, confirms Ofgem’s previous analysis of why competition is not working as well as it could. As well

as reinforcing concerns about barriers to entry for independent suppliers and persistent high market shares of the largest energy companies, the report includes further evidence and shows continuing uncertainty over whether the vertical integration of the large energy companies is in consumers’ interests.

Retail profits increased from £233m in 2009 to £1.1bn in 2012, with no clear evidence of suppliers becoming more efficient in reducing their own costs, although further evidence would be required to determine whether firms have had the opportunity to earn excess profits.

Ofgem believes the CMA’s more extensive powers can address any long-term structural barriers to competition.

Ofgem chief executive Dermot Nolan said: “The CMA has powers, not available to Ofgem, to address any structural barriers that would undermine competition. Now consumers are protected by our simpler, clearer and fairer reforms, we think a market investigation is in their long-term interests.”

Although highly unlikely, the Ofgem referral of the energy market to the CMA could result in the break up of vertically integrated suppliers

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

5

Energy budgeting: more important and difficult than ever The founder of the famous consulting firm Mckinsey & Co, James Mckinsey, first highlighted the importance of budgets as not just “a ledger activity” but a business tool around which a company should be based.

As a result of reforms such as EMR, energy budgets will inevitability increase and become more complex. Many new taxation costs will be passed on mid contract each year.

Budgeting for these charges is going to become much harder and a specialist skill.

Simply inputting figures from the contract will not lead to an accurate budget.

Good financial energy budgeting and planning will require: 1. A thorough analysis of the predicted usage, supply costs, existing taxation schemes like the CRC and pending taxation schemes like CfD 2. Coordination of this budget

throughout the business as a whole.

3. Preparation of budgeting data showing the actual and estimated performance of the budget.

4. Strategic and skilful budget management to deliver costs within the predicted budget each year.

With energy costs becoming a bigger player in the balance sheet each year, the success and failure of business targets will rest more and more on getting the energy budget right.

At Pulse we see our role as your remote resource for professional budget planning.

Our budgeting tools meet the standards of leading accountancy firms and cover all the possible contingencies when it comes to energy budget management.

By Dorian Nineberg, chartered accountant and managing director of Pulse Business Energy

Look to Germany to get a heads up on gas prices In the UK Energy Traders take pride in our gas market (NBP) being the largest in Europe and the market to watch when it comes to predicting pan European prices.

However, in December last year the German gas market took over the UK’s position as the largest gas user in Europe.

Subsequently, this year I have found it more and more insightful to view live gas prices in Germany to get a KPI on the UK market.

The appetite for gas in

Germany seems strong in the medium term. Continuing tensions in Ukraine could still lead to gas sanctions in Russia and depletion of German gas reserves changing the dynamic again.

However, in the interim continued monitoring of German gas prices alongside UK prices provides a great insight.

By Alex Randall, head of energy trading at Pulse Business Energy

info@pulsebusinessenergy.co.uk T: 0333 7000 250 www.pulsebusinessenergy.co.uk

NEWS & COMMENT

European industry hit by €17bn energy costs Rising wholesale power prices will cost European industry an additional €17bn in 2015 compared with 2014, according to recent research

by EnergyQuote JHA. These rising costs provide an additional challenge to companies already dealing with the effects of weakness in the global economy, global competition and the ever growing cost burden of environmental legislation.

The analysis shows that the situation varies widely between countries. Spanish, Portuguese and UK consumers will be subject to the most significant increases in wholesale power prices over the period 2014 to 2015, with prices rising by about 12%, making up around a quarter of the €17bn increase. Price rises elsewhere in Europe will be less dramatic but still significant, at between 5% and 8%.

While a range of marketrelated factors are attributable to these increases, the main

“European industry is being further hit by the growing burden of non-energy costs” drivers include tighter environmental legislation closing a large number of power plants across Europe, fluctuations in power generation feedstock costs, and the retirement of older power stations.

Despite the fact that wholesale power prices are relatively low in parts of Europe compared with previous years due to low coal and carbon prices and reduced demand, significant cost pressures remain for power buyers.

European industry is being further hit by the growing burden of non-energy costs (largely made up of energy taxes and transmission and distribution charges) which will increase by at least €10bn in the coming year across Europe, rising to as much as 50% of many consumers’ final energy bill. Increasingly, rising energy prices are denting the significant progress many companies have made in reducing their energy costs through energy efficiency measures and onsite generation.

Commenting on the findings, Jonathan LydiardWilson, CEO of EnergyQuote JHA’s international division, said: “The double impact of both energy and non-energy costs rising over the short and medium term will have a significant impact on the bottom line of companies across Europe. Those companies that have invested in on-site generation, putting in place an holistic approach to energy efficiency and centralising data around a single software platform, are already ahead of the game.”

Entries now open for the Energy Awards 2014 The Energy Awards are back for 2014 and bigger than ever. This year we have revamped the 15 categories and moved to a bigger, central London venue.

The awards continue to aim to reward the achievements of companies cutting emissions and leading the way in innovative energy use. So whether you are an end user, consultant/broker, supplier or any company focused on increasing energy efficiency, then these are the awards for you.

The Energy Awards provide you with the opportunity to gain the recognition you deserve for your intelligent

energy use. Winning and even being shortlisted provides a valuable marketing advantage and is proof that you’ve been judged as one of the best in the country for responsible energy consumption.

This year sees new categories to better reflect the breadth of the energy industry and latest development within it. The full list of categories are: Behavioural change/ employee engagement; sponsors: Major Energy Users’ Council, The Energy Event Energy buyer of the year; sponsor: npower Energy data collection and analysis

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Energy efficient building project of the year Energy efficient partnership of the year Energy efficient product of the year – HVAC&R Energy efficient product of the year – Lighting Energy efficient technology of the year Excellence in demand reduction Supplier of the year – I&C (industrial and commercial); sponsor: D-ENERGI Supplier of the year – SME Third part intermediary of the year (broker of the year) Water efficient project of the year; sponsor: Anglian Entering the awards

is quick and easy: Register your details Choose your categories Fill out a short entry form online Submit your entries by the 18 July deadline If you need any help with your entry please contact Katherine Taylor on 020 3033 2663 or email Katherine.

Taylor@emap.com The winners will be announced at a gala awards dinner at the London Hilton on Park Lane on 2 December.

Don’t keep your achievements to yourself – enter the Energy Awards today. theenergyawards.com

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TaxPayers’ Alliance cites NHS jobs waste The TaxPayers’ Alliance has suggested that there are at least 1,129 unnecessary jobs in the NHS costing taxpayers almost £46m. Out of this there are at least 86 ‘green’ staff at a cost of almost £3.5m, writes Tim McManan-Smith.

These non-jobs, as the alliance puts it, are wasting taxpayers’ money that should be put towards frontline services. The are, however, quite a number of PR representatives (826) and one could argue without negative press and freedom of information requests from the TaxPayers’ Alliance they

could well be dispensed with.

Green jobs could be a waste of money or they could be a tiny investment for a massive return, making the hospital more effective to the taxpayer and not less.

Any energy manager worth their salt would pay for their salary many times over through reduced energy consumption, lower risk of energy price fluctuations and supply shortages as well as reducing emissions and helping the corporate social responsibility agenda, a subject which resonates well with the public at

large. The only time that ‘green’ jobs could be a waste is if they are more about creating pretty reports for senior management and shareholders and less about actually doing.

The trouble is, this reaserch was done on job titles and they do not always describe the vital role that people play within an organisation, especially if it is about reducing costs to the public. For instance one could have a title that incites ridicule in the public at large, such as policy analyst, at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, but this needn’t necessarily mean that what you

Wind energy breaks record RenewableUK says new statistics published by the Department of Energy & Climate Change prove the case for wind power.

Statistics released covering both 2013 and the first quarter of 2014 show increased amounts of renewable energy, with wind foremost, leading to coal and gas consumption decreasing.

Renewable energy increased to a record 15% of power in 2013, with the amount of coal and gas needed dropping by 3% and 1% respectively.

The report states: “Provisional estimates show that carbon dioxide emissions fell between 2012 and 2013; the key factor driving the change was a switch in electricity generation away from fossil fuels”.

In 2013 electricity from wind power grew 40%, meaning it provides over 50% of renewable energy. Wave and tidal also saw an increase of 75% in power generated in 2013 compared to 2012.

For the last quarter of 2013 the figures are even better with a record for renewable

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electricity of 18% compared with 13% in Q4 2012. For that quarter onshore wind generation was up 64% compared with the same period in 2012 and offshore wind increased 42%.

The strong wind energy performance meant that coal’s share of the electricity mix was 7% lower in Q4 2013 compared with a year earlier, with gas also falling to the lowest quarterly share of generation for at least 15 years.

However, the UK’s import dependency on fossil fuels continued to grow, despite the lower production levels needed, with coal imports increasing from Russia and other countries.

Despite encoraging news for wind power there has been a double setback to future developments.

Communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles is to extend his period of central decisions on renewable energy projects for a further 12 months. The announcement means that he has the option to take the final decision to consent or refuse all onshore wind farms in England personally.

Meanwhile, business and energy minister Michael Fallon said that the Consevative Party wishes to end financial support for new onshore wind farms, and would attempt to introduce new planning restrictions on renewable energy projects if it were to win the next election.

This is bad news for billpayers. As the Royal Academy of Engineering showed earlier this month, limiting onshore wind means having to rely on more expensive technologies to keep the lights on, increasing our dependency on costly fossil fuel imports and exposure to price hikes.

do day-to-day is worthless.

In the report the Alliance says: “These staff are employed to reduce an organisation’s energy use and emissions. While this is a commendable aim, the fact that many large hospital trusts do not employ people in such roles again shows that they are not necessary.”

This faulty logic to say the least, perhaps many of the large hospitals should be emplying key staff to reduce their energy spend?

Contrary to the TaxPayers’ Alliance’s belief, this cannot be done by technology alone.

The NHS employs 1,045,999 full-time equivalent staff, less than 0.01% are ‘green staff ’.

npower ends auto-renewals npower has announced new measures that simplify the way in which SMEs choose their energy. Its three new price plans mark a new way of contracting, bringing an end to auto-renewal and providing businesses with more flexibility than ever before.

“We realise that in today’s market you need to innovate around the customer and their needs,” said Phil Scholes, SME sales and marketing director at npower. “Due to this we have made our energy contracts as flexible as possible for SMEs, helping them to choose a simple contract that suits them and their specific needs at a given time.

“Businesses can choose from two different plans based on what is important to their business, whether that is the ability to budget long-term or the flexibility to change contracts at short notice. We will be introducing a third plan to complete our new suite of products and to coincide with our commitment not to auto-renew existing customers on fixed-term contracts from November 2014.”

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

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NEWS & COMMENT

Energy efficiency deal’s ‘bootiful’ The UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) and Equitix have announced a £24.5m investment to finance the installation of renewable energy boilers at Bernard Matthews’ turkey farms.

The project, the largest of its kind, will see 179 new biomass boilers installed across 21 farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire, meaning that 40% of Bernard Matthews’ estate will benefit from the new renewable energy technology.

UK Green Investment Bank chief executive Shaun Kingsbury said: “Bernard Matthews has placed

sustainability at the heart of its business and we are pleased to be able to support it in its ambition to generate 100% of its energy sustainably.”

The project was conceived, designed and managed by renewable energy company Lumicity. The dry heat biomass systems will also produce a number of benefits due to the improved circulation of heat, including reduced ammonia levels, reduced ventilation requirements, and increased litter (bedding) quality.

The project will create about 50 jobs in the local area, including nine fulltime permanent positions.

The Equitix managed fund, Energy Saving Investments (ESI), in which GIB is the cornerstone investor, is investing £12m in the project.

This mobilises an additional £12.5m of additional private sector capital from the Equitix Energy Efficiency Fund.

Bernard Matthews executive chairman David Joll said: “We’re already generating a large proportion of our energy needs from other renewable sources, including solar and wind, and with the addition of biomass boilers on our farms, we’re well placed to be generating 100% of our energy sustainably by 2016.”

Shale gas supply chain worth billions Shale gas could create a new onshore supply chain market for equipment, services and skills across a number of industry sectors worth up to £33bn by 2032, creating more than 64,000 jobs, according to the EY report published by trade body United Kingdom Onshore Operators Group.

The UK could also lead the way in technology and skills across Europe, a significant and untapped market, adds the report, commissioned by UKOOG and part-funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

A key part of the government’s longterm economic plan to secure Britain’s future is to back businesses with better infrastructure.

Business and energy minister Michael Fallon said: “This report shows the huge prize at stake for the UK in terms of jobs and manufacturing in the supply chain for our onshore oil and gas industry.

“Shale gas has the potential to kickstart a whole new

industry, building on the world leading expertise the UK already has in the energy sector. There will be significant opportunities across the steel, manufacturing and engineering industries as shale develops.

“This government is fully committed to ensuring the UK not only benefits from the energy security shale gas could provide but also maximising the economic benefit across the country. It’s time to get ready for shale.”

The government has also accepted all the recommendations in the report that assesses the potential greenhouse gas emissions from production of shale gas

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in the UK by Professor David Mackay, DECC chief scientific advisor, and Dr Timothy Stone CBE, the former senior advisor to the secretary of state for energy and climate change.

Energy and climate change secretary Ed Davey said: “We must explore the benefits and investment shale gas may bring but that should not come at the expense of the environment.

“Over the past year the scientific evidence has allowed us to conclude that shale production can be managed effectively as long as best practices are implemented and enforced.

“Today, by fully accepting the recommendations of the Stone/MacKay report, we are setting out how we will regulate and monitor shale gas keeping our carbon emissions to a minimum.

“This £2m funding we have announced shows our continuing commitment to remain at the forefront of new technology and techniques to efficiently and cleanly explore and produce shale gas.”

Big savings recognised with award

Norwich City Council’s environmental strategy manager Richard Willson has won this year’s ESTA Energy Manager of the Year Award, having recorded energy savings worth £2.8m over five years.

The announcement was made at an awards ceremony at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on 2 April.

As a consequence of Mr Wilson’s actions, Norwich City Council has reduced its carbon emissions by almost 30%.

ESTA president and chair of the judging panel Professor Martin Fry noted that: “Richard showed a very high level of engagement with the energy management challenge, involving staff and offering services to local residents.

His efforts resulted in very significant achievements.”

Mr Willson said: “I’m delighted to have won this award on behalf of the environmental management team and the council as a whole.

“It comes at a very appropriate moment, as Norwich prepares to launch its second Carbon Management Programme, which will ramp up our efforts to cut emissions and costs still further.

“The public recognition of our achievements in the first programme will spur us on to the next target.”

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Energy Triads – a great way to cut costs

Weakness in EU EED The Coalition for Energy Savings has identified weaknesses in national implementation of the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive.

An analysis of the Member States’ plans for achieving 1.5% annual end-use energy savings highlights that most countries not only show low ambition but also fail to demonstrate credibly how the mandatory energy savings target will be reached, exposing them to infringement procedures and possible fines.

The Coalition and its partners conducted the first analysis of Member States’ plans to achieve their 1.5% annual energy savings target. The

target – one of the centrepieces of the 2012 EED – should take the EU closer to its 20% energy savings target by 2020.

Almost all countries use the maximum exemptions to lower the 1.5% annual end-use energy savings, which means the average target in the EU is actually only 0.8%. In addition the majority of plans are weak and increase the risk for the EU to miss its 20% energy savings target for 2020. Only three plans, from Croatia, Denmark and Ireland, provide a credible and meaningful case for how savings targets will be achieved. The Directive must be transposed into national laws by 5 June this year.

Climate change: engineers more important than governments The incoming president of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), Professor Geoff Maitland, is calling on engineers to take a leading role in the battle against climate change, and the transition to low carbon, renewable energies.

Global energy consumption is expected to grow by more than 50% by 2040 with fossil fuels continuing to dominate, providing up to 80% of energy needs.

Over the same period, CO2 emissions are expected to increase to 45.5 billion metric tonnes – an increase of nearly 46% – despite widespread concerns about the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on global warming.

Mr Maitland’s comments coincide with the publication this week of the United Nation’s report: Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability.

Mr Maitland said: “Arguably, engineers have a more important role than governments in our transition

to renewable energies. Shortterm energy policies and ‘political fiddling’ are failing to provide the solutions needed – and fast enough. We are sleepwalking into a catastrophic climate change future.”

Mr Maitland – a professor of energy engineering at Imperial College London and a Fellow of IChemE, Royal Society of Chemistry, Energy Institute and the Royal Academy of Engineering, continued: “It is inevitable that we will need to pay more for our energy in the future, whatever its source. For many decades, fossil fuels will continue to play a major role but we must all be prepared to pay the real cost of using them, as part of a lower-carbon present.

“Current prices fail to factor in the costs of carbon capture and storage. And then there are the adaptation costs to mitigate the impact of climate change, such as the floods and droughts which are increasingly disrupting the lives of millions of people across the globe.”

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

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Darren Lennon, head of strategic clients at npower, shares updates on the National Grid’s annual Triad announcement The recent Triad announcement from the National Grid has come as something of a surprise, with a Triad occurring on a Friday afternoon for the first time since 1972. Triads are the top three half-hour peaks of energy demand across the National Grid, each separated by at least 10 consecutive days, over the most energy intensive period of the year: November to February.

Typically, Triads occur when high business demand meets the domestic tea-time period, causing an overall spike in energy use.

This is what we’ve seen with the 2013/14 Triad period, with all Triads occurring at the 5-5:30pm peak, and the highest half-hour demand period hitting 50,694MW. The Triad charge, named “Transmission Network Use of System” (TNUoS), is used to finance the maintenance of the UK’s electricity grid to ensure future supply. Impacting customers with half-hourly meters, the charge is proportional to businesses’ energy use over the Triad periods and linked to location.

Crucially, by avoiding energy use during Triads, businesses can save thousands of pounds on their energy bill. That’s why we work with our customers to warn them at least 24 hours before a Triad is likely to happen, enabling businesses to plan a response – whether this means ramping up onsite generators to avoid using the grid at peak times, or reducing consumption until the peak has passed.

As mentioned above, what’s unusual about the announcement

this year is that a Triad has fallen on a Friday afternoon. Typically, we would expect to see businesses winding down for the weekend at this time – not ramping up their energy usage. We suspect that the reason for this peak is down to weather conditions during what was a flat energy demand season. The Friday in question, 6 December, had a half-hourly average demand of 49,927MW, and was one of the coldest days of the Triad period. A little less surprising is that the additional two Triads fell on a Monday, 25 November and a Thursday, 30 January.

When it comes to Triads, preparation is key. We offer a warning service for our customers, ensuring that we alert those operating on half-hourly meters so that they can take back control of their annual energy bill. This has helped major energy users reduce charges, with an average medium to large energy user saving about £50,000. As part of the Triad warning service, we have created a TNUoS calculator, which is available online and allows users to calculate potential energy savings during a Triad.

The forthcoming Energy Market Review will place a large focus on demand-side energy management, with Triads forming an important part of this. We recommend that customers start looking now at how they can make peak-hour billing an opportunity for their business efficiency rather than a cost.

