Law firm, Bircham Dyson Bell has reported that the UK faces what it describes as a “looming energy crunch” owing to the predicted loss of 25GW of generating capacity by 2030. The report highlighted the closure of 18 major power stations since 2012, representing a reduction of the UK’s total
Most recently, it has been announced that SSE will provide £12m of support to its most vulnerable customers, helping them with their energy bills and thus supporting customers most in need, not only of maintaining SSE’s services, but also of being able to manage their own finances at the same
A brand new division launched by BAM FM, dubbed BAM Energy Limited has recently been launched with the intention of assisting clients in cutting back on their power consumption through the design and installation of sustainable power systems (comparable to biomass heating methods, CHP systems, photovoltaics and heat pumps) on
Energy companies are divided over the need for a mid-period review (MPR) within the present eight-year price control for businesses operating both in electrical energy and gasoline transmission, and fuel distribution. Big six provider British Gas and consumer body Citizens Advice are heading up the decision for an MPR for
Scottish Water has appointed two joint ventures to a £120m six-year technical consultancy framework. One venture between Atkins and RPS JV and one other between Mott MacDonald and MWH have been chosen to supply project management, design and development work in addition to feasibility studies to assist Scottish Water’s building
Hornsea Project One wind farm will see 174 turbines – each taller than the Gherkin – built 75 miles off the coast of Grimsby, spanning an area five times the size of Hull. The world’s biggest offshore wind farm is to be built 75 miles off the coast of Grimsby,
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is predicting that tender prices on infrastructure and civil engineering projects will rise by around a third over the next five years as the cost of oil bounces back from its current low value. According to the latest report from RICS’ Building Cost
Thomas Whiffen, Senior Energy Specialist, National Energy Foundation thomas.whiffen@nef.org.uk Photo caption: Thom is a specialist in the sustainable built environment and combines a keen interest in energy use with a depth of knowledge from his process engineering background and years spent researching sustainable energy technologies for the non-domestic built environment.
The reconstruction of the 1920 vintage wooden rollercoaster, a hugely important piece of the Margate regeneration programme is completed. Dreamland finally closed its doors in 2006 and now after many years of campaigning, this nostalgic vintage amusement park finally reopened this summer. If Dreamland is to help breath life back
During periods of cold and windy weather, why allow the temperature in your lobby to drop? Just because it is chilly outside, doesn’t mean your reception area should be cold too. The revolving door has become a significant choice for many architects and facilities managers due to the way
Law firm, Bircham Dyson Bell has reported that the UK faces what it describes as a “looming energy crunch” owing to the predicted loss of 25GW of generating capacity by 2030. The report highlighted the closure of 18 major power stations since 2012, representing a reduction of the UK’s total capacity by 14GW to little over 86GW. It also claimed the UK was on course to lose a futher 7GW by 2020 and another 18GW by 2030 if expected closures go ahead. Coal-fired plants at Longannet, Ferrybridge and Rugeley are all due to close this year. Eggborough meanwhile has been temporarily saved from closure after it was contracted into the Supplemental Balancing Reserve (SBR) for the winter of 2016/17. Its future after next year, however, remains uncertain. SBR has also contracted one of the four units at Fiddler’s Ferry although the three remaining units are due to come offline in a few short months. “We have observed increasing concern in recent years that as old electricity generation comes offline, new power generators are not being built at a rate that is keeping pace,” Angus Walker, Head of Government and Infrastructure at Bircham Dyson Bell commented. “Our research establishes the hard facts of how serious the situation is, finding that on current projections this is likely to result in a shortfall between supply and demand – in summary an energy crunch.” Despite documenting the promise of 18 new project which have been granted consent, the law firm’s image of the sector is somewhat bleak. It suggests that, with the upcoming plants having a combined generating capacity of less than 18GW, they will leave National Grid with a deficit of 19GW compared with 2012. Contributors to the the report were quick to point out inconsistent governmental policies as a major cause of the predicted “energy crunch”. Lawrence Slade, Chief Executive of Energy UK insisted the sector was facing real uncertainty and a lack of investment as a result. He claimed: “The cuts made, particularly to renewables, have been drastic and sudden. We need policy certainty and cross-party agreement.” It was just days ago that Energy UK recommended that the government review the Levy Control Framework (LCF) in order to provide clarify to companies and investors, a moved it hoped would inspire new confidence in energy generation.
