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5 Minutes With… Martin Hamilton, World Kinect Energy Services

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

In the latest instalment of our energy management executive interview series, we spoke to Martin Hamilton, Head of Sales UK and Ireland at World Kinect Energy Services, about his company, industry opportunities, the challenges we face with COVID-19 and how new technology can help…

Tell us about your company, products and services. 

World Kinect Energy Services is a global leader in energy management, fuel supply, and sustainability. Our focus is Everything Energy, striving to help our customers buy better and buy smarter. Our core solutions are designed to make fuel, energy, and sustainability easier for customers, including physical supply, energy procurement, price optimisation and risk management, data management and sustainability. 

What have been the biggest challenges the Energy Management industry has faced over the past 12 months?

Covid-19 has superseded all other challenges faced during the last 12 months. The level of uncertainty as a result of the pandemic has had a major impact on the global energy market, particularly on production, commercial and demand. 

From an energy risk management point of view, a level of uncertainty is usually good for the market because it means our expertise is called upon and utilised. But this level of uncertainty has been so unprecedented, it makes it more difficult to determine the accurate level of risk involved across all markets.

And what have been the biggest opportunities?

From a commercial perspective, when the dust settles from the pandemic, the price of oil is going to be incredibly appealing. This needs to be capitalised on in order to future proof market opportunities, which customers will want to take advantage of – particularly financial. 

For those committed to contracts, the global uncertainty has also presented an opportunity to reforecast and make sure everyone gets back to their correct positions. 

What is the biggest priority for the Energy Management industry in 2020?

Commercially, like many, trying to stay in business during the current climate is the top priority. This means continuing to support our customers and making sure they stay in business too. 

Extracting what is best and what is available in the current market and offering contractual set ups will certainly help customers to ensure their futures are protected, do business and employ people. Examining risk policy and securing the supply is also crucial for the months ahead.

What are the main trends you are expecting to see in the market in 2020?

Covid-19 aside, the main trend we are seeing in the energy market surrounds sustainability. It is certainly our most expansive division of the business and we are dedicated to recruiting the best industry professionals and strengthening our diverse offering.

This gives us the flexibility to be able to find sustainable solutions for our customers and prospects, and allows us to intelligently speak about the opportunities, pros and cons for products, whilst making sure we deliver. 

What technology is going to have the biggest impact on the market this year?

On the thread of sustainability, electric vehicles are a key technological development. They are rapidly evolving, and will no doubt become more mainstream in the years to come. We’re already working with customers looking to integrate EVs, by creating bespoke strategies, ensuring they secure the best contractual conditions and have systems in place to manage the increased loads on electricity networks. 

Artificial intelligence is also really coming into play for World Kinect Energy Services. There is a lot going on in this area, from weather forecasting to price validation. These technologies are allowing us to increase accuracy on our price determinations, and with various projects in the pipeline, it will continue to have a significant impact. 

In 2025 we’ll all be talking about…?

EVs and AI are going to continue to be hot topics, there is no doubt about it. But sustainability is really going to ramp up for us and our customers as we progress towards the net zero deadline. 

Senior level discussions are already taking place with our customers across the globe, and we are developing strategies with specific 2025 goals to help steer them.

Considering that everything will need to be publicised to supply chains and customers via marketing teams, I would imagine there will be reviews taking place on the progression, from targets set in 2020, and serious discussions about the next stage.  

Which person in, or associated with, the Energy Management industry would you most like to meet?

I am intrigued by Elon Musk. I certainly don’t agree with everything he says and does, but I think it would be fascinating to gain insight into the mind of a genius that has driven such high-profile technological advances. 

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learnt about the Energy Management sector?

How competitive the space has become during my 20 years in the industry – the sheer number of market leaders continues to surprise me every day. 

You go to the bar at the Energy Management Summit – what’s your tipple of choice?

Definitely a G&T…or maybe a dark rum. I’m not too fussy!

What’s the most exciting thing about your job?

The large diverse service offering that I can have conversations about, such as making changes to benefit businesses commercially, but also supporting net zero campaigns. The industry has really shifted from being all about the commercial aspect, with the mindset among the majority of customers and colleagues being to genuinely make things better for the planet. 

And what’s the most challenging?

How competitive the energy market has become is making it increasingly challenging to do the right thing whilst remaining commercially viable. Due to excess competition, it can often become a race to the bottom from a price perspective. Nobody wants to devalue the quality service offered by their company, but the market ultimately dictates the price point.   