Whether you receive your energy through us or another supplier, you can sign up to the Triad Warning service and gain further information through the dedicated team available at business@npower.com

INSIGHT

Transparency is essential The procurement consultancy market has gone through many changes recently and is still developing fast. Tim McManan-Smith met up with John Hall, chairman of Alfa Energy, to discuss the market

A

lfa Energy is an independent energy consultant that procures for clients across both the I&C and SME area. John Hall, formerly of John Hall Associates until it was sold, is now chairman of Alfa. I suggest that broker is perhaps a limited term for modern procurement agents and that many prefer third party intermediary.

“I am not a third party intermediary. I am the customer. I am the client. I represent the interests of the consumer. I am talking on his behalf. I am negotiating on his behalf, and the supplier knows when they talk to me they talk to the consumer. I was a consultant representing, not a broker who has their own objectives,” says Mr Hall.

A charter for consultants?

Given that Ofgem is proposing a new code of practice requiring brokers and other TPIs to be clear with businesses about their fees, the contracts they offer and which suppliers they represent, is the long awaited charter for brokers/ consultants about to happen?

“Ofgem thinks that the market should be selfregulating,” says Mr Hall.

“The main problem is taking payment from both suppliers and the endusers. I have always insisted that every fee is totally transparent, no question about it. The favoured way for I&C customers is to work on a fixed fee for the client, normally paid by the client. They sometimes want

payment through utility bill and we will do this as long as every party is clear about the fees. The first question to Alfa when I came here was: how to we get our money?”

Many brokers will take a hidden commission and they will take money from both ends. The problem is they will not tell consumer if and how much they are taking from the supplier and Mr Hall says the question is who is the client?

“I’ve seen a pound per MW added on, a penny per therm; an I&C buyer will scream and rant and rave about a 0.2% uplift for a supplier on a large contract yet at the same time perhaps paying a penny per therm hit through the broker.”

So will Ofgem get its way and have a charter for transparent pricing?

“Consultants have to sign up to a declaration of fees for a charter to work. When I have brought the topic up at conferences, they say why should we declare our margins? Any worthwhile charter must contain costs and for that reason it won’t happen. They will never sign up for transparency of billing,” states Mr Hall.

Is price everything?

For certain clients it is true that price is the overriding factor. “All they want to do is get a cheap price and that’s it, move on and forget it. On the SME side, cost is what matters to them and they’ll go for it. As you move on up to larger users, surprisingly cost becomes less important,” says Mr Hall. “They look more at the profile of the

10 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

“

Any worthwhile charter must contain costs and for that reason it won’t happen. They will never sign up for transparency of billing

contract they are getting.

They also look at the service level they get. They want the flexibility to come in and go out of the market across various site in their portfolio.

Payment and extended credit is very important for some organisations, more so than just price. They also want some kind of assurance regarding take or pay.”

Payment terms of 30 days are now going to 120 days in some cases and end users will give something on the unit price for that. They also want some kind of assurance regarding take or pay; they want to have flexibility on that. This is the situation whereby you have contracted to purchase a certain amount of energy and no longer require it through a downturn

or even energy efficiency measures. Mr Hall observes that “for the larger buyer you will look at a whole range of different things and the last thing you look at is price”.

He says: “Timing is very important as well as the terms and conditions. The fact remains that all suppliers buy from the same wholesale market and so the same sort of price. Payment terms, flexibility to take out sites and bring them in, day night rates, ease of billing. What reporting services do they give you? You get all of this right first and then go for price.”

Why use a consultant?

It is easy to question why a consultant is necessary for buying energy, why are they important? “Customers don’t

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look at it like that. The real difficulty as one large energy buyer said to me the other day, you don’t get any prizes as the energy buyer because this year is more expensive than last. The total cost is going to go up year on year, it’s not going to go down.

There will be the odd dip here and there. Prices are artificially high now but they won’t come down to realistic levels due to geopolitical tension.”

Surely in-house teams could procure energy effectively?

“Well then do it yourself, says Mr Hall, “but they won’t take the risk. They don’t often have the in-house expertise to know what is happening in the market. They are buying for two, three maybe four years ahead. You have got to be in that market following it day by day.”

Mr Hall contends that most organisations are looking for someone to purchase energy for them and that it is cheaper using a consultant than having this level of expertise in-house.

He also stresses that energy procurement is one area that can be intensive on time.

There is also the additional security that all bases are covered. Mr Hall says it is similar to firms having an external accountant.

AMR and bill validation With AMR and smart metering domestically, surely bills will be accurate and therefore bill validation as a role for consultants will become a thing of the past?

However, Mr Hall says: “The bill has two components: consumption and charges.

Consumption data will improve with AMR but that doesn’t mean that the bill will be correct. Suppliers can make mistakes in applying prices p/kW or in applying charges.

“Somewhere down the line there is a manual input and that is where something can go wrong. Postal code

changes also cause difficulty, that postcode is linked to the premise and the customer. Transmission and distribution are all fixed and non-negotiable, you still need to get on top of it and validate bills because they can be wrong,” he says.

Mr Hall is of the opinion that suppliers are still bad at getting it right. In their defence he observes that the integration of suppliers is a mammoth task and to merge databases of customers is far from an easy task.

Mergers and acquisitions There has been a lot of activity over the past few years with consultancies merging to become large operators and acquisition from other large corporates that see a procurement consultancy as a strategic fit.

“You have people on contract for a consultant that are now being guided towards products that are not something that they signed up for and probably don’t want or maybe even need. They are being bought as databases so that they can sell the services of their company as opposed to fulfil the contract,” says Mr Hall.

Founder and CEO Damir Ahmovic believes that growing organically is best, to learn as they go along and develop with their customers.

“Customers are not stupid they pick up on this quite quickly and realise that they are being used to sell products to and the reason they joined the consultant aren’t there anymore. You have got to be independent.”

Alfa Energy now has four international offices, more than 90 employees and 4,000 clients, and is now responsible for more than £1bn of annual spend on energy. It was nominated and subsequently won Broker of the Year at the 2012 Energy Awards. we&e alfaenergygroup.com

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

11

A kingdom united or a country on the fracking brink?

The discovery and introduction of the unconventional gas from shale rock formations, has dramatically altered the landscape of the US energy market. The development of this gas, via the fracturing of sedimentary rocks, increased the United States’ production of its own gas, making the world’s largest economy more than just energy independent (with regards to gas supplies).

The US’ shale gas production, which mainly consists of methane, surged from 1% in 2000 to more than 20% by 2009 (Chatham House Report) while prices at the Henry Hub trading platform, plummeted from the peaks of $15/MMBtu to the lows of $4/ MMBtu in 2012 (Bloomberg data). The big turnaround not only enabled higher economic activities, but also enabled the return of previously outsourced business.

Shale discovery in UK Unlike its US counterpart, the development of shale gas in Europe (including the UK), has remained constrained by regulation, geology and, until recently, lack of tax incentives in addition to the environmental regulations hurdles (Stevens 2010).

The main issue, however, is public opposition. Due to fears of water-well contamination and seismic activities that have been linked with “fracking”, public opposition has been the biggest force in contention with the country’s move toward what may be energy independence (supplies to replace the depleting North Sea reserves).

Economic impact Similar to the boom observed on

the other side of the pond, the UK is in place for a possible energy revolution. This is could be a result of fracking, should the production of shale gas become commercially viable for further exploration and extraction.

With the current market environment resulting in a higher import requirement from Norway, the UK may see downside pressure on its wholesale cost for gas by the early 2020s thanks to this unconventional gas.

Where to stand – the line The UK, which can meet up to 60% of its gas demand (Reuters) from imports, would greatly benefit from the commercialisation of shale gas, as it holds the potential to usher in an era of lower prices.

A forecast by the Department of Energy and Climate Change adjusted to account for the shale gas introduction to the economy, shows downside pressure on the future prices of the commodity, raising the benefit of such move for the struggling economy.

Going forward, the UK will have to reconcile its split personality when it comes to “fracking”, with the nation either choosing to accept that the benefits of shale gas outweigh the costs, or rejecting the fracking process entirely with the backlash being more expensive gas imports.

One way or another, a decision must be made and we will have to either unite against shale gas, or tell those dissidents to “frack” off.

To learn more about LGE call 01253 767 222 or visit www.lge-group.com

GAS & ELECTRICITY

Crunch time for energy A ‘capacity crunch’ is expected as energy suppliers struggle to invest in new affordable energy. SMEs must be more involved in monitoring their energy, controlling consumption, generating their own power and trading energy, says Jon Ferris

T

he energy market has changed significantly in recent years. In the past, only large companies would use flexible purchasing and basket deals to manage energy costs. Now, with an energy capacity crunch expected, SME-sized companies need to change their approach to energy procurement to remain competitive.

SMEs who ignore rising energy prices risk passing on the additional energy costs to their customers.

Market instability, an antiquated energy infrastructure and the retirement of a fifth of the UK’s power stations over the next decade mean a future of energy price rises. The UK is facing an energy capacity crunch as coal and oil-fired power stations go offline and the cost of importing gas continues to rise. Regulatory and legislative uncertainty has been slowing investment in energy projects and the cost of support for new investments is being passed on to customers, increasing energy bills for companies both large and small.

As energy bills rise, SMEs

“

To become more energy and cost efficient, SMEs need to look at the energy market differently

12 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

have to bear increased costs or pass them on to their customers, in turn increasing the cost of their product or service. But changes to how SMEs manage energy procurement have the potential to keep their energy bills down and reduce the need to increase prices paid by their customers – making them more competitive than their rivals.

To become more energy and cost efficient, SMEs need to look at the energy market differently. The use of energy brokers such as Utilitywise is rising. Energy brokers not only have the ability to search the whole of the market to offer a range of tariff rates, but also work with suppliers to develop new products that benefit consumers, which is becoming more attractive as SMEs look to control cost.

Add this to a broker’s ability to navigate a confusing maze of tariff possibilities and consolidate multiple contract end dates to a single day, and it is easy to see why more and

more businesses are turning to intermediaries for help.

However, this is just the start: once a business has optimised energy procurement it is important to understand where, when and how its energy is being used and how much energy is wasted.

This is the second change needed – monitor the usage.

The introduction of automatic meter reading is not new and many businesses will already have it, but not many use the data to its full potential. Suppliers take AMR data to produce non-estimated billing, but the ability to see and analyse the data allows SMEs to understand their business’ energy consumption and make changes to their operations to reduce it.

Diverting the AMR data to a reporting platform is essential.

Using a reporting platform such as Utilitywise’s Utility Insight software allows a business to monitor and target energy consumption and the financial implications, identifying unusual patterns, trends or out of hours consumption. Utility Insight is a multi-utility, web-based reporting platform that gives users full insight into a business’ electricity, gas and water usage. Clear reports on energy consumption – and energy waste – can be shared across a company, automatically, and in as much detail as required. It can give minute by minute, circuitboard level detail; for example, which strip of lights are being left on out of hours, or whether the air conditioning is running in line with the control strategy.

theenergyst.com

so can be used to respond to market price signals.

The final change is to integrate energy procurement with energy management.

Applying the concept of flexible procurement to short-term prices allows companies to benefit from new opportunities by participating in demand response, either in the capacity market or by trading energy on the balancing market.

There are a number Using this technology, one of pieces of existing and Utilitywise client has made upcoming legislation that are a saving of more than 80% relevant when considering on their gas bill. Another energy monitoring. Article customer saved in excess of Eight of the EU Efficiency £14,000 a year because staff Directive states that were leaving air conditioning through the Smart Metering units running and lights on Implementation Programme, outside of office hours when organisations within the the building was empty. AMR smaller non-domestic sectors reporting platforms can send will receive smart meters. This automated daily reports on means smaller businesses consumption and CO2 levels as with an electricity profile well as comparisons between class of 03 and 04, or a gas days, weeks or months, and set consumption of less that alarms if usage falls outside 732MWh per year will receive of normal patterns. But this is the technology. However, not the end, it is just the start. with the costs of the smart The third change is to meter programme control consumption effectively paid by at crucial times. businesses, they Distribution should make costs typically the most of make up them through 10% of an Saving a client made effective use electricity using a reporting of analysis bill. For one and reporting Utilitywise platform from capabilities such client, 80% Utilitywise as Utility Insight. of these costs A volatile market were incurred in and energy efficiency the red band between 4 legislation is not going away, and 7pm. Load shifting away and there is no one-size-fits-all from this time will not only solution to reducing costs and save on distribution costs consumption. However, simple but also help with avoiding changes in how energy is transmission costs and managed and controlled and a wholesale price peaks. realisation that responsibility The fourth change is to for energy needs to be taken generate your own power. at individual company level, Onsite generation will not will leave business with a solid only offset exposure to volatile foundation in preparation wholesale prices but also for what’s to come. we&e increase non-commodity costs.

Jon Ferris is head of risk Combined heat and power, management at EIC, a exempted from carbon price Utilitywise company support in the Budget, is more utilitywise.com controllable than renewables

80%

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

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1

12/03/2014 21:5

COVER STORY

How biomass can play a role in helpin Richard Robey, sales and marketing director at Haven Power, looks at the benefits biomass-generated electricity can bring to businesses in the UK

W

ith homes and businesses across the UK getting more and more of their electricity (over 10% – source: Renewable UK) from renewable sources, renewables will have a contributing role in securing generation for years to come, but where does biomass fit into these plans and how can businesses benefit from biomass-generated electricity?

Electricity generation from biomass is flexible.

Unlike wind, tidal or solar power, biomass-fired generation technologies can respond quickly to changes in electricity demand. It is more reliable than other renewables and, with high availability, is the perfect complement to intermittent forms of renewable power.

We believe biomass is also one of the best value renewable energy technologies. Adjusted for availability, the capital cost of converting coal units to biomass is much less than that of equivalent offshore wind capacity.

The fact that it makes use of existing transmission assets combined with flexibility means hidden system costs are much lower than most renewables too.

Previously a coal-fired power station, our parent company Drax has long championed biomass, and, thanks to appropriate regulatory support, is now well on its way to becoming a predominantly biomassfuelled power station.

More and more businesses across the UK are benefiting from this type of generation.

This means that if a company is looking to become more sustainable, by choosing power from Drax’s biomass

conversions, it can be sure that it is using renewable power.

Now rebranded to be part of the Drax Group, Haven Power is the retail arm of Drax and we are seeing more and more customers choose renewable power. Having demonstrated phenomenal growth since our founding in 2006, we are on-track to reach a sales target of 12 to 15 TWh by 2015.

Electricity generated from biomass is becoming very popular with our customers; it also ticks all the boxes with regards to renewable generation – a sustainable fuel delivering a significant reduction in emissions compared with fossil fuels.

In terms of what the greater alignment with Drax means for customers, there are a number of other benefits aside from the ability to supply renewable power. For example, we can guarantee competitive prices because we don’t have a separate trading arm. This is because the same people trading the output of the power station are fixing prices for customers. havenpower.com

Case study: Yeo Valley Family Farm Yeo Valley Family Farm has been making yogurts in its South West dairy since 1961. Over the years it has grown into the UK’s largest organic brand and now produces milk, butter, deserts, and even frozen yogurt. As part of its efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its operations, it has purchased renewable electricity for many years, supplying all of its manufacturing and distribution operations. Most recently it elected to purchase electricity generated from a 100% renewable source, namely biomass.

Yeo Valley chose Haven’s Levy Exempt Power option because it believes Haven is committed to supplying much

14 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

higher levels of power from 100% renewable sources. It visited the Drax plant and witnessed the process of conversion from biomass to electricity and was very, impressed with the operation. In addition, Donald French, Yeo Valley engineering technical and environment manager, says: “Haven provides excellent customer support and we have been very satisfied with their personal service and transparency.

“Yeo Valley is committed to reduce its impact on the environment wherever possible and we believe purchase of levy exempt power from renewable sources such as biomass can play a big part in helping us achieve this.”

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ng businesses become sustainable

“

Adjusted for availability, the capital cost of converting coal units to biomass is much less than that of equivalent offshore wind capacity

theenergyst.com

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

15

GAS & ELECTRICITY

The Importance of being frank Peter Bailey, senior underwriter at Logical Utilities, discusses the importance of credit risk in the UK energy market and how to get favourable terms

A

s consumers we often think of credit as just another means to an end. In more recent times commercial credit has become a necessary evil for many companies but, for most, credit is simply terminology used to encapsulate debtor and creditor payment terms or financial risk exposure.

In the energy market, credit is obviously an accepted feature with customers for both supplier acceptance of business and terms of trade.

For most companies there are very few long-term contractual obligations that will exceed the liability of an energy contract and, understandably, energy suppliers place great stock in managing their risk exposure.

However, it is worth noting these credit and risk profiles differ dramatically between providers; with most using commercial credit applications available from notable providers such as Experian, Equifax, Creditsafe, et al. More recently, there are suppliers who now adopt a more holistic commercial view (which includes the above) but also their own interpretation of balance sheet strength, trading performance, sector stability, and weighting towards historical payment history.

In these times of slow economic recovery this last approach is very refreshing, particularly for those nontraditional enterprises (business start-ups, charities, quangos, etc), which can find it difficult to engage a broad spectrum of suppliers. But even more traditional businesses should consider very carefully how the recency and content of public

“

Suppliers will readily accept and review data which could have a material impact on a company’s risk profile or financial health domain financial information could play a significant role in negotiating advantageous contractual terms.

In many instances historical, ‘black and white’ credit profiles will determine, not just supply acceptance, but also terms of trade and the overall cost of a contract. By adding ‘colour’ to this data (material post-publication financial analysis), such as management accounts, peer to peer performance, balance sheet capitalisation, inward equity investment, restructuring, and so on, suppliers can take a more rounded view of a customer’s propensity to pay and serviceability of a contractual obligation.

There are numerous commercial and financial

16 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

facets which can inform an underwriter’s opinion, which may not be visible in a credit report. Not only can this widen market choice, but it can potentially influence commercial terms and obviate the need for security deposits, shorter premium contracts, high standing charges, among other mechanisms used to mitigate financial risk.

In our experience suppliers will readily accept and review data which could have a material impact on a company’s risk profile or financial health.

An illustration in point is a large customer we represented in a volatile consumer market which, one would assume, had been impacted adversely by the recession.

The client was renewing its energy contracts in October with its last set of accounts published some eight months earlier. To compound matters further the energy portfolio comprised a large number of fragmented sites operated by franchisees, and an overseas parent company registered in a European jurisdiction where profiling is notoriously difficult.

Unfortunately, its own efforts to secure a favourable

and competitive energy supply contract were unsuccessful and Hobson’s choice prevailed; namely the incumbent supplier being the only option available with unpalatable commercial terms. While it presented a major challenge it was possible, through extensive due-diligence and analysis, to expand the client’s options to six new providers and obviate the initial requirement for a security deposit.

Of course, not every approach will necessarily produce such a success story, nor indeed be required, but the principle of engaging a specialist intermediary (or suppliers directly) with an understanding of risk could yield benefits, particularly if the circumstances dictate so.

Understandably, energy suppliers operate within strict guidelines and manage risk exposure very carefully.

