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Energy & Carbon Savings – Data and the Physical Interface

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By ETS

Significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, through ETS’ Smart Energy Management which empowers those with drive and ambition through an approach that tenaciously maintains the lowest consumption required for any business to reduce waste, reduce spend, increase performance, and guarantee savings.

Smart data acquisition and analytics allows waste to be identified and through an engineer’s lens ETS formulate the corrective actions required, thereby reducing costs and mitigating emissions whilst improving equipment performance. Using real time data analytics, knowledgeable engineering and inciteful thought processes, our technologies are ‘smart’ – not just clever but proper ‘SMART’.

We’ve been doing this for over 24 years with some of the largest UK Companies and have witnessed the increased investment in digital technology over recent years which is a very positive illustration of organisational interests in the environmental and commercial impacts of energy. However, the lack of proper skill to interpret the data streams can be a setback to making real changes in any business. Having the newest green technology doesn’t ‘cut it’ alone, you need the ability to manage technology in a way that reflects proper energy management and drives efficiencies for the business. This is where digital meets physical in energy, data, engineering, and systems management.

Digital Meet Physical – ETS bridging the gap.

To meet this challenge ETS have competent teams and resources including Data scientists, Control specialists, Engineers and Energy managers using data in an insightful way to seek out inefficiencies and saving opportunities. Moreover, we have digital tools to help us monitor, measure, and analyse energy data to international measurement & verification standards (IPMVP).  If there is not already an energy management system in place, we can support the implementation for any organisation and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Powering success through a well thought out and proven process of WHY reduce, WHAT to reduce and HOW to reduce. Data and knowledge of engineering dynamics allow ETS to guarantee real operational savings.

#Timewasted=kWhrswasted

To have your performance improvements identified and guaranteed contact ETS at: enquiries@energy-ts.com or Dean.Noden@energy-ts.com 0117 379 0850

https://energy-ts.com/smart-energy-management-semaas/

UK vs EU Energy Security Policy: What you need to know

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By David Kipling, CEO – On-Site Energy

In April 2022 the UK published its Energy Security Strategy. The key aim of the strategy is for the UK to achieve long-term independence from foreign energy sources and decarbonise the nation’s power supply. The main initiatives of the strategy are investment in nuclear generation and offshore wind, the latter being the source of hydrogen generation.

Contrasting this to EU energy security strategy (which is far more dependent on Russian gas) the EU highlights rapid action to embrace energy savings, diversification of energy supplies, and accelerated roll-out of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels in homes, industry and power generation.

UK plans are all long-term measures – it takes 10+ years to develop nuclear and offshore wind UK sees oil and gas as an important transition fuel and has set out plans to increase activity in the UK North Sea. In the meantime, CO2 reductions will be incremental at best.

EU has to act rapidly. A strong focus is on supporting energy efficiency and local renewables, which are much faster to implement.  This is also the fastest way to reduce costs and address current energy costs.

If you think about this in the context of our energy hungry industry, I think the right conclusion would be to follow the EU direction rather than wait for the long term measures. There is nothing lost by reducing consumption and using low-carbon generation to control and reduce costs.

If you would like to discuss how to be more energy efficient and use low-carbon energy generation, please contact David Kipling, CEO – On-Site Energy on 0151 271 0037 or email david@on-site.energy (www.on-site.energy).

Preventing legionella with IoT, automation and digital processes

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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Organisations across the UK are being held accountable by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to prevent the growth of legionella and other known pathogens in fresh water systems. Healthcare and hospitality are especially under pressure here. But, to achieve and demonstrate successful prevention, many organisations need to allocate a substantial amount of time, effort and expense.  

Automation, digitisation, the internet of things and cloud applications can help drive effective change in this space; to improve health and safety, and to help support the existing control and prevention methods that organisations have adopted. Chris Potts, Marketing Director, ANT Telecom explains…   

The risk of legionella

Legionella bacteria is found naturally in freshwater environments and can become a health risk in man-made water systems when it is allowed to grow and spread, increasing the risk of Legionnaires’ disease. This generally takes place when water remains stagnant and at certain optimal temperatures that propagate legionella growth. The NHS describes the disease as a lung infection caused by inhaling droplets of water containing the legionella bacteria, and is likened to a severe pneumonia by some.

