Editor’s Choice

UK MEDIA BIAS IN ENERGY TRANSITION

Turbulent times produce added information which turns out to be not wholly true but more of a disguised agenda. We are all aware of the use and misuse of ‘Fake’ news and all of its companions. But we need to unite in our efforts to achieve decarbonisation as soon as it is pragmatic and realistic. UK consumers – plus contractors, consultants and all big commercial sites - should be aware that a strong international preference towards hydrogen is evident by the sheer level of international investment and that it is under reported by mainstream media outlets.

Multiple major economies, distribution hubs and global companies are working towards future green hydrogen usage with grey and blue hydrogen being used as decarbonizing stepping stones.

However, according to various UK mainline media outlets, heat pumps are the only viable tool of decarbonisation. Although heat pumps will undeniably play a vital role in cutting harmful emissions, alternative avenues towards climate conscious energy usage are being overlooked by UK mainstream media outlets.

Instead of truly reporting on all feasible alternatives, mainstream media prefers to push decarbonizing technology that appears to be more financially compatible with their respective socio-economic audiences. the subject is often treated with disparagement. A lack of manufacturing capacity, safety issues and consumer cost are the three main motivations behind this limited reportage. If this is the case what is being done to amend these concerns within the emerging hydrogen industry?

At present there are three prominent variations of hydrogen that are being manufactured: grey, blue and green. This colour scheme correlates to production methods which themselves infer to the amount of carbon releases for each are responsible.

96% of currently globally produced hydrogen is generated through fossil fuels. The easiest form of hydrogen to manufacture is grey hydrogen which is produced via a process called SMR – steam methane reforming. Heat and pressure are applied in natural gas which then converts its methane properties into hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

Blue hydrogen occurs when carbon collected during steam reforming is stored underground. This process is called carbon capture and storage (CCUS). In a generous light this variation of hydrogen can be labelled “carbon neutral” however a more accurate description would be “low carbon” as up to 10% - 20% of carbon, can be potentially released into the atmosphere.

Recent technological advancements in this area are responsible for CCUS potentially entering a new era. New hydrogen manufacturing plants will employ alternative technology Autothermal Reforming (ATR) which allows for capture of up to 96% - 97% of all emissions.

Carbon capture and storage is an area the UK government is keen to accelerate. Blue hydrogen projects that require funding can access government provided finances through the £240 million NetZero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF). Additionally, a Carbon Capture Storage Infrastructure Fund (CIF) was first announced during the Budget, March 2020. Allocation of £1 billion of state funding for the CIF was confirmed at the November 2020 spending review.

Major international companies such as Shell are currently involved in multiple CCUS endeavours more notably in Canada, Norway and Australia. Shell is a partner in the Australian Gorgon Liquefied Natural Gas Project. Once completed this will be the biggest CCUS operation in the world and will be capable of capturing up to four million tonnes of CO2 a year.

Shell’s Quest project in Canada is a fully operational CCUS facility. The governments of Alberta and Canada have invested $745 million and $120 million respectively. Shell hopes that the positive results yielded from this project will further encourage other CCUS technology to be implemented internationally.

Green hydrogen is 100% carbon neutral and therefore the preferred fuel of the future. Green hydrogen is produced when renewable resources like wind, hydro or solar power are

Editor’s Choice 07 Rinnai’s Chris Goggin looks at some of the reasons why the UK media is favouring some energy vectors over others in the current era of transition to Decarbonisation and NetZero

used to power an electrolyzer that sits in a huge drum of water. This process is called electrolysis, which extrapolates hydrogen from oxygen atoms in water. The only excess substance remaining is water zapped of its hydrogen content.

Because no fossil fuels are used in the creation of green hydrogen, carbon neutrality is completely feasible. Individual sectors such as transport and home heating are aware of green hydrogen’s climate credentials and are keen to begin utilizing the alternative fuel source.

What is holding back green hydrogen usage then? Producing green hydrogen is dependent on earth’s natural resources. Some seasons yield more positive results than others. Then there is cost. At present green hydrogen is not cost competitive with grey hydrogen which is easier to manufacture. Six percent of global natural gas consumption can be traced to grey hydrogen production.

Next generation electrolyzers are being designed with greater capacity for efficiency and the cost of renewables are declining. In coming years, with further advancements in these areas green hydrogen will become commercially abundant and viable.