However, in our experience, they are also very pragmatic and commercially receptive to informed financial analysis which, ultimately, is a very healthy step forward for the industry in the current economic climate. we&e logicalutilities.co.uk

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Sponsored column

Are boiler controls a good idea?

Customer focused for SMEs and I&Cs CUB’s new launch claims to offer the full package: for I&C and SME energy procurement teams

C

UB (UK), a Cambridgeshirebased energy consultancy, has launched what it calls a new look and approach to the energy industry, bringing customer-focused packages to help SMEs and I&Cs with their energy requirements.

“In an industry which is flooded with complicated tariffs and jargon, it’s a refreshing change to have a company that focuses on making things easier for the customer,” says CUB managing director Louis Fairfax.

It launched its new approach at Nemex, part of the Sustainability Live show, and was greeted with a great reception from delegates and potential clients.

Mr Fairfax went on to say: “The response was what we hoped for and we are really focused and enthusiastic about what we can now offer our customers. The whole team has worked really hard behind the scenes to bring these new products to the market.”

CUB follows a mission

statement of honesty and trust and has built up a large portfolio of customers, many of whom have been with the organisation since 1994.

Mr Fairfax discussed how listening to what customers want and finding ways to meet that demand is one of the biggest influences on CUB’s business model.

“We listened to our customers and put a lot of research into understanding what they need, this is why each package reflects what our customers want to accomplish – whether it’s a procurement only strategy or the full package where we look at energy performance.

“We’ve simplified our website so that clients, whether SME or I&C, know their options and we have put the packages into four groups: Procurement; Premier; Platinum; and Performance.

We also made things easy by showing exactly what is included in each package to help the customer find the one that helps them achieve their goals.” we&e c-u-b.com

The short answer to this is “yes, of course they are”.

Boilers potentially consume a great deal of energy so they need to be controlled effectively. To that end there are several “layers” of boiler control commonly in use and it is important to understand what each can achieve – and the limitations of each. This will help decide whether additional boiler controls will deliver further energy savings while not conflicting with your existing building controls.

What types of boiler control are commonly used?

It is quite common for commercial boiler plant to use a number of control elements, such as boiler sequencing, weather compensation, demand control and modulating burners. Many of these are delivered through standalone controls or via a building management system (BMS). However, it is rare for even a combination of such controls to be capable of managing every aspect of boiler performance. As a result, boiler load optimisation controls are being widely installed to deliver additional savings.

Understanding the limitations of existing controls

This can be illustrated by considering weather compensation and BMS. Weather compensation (aka weather optimisation or variable temperature control) can be very effective but does have limitations. For example, its variable temperature approach is not appropriate for constant temperature systems such as fan convectors or air handling units. Also, most buildings require constant domestic hot water.

Building management systems are typically configured to control the heating system as a whole from the common header (the blended temperature of all boilers), rather than monitoring and controlling each individual boiler. This means, for example, that a BMS is unlikely to detect or control energy wastage through boiler dry cycling at individual boiler level.

The need to control individual boilers

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

17

Boiler dry cycling is a symptom of standing losses (heat lost via the boiler casing and flue) and occurs within individual boilers.

Importantly, even the latest

boilers with modulating burners, sequencing and BMS control are likely to be suffering from boiler dry cycling.

Sabien’s M2G boiler load optimisation controls will ensure dry cycling is identified and prevented – delivering energy savings of between 10% and 25% with payback typically of less than two years.

Crucially, M2G is compatible with all BMS control strategies – unlike some other types of retrofit controls. For example, if the control lowers the boiler’s designed set point it will very likely cause conflicts with weather sequencing or BMS. It is important to understand how the boiler control delivers savings and its compatibility with existing and future BMS control upgrades.

Setting priorities

Some people argue that if you have set up and maintained your BMS correctly there is no point in additional measures. For the reasons explained above, this approach fails to take account of the various aspects of boiler performance that impact on overall energy consumption.

Clearly, if you have already invested in a BMS, and/or other controls, it is essential to ensure they are all working correctly and are maintained regularly. Then it is a matter of determining whether additional investment in other controls will deliver acceptable savings. With typical paybacks of less than two years the case for installing M2G is very strong.

It is equally important that any retrofit control technology being considered is going to deliver on its promises, and that the procedure for verifying energy, cost and carbon savings is clear, transparent and reflects consumption and costs saved. We recommend this should be in line with the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP).

For further information www.sabien-tech.co.uk

GAS & ELECTRICITY

How do FiTs and ROCs affect prices?

How are sustainable energy policies such as feed-in tariffs and the renewable obligation affecting business electric prices, asks Nick Linklater of ENER-G

F

eed-in Tariffs (FiTs) are charges on your electricity bill designed to supplement renewable energy production.

They were introduced on 1 April 2010 and are administered by Ofgem.

Who gets the money?

Small-scale renewable generators with less than 5MW declared net capacity.

Suppliers make the payments to each generator, but the full cost is borne by business users, via their electricity bill.

“

Combined with other energy policies, RO and FiTs are estimated to be adding about 15-21% to the average energy bill of a medium-sized company

What is the Renewables Obligation?

The Renewables Obligation (ROs) forces electricity suppliers to increase the proportion of renewablesourced energy that they supply to consumers.

It was introduced in 2002 and again is administered by Ofgem.

Who gets the money Accredited renewable energy generators are issued with Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs). They sell these to electricity suppliers. The electricity suppliers redeem them to prove that they have met their RO targets.

Business users pay this via their electricity bill.

Why were FiTs set up?

Feed-in Tariffs are designed to encourage households, communities and businesses to generate their own electricity on site, avoiding the need to purchase it from

18 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

a supplier. In many cases, they may even sell that energy back to the grid. The number of renewable installations registered under FiT as of 30 June 2013 was 398,509.

The total installed capacity registered under FiT as of 30 June 2013 was 1,919.34MW. Technologies that qualify for FiT funding Solar electricity (PV) (roof mounted or stand alone), wind turbines (building mounted or freestanding), hydroelectricity, anaerobic digesters and micro combined heat and power are technologies that qualify for FiT funding.

While FiT encourages small-scale renewable energy production, the Renewables Obligation incentivises largescale renewable electricity generation in the UK. The number of ROCs issued in 2011-12 was 34.8 million, while the renewable generation covered by RO was 31.0TWh and the increase over renewable generation covered in 2010 was 34%.

The percentage of electricity in the UK now coming from renewables under RO is 10%.

How does FiT affect the price I pay for my electricity?

The percentage of average electricity bill taken up by FiT is 3%.

Total FiT payments due to generators for the quarter 1 April to 30 June 2013 was £166m – most of these payments go to help people who have installed solar energy.

Solar PV as a percentage of installed renewable capacity is 88% while wind

as a percentage of installed renewable capacity is 8%.

The Renewable Obligation support cost will increase each year towards 2020, as the government continues to increase the amount of renewable energy produced in the UK. The percentage of average electricity bill taken up by ROs is 8%.

Combined with other energy policies, RO and FiTs are estimated to be adding about 15-21% to the average energy bill of a medium-sized company.

ENER-G has released a free eGuide to energy management, What to look for when checking your energy bills. Download it online to understand which charges and levies are applicable to your business and exactly which aspects of your bill you need to be checking thoroughly. we&e energ-group.com/energyprocurement-brokers

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ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Green by design Steve Spicer of Eaton explains why green product design is of importance and how to identify suppliers who are using it

W

ith the relentless pressure on businesses to be as ‘green’ as possible, today’s energy and facilities managers need to be more aware than ever of the impact their purchasing decisions can have. Ensuring the products they select for their facility have been designed with energy and environmental considerations in mind can help in meeting efficiency and corporate social responsibility goals.

One way of doing this is to source products from manufacturers and suppliers Increase in energy who subscribe efficiency EU’s 2020 to the concept By of green selecting Strategy aims to product design. products achieve The impact of from such product design on the suppliers, energy environment is an important and facilities managers consideration in the 21st can take advantage of similar century. In product and process benefits, not only on a practical design, for example, energy level but also from a business efficiency, the use of recycled perspective as new customers and recyclable materials, will potentially be attracted to and preventing pollution are the company as a result. Indeed, all factors to consider, with many experts believe that design decisions directly those companies that choose and indirectly determining high-quality, environmentally volumes of resource used friendly products will enjoy and ultimately a product’s an even larger competitive impact on the environment. advantage in the future. The Manufacturers which return on investment available recognise this and decide from purchasing green to take a green approach to technologies also proves the product design can benefit wisdom of this approach. in many ways, not only by It is also worth bearing in improving their own energy mind that in future, being efficiency and environmental green will be a necessity impact, but also by promoting rather than a choice. The EU’s the use of such approaches Europe 2020 strategy is a internally and externally 10-year plan proposed by the to encourage employee European Commission for and customer loyalty. advancement of the economy

Identifying green suppliers and products should not be difficult

20%

20 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

of the EU. Its goal is “smart, sustainable, inclusive growth’ with greater coordination of national and European policy, where the important points are sustainability and the environment. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% compared with 1990 levels, increase the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption to 20%, and achieve a 20% increase in energy efficiency.

Among recent developments is the European Resource Efficiency Platform, established at the end of 2012. Its objective is much broader and reaches beyond the topic of energy efficiency. The platform’s aim is to provide high-level guidance on the transition to a more resource-efficient and ultimately regenerative circular economy in the EU. A detailed set of short-term policy recommendations has already been published and, for example, calls for organisations

“

New technologies developed this way have resulted in products with the potential to reduce the CO2 emissions of applications by as much as 60%

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Sponsored column

to measure and report progress on their environmental performance, and help develop common methodologies for measuring the footprint of products and services.

Along with the economic reasons there is also another important human factor: exploitation of resources and manufacturing of products can have a potentially devastating impact on the habitat.

Businesses can affect how the world will look in the future and what kind of environment the next generation will live in.

Selecting products that have been developed specifically with this in mind can have a significant and positive impact on this outlook.

So what is green product design and how can energy and facilities managers recognise if their supplier is using this approach?

One of the key tools used by manufacturers for green product design is life cycle assessment (LCA). LCA is used to evaluate the potential environmental impact of a product or service throughout its life cycle: from raw material acquisition; through to production; through to use; and finally to end-of-life and disposal. The information it provides enables manufacturers to reduce the environmental impact of a product through waste reduction and resource consumption, as well as operating costs. LCA is considered comprehensive because it not only covers all relevant technical processes related to the function provided by the product or service, but it also takes into consideration the environmental impact of these processes from inputs, such as resource extraction, and outputs, like emissions.

The LCA methodological framework is also standardised by the International Standard Organisation (ISO 14040 series) and consists of four iterative phases. The impact of the product is analysed during these stages and considers

elements such as human health, ecosystem quality, climate change and resources.

Another life cycle-based tool used is Design for the Environment (DfE) which is often incorporated into the design process to reduce the environmental impact of products at every stage of their working life. DfE is a global programme which seeks to encourage improved product design in order to minimise health and environmental impacts.

Investment is also important to green product design.

Some manufacturers invest significantly in research and development of products and solutions specifically to help meet their customers’ needs for reduced energy use and emissions. Recent examples of new technologies developed this way have resulted in products with the potential to reduce the CO2 emissions of applications by as much as 60%.

Another important factor to look out for is the company’s overall approach to business and whether it is actively committed to environmental protection within its own operations. Does it, for example, promote a culture of sustainability that encourages every employee to ask the questions that lead to more sustainable processes and practices? A commitment to green product design is often best supported when a company has sustainability as a philosophy at every level of operations, every day.

With the above in mind, there is no doubt that sourcing the right products from manufacturers using green product design can help energy and facilities managers ensure their facility is as energy efficient and environmentally friendly as possible. And, by asking just a few informed questions, there is no reason for these suppliers and products to be difficult to identify. we&e eaton.com

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

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Four steps to effective energy management with ISO 50001 Martin Hockaday, environment and energy sector manager at NQA, reviews the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle of ISO 50001 and how it improves energy management The launch of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) has positively raised the profile of ISO 50001, the internationally recognised energy management systems standard.

While ISO 50001 has been acknowledged as an acceptable means of exemption from the regular assessment requirements of ESOS, its potential to add value and provide structure should not be overlooked.

More than a tick in the ESOS box, the standard is scalable to any organisation because it is based on the principle of continual improvement and built on the classic four-step cycle made famous

by Deming: Plan, Do, Check, Act. This simplified framework helps to cut through the complexities and provides a rational methodology for energy management.

The first step of “Planning”is reviewed in this brief overview of ISO 50001. We will return to “Do”, “Check” and “Act” in future issues.

Energy planning process When it comes to improving energy efficiency, there are many variables, solutions and implementation challenges – from technology to software to cultural change. The question of where to begin starts with a plan and ISO 50001provides an energy planning process. This naturally addresses inputs and outputs.

Inputs can be hard and soft and the standard requires all activities affecting energy performance to be considered and that the energy planning process is documented.

This wide scope ensures that a holistic approach is taken with the view to achieving long term improvements. Quick wins such as installation of energy efficient technologies are accounted for, but so are the less tangible elements of individual behaviour and culture change.

Some organisations, including Costa, have used ISO 50001 certification as a tool to communicate the importance of energy management and influence behavioural change with positive reinforcement. It is seen as an integral measure of success and an accolade that all staff contributed to.

Inputs Inputs including past and present energy uses must include hard data, which can be benchmarked and repeatedly measured to determine performance improvement. All these inputs contribute to the energy review element of the energy planning process.

Outputs The energy review process should provide clarity and guidance on what to prioritise and how to implement change. The key outputs must include an energy baseline, which is the critical reference point for performance improvement.

Appropriate performance indicators should be established and these can be as complex or simple as required – guidelines for these include energy consumption per time or per unit of production.

These are flexible to the unique challenges of the organisation.

Overall energy performance goals and action plans for implementation are also set as a key outcome of the energy review. These lead us directly into the second step of “Do”, which addresses implementation and operation of the energy management system.

In the next issue of we&e, we’ll review the “Do” step of the Deming cycle, focusing on the practicalities of implementing and operating the energy management system. If you can’t wait until then, you can get more information from our support team at info@nqa.com or nqa.com/enms

DEMAND RESPONSE

A response to cost savings A survey conducted by US-based Energy Research Council found that almost half of energy managers were unaware of demand response

T

he Energy Research Council (ERC) surveyed 1,254 middle-market companies to measure their interest level and best practices for reducing energy consumption. Two thirds (66%) of survey respondents said they were extremely or very interested in services that reduce energy consumption and costs.

One of the most widely available and effective ways to better manage electricity costs is demand response.

In its broadest definition, demand response provides middle-market companies the opportunity to receive financial incentives for voluntarily reducing electricity usage during peak demand times when electricity prices are highest.

Demand response programmes help to prevent

“

The findings show that more than one quarter of middlemarket companies are extremely or very interested in demand response; however, only 9% currently take advantage

blackouts, reduce demand on the grid and benefit the environment. Reducing electricity usage during peak demand times is important because older plants must go online to generate enough power to meet peak load.

These often old, dirty, and expensive to operate.

According to the Demand Response and Smart Grid Coalition, 100 hours of peak demand comprise 10-20% of annual electricity costs in the US. Demand response participation ERC survey findings show that more than one quarter (28%) of middle-market companies are extremely or very interested in demand response; however, only 9% currently take advantage of demand response programmes.

Large companies are much more likely than small or medium-sized companies to enroll in demand response programmes, partly because the amount of effort versus the potential savings is more appealing to larger operations.

A 2012 ERC survey of middle-market companies found that a significant barrier to demand response participation is lack of awareness and education.

Only 20% of the 2012 survey respondents said they were very or mostly familiar with demand response.

The majority reported they were only somewhat familiar (34%) or not at all familiar (46%) with demand response services.

Despite barriers to widespread participation in demand response programmes, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s 2012 State of the Markets Report notes a substantial increase in capacity enrolled in demand response programmes, rising from 3GW of capacity in 2007 to 12GW in 2012.

The report states that demand response programmes are becoming an increasingly important resource for grid operators during periods of system stress.

Best practices “Demand pesponse programmes are generally either incentive-based or timebased programmes,” explains Michael Payne, executive vice-president and corporate counsel for APPI Energy.

“Under incentive programmes, a utility or an »

22 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

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DEMAND RESPONSE and industrial end-users is programmes charge customers attractive,” says Mr Cozzi. different rates depending on the time of day that electricity Looking forward is consumed,” says Michael Smart grid technology will Cozzi, head of demand response greatly improve demand for Direct Energy Business. response and its ability to better “Examples of programmes manage electricity costs. Smart include time-of-use pricing, grids assign end-user contact critical peak pricing, real time points, through which the pricing, day ahead flow of electricity can pricing, and critical be automatically peak rebates.” controlled During and load critical problems can timeframes, The number of be identified, electricity energy managers not isolated, and use can also resolved. be reduced aware of demand For a smart according response grid to be truly to preplanned effective, it must load prioritisation interface with smart schemes. buildings and smart equipment.

“With the convergence Connected to a smart grid, of smart meter technology, smart buildings can respond automated demand response to peak demand events and technologies, smart load real-time electricity pricing. control device technologies Electricity consumption and attractive financial can be automatically incentives for client load adjusted depending on reduction, the timing and end-user preferences and value of demand response parameters. we&e programme opportunities to energyresearchcouncil.com middle-market commercial

»

46%

Interest levels in demand response

ISO (independent system operator) prompts customers to use control systems or manual operations to reduce electricity consumption during periods of peak demand in exchange for financial incentives or lower electricity bills.”

Customers typically reduce their electricity load by operating onsite generators, shutting down equipment,

adjusting HVAC or lighting, or changing operations from peak to off peak periods.

Incentive-based demand response programmes are most common and deliver the majority of energy savings.

“For those middle-market commercial and industrial end users that have the ability to modify their energy usage behaviour during different times of the day or week, time-based

Alpiq snaps up Flexitricity

S

wiss energy company Alpiq has acquired British company Flexitricity for an undisclosed sum.

Since launching in 2008, Flexitricity has been aggregating the electricity production and consumption of energy-intensive industrial, commercial and public sector companies. Flexitricity offers these electricity volumes to the transmission and distribution system operators as positive or negative reserves for ancillary services.

In Europe, Great Britain is the most developed market for demand response services.

Flexitricity pioneered this market sector and continues to lead it in terms of volume and technical capability.

The acquisition will give Alpiq access to specialised know-how and new markets in the area of decentralised energy management.

Demand management is gaining in importance due to higher, fluctuating electricity production from wind farms and photovoltaic systems. In essence, the idea is to make electricity demand more flexible and adaptable to fluctuating electricity supply.

If power has to be taken from the grid or electricity has to be fed to stabilise the grid, Flexitricity controls the connected power plants and machines directly via a secure internet line that connects to a virtual power plant. In doing so, the company stabilises the electricity grid, increases

24 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

With the purchase of Flexitricity, Alpiq gains access to knowhow and new markets in decentralised energy management supply security, and reduces CO2 emissions. In addition, Flexitricity optimises the consumption and production volumes of its clients in order to reduce their grid costs.

