Environment & Energy Management

ireland’s leading environment & energy management publication

G €407m Bord Gáis power station project

APRIL/MAY 2009

G Drinking water quality G Renewable energy

www.enviroireland.com

C o n t e n t s

- 27 E NERGY S UPPLY

- 2 E NVIRONMENT N EWS

New €407m power station to energise Bord Gáis.

News from home and abroad.

PA G E 3 0

- 7 W ATER Q UALITY

PA G E 2

Sustained investment in infrastructure needed to deliver clean drinking water.

Laura Burke, director, EPA.

Padraig McManus, chief executive of ESB.

ESBIE sponsored 2009 Green-schools Energy Project winners.

- 9-11 W ASTEWATER T ECHNOLOGY

PA G E 3 0 - 30 E NERGY P OINT

Screening solutions for Northern Ireland.

Problem solving and whole life cost reductions.

- 29 E NERGY E FFICIENCY

PA G E 7 Dara Lynott, director, EPA.

- 13-16 E NERGY E FFICIENCY

Latest energy developments in Ireland and overseas.

- 31 R ENEWABLE E NERGY

Energy managers and consultants called on to enter Sustainable Energy Awards 2009.

Ireland lags EU on wind installations.

Pioneering €6m on-site Wind Autoproduction project.

PA G E 3 1 €6m on-site Wind Autoproduction project.

Utilise your waste heat.

PA G E 2 7 Why a basic Energy Audit could prove the saviour of industry.

John Mullins, chief executive of Bord Gais.

Managing Director: Colin Murphy Sales Director: Ronan McGlade Editor: Mike Rohan Sales Manager: Don Sheridan Production Manager: Susan Doyle Production Assistant: Jackie Kinch

Environment & Energy Management is published by Premier Publishing Limited, 51 Parkwest Enterprise Centre, Nangor Road, Dublin 12.

Tel: + 353 1 612 0880 Fax: + 353 1 612 0881 E-Mail: ronan@prempub.com Website: www.prempub.com

- 17-21 R ENEWABLE E NERGY

London Office: Premier Publishing Limited, CTS, 34 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 1AT Tel: 0171 247 3238 Fax: 0171 247 3239

Bank of Ireland’s new €100m fund for renewable energy projects.

Premier Publishing Limited can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of contributors’ articles or statements appearing in this magazine. Any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Premier Publishing and its Directors. No responsibility for loss or distress occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the authors, contributors, editor and publisher. A reader should access separate advice when acting on specific editorial in this publication!

Wood pellet and woodchip storage solutions.

PA G E 2 9 - 23-25 T RAINING & E DUCATION A guide to some of the courses available.

ESBIE 2009 Green-schools Energy Project.

Design, Origination and Separations by Fullpoint Design (057) 8680873 Printed by W&G Baird.

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ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

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E N V I R O N M E N T

N E W S

I CARBON MANAGEMENT

New On-line Tool to Measure Carbon and Reduce Costs comprehensive Irish-developed Carbon A Management Tool (CMT) has been launched for organisations in Ireland to assist them in managing their carbon, cutting their costs and improving their competitiveness.

Available at www.Change.ie the Carbon Management Tool is a free online application, developed by the Change campaign as part of the Government’s commitment to tackling climate change and lowering carbon emissions.

“Effective carbon management will not only reduce the amount of carbon emissions produced but it will also cut costs,” points out John Gormley, TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government. “Every organisation can save money through knowing its carbon emissions and taking steps to reduce them through more effective energy supply and usage, improved travel policies and effective water and waste management.”

I CLIMATE CHANGE

Refining the Impacts for Ireland Significant changes are projected to occur in Ireland’s climate over this century, according to a recent research report published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The report, ‘Climate Change in Ireland: Refining the Impacts for Ireland’, suggests that we need to plan for these changes, which are already occurring, but which will be clearly evident within 40 years.

Laura Burke, director of the Office of Climate, Licensing and Resource Use, EPA, says: “Climate projections such as those provided in this report enable us to assess potential impacts, plan and take actions to avoid the worst of these, and if possible to utilise positive changes.”

The projections are in line with earlier reports provided by the National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM) and Met Eireann, but are based on outputs from a wide range of global climate models, thereby increasing confidence in the projections.

The projections show that: • Average temperatures will 2

Pictured at the launch are: Declan White, environmental officer, Enterprise Ireland, with Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, John Gormley, TD.

rise by 1.4 C to 1.8 C by 2050, and be in excess of 2 C relative to the 1961-1990 baseline by the end of the century.

• Summer and autumn are projected to warm faster than winter and spring, with the midlands and east warming more than coastal areas.

• Winter rainfall is projected to increase by 10%, while reductions in summer rainfall of 12 to 17% are projected by 2050.

• The largest winter rainfall increases are expected to occur in the midlands.

• By 2050, reductions in summer rainfall of between 20 and 28% are projected for the southern and eastern coasts, increasing to between 30 and 40% by 2080.

• Changes in the frequency of extreme events will accompany these climate changes.

Longer heat waves and drought may occur, which will be especially important for eastern and southern parts of Ireland.

The report concludes that there is an urgent need to adopt appropriate mitigation and adaptation responses to the risks posed by climate

The Change.ie Carbon Management Tool will benefit all organisations – from corner shops, offices and SMEs to large manufacturing plants. All can make considerable cost savings from a few hundred to thousands of euro, by using the tool.

It provides the facility to calculate emissions from energy, transport, water and waste using data relevant for Ireland, including data from Sustainable Energy Ireland and the Commission for Energy Regulation. It provides guidance on actions that organisations can take to better carbon manage their operations in line with advice from Sustainable Energy Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Change.ie CMT calculator has been developed in line with the internationally recognised Greenhouse Gas Protocol methodology, which is at the forefront of greenhouse gas reporting and accounting.

change, notwithstanding the challenges of recent economic events.

The report is available on the EPA website at www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/r esearch/climate.

Laura Burke, director of the Office of Climate, Licensing and Resource Use, EPA

EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Fall European Union emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases (GHG) declined for the third consecutive year in 2007, according to the European Environment Agency. The EU-27's overall

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

domestic emissions were 9.3 % below 1990 levels, which equalled a drop of 1.2 % or 59 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent compared to 2006.

The EU-15 now stands 5 % below its Kyoto Protocol base year levels.

Falling emissions since 2005 have largely resulted from the lower use of fossil fuels (particularly oil and gas) in households and services — these sectors, not covered by the EU Emission Trading System (ETS), are among the largest sources of GHG emissions in the EU. Warmer weather and higher fuel prices were the primary causes for the drop in emissions in 2006–2007, with most of the decrease occurring in households, particularly in Germany.

“The economic stimulus packages that Governments are currently adopting represent a crucial opportunity to address the climate crisis and the financial crisis simultaneously,” says Professor Jacqueline McGlade, EEA executive director. “A strong Copenhagen agreement later this year would drive forward investments vital to our future prosperity.”

E N V I R O N M E N T

N E W S

I WATER & WASTEWATER

Response Named as One of Ireland’s 25 Best Managed Companies esponse Group, a leading provider of water and wasteR water treatment services, has been named as one of Ireland’s ‘Best Managed’ companies in the Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards. In total, twenty-five companies were recognised.

The Deloitte Best Managed Awards programme, in association with Bank of Scotland (Ireland), recognises indigenous Irish companies across the island of Ireland which are operating at the highest levels of business performance. It is the only awards programme that considers companies from every perspective including strategy, capability, commitment, financials and growth potential across all key functions of the business.

Professor Jacqueline McGlade, EEA executive director.

I ENVIRONMENT

Government Task Force on Green Economy The Government has established a high level Action Group on the Green Economy. The aim of this high level group is to unlock all the institutions of Government, across a range of Departments in the promotion of a new direction for the Irish economy. There is huge potential for the green economy to help Ireland meet its economic and environmental challenges. The latest estimates put the size of the global environmental goods and services market as exceeding Eur950 billion by 2010. The value of this sector for Ireland is growing and estimated to

Pictured presenting Response Group with its Deloitte Best Managed Companies Award are (from l-r): Paul Cunningham, head of banking, Bank of Scotland (Ireland); Pat Cullen, managing partner, Deloitte; Noel Hanley, chairman, Response Group; President Mary McAleese and Dr Martin McAleese.

be more than Eur2.8 billion in 2008.

Recently announced initiatives of this nature include a next generation bio-processing research, innovation and manufacturing centre in Claremorris, which involves a Eur40 million investment with the potential to grow to 300 jobs within three years; and a number of new wideranging FAS courses for the construction sector focused on the new wave of green and clean-tech opportunities coming on-stream nationally.

Ireland’s First Wind Powered Park Opens Ireland’s first wholly sustainable Park - Fr. Collins Park in Donaghmede, North Dublin – has been opened. The 52-acre park, in the heart of the 20,000 strong and growing community of the North Fringe area of the City in Donaghmede is the result of an international design competition.

Five wind turbines provide all the energy needed to run the park. Renewable energy is used to power the park’s water features, flood light the park and provide electricity for the maintenance building. Electric maintenance vehicles for the park wardens run on renewable energy from the wind turbines.

I WASTEWATER

€10.5m Contract for Leitrim Town and Villages Sewerage Scheme The Response Group, one of Ireland’s leading water and wastewater treatment companies, has been awarded a Eur10.5m design, build and operate contract for new wastewater treatment works by Leitrim County Council.

Response was awarded the contract as part of a public tender process.

The project will comprise of the design, construction, and operation of ten new sewerage schemes in County Leitrim – in Dromahaire, Drunkeeran, Kinlough, Kiltyclogher, Roosky, Cloone, Jamestown, Ballinglera, Killarga and Drumcong. The work will include the construction of new infrastructure as well as the upgrade and expansion of existing infrastructure including wastewater treatment works, new access roads and outfalls. The contract also includes the installation of 15 new pumping stations and rising mains.

Response will take over the operation and maintenance of the existing treatment facilities during the construction period of 18 months. It will then operate the new wastewater treatment works for a 20 year period.

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

€29m Sligo Town Wastewater Plant Opens The Sligo Town Wastewater Treatment Scheme has been officially opened. This Eur29 million project provides Sligo with modern wastewater treatment facilities. The Sligo Wastewater Treatment Plant will provide treatment for an initial 50,000 population equivalent, with scope for future expansion to 80,000.

I WASTE MANAGEMENT

Publican’s Handbook to a Leaner, Greener Cost Base A new booklet to help publicans cut costs and improve their environmental performance is now available. The booklet, ‘Calling Time on Waste: a publican’s guidebook to a leaner, greener cost base’, is the result of a collaboration between the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, Monaghan County Council and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The handbook for publicans contains guidelines on how to save money by conserving water, saving energy and preventing waste. It is estimated that the average pub will save Eur1,000 per annum if the recommendations are followed, and it is hoped that up to 4,000 pubs throughout the 3

E N V I R O N M E N T

N E W S

I CONSTRUCTION

Planting the Road to Recovery at the Construction Plant Show 2009 he sun was shining as major players from the construction T plant industry gathered at this year’s Construction Plant Show.