In making this possible an EU funding spree hopes to create a European value chain in green hydrogen electrolyzers. Multiple funding projects will be cleared as part of the one billion Euros European Green Deal. It is believed that 25 – 30 million Euros will substantiate each individual project. Every venture must demonstrate a sizable energy and decarbonizing contribution to either the industrial, transport or domestic heating sector.

Advancing electrolyzer and ATR - CCUS technology will see the cost of blue and green hydrogen decrease, whilst manufacturing capacity and demand will increase. Grey hydrogen production and therefore any need for fossil fuel consumption will gradually shrivel away.

Aspects of health and safety are another issue which restricts hydrogen’s appeal in UK media outlets.

Hydrogen has been undergoing testing and re-testing for many years for commercial opportunities to become apparent. FutureGrid is a project set up to create a demonstrative gas transmission network which allows for a wide range of safety tests to be carried out and analysed.

Once constructed, FutureGrid’s transmission network will be capable of facilitating a range of tests on 20% hydrogen gas blends to 100% pure hydrogen. Analysis will focus on gas behaviour and interaction within the constructed infrastructure.

All testing will be adjudicated by the Health and Safety Executive who will decide on the feasibility of domestic and commercial hydrogen consumption. Construction will potentially begin on the £10 million project in 2021 with tests being carried out later in 2022.

A vast amount of funding and proactive thought is being placed into the advancement of hydrogen. Work is underway on producing next generation electrolyzers and CCUS technology that will help push hydrogen to the forefront of international energy options. Updated technology will assist in increasing manufacturing capacity whilst driving bulk prices of blue and green hydrogen down.

Major UK media outlets however fail to deliver this information and instead focus on either alarmist editorials designed to shock, or present only one technological decarbonizing option.

The entire world has set its sights on future hydrogen usage. Why we hear next to nothing is due to media bias that stems from potential advertising revenue aimed at a target demographic.

UK end users need to know that hydrogen is a global target not a conceptual ambition. In the coming years multiple decarbonizing technology options will be available. The only reason this isn’t widely reported is down to current personalized media agendas held by mainstream media outlets.

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BESA SHORTLISTED IN FOUR CATEGORIES AT TRADE ASSOCIATION AWARDS

The Building Engineering Services Association has been recognised for four very different aspects of its work at this year’s prestigious Trade Association Forum (TAF) Best Practice Awards.

The awards, which are supported by the Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), are now in their 19th year and are designed to recognise and reward the excellence, innovation, and best practice demonstrated by UK trade bodies.

BESA has been shortlisted in the Digital Transformation, Training Initiative, Event of the Year, and Sustainability Initiative categories. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on February 17.

“We are absolutely delighted to have gained such comprehensive recognition at these important awards,” said BESA’s chief executive officer David Frise.

“The fact that these categories reflect so many different aspects of BESA’s work is an amazing testament to the hard work of the staff in all areas. We are very proud of being such a broad-based association and that we provide a wide range of support services to our members right across the spectrum of building engineering.”

The TAF Awards judges have acknowledged the way BESA has gone through a “digital revolution” to transform the way it conducts business, interacts with colleagues, engages with members, and delivers products and services. This has helped it to improve operating efficiency and meet its sustainability targets, hence its shortlisting in the Digital Transformation category.

Comprehensive

One major digital highlight has been the establishment of the online BESA Academy, which now delivers a comprehensive programme of training courses, assessments and CPD for individuals, employers, and training providers – all critical services for a sector with a serious skills shortage. environment and supports a hybrid option for learners and colleges. As a result, BESA has also been shortlisted for the TAF Training Initiative award.

The 2021 BESA National Conference was a multi-stream, free to attend virtual conference that was attended by almost 500 delegates and featured 67 speakers providing more than 21 hours of specialised content.

It was opened by architect and TV star George Clarke and featured a virtual exhibition, member clinics and networking opportunities. All of this was recognised by the TAF Awards shortlisting panel who put it forward for the Event of the Year award.

And in the Sustainability Initiative category, BESA has been recognised for the achievements of its REFCOM Elite scheme, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year.

It was set up as a best practice company registration scheme in 1996, to promote environmentally responsible refrigerant management. BESA recognised early on the need for employers to improve control of refrigerant use and prevent release to atmosphere to reduce ozone depletion and global warming.

Although these threats are now a huge focus across the globe, the TAF panel recognised that REFCOM was ahead of the curve in spotting the need to implement best practice to reduce emissions and has made fantastic progress in its 25 years.