With the acquisition of Flexitricity, Alpiq has secured specialised know-how in

this growth area and a broad portfolio of long-term energy clients in Great Britain.

Alpiq plans to continue developing Flexitricity’s innovative solutions and transfer these to other countries. alpiq.com flexitricity.com

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VIEWPOINT

Shared wisdom can be a powerful tool With greater demands being placed on energy managers to save energy and money, sharing of ideas and experience can help find extra areas for efficiency improvements, suggests Richard Hipkiss

W

hile the energy efficiency message does at last seem to be getting through, the constant challenge of saving energy (and money) may seem like a losing battle to many hard-pressed businesses and public sector organisations.

Statistics show that – even given the severity of the recession – the UK’s GDP has risen by almost two-thirds (58% to be exact) since 2000, while energy intensity has actually fallen by 12%. Yet because of rising prices, few of us will have felt any benefit.

That increase in prices shows no sign of slowing down. With an agreed floor price for nuclear energy and a greater dependence on more expensive offshore rather than onshore renewables (if the latest policy statements from the current government become reality), further increases in energy prices seem to be built-in already. And that is before any volatility that results from political upheavals to the East of us.

Yet in the wider economic landscape, we have to compete against competitors from parts of the world with lower labour costs and differentlystructured societies. In such a global economy, the UK has to provide greater ‘value-added’ but without pricing itself out of the marketplace. That means efficiency savings in all areas are critical for success.

In such circumstances, energy is still one of the most likely sources of efficiency improvement

and cost reduction.

However, because technology in this area is advancing so rapidly – and policy is changing on a regular basis as well – energy efficiency is one of those areas that has to be constantly revisited. Even with a robust energy management regime in place which involves regular reviews of practice, new opportunities are constantly appearing and need to be evaluated.

Given the central role that ESTA has in bringing together different sectors of the energy management spectrum, as well as an advisory role on policy and regulation, we are very well-placed to horizon-scan about future developments, both in technology and in market structure.

And one of our core aims is to get that information to consumers in a form that they can use and apply in their own workplaces. Hence our focus on seminars and conferences at shows like Nemex and The Energy Event. There is a great deal happening on the energy scene and we hope that free-to-attend sessions like these help consumers to add to their existing knowledge.

The next series of events will be the regional conferences in June. The free, one-day seminars are entitled ‘energy – u|m|r’ (understand/manage/ reduce) and are being held at venues in Birmingham, Leeds and London (see box).

It was BT that came up with the slogan “It’s good to talk”. Talking, in the sense of sharing experience and discussing shared issues,

26 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

“

Even with a robust energy management regime in place which involves regular reviews of practice, new opportunities are constantly appearing and need to be evaluated

works in most industries and energy is no different from most. So at these shows, there is an accompanying exhibition which enables participants to talk directly to service and technology providers about their own specific circumstances.

And, of course, one of the major features of these events is the ability to network and compare notes with other individuals facing the same challenges (who may have some ideas on how to solve them too). More details on the ESTA website.

There is a huge reservoir of experience and knowledge in the energy management community. The ability to share it with others on a reciprocal basis helps all of us do our jobs better.

In a world where budgets are continually squeezed and there is greater pressure on managers to deliver savings, that shared expertise can be an extremely valuable resource. we&e Richard Hipkiss is chairman of the Energy Services and Technology Association. ESTA represents more than 100 major providers of energy management equipment and services across the UK esta.org.uk

energy u|m|r understand your energy portfolio manage your energy data and information reduce your energy costs and consumption Birmingham, Botanical Gardens, Thursday 12 June Leeds, Royal Armouries, Thursday 19 June London, Church House Westminster, Thursday 26 June

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VIEWPOINT

Security or sustainability?

Energy Managers Association CEO Lord Redesdale considers if sustainability is achievable if the lights are to stay on in Britain over the next decade

T

he last government committed Britain to become a low carbon economy but the uncertainty of political support and the failure to build renewable capacity quickly enough put into question whether we can go low carbon before we start losing fossil fuel plants.

The argument for a low carbon economy appeared to have been won with the passing of the Climate Change Act. However, aspirations and built generating capacity are not on track, mostly because of the cost involved.

One of the biggest internal debates in the coalition government has been over the importance of sustainability.

In a political system where ideological divisions seem to have often disappeared as the political parties have headed for the political centre ground, attitudes towards sustainability have led to quite heated disagreements.

The problem is that there is no clear definition of sustainability. In political terms, 20 years ago the term sustainability was mainly associated with third world debt. Over the psst 10 years, with increasing political emphasis on the need to combat climate change, sustainability is now clearly associated with the Climate Change Act and carbon emissions.

There has been a strong element within the Conservative Party that has objected to the need to limit carbon emission because of the effect it would have on competitiveness of British industry. Nonetheless,

the targets for emission reduction that have been reinforced through green taxes have been set to allow Britain to make the transition to a low carbon economy.

Wind turbines have been at the forefront of this debate. The objection to wind turbines on aesthetics grounds have been compounded by the heavy level of subsidy that has been needed to get a fledgling wind industry off the ground.

A far cheaper method of generation, through coal, will soon almost be eliminated from the generating mix due to emission profile and due to no coal power stations being built. This transition from coal to wind, on paper, should be feasible. However, the failure of the wind industry to reduce cost and the massive regulatory uncertainty over future financial support of wind has meant a major reduction in the amount of power wind will generate, as many projects have been put on hold.

There is a major problem coming down the line that the government, through regulation, has committed itself to a low carbon economy.

However, through a change in political outlook, and therefore less regulatory and financial support, we do not have the main tool in the toolbox to achieve this goal.

There has been an enormous amount of effort and financial underpinning of new nuclear built. However, instead of a fleet of new nuclear power stations the only major nuclear power plant that looks like coming on line is Hinckley Point C. This feels very much

28 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

“

like history repeating itself.

Sizewell B was meant to be the first of 13 reactors built but was the only one commissioned.

The revolution in shale gas in the US has led to the mistaken assumption that Britain will be able to meet its needs cheaply through fracking. It is quite possible that the gas is underground in the

It is ironic that a price market mechanism will probably do more to bring about behaviour change in our use of energy than many of the initiatives companies have signed up to in order to meet their corporate social responsibility agenda North West but may well be uneconomic to recover. What is the solution? Very simply we will just have to use less energy.

The tool that would be used over the next five years to reduce the energy over the peak times will be price, through variable tariffs.

It is ironic that a price market mechanism will probably do more to bring about behaviour change in our use of energy than many of the initiatives companies have signed up to in order to meet their corporate social responsibility agenda.

It is quite possible that the low carbon economy will be an economic necessity for companies who want to have a sustainable future. we&e Lord Redesdale established the Energy Managers Association in February 2012 and it now represents energy managers from companies with a collective energy spend of about ÂŁ3bn

theema.org.uk

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Sponsored column

Mike Nankivell, marketing director for the UK Daikin distributor Space Airconditioning plc, comments on recent developments with the F-Gas regulation review

F-Gas changes approaching – but what will they really mean?

The European Parliament recently approved the final text on revisions to the F-Gas regulation by a significant majority, endorsing political agreement reached at the end of 2013. The final stage in the process, prior to the text being published in the Official Journal, was for the Council of Ministers to give their approval. This took place on the 14 April. Numerous statements and press releases have been published welcoming the final “rubber stamp” and the signals it sends about “commitments to tackle climate change”.

But what do we really know about what this will mean for technicians involved in installing, servicing and maintaining equipment containing or designed to contain F-Gas refrigerants? There remains quite a lot of detail to be resolved, in spite of political agreement having been reached.

We know that the phase-down in the supply of HFC refrigerants will begin in 2016/17, reducing availability in stages until 2030 when HFCs or F-Gases will be capped at 21% of 20092012 volumes. The allocation mechanism for supply quotas still needs to be clarified. Refrigerant suppliers are uncertain about the quantities they will each be able to put on the market. This is a real priority for legislators to ensure that the phase down is achieved successfully. Restrictions in supply over time will of course lead to increased prices, but it is worth remembering that recycled refrigerants will also be available and that a supply virgin HFC refrigerant will continue to be available even after 2030.

On training and certification those countries, like the UK, where qualifications have been in place for some time, will not need retraining and reassessment for those holding certificates that have no expiry dates. However, anyone undergoing training after 1 January 2015 will need

to learn and be tested on the changed F-Gas requirements and this will include “information” on alternative refrigerants, although the form and depth of that information is still to be defined.

There will be changes in how F-Gas systems are labelled, on how you work out which systems require less frequent leak checking and which more; on who can purchase HFC refrigerant or equipment designed to contain HFC refrigerant and most critically there will be a series of fairly complicated bans introduced on the use of certain higher GWP HFC refrigerants in certain applications. But there is still some clarification awaited from Europe on certain definitions, and on how exemptions might be obtained, that mean introducing all these new requirements by 1 January 2015 will be something of a challenge. The Commission is known to be drafting guidance on interpretation.

UK Industry representatives have recently taken part in meetings with Defra officials who will be drafting GB enforcing regulations over the coming months. The first included a wide spectrum of companies in the stationary RAC and HP sector and the second smaller meeting looked at how industry and government will work together to help disseminate information about changes.

The first step in this information and dissemination programme was a Defra organised stakeholder meeting held on 14 April in London – coincidentally the same day that the European Council of Ministers approved the text currently working its way through the European legislative system.

HVAC

Efficiencies from maintenance Planned HVAC maintenance can minimise energy consumption from commercial buildings. But how can facilities managers improve the efficiency of their maintenance regime? Rob Vickers, service manager ventilation at Service4Chillers, offers some practical advice

W

e all know the importance of a good HVAC system to our buildings. Maintaining the right temperature and providing proper ventilation is hugely important in keeping employees comfortable and productive, as well as ensuring that office IT equipment runs as efficiently as possible. But the HVAC services within a building have a massive impact on running costs.

According to the Carbon Trust, heating and hot water can account for 60% of a building’s total energy use. Meanwhile, air conditioning can increase a building’s energy consumption and associated carbon emissions by up to 100%, and unnecessary or inefficient ventilation can account for about 30% of heat loss in most commercial buildings.

Keeping the HVAC services operating at their optimum efficiency is, therefore, a prime FM objective.

Air conditioning and ventilation plant left unchecked will increase the likelihood of filters getting blocked, chiller coils getting clogged and general wear and tear going unnoticed. As these problems increase, so equipment needs to work harder to maintain the same output levels. The result is that chillers, air handling units and fans are working

less efficiently and, ultimately, costing much more to run.

At the same time, we are all under pressure to reduce cost.

We demand from our suppliers the most efficient and effective products and services that they can possibly provide to benefit our business. When it comes to cost cutting measures, some FMs may be tempted to reduce the maintenance schedules for HVAC equipment from four times a year to two and, in some cases, to just once a year. But this approach is clearly a false economy.

The air conditioning and ventilation equipment within your building is specialist plant that demands specialist attention to ensure it performs as effectively and as economically as possible.

The processes of supplying, conditioning and extracting air are also inextricably connected in the vast majority of commercial buildings.

The efficient performance of the ventilation system

“

Reducing the maintenance schedules for HVAC equipment from four times a year to two or once is a false economy

30 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

It makes sense to choose one dedicated maintenance company

has a major impact on the efficient performance of the air conditioning system, and vice versa.

So, rather than employing a dedicated maintenance company for chiller service and another to look after the ventilation, it makes perfect sense to choose one provider, with the specialist engineering skills required to service and maintain the two together.

Specialist knowledge and expertise is a key factor. It is important to check that your maintenance provider carries ISO9001:2008 and ISO14001 certification. CHAS, Safe Contractor and Construction Line accreditations should also be a given. Ensure too that the engineers coming to site are fully trained in REFCOM refrigerant handling and management, and have attained REFCOM F-Gas certification.

They will then be able to check that air conditioning systems comply fully with industry F-Gas legislation and take the necessary steps to maintain chillers at design operating levels for maximum energy efficient performance.

Your chosen supplier should also be able to ensure that the ventilation system complies with the latest health, safety, environmental and building regulations. They can also make certain that the equipment in the building

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offers the required charge rates and filtration quality.

Regular inspection, servicing, repair, cleaning and routine maintenance to keep the system operating at peak efficiency can also be carried out.

From a commercial point of view, having one supplier come in and service everything together will reduce your service and maintenance costs.

If one company can come to site and service the ventilation and chiller plant in one visit, then it will also minimise the potential downtime and disruption associated with such visits. It will ensure a joinedup approach for services that are themselves connected.

With engineers on site at the same time to maintain and service air conditioning and ventilation, any related or connected problems or issues can be resolved immediately.

As fuel bills continue to rise, so energy efficiency remains a top priority for FMs. Investing in exceptional HVAC service and maintenance is an important component in any energy reduction strategy. That said, time and cost efficiencies can be made, especially in the related areas of air conditioning and ventilation plant maintenance.

Consolidation here makes practical sense and very good business sense, too. we&e service4chillers.co.uk

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

31

HVAC Conversion for Sanofi’s energy centre A five-year extension of Sanofi’s service contract with energy services provider Dalkia for the pharmaceutical company’s Holmes Chapel manufacturing site in Cheshire widens Dalkia’s delivery of energy services, including the conversion of Sanofi’s steam boiler plant to INDG 436 and BG01 enhanced arrangement 3 standard.

Dalkia’s initial contract to service the site’s energy plant over a period of four years has recently been extended by a further five years. The new contract includes the conversion of the existing steam boiler plant in compliance with INDG436, the Health and Safety Executive guidance document for the “Safe management of industrial steam and hot water boilers” that was published along with the “Guidance on the Safe Operation of Boilers” framework (BG01) in 2011.

The renewed contract includes the full servicing of the 725kWe Cogenco CHP installed during the previous agreement term, the operation of the steam raising plant and compressed air plant with mobile labour as well as operational checks and maintenance of the effluent treatment plant. Importantly, the plant’s control system has been updated, comprising the installation of new controls, monitoring and alarm equipment on site. These are linked to Dalkia’s 24/7 Site Monitoring Centre where technical difficulties are detected at the outset so as to prevent operational interruptions. Round-the-clock emergency response is an integral part of the service.

Dalkia operations manager Mike Robertson explains: “Among other safety devices we have installed a chemical dosing storage tank, TDS monitoring, feed water hardness monitoring and alarm as well as fire and gas detection and alarm. The smooth running of the facility is also a decisive factor in achieving its optimum performance, saving the Holmes Chapel site 1,150 tonnes of CO2 per year.” dalkia.co.uk

Digital burner control for energy efficiency GP Burners has launched a digital burner control and variable speed drive (VSD) conversion initiative. Under the programme, the company’s extensive range of analogue controlled gas-fired burners may be retrofitted with a digital conversion package and VSD. The digital burner controller regulates the frequency of the power supply to the VSD, which in turn controls the rotational speed of the burner’s fan motor. This is particularly appropriate for low fire regimes, providing greater control of air flow when the fan motor speed is slowed and the gas intake is reduced for low load operations. The conversion can deliver an improvement in the ratio of maximum burner output to minimum burner output (turn down ratio) of 6:1.

The company claims that the retrofit is capable of fuel savings of between 3% and 6%, dependent upon the existing control. The digital conversion provides for precise actuator positioning and repeatability, with the digital servomotor accurate to 0.1 degree of rotation, for more efficient combustion systems.

The conversion also reduces fan motor power consumption by up to 50% for further energy savings. The reduction in burner on/ off cycling and the fact that there are no linkages on the digital servomotors result in is less wear and tear, contributing to longer component life cycles.

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HVAC

Grounds for optimism GI Energy is helping the iconic Siemens Urban Sustainability Centre in London’s Docklands to cut carbon emissions and running costs with a renewable heating and cooling system that exploits the earth’s ability to store heat underground

T

he eye-catching glass Visitors to the centre will building at Royal experience ground source Victoria Docks in heating and cooling first-hand London is designed to be a flagship centre of sustainability and in keeping with the building’s green credentials, the ground source energy system installed in it by GI Energy is highly energy efficient.

Indeed, it is now exceeding expectations and its performance is testament to GI Energy’s dedicated engineers, who spent many weeks fineTotal amounts of tuning the cooling and heating GI Energy, About 100,000 visitors a operation of loops extracts heat from year are expected to flock to the system the surrounding ground. said: “The provided by the the stunning glass building to optimise For cooling, the system Siemens system with its unusual shape, its efficiency. is used in reverse.

Urban featuring two interlocking One of the At the Siemens Urban Sustainability triangles, that lies in challenges they faced Sustainability Centre some Centre is shining a view of the O2 dome. was the fact that the two of the earth loops – 160 in spotlight on energy efficiency heat pumps at the heart of total – were buried within in urban design so we are The ground source energy the ground source energy the foundations of the delighted at how well the system provides 614kW system were among the first building itself. In addition ground source energy system of heating and 614kW of of their kind and behaved there is operating now. differently from more “While there were initial The ground source energy system conventional heat pumps. teething problems, the These ‘simultaneous heat ground source energy is now so energy efficient that it is pumps’ can, as their name system is now so energy exceeding the client’s expectations suggests, provide both heating efficient that it is exceeding and cooling at the same time, the client’s expectations. unlike conventional pumps to these energy piles there “All of the thousands of cooling, which is sufficient that can only perform one of were also 39 boreholes sunk visitors – from school children to heat the whole building. the two functions at a time. to a depth of 150 metres. to post graduate students – There are back up electric Unsatisfied with the initial The centre highlights a range who will go to the centre to chillers to provide additional performance of the system, of sustainable practices which, learn about sustainable living air conditioning if necessary.

GI Energy spent more than besides ground source energy will experience this truly Ground source energy eight weeks trouble-shooting systems, include: rainwater renewable form of heating systems work by extracting and making improvements harvesting; solar water and cooling first-hand.” heat from the earth. to the computerised control heating; solar photovoltaic; Such is the confidence of They comprise a network systems for the heat pumps. natural ventilation; sustainable Siemens in the expertise of GI of underground pipes, Chris Reilly, director of drainage; water-efficient that GI Managed Services now called earth loops, which GI Managed Services, the landscaping; and high has the contract to maintain are connected to a series consultancy, commissioning performance glazing. we&e and service the ground of heat pumps. Liquid and maintenance division of gienergy.net source energy system there. pumped through the earth

614kW

“

34 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

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Tel: 01535 665225 Email: service@byworth.co.uk Web: www.byworth.co.uk

HVAC Taking care of energy worries When BUPA needed to refurbish the heating and domestic hot water system at Altham Court in Lincoln, one of its residential and nursing homes for elderly residents, the property development team turned to Baxi Commercial to discuss its latest product range in order to select replacement equipment.

Existing heating equipment in need of replacement due to age comprised two 80kW boilers and four direct-fired gas water heaters. After reviewing the various options available, it was decided to install a new Potterton Commercial 150kW combination boiler specially designed to reduce energy consumption in care homes, schools and other similar applications.

Since the installation of the new plant in December 2012, BUPA has recorded an 11% saving in both energy costs and carbon over a six month period and these savings have been made despite the colder weather in 2013 compared with the previous year, notably in

March, which was the coldest for 40 years.