With the support of the Irish Contractors Plant Association (ICPA) and Construction Industry Federation (CIF), exhibitors such as Pat O’Donnell, McCormick Macnaughton, McHales, Liebherr, JCB, Swan Plant Hire, and McSharry Bros came together determined to do business and keep the construction industry going.

In the midst of an economic downturn, the Construction Plant Show, buoyed by all-industry support, was deemed a brave move which paid off for all who attended. The show offered exhibitors and visitors a chance to network, share ideas and most importantly do business.

“The show was well attended and indeed, business was done over the weekend. The combined commitment from visitors and exhibitors at this year’s show was extremely heartening and we hope to see the industry growing again in the coming years,” comments Garret Buckley, joint managing director of Expo Events – the show organizer. country will introduce these measures in the coming months, delivering a collective saving of Eur0.5 million.

“The key message of the booklet is that if we don’t create waste in the first place we won’t have to pay the financial and environmental costs of dealing with it subsequently”, says Dr Gerry Byrne, EPA programme manager.

This project forms part of the Local Authority Prevention Demonstration (LAPD) programme, funded by the EPA’s National Waste Prevention Programme.

Turning Waste into New Irish Jobs The Government has launched an innovative Eur13 million Market Development Programme to develop new markets and help create new Irish jobs by transforming waste into new sustainable products. Targeting entrepre-

neurs, third level institutions, manufacturers and waste organisations, over the next five years, the Market Development Programme will identify and help develop markets for a variety of waste streams including plastics, paper, metals, organics, glass and wood.

Entrepreneurs interested in creating new businesses from waste can get further information at www.mdg.ie.

“Waste that we export often reappears back in Ireland, rejuvenated as valuable commodities that we all buy, like juice or milk cartons, fleece tops or the latest backpack schoolbag. We need to develop markets for these materials and add value here at home and that’s what the Market Devel-opment Prog-ramme is all about – it will be a catalyst for innovation,” explains John Gormley, TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. “It will establish partnerships and create linkages between those who produce goods and those who manage waste. It has great potential to generate new ‘green’ jobs, it will add value

Pictured (l-r) at the Construction Plant Show 2009: Garret Buckley, joint managing director, Expo Events; Robert Macnaughton, sales director, McCormick Macnaughton; Tom Parlon, director general, Construction Industry Federation; Tommy Flaherty, president of Irish Contractors Plant Association.

to the materials in Ireland and create more revenue for our economy.”

Ireland exports 1.5 million tonnes of recyclable waste a year. That’s close to 76% of total recyclable waste generated here. It is waste that could be reprocessed here at home.

The Market Development Programme will shortly publish a Tender seeking people to conduct demonstration trials using compost in agriculture.

This will be of interest to the farming sector and compost producers. A second Tender to quantify the amount of plastic waste in the country will determine for the first time, the volumes, locations, types and current outlets for a variety of plastics generated in Ireland. The results will be of particular interest to entrepreneurs wishing to add value to waste plastics. Further Tenders will follow.

clients, providing them with environmental advice. Her challenges will include developing new business for emissionzero and working with existing clients to establish new and innovative ways to reduce their energy spend and therefore carbon footprint.

Ciara O’Connor joins emissionzero having graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a degree in Natural Science and an MSc in Environmental Science. She also has extensive experience in her field, having worked with the Carbon Trust for the last three years.

I ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Emissionzero Appoints Environmental Services Manager Emissionzero, a division of Ecocem Materials, has appointed Ciara O’Connor to the position of environmental services manager. She will manage emissionzero’s existing

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

Ciara O’Connor, environmental services manager of emissionzero.

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I ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

Enva Launches Geotube Dewatering Solution Enva has announced the addition of Geotube dewatering technology to its product range.

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orking in conjunction with RJ Mooney and Tencate Geotube, this new offering provides a lowcost high-volume dewatering solution to industries ranging from; pulp and paper, power generation, agriculture, mining, mineral processing, lake/river/canal waters as well as wastewater.

The Geotube bag uses a high performance filtration fabric produced from moulded yarns with fine membrane pores allowing excess liquid to drain away into a receiving tank. Geotube bags are manufactured in a range of widths and lengths to suit all applications.

Efficient Solution Recent trails and case studies conducted

by Enva focusing on the agricultural sector show that this solution can provide an efficient and high volume solution for dealing with animal slurry, while facilitating compliance with existing and impending legislation under the Nitrates Directive, IPPC legislation, and the Water Framework Directive.

The solution developed for the agricultural sector focuses on two main constituents; mixing/treatment, and dewatering. Through its research and engineering functions Enva set about designing and

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manufacturing a mobile dewatering unit specifically for this application. In addition to the Geotube bag, other support equipment supplied and installed by Enva included batch and continuous polymer make-up systems, dosing system for coagulation and phosphorus removal, submersible pump for transferring and re-circulating the animal slurry, control panel, and all necessary pipe-work.

Laboratory tests conducted by Enva showed the following results - 98.5% reduction in total phosphorus, 95.4% reduction in biological oxygen demand, 95% reduction in suspended solids, 94.4% reduction in chemical oxygen demand, and 60% reduction in total nitrogen.

Finbarr Pyne, technical development director at Enva, comments: “As can be seen from these results, the treated liquid has a high total nitrogen value and a low total phosphorus value making it more suitable for landspread in comparison to conventional slurry.

This is due to the significant overall reduction in pollutant matter and the easier overall uptake by the soil due to the lower solid content of the effluent.”

Key Attributes Geotube Technology provides an ideal high volume low-cost solution specifically designed for liquid solid separation in isolated or remote areas.

According to Enva, the key attributes of this technology include; low capital costs, no moving parts, such as belts or gears, etc, a hydraulic capacity as well as a dewatering mechanism, and reduced capital costs on storing dewatered material.

Unlike most substitute technologies, this system does not have high maintenance or very high depreciation costs. It is easy to run and does not require extensive supervision when operating, while chemical running costs are also low, as the system is not a moving/spinning dewatering device. Bag size and capacity can vary to meet all individual requirements, and when filled, each Geotube bag can last between 20 to 50+ years on-site.

Finbarr Pyne adds: “Combined with Enva’s expertise in effluent treatment, dewatering through Geotube Technology can become a passive event creating options and opportunity for operations within the agricultural and other sectors. This solution also offers a cost-effective and less technical system than other conventional dewatering mechanisms, and offers significant benefits in terms of capital cost, revenue cost, technical input, storage requirements, depreciation and maintenance costs and labour input.”

Open Day – New Technologies at Cork Facility Enva is holding an exhibition/series of demonstrations at its Cork facility on Thursday 25th June, at which it will feature pilot plants re new technologies such as leachate oxidation, aqueous waste oxidation, spruce filtration, electro-coagulation, and Geotube dewatering, as well as a number of others. For more information, please call 021 4387200 or email cork@enva.ie I

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRL/MAY 2009

I WATER QUALITY

Sustained Investment in Infrastructure Needed to Deliver Clean Drinking Water The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has just released its latest report on the quality of drinking water in Ireland. ntitled ‘The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland: A Report for the Years 2007-2008’, it is the EPA’s second report on drinking water quality following the making of Regulations in 2007 providing for a greater level of consumer protection. The Regulations require local authorities to notify the EPA and the Health Service Executive where there is a potential risk to human health, and to comply with their directions.

Between January and September 2008, the EPA received and assessed 283 notifications of failure to meet drinking water standards, audited 59 water treatment plants, issued 47 legally binding Directions to 15 local authorities requiring specific actions to be undertaken to improve the security of their supplies, and prosecuted one local authority for their failure to comply with an EPA Direction (Galway County Council).

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Sustained Investment “We need sustained investment in infrastructure to deliver clean drinking water.

Clean drinking water is vital to sustain our health and well-being and we rely upon it, particularly those involved in the services, manufacturing and tourism industries. Such investment during these tough economic times will provide the platform for sustainable development into the future,” comments Dara Lynott, director, EPA Office of Environmental Enforcement.

Findings The EPA found that in relation to the safety of drinking water (ie comparing the results of almost 240,000 monitoring tests against national and EU standards): • E. coli was detected on at least one occasion in 52 out of 952 public water supplies. This figure is down from 77 in the previous year (2006). This indicates that intermittent contamination of approximately 5% of public water supplies occurred in 2007.

• The number of private group water schemes where E. coli was detected dropped from 246 in 2006 to 184 in 2007. However, despite this improve-

Dara Lynott, director, EPA Office of Environmental Enforcement.

ment, over 31% of private group water schemes were contaminated at least once during 2007.

• Overall compliance with the chemical standards was satisfactory at 99.1% but challenges will exist to comply with the tighter lead standard in 2013.

• Compliance with several indicator parameters, in particular compliance with aluminium and turbidity parametric values, remains poor.

Security of Water Supplies In relation to the security of water supplies (ie the management of the risks to the drinking water treatment plant and supply network) the EPA found: • Of the 339 public water supplies identified by the EPA and placed on a Remedial Action List (RAL) in early 2008, 83 supplies were removed from the list having completed the necessary remedial actions and 62 were added. Overall at the end of March 2009 there were 320 supplies on the RAL. • Boil water notices or restrictions of use (eg do not drink) were put in place on 53 supplies serving approximately 118,000 persons in 2008. Adverse weather conditions in August 2008 alone led to the imposition of boil water notices on 20 supplies.

“Operators of drinking water plants are in the business of producing a food source and

protecting public health; as treatment technologies advance there will need to be a corresponding up-skilling of those charged with the operation and management of drinking water treatment plants.” Dara. Lynott concludes: “The conservation of water provides a win-win for those responsible for delivering clean drinking water. Conserving water supplied through leak repair means water is available for other or future uses and maximises the use of current treatment infrastructure. Using free on-line tools such as those available on www.greenbusiness.ie allow business and educational establishments to calculate losses of water through unintentional emissions and cut costs for business” Government Reaction In response to the report, John Gormley TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, says: “The EPA’s report demonstrates that overall the quality of our water is good and that further progress has been made in improving water quality in recent years. Clearly a lot more needs to be done and our rivers, lakes and water sources are still under threat from pollution - we must continue to protect them.

The priority attached by Government to this area is reflected in funding of Eur500 million for investment in water services this year which, even in these adverse economic times, represents an increase on our record spending in 2008.”

Regarding the EPA’s Remedial Action List, the Minister says that for schemes which were not already scheduled for major upgrading under the Water Services Investment Programme, he had established a special Eur15 million fund to meet the costs of any small scale improvements required to address the deficiencies which had been identified by the EPA. The Minister also noted that 95% of Group Water Scheme households were in compliance with national drinking water standards at the end of 2008 compared to 75% in 2006.