Emily Wallace, interim chief executive of the Trade Association Forum, congratulated BESA saying: “Trade Associations such as BESA have played an absolutely critical role in supporting the UK economy throughout the turbulence of the last two years. As we move forward, it is right to celebrate the achievements of the sector, recognise excellence and collaborate to improve the role that associations can continue to play to support the economy for the future.”

Since its formation in 1997, the Trade Association Forum has been encouraging the development and sharing of best practice among UK trade associations and promoting the role of effective trade associations to government, industry and the wider public.

www.theBESA.com

10 COLD WEATHER WORKING WITH SNICKERS WORKWEAR’S SUSTAINABLE CLIMATE CONTROL

Dressing right and staying comfortable when it’s cold and wet demands the best in Climate Control working clothes

Continuous work in cold weather produces body heat and sweat. But when your rate of work slows, the sweat cools and you’ll start to feel cold and damp. The solution is Snickers Workwear’s body-mapping Midlayer working clothes that deliver advanced ventilation to control and regulate the heat from your body.

Made to last from sustainable fabrics such as micro fleece and recycled polyester, they’re great for both work and leisure activities. These garments insulate and keep heat around your body by effectively creating an air pocket inside your clothes.

They complement Snickers Workwear’s FlexiWork Base-layer undergarments that combine sustainable animal-friendly Merino Wool with polyamide for warmth and ventilation. As well as the Top-layer or ‘outer shell’ AllroundWork and Flexiwork Weatherproof Jackets and Trousers that will keep you warm, dry and comfortable all day long.

For more information on Snickers Workwear’s sustainability philosophy and it’s Climate Control garments you can call the Helpline on 01484 854788; check out www.snickersworkwear.co.uk or email

sales@hultaforsgroup.co.uk

London-based architects, Applied Studio, and interior designer, Clare Nash, have completed the transformation and conversion of Hammersmith House in West London.

The former one bedroom, 1960’s bungalow has been radically overhauled to create a three bedroom family home, including a loft and ground floor rear extension.

The house was almost completely remodelled with just the front elevation retained. The ground floor includes a library and WC, a larder adjacent to the kitchen and a large scale, open plan living, dining and kitchen space. This open plan area opens out through large format glazing onto a newly landscaped garden including a gravel terrace and “paddling” pool.

The design of the project is one that contrasts contemporary elements, such as clean lines and open spaces, with materials and features that are full of character and texture. The furniture, lighting, objects and soft furnishings play a huge role in creating an eclectic, warm and inviting atmosphere. The scheme is bright and bold, not shying away from colour – it has a personality that sets it aside from the status quo, paired back and boringly simple refurbishment work that is so common these days.

It is an example of how a home can be an expression of its owners rather than additional iteration of current styles.

APPLIE STUDIO COMPLETES HAMMERSMITH HOUSE TRANSFORMATION

Two phrases you will often hear are – Embodied Carbon and Operational Carbon. Embodied Carbon is the amount of carbon emitted during the creation of the building and its materials. Operational Carbon is the amount of carbon emitted during the life of the building and maintaining those materials.

The current method for measuring the CO2 impact of each material is through a Life Cycle Assessment using Environmental Product Declarations or EPDs for short. Unfortunately, EPDs assume the study period for a building’s life is only 60 years. This is just 1% of the age of the oldest fired bricks in the world made 6000 years ago and are still here today.

This is incredibly important because durable products with extensive longevity such as clay brick, will prolong the expected life of a building resulting in a lower carbon footprint for every year of use. Not to mention, brick can then go on to be re-used and recycled to live a 2nd and sometimes even a 3rd life, benefitting multiple generations. We often hear the Brick Industry say clay products last 200+ years, this is 3x longer than EPD’s measure the carbon impact, therefore designers do not receive Life Cycle Assessments reflective of the true life span of their building.

Brick is non-toxic and requires little to no maintenance, its non-combustible and improves the thermal and acoustic building values, equating to zero operational carbon.

Other building materials need much greater levels of maintenance, often reliant upon chemical processes which lead to a considerably higher operational carbon footprint. Many of these non-clay materials will often require complete replacement several times over a building’s 200 year lifespan, multiplying both the Embodied and Operational carbon footprints several times over.

WHAT IS REAL SUSTAINABILITY?

It is understanding the full and lasting impact of our design choices and reducing the carbon footprint over the building’s entire lifetime. From cradle to grave.