When people become infected, it’s usually from an array of scenarios. These include purpose built systems where water is maintained at a high temperature, through equipment like a cooling tower; hot and cold water systems used; air conditioning systems; humidifiers; spa pools and hot tubs.

These types of systems are installed across many industries; like healthcare, care homes and hospitality, all of which have to demonstrate good processes are in place to prevent legionella growth within their water systems. Especially since they are accountable for protecting large numbers of people who access their services.

Employers are responsible for mitigating risk

To mitigate risk, employers are responsible for implementing the necessary checks and measures to prevent legionella growth. Not doing so could result in a significant fine or prison sentence under either the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, or the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, should an incident occur.

The lengths that an employer needs to go to, to mitigate risk, totally depends on the water system they have in situ: how it is used and what potential risk users can be exposed to? This naturally varies from business to business, so the first step is to undertake is a risk assessment, as this will not only detail what the potential risks are, but outline the ongoing measures that must be implemented to manage and control them. In some industries, like in healthcare, the amount of resource required to prevent legionella growth is quite staggering.

The resource problem: unproductive and inaccurate manual checks, and paper-based recording

When practically managing this problem, many hospitals or hotels often use an employee to manually check the temperature of key parts of their water systems on a weekly basis, and to flush water systems appropriately. This can include checking many pipes, water tanks and buffer vessels – what is more, some outlets may require water flushing twice per week, depending on the requirement, and additional weekly temperature checks too. All of this work also needs to be recorded accurately and time stamped to show that it has been executed correctly, and according to HSE requirements.

This recording and reporting normally takes place via a paper-based system, which is not ideal or efficient in today’s digital era. As you can imagine, manually checking and flushing each tap or outlet demands a lot of resource and is labour intensive too. To make this problem more troublesome, many cold water storage tanks, and the related buffer vessels that need checking, are often located in places that are not always easy to access, making it difficult to record water temperature, and the status of these parts, quickly and easily.

While a manual approach makes sense, and is quick and easy, for one or two taps, what happens when this task load increases to around 2000 plus taps, for example within a hospital? The time it takes to check, run the water, record the information, and draft the supporting reporting skyrockets and can create enough work for 3-5 full time personnel depending on the complexity of the water system. This time spent gets worse when it spans 300 sites in the case of a large hotel chain, for example, that has outlets as well as other water systems, like spas, to monitor and control. This approach is not productive, and paper-based recording is likely to deliver inaccurate measurements and data to management teams.

Another factor to consider is that in some cases flushing water systems can actually compete against sustainability agendas, even if advised by the HSE. There must be a be a more effective way, that does not require high demands on human resourcing, during a time when the NHS and hospitality sectors are facing talent shortages. Surely employee time would be better spent looking after patients and guests – or in deploying them within other areas of the organisation where value could be added?

Succeeding with IoT & automation

This is where digitisation and automated monitoring solutions, with wireless IoT sensors, are enabling hospitals, hotels and other organisations to improve processes, as they strive to meet HSE requirements.

When installed, these highly sensitive sensors can record when taps and showers have been used through normal daily use – for example, measuring the temperature of pipes to ensure legionella does not grow, or checking when water has been run. Information tracked is automatically uploaded to a secure online portal. Teams can access this data from a web browser on a PC, laptop or smartphone.

Management can then refer to this data and gain a true view of the water temperature / usage across all of their water outlets and storage tanks in real-time, centrally.  Reporting can be easily produced and show which taps have or haven’t been used through normal daily use, thereby minimising the amount of work that needs to be done manually (e.g. flushing taps, recording temperatures).

This modern approach also significantly reduces the traditionally high amount of administration, paperwork and reporting required, as it can be done automatically. Another key benefit for organisations and management teams is that all the data recorded is 100% accurate and reliable.  Which isn’t always the case when done manually. Taps also don’t need to be run for more than the required five minutes, on such a large scale, as would have previously been required. This helps organisations save water, energy and contribute to a more environmentally friendly process.

Conclusion

The traditional manual, paper-based systems that were used to support legionella risk assessments had their place and time. IoT, automation and the digitisation of processes is enabling organisations to achieve accurate health and safety gains that were previously unachievable only a few years ago. By trialling newer automated monitoring solutions, that make use of IoT, legionella prevention can be more effectively managed, protecting both people and driving productivity gains more steadily too.