The Potterton Commercial iHE 150kW boiler was installed

by Trinity Heatcare of Sutton Coldfield, in a new plant room, located on the ground floor, which made the unit’s low noise feature a particular benefit in this instance.

Installed in an unvented system, the boiler was fitted with a vertical flue. The model supplied has a capacity of 150kW with a net efficiency of 105.3% at 50°C flow and 30°C return. Its integral hot water tank has a capacity of 300 litres and a recovery rate of 2,240 litres per hour through a temperature rise of 50°C. The new heating system serves the care home’s 48 bedrooms as well as communal areas, kitchen and office accommodation, with a total of 65 radiators and 55 DHW outlets. As well as the new boiler, new primary distribution pipework was also installed.

Available in 100kW and 150kW outputs, the

Daikin Europe launches Multi-ZEAS range Daikin Europe has launched a new range of Multi-ZEAS units, which deliver the higher capacities required for larger supermarkets, food storage and processing plants, while reducing energy consumption by 35%, compared with traditional refrigeration systems.

The new high capacity Multi-ZEAS system comprises two 15HP units or two 20HP units. It offers the perfect solution for multiple refrigeration needs in supermarkets and for applications with fluctuating loads and high energy efficiency requirements, such as blast coolers and freezers, cold storage, food outlets and restaurants.

Multi-ZEAS provides a superior solution to the traditional rack systems typically used for larger capacities, because the ‘plug and play’ units can be connected easily – in master and slave combination – so piping is reduced and installation time is much quicker. The units do not need to be installed in a plant room, so retail space is maximised.

Daikin products are distributed in the UK by Daikin Airconditioning UK, a wholly owned subsidiary of Daikin Europe NV, and Space Airconditioning, the largest independent Daikin distributor. daikin.eu

36 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

iHE commercial high efficiency condensing combination boilers produce space heating and hot water from a cascade of heat engines and a tank, enclosed within a single casing. Features include stainless steel heat exchanger and storage vessel construction, low NOx (Class 5), low noise of 49 dB(A), high DHW recovery rates and builtin redundancy. They also have thermoplastic low loss headers, a highly insulated storage vessel and factory fitted relief valves.

The iHE’s fully modulating premix burner modules have cascading intelligent controls with a turn-down ratio of 15:1. The control platform is able to provide outdoor weather compensation, built-in frost protection, hot water priority and anti-legionella function for the stored DHW, as well as providing the facility for remote monitoring, as used in this installation. pottertoncommercial.co.uk

Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon Response quietly delivers high pressure efficiency The new Lo-Carbon Response from Vent-Axia is a discreet, near silent, continuous running, constant volume dMEV solution.

Designed for both new build and the social housing sector, the SAP Appendix Q listed Response is ideal for both kitchen and bathroom applications. Providing excellent pressure while still maintaining high energy efficiency, the Response features an innovative digital display that confirms airflow and system pressure of the installed product.

Since the introduction of the new Domestic Ventilation Compliance Guide with Part F 2010, there is a requirement to test the installed airflow of extract fans. As a result, installers are required to run tests with an airflow measuring device, such as a vane anemometer. However, with the Response there is no need to run these tests since the fan’s digital display (patent pending) provides the calibrated installed airflow and pressure of the installation.

The dMEV Response’ constant volume technology provides optimum performance automatically adjusting the speed of the fan to ensure that the desired airflow is delivered.

The Response’ new high pressure silent axial impellor enables the fan to not only develop great installed performance over duct runs, but to do this in the most energy efficient way.

For social housing, the Response features another attraction, a Datalogger, which records whether a fan is active or idle. If a fan has been switched off and mould appears, the landlord will realise why and can discuss a solution with tenants. This helps landlords make homes safer for tenants by helping to avoid condensation and mould which can lead to respiratory problems and allergies. vent-axia.com

theenergyst.com

The limits of plausibility Vilnis Vesma debunks exaggerated claims for boiler water treatments

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ust how big a saving is it possible to achieve with a product that improves heat transfer in a ‘wet’ heating system (one which uses circulating water to feed radiators, heater batteries or convectors)?

Suspect products claiming to reduce losses through water treatment are prevalent, making claims Saving achievable in the range through good of 10-20%. It standing is possible to losses maintenance show the plausible from the upper is of the boiler casing order of 7% (achievable and associated through good routine pipework and fittings; maintenance anyway). sensible heat loss in the To work this out we first exhaust gases, the energy break the system into its two that was needed to elevate major components: the heating the temperature of the dry boiler (which in reality may products of combustion (ie be two or more plumbed in excluding latent heat); parallel) and the building, latent heat losses, the which represents the heat load. energy implicitly used in Firstly, if the heating in the converting water to vapour building is maintaining the in the exhaust (it is this required temperatures, the heat which is recovered in thermal load which it presents a condensing boiler); or to the boiler will not be affected unburned fuel (carbon by internal heat transfer monoxide or soot). coefficients. If heat transfer in Standing heat loss is sensitive the heat emitters is impeded, only to the extent the external then either the circulating surface temperature of the water temperature will rise or boiler might differ with and control valves will be open for without water-side scaling. a greater percentage of time in Such losses would only be order to deliver the required about 2% of the boiler’s rated heat output, or both. Either way, output in the first place. the net heat delivered is the Latent heat losses would same. So water treatments will not be affected because they not affect the heat demanded are solely a function of the from the boiler; their only quantity of water vapour in the effect will be to improve the exhaust, and that is fixed by efficiency with which the boiler the chemistry of combustion, converts fuel into useful heat. and in particular the amount Let us consider how this of hydrogen in the fuel. can be done, thinking about Unburned fuel losses will the routes by which energy is not be affected either. They are lost in the boiler, which are: determined by the effectiveness

7%

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of burner maintenance in terms of air/fuel ratio and how well the fuel is mixed with the combustion air.

That just leaves sensible heat losses. Two things can cause higher-than necessary sensible heat loss. One is to have excessive volumes of air fed through the combustion process, and the other is having a higher-than-necessary exhaust gas temperature. Excess air is self-evidently totally unrelated to poor water-side heat transfer, but high exhaust temperatures will definitely occur if the heat transfer surfaces are dirty or scaled up. With impaired heat transfer the boiler cannot absorb as much of the heat of combustion as it should, or to look at it a different way, higher combustion-product temperatures are needed to overcome the thermal resistance.

Elevated stack temperature, then, is the only significant symptom of water-side scaling.

So how high could that temperature go, and what are the implications? Most people would agree that an exhaust temperature of 250°C or more would be highly exceptional and values of 130°C to 200°C more typical. Now let us suppose for the sake of argument that the exhaust gases in a

reasonably well-maintained boiler contain 4% residual oxygen in the exhaust and have a temperature of 130°C, with (to make it realistic) 200 parts per million of carbon monoxide. The stack losses under these conditions will be: 4.2% sensible heat in dry flue gases; 11.2% enthalpy of water vapour; 0.1% unburned gases.

This leaves a net 84.5% as ‘useful’ heat but we should deduct a further 2% for standing losses, giving 82.5% overall thermal efficiency as our benchmark.

Now let’s suppose that the same boiler had badly fouled heat transfer surfaces, raising the exhaust temperature to 300°C – way in excess of what one might normally expect to encounter.

Under these conditions the stack losses become: 10.4% sensible heat in dry flue gas; 12.7% enthalpy of water vapour; 0.1% unburned gases.

So we now have only 76.9% ‘useful’ heat which, after again deducting 2% standing losses, means an overall efficiency of 74.9%, compared with the 82.5% benchmark. The difference in efficiency between the dirty and clean conditions is: (82.5 - 74.9) / 82.5 = 6.8%; and this figure of about 7% is the most, therefore, that one could plausibly claim as the effect of descaling a heating system whose boilers are otherwise clean and reasonably well-tuned. we&e Vilnis Vesma (vilnis@vesma. com) is an energy consultant and trainer who provides free energy-management advice vesma.com

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

37

DRIVES & MOTORS

Driving a 20% cut in energy A Welsh manufacturer of water fittings and valves is benefiting from a significant energy saving following the installation of an ABB IP21 variable-speed drive

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tlantic Plastics of Bridgend, South Wales, part of the Talis Group, makes fittings for water utilities and the distribution market, including boundary boxes for domestic properties. All injection moulding for the company’s products is done on site using 36 machines.

Gary James, engineering manager for the plant, says: “We are trying to become greener and cut energy use and had identified our two 400-tonne injection moulding machines as energy intensive.”

Mr James approached ABB authorised value provider APDS for a solution. “APDS recommended an ABB variable-speed drive which had the reliability and robustness we needed,” he said.

APDS investigated the injection moulding machines, which rely on hydraulic pumps to generate energy to move

their mechanical parts. The hydraulic pump is powered from an electric induction motor, chosen for low purchase cost, efficiency, ruggedness and low maintenance. This motor ran at a fixed speed but for most of the cycle time the machine operations did not need all the oil delivered by the pump. Any excess oil volume was returned back to the oil reservoir, wasting the energy used to pump it.

An investigation showed that the existing direct-on-line installation used 25.3kW. APDS installed a trial drive at the site to measure the actual demand required and match the flow to this demand.

This drive drew 10.5kW, giving an average hourly saving of £1.28 in electricity costs. These readings were confirmed by Atlantic Plastic using its own power meter.

Alan Jones of APDS says: “The flow was gradually

reduced on the ‘on load’ and ‘off load’ parts of the cycle. The drive was set up to run at two separate speeds, which were selected automatically by the drive monitoring the torque demand on the motor. When this dropped off, indicating the end of the pressurising cycle, we reduced the speed of the motor to 42Hz using the relay built into the drive.

“An alternative method would have been to use a pressure transducer to measure the oil pressure and control the motor speed accordingly, but this would have entailed some fairly major alterations to the hydraulics of the

Efficiency increases from IE4 to IE5 WEG has launched an IE5 permanent-magnet motor with even lower losses than its predecessor, the W22 Super Premium induction motor.

With a rated efficiency of 96.6% and lower losses than IE4 motors, they are

among the first commercially available motors that conform to the recently formulated criteria for a potential IE5 energy efficiency class.

With the launch of the W22 Super Premium family of induction motors in late 2012, WEG was among the first to offer a full range of motors conforming to the asyet unratified IE4 standard.

Another WEG innovation is the upgraded W22x series of explosion-proof motors, which are now available in IE4 versions on request as well as standard IE2 and

38 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

IE3 efficiency classes.

For mechanical and plant engineering firms, it is time for action because EU Motor Efficiency Regulation EC 640/2009 stipulates that, starting in 2015 or 2017, IE3 induction motors, or alternatively IE2 motors driven by frequency converters, must be used in most industrial applications. Users can comply with the regulations by opting for a high-performance W22 IE2 motor in combination with a frequency converter in the CFW 11 or CFW 11M series, or by opting for the direct

machine. Using the abilities of the ABB drive meant we avoided the time and expense that this would entail.”

Also the cycle time of the moulding machine, which is 113 seconds, was unaffected by the reduction in the flow rate on the ‘on load’ and ‘off load’ parts of the cycle.

ABB’s IP21 drive is supplied in a floor-mounted steel enclosure. Because it is on the shop floor, the enclosure provides extra protection for the drive from collision with vehicles and the moving parts of other machinery.

Mr James aded: “The payback was about 12 months.

For any investment we make we look for a payback of under two years, so we are very pleased with the results of the project. We intend to put similar solutions on the remaining 35 injection moulding machines.” we&e abb.com approach of a W22 motor with an IE3 or IE4 rating.

Highly energy-aware enterprises can now go even further and choose the new permanent-magnet motor, which has significantly lower losses than the Super Premium model and conforms to the specifications of the potential IE5 regulation.

Special applications such as explosion protection have been exempt from the efficiency regulations.

On its own initiative, WEG resolved to give users the option for maximum energy efficiency in this demanding area area as well. we&e weg.net

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LIGHTING

Notre Dame in a new light Philips Lighting is illuminating the interior of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral with LEDs that better showcase the building’s Gothic finery

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hilips is placing LED technology at the service of 850 years of history, paying tribute to the architecture of Notre Dame, Paris’ Gothic masterpiece. A total of more than 400 luminaires have been used, with an installed capacity of just 30kW, compared with almost 140kW previously – reducing energy consumption by 80%.

With this new LED technology, the light appears to emanate from the stone, with the luminaires displaying the building while themselves remaining inconspicuous.

The lighting reveals the details of renowned works of art such as the Virgin and Child. This statue, which was moved to Notre Dame in 1818, is the most famous of the 37 representations of the Virgin that the cathedral contains.

Today the profile spots redefine the characters while at the same time shining a gentle light onto the sculpture and the white

The LEDs are virtually invisible to vistors

flowers laid out at her feet.

The north and south rose windows, which were made in the 13th century and symbolise the flowers of paradise, have also been highlighted.

Positioned above the north and south doors, more than 50 meters from the rose windows, two completely invisible 250W spotlights direct their beams onto each rose window, revealing the delicacy of the sculptures. This lighting gives the impression that the stained-glass

Why LED lighting?

T Lower energy consumption: the 400 luminaires used have an installed capacity of just 30kW, compared with almost 140kW previously. The consumption of the lights in the nave, for example, has been reduced to a fifth of what it was.

T A luminous efficacy far greater than that provided by conventional sources and instant ignition.

T A longer lifespan of the installation: about 13 years for 10 hours of lighting a day (switching on and off does not affect the lamps’ lifespan).

T A reduction in maintenance costs: for example, the lights have LED flame lamps that reduce the number of maintenancerelated operations (scaffolding and moving furniture), while at the same time cutting energy consumption by 80%.

T Dynamic lighting that makes it possible to adjust the atmosphere of the site according to the religious or cultural activity (change of intensity and colour).

40 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

window itself is radiating light, without altering the monument’s exterior appearance, since the light is only visible on the inside.

Religious and cultural role “The cathedral has two roles: a religious one; and a cultural one, with religious ceremonies, visits (almost 14 million visitors in 2013) and concerts. The new lighting was therefore designed to allow different atmospheres to be created depending on these activities,” explains Armand Zadikian, the project’s lighting designer.

Mr Zadikian was able to retain areas of half-light, to play upon the contrasts and to create effects of white tones. In order to integrate the lighting with the building and make the LED luminaires virtually invisible to visitors, he also worked in close collaboration with Architectes des Bâtiments de France, the official French architects body.

Specifically designed by Benoit Ferré, the resident bishop’s architect (European Architecture Company, EUROGIP), the major innovation of this project

is the creation of a spinal column, horizontal, flexible and easily accessible. This technical column extends for three hundred meters, the length of the triforium.

The 400 luminaires are operated by means of a computerised system, with a touch screen to simplify control. The system contains several lighting programs and Notre Dame’s manager can add more if required.

Almost all of the luminaires are dimmable, making it possible to modify the lighting according to the event taking place, the time of day or the season. we&e lighting.philips.co.uk

Profile spots shine a gentle light onto renowned works of art

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Z-LYNK is streets ahead Energy Assets’ Z-LYNK control technology is being used to remotely manage street lighting across the Square Mile, offering a new level of flexibility

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treet lighting engineers will be able to dim and turn on or off their LED estate remotely, instantaneously and on demand, thanks to an integrated luminaire receiver developed

by Energy Assets as part of its Z-LYNK control technology.

The system is already being used in the City of London, enabling Corporation engineers to dim LED street lighting in real time via a web browser. Each receiver is programmable via near field communication (NFC) to respond to up to 10 different command settings, bringing a new level of flexibility to lighting levels and zonal control.

What enables Z-LYNK to deliver instantaneous response is the use of power line communication architecture that sends command signals over the electricity network.

The system was used to dim the lights around St Paul’s

This enables any switchable device to be controlled – in the case of the City of London, it has selected the system to manage street lighting across the Square Mile and around iconic buildings such as St Paul’s Cathedral.

Energy Assets director of strategic development Kenny Cameron says: “Integrating a dimming receiver within luminaires will offer local authority engineers a new level

LED Eco Lights’ 4,000 installations milestone Since its inception in 2006, Camberley-based LED Eco Lights has grown rapidly and has recently completed its 4,000th UK installation. Goodlight retrofit LED lights offer a long lifespan, low power consumption and can provide dramatic cost savings. In fact, the company is so confident of the difference its LED lamps will make that it quotes a payback time of as little as 12 months. The company also offers free lighting audits to identify where companies can save money.

Energy efficient lighting is accepted as delivering the quickest results when companies are looking at carbon reduction initiatives. The fact that it is a very visible change, and delivers significant savings, makes it one of the most important areas to consider. Lighting typically accounts for up to 25% of a building’s energy consumption so the opportunity to reduce this by up to 85% in carbon and costs is very compelling.

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of control and flexibility over their lighting estate. The control provided by Z-LYNK and its receiver technology augments the power consumption and CO2 benefits inherent in LEDs by enabling lighting to be managed dynamically, in line with traffic conditions, light levels or special events.”

Z-LYNK works by broadcasting command messages seamlessly from the 11KV distribution network,

downstream via the 415V system to individual 13A sockets. In the street lighting market, it can operate in all urban environments because it does not suffer from the effect of ‘urban canyons’, where buildings disrupt radio communication.

The technology was used recently to control the lights around St Paul’s as part of Earth Hour. we&e energyassets.co.uk

Goodlight retrofit lighting can simply be installed into existing fittings – as simple as replacing a bulb. The lamps have no starter or control gear, making them virtually maintenance-free.

The Goodlight range switches on instantly, thereby making it an ideal partner to presence detection sensors, and provides excellent colour-rendering. All Goodlight products covered by a comprehensive five years premium guarantee.

Goodlight retrofit LED lamps can replace tubes, spotlights, CFL PL lamps, 2D lamps, SONS, metal halides and floodlights to cut energy consumption, reduce costs and ensure compliance with the requirements of the CRC scheme. Goodlight tubes typically consume about 70% less energy than normal fluorescent tubes. There’s no reduction in lux levels either – they’re actually increased in some cases. And, as they will last up to 50,000 hours, their lifespan is at least five times that of the fluorescent option.

LED Eco Lights’ co-founder Saima Shafi says: “We are delighted to have reached the 4,000 installations milestone with demand for Goodlight LED at an all time high. We are now looking forward to doubling that figure before our 10th anniversary in two years’ time. We’ve put in a lot of hard work over the last eight years in developing our product range and growing our technical expertise. As a result it has delivered savings in excess of £22m.” ledecolights.com

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

41

LIGHTING

LED-ing the way LED lighting brings significant benefits in terms of energy, carbon and lifecycle costs but it is important to understand how this technology differs from more familiar light sources. David Scott of b,a,g, Electronics explains

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nyone who has been involved in managing a lighting installation or specifying lighting equipment will be aware that there have been significant changes in lighting products in the past few years. Not that change in lighting technologies is anything new, but the recent – and very welcome – change to wider use of LED light sources is particularly profound.

Furthermore, it is a change that both building operators and specifiers need to understand properly if their expectations are to be fully realised.

This can be clearly illustrated by considering the recessed and surfacemounted modular fluorescent luminaires that are commonly used in offices and many other applications.