Most recently, it has been announced that SSE will provide £12m of support to its most vulnerable customers, helping them with their energy bills and thus supporting customers most in need, not only of maintaining SSE’s services, but also of being able to manage their own finances at the same time. Of those eligible for the support, SSE will be personally identifying those most in need of this line of support and, as a result, those customers will then receive credits to their account automatically, keeping the process simple and targeted towards those of the greatest need. Specifically, the £12m fund is redirected money left for up to seven years by former customers who have moved, cancelled direct debits and failed to provide forwarding addresses and will see SSE utilise these funds in a responsible, socially recognisable manner. And, although SSE has actually worked tirelessly to locate the customers in question over the course of a number of years to process their refund, including using search agencies and checking against new customer accounts as well as through media and marketing campaigns, limited to no success has been achieved in contacting those remaining and, as such SSE is now in a position to utilise these funds for the benefit of others. SSE’s Director of Domestic Retail Stephen Forbes noted: “We know that some customers, for a variety of reasons, may have difficulty with their bills which is why we are providing debt assistance to tens of thousands of customers this year alone… We want to do more and we hope that this additional funding will make a difference for customers by freeing them up from energy debt and helping them start afresh.” SSE has already started the process of advising customers of the payments, aiming to continue to do so over the course of the next few months, but will also allow former customers to claim back credit fit they come forward and request as such. Regardless, utilisation of this £12m, in one manner or another, is nigh.
A brand new division launched by BAM FM, dubbed BAM Energy Limited has recently been launched with the intention of assisting clients in cutting back on their power consumption through the design and installation of sustainable power systems (comparable to biomass heating methods, CHP systems, photovoltaics and heat pumps) on behalf of a client over the course of the construction cycle of a brand new development; the value is then recovered over an agreed time period by means of a power purchase agreement, where the client then purchases its energy from BAM Energy at a competitive price.Reid Cunningham, Interim Managing Director of BAM FM, stated: “The purpose of establishing BAM Energy is to broaden our services and offer customers more choice…We find that clients are often unaware of green energy options or daunted by the upfront capital investment. Using our expertise, we can help them find the best energy option and facilitate its implementation.” Cunningham then also explained: “Our aim is to be able to offer clients the best energy options to suit their needs, regardless of budget restrictions.” Measures to cut back on power usage then include the changing of present lighting installations with LEDs, utilizing sensors to regulate lighting or the usage of sensible meters to manage heating systems.
Energy companies are divided over the need for a mid-period review (MPR) within the present eight-year price control for businesses operating both in electrical energy and gasoline transmission, and fuel distribution. Big six provider British Gas and consumer body Citizens Advice are heading up the decision for an MPR for all three sectors to establish whether the existing price control is appropriate. That call will take into account whether providers are offering value for money to consumers as well as addressing what has been described as the systemic “outperformance” of network operators according to their required outputs. In its recent submission on the potential MPR to the regulator, Ofgem, British Gas conceded: “We recognise that much has changed since the first round of RIIO price controls were finalised which, in turn, has significantly impacted consumers’ interests”. Charity and consumer lobbyist, Citizen’s Advice reported that the average return on investment for network companies in T1 and GD1 is “well in excess of what appears appropriate for such low-risk investment” – a stonking 9.4%. The charity went on express its support for an MPR and it represents “an opportunity to identify the root causes of outperformance, for both transmission and gas distribution.” It was only last November that Ofgem recommended an MPR, asserting that, over the last 12 months, it had recognised some issues with price control management that an MPR could address. Issues identified included by the body included: network output measures, strategic wider works submissions, and incentive on both consumer and stakeholder sides. Ofgem didn’t, however, establish any points for gas distrbution that required reform. As could be predicted, network operators have welcomed Ofgem’s findings on gas distribution while disagreeing with its support for a transmission-focused MPR, insisting the issues identified could be resolved without a sector-wide review. Trade body the Energy Networks Association (ENA) chipped in, saying the changes resulting from the price control are “within the range of uncertainty anticipated in the design of RIIO-T1 and can be managed through the existing uncertainty mechanism,” adding that an MPR runs the risk of creating two four-year price controls and may “undermine longer term investor confidence.” “Our transmission operator members would urge Ofgem to consider the longer term customer interest when assessing the scope of the RIIO-T1 MPR and not just the short terms benefits within the last four years of this price control,” ENA said. Distribution and transmission operator, SP Energy Networks was the single provider to say it would support Ofgem’s decision if an MPR get the go-ahead. The company did however add that it felt the issues could be resolved more successfully with the employment of specialist firms and bodies. SP Energy networks went on to insist that, “as a matter of fairness”, all companies – not just distribution – ought to reviewed if an MPR does go ahead.