Routes to deliver net zero

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By David Kipling, CEO – On-Site Energy

Businesses have complicated energy needs, particularly those that use a lot of thermal energy such as for steam or ovens.  Achieving net zero is going to require elements of re-engineering, re-thinking business processes, adopting new technology and changing energy purchasing strategy. But is it even possible in the current climate when those decisions will also directly affect the P&L through changed operating costs.

The main routes to net zero most businesses consider are:

  • Buy green tariffs – and hope they won’t be looked-through as “green-washing”. SECR reporting is starting to highlight energy intensity (how many kWh of energy your company uses to produce 1 kg of product) – which will aim direct comparison with competitors
  • Electrification – and hope the Government will make good on its promises to decarbonise the electricity grid
  • Await Hydrogen to move off gas – another big “if”. When or will it be commercially viable and available ?
  • Invest in energy efficiency

The problem with approaches (1) – (3)  is they will have failed to deliver the change that your customers are looking for anytime up to at least 2030. That could put your business at a competitive disadvantage. Also you are fully exposed to market volatility with these routes.

We believe the right path is option (4), to invest in reducing your energy intensity and also consider low-carbon generation solutions.  This way you reduce your CO2 footprint, reduce your exposure to the grid and are in control of your costs. Also bear in mind that the third round of ESOS is less than 2 years away, and its likely to be mandatory to enact the recommendations of the auditor.  In that ESOS round there is going to be an even greater focus on action on energy efficiency.

The challenge is keeping operating costs under control whilst achieving progress towards decarbonising and deciding when to adopt new technologies.  With a recession looking likely, capital availability may also become more difficult.  We can help deliver measures without any capex from you, using our zero-capex energy partnership solution.

If you would like to discuss how to be more energy efficient and accelerate your net zero strategy, please contact David Kipling, CEO – On-Site Energy on 0151 271 0037 or email  david@on-site.energy (www.on-site.energy).

UK offshore companies to invest £250bn in low-carbon energy

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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The UK’s offshore energy producers are to invest £200-£250 billion by 2030 to provide the nation with secure and increasingly low carbon energy, according to research by Offshore Energies UK (OEUK).

It has assessed the spending plans of offshore energy companies operating in UK waters, looking at their investment plans over this decade. OEUK represents 400 leading companies and organisations involved in  energy production in the North Sea, Irish Sea and near Atlantic, including oil, gas and offshore wind.

The findings suggest around 60% of the investments will be spent building renewable and low carbon energy infrastructure, such as offshore wind and systems for capturing CO2 for permanent disposal in deep rock formations.

Such investments are just a fraction of what is needed for the UK to reach net zero – the point at which it generates no overall greenhouse gas emissions. The UK government’s target for achieving this is 2050. The Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) has put the cost of reaching net zero at £1.4 trillion and has said £1 trillion of this money must come from UK companies.

Some companies have already set out their investment plans. This week BP, one of the largest UK oil and gas producers, announced plans to invest up to £18 billion in the UK’s energy system by the end of 2030. Most of its plans are for offshore wind and other low-carbon projects such as mass hydrogen production and CO2 capture.
Shell has said it will invest £25 billion into UK energy systems over the next decade with 75% of the investment in low-carbon products and services including offshore wind and hydrogen production.

Such pledges support OEUK’s own research findings, that the biggest investments over the next decade will come from oil and gas companies transitioning to low-carbon alternatives, and that offshore wind would be the biggest beneficiary, including:

  • £70 billion-plus in capital investment, adding 40 gigawatts of capacity to the 10Gw already built
  • £20 billion in operational expenditure – maintaining and operating wind farm infrastructure
  • Investment in people: Building a workforce skilled in constructing and maintaining offshore infrastructure is becoming a priority for offshore operators and their supply chains.

Other low carbon technologies will attract billions more, including:

  • £20 billion in mass hydrogen production and carbon capture transport and storage plants

Oil and gas will remain vital for many years, albeit in decreasing amounts, so energy companies are planning further investments to ensure the UK can meet as much of its own needs as possible.

  • £25 billion to open new oil and gas fields or expand existing resource
  • £50 billion to maintain or improve existing infrastructure – much of which is ageing
  • £15 billion to decommission infrastructure that has become redundant.

Such figures must be treated with caution as the spending plans of different companies are at different stages and not all are fully committed. However, based on past trends, the overall amounts are likely to increase significantly as time goes by.