Historically, the changes in this area have been driven by developments in fluorescent lighting and control gear.

Years ago T12 tubes with magnetic chokes were the norm and over time the lamps improved with T8 and T5 linear fluorescent as well as compact fluorescent versions.

In parallel, the control gear changed from magnetic to

that time – in this example 80% after 50,000 hours. The ‘B’ refers to the predicted failure rate – so B10 denotes a 10% mortality rate during those 50,000 hours.

However, the term ‘mortality’ is important here because it denotes any LED’s that fail to deliver 80% of initial light output. That could mean they The energy consumed are still giving

by LED light sources 75%, or they could have gone that is converted out altogether.

by LED light to light Given that some sources is manufacturers converted to light, quote L80 B50 (ie a the rest is dissipated 50% ‘failure’ rate) this has as heat. This is highly important implications for significant because just a 5 what building occupiers can degree increase in temperature expect from their lighting, and can reduce the light output the warranty that goes with it. of the lamp by 50%, while Clearly the luminaire also shortening its life. manufacturers are aware of Thermal management these issues and can take steps is therefore a critical to address them. Sourcing consideration in the design of high quality LED modules luminaires that are using LED and drivers that have been light sources and something thoroughly tested is essential that the manufacturers need to ensure minimal failure to be quizzed about when rates. Similarly, incorporating specifying this type of fitting. efficient thermal management Efficient thermal management in the design of the luminaire is certainly possible if the will maintain the LEDs manufacturer is aware of and drivers at optimum its importance, but there operating temperature. are some manufacturers However, as with all that have retained the old new technologies, some ‘fluorescent mindset’. manufacturers are better than The other factor to be aware others at understanding and of is the longevity of the LED addressing these issues. For modules, as the way this is the building operator, the key expressed can be confusing. is to ask the right questions For example, an LED light of the supplier, and hope they source may be given a life of supply the right answers. If 50,000 hours at L80, B10. The they don’t, it will probably pay ‘L’ refers to the percentage to look further afield. we&e of the original light output megamanuk.com/bag that will be delivered after

25%

electronic, bringing improved efficiency and lamp life.

So there were certainly changes in the technology but these were evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

LED light sources in these applications are a whole new ball game, because LEDs have very distinct characteristics that differ markedly from the more familiar fluorescent lamps – particularly in terms of their thermal management and longevity. Not that readers should be deterred from using this technology – far from it – but it’s important to be aware of the differences.

One thing that few people realise is that only around 25% of the energy consumed

42 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

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LIGHTING

Brighter way to energy savings Switching away from outdated, inefficient lighting is one of the most effective ways of saving energy. Russell Fletcher of Harvard Engineering illustrates how choosing the right LED solution can enhance lighting performance while making savings

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bout 40% of an average building’s electricity bill is spent on lighting.

Making a change to LED lighting, one of the world’s most rapidly advancing technologies, used in conjunction with cuttingedge controls, can reduce that amount by as much as 80%.

LEDs last longer, are more durable, and offer comparable or better light quality than other types of lighting. While LED efficiency has increased by a factor of 10 since 2000, the new generation of LEDs illuminate rapidly and can be easily dimmed.

Unlike fluorescent light bulbs or tubes, their efficiency is not affected by shape or size, and they emit light in a specific direction, making them up to eight times more efficient. In addition, they remain cool, focusing energy on light rather than heat radiation. Using them makes unarguable sense.

LEDs do not, however, operate alone. LED drivers are the dedicated control gear which ensure the provision of a steady power output to

the fixtures and it is the LED driver that determines the quality of control performance.

Each lighting solution requires its own driver design.

SARAR leading the way with LEDs Fashion retailer SARAR recently benefitted from the energy savings and high performance offered by new LED technology when opening its new flagship store on Germany’s most prestigious shopping street, the Konigsallee in Dusseldorf.

The solution, powered by Harvard’s market-leading range of CoolLED drivers, has provided a sophisticated and flexible scheme, fitting for the luxurious brand.

Wall lights from Soberg Lystek were installed along with Bridgelux BXRA 4000 LED lights, powered by Harvard Engineering’s innovative CLQ LED drivers.

This innovative technology gives SARAR comprehensive control over the flexible lighting installation, with the retailer able to set different lux levels across the boutique to highlight the different

SARAR’s flagship boutique uses 21.4kWh, offering a total saving of ¤16,000 per year compared with conventional lighting

44 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

Microsoft was surprised to find that 75% of the 600 desks, which occupied about 60% of the premises, were not regularly in use

product ranges. The use of LED lighting also helps to protect the delicate fabrics in the SARAR range, as unlike conventional lighting it does not produce UV rays.

The overall performance of the new lighting system installed in SARAR’s flagship boutique is 21.4kWh, offering a potential total saving of 16,000 per year when compared with conventional lighting.

This is an annual saving of 28 tonnes of CO2, firmly establishing the company’s environmental credentials.

Style meets efficiency Energy efficient lighting has also enhanced Microsoft’s Stockholm office, which recently won the accolade of being named Sweden’s most stylish office. Planning to commission a full refurbishment of the office, Microsoft first surveyed exactly how it was being used. It was surprised to find that 75% of the 600 desks, which occupied about 60% of the premises, were not regularly in use.

The company took the radical decision to replace

the desktop areas with 1,800 alternative kinds of working spaces, ranging from sofas to small clusters of tables, so that employees can choose the setting that best suits their mood and task, thereby releasing 30% of space for other purposes, and the lighting needed to reflect this.

These new informal working areas encourage creative thinking, aided by imaginative colour schemes and so the lighting needs to be flexible. Rebel Light worked with lighting designer Ronnie Eckervig to choose Lucifer Lighting Company’s sleek and discreet recessed EDL62ZP downlights. These meet the challenge imposed by the building’s low ceilings and incorporate up to 42° manual tilt, good glare control and dimming to maximise flexibility and energy savings.

The lights are driven by 33W CoolLED DALI drivers from Harvard, which offer intelligent programmable digital dimming and an energy efficient lighting solution that will contribute significantly to Microsoft’s energy savings. we&e harvardeng.com

theenergyst.com

Seeing light differently There are clear benefits to using LED lighting in exterior applications but it’s important to understand how LEDs differ from traditional light sources, explainsTerry Dean

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n the past few years, LED lighting has evolved at a considerable rate, bringing the benefits of improved efficiency, higher light outputs and longer life.

A further advantage is that they are highly controllable, compared with many other light sources. As a result, their specification for outdoor lighting projects is growing.

However, LED light sources are very different from the high intensity discharge (HID) lamps traditionally used in such applications – such as high pressure sodium and metal halide light sources. To gain the maximum benefit from LED lighting, therefore, specifiers and end users need to understand these differences.

One of the most important factors is that there can be considerable variation between LED light sources from different manufacturers, so it’s important to be clear about what light output to expect.

Energy efficiency Traditionally, if you referred to the power consumption of a lamp – say, a 70W SON lamp – you would have a pretty good idea of what light output to expect and how often the lamps would need to be replaced. A 70W SON lamp from one manufacturer is very similar to that from another manufacturer. Therefore the light output and lamp life are also very similar and most of the added value comes from the expertise of the luminaire manufacturers in maximising light output ratios (LORs) and optimising light distribution.

With LEDs, the power consumption is no longer a

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LEDs at higher currents (eg 1,000mA) to make use of the available capacity of the light source – efficiency and cost-effectiveness, to name but two motivating factors.

Driving LEDs at higher currents does however result The unused capacity in higher heat of some modern generation, is possible to so it is have an LED LEDs important to luminaire with a ensure specified lower lumen output luminaires incorporate and lower installed load good thermal management. than another LED luminaire, This should include an yet deliver more useful lumens. efficient heat sink to maximise conduction of heat away Drive carefully from the LED chips, as well Another issue is the drive as effective airflows through current that is used with the luminaire and use of the LEDs. Early LEDs were surfaces and coatings that designed to run with a drive facilitate radiation of heat current of 350mA as, broadly away from the luminaire. speaking, this achieved the It is also important to select peak of the linear relationship luminaires that are easy to between current and lumen upgrade to newer sources as output. Above 350mA the and when efficacy improves and efficiency of these early ensure that you are purchasing LEDs tailed off significantly from a reputable manufacturer (the droop characteristic). (that will still be around in However, modern LEDs years to come to deliver that are able to operate at much upgrade). There are significant higher drive currents and the benefits to dealing with a relationship between lumen well-established manufacturer output and drive current is that has experience of the almost linear above 350mA technical issues relating to – without the droop. In fact, exterior lighting as well as the with some modern LEDs, only specific criteria that govern 23% of the capacity is being LED performance. LED exterior used at 350mA. Which means lighting has to withstand a that 77% of the LED’s capacity rigorous environment that is remains unused. Running a only fully understood by those modern LED at a low current companies with experience is like racing Le-Mans 24 in in designing luminaires for a performance sports car at these applications. we&e 5mph and never changing out Terry Dean is managing of 1st gear: unused potential. director of DW Windsor Consequently, there are very dwwindsor.com good reasons to drive modern LEDs are increasingly being specified for outdoor applications

77%

useful indicator of the lumen output. In fact, this can vary considerably between manufacturers, so thinking just in terms of lumens and LORs is not helpful when specifying LED lighting.

A far more meaningful criterion is ‘useful lumens’, as this gives a clearer indication of the lighting performance that can be expected.

One reason for this is that LED light sources are inherently directional sources, offering better optical control than traditional sources like fluorescent and metal halide lamps. This allows properly designed LED luminaires to direct light where it is needed, efficiently achieving desired illumination levels and uniformity. As a result, it

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

45

LIGHTING Rapid control for One Southampton Street

CP Electronics’ Rapid system has been specified for use within One Southampton Street, a newly refurbished office development in the heart of London’s Covent Garden. Rapid was specified for its flexibility, as the system can be easily incorporated into any building design and can be configured to control specific rooms, floors or an entire multi-floor building. The lighting control has played a large part in the building being granted a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating.

The One Southampton Street project included the refurbishment of eight office floors averaging 3,400 sq ft set as mainly open plan office space, a new entrance and reception area along with the relocation of new plant areas.

The Rapid system is fully addressable and networkable with an easy to use graphical user interface. Rapid’s modular controls are networked together on each floor while multifloor layouts are linked together using Rapid Area Controllers. At Southampton Street, the Rapid system connects to CP’s light level sensors, which allows for further energy savings to be achieved as the daylight supplements the light levels within the office space and adjusts light levels accordingly.

Rapid has also provided scene setting within the building. cpelectronics.co.uk

Energy-efficient solution for Bunzl

Lutterworth Ecolighting has installed a new energy-efficient lighting solution for Bunzl Catering Supplies at the company’s new warehouse at Birch Coppice Business Park in Tamworth. Bunzl Catering Supplies is a leading distributor of catering disposables, food packaging and hygiene products. Its new warehouse in Tamworth is 165,000 sq ft and required a lighting system that is compliant with new building regulations.

A new bus bar and lighting distribution board were installed along with 180 Rackmaster fittings with 73W energy saver lamps and 42 Industrial Hi-saver fittings, both with a combination of switching and dimming sensors to maximise savings.

Bunzl established a target energy consumption figure of 1.8W per square metre per 100 lux to ensure the most efficient building. With Lutterworth Ecolighting’s system, a 1.37W rating per 100 lux has been achieved, exceeding Bunzl’s expectations. The system is low maintenance and provides long-term energy savings. ecolightinguk.com

46 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

LED GU10s give restaurant a cool vibe LED GU10 lamps from Megaman UK are being used to great effect at The Caravan Restaurant in the heart of London’s King’s Cross.

Installed as an alternative to the original 50W halogen lighting, the GU10s provide a much cooler running temperature while reducing the running costs.

Caravan is a coffee roastery, restaurant and bar open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner and situated in a restored Victorian grain store.

Martin Williams of Lamps2udirect.com worked closely with the restaurant to conduct an energy survey of the building. His brief was to suggest alternative lamps of the same size as the old halogen lamps that fit into the existing fittings while reducing running costs. Another requirement specified by the restaurant was excellent dimming

capabilities to enable the overall ambience could be changed for the evening covers.

Following a review of available lamps on the market, it was agreed that Megaman’s 6W LED GU10s in a warm white would fit the bill perfectly.

Part of Megaman’s Professional Series, the LED GU10s offer high performance and low maintenance costs as the lamps provide a long life of up to 50,000 hours. Following installation of the GU10 lamps at Caravan, the energy calculations have shown a saving of 6,468kW, which equates to 3,519kg of CO2 and approx £1,000 per annum. megamanuk.com

Tailored lighting control Delmatic is supplying a lighting management system for the new Commodity Quay development at St Katherine Docks in London.

The system uses a range of products to ensure the lighting control is tailored to the needs of each space.

Commodity Quay provides more than 180,000 sq ft of office and leisure space in a waterside marina environment close to Tower Bridge. The eight-storey building provides Category A office space, along with a range of amenities, all within a sustainable design to minimise the environmental impact of operating the building.

The system controls, manages and monitors lighting throughout the building. Lighting in tenant office areas, reception and landlord’s core areas uses DALI addressable luminaires linked to a central control system through DALI Buswire and DALI plug-in modules. In office areas, the control strategy combines presence and absence detection with daylight dimming in perimeters zones. Presence detection is also used in the landlord’s and toilet core areas to provide demand-controlled lighting.

Lighting in the reception and entrance areas is controlled by Dali scene-setting modules and panels, so that different lighting scenes and ambiences can be selected. The Delmatic system also provides Dali monitoring of emergency lighting throughout landlord’s areas. delmatic.com

theenergyst.com

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Become an energy expert Taking a proactive approach to energy management is vital if public and commercial organisations are to run their operations in the most cost and energy efficient way

T

o maximise carbon savings – and meet increasing regulatory requirements concerning carbon emissions – more and more businesses are calling on the expertise of professional energy managers to fulfil their commitments and streamline energy use.

For those wishing to expand their skillset to capitalise on the growing demand for energy experts, e-learning can provide a simple and accessible solution, explains Jixing Shen from Schneider Electric Ecobusiness.

Over the past decade, energy efficiency has worked its way into the very heart of public and commercial business practice. Legislation increasingly dictates that organisations consider their energy use more carefully, while rising gas and electricity costs provides additional motivation for efficiency as spiralling energy bills impact the bottom line.

Energy management can be particularly complex, especially where organisations are split over multiple sites, and deciding on what efficiency measures will deliver the best returns on investment can be a daunting task. This is where the expertise of someone with a professional energy management qualification can be instrumental in helping transform an operation’s energy use.

For those interested in expanding their portfolio to offer energy management services, there are courses available online – such as

theenergyst.com

“

Deciding on what efficiency measures will deliver the best returns on investment can be a daunting task

identifying efficiency opportunities; prioritising opportunities through qualification data; and assembling the resources needed to define, sell, and implement an efficiency solution. Once the learning phase has been completed, examinations can be taken online to demonstrate The number of competency people through and earn official Schneider certification.

Electric’s the Energy Completing Professional University an online energy Energy management Manager (PEM) qualification can help busy certification, which is professionals to expand their delivered through the Energy skill sets, improve career University learning platform prospects and promote – that can help you gain solutions that encourage all the skills and expertise organisations to become more needed. Designed to fit easily efficient and sustainable. around professional work As businesses strive commitments, online learning to manage their energy offers flexible class schedules, resources better, there is free tuition and a self-paced increasing demand for curriculum that can reduce the this expertise, and with a programme learning length. minimal commitment to Some people remain training energy professionals sceptical of the credibility can put themselves in a of online learning, but with position to capitalise. the Energy University’s PEM Since its introduction in programme, for example, the 2009, Energy University has course has been developed provided industry-leading, with the acclaimed Institute vendor-neutral energy of Energy Professionals (IEP), efficiency education to more the longest running energy than 130,000 professionals education programme in the worldwide. The programme US. With PEM, energy-focused offers more than 150 courses. individuals can earn a highly The new PEM certification marketable and respected programme represents credential in the growing another Energy University field of energy management. opportunity through With an online energy which efficiency-minded management study course, individuals can become you will learn about a range energy champions. we&e of common energy related schneider-electric.com topics. These could include:

130k

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

47

COMPRESSED AIR

Pushing for better efficiency Atlas Copco Compressors’ AIRnet piping system is being enhanced with the addition of the Pre Fit (PF) Series, a family of products that are pre-torqued for push-together assembly

A

tlas Copco’s pushefficient in the way it delivers together PF Series clean compressed air, as well AIRnet piping is as nitrogen gas and vacuum available in 20mm to functions. The pipes and 50mm sizes, does not require connections are resistant to heavy tools and reduces corrosion, mechanical shocks installation time by up to 85%. and thermal variations, while Building on the success of minimising pressure drop the existing AIRnet range, and leaks thanks to lowthe PF Series uses the same friction surfaces and seamless lightweight and durable fittings. This ensures a longer aluminium piping, together lifespan, reduces stress upon with aluminium and polymer the compressor unit itself fittings, to make installation and protects the downstream simpler. Being five times lighter manufacturing process. than conventional AIRnet’s low-friction galvanised steel surfaces and piping and seamless fittings avoiding the significantly need to have reduce the cumbersome total cost of Additional energy threading, ownership by used by a compressor delivering air welding and lathe more efficiently. following a 1 bar machines on James pressure drop site for fitting, Houseman, the PF Series can product specialist at be installed by a single Atlas Copco Compressors, technician, reducing labour says: “Piping is often overlooked costs by as much as 20%. as a component but can have a The PF series, manufactured huge influence on the efficiency, within Atlas Copco’s new performance and lifespan of an production facility in Belgium, air system. A company may have offers the same benefits to a highly efficient compressor, the end-user as the rest of the but its performance can be AIRnet range, being highly undermined without a strong

7%

The PF Series can be installed by a single technician

48 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

system of piping. For example, a pressure drop of just one bar requires the compressor to use seven percent more energy.

That’s why we urge customers to consider not just the compressor but the complete system.

“The new AIRnet range is designed and manufactured

“

there are torque indicators to provide a visible assurance of accuracy and safety.

Included in the PF series are the 40mm and 50mm diameter sizes, with the 20mm and 25mm due to have PF fittings by mid-2014.

The 63mm, 80mm, 100mm

Piping can have a huge influence on the efficiency, performance and lifespan of an air system

to remove any concerns about corrosion, leakages or loss of pressure. Yet having such an advanced solution does not mean extra work for installers; in fact, it is quite the opposite because AIRnet has unique features to speed up and simplify the installation process. There’s no need for the threading and welding machines that had to be carried around in the past.

In this way, both end-users and installers can benefit from the new AIRnet range.”

Installers follow a simple five-step process to assemble the PF Series: cut; debur; mark; lubricate; and push.

Once the piping is connected,

and proposed 158mm sizes will retain a classic fitting.

An advantage of the AIRnet range is that the classic and PF fittings are interchangeable, while the new Adaptor Union kit allows connectivity with an existing BSP/NPT threaded system. Additionally, the breadth of pressures the PF series allows has been expanded, from a minimum of 0.013 bar to 16 bar, compared with 0.13 to 13 bar in the classic range. Similarly, the temperature range has been expanded in the PF series, which means the piping can be operational from -20°C to 80°C, compared with -4°C to 70°C. The wide scope of requirements that can be met by the PF series is further extended with the availability of an optional conductivity strip for ATEX applications in hazardous environments, which is the first of its kind in the market.