At Michelmersh, we know exactly what goes into creating our products and meticulously calculate the embodied carbon figures providing completely transparent data from extraction, to drying, firing and delivery. We are focussed on decarbonization of the brick making process, working on a variety of methods to make significant carbon reductions from cradle to gate.

Michelmersh convened a roundtable discussion with RIBA Journal ‘Think longer to build sustainably‘ including influential architects, material suppliers, structural engineers, manufacturers, policy makers, construction teams and educational professors. Please read the full article here: THINK LONGER TO BUILD SUSTAINABLY

In reality when measuring your building’s design over its true/real life span, clay brick is one of the least carbon intensive building materials you can use. To be truly sustainable, we believe in designing buildings that are both adaptable and multi-generational, so that the environment and our children’s children will benefit from the choices we make today:

Think Longer. Design for 200 years, not 20.

14

Lichfields celebrates 60 years of planning success

Leading planning and development consultancy Lichfields starts the new year on a high - with record turnover and plans for expansion during its landmark 60th anniversary year.

Lichfields, the preeminent planning and development consultancy in the UK with 215 people working from a network of nine regional offices, recently hit fee revenues of £22.6m and is aiming to pass the £25m milestone before the end of this year.

The company is recruiting as it looks to launch and develop several new services during 2022. These will include a new archaeology service within the existing heritage offer; an innovative place-making tool, and a fully integrated service aimed at dealing with the impacts of climate change.

Chief executive James Fennell said: “We’re delighted to launch a year of celebrations as we reflect on 60 years of working hard to service the needs of our clients and look forward to the time when are largely free of the constraints that Covid-19 has placed on all of us.

“Construction and property development has weathered the economic disruption caused by the pandemic and Brexit very well so far.

We have been fortunate to work side-by-side with clients who have continued to invest and build for the future. I am therefore positive about 2022.

Of course, there is still some uncertainty around Covid-19 and rising inflation. However, overall, the market looks buoyant and resilient.

“We will be focussing on staff wellbeing during the year while we grow the business and maintain our professional service levels for which we are well respected.”

developer-update.co.uk

Steady growth at Lichfields is set to continue through the growth of business activity around regional offices along with some high-profile projects that have gained national recognition. These include: Milton Keynes East: A major expansion to the UK’s most successful New Town, for Berkeley, with 4,600 homes, 4m sq ft of employment space, four new schools, a 156-acre linear park along the River Ouzel, and a new crossing of the M1. Teesworks: The regeneration of Europe’s largest brownfield site: 4,500 acres on the banks of the River Tees, and part of the UK’s largest Freeport. Regeneration of Cardiff City Centre: Building on the success in the transformation of Cardiff City Centre, Lichfields obtained permission for the tallest building in the city at just under 100m for a 272 unit build to rent scheme for Galliford Try Investments. International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP - located in Sunderland and South Tyneside): Working in partnership with IAMP LLP the scheme will deliver 4.2m sq ft of industrial floorspace for advanced manufacturing and automotive uses and includes the first contracted Gigaplant in the UK, overall creating 7,850 jobs. In terms of trends and future challenges, James Fennell explained: “Climate change needs to be placed front and centre of planning system alongside the delivery of much needed new homes. Sustainable development has become such a ubiquitous term no one really understands what it means. If the purpose of the planning system is to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, what better way to capture this than a positive policy agenda with adapting to climate change as its main purpose.” Fennell added: “Government needs to reflect on the very good progress that has been made in the delivery of much needed new homes over the last decade and build on that success. By repeatedly describing the system as broken the Government has got too bogged down in trying to fix it. With Michael Gove the rhetoric has begun to change. It’s not broken but it does need improving and, above all else, resourcing properly. “The Government must start talking the planning system up so we can attract more talented younger people into the profession to help the UK adapt to climate change and deliver the new homes, infrastructure and other development that it needs.” Lichfields offers a broad range of planning and development consultancy services including development management, consultation, economics, EIA, heritage, and urban design. Clients include developers, landowners and operators in the housing, retail, leisure, commercial, waste and recycling and infrastructure sectors, as well as local authorities and government bodies.

Located within the Porton Science Park site, close to the village of Porton, the new two-storey, 3,716m2 building will provide SME research companies, including ‘Start ups’, with opportunities for collaborative working, utilising a mixture of serviced Labs and offices facilities, conference and meeting rooms with supporting infrastructure.

The new facility will sit adjacent to Porton Down which is home to Public Health England and the Ministry of Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. Due to the Science Park’s location and land ownership, all construction-related work and security measures, will be carried out in liaison with Porton Defence Science Technology Laboratory.