The research coincides with a surge in the tax revenue being generated for the UK exchequer by the UK offshore sector.

  • £20 million/day OBR estimate of how much UK tax is currently being paid by offshore oil and gas companies – more than double what they were paying a year ago.
  • £7.8 billion Total UK tax income from offshore oil and gas companies for this financial year – more than double the £3.1 billion paid last year. (OBR prediction)

Ross Dornan, OEUK’s market intelligence manager, who oversaw the research, said he expected to see offshore energy companies investing up to £150 billion in renewable and low-carbon projects, plus another £90 billion in oil and gas projects by 2030. Most of the investments would be from companies transitioning from oil and gas into low-carbon energy.

“The UK’s energy companies are leading perhaps the most ambitious and far-reaching energy transition our nation has ever seen. They are providing the UK with energy now, mostly from oil and gas, while working to replace those fuels with low-carbon alternatives.

“It means we must invest in our existing oil and gas reserves to protect the UK against the global prices spikes and possible shortages generated by crises like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while also spending billions on the energies of the future.

“The amounts being spent are far greater than any sums that might be raised by a windfall tax but what policymakers need to understand is the sheer scale, not just of the investments but also of the ambition. The UK could become a world leader in low-carbon and renewable energy – but to achieve that we need long-term thinking by planners and policymakers.

“Above all we need a stable and predictable set of rules governing the way the industry is taxed and regulated. “We are proud to pay our taxes and support the UK’s net zero targets but if those rules keep changing it will undermine confidence, drive investors away and make the UK’s net zero targets impossible to achieve.”

5 Minutes With… On-Site Energy’s David Kipling

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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In the latest instalment of our energy management industry executive interview series we speak to On-Site Energy CEO David Kipling about rising energy costs, what we can all do to manage through that challenge and how the path to Net Zero presents an opportunity for us all…

Tell us about your company, products and services.

DK:  The inspiration for ON-SITE came from my previous role where I led a team addressing energy in over 100 manufacturing plants globally.  We saw the value of data-led energy analysis in identifying more than 50% savings but we found in practice we could only execute those measures with a short payback.

With the pressure now on achieving better sustainability, and on reducing costs, companies are going to have to find a way of doing the longer payback measures that until now sit on the shelf.   This is what ON-SITE is about – we help unblock long payback capex and enable the measures to happen.  We work with our customers to identify measures with a data-led approach, and then implement them using our money, with no contribution from the customer.  We effectively keep some of the savings to pay for our returns, and pass the remainder on to the customer through lower energy costs.  This way we can also help companies embrace net zero much faster.

We work with energy intensive manufacturing companies, and cover a wide range of technologies including efficiency measures, onsite generation and heat recovery.  We think its important to identify the most appropriate measures and which will have most impact, so we keep an open mind on what we recommend and are instead guided by the data.

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

DK:  The crisis of rising energy costs that started last Autumn has brought sharp focus on energy costs for many.   It really has shown the value of energy hedging but also the risks of what happens when your hedge ends and you face the market again.    Our view is the best way of defending your business from the market prices in the long term is (1)  consume less through investing in energy efficiency measures and (2) invest in your own generation, which is usually much cheaper and efficient, so that between these two steps you minimise your exposure..

And what have been the biggest opportunities?

DK:  Net Zero.  Most significant businesses now have a sustainability strategy with goals for achieving carbon neutral, but a lot have also had capex capped for at least the next few years because of COVID-19.  The pressure for change is building, and the main obstacles are capex and sometimes innovation.   We can help with both of these with our zero capex approach, and enable companies to stay on track or even accelerate their plans.

What is the biggest priority for the Energy Management industry in 2022?

DK: I would say that underlying its still decarbonisation, but the cost pressures of the last six months means that reducing energy costs on a long term basis will take priority.

Fundamentally your business needs to be viable to be sustainable, so costs need to be addressed..  The good news is that sustainability improvement goes hand in hand with savings, so accelerating your sustainability plans can also mean lower energy costs.

The biggest challenge will be decarbonisation of heat – in other words planning to switch from gas to electricity.  This will be a massive change for gas hungry businesses.  I think this will be an increasing priority given the recent cost of gas, and increasing talk about hydrogen (albeit that’s still years away). For a lot of businesses that will mean significant additional cost unless they develop a comprehensive approach and plan.

What are the main trends you are expecting to see in the market in 2022/23?