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

My grandmother’s motto was “it’s nice to be nice” – she said it to my brother and I all the time when growing up. 

Peaky Blinders or Stranger Things?

100% Peaky Blinders

https://world-kinect.com/European-Solutions-Homepage

Lowering carbon emissions ‘will help boost business post-COVID-19’

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

Companies globally have been forced to take extreme measures to change the way they operate during the global COVID-19 outbreak, and this has been estimated to have reduced carbon emissions by up to a quarter by some instances.

However, a new report from Emitwise claims it is possible to maintain these lower carbon emissions while also boosting economic activity once social distancing ends, and regular business activities begin. The key, it argues, is to better analyse and report on carbon emissions – and it gives clear business benefits of doing so. 

‘The business benefits of carbon accounting: creating organisational value from carbon accounting in a post-Coronavirus world’ discusses how to use carbon reporting as a competitive differentiator for your business. It offers 11 reasons why businesses can benefit from carbon reporting including:

  • Cost saving
  • Legislation
  • Point of difference
  • Access to new markets
  • PR opportunity
  • Talent recruitment and retention tool
  • Business benchmark
  • Futureproofing
  • Carbon taxes
  • Access to green funding and capital
  • Contributing to carbon reduction

The report is free to download here and also includes information on how organisations can continue to maintain lower emissions and start their carbon reporting journey in line with the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR), which came into force earlier this month.

Caroline Bartlett, Head of Carbon Accounting at Emitwise, and author of the report, said: “We’ve launched this report now as many businesses have already significantly reduced their emissions as an indirect result of Covid-19 and this is something that they should continue to progress once the outbreak is over. By better analysing – and reporting on – carbon emissions, organisations can generate huge business benefits at a challenging economic time while also maintain lower levels of emissions. It’s a win-win situation for business.” 

IRENA:Renewable energy can support coronavirus recovery

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

Advancing the renewables-based energy transformation is an opportunity to meet international climate goals while boosting economic growth, creating millions of jobs and improving human welfare by 2050.

That’s according to the first Global Renewables Outlook from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which concludes that while a pathway to deeper decarbonisation requires total energy investment up to $130 trillion, the socio-economic gains of such an investment would be ‘massive’.

The report asserts that transforming the energy system could boost cumulative global GDP gains above business-as-usual by $98 trillion between now and 2050. It would nearly quadruple renewable energy jobs to 42 million, expand employment in energy efficiency to 21 million and add 15 million in system flexibility. 

IRENA’s Director-General Francesco La Camera said: “Governments are facing a difficult task of bringing the health emergency under control while introducing major stimulus and recovery measures. The crisis has exposed deeply embedded vulnerabilities of the current system. IRENA’s Outlook shows the ways to build more sustainable, equitable and resilient economies by aligning short-term recovery efforts with the medium-and long-term objectives of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Agenda.” 

“By accelerating renewables and making the energy transition an integral part of the wider recovery, governments can achieve multiple economic and social objectives in the pursuit of a resilient future that leaves nobody behind.”

The Global Renewables Outlook examines building blocks of an energy system along with investment strategies and policy frameworks needed to manage the transition. It explores ways to cut global CO2 emissions by at least 70 per cent by 2050. Furthermore, a new perspective on deeper decarbonisation shows a path towards net-zero and zero emissions. Building on five technology pillars, particularly green hydrogen and extended end-use electrification could help replace fossil-fuels and slash emissions in heavy industry and hard-to-decarbonise sectors. 

Low-carbon investment would significantly pay off, the Outlook shows, with savings eight times more than costs when accounting for reduced health and environmental externalities. A climate-safe path would require cumulative energy investments of $110 trillion by 2050, but achieving full carbon neutrality would add another $20 trillion. 

The Outlook also looked at energy and socio-economic transition paths in 10 regions worldwide. Despite varied paths, all regions are expected to see higher shares of renewable energy use, with Southeast Asia, Latin America, the European Union and Sub-Saharan Africa poised to reach 70-80 per cent shares in their total energy mixes by 2050. Similarly, electrification of end uses like heat and transport would rise everywhere, exceeding 50 per cent in East Asia, North America and much of Europe. All regions would also significantly increase their welfare and witness net job gains in the energy sector despite losses in fossil fuels.

However, economy-wide, regional job gains are distributed unevenly. While regional GDP growth would show considerable variation, most regions could expect gains. 