The Minister supports the EPA’s recommendation that chlorine monitors and alarms be installed on drinking water supplies. I

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

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I WASTE WATER TECHNOLOGY

Screening Solutions for Northern Ireland ongwood Engineering L recently managed the supply and successful installation of the fine screening and screenings handling capability for Project Omega in Northern Ireland. Project Omega is a Public Private Partnership project between Northern Ireland Water and Glen Water (a joint venture company incorporating Veolia Water and Laing O'Rourke) for capital works and the operation of seven wastewater treatment facilities, across six sites in Escalator Screens at North Down (picture courtesy of Glen Water).

Northern Ireland.

The majority of the project involved improvements to existing facilities January 2008. Longwood Engineering’s with the exception of the North brief was to manage the supply and installaDown/Ards Peninsula in County Down, tion of two new escalator screens. where a brand new treatment works and Phase 2 was awarded in June 2007 and associated feeder pumping stations were for this part of the project Longwood needed to provide treatment for sewage Engineering was responsible for both the from Bangor, Donaghadee and Millisle. screens and screenings handling across the The £1 million contract for the screens remaining sites - Seagoe, Bullays Hill, and screenings handling element of the Ballyrickard, Ballynacor and Armagh. The project was awarded in two parts by Laing work involved a combination of retro-fit O'Rourke to Longwood Engineering. and new channels. A total of twelve, 6mm Phase 1, awarded in June 2006, formed (2D)Escalator screens and ten Combipart of the advance works, prior to the Wash units, along with Local Control finalisation of the PPP contract, which Panels, were successfully installed across the required the completion of the brand new five sites, meeting all required criteria and treatment works in North Down/Ards by deadlines.

During this project Longwood Engineering achieved two notable milestones in the company’s history. They completed their 1000th Escalator screen installation, which was first launched in 1993 and, at the other end of the scale, they completed the installation of its very first Stormguard into Northern Ireland, which came about due to an improved delivery over another company.

Longwood Engineering stepped in at the last minute and met the deadline!

Says Jim Conlon, general manager of Glen Water: “This entire project presented many challenges - stringent deadlines, costing constraints, the need to cause minimal disruption to local communities, in the case of North Down/Ards, the requirement for all plant facilities to be inside buildings and, of course, our total commitment to supplying the most effective environmental management system.

These challenges were successfully met through close collaboration between all parties involved as well as ensuring we had the very best skills and expertise available throughout every stage of the project. Longwood Engineering has played a significant part in the success of the project.” I

World’s First Medium Pressure, Closed Vessel UV Systems To Gain Formal Approval For Waste Water Reuse erson’s InLine+ medium pressure, closed vessel UV systems are B the first in the world to gain formal approval for waste water reuse applications. Having undergone extensive third party testing

by Carollo Engineers in the US, they have been formally approved for post-filtration and reverse osmosis applications by the California Department of Public Health (Title22 validation) and are now validated for waste water reuse applications in accordance with AwwaRF/NWRI guidelines.

The most common method of waste water disinfection for reuse has long been chlorination. Despite chlorine’s impressive track record, concerns regarding disinfection by-products (DBPs) and, more recently, disinfection performance with respect to pathogen inactivation, are driving the conversion from chlorine disinfection to other disinfection methods such as

UV, which does not produce any significant DBPs. Closed vessel UV systems are easy to install within existing pipework, so there is minimal disruption to plant operation. Day to day operation is simple and maintenance is minor. The only regular requirement is changing the UV lamps and wiper rings once a year, a straightforward operation that can be carried out by on-site personnel.

Potential applications for waste water reuse are extremely wide-ranging and include any instance where water is needed for non-potable use.

Based in the Netherlands, Berson specialises in providing UV disinfection systems for drinking water and waste water treatment applications.

Berson, along with its sister UV companies Hanovia Limited in the UK and Aquionics in the US, is part of the fluid technology division of Halma. (www.halma.com). I

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

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Site Survey – Design – Supply – Installation – Spares – Maintenance

W.W.T.W. Inlet Screens HAIGH • No Separate Washwater Required • 98% of Organics returned to Flow • 95% Volume Reduction • 40% Dry Solids Content • Suits Raw Sewage Inflows up to 100 l/s (10,000 P.E.) • Substantial reductions in CO2 and Potential Methane

VAUGHAN ‘CHOPPER’ PUMPS BEFORE

AFTER

• Unique ‘Chopping’ action • Suitable for retro-fitting where pumps rag and block • Benefits the downstream processes by reducing solids mass • Heavy-duty patented components create the ultimate pump

VAUGHAN ROTAMIX SLUDGE TANK MIXING • Improves volatile solids reduction • Reduces sludge volume • Prevents clogging with the Vaughan ‘Chopper’ Pump • Costs less to purchase, install and operate

REID LIFTING • Lightweight, Portable and Safe • Conforms with Health and Safety Manual Handling Regulations • Wide Variety of Davits, Gantries and other lifting solutions available

QUATROSERVE STATIC BAG SCREEN

CSO • Odour Abatement • CSO Screens • Inlet Screens and Screenings Handling

• Storm Tank Cleaning: • Vacflush • Tipping Buckets • Flushing Gates

• Flow Capability of 12.5 l/s each • Tough, Resilient HDPE Construction • Corrosion Resistant •6-3-21mm Bag sizes available

Industrial Estate, Killough Road, Downpatrick, Co. Down BT30 6LJ Tel: (01)4780665 • Fax: (01) 4780678 • Email: info@bpf-ltd.com • W: www.bpf-ltd.com

I WASTE WATER TECHNOLOGY

Problem Solving and Whole Life Cost Reductions With BPF Distributors & Pumps and Haigh PF Distributors & Pumps has announced that Haigh Inlet Screens and Screenings Conditioning Systems are now working successfully in over 150 installations throughout Ireland, on raw sewage inflows up to 100 l/sec.

The benefits of this system are numerous including no separate washwater requirement, which results in water authorities recouping the plant capital cost in only 2-3 years with no waste of a valuable and scarce resource, with 98% of the organics being removed and returned to inflow for treatment, while achieving a 95% volume reduction of screenings removed, which are then compacted to 40% dry solids content. The low odour and almost organics-free end product is suitable for landfill with substantial reductions in CO2 and potential methane emissions.

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Vaughan ‘Chopper’ Pumps for Solids-Laden Sewage and Sludge Previous problems with ragging and blocking of sewage pumps have now been eliminated with Vaughan ‘Chopper’ Pumps at numerous locations eg Cloughleigh Ennis Co Clare, Lucan SPS near Dublin and Whitehead SPS near Belfast.

The Vaughan ‘Chopper’ Pump replaces the pumps that cannot cope with rag because it is has the unique ability of chopping all incoming solids prior to pumping.

This not only protects the pumps from clogging, but also provides added benefits

to downstream components, processes and the environment. All wear components are cast steel and heat treated for maximum impact and wear resistance. Combined together, these heavy-duty patented components create the ultimate pump for handling severe solids in wastewater and sludge.

A recent example is at a Dual Conventional ‘unchokeable’ submersible sewage pumping station where there were 68 callouts in the five months prior to substitution by Vaughan Pumps. Now zero callouts in five months have been recorded since the Vaughan Units were installed.

This is a typical example of how whole life cycle costs including operational cost and maintenance/spares/repairs have been reduced.

The CSO Terminodour positive pressure ionisation system is an ideal solution to odour control. The introduction of ionised air results in effective odour abatement ensuring compliant discharge to atmosphere.

CSO solutions for Storm Tank Cleaning include the Vacflush, Tipping Buckets and Hydraulically Controlled Gates.

These are all effective at cleaning Circular or Rectangular Storm Tanks as well as Sewer Networks.

CSO also supply a complete range of Flow Regulators – Sludge Hydrolysis – CHP Plant Reid Lifting Lightweight, Portable, Safe Lifting Equipment The portable, aluminium alloy 2 piece Porta-Davit currently has a WLL 500kg capacity at adjustable radius 800–1200 mm.

Total assembled weight is 24kg.

The PORTA-GANTRY range of lightweight, portable gantries is available from WLL 500kg–5000kg. The use of the PORTA-GANTRY usually leads to capital savings by reducing fixed, poorly utilised installations.

All Reid Lightweight Lifting Equipment is fully tested/certified and conforms with current Manual Handling Regulations. I

CSO Technik Storm Screening The CSO Static Wave Screen is the ideal solution when screening is required without the use of power. The screen will retain all gross solids, larger than 6mm in two directions, in the pass forward flow for removal downstream. It is a simple and cost effective choice for storm water screening.

The Pump Action Screen utilises the principles of static and mechanical screening, requires no man-entry for maintenance and has no moving parts.

Both screens have a Solids Retention Value (SRV) of greater than 55% and retain solids greater than 6mm as standard.

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

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I WATER EFFICIENCY

JFC Rainwater Harvesting Systems ant to reduce your water charges by as much as 50%? TuamW based JFC has introduced its range of Rainwater Harvesting Systems for both domestic and commercial/farm applications.

JFC House and Garden Systems are easy to install and maintain, complete with self cleaning filters giving 95% water yield.

They are economically priced and come with a 15 year warranty. Suitable for flushing toilets, laundry, bathing and irrigation.

The patented filter technology and in-house pump system with automatic switch over to mains water supply means you will never run out of water. Furthermore, the filter technology helps to ensure that the water quality you receive is of the highest standard and is fit-for-purpose.

JFC’s Commercial & Farm Rainwater Systems are a simple and effective solution for vehicle wash down systems, general power washing and cleaning, water reserve for factories/schools, as well as farmyard applications to name but a few. Systems are available from 5000 litres upwards with varying pump options also offered.

They are easy to assemble due to their modular design and are therefore suitable for any future expansion plans you may have.

JFC will advise and price on the most suitable system to suit your needs. JFC is currently running a promotion offering a 10% discount on all Rainwater Harvesting Systems, on orders received by 30th June 2009 (terms & conditions apply).

JFC is a leading plastics manufacturer with 21 years experience and supplies the following industry sectors: civils, construction, recycling, marine, agriculture and materials handling. For further details visit www.jfc.ie. I

‘JFC is currently offering a 10% discount on all Rainwater Harvesting Systems ordered by 30th June 2009’ (T&C apply).

Quote Ref: EEM0409

Rainwater Harvesting Systems Want to reduce your water charges by 50%?

Our House & Garden Systems are • Easy to Install & Maintain • Offered with Self Cleaning filters giving 95% water yield • Economically Priced • Offered with a 15yr Warranty Systems sized & priced to Suit You! Call us today for a no obligation quote!

Commercial & Farm Rainwater Systems Simple & effective solution for • Vehicle Wash Down Systems • General Power Washing & Cleaning • Water Reserve for Factories/Schools • Farmyard Applications • Varying Pump Options Available • Systems from 5000ltrs ….Upward • Modular Tank System Suitable for future expansion plans.