Scottish Water has appointed two joint ventures to a £120m six-year technical consultancy framework. One venture between Atkins and RPS JV and one other between Mott MacDonald and MWH have been chosen to supply project management, design and development work in addition to feasibility studies to assist Scottish Water’s building partners. A joint venture between Morrison Utility Services and Aecom and the BBV Alliance, a partnership between Black & Veatch and Byzak (a part of Amey), have also been named as Scottish Water’s development companions in 2014. The new deal will end in 2021, however there may be an choice for Scottish Water to increase the contract to 2027. Scottish Water’s Director of Strategic Customer Service planning Simon Parsons mentioned: “ARC (Atkins and RPS) and m² (Mott MacDonald and MWH) possess a level of expertise which supports the delivery of our new investment programme. “The new investment programme will help support vital employment in the Scottish economy while enabling Scottish Water to build on the significant improvements made to water and waste water services in recent years.” ARC Chief Operating Officer Paul Aitken also mentioned: “Our mission is to [help] Scottish Water improve its service to customers and communities across Scotland by promoting more effective, resilient and efficient asset and operational solutions.” Judy Anderson, Framework Directior for the Mott MacDonald/MWH JV, mentioned: “I believe that m2 brings the right combination of talented and experienced people, to complement and support Scottish Water’s own resources in achieving its vision to be Scotland’s most valued trusted business.”
Hornsea Project One wind farm will see 174 turbines – each taller than the Gherkin – built 75 miles off the coast of Grimsby, spanning an area five times the size of Hull. The world’s biggest offshore wind farm is to be built 75 miles off the coast of Grimsby, at an estimated cost to energy bill-payers of at least £4.2 billion. The giant Hornsea Project One wind farm will consist of 174 turbines, each 623ft tall – higher than the Gherkin building in London – and will span an area more than five times the size of Hull. Developer Dong Energy, which is majority-owned by the Danish state, said it had taken a final decision to proceed with the 1.2 gigawatt project that would be capable of powering one million homes and create 2,000 jobs during construction. First electricity from the project is expected to be generated in 2019 and the wind farm should be fully operational by 2020. The wind farm was handed a subsidy contract by former energy secretary Ed Davey in 2014 that will see it paid four times the current market price of power for every unit of electricity it generates for 15 years. The National Audit Office was highly critical of the way in which the contracts were awarded without competition, concluding ministers had paid too much as a result. It estimated that the Hornsea One project would require a total of £4.2 billion in subsidies, an average of about £280 million per year. Consumers will be on the hook to pay subsidies to make up the difference between the market price of power – currently about £35 per megawatt-hour – and a guaranteed price, of £140/MWh. These will be funded by households and businesses through green levies on their energy bills. The market price of power has fallen significantly since the NAO made its estimates, suggesting the true cost may be even higher. Less than a year after the contract for Hornsea was awarded, other proposed wind farms were forced to compete for subsidies, resulting in much lower prices. The cheapest came in at less than £115/MWh, fuelling concerns that the Hornsea contract and other earlier deals may have been significantly too generous. Dong Energy declined to reveal the total cost of construction of the project, while the Department of Energy and Climate Change declined to provide an estimate of its impact on a household energy bill. Amber Rudd, the energy secretary, announced last year that the Government would make funding available for up to another 10 gigawatts of offshore wind farm capacity to be built in the 2020s, subject to cost reduction conditions. These conditions have not been disclosed but Ms Rudd has vowed there will be “no more blank cheques” for offshore wind. Welcoming the construction of Hornsea, Ms Rudd, said: “Thanks to Government support the UK is the world leader in offshore wind energy and this success story is going from strength to strength. “Dong Energy’s investment shows that we are open for business and is a vote of confidence in the UK and in our plan to tackle the legacy of under-investment and build an energy infrastructure fit for the 21st century. “This project means secure, clean energy for the country, jobs and financial security for working people and their families, and more skills and growth boosting the Northern Powerhouse.” Brent Cheshire, Dong Energy’s UK country chairman, said: “Hornsea Project One is a world-leading infrastructure project being built right here in the UK. It is ground-breaking and innovative, powering more homes than any offshore wind farm currently in operation. “We are making a major financial investment to construct this giant wind farm and this underlines our commitment to the UK market. Hornsea Project One will support the supply chain and help create local jobs. “To have the world’s biggest ever offshore wind farm located off the Yorkshire coast is hugely significant, and highlights the vital role offshore wind will play in the UK’s need for new low-carbon energy.”