To help with design and quoting for a new system, the AIRnet support tools provide calculations of pressure drop and an automated list of required products. The reliability of the AIRnet range is backed by a 10-year guarantee. we&e atlascopco.co.uk/airnet

theenergyst.com

COMPRESSED AIR Hi-line Industries refrigerant air dryers supplied with free filter housings Manufacturer Hi-line Industries is running a product promotional offer for any of its Tundra model refrigerant air

dryers purchased during May. Each dryer is supplied as standard with both an inlet three micron particulate pre-filter, together with an outlet filter for oil removal at 0.1 micron, providing the dryer internal heat exchanger protection as well as maintaining the downstream air quality.

During May any Tundra dryer product purchased will be supplied with free filter housings complete with filter elements for the model of dryer purchased, which could represent a saving of up to ÂŁ1,850 for its largest Tundra unit, which has an air flow throughput of 1,605 scfm.

The offer covers the full 16 models in it Tundra ex-stock range.

New general manager for Beko Technologies Martin Potter has joined Beko Technologies to take up the role of general manager. He has extensive sales and marketing management experience in the fields of pneumatics, drives and controls, transportation, process and automotive.

Mr Potter has a strong track record of achieving growth by the development of strategies, processes and high performing teams. Recent positions include sales and marketing director at Phoenix Contact for five years and national field sales manager at SMC for 13 years.

Beko Technologies is a compressed air processing specialist which works with many compressor companies as well as dealers and blue chip end-user customers.

On joining Beko Technologies

Mr Potter has an ambition to make it a trusted partner, supplying the industry with optimised compressed air processing and measuring technology.

beko-technologies.co.uk

hilineindustries.com

50 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

theenergyst.com

The new GA VSD+ is smart, efficient, quiet.

The highs and lows of specifying compressed air Andy Jones, general manager at Mattei, explains the importance of using standard and low pressure systems appropriately

I

ncorrectly specified equipment is short-changing compressed air users on the performance, cost and energy saving potential of their compressors.

To maximise efficiencies, compressors should be fit for purpose and closely specified to meet the end user’s needs – but regrettably it is all too common to find standard industrial compressors (those capable of producing 8-13 bar) being used for low pressure duties.

We often find compressors rated at 10 bar and above working in a system that only requires 6 or 7 bar pressure; this is a very inefficient way to operate a compressed air system, as every one bar increase in pressure increases energy consumption by approximately 7%. Also if a compressor’s output is too big for the application, there will be negative implications with regards to the equipment’s performance and the running and maintenance costs. Equally, there will be issues if the output is too low.

Therefore, specifiers need to take the time to fully understand the compressed air needs of their customers and all the options available before recommending equipment.

The ISO 11011 framework for the assessment and auditing of compressed air systems is a good place to start.

Standard compressors are by no means a one size fits all solution. It’s important to remember that low pressure compressors can be used for a range of applications (where compressed air usage is under 4 barG). They are highly appropriate for many

“

Standard compressors are by no means a one size fits all solution applications, yet are often overlooked in the specification process because, unfortunately, industry awareness of them and their capabilities is limited.

In some applications, there may be no requirement to compress air at all – the process may only call for something to be moved from A to B. A good example is the transportation of bulk materials in the food, construction and synthetics industries. This is where a blower might be the ideal solution. Designed to deliver high volumes of air at low pressure in an oil-free design, there are positive displacement rotary lobe machines, low pressure single stage screw compressors and new ‘hybrid screw-blowers’ (designed to discharge at pressures around 1.5 barG or lower in an energy efficient way) on the market.

By becoming more aware of the full range of compressors and blowers on the market, specifiers can better ensure their customers are using the correct type of equipment. This will in turn maximise the energy and cost savings achievable. we&e mattei.co.uk

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

51

Small compressor, big ideas Atlas Copco has taken a huge leap in compressor technology.

The GA VSD+ is an oil-injected, rotary screw compressor with Variable Speed Drive technology that brings unprecedented benefits to the general industry. √ The biggest innovation in small compressors in 20 years √ New Atlas Copco IE4 motor technology √ Increased energy savings - 50% on average √ Canopy size 55% smaller through innovative vertical design √ Running quieter than ever at 62 dB(A) √ A 12% leap in Free Air Delivery (FAD) For more information please visit: www.atlascopco.com/gavsdplus

Atlas Copco Compressors

Atlas Copco Ltd Swallowdale Lane Hemel Hempstead Herts HP2 7EA Phone: 0800 181085 Fax: 01442 234791 E-mail: compressor.sales@uk.atlascopco.com www.atlascopco.co.uk

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Blowing in the wind Kevin Parslow, CEO of Evance Wind Turbines, explains how onsite renewables can save a business money and provide security of supply

M

ost businesses require substantial amounts of electricity to operate their facilities, whether it is lighting a warehouse or factory, or operating industrial chillers, machinery or water treatment works.

So with electricity costs having doubled over the past 10 years and more increases predicted companies are under continued pressure to look at energy efficiency, now and for the future.

Generating renewable energy on site using a small-scale solution is how some have significantly reduced operational costs.

We are already supporting a wide range of companies, which have invested in our British made small wind turbines.

Being small and discreet means that our R9000 developments are easier to gain planning consent and can be installed quickly – typically within six to nine months, so all within a financial year. This has led to multiple turbines being

An Evance R9000 small wind turbine at a rail depot

Two Evance turbines in operation at a Scottish Water facility

installed on sites with high energy needs, as this small-scale wind power solution can be deployed quickly at much lower risk than large-scale turbines.

It really is about “making assets work better”, whether the asset is a piece of land or a building.

We find that many businesses do not realise that to gain the benefits of a small wind turbine the site does not need an extensive area of land. For example, thousands of water treatment plants are in open locations with good wind resource but are very small – typically 0.05 hectares. Several of these now have multiple R9000 turbines operating.

Similarly, several rail facilities have our turbines installed, even though land at a station or depot is very limited. Also, as the R9000 is small, it suits many remote locations where access is difficult – we have several turbines deployed on remote radar and communication stations.

Producing renewable energy on site for use on site means reduced energy costs – as less electricity is purchased from the national grid – therefore operational

52 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

costs are reduced. This helps a business manage the cost of manufacturing a product or delivering a service, while operating more sustainably.

Also for the future of a business, investing in renewable energy gives the security of knowing there is protection against rising energy costs – once small wind turbines are installed the cost of that green electricity is fixed for 20 years.

For what is a small investment, small wind can deliver a high return. As well as reducing operational expenses, there is an income from the Feed-in Tariff, which is index linked for 20 years.

Also, all renewable energy generation helps a business reduce carbon emissions and therefore climate change levy.

Some businesses have hundreds, if not thousands, of facilities that can be over a large geographic area. For example, Scottish Water has more than 2,000 treatment works/assets which require

“

450GWh of energy per year.

Many of these sites are suitable for harnessing wind power and to date we have installed turbines at 11 separate Scottish Water facilities, including: 10 R9000 small-scale wind turbines operating at Scottish Water’s wastewater treatment works on the Isle of Lewis, which have produced more than 173,000kWh since being commissioned at the end of May 2013; three R9000 turbines at the clean water treatment works on Stronsay, Orkney, which will generate enough electricity for nearly an 80% reduction in the energy costs of running the facility; and nine Evance turbines installed at water works on the Isles of Skye and Raasay, which will generate nearly 50% of the electricity needed to operate these facilities.

Currently we have more sites awaiting planning consent and are surveying others to determine the viability and potential energy generation of small wind, as Scottish Water continues to work towards generating more of its own energy where it is needed.

It is an exciting period for us as more businesses are looking at onsite small-scale energy solutions – small wind, solar PV or a combination of both.

We have recently completed a number of pre-assessments and are now undertaking a number of pilot schemes. we&e evancewind.com

Once small wind turbines are installed the cost of that green electricity is fixed for 20 years theenergyst.com

ENERGY PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY

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RENEWABLE ENERGY

Airport powers up and up London Southend Airport has demonstrated its commitment to self-generation with the largest ever installation of solar panels at a British airport

B

ritain’s largest solar installation to date at an airport has been completed at Stobart Group’s London Southend Airport as part of a £10m terminal expansion

by Kier Construction.

The expanded terminal’s range of shops, cafés and restaurants will be supplied by 496 solar panels, providing clean electricity for decades to come via the airport’s private electricity network.

The new solar system was installed on the terminal’s curved tunnel-shaped roof

by Reading-based Photon Energy, with panels supplied

by Conergy, one of the world’s leading PV solution and service providers.

The panels are expected to help the terminal achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’

environmental assessment rating, and to avoid about 1,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions over the next 20 years.

London Southend Airport operations director David Lister said: “We are delighted to add the provision of clean solar electricity to a range of ‘green’ initiatives we’ve introduced as the terminal has developed. Environmentally friendly initiatives are very important to us and the whole building has been designed to incorporate a number of them, including sustainable drainage,

specialist coating to improve insulation, extensive glazing to enhance natural lighting and slow-start escalators.”

Photon Energy managing director Jonathan Bates commented: “Solar is Britain’s favourite renewable energy and it’s great London Southend Airport has shown its commitment to self-generation.

You can’t necessarily see the panels from the ground but millions of people will get a bird’s eye view of them as they take off or come in to land.

“Airport terminals are great places for solar

as they have a lot of roofspace and large daytime electricity consumption.”

Conergy UK & Ireland managing director Robert Goss added: “The recent flooding and heavy rain are a reminder of why the buildings we put up today should consider the climate of tomorrow and produce as much zerocarbon energy as possible.

“The British solar industry can easily turn otherwise unused rooftops into minipower stations, reducing demand on the grid and the need to import and burn coal or gas. Public and private sector organisations across the country should look at London Southend Airport and work out how they too can produce and consume their own clean electricity.” we&e conergy.co.uk

35°C) and a impressive CoP of 2.7 at air 2°C, water 55°C. It includes market-leading Copeland Scroll compressor technology, intelligent heat recovery and is designed with MIS3005 in mind – which means there is no

need to oversize systems.

Simple to use controls with up to four heating zones provide easy operation.

To help installers, A-Class comes in a range of prepackaged options, specified for both new build and existing homes, with everything needed for a quick and hassle-free installation. Packages include the new Dimplex EC-Eau Smart hot water cylinders, Dimplex SmartRad low temperature radiators and high-performance solar thermal panels for complete renewable solutions.

A-Class is initially available in 12kW and 16kW models suited for larger homes, with smaller, lower kW models planned for later this year. dimplexrenewables

A-class of its own Made in the UK and Dimplex Renewables has designed to maximise launched A-Class, the next year-round heating system generation of air source heat efficiency in a UK climate, pumps capable of delivering it is fully operational at full heat output at air temperatures as low temperatures down as -15°C and to -7°C and a outperforms the maximum flow Heat Emitter temperature Guide with a of 65°C. maximum flow With the CoP of the air temperature long-awaited source heat pump of 65°C – launch of unlike many the domestic at industry heat pumps RHI, A-Class standards that can only is packed with heat water to 55°C. features which A-Class also offers optimise system impressive CoPs including efficiency and reduce running 4.7 at the industry standard costs to add commercial testing level (air 7°C, water value for installers.

4.7

54 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

theenergyst.com

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THE ENERGY EVENT

Something of an education Energy for Education’ managing director John Edwards talks about the challenges of helping UK schools to lower their energy costs

E

nergy for Education is a not-for-profit cooperative with a simple mission: to help UK schools reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint.

We know from attending a variety of education events over the past few months that those responsible for energy bills in school are often overwhelmed, confused and frustrated by the avalanche of information and options available and

would give anything for some clarity and simplicity.

We understand that, and it is part of the reason why we set up E4E in the first place. As a not-for-profit organisation, our focus is on providing simple help and advice which can really make a difference.

We provide a ‘one stop shop’ to deliver a holistic approach to saving energy using our OJEU-compliant approved partner framework to help schools.

At E4E we work on the basis that collaborative procurement is the best way to achieve maximum savings.

Planning for the future Energy prices are only going

at the school market because that’s where our expertise lies.

We know the peak hours for schools in terms of Times more it costs energy usage to get electricity to are during the day, so we you between 4pm look for deals and 7pm which provide the best market prices to suit their timetable.

We encourage schools to think about a holistic energy strategy and then help them to find the right contract to maximise their savings.

to go up and we expect them to continue to rise for the foreseeable future – by 2020 most schools’ electricity bills could be double what they are today. In order to tackle this schools need to start to plan and to take action to mitigate these price rises. Procurement is the first step on this path.

However, to make a real impact this needs to be supported by energy efficiency measure, changes in behaviour and onsite generation.

Timing is key It really helps if you can get into a regime of winding down power usage after 4pm, as after this time electricity prices shoot up – typically it costs 14 times more to get the electricity to you between 4pm and 7pm than it does for the rest of the day.

However, you can only benefit from this if you are on a contract that separates out these costs. If you are part of a more general procurement basket it can have the opposite effect, as you end up subsidising businesses that run their operations much later in the day.

Our approach Our collaborative procurement baskets are aimed specifically

56 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

14

“

By being proactive now, schools can take a number of small steps to help them on their way

Enabling change In the early stages of setting up E4E we made the decision that it was important to enable schools to have membership of the co-op – it’s not compulsory to be able to take advantage of our services – as this ensures that they are at the heart of everything we do. We don’t have shareholders or investors demanding large profits; we are simply working for the benefit of the schools community to help them prepare for an uncertain energy future.

Unfortunately, there is no one magic switch to safeguard yourself from rising energy costs but, by being proactive now, schools can take a number of small steps to help them on their way. Surely that’s a lesson worth learning. we&e John Edwards will be speaking at The Energy Event, which takes place from 16 to 17 September at the NEC Birmingham. theenergyevent.com energyforeducation.coop

theenergyst.com

200 Clients / 100,000 meters / 8 TWh

for our Leadership Team Please Email your CV to recruitment@systems-link.com

Head of Sales

Senior Developer

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

A star role for meters Carlo Gavazzi panel-mounted energy meters have been installed in a major upgrade of the electrical supply and distribution infrastructure within the studio complex at Pinewood, resulting in improved billing accuracy and day-by-day load management

T

he TV and movie business is powerhungry – literally.

With stages covering about 26,000m², the Pinewood Studios complex in Buckinghamshire has a massive appetite for electrical energy and as one of the world’s leading destinations for makers of film, television, commercials and video games, has seen growing demand for its services.

Each project is more challenging in terms of lighting and electrical equipment.

Increased use of Chroma key (green/blue screen) techniques in particular puts a heavy strain on lighting power.

There is also an ongoing commitment to reducing environmental impact throughout the worldwide Pinewood Group. It buys all its electricity supplies through a ‘Green tariff ’; what is more, the studio’s electricity consumption is matched by generating an equal amount of renewable energy – from wind farms, hydro-electric projects or biomass plants –which is fed back into the national grid. At Pinewood itself, this is supplemented by new solar photovoltaic installations. It all helps to reduce CO2 emissions and make the studios more sustainable.

For these reasons, Pinewood initiated a programme of improvements to its electrical distribution infrastructure, with new switchboards commissioned to boost the power and high-voltage capacity of larger stages in the Buckinghamshire complex.

Increasing a stage’s capability from 800A to 4800A, for

The automatic meter reading system records energy usage on Pinewood’s stages 24 hours a day

example, would reduce the need for productions to bring in auxiliary generator sets, instead using the mains power supply with its Green tariff.

Switchboard specifications were developed in collaboration with panel manufacturer Underwoods Engineered Products.

In this case, Pinewood’s requirement for fiscal billing and sub-metering meant there was only one option for energy meters to be installed in the new switchboards – EM26-96 meters from Carlo Gavazzi.

Pinewood needs to charge its clients accurately for the energy they use and these were the only 96x96 DIN panel meters on the market to offer compliance with the EU Measuring Instruments Directive requirements, says Carlo Gavazzi. The EM26 is designated Class 1 to European standard EN62053-21, Class

“

If consumption has been unusually high we can identify anomalies in the AMR records

58 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

B to EN50470-3 and Class 2 according to EN6205323. With labels and seals fitted, the meters are fully MID certified so meet all EU national metering approvals pertaining to electricity meters, such as Ofgem in the UK. Pinewood had previously retrofitted the EM26 meter to existing panels, so there are the additional benefits of interchangeability and compatibility.

Whether retrofits or installed in new switchboards, the meters’ pulse outputs are sent to the studios’ recently implemented automatic meter reading (AMR) system, which replaced manual records, freeing up two full-time members of staff for other tasks. The AMR system records energy usage on Pinewood stages 24 hours a day, and has proved invaluable in resolving issues over electricity charges.

Stuart Toole, electrical projects manager for the Pinewood Group, says: “Clients have become used to getting lower energy bills from us, so if consumption has been unusually high we can identify anomalies in the AMR records.

For example, we can identify

when studio lights have been left on inadvertently or kettles switched on out-of-hours.

It’s completely transparent and MID compliance guarantees accuracy for everyone involved.”

EM26-96 energy meters provide comprehensive measurements of three-phase parameters and are suitable for active and reactive energy metering as well as for cost allocation applications. A comprehensive range of system and single-phase variable measurements is provided, along with monitoring harmonic analysis up to the 15th harmonic. Accuracy is ±0.5% RDG (current/voltage); results are displayed on a large clear LCD with a four-digit variables readout, 7+1 digit for the energy analyser and a 6+2 digit hour counter.

A dual-colour backlight automatically changes colour to provide a visual alert in case of alarm conditions.

Mr Toole says: “The clear voltage and current readings on the EM26 display can help lighting gaffers manage their power load more effectively.” we&e carlogavazzi.co.uk

theenergyst.com

Protecting critical energy supplies Ensuring electricity supplies can be managed and maintained effectively is a key factor when planning distribution systems for critical infrastructure, says Don Innis

F

or all organisations where electricity supplies are critical, for instance in hospitals or airports, effective planning of electricity distribution systems is central to the management of supply.

Heating and lighting systems are vital, as well as ensuring supply is maintained to critical equipment such as operating theatres, runway lights or control centres.

Interruptions can be costly and have serious consequences and therefore ensuring the security of the electricity supply is essential in the design of power distribution systems.

The inclusion of a back up supply as an integral part of the overall system is a valuable addition. Lucy Switchgear suggets one option is to have a company such as itself as lead supplier, along with the local power distribution network operator to introduce alternative feeds from the distribution network in accordance with the medium-voltage demand required for the end user.

Another option is to deliver a turnkey solution, along with the local power distribution network operator to provide an open point in the network, linked to a new medium voltage or medium voltage/ low voltage distribution system, which forms part of an automated network changeover sequence. The open point allows supply to be switched during any interruption to an alternative medium voltage standby supply, ensuring ongoing electricity supply can be secured.