OU ELP Y H S LET U OUR CE Y REDU RGES CHA R E WAT

10% Discount on Orders received by 30th June 09 (T & C Apply) Quote Ref EEM0409

JFC Manufacturing Co Ltd Tel: 093 24066 Fax: 093 24923 Email: info@jfc.ie Web: www.jfc.ie

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ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

I ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy Managers and Consultants Called on to Enter Sustainable Energy Awards 2009 Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has commenced its annual search for Ireland’s most energy efficient businesses with the launch of the Sustainable Energy Awards 2009. he Awards, organised by SEI in association with ESB Customer Supply, recognise the achievements of Irish businesses succeeding in their efforts to cut energy costs and improve environmental performance. Entrants to the 2008 Awards demonstrated energy savings of over Eur17 million, with some projects delivering as much as 40% energy cost reductions.

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Invitation to Enter SEI is calling on energy managers and consultants to continue to enter the awards. “Once again we are inviting businesses across the whole island of Ireland to show us how they are leading by example in energy cost reduction. In these times the issue is more important than ever – and our Award winners continue to show that real savings are possible,” says Professor J Owen Lewis, chief executive of SEI. Entries to the Awards, which are open to all businesses and public sector bodies, span a range of sustainable energy categories from employee awareness programmes to sustainable buildings and renewable energy (see Panel). Entrants, both large and small, have typically delivered energy savings of 20% or more as a result of their energy management activities. The Sustainable Energy Awards highlight these successes.

“All of our work with Irish business is proving that energy savings are available, often at low cost. It is clear that energy and money is being wasted. Many businesses are now acting to address this, but there is still plenty to do. Our Awards winners are showing what is possible,” adds Professor Lewis.

Pat Fenlon, general manager of ESB Customer Supply, comments: “We are committed to continuing to work in partnership with Sustainable Energy Ireland and our customers to encourage energy efficient behavior as it plays such an important part in ensuring that customers get the best value from their electricity usage as well as being important in protecting the environment for future generations.”

Previous Winners Last year Jerry Dwyer of Lee Strand Co-operative Creamery was named Energy Manager of the Year for small/medium users. The co-operative is based in Tralee, County Kerry and currently processes 6 million gallons of milk into a range of milk products.

The judges said Mr Dwyer, “demonstrated that through good Sustainable Energy Awards 2009 – Awards Categories Category A: Leading Energy Efficiency Project Category B: Pioneering Renewable Energy Project Category C: Sustainable Energy Building Excellence Category D: Inspiring Energy Awareness Campaign Category E: Excellence in Coordinated Energy Management Programme Category F: Outstanding Energy Manager of the Year

Pictured at the Sustainable Energy Awards 2008 were (left to right): Sean Power TD, Minister for State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; Brid Horan, executive director of ESB Customer Supply and Group Services; Mark Coyne of Dalkia; Sam Suttle ofVodafone; and Brendan Halligan, chairman of Sustainable Energy Ireland. Vodafone was presented with the winning award for the Coordinated Energy Management Programme in the Small/Medium Energy User category. The Awards, organised by SEI, recognise organisations from across Ireland which have demonstrated excellence in energy management.

‘Entrants, both large and small, have typically delivered energy savings of 20% or more as a result of their energy management activities’ housekeeping, monitoring of energy consumption and identifying opportunities to reduce cost, energy cost savings can be achieved and maintained over time at low cost.”

Omagh-based company Renewable Building Technologies led a project for Gorey Courtown Forest Park, the winner of the Renewable Energy Project award. Michael Deehan, managing director of Renewable Building Technologies, comments “Energy usage and savings are more critical than ever before. For us, the hard work was already done- entering the Energy Awards is easy.”

He continues: “Winning an Energy Award proved to be a valuable marketing and promotional tool for both our client and ourselves. As a company who has been promoting renewable energy and low energy design throughout Ireland for the past twelve years, we were very pleased to receive recognition for the work that we carry out.”

Further details on the Sustainable Energy Awards 2009 can be found on SEI’s website at www.sei.ie/energyawards. I

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

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I ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Utilise Your Waste Heat any processes such as refrigeration and M power generation produce heat as a waste process. With current fuel prices it is more viable than ever to harness this heat to produce hot water for heating or steam for use elsewhere in the process.

Even if the waste heat on its own is not sufficient to raise the required output, combination boilers can be installed which have a traditional burner and a waste heat inlet in the same boiler shell.

Byworth Boilers manufacture waste heat boilers and combination waste heat/fired boilers such as the two 10,000kgs/hr boilers currently being installed in a leading London teaching hospital as part of a new CHP energy centre.

Byworth’s chief design engineer John Fox is a leading authority in the UK on waste heat boilers and designed the boilers specifically for the hospital to produce maximum output with minimum fuel usage whilst maintaining optimum pressure drop.

Flue gas economisers are also an integral part of the boilers’ design to utilise heat from the flue gases to preheat feed water, ensuring

energy efficiency and low carbon footprint.

For further information contact Byworth Boilers on Tel +44 1535 665225,

E-mail sales@byworth.co.uk or visit www. byworth. co.uk/ waste_heat_boilers.aspx. I

Galway Clinic Commissions Energy Saving On-site Power Generation Facility alway Clinic commissioned its new Combined Heat G and Power (CHP) plant at the end of February in line with its dual objectives of cutting energy costs and reducing

Pictured at the Galway Clinic CHP plant are Enda Elwood, engineering manager, Galway Clinic, and Andrew O’Connel, engineering manager, F4energy.

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site CO2 emissions. With this high efficiency plant, supplied by F4energy, Galway Clinic is now generating heat and electricity on-site for its 16,000 sq m leading patientcare facility, at a fraction of national grid electricity prices.

The rapid rise of electricity costs in the past number of years has presented a significant cost challenge to many commercial energy consumers in Ireland such as Galway Clinic. On-site Combined Heat and Power generation was one of the options assessed by Enda Elwood, Galway Clinic’s engineering manager, and his management team colleagues, to reduce these energy costs. In addition, the carbon footprint benefits of displacing inefficient, carbonintensive national grid electricity with high-efficiency power generation, has allowed Galway Clinic to make a significant contribution to Ireland’s CO2 reduction goals.

The installation at Galway Clinic will reduce carbon emissions by approximately 575 tonnes of CO2 per annum the equivalent of removing 160 cars off the road every year.

Combined Heat and Power is rapidly growing in popularity throughout Ireland, particularly amongst large energy consumers on the natural gas grid, and is supported with 30% government grant aid from Sustainable Energy Ireland. I

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

I ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Why a Basic Energy Audit Could Prove the Saviour of Industry With uncertainty surrounding the future of energy prices and as companies are pressured into attempting to reduce their carbon footprint, there has never been a better time for industry to consider the merits of variable speed drives and high efficiency motors. eading manufacturer ABB, has developed an energy audit that quickly and accurately pinpoints the potential savings in an industrial plant. A variable speed drive (VSD) and electric motor combination, when used to control the speed of pumps and fans, can reduce the energy bill of these applications by some 70% with a payback in less than 12 months.

And yet a survey of manufacturing managers with engineering roles has revealed that they do not regard VSDs as being the best way of cutting their companies’ energy bills. The survey, conducted for ABB, reveals that the 67 engineering managers surveyed placed VSDs at the bottom of a list of the ten most effective measures for cutting energy bills.

Joint top of the list were negotiating better prices with their company’s existing energy suppliers and fixing compressed air leaks.

ABB had expected the survey to show significant differences in attitude between the financial and engineering managers, with the latter appreciating the role that high-efficiency technologies could play in cutting energy bills.

The financial mangers believe that clamping down on visible waste, such as inefficient lighting and compressed air leaks, is important. Investing in equipment

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24 ABB drives, controlling pumps on the hot strip and cold mills, plus fans on the coke ovens, will be saving a million pounds in energy annually at Corus Strip Products in Port Talbot, South Wales.

that makes industrial processes more efficient came at the bottom of their list.

"This list is back to front," says John Conboy, Sales Engineer, Drives & Motors, ABB Ireland. "Making industrial processes more efficient can save much more than the other methods, but financial managers are simply unaware of the savings they can make. Most companies can save thousands of euros worth of electricity and some can even save hundreds of thousands of euros, often at comparatively low cost.

"Changing electricity suppliers is not going to make much difference at all in a market where prices rise across the board," he adds. "In addition, this does nothing to reduce the company’s carbon footprint, which also ought to be a priority."

ABB is in the vanguard of energy promotion, launching, in 2004, its award winning 6-stage energy saving plan.

A survey, conducted for ABB last year by Benchmark Research, of British manufacturing managers with engineering roles revealed that they do not regard VSDs as being the best way of cutting their companies’ energy bills

6-stage Energy Saving Plan The plan documents six basic steps towards understanding and planning an energy saving campaign.

• Step 1. The facts: Why is everyone talking about energy consumption?. It’s about saving money and, on a wider scale, helping to address the impact of climate change.

• Step 2. The savings: In just half-a-day, an energy audit can help identify the applications that offer the best energy saving opportunities.

• Step 3. The finance: Offers information on how to finance a drive purchase while still benefiting from the government's Accelerated Capital Allowance.

• Step 4. The products: Guides the enduser through selecting the best motors and VSDs for specific applications.

• Step 5. The proof: Gives examples showing how industry has benefited from using VSDs and motors.

• Step 6. The action: Gives advice and further contact information at ABB and its extensive UK channel partner network.

Energy Saving Audit At the heart of the 6-stage plan is ABB’s energy audit. On a typical industrial site

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

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3 Analysing the Data Following the collection of the data, the findings will be analysed and potential savings identified using dedicated software.

The findings will be methodically presented - often tables or graphs will be created to help see where savings are likely to arise.

During an initial meeting the audit engineer takes a look at the inventory of motors contained within a

4 Recommendations The action plan will then be prepared, usually comprising an Executive Summary and a detailed engineer’s report, highlighting applications that can save the most. The figures will normally be translated into monthly savings, and there will be detailed recommendations for fitting particular VSDs or motors. The report should also clearly show the expected payback time on fitting new equipment.

plant.

with a Eur150,000 annual electricity bill, Eur100,000 will be spent on running motors. For example, are any motors or fans running on full power all the time when they could be driven by demand?

The answer is a professional energy audit.

Undertaken by a trained engineer, an energy audit will identify those applications that would most benefit from the introduction of VSDs. The results, based on measured data from the application, will help a user target their investment so that it produces the highest possible savings and gives the best return.

ABB has devised a very simple and methodical energy audit that presents the customers with hard, compelling facts about the energy they can save.

1 Outlining the Scope of Supply During an initial meeting the audit engineer takes a look at the inventory of motors contained within a plant.

Energy surveys are most suitable for processes involving motors of 11kW or higher, used on large pumps and fans. This is where the savings from a VSD really start to look good compared to the investment cost. Often payback times of two years and below and sometimes under one year, can be achieved.

ABB meets the end-user and outlines the benefits of the audit in detail, together with any assistance the end-user might need.

2 Collecting the Data The data collection phase is an active phase.

It involves an on-site audit with selected fans and pumps, to determine operating parameters such as voltage, current and power factor and the energy being used.

This stage will usually be performed over seven days to gain a complete picture of the plant’s typical energy use.