DK:  I see two things – there is going to be a bigger push on onsite generation to reduce costs, and also the next round of ESOS is due by end 2023, and its likely it will be mandatory by then to have to enact the measures reported.  Its going to result in a lot of challenges to auditor findings, but its also going to bring a focus on getting ahead of the game and being proactive in addressing points.

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

DK:     I think its going to be solar PV.  Its cheap, fairly fast to deploy and can provide some relief for businesses against the high energy costs.     The issue is its usually limited impact in manufacturer’s energy costs.  For much larger savings you can’t beat CHP currently, but the key is using the heat constructively to reduce other fossil fuels.

In 2025 we’ll all be talking about…?

DK:  100% Hydrogen-ready CHP.  The technology already is in market, but there isn’t much hydrogen available to use it.   Whilst the initial reaction for some is its more gas usage, CHP could be the transition technology to 24/7 zero carbon onsite generation once hydrogen is available.

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

DK:  Lisa Rose of Forum Events (again) !   Lisa’s an enthusiast and is great at making people talk.  We need more Lisa’s !    It was good to get back to some face to face networking last year at the energy management event in London.  Looking forward to this October.

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

DK:  I think people enjoy learning about opportunities they hadn’t previously known about, which can be brought about by new technologies .  It’s an exciting space which is innovating fast.  It also has a meaningful impact on both business profits and on climate change and sustainability, so the people in the Energy Management space are often driven by the benefits they can deliver.

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

DK:  Mine’s a pint !

What’s the most exciting thing about your job?

DK:  Delivering new insights and levels of savings not thought possible

And what’s the most challenging?

DK:  Countering the “we’ve seen it before” response.   Reality is if they saw exactly “it” previously, then “it” has either changed massively or it wasn’t approached in the way we would use it.  It doesn’t hurt to take 15 minutes to see if you can learn something.

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

DK:  A quick “no” is better than a slow “no”.

Peaky Blinders or Stranger Things?

DK:   My TV watching is limited to repeats of Top Gear.

SPIE secures five-year FM contract with NHS NSS

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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SPIE UK has been appointed by NHS National Services Scotland to deliver planned and reactive maintenance of mechanical and electrical assets across nine National Services Scotland (NSS) properties in Glasgow, Scotland.

Under the five-year contract (three plus two), SPIE UK will be responsible for managing mechanical and electrical assets and will undertake planned and reactive maintenance. Sustainability is at the forefront of the work, which includes collaborating with the NHS Energy team to develop and promote energy conservation and technology improvements throughout the term of the contract.

Properties included within the scope represent critical infrastructure for the running of NHS services throughout Scotland, including NHS 24 call centres and the National Distribution Centres which distributes essential stock to hospitals throughout Scotland. To further add value, SPIE UK will be supplying energy management services to NHS NSS.

The SPIE UK team will be offering building energy surveys, an introduction of an energy management platform, behavioral analysis, and life cycle analysis.

Jim Skivington, Divisional Managing Director at SPIE UK, said: “NHS National Services Scotland works at the heart of the health service, providing national strategic support services and expert advice to NHS Scotland. SPIE UK being awarded this five-year contract is a testament to our excellence in delivering a range of specialist planned, reactive and statutory maintenance and Facility Management services. With our combined engineering ingenuity, excellent management capabilities and technological know-how, SPIE is best placed to deliver these works efficiently.”

APAC to lead global battery energy storage market

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is set to lead the global battery energy storage market, accounting for 68% of the global market value through 2026, with China, Japan, India, South Korea and Australia propelling the regional market.

That’s according to GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Battery Energy Storage Market Size, Share and Trends Analysis by Technology, Installed Capacity, Generation, Drivers, Constraints, Key Players and Forecast, 2021-2026’, which reveals that the global market for the battery energy storage is estimated to grow to $10.84bn in 2026, out of which APAC will account for $7.33bn.

Bhavana Sri Pullagura, Senior Power Analyst at GlobalData, said: “Fall in battery technology prices, increasing need for grid stability and resilience of the integration of renewable power in the power market are some major factors that contribute to the growth.”

China, one of the fastest-growing economies, is expected to lead the global battery energy storage market with $4.04bn in 2026. A mammoth target of 1,200 GW of wind and solar capacity will provide considerable growth opportunities to the energy storage market over the forecast period.