However, negotiations

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on highly technical projects such as this require expert knowledge, which organisations may not have in-house. With more than 100 years’ industry experience, Lucy Switchgear is able to provide this and can play an integral role in negotiations with distribution network operators.

Future-proofing power distribution systems Building automation into any secondary power distribution system can also play a key part in protecting the security of supply. With full automation, the ultimate aim for modern electricity distribution systems, managers need to ensure that any equipment they fit is, at a minimum, automation-ready, to meet future requirements.

Indeed installing remote control and automation technology as an integral part of the system brings many benefits, particularly around security of supply.

For example, close monitoring of the electricity supply through remote terminal units, together with automated load switching, allows the network to be more Ring main unit installation

A substation installation

“

Plug and play package substations can offer organisations a simple, high quality and cost effective solution responsive and quickly adapt to changing conditions. Should a fault occur in an automated system, effective data collection allows this to be rapidly detected and the network to be automatically reconfigured to isolate the fault, maintaining supply and allowing the fault to be repairedquickly.

For refurbishment projects, retrofitted automation solutions are an excellent way of upgrading equipment and can rapidly improve the quality and reliability of the electricity supply in a very cost effective way. Retrofit units can also significantly extend the life of distribution systems.

Cost-effective solutions There are many other considerations which also need to be taken into account during the planning of electricity distribution systems for

infrastructure projects. High quality, reliable equipment that is simple to operate and maintain throughout the equipment’s lifetime is a basic requirement. Ideally equipment must also be compact, to minimise space requirements; easy to upgrade, to meet changing requirements; and competitively priced.

Plug and play package substations can offer organisations a simple, high quality and cost effective solution. Offering many advantages, such as a single point of contact for sourcing and quick and easy installation, preconfigured package substations can simply be placed onto a site or plinth and connected up.

At the cutting edge of design and innovation, and comprising three market-leading products, Lucy Switchgear package substations can also be provided as complete turnkey solutions. These include the preconfigured system, and options for delivery, site installation, mains supply connection and even pre-fitted automation functionality. we&e Don Innis is sales manager at Lucy Switchgear lucyswitchgear.com

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WATER MANAGEMENT

Focus is on customers ‘Delivering great service’ will be top of the agenda at this year’s Institute of Water Annual Conference and Exhibition in Bristol

T

he Institute of Water Annual Conference and Exhibition, which will take place at Bristol Science Centre on 5 and 6 June, will assess the best service inside and outside today’s water industry – including customer expectations of the future and what role technology can play.

Open to both Institute of Water members and non-members, the Annual Conference and Exhibition will offer the latest industry thinking, innovation, best practice, news and ideas.

Speakers confirmed for the event include: Consumer Council for Water chair Dame Yve Buckland; Ofwat chief executive Cathryn Ross; Institute of Customer Service chief executive Jo Causon; and Wessex Water chief executive Colin Skellett.

The Annual Conference and Exhibition will give the delegates the chance to meet senior figures in the water industry, network with their peers and take part in a vibrant social programme.

Heidi Mottram, conference chair and chief executive officer of Northumbrian Water Group, said: “I’m really looking forward to the annual conference and I would encourage anyone with an interest in the water industry to attend. Our theme this year is ‘delivering great service in the water industry’, a theme which I believe is key to success for all of us in the water industry.

“The demands of our unique and challenging industry are forever evolving.

How we continue to deliver

“

The water industry is changing at a rapid pace and it’s vital that everyone in the sector, whatever their role, can attend events like this

60 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

great service will always be at the forefront of our thoughts and this conference will showcase the best service inside and outside of today’s water industry.

“My experience is that, in attending the Institute of Water Conference, our people experience powerful personal development in a relevant and cost-effective way.

“I would encourage all of our Institute of Water members, especially our newer recruits, to come along to the conference and make use of this first class opportunity to network, learn and discuss the topics that matter with industry leaders.

“Delegates will have the chance to learn from ideas presented from outside the water industry, engage in thought provoking debate and hear from industry leaders about challenges facing the sector and changes needed to address them.

“I sincerely believe it will be an event which will benefit our people and our industry in developing broader networks and richer conversations.”

Institute of Water chief executive Lynn Cooper added: “Last year’s event in Edinburgh was a huge success

and we’re excited to be hosting the conference at Bristol Science Centre this year.

“The water industry is changing at a rapid pace and it’s vital that everyone in the sector, whatever their role, can attend events like this, where they’ll be both informed and inspired.”

Following the Annual Conference and Exhibition, the Institute of Water National Innovation Awards 2014 will take place at the Institute of Water’s President’s Dinner at the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel in Bristol on 6 June.

The awards, which are sponsored by Thames Water, recognise outstanding innovations within the water industry, and also demonstrate the Institute of Water’s commitment to promoting forward-thinking ideas and facilitating career development. They are open to companies or individuals working within the water and wastewater sectors.

Winners of the Institute of Water’s Regional Innovation Awards will battle it out to claim top spot.

Ofwat chief executive Cathryn Ross, a member of the Institute of Water National Innovation Awards 2014 judging panel, said: “Innovation is critical if the water and waste water sectors are to continue to meet customer expectations against a backdrop of climate change, population growth and affordability constraints.

“I very much welcome these awards as a great way to showcase the innovation in the sectors.” we&e instituteofwater.org.uk

theenergyst.com

The best way to minimise losses

An initiative that includes the installation of smart water meters, a fixed wireless network for remote meter reading and an in-home display is aimed at reducing the waste of good drinking water and giving a better service to consumers.

The smart water metering

system at Strib Water Company in Denmark will enable monthly updates of consumption to be displayed on the water company’s website. “It’s all about making consumption visual for the consumers and that we as a supplier must have better control of where the water flows,” says Strib Water Company chairman Anton Petersen.

The meter reading is a plug and play-solution called Radio Link – a true smart meteringsystem for battery powered meters. The electronic water meters transmit data packages every 16 seconds to centrally placed data collectors, and they even communicate with the in-home display, Ensemble, from the British GreenEnergyOptions for further consumer adapted presentation. kamstrup.com

Talis UK announces new growth plans Valve, meterbox and water fitting specialist Talis UK has announced ambitious new plans to see it become the leading supplier in the industry. With new investment, a new management team and new offices, Talis UK is predicting a year of substantial growth.

Established in 2010, Talis UK was formed when Triton Investment Group acquired Tyco Waterworks EMEA from Tyco Flow Control to create a new company. Within the UK, Atplas and Erhard Valves have all become part of Talis UK, bringing together an extensive product portfolio and a wealth of experience and technical expertise.

Talis UK is announcing a new growth drive under the leadership of new managing director Mark Hodgens. The company is forecasting a £30m turnover this year – a 30% increase on the £23m turnover achieved in 2013. talis-uk.com

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Ask ESTA how to identify approaches that will work on your sites and reduce costs now.

For all the advice and guidance you’ll need visit us at www.esta.org.uk theenergyst.com

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

61

PRODUCTS Protection and energy monitoring Hager has worked with contractor Gainsborough Electrical to install an energy monitoring solution at King Edmund School in Essex that will enable detailed reporting and manage energy consumption.

Phase one of the major refurbishment involved the removal of old switchgear and installation of a Hager 800A rated panelboard with meters fitted to all outgoing circuits at the school, which took just two weeks during the holidays to minimise disruption.

Phase two of the installation proved even more complex, with the incoming cable entering through the ceiling. To avoid bending and stressing the cable

and affecting its termination into the board, Hager has provided an engineered solution with the incomer repositioned at the top of the panelboard.

The detailed metering goes beyond the requirements of Part L and is part of the school’s policy to record and manage its energy consumption over the long

Largest privately owned PV system in the North What is believed to be one of the North’s largest privately owned solar panel installations has taken place on Hulam Farm in Durham. The farm has installed a 150kW, 460 panel Sunpower solar PV system, which will achieve financial payback within six years and generate a combined revenue and savings of over £1m within 25 years. And, of course, reduce the environmental impact of using fossil fuel.

The economic viability of the system was a key driver along with the long-term benefits of an annual income thorough the government’s Feed-in Tariff (FiT). The system at Hulam Farm was installed by Calibrate Energy. Michael Allen, owner of Hulam Farm, was alarmed at the prospect of increasing energy bills. He also wanted long-term fuel security, an end to rising energy bills and the opportunity to secure an additional income stream through the installation of the technology.

Mr Allen says: “Installing a solar PV system on the farm was an excellent choice for us and is a perfect solution I would think for many more farmers and businesses. Importantly, it allows businesses to become sustainable, operate in a way that is far more cost effective and significantly reduces our operating costs. Not to mention that the combined savings and income is 100% covered by our renewables loan that Calibrate organised for us.” calibrateenergy.co.uk

62 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

term. Providing protection and monitoring for half of the school, the 800A rated board allows for possible future expansion of the electrical load. Plans include a new IT suite and extending the air conditioning to more rooms.

Alan Hawes, managing director at Gainsborough Electrical, comments: “The school has

expanded rapidly over the years and outgrew its original mains switchgear. The installation was complex for a number of reasons.

“The Hager panelboard and meters proved simple and fast to fit so that we could meet the school’s specification within a very narrow timeline. Phase two was even more complex and Hager was able to respond with a bespoke-engineered solution.”

Stephen Dyson, market manager at Hager, added: “We pride ourselves on being able to respond to customer challenges and this solution was recommended and installed promptly and should have a significant impact on energy consumption and cost savings over the coming years.” hager.co.uk

Aquacell makes the grade Built on green belt land prone to flooding, a new £5m primary school in Hull required an underground stormwater solution which would address surface water run-off. Used to create a large underground structure for the temporary storage of stormwater, the AquaCell Core from Wavin provided the ideal solution.

Developed by Hull Esteem Consortium, a partnership that includes Sewell Group, Morgan Sindall Construction and Robertson Capital Project, the Kingswood Parks Primary School will cater for 315 primary-aged pupils, and more than 40 nursery and pre-nursery age children. Following recommendations from the Environment Agency which required surface water to be managed prior to run-off, main contractor Sewell Group specified the AquaCell Core system to reduce the risk of flooding.

Manufactured from virgin plastic for trafficked and deep applications, AquaCell Core was installed below an outdoor multiuse games area to create a storage tank for surface water prior to draining into the main sewerage system. Aquacell Core has the strength and loading capability to be able to support the tarmac paviour and vehicles during the play area’s construction.

Mark Boothby, project manager at the Sewell Group, comments: “As the site didn’t lend itself to the use of an attenuation pond due to both the space required to install a pond as well as the safety issues at a primary school, Wavin’s AquaCell Core system met our requirements perfectly, more commercially viable than other systems available as well as offering ease of installation at this greenfield site.” co-uk.wavin.com

theenergyst.com

ABEC wins London school BEMS contract ABEC has been employed by Imtech Aqua Building Services, part of the Imtech group, to install a new Trend building energy management system (BEMS) at the Nightingale Academy in London.

The project involves the installation of a BEMS for the new buildings onsite, at the same time as integrating and upgrading the BEMS within the existing school buildings. Based in Edmonton, north London, the Nightingale Academy is part of the London Academies Enterprise Trust providing learning for students up to sixth form.

Daniel Kittow, managing director of ABEC, explains how BEMS aids schools: “Many schools across the country consist of a blend of existing and newer buildings. Obviously such a range means each school may experience differing levels of energy use and efficiency across one campus. By integrating these buildings together as part of a strategic approach to energy use and management enables facilities managers and bursars to understand how, where and when energy is used, in order to manage this effectively.” abec.co.uk

Cheetah helps to cook up energy-saving opportunities for Premier Inn and Beefeater Quintex has installed Cheetah, its demand controlled ventilation system, into 444 Whitbread sites across its Premier Inn and Beefeater property estate, offering considerable energy savings. Cheetah incorporates sensor technology to detect cooking activity levels and reduce ventilation fan speeds so that extract rates are matched to cooking demands, optimising energy use. It is an effective means of saving energy within a commercial kitchen environment.

Whitbread, the UK’s largest hotel and restaurant group, is now achieving huge annual average energy savings, estimated at 3,140,000kWh and 1,700 tonnes of carbon. Chris George, Whitbread’s head of energy and environment comments: “We’re serious about sustainability at Whitbread because we know it’s the right thing to do for the planet and it’s what our customers and our teams want. Our vision is to lead the hospitality industry to become more sustainable and we want to work with suppliers who share these values.

“Quintex, with its energy-reduction expertise, monitoring and management information reporting, fits this bill for supporting our carbon strategy plan and energy reduction targets.”

Quintex chief executive Simon Jarman adds: “As energy costs continue to rise and remain an ever-present issue for operators, many are realising the potential for savings through the latest technology, such as our Cheetah system.” quintex.co.uk

theenergyst.com

Eaton applies for title of world’s most environmentally friendly UPS Power management company Eaton has successfully confirmed the environmental performance of its new 93PM uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) by commissioning a detailed life cycle analysis (LCA) for these innovative products. The independently audited LCA suggests that products in the 93PM range, which are available now throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, are strong contenders for the title of the world’s most environmentally friendly UPSs. Carried out in line with the guidelines provided in ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, the LCA covers every phase of manufacturing, transport, use and disposal of the UPS, from cradle to grave, using reliable data with traceable sources. A particularly important aspect of its findings is that the largest environmental impact relates to the ‘in-use’ phase, and that the magnitude of this impact relates directly to the efficiency of the UPS. The Energy Saver System operating mode offered by 93PM UPSs is subsequently confirmed as a very significant factor in minimising their overall environmental impact.

“It’s easy for suppliers to make vague claims about the environmental impact of their products,” says Jorge Aguinaga, product line manager at Eaton, “but we believe our customers deserve reliable factual data on which to base their decisions. That’s why we have made a big investment in this LCA, in having it independently audited. No one need take our word because a detailed summary report is also available as a free download for anyone who wants to read it.” eaton.eu/powerquality

Plastic media for cooling towers Hewitech is offering one of the most comprehensive ranges available of plastic media for use in cooling towers. The company offers a variety of fill and drift eliminators suitable for all types of natural draught and induced draught cooling towers as used in the energy and water industry, as well as for industrial and HVAC purposes.

For fill packs, the company offers the Hewitech CF19 and the Hewitech NB25 products. The CF19 comprises a module of 2,400 x 310mm with a height of either 300mm or 600mm. Made from PP and PVC, the module is cross-flow welded with an opening of 2 x 19mm. The NB25 is a vertical fill product with standard dimensions of 480 x 500mm and a height of 445mm but modules can be made up to 3,600mm long. The vertical channels of this PP and PE material are 50mm. Both fill products are designed for fast and safe installation due to their high module strength, have a high surface area to maximise cooling performance, and have temperature performance up to 80°C. Where required, the fill can be supplied in loose formed sheets for reduced shipment costs and then assembled on site with welding machines.

Drift eliminators are the last line of defence in any evaporative system and are vitally important in reducing the risk from Legionella. hewitech.co.uk

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

63

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April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

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Q&A

Adrian Kitching The director of Megaman UK dreams of being Pope Adrian and wonders just how magician Dynamo got that phone in a bottle

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ho would you least like to share a lift with?

The Proclaimers because if I got within two metres of them I would strangle them as a free public service.

You’re God for the day. What’s the first thing you do?

Update the Commandments for the modern world. Innit.

If you could travel back in time to a period in history, what would it be and why?

December 14, 1791 to persuade Thomas Jefferson not to go to work the next day and sign the Second Amendment giving people the right to bear arms.

Who or what are you enjoying listening to?

Marillion’s Sounds that Can’t Be Made album is phenomenal. Romeos Daughter’s Rapture is also good but my taste is varied, I have a family rule that only classic FM is allowed on in the car on a Sunday.

What unsolved mystery would you like the answers to?

How did Dynamo (above) manage to put a phone into a bottle?

What would you take to a desert island and why? (excluding loved ones and practical things) Curry powder so I could at least make the fish taste like home.

What’s your favourite film or book and why?

The Sacred Art of Stealing by Christopher Brookmyre. It’s a really good thriller that twists the plot right to the end.

If you could perpetuate a myth about yourself, what would it be?

Running my first marathon last year was really easy, in fact I could do it every morning before work if I wanted to.

What would your super power be and why?

The ability to freeze people for an hour who are pondering harm from a mental illness so a friend can get to them to help.

What would you do with a million pounds?

Buy Halifax Rugby League Club and appoint myself CEO, maybe even perhaps put myself in the team as well (and horses for my daughters).

What’s your greatest extravagance?

Sending my teeth in the post to be cleaned every now and again.

If you were blessed with any talent, what would your dream job be and why?

Pope –think of the fun you

66 April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

“

Don’t give anybody your best bit of advice because they are not going to follow it

could have modernising the church, the boss doesn’t interfere much.

The last English one was called Adrian…

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Don’t give anybody your best bit of advice because they are not going to follow it.

What irritates you the most?

Stop cutting down trees to make paper towels, hand drying machines are fine, honest!

What should energy users be doing to help themselves in the current climate?

Install LightwaveRF home automation – its affordable and really cool plus saves a fortune, plus if the kids annoy you then you can turn off their TV from your couch.

What’s the best thing – work wise – that you did recently?

Learn Cantonese to talk to my colleagues in their own language (and pass my lying for beginner’s course). we&e

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ENERGY MARKET ANALYSIS

Market report water energy & environment’s regular section brings you an eight-week overview of the latest analysis of the power and gas markets from Energy Trader Daily

F

ollowing the recent market slump caused by a combination of the excess gas flows in the system, healthy storage levels, warm temperature forecasts and low demand levels, prices at the front end of the gas market softened in the first quarter of the year, before violently bouncing higher in early April.

As the situation in Ukraine erupted and geopolitical risk returned to the forefront of the energy market, NBP winter ’14 prices surged more than 10% in early April, to trade back at the highs of mid-March, thanks to the added uncertainty of future gas supplies via Ukraine.

In the power market, the upside pressure derived from the higher gas prices and general uptick in the energy sector led prices up by 8% in April.

The Winter ’14 Baseload

Gas winter 2014

Power winter 2014

The ongoing uncertain political situation in the Ukraine has resulted in the violent recent spikes in gas and power prices

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contract, which also suffered from the excessive quarter one selling, managed to correct on the technical analysis front and trade back north of the £50/MWh mark, as a result of the renewed concerns over Ukraine.

As the events in Ukraine become recurrent and the market experiences big spikes over weekends, the future outlook for the geopolitical risk vis-à-vis the Eastern State looks to become more subdued, as traders either shrug off the impact or hastily retrace exaggerated upside moves due to the current Bearish market environment.

Energy Trader Daily A leading UK energy trading desk which examines market areas and utilises established methodologies, in order to deliver market intelligence, focusing on both fundamental and technical analysis. ETD has a wealth of knowledge, real time streaming direct to your desk, and an expert trading analyst team to help you manage future market uncertainties. www.energytraderdaily.com

April/May 2014 | water energy & environment

67

Level probes - extended Several new variants of ifm's popular LMT point level sensors have been added to the range.

Longer probes, up to 250 mm, are particularly useful in overfill applications.

Internal timer functions can be set using standard IO-Link accessories.

www.ifm.com/uk/lmt ifm Telephone 020 8213 2222