The end-users own staff may become involved at this stage although different auditors have different approaches.

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5 Implementation While not strictly part of the audit the aim is that the recommendations should be fully implemented. Once new equipment is fitted it is normal to track the actual savings against the predictions shown in the report. This will also help justify the investment in VSDs. 6 Benefits An energy audit carried out by ABB or one of its channel partners brings the following benefits: • Clearly identified energy savings; Complete audit results and energy saving calculations; • History of other audits and associated energy savings; • Proposed payback times; • Degree of customer training given as part of the process.

There are also other aspects to consider, for example whether financial options are available and if your supplier offers a replacement drive scheme.

Carbon Emissions Calculator More recently, ABB has added another tool to its 6-step energy saving plan. As carbon emissions take a higher priority on company boardroom agenda’s, ABB has developed a simple to use and understand carbon footprint calculator The user enters a motor’s rating, and the calculator shows the energy savings in kWh, as well as the monetary savings, the cost of a suitable drive, and the payback time.

"Quantifying the carbon footprint helps organisations to manage their footprint and reduce emissions over time," says John Conboy. "But motor energy use is frequently overlooked, despite being the largest area of electricity use in industry.”

The carbon calculator can be accessed via www.abb.co.uk/energy.

Audits in Action - Corus Strip Products It was just such an energy audit that produced spectacular benefits for a steel maker in Port Talbot South Wales, saving £1 million on its annual energy bill. Corus is one of the biggest steel making companies in the UK with annual output of five million tones. Energy was Corus’ second biggest cost after raw materials and with energy prices rising year on year it was important that energy expenditure was minimised.

As part of a plant-wide energy saving programme, 24 ABB industrial drives, ranging from 140 to 400 kW, where installed to control pumps on the hot strip and cold mills, plus three fans on the coke ovens. The cost of the drives about £1 million; the whole project including pumps, cabling etc is around £2.5 million.

“The pump and fan motors were oversized and running longer hours than necessary,” explains Guy Simms, leader of the Energy Optimisation team at Corus Strip Products. “But with the ABB drives we are now installing, we can fine-tune the applications reducing energy consumption.”

West of Scotland Water Following an energy audit at one of its pumping stations, West of Scotland Water expects to make savings in electricity costs of £80,000. The Lomond Street Wastewater Pumping Station in Helensburgh has more than doubled its efficiency since two ABB industrial drives were installed by ABB Drives Alliance partner EDC (Scotland) Ltd. The drives will save at least £80,000 in electricity costs over a 20-year life span whilst minimising the risk of overflowing, as pump throughput has been increased from 14 to 30 cu m per kWh consumed.

“Indications are that the electricity consumption has been reduced by 48 percent compared to the same period in the previous year “, says Charles McCaig, Electrical Design Engineer at West of Scotland Water’s Planning & Capital Procurement Department.

For further information contact John Conboy at ABB Ltd, Tel +353 1 405 7300; E-mail john.conboy@ie.abb.com, Web www.abb.co.uk/energy. I

ABB’s Carbon Calculator also translates the carbon savings into car and air miles.

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

I RENEWABLE ENERGY – INTERVIEW

Bank of Ireland’s New €100 Million Fund for Renewable Energy Projects In February 2009, Bank of Ireland launched a new €100 million fund for renewable energy projects in Ireland. Given the current economic and banking landscape, this is exciting news for the Irish environmental sector. Environment and Energy Management recently interviewed Bronagh Larkin, Senior Manager in the Tax & Project Finance team to ask her for some more details about the fund. able project?

BL: Potential developers should seek professional advice from the outset when assessing the viability of any project. For example in relation to windfarms, the assessment of the suitability of the site for a wind farm is vital. In advance of being in a position to seek Bank debt funding, land leases, planning permission and grid connection need to be secured as well as the preparation of environmental impact statements and the gathering and assessing of wind speed data. Regarding other renewable projects, similar information would be required including details of proposed technology, supply and offtake contracts.

E&E:Bronagh, can you give us some details on the renewables fund recently launched by Bank of Ireland?

BL: This €100m fund was launched in February and is primarily aimed at those either expanding an existing project or developing a new project in the renewable energy sector. To date, most customer demand has emerged from those involved in wind farm projects. Typically the size of funding requested for these projects is in the region of €5m to €30m.

E&E: Why did Bank of Ireland launch the fund?

BL: The Bank aims to grow its share of the Irish renewable energy market and views this sector as an area of significant potential. The growth in renewables is particularly crucial in the context of Ireland reaching its Kyoto target and that 13.2% of national energy consumption is derived from renewable sources by 2010 in line with the EU Renewables Directive.

E&E: So, who looks after the fund allocation?

BL Bank of Ireland has dedicated Project Finance lending teams in its Business Banking and Corporate Banking divisions.

The teams have extensive experience in the debt funding of renewable energy projects, both in Ireland and internationally, and have assembled a renewable energy portfolio of over €750m including biofuels, hydro and waste management. Business Banking has funded wind farms throughout Ireland and holds a portfolio of over 150 mega watts. We are currently funding wind farms in Counties Cavan, Cork, Donegal, Kerry, Louth, Mayo and Sligo.

These wind farms will have the capacity to produce sufficient electricity needs of over 70,000 domestic households.

E&E: Since the launch of the €100m renewable energy fund in February, have any projects been funded?

BL: Since the fund was launched, Bank of Ireland has closed two renewable transac-

Bronagh Larkin.

tions and is in the process of closing a third. We also have a strong pipeline for the rest of 2009. Those availing of the funding are a mix of experienced developers and customers who are new to the sector, including landowners who have taken appropriate professional advice and see an opportunity to develop a renewable energy project.

E&E: What are the key challenges for the sector?

BL: Whilst there has been significant investment by the State in supporting the renewable sector, there remain a number of issues to be addressed to maximise the rate of project development. For wind farms, these include a need for planning permission extensions and grid connection issues to be addressed. For other renewable energy projects, contractual agreements to support the electricity off take arrangements may be required to support the project economics.

E&E: What advice would you give individuals interested in developing a renew-

E&E: What about small scale energy projects or people interested in making their home or business greener?

BL: While this particular fund is specifically for larger scale energy development projects, this is the first in a series of funding initiatives totalling €200m planned by the Bank that will support environmentally friendly projects and will ultimately assist in reducing Ireland’s carbon footprint. We have recently launched a Green Loan with discounted loan rates for home owners interested in making their home more energy efficient. In addition, we will shortly be launching a second fund and range of supports for SMEs looking at energy creation for their farms and small businesses. Both personal and smaller SME customers should contact their local branch to enquire about our product offering. Our Global Markets team also offer product construction and risk hedging services on equity and fund markets, commodities, inflation and pensions. They are also active in the carbon emissions and property derivatives markets. Details on all of these packages are available on the Bank of Ireland website.

Those interested in seeking further information should contact Bronagh Larkin, Senior Manager - Tax/Project Finance unit at Bank of Ireland Business Banking, Tel. 01 6653476. I

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

17

“ELAGH HOUSE” 161 BALLYMAGUIRE ROAD STEWARTSTOWN, DUNGANNON CO TYRONE, N.IRELAND BT71 5NN

I RENEWABLE ENERGY – WOOD FUEL

Q Mac Wood Pellet and Woodchip Storage Solutions ith more homes and businesses switching to renewable energies, the demand for wood chip and wood pellet storage is increasing and one local company leading the way in meeting this requirement is TC McKeown Engineering.

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supplying quality steel products to the farming, construction and food related industries - and now are the all Ireland manufacturer for Q Mac Silos to the renewable energy sector.

The firm’s main products are galvanised, fibreglass, stainless steel and aluminium storage bins/silos offering capacities from 1 to over 100 tonnes.

They can also be supplied in various colours if required.

From research into domestic/private houses the main criteria for silos are (1) complete discharge of all pellets and (2) be as visibly discreet as possible, as not to take away from the appearance of the house itself. If feasi- 17m ble it can be hidden out of view behind a garage, wall, fence etc. However if this is not possible then TC McKeown Engineering does its best to produce storage that ‘does not to look out of place’.

The company supplies/manufactures minimum three and a half tonne silos which look aesthetically pleasing. The silos can be made in a range of colours so as to ‘blend in’ with specific house or garage features. If required these silos can be purchased in ‘kit’ form for easy transportation and so reduce costs to the customer.

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Twin wood pellet storage silo for Primary School.

ing, electrics etc, if required prior to delivery, in order to save time on site. Solar panels can be attached to the outside of the container to contribute to heating the project.

If a level concrete base is laid on site then both the wood pellet/chip silo and the mobile container can be delivered and craned onto the base, quickly connected to the main plumbing and electric supplies, thus leaving all the renewable energy products easily accessible and all in the one area.

29m 3 galvanised wood pellet storage silo at

Industrial Projects In industrial projects, large silos are usually required to Based near Stewartstown, County hold pellets or chips. These Tyrone, approximately six miles from silos can be made to the Cookstown/Dungannon, the family run client’s specific needs, such as company has over 40 years of experience size, colour, appearance etc.

Also for the renewable energy sector TC McKeown Engineering manufactures waterproof ‘self contained mobile containers’ to the client’s specification and size. Wood pellet/chip burners, water tank, electrics, plumbing etc are all contained within the one unit.

Completely manufactured at the works, Silos can be tailor-made if outside space is at a minimum. company’s Picture shows conversion of disused lift shaft at a monastery units can be fully kitfor wood pellets. ted out, with plumb-

Armagh Fire Station complete with waterproof selfcontained mobile container.

104m3 wood chip storage silo at Omagh Leisure Centre fuelled by sweep system auger located inside silo.

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

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Recent Contracts Some of TC McKeown Engineering’s most recent contracts include: • 2 no. 46m3 (30 tonne) wood pellet silos installed at drinks factory in

22m3 galvanised silo for wood chips with sweep auger and opening lid, attached to a frame with weight cells, at AFBI Hillsborough.

Ballybofey, Donegal.

• 29m 3 (approx. 18 tonne) galvanised wood pellet storage silo, 3m diameter and 6m x 2.5m self contained mobile container installed for the Fire Authority in Armagh; • 104m 3 wood chip storage silo, 5.25 diameter for Omagh District Council, which installed a biomass boiler at the town’s leisure centre; • 15m 3 fibreglass silos installed for wood pellet storage at a large supermarket and also at an aerospace company; • Silos can be tailor-made if outside space is at a minimum (eg conversion of disused lift shaft at a monastery for wood pellets); • 17m 3 (approx 11 tonne) twin wood pellet storage for a primary school; • 22m3, 3m diameter galvanised silo for wood chips with guarded access ladder to roof, attached to a frame with weigh cells, at AFBI Hills-borough. This silo is manually filled by a front load shov-

6m3 fibreglass wood pellet storage silo installed at domestic build.

el, and can hold many different materials in order that the research centre can assess its economic potential as a further source of renewable energy.

For further information contact T.C. McKeown Engineering/Q Mac Silos Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland Tel: +44 (0)28 8673 7312.