China, South Korea, the US, Germany, and the UK will be the major markets on the back of supportive regulations and incentives.

Pullagura added: “The rapid growth in demand for electricity and the wider use of renewable integration will keep the demand for battery energy storage market buoyant in other countries, leading to a significant growth in the market over the forecast period. Grid transformations, improving electrification rates, and electricity provisions for the rapidly growing population will create market opportunities.”

Over the last decade, various new digital and smart technologies have been integrated. Countries have been aggressively promoting the modernization of grids and enhancing the grids’ capability to meet the requirements of the present and future. Additionally, batteries are being deployed to aid smart grids, integrate renewables, create responsive electricity markets, provide ancillary services, and enhance both system resilience and energy self-sufficiency.

Pullagura concluded: “GlobalData believes that encouraging policies and high electricity charges are also nudging the market to renewables and/or storage plus renewables at the end consumer level. As the power sector evolves to accommodate new technologies and adapt to varying market trends, energy storage will play a crucial role in the transition and transformation of the power sector.”

E.ON and Tree Energy Solutions partner to import green hydrogen to Germany

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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E.ON and Tree EnergySolutions (TES) haver agreed on a strategic partnership to import green hydrogen at scale into Germany, including the investigation of potential joint engagements along the entire hydrogen value chain to build a source for secure, long-term green hydrogen supply.

TES is developing a green energy hub in the German port of Wilhelmshaven. The energy hub will feature a receiving terminal, storage facilities and a clean, zero-emissions oxy-fuel combustion power plant.

In addition, TES is developing the production of green hydrogen in solar belt countries and investing in the supply chain and relevant infrastructure. TES will efficiently transport green hydrogen produced from solar electricity, in the form of fossil-free green gas (CH4) to Europe where it is investing in infrastructure to recycle the CO2.

Patrick Lammers, COO at E.ON, said: “The ramp-up of a functioning hydrogen economy must have top priority in Germany and Europe. The partnership with TES is an important step on the way to a sustainable energy landscape while ensuring security of supply. It moves us a step closer to net-zero; without the use of green gases such as hydrogen, it will be impossible to completely avoid CO2 emissions.”

“This is an exciting long-term partnership that will allow us to combine relevant experience to accelerate the decarbonisation of the energy chain,” saidPaul van Poecke, Founder and Managing Director at TES. “Our ambition is to build the Wilhelmshaven location into a hub for international hydrogen trading and upgrade the infrastructure accordingly. Through this hub TES will supply a mix of green and clean energyto economically lead Europe to reach it net-zero ambitions. We are excited to partner with E.ON to reach net-zero in the German market and support E.ON in its decarbonisation strategy.”

Do we have to live with higher energy prices ?

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By David Kipling, CEO – On-Site Energy Ltd

The hikes in energy costs on the past 6 months have been nothing short of game-changing. But are they just a spike or are they here to stay ?

At 25 March 2022, the Winter=22 forward energy wholesale price for electricity was 23.2p/kWh and gas 9.0p/kWh.  You need to add non-energy costs and taxes to these, so more realistically electricity will be over 30p/kWh and gas around 10p/kWh.  Looking out to winter 2024 electricity is still at 11 p/kWh and gas is 4p/kWh.  That means Winter 2024 is double what was the norm in the first half of 2021.

So the current “crisis” prices are unlikely to subside to pre-crisis levels, and if you do nothing about it, you are going to have to learn to live with levels at least 100% more than they were in 2021.  How is this going to impact your business or its ability to decarbonise ?

But you don’t have to settle for these prices.  The steps you can take are: (1) reduce consumption through energy efficiency measures and (2) utilise onsite generation to reduce the amount of energy you draw from the grid.

Typically averaged cost of solar PV over its life is less than 8p/kWh and CHP can save around £400,000 per annum per MW installed even with the projected gas prices. With savings like these, every business should be looking at these options.

If you are not sure where to start with energy efficiency measures or onsite generation, we can help. For qualifying companies, we undertake initial evaluations free of charge and can also provide fully funded solutions so that capex needn’t be a barrier. We can also ensure that what is being proposed aligns with your sustainability goals.

If you would like to discuss how to avoid these high grid costs and have a more manageable energy cost for your business, please contact David Kipling, CEO – On-Site Energy Ltd on 0151 271 0037 or email  david@on-site.energy (www.on-site.energy).