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is predicting that tender prices on infrastructure and civil engineering projects will rise by around a third over the next five years as the cost of oil bounces back from its current low value. According to the latest report from RICS’ Building Cost Information Service (BCIS), oil prices will have a key impact in both the short and medium term for the infrastructure sector. In the short-term, it is forecasting that costs, which rose by 1.4% in the third quarter of 2015 compared with the previous quarter, will fall “principally as a result of falling oil prices”. However, the report says that after the third quarter 2016 costs are expected to rise quite sharply as oil prices bounce back, albeit from a low base. This recovery in oil prices will result in civil engineering costs rising by around a quarter in the next five years. This increase will be the key driver of increased tender prices for the industry. Brent oil prices 1987-2016 Peter Rumble, head of forecasting, RICS’ BCIS division, commented: “With civil engineering costs set to fall over the next year, a moderate increase in annual tender prices is expected in the year to the third quarter 2016. “Over the next three years input cost increases are likely to be the key driver of tender prices, but, over 2020, the final year of the forecast period, stronger output growth, in addition to upward pressure from input costs, is expected to lead to a greater gap between costs and tender prices.” Infrastructure output is expected to remain fairly flat throughout 2016 and by 2017 it is predicted to fall, due to the cycle of some major projects having passed peak as opposed to a downturn in the market The RICS believes that moderate growth will return in 2018, and will slow slightly in 2019, before rising quite sharply in 2020 due to increased investment in major road schemes and a build-up of HS2 construction, assuming this goes ahead. Rumble continued: “Despite new infrastructure work output predicted to stall for the duration of 2016, the five-year forecast period remains significantly stronger than pre-2010 levels, which bodes well for the economy.”
Thomas Whiffen, Senior Energy Specialist, National Energy Foundation thomas.whiffen@nef.org.uk Photo caption: Thom is a specialist in the sustainable built environment and combines a keen interest in energy use with a depth of knowledge from his process engineering background and years spent researching sustainable energy technologies for the non-domestic built environment. Thom has experience of industry and academic collaborations, publishing and presenting work in international journals, and at conferences. If anyone needs convincing of the value of ESOS, we have the evidence. Over the course of the first tranche of ESOS compliance, we worked with a number of organisations and identified hundreds of energy-saving opportunities, the potential value of which was millions of pounds of savings. Using half-hourly energy data, utility bills, finance records and mileage claims, we identified energy savings totalling 29 GWh per year, the equivalent of £12.5 million per year off fuel and utility bills. One particular situation we experienced among our site visits and examination of various plant rooms across the country was at a commercial site where they had an onsite combined heat and power plant. Although they were using the power, they were dumping the heat into the atmosphere, only to use lots of energy heating hot water for their industrial washing facility. On top of that, there was no space heating in their centre during winter. The solution was to re-engineer the systems to produce space heating during the winter and deliver low-carbon pre-heating for the industrial washing facility. Together, these two solutions are set to save £40,000 and 1.7 GWh per year. Our experience and top 12 insights: There was positive engagement from the organisations we audited. The ESOS process improved energy-use record keeping. ESOS also improved energy awareness, and improving the visibility of their energy consumption helped organisations identify energy-saving opportunities. Major energy-saving opportunities were identified through behaviour change initiatives in both buildings and transport – in the case of the latter through reducing the number of miles driven and incentivising improved driving techniques. Major energy efficiency improvements were achieved through modernising the technology used to monitor and control energy, especially in areas of high energy demand. There was scope for energy management behaviour to be improved in all the buildings we audited. Likewise, there was room for all organisations to improve the support they provided to their staff through awareness and training initiatives. Lighting upgrades and boiler replacements reduced lighting and heating demand by 25-50%. Those organisations using fuel card systems were able to provide energy consumption data for their transport systems more easily, and the availability of driver fuel-use data made it easier to undertake behaviour-change programmes. The true benefit and power of ESOS compliance will be in the number and value of energy saving opportunities that are actually implemented. Over the next few months, we’ll be consulting with our clients, revisiting our original audits and working on strategies for implementing the savings we identified. We’ll also consider doing similar work for other ESOS-compliant organisations. The next stage will be to measure the savings and, finally, to prove the business case. Looking ahead, the National Energy Foundation is leading on a new standard (ISO 17747: Determination of Energy Savings in Organizations) which is now at Final Draft International Standard stage. Once approved, it will provide us with a standardised and an internationally recognised method for measuring energy savings, and give us the ability for improved reporting to our clients.