Fax: +44 (0)28 8673 6700.

E-mail: info@qmacsilos.co.uk www.qmacsilos.co.uk I

I RENEWABLE ENERGY – WOOD FUEL

Wood Pellet Stores From McAree Engineering cAree Engineering is a general sheet metal fabrication company specialising in bulk storage. The company’s V-Mac range of meal stores is well respected in the agricultural sector for its design quality and durability.

Over the past two years McAree Engineering has designed the V-Mac Range of wood pellet stores. Brendan McAree, managing director, says “this was an obvious extension of our existing products – over the past 30 years we have developed a high level of expertise in animal meal storage – a product that has similar properties to wood pellets. We researched the market and identified a number of key needs that we could meet.”

Using its expertise McAree Engineering has developed a range of wood pellet stores from 5–200 ton capacity for any commercial use. These stores can be single or double skinned depending on requirements.

Brendan McAree also points out that as

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V-Mac wood pellet store and delivery system.

McAree Engineering also provides a design and manufacturing service for silos for the waste water treatment Industry.

each store is custom built a range of accessories can be fitted to suit each particular installation – from air filtration to protect the quality of air around the store to level indicators and silo safety systems.

Another requirement was the need for a domestic wood pellet store. Peter Richardson, sales and marketing manager, explains: “Domestic wood pellet users tend to need storage for three to four months of pellets at a time. So protecting the pellets was key – that led us to develop a fully insulated store to protect the wood pellets from the uniquely damp Irish climate. We used our sheet metal expertise to design the

store with an attractive shape – one that would appeal to domestic users.”

Peter Richardson continues: “It then quickly became apparent that domestic users needed a complete solution – so we developed the internal augur motor in the store to also drive the delivery augur. Now we provide a full solution that provides wood pellet storage; delivery of the pellets to the boiler hopper; automating the filling process so that the boiler hopper fills automatically and completely installing the system. All the customer has to do is fill the store.”

McAree Engineering also provides a design and manufacturing service for silos for the waste water treatment Industry – offering a range of silos for storing hydrated lime and quicklime as well as dried sludge.

“We work with each client to develop a specific solution to their needs – our experienced site team simply implement the solution,” says design engineer, Vincent McAree. I

V-Mac delivery augur connected to boiler hopper note the level switches.

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

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training & education CMSE Collaborates With CSA to Exclusively Deliver Greenhouse Gas Management Training Program in Ireland hris Mee Safety Engineering (CMSE) C and Canadian Standards Association (CSA), a leading developer of standards and codes, have announced a new collaboration to allow CMSE to deliver the CSA Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Management Training Program to Ireland and the UK. CMSE is a leader in safety, energy and environmental services, providing expert consultancy, training and recruitment to a range of national and international clients.

“This latest venture by CMSE shows that Irish companies are well-placed to compete on a global level in the environmental and energy sectors. I am confident that CMSE will deliver the required flexibility, experience and knowledge to drive conformance with greenhouse gas management standards, which are crucial in meeting our emissions targets,” says Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD, who was present at the signing of the collaboration contracts.

The training program, developed by CSA, based on the ISO 14064 standards for quantification, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, will be exclusively delivered by CMSE in Ireland and the UK. Chris Mee, managing director of CMSE, says that managing greenhouse gases are

Energy Minister Eamon Ryan TD pictured with Christopher Mee, managing director of CMSE, and Susanne Kiraly, president, standards, CSA, at the official signing of contracts that gives exclusive rights to CMSE to deliver Carbon Footprint Measurement training to energy professionals in both the UK and Ireland.

becoming a major concern of business, both big and small. “Employers are bracing themselves for a spate of European-wide GHG taxes that will impact on every business, from multi-nationals to SME’s.

Accurate measurement of these emissions will be vital to minimise penalty payments and to save money.”

CSA Involvement “CSA welcomes this opportunity to showcase its GHG Management Training

Program in Ireland and the UK,” explains Suzanne Kiraly, president, standards of CSA. “The program, based on the ISO 14064 series of standards, is designed to help enable organizations and governments to use the internationally agreed upon best practices to measure, report and verify greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. Once a baseline measurement is established, organisations will be able to make plans on how to reduce emissions and improve their carbon footprint. CSA believes that CMSE possess the right balance of technical knowledge, expertise and the experience in training and auditing compliance in the environmental field to deliver this Training Program in Ireland and the UK.” On behalf of Canada, CSA has led the development of the ISO 14064 series of standards which are designed to provide a new international standard for GHG accounting and measurement. They enable governments, businesses, investors and other interested parties to measure, report and verify GHG emissions from organisations or specific GHG reduction projects.

CMSE, will deliver the CSA developed training programmes to companies, enabling them to utilise ISO 14064 effectively to meet international best practice on GHG monitoring and reduction.

For more information visit www.cmse.ie. I

Ireland Needs Sustainable Building and Training ike most of the world, Ireland is impactL ed by the global economic crisis.

However, this represents a unique opportunity to redesign the building industry throughout Ireland from top to bottom, creating a sustainable and renewable marketplace with highly trained and skilled tradesmen, designers, and property professionals.

SEI has announced the Home Energy Savings Scheme, and the ESB recently announced a green stimulus initiative.

Some banks have developed Green Loan schemes for homeowners. These schemes can

be our gateway to implement energy efficiencies in buildings and renewable energy production and usage.

To keep at the forefront of this movement, those working in the construction and property industry will need to upskill and share knowledge. Organisations such as the Environmental and Sustainable Construction Association (EASCA) are helping to lead Ireland to the future of this industry, and offer networking opportuni-

ties such as the Green Building Users Group in association with NICER. Training and Networking Training and networking will be key for engineers and architects who want to learn the latest software tools for design analysis, for tradespeople who need to learn how to install biomass, solar domestic hot water, and heat pump systems, and for property owners and managers who need to tap into this pool of knowledge for current and future projects.

Recent EU directives require Building Energy Ratings for all buildings,

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

23

training & education and current building regulations require air pressure testing for new builds. In addition, and relevant beyond low energy/passive design, building regulations also require that all non-accredited details must be evaluated using thermal analysis software to meet the increasing standards. The standards proposed for 2010 and 2013 will require a high skill level in these areas, with an ongoing need for trained professionals to provide those services.

More than ever, designers and builders

will need to understand how building systems work and how they work together.

They must understand the theory and practice of concepts like heat loss, renewable energy, insulation and ventilation, and lowenergy/passive house standards. The future of our industry lies in the hands of professionals who apply this knowledge to projects and buildings.

Effective Training It is developments like those described

above that have inspired NICER Training to expand course offerings to meet the training needs of these professionals. Both the market and the regulation are clear, the future of building is green, and effective training will be the key to marketing these services today and in the future.

To help further this change, organisations such as NICER Training, with their dedication to providing the best training and networking will enable professionals to succeed in creating a sustainable built environment. I

Non-domestic SBEM Training Goes Online LSOL training has joined together with CIBSE (the Chartered E Institute of Building Services Engineers) and Engineers Ireland to provide a comprehensive online training programme for candidates wishing to become energy assessors of commercial buildings in the UK and\or the Republic of Ireland.

“We have been delivering a blended training programme for conducting energy assessments using SBEM in Ireland for over a year,” says Ciaran O’Connell, head of training development at ELSOL. “And our candidates have responded well to the online training support that we provide up to and through the completion of their competency assessment examination. With SBEM, the primary training requirement is to provide candidates with the skills to correctly use the software to input building data required to determine energy performance and building regulations compliance and to interrogate the results. Online training delivery has proven itself very effective for software skills transfer and so this is no different with training on SBEM.” The ELSOL training programme provides a comprehensive preparation for the SBEM exam, and candidates can also receive live online tutor support at their desk or at home – a big plus for candidates in need of reassurance and guidance through their studies.

“Our programme differs from traditional approaches where candidates are typically left on their own after the attended training

days,” points out Ciaran O’Connell. “Of course, now by taking the programme fully online, the additional flexibility for access to the training and examination coupled with savings including a lack of any travel expenses are very important.”

In addition to the online materials, candidates receive a hard copy course folder of presentation tutorials, a fully printed SBEM user manual and documentation for assignments (CPD credits apply) and practice exercises.

The programme costs Eur750 for SBEM training and examination or Eur300 for an examination-only option. For more information, book online at www.elsol.ie/doc/sbem or contact ELSOL, Email info@elsol.ie, Tel +353 (0)766 709 832. I

Commercial Buildings Energy Assessor Training SBEM Training & Exam available online (Ireland & UK) • Flexible delivery • Online of tutorials and exam practice.

• Example assignments • Cost effective (no travel costs) • Live tutor support through exam completion* • Community forums for on going support.

• Training (including tutoring): €495 • Training & exam: €750 *Accredited by CIBSE subject to APEL review

Contact – email: info@elsol.ie phone: +353 (0) 76 6709 832 www: www.elsol.ie/sbem

Improving Performance Through

TRAINING 24

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

People

MSL Engineering Ltd Rushbrooke Industrial Park, Cobh, Co.Cork Telephone: +353 21 4815806 Fax: +353 21 4812965 Email: info@mslengineering.ie Web: www.mslengineering.ie

MSL Engineering Ltd Main Mechanical Contractor at the Whitegate IPP Power Plant

We offer a wide range of services to existing and prospective clients that include the following:

• Process and Heavy Equipment Installation.

• Fabrication, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Process, Utility and High Purity Pipework.

• Pre-assembled Modular Racks & Process Units.

• Dismantling and Transport of Equipment.

• Scheduled Shutdown Work.

For further details please visit our website at:

www.mslengineering.ie

Wishing continued success to Bord Gais & Gama Power Systems

26

Mechanical Engineering Solutions From MSL MSL Engineering is an Irish company engaged in the mechanical contracting industry. Founded in 1979, with 30 years of service and employing over 150 employees, MSL aims to provide the highest standard of service to its clients, in the knowledge that all its employees operate in a safe and healthy working environment.

The company has successfully grown to emerge as one of the leading mechanical engineering contractors in Ireland in the delivery of both large mechanical construction projects and responsive maintenance support contracts.

From its inception, MSL's growth has seen its client base comprise both multi – national and indigenous companies across a spectrum of industry sectors including, pharmaceutical, chemical, oil, gas, power generation, transport infrastructure and food & beverage.

Today, MSL is regarded by its clients as an integral element in their supply chain, due to its excellent experience in the delivery of quality, timely projects and responsive maintenance in a safe working environment.

MSL's current and recent clients include: • GlaxoSmithkline • Pfizer Ireland Limited • ConocoPhillips Whitegate Refinery • ConocoPhillips Bantry Terminal • Eli Lilly SA • Bord Gais / GAMA Power • Cognis Ireland • Henkel Ireland • PYEROY • Vergaengineering SE • SNC Lavalin Ireland • Millipore BV

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

ESB Corden Pharmachem Janssen Pharmaceutical Novartis Schering Plough Bristol Myers Squibb Tullow Oil Topaz Energy Greencore plc PJ Hegarty Shell Ireland Cork Airport Authority John Fleming Construction Ltd • John Sisk Ltd • Ascon Ltd.