Raising regional and country-level ambitions will be crucial to meet interlinked energy and climate objectives and harvest socio-economic welfare. Stronger coordination on international, regional and domestic levels will be equally important, the Outlook concludes, with financial support being directed where needed including to the most vulnerable countries and communities. As partner of the Climate Investment Platform, launched to drive clean energy uptake and mobilise clean investment, IRENA will advance collaborative action targeted to help countries create enabling conditions and unlock renewable investment. 

Read the full “Global Renewables Outlook” and key findings here.

Coronavirus: Impact of the 20 second rule on water consumption

 960 640 Guest Post
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By Barry Millar, Operations Director, Waterscan

Last summer, DEFRA launched a wide-ranging public consultation on how the UK could better manage its water consumption in response to the Environment Agency’s grim prediction that we are likely to run out of water by 2050. This consultation offered up a range of proposals for improving water efficiency at individual, local and business levels. One such idea was to set a legal limit on per capita water consumption. 

Less than a year on, the idea that such a measure could be introduced anytime soon has all but vanished amid government guidance for us all to wash our hands more, and for longer, in the fight against COVID-19. While the medical rationale behind this public health guidance is clear, there have been media reports querying the mid to long term environmental impacts of all this additional scrubbing – and it’s a question that some of our clients have been asking too. 

I looked at the data to determine just how big an issue all this additional water use might be.

At home, around 68% of our water use – 96 litres per person per day (lppd) – takes place in the bathroom, with handwashing liable for up to 10 lppd under normal conditions with modern Part G compliant taps. 

Moving to a scenario where each person washes their hands for 20 seconds, roughly 10 times each day, I would expect there to be a net difference of around 10 lppd. Scaled up to a population of 60 million, we’re looking at an additional demand on the water networks of 600 Megalitres per day (Mpd). 

Now, whilst that is not an insignificant amount of water, neither is it catastrophic: it amounts to a little over a 0.5% increase on national consumption. (Compare this, for example, with summertime daily demand which spikes by as much as 25% in some areas of the UK.) Furthermore, much of this increase is likely to be offset by social isolation where, within private households, sanitation would decrease in line with external exposure. A reduction in economic output will further alleviate the impact in the short term.

At the moment then, a nationwide increase of 600 megalitres isn’t cause for concern. But – should this situation extend throughout the summer when we usually experience an inadequate replenishment of resources – the situation might look quite different. It might well even be the tipping point for some water companies in water-stressed areas. 

The bigger picture is that we have a current supply capacity of around 15,000 Mpd day in the UK. The Environment Agency forecasts that this needs to increase by an extra 4,000 Mpd to avoid the risk of interruptions to water supply. 

Boosting supplies alone isn’t enough to secure our water future though: a reduction per capita must also be realised. Per capita consumption in the UK sits at around 141 lppd, with a target reduction of 16% to 118 lppd. The situation we currently find ourselves in then should, at the very least, be considered a real setback in the strive to force per capita consumption downwards to sustainable levels. 

So, how can we balance the 20 second rule, necessary for short term public health, with the 16% consumption reduction required to secure our long-term water supply stability?

It all comes down to making the best of a bad situation by managing assets well and monitoring consumption closely – and this goes for individuals, public sector environments and commercial premises. 

Many meter reading programmes are on hold as I write but it is important to keep an eye on consumption to notice any unusual consumption spikes (or in the case of commercial premises, any recorded water use at all, if a building is unoccupied) as this will almost certainly point to faulty pipework or taps causing leakage. Although an unwanted situation, it presents a fantastic opportunity to monitor premises that are rarely vacant. Anyone with automated meter reading (AMR) technology is well placed to do this essential monitoring which can of course be done remotely and therefore safely. 

It’s also a good time to take stock of essential network assets. Even taps can be an unnecessary drain on resources and cashflow. Older taps often have highly wasteful flowrates of as much as 10 litres per minute, compared to newer taps delivering 2-6. Carrying out replacement works now, or at least factoring this into future workflows, will have a positive effect in the longer term, especially for businesses operating in the hospitality and leisure sectors. 

These statistics in this piece relate to personal use in the home as opposed to commercial use and it’s extremely difficult to draw parallels to create a picture for the likely business impact due to the vast variables in commercial use (compare a manufacturing operation, hotel or hospital to a small office set-up for example). But the same principles apply. 

The drive towards water sustainability is just one of many corporate social responsibility priorities that will undoubtedly be put on hold in these unprecedented times and certainly, we would not advocate any move to limit handwashing to counter this impact. However, there is no time like the present to use this time to plan ahead. Managing and analysing our water consumption a little more is one way that we can all play a role in mitigating the future impacts of our activities right now. 

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