The building is scheduled to be ready for use in Summer 2022, with the modules being installed early next year. Sustainability will be a key focus, with Wiltshire Council targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating.

Ron Clarke, CEO of The McAvoy Group, said: “We’re pleased to have been entrusted to deliver Porton Down’s new Innovation Centre, which will play an important role in future research and development.

MCAVOY TO DELIVER WORLD-CLASS INNOVATION CENTRE AT FAMED PORTON DOWN SCIENCE HUB

Offsite manufacturing specialist, The McAvoy Group, is to deliver a new research and innovation facility at world renowned science hub, Porton Science Park.

“It’s a high-profile project and we look forward to using MMC to deliver a building that is not just welldesigned, but sustainable and agile. Because most of the building will be completed in our dedicated manufacturing facility, the timeframe is dramatically reduced, allowing us to get the new Innovation Centre open and operational as quickly as possible.” In February 2021 The McAvoy Group was boosted by a multi-million pound investment from Londonbased special situations firm, Blantyre Capital aimed at supporting McAvoy’s ambitious expansion programme

www.mcavoygroup.com

YANMAR COMPACT EQUIPMENT’S NEW PREMIUM RED MACHINES PAVE THE WAY TO A NEW ERA

Yanmar Compact Equipment has adopted an eye-catching Premium Red paint colour across all its machines globally. Premium Red machines were first introduced onto the North American market in 2020, and this roll out sees Yanmar’s EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), AOLA (Asia excl. Japan, Oceania, Latin America) and Japanese markets completing the metamorphosis. The new Premium Red paint colour brings Yanmar’s compact equipment in-line with Yanmar Group’s image.

“Our dealers and our customers really like the new colour,” commented Jeff Pate, Sales Director, Yanmar Compact Equipment North America. “Everyone feels that Premium Red attracts attention on the jobsite, and just as the quality and reliability of our products stand out from the competition, in a sea of yellow competitive machines in North America, our Premium Red colour stands out too.”

But this shift from the well-known Yanmar yellow is more than simply a cosmetic colour change. For Yanmar Compact Equipment, the symbolism of this change resonates on a deeper level.

“Yanmar Compact Equipment is on a journey of transformation,” explains CEO, Giuliano Parodi. “We aim to be a global leader in Compact Equipment and, with the help of our dealer partners, deliver sustainable business solutions for our customers and the societies in which they operate.

“Our acquisitions of the past few years are now fully integrated into a harmonised, Yanmar CE way of working, with common processes and customer focus right across our enlarged product and services portfolio. For us, Premium Red sends out a clear signal that we are one company, with a clear product strategy. But our transformation goes far beyond our machines. Indeed, we are challenging the way we think and the way we work, to transform our products, our business, and our brand to create even more value for our customers.” In product transformation, Yanmar CE is currently evaluating several alternative fuel and powertrain technologies and recently unveiled its first electric mini excavator prototype, the new SV17e. Proudly featuring the new Premium Red colour, the SV17e is aimed at customers in the European market in the 1.5 to 2.0 tonnes segment.

“Our prototype is significant because it demonstrates our capability to bring the quality and reliability of our highly respected conventional engine technology into the arena of electrification,” explained Director Product Management EMEA, Cedric Durand.

In business transformation, Yanmar Compact Equipment is continuing to invest in manufacturing infrastructure and in expanding their global dealer network to increase the proximity to customers, reduce lead times and improve service. Closely linked to these investments is the focus on creating an amazing customer experience.

“Our move to Premium Red across our machines certainly signals a change and we are confident that our customers will start to see other changes too,” explained Elsie De Nys, Global Director Channel and Brand Development. “We have the ambition to be a leader, not only in machines but in the customer experience too and are working hard to get closer to our customers to identify new and innovative ways in which we can add value to them.” The change to the new Premium Red also heralds a new confidence in the Yanmar Compact Equipment brand and coincides with the launch of its new tagline, ‘Together We Build’.

“Our aim, together with our dealer partners, is to build stronger relationships and create even greater customer value,” said CEO, Giuliano Parodi. ‘Together We Build’ really underlines our commitment to transforming Yanmar CE and, with the help of our dealers, to focus on creating a new and exciting experience for our customers.”

For Yanmar Compact Equipment, change is in the air and the fresh, new image of the Premium Red machines certainly reflects the optimism running through the business. This milestone moment is about shared goals and ambitions and about building a better future for everyone.