I ENERGY SUPPLY

New €407 Million Power Station to Energise Bord Gáis Construction of the Bord Gáis 445 MW gas-fired power station at Whitegate, County Cork, is on schedule and within the €407 million budget. ord Gais expects to fire the plant for the first time, exporting electricity to the national grid, in November 2009. Full commercial operation is scheduled for June 2010.

Located adjacent to the existing ConocoPhillips refinery at Whitegate, the Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant marks a significant development for the state-owned Bord Gais in the implementation of its all-island, dual-fuel strategy, allowing future growth in electricity supply.

B

Key Features The new power plant will enable Bord Gais to sell electrical power through the Eirgrid 220 kV transmission system and so increase the base-load installed capacity for electrical generation in Ireland by May 2010. The 445MW output of the plant will power around half a million homes.

The electricity generation facility will also reduce the proportion of greenhouse gas emissions per Mega Watt (MW) of electricity generated though the operation of a highly efficient plant, thus contributing to Ireland’s obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.

The CCGT power plant is being designed and constructed by a consortium of GE John Mullins, (General Electric) and Gama Bord Gais.

Power Systems, which have a wealth of international experience in constructing power generating plants. GE-Gama awarded the civil works contract to John Sisk & Sons and several local companies have been sub-contracted for works on the site. The project will employ over 600 people at peak construction.

Bord Gáis Networks is providing a 12 km underground pipeline to supply natural gas to fire the Whitegate plant from the national network, while Eirgrid will connect the power station to the national electricity grid via underground cables.

Diversification Strategy “The Whitegate power plant project is a very significant development for Bord Gais.

It represents our first major investment in the Irish power generation sector, supporting our strategy in the retail electricity market and providing much needed power to meet growing national demand,” explains John Mullins, chief executive of Bord Gais.

Indeed, in line with its diversification strategy, Bord Gais acquired its first wind farm development in County Galway in November 2008 and recently completed the purchief executive of chase of the 32 MW Sorne operating wind farm in

Electrical, Instrumentation and HVAC Contracts For Dornan Engineering Dornan Engineering is currently engaged by Gama Power Systems to complete the electrical, instrumentation, and HVAC contracts on the 450MW combined cycle gas turbine power station for Bord Gais at Whitegate, Midleton.

The scope of work on the project includes the installation and assembly and testing of the main GSU and UAT transformers as well as other transformers, the insulated phase busbar which links the generator circuit breaker to the GSU and UAT transformers, the stand-by generator, generator circuit breaker and switchgear throughout the site.

Dornan Engineering is responsible for the installation and testing of all medium voltage and low voltage cabling throughout the project which runs along a network of cable racks located within buildings and within cable galleries and ducts between buildings.

As well as the overall plant power and control installation Dornan Engineering is responsible for the general services, fire alarm, lightning protection, communications, earthing, instrumentation hook-ups, public address, and security systems installations.

The HVAC contract consists of the supply and installation of ductwork, fans, louvers, and air conditioning units within the plant.

Power plant under construction at Whitegate.

County Donegal. Bord Gais is also finalising the acquisition of a second wind farm development in County Tipperary, which will give it 120 MW of wind power in its development portfolio. Bord Gais will continue to expand its wind power capacity significantly during this year.

Furthermore, Bord Gais is investing Eur10 million in alternative energy research and development and is currently participating in a number of projects including biogas, gas as a transport fuel, and wave and tidal energy.

Financial Performance In the year ended 31st December last Bord Gais increased turnover by 14% to Eur1.38 billion with gas sales, which accounted for almost two-thirds of the total, increasing by 15% to Eur881 million. Electricity sales rose by 18% to Eur282 million.

However, profit before tax decreased by 10% to Eur151 million as a result of additional expenditure associated with continuing expansion into new business areas, cost of sales, increased regulatory/safety requirements and a share based payment associated with the introduction of an employee share ownership plan in 2008.

Since entering the domestic electricity market in February 2009 through ‘The Big Switch’ campaign, Bord Gais has gained over 100,000 new electricity customers.

“Bord Gais is now well on its way to transforming itself into a leading Irish energy company – performing successfully in the country’s gas and electricity markets,” says John Mullins. I

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION H.A O’Neil are currently involved in the construction of a 450MW plant. The Project consists of a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power station (the Plant) with a nominal rating at the specified ambient conditions of between 380 and 450 (MW), to be constructed at a site leased by the Bord Gais Eireann (BGE) within the Conoco Phillips (CP) Whitegate Refinery, Whitegate, Middleton, Co. Cork, Ireland. In the Contract signed with BGE, the Contractor is General Electric Co., General Electric International Inc. and GAMA Power Systems Inc. Consortium. The scope of the Project is turnkey supply of a single CCGT block.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK H. A. O’Neil is completing the Mechanical Services on the Heat Recovery Steam Generator 450MW project.

The scope includes: • 700 tonne of main steel erection • 3500 tonne of equipment installation • 900 tonne of pipe installation fabrication & install • Heavy lift capacity on modules - 205 tonne (18no.)

• Steam drum weight 125 tonne • Assembly and erection of stack 7m diameter and • 60 meters high 28

PROJECT STATISTICS Project: Client: EPC Contractor: Value: Programme: Start Date: Completion Date: August 2009 Scope Of Work:

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

Whitegate IPP, Cork Bord Gais Gama (GPS) €6.5m 9 Months December 2009 HRSG Balance of Plant Water/Effeluent Treatment Plant Auxillary Boiler

I

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ESB Independent Energy Sponsored 2009 Green-schools Energy Project Winners n ESBIE schools programme to inspire energy efficiency in business concluded with an awards ceremony in Dublin. The Guardian Angels National School in Blackrock, Co.Dublin, was the main winner in the in the 2009 An Taisce Green Schools Energy Project, sponsored by ESB Independent Energy (ESBIE).

The awards are part of a schools initiative that aims to educate young people about the benefits of energy efficiency, the impact of excessive CO2 on the environment and the need to reduce emissions and conserve diminishing resources. Schools are encouraged to develop a project that illustrates the practical application of energy efficiency by engaging with a local business.

The award ceremony took place in The Tailors Hall in Dublin last month, where Liam Molloy, managing director of ESBIE, and Michael Finneran TD, Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, presented the prizes to the winning schools.

The Guardian Angels National School, linked with Pfizer, came first and won a sustainability fund of Eur4,000.

Three runners up each won a Eur2000 sustainability prize: Cross New School, Kilrush, Co. Clare (linked with ESB Moneypoint); St Patricks Girls National School, Limerick (linked with Musgrave Wholesale Partners) and Queen of the Universe New School, Bagnelstown, Co. Carlow (linked with Tesco). Colaiste Iosagain in Portarlington, Co. Laois, won a special prize of Eur500 in the best essay section.

A

Local Business Involvement Local businesses are encouraged to work with schools on the scheme, not only to highlight their own energy management

Children from Guardian Angels National School, Blackrock, celebrate their win with ESBIE Plug Man.

initiatives but to integrate with their local community and spread the same positive message about conserving energy and protecting the environment.

The judges said that all the projects submitted were of a very high standard and were a great credit to all the schools and the businesses who participated. Guardian Angel National School, Blackrock, completed their project in association with Pfizer, Dun Laoighaire. The energy committee from the school visited Pfizer and conducted an energy audit. It came up with some simple solutions for Pfizer to implement immediately to help save energy and money.

The school will design posters and stickers for Pfizer to place on PCs and light switches to remind people to switch them off. They also encouraged employees to open up the blinds in the offices to let in natural light and switch off the lights as part of range of simple ideas that could make a tangible difference.

Cross National School was linked with ESB Moneypoint. The school took a tour of Moneypoint power station, taking notes on how they think the plant could reduce energy. They came up with great suggestions, some of which have been taken on board and already introduced by ESB Moneypoint.

St Patricks Girls National School, Limerick, was linked with Musgraves Wholesalers, a short walk away from their school. The girls realised that Musgraves are doing the exact same work as they are on their Green-Schools project. “We have the same goals and targets and are both constantly trying to do better,” said one of the team.

Queen of the Universe National School, in Bagnelstown, Co. Carlow, was linked with Tesco in Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow. Each pupil was armed with a clipboard and a list of questions to ask. The children were very impressed by Tesco’s energy awareness and initiatives.

ESBIE Initiative Launched in September 2008 by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD, the ESBIE initiative is targeted at the 230 National Schools that are already at the “Energy” stage of the An Taisce’s ‘Green Flag’ project. 28 schools were linked up with 28 businesses to complete a project on

The winning children proudly displaying their award along with Susan Casey, and Michael Killilea, Pfizer, Dun Laoighaire, who linked with the school on the project; Liam Molloy, managing director of ESBIE; Charles Stanly-Smith, chairman, An Taisce, and Cecila Mann, Green-schools coordinator at Guardian Angels National School.

energy efficiency in a business environment.

The core Green-Schools programme which involves almost 3,000 schools throughout Ireland is supported by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The programme offers schools and their wider communities a flexible seven-step approach for schools to implement an environmental management system, based on the models of ISO14001 or EU EMAS – Eco-Management and Audit Scheme.

The Green-School programme was originally developed by The Foundation for Environmental Education in 1994 on the basis of the need for involving young people in finding solutions to environmental and sustainable development challenges at the local level.

Participation ESBIE is already actively seeking businesses to participate in the next Green-Schools Energy Project campaign that commences in September. If you would like to get involved, please log onto www.esbie.ie and register. I

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

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renewable energy from ESB Independent Energy

E E N N E E R R G G Y Y

www.esbie.ie 01 - 862 8300 www.esbie.co.uk 0845 - 309 8138

P P O O II N N T T

I ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE

ESB Job Stimulus Measures ESB has announced a series of initiatives to create and sustain up to 6,000 jobs and training opportunities in the economy. Up to 3,700 new jobs will be created outside the company in Ireland, supporting the delivery of ESB's ambitious strategic framework in the following areas: • Smart Networks – 750 new jobs; • Smart Metering - 750 new jobs; • Electric Vehicles – 600 new jobs; • Wind Energy – 300 new jobs; • Property Construction – 550 new jobs; • New technologies (Eco Fund) – 350 new jobs; • Energy service (Home Insulation) – 250 new jobs; • Others (Telecoms, Biomass, Green Fleet) – 150 new jobs; • Total – 3,700 new jobs.

In addition, ESB will sustain a further 1300 jobs, also outside the company, by its commitment to the ambitious ongoing investment programme in the company's power generation and networks infrastructure.

ESB will recruit 250 engineers and 50 other professionals. ESB will also train 800 apprentices over the next five years including 400 FAS apprentices who lost their jobs in the recent economic downturn and will now be able to complete their craft training, paid for by ESB. Specific projects which will result in the new jobs include: • The roll-out of Smart Metering and the implementation of ESB's Smart Networks Strategy which will lead to 1,500 jobs by 2013.

• Novus Modus (ESB's new energy technology fund) has committed to a five year programme of investment Padraig McManus, chief executive of ESB.

I RENEWABLE ENERGY

Ireland Behind EU Average on Wind Installations Ireland lags considerably behind European counterparts in terms of new wind installations and is facing a serious bottle neck in terms of delivering on 2020 renewable energy targets, according to Dr Michael Walsh, chief executive of the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA). Dr Walsh says that while numerous plans have been announced of late for the sector, some are highly ambitious and we need to start accelerating project delivery so we do not end up in a bottleneck as we approach 2020 and 30

miss out on a significant employment opportunity for the Irish economy.

Dr Walsh points out that latest European statistics show that Ireland is still very much back of the class in relation to installations. “While 2008 was an improvement in terms of installations, EU wide statistics show that in 2007 we installed just .7% of the EU Member State capacity. Considering we have set a target of delivering 40% of our energy from renewable resources by 2020, this shows that we have no way near the level of urgency required.

“Ireland’s market share of total installed wind capacity for

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in clean energy and energy efficiency (350 jobs). The fund has just invested Eur2.5 million in the Cork-based company, Nualight, which is creating up to 60 additional jobs locally.

Electric vehicles (600 jobs) including the roll-out of the infrastructure to allow electric vehicles to be recharged.

The redevelopment of ESB's Energy Minister Eamon Ryan, TD. Head Office complex in Dublin which will create 400 construction jobs. An international design competition will invite architectural proposals for the development.

Working with Sustainable Energy Ireland, ESB will offer free home-energy efficiency surveys to 25,000 householders and subsequent support to allow them implement necessary measures.

In order to alleviate the current severe shortage of electrical engineers, ESB will finance 50 apprentices each year for the next four years to allow them to achieve a third level engineering degree.

According to Energy Minister Eamon Ryan TD: “3,700 of these jobs are in the new green economy.

Government initiatives such as smart meters, smart networks, electric cars, renewable energy, green technology and home insulation are bearing fruit.”

ESB chief executive, Padraig McManus, says that jobcreation must now be a priority for companies with the capacity to invest. “Energy, and particularly the emergence of new technologies in the renewables area, presents us with the potential for really substantial job creation in Ireland. As a major Irish company, ESB has the will, ability and commitment to take a lead and to invest in viable enterprises and inject energy into the economy.”

the 27 EU Member States is just 1.4%. Set that against the backdrop that we have, along with Scotland, the best wind resources in Europe and it is clear that we are not delivering on anything like our potential.

Furthermore, 2008 statistics from the European Wind Energy Association show that

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

Ireland’s market share of total installed capacity among the EU15 grouping is just 1.6% whereas the EU average is 6.6%.”

New Design Wave Energy Converter Wins Carbon Trust Funding The Carbon Trust has awarded a Belfast-based company over £153,000 to accelerate the development of its innovative electricity-generating wave energy converter. The converter aims to improve the efficiency with which energy is captured from the sea by harnessing power from both

renewable energy from ESB Independent Energy E N N E E R R G G Y Y E

www.esbie.ie 01 - 862 8300 www.esbie.co.uk 0845 - 309 8138

P O O II N N T T P

I RENEWABLE ENERGY

Pioneering €6m On-site Wind Autoproduction Project Irish owned renewable energy company Wind Energy Direct has it is an absolute win-win situation launched Ireland's first large scale ‘behind the meter’ wind turbine for them,” says Dominic project with the installation of 2 x 2 MW wind turbines that will Costello, managing director of deliver power directly to the Munster Joinery plant close to the WED. Cork/Kerry border.

A significant proportion of Munster Joinery is a major manufacturer of high performance Munster Joinery’s total energy energy saving windows and doors and this investment in wind tur- requirement will now be providbines will make it a leader in reducing carbon emissions. The instal- ed by this green, carbon free onlation will also reduce the cost of electricity at the plant dramatically, site energy source, amounting to thereby improving competian estimated energy tiveness. cost saving in excess This Eur6 million investof Eur1 million over ment is the first large scale the next 5 years. The wind autoproducer project 4 MW-installation at on a commercial site in Munster Joinery will Ireland. Excess capacity can provide enough Gemma Ring O’Neill of Munster also be sold onto the energy to power the Joinery at the launch of the ?6 national grid. “This equivalent of 2,262 million 4 MW 2 turbine project at amounts to a significant houses and will dis- Ballydesmond, County Cork. breakthrough for industry place over 9,000 in its efforts to enhance tonnes of carbon per annum. competitiveness in Ireland Recognising the project’s importance as a technology by helping to reduce energy demonstrator for all Irish industries, Sustainable Energy costs from the start and Pictured at the launch of the first commercial ‘behind the Ireland, working on behalf of the Department of hedging against future ener- metre’ wind turbine project at a large energy user in Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, is progy price increases. Critically Ireland were (l-r): Dominic Costello, chief executive of viding Eur1 million grant support towards the project. also, our projects enable Wind Energy Direct; Graham Brennan, renewable energy WED plans to install fifteen behind-the-meter proindustry to significantly RD&D programme manager at SEI; and Sean Michael jects over the next four years in a total capital investreduce carbon emissions so Murphy, purchasing manager of Munster Joinery. ment of Eur60 million. the vertical and horizontal motion of waves.

The DUO WEC concept, developed by Pure Marine Gen, is designed to improve energy productivity and therefore drive down the cost of electricity generation. This should in turn accelerate the adoption of the technology.

The funding will be used to conduct mathematical modelling, carry out an iterative series of tank tests and produce design drawings for a prototype. In the longer term, Pure Marine plans to develop devices with a capacity of over 2MW which, deployed in large arrays, could have generating capacity of over 500MW, comparable with a small coal-fired power plant. A techno-economic analysis which also forms part of the project

will provide a projection of energy costs from the device and a route map for further cost reductions.

Green Light For World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm DONG Energy, E.ON and Masdar have announced that they will build the first 630MW phase of the London Array offshore wind farm in the Thames Estuary. Once complete, the scheme will be the the world's largest, and the first 1GW, offshore wind farm. The project will supply enough power for around 750,000 homes - or a quarter of Greater London homes - and displace the emission of 1.9 million tonnes of CO2 every year.

C&F to Create 250 New Jobs in Athenry

C&F Manufacturing Group.

C&F Manufacturing group is entering the renewable energy market and will be designing and manufacturing wind turbines from its Galway headquarters. The new venture will create 250 jobs over the next two years as part of a Eur20 million expansion programme. These jobs will be in all areas of pre and post production including design, engineering, manufacturing, sales and after-sales.

'This move into wind energy and to be an original equipment manufacturer has been part of our strategy for some time. I believe this world-beating technology will give us a real competitive edge in a tough global marketplace,” says John O’Flaherty, chief executive of

I APPOINTMENTS

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009

Arc Energy Strengthens Management Team Leading UK anti-corrosion specialist Arc Energy Resources has made three new appointments to boost its sales and project management teams. Nick Ellwood joins as sales manager bringing years of experience in the oil and gas industry with companies such as Serck Glocon, Charles Winn and Dublok. He joins as the company announces a 32% increase in turnover in 2008, topping £5 million for the first time.

The new project managers, Peter Crumpton and Steve Read, both acquired extensive hands-on welding experience 31

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P O O II N N T T P

I GASIFICATION

Energos Wins Planning Consent for Merseyside Energy Recovery Facility Energos has gained planning approval for a clean technology energy recovery from waste facility at Knowsley, Merseyside. The £40 million plus development will be a UK and international training centre and an environmental technology showcase for the UK company’s advanced gasification process – attracting visitors from all over the world.

It will take two years to build and construction is expected to start in 2010 with completion scheduled for 2012. Energos will create up to 65 local construction jobs and 18 skilled ‘green collar’ jobs and aims to set up a technician training programme with local colleges.

The facility will convert leftover, non-recyclable waste into green electricity for up to 10,000 homes, as well as creating heat for local industry. It will create a similar renewable power output to 15 large wind turbines.

Energos uses its own patented gasification technology, an advanced two-stage thermal treatment process that converts residual, non-recyclable waste into a gas by using the heat of partial combusbefore following careers in project management.

mental benefits that include neutral electromagnetic fields, oil-free cables, low electrical losses, and compact converter stations. The solution also provides features such as ‘black start’ capability, a way of restoring power after a blackout without New Arc Energy appointments (left to right) Peter the aid of exterCrumpton, Nick Ellwood and Steve Read. nal energy sources.

The transmisABB Wins $550 Million sion link will run underwater for Power Transmission Order 186 km and underground for 70 from Irish Grid Operator km, with minimal environmenABB, the leading power and tal impact. The only visible parts automation technology group, will be the converter stations at has won an order worth $550 each end that switch AC (altermillion to connect the Irish and nating current) to DC (direct UK power grids using technolo- current) and back. The cable gy that will strengthen the relia- will be encased in extruded polybility and security of electricity meric insulation, providing supplies in each country, and strength and flexibility needed to enable Ireland to expand its endure the severe conditions of wind power capacity. the Irish Sea. Eirgrid, the Irish transmission system operator, has ordered a Solving Ireland’s 500-megawatt (MW) transmis- Infrastructure Problems sion system using HVDC Light The private sector would like to (high-voltage direct current), an work more closely with politiABB technology with environ- cians North and South to con32

Artist's impression of the Energos renewable energy facility at Knowsley.

tion to liberate the hydrogen and carbon within the waste. On the Isle of Wight, Energos has recently opened the UK’s first fully developed gasification plant to operate on a municipal waste stream. front the infrastructure chal- would locate their business. lenges facing the island, says a Infrastructure Ireland, which survey undertaken at the recent was held in Belfast, was attended Infrastructure Ireland event. by delegates with a role or interAround 96% of delegates who est in the development of infraanswered the Barclays structure on the island.

Commercial Bank survey at the The Northern Ireland 4th All-Island Infrastructure Executive plans to spend £6 bilConference said they wanted to lion over the next three years do more to help the and Ireland plans to spend Governments solve our most Eur30 billion over the same pressing infrastructure problems. period. Both administrations They put energy as the most have said that infrastructure urgent infrastructure issue facing investment is a priority and will the island, followed by social help stimulate the economy in housing, and health and educa- these difficult times. tion (3rd tie). Other prime concerns included transportation, water and sewage.

Around half (52%) of the respondents believed that both Governments were making sufficient effort to partner with the private sector in order to finance major infrastructure projects. However, eight out of 10 worried that current levels of investment would be Conference sponsors Lorraine McAteer of insufficient to support Mott MacDonald and Niall Quinn of Barclays long term growth and Commercial Bank, pictured with Northern more than nine out of 10 Ireland Minister for Regional Development admitted the adequacy of Conor Murphy MP, and Irish Minister of future infrastructure State, Minister Martin Mansergh TD, at would affect where they Infrastructure Ireland.

ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, APRIL/MAY 2009