The reconstruction of the 1920 vintage wooden rollercoaster, a hugely important piece of the Margate regeneration programme is completed. Dreamland finally closed its doors in 2006 and now after many years of campaigning, this nostalgic vintage amusement park finally reopened this summer. If Dreamland is to help breath life back into Margate, then the scenic railway will be the heart that makes it beat. Built in 1920 and damaged by fire in 2008, the wheels on the oldest wooden rollercoaster in the UK have now once again started to turn. Topbond PLC, the Sittingboune based civil engineering specialists were given the task of reconstructing the structure that was Grade II listed in 2002 and Grade II* listed in 2011. Topbond MD Glenn Springett says “It hasn’t been without its challenges. Constructing ‘like for like’ to maintain its Grade II listing whilst complying with current design standards naturally resulted in conflict. Working closely with English Heritage during the project we have overcome those challenges”. The 14m high timber construction is not fixed to its new concrete foundations. Instead it sits on neoprene pads that will absorb shock loadings – gravity holds the structure in place. In all, there is 930m of track around the ride. 300 tons of Spruce will replace the existing softwood used, a very durable timber, which was sourced from Germany. The plantation was chosen for its fairly constant climate. The timber was sawn, then graded to C24 requirements before being shipped to the UK where it was double vacuum treated and checked for adequate penetration of the preserve. A dynamic analysis was undertaken to provide the worse case loadings at each tressle location around the ride. This included loadings on both horizontal and vertical curves together with canting around the bends. This enabled Topbond to structurally analyse every timber component on the job. The geometry of the ride means that every support trestle is different, so each one had to be detailed separately. John Riddle Topbond’s senior structures engineer said ‘I take my hat off to the original team that built this structure without the technology which is available to us today – It has certainly stood the test of time, being in daily use for most of its 90 years is testament to their engineering capability.’ Bolts have replaced nails to provide more secure fixings for all the bracing. There are in excess of 30,000 bolts used on the whole project. The original train had a ‘Brake Man’ operating a brake to control the speed of the train that speeded up when raining and windy – It was also affected by the number and weight of the passengers. Current regulations will not allow total dependence on a brake man to control the speed, so magnetic brakes will be installed at strategic locations around the ride. This scheme is a first for Topbond, who are delighted to have been involved with this fabulous re-creation of the original timber scenic railway structure. Director of Community Services for Thanet District Council, Larissa Reed said: “We’re delighted that the Scenic Railway is open for the public to ride once again. Breathing new life into Britain’s oldest surviving rollercoaster has been an immense challenge, but the time, dedication and attention to detail taken by our contractors to replicate an authentic heritage experience has been worth the wait. I’m sure the sights and sounds of the iconic Scenic Railway will evoke many happy memories from the community who have been so passionate and patient with this journey. The launch marks another positive step forward in the continued regeneration of our original seaside town. A big thank you to our partners, the community and Topbond for helping this ambitious vision become a reality.”
During periods of cold and windy weather, why allow the temperature in your lobby to drop? Just because it is chilly outside, doesn’t mean your reception area should be cold too. The revolving door has become a significant choice for many architects and facilities managers due to the way they naturally help to keep out draughts and reduce energy loss within a building. The cost saving decision to install a revolving door not only reduces your monthly energy bills but it is also more eco-friendly for the environment due to the reduced amount of hot air that leaves the building with every door rotation. Still feeling the cold? Why not consider adding a Boon Edam heater onto your door? On occasions when the weather is windy, cold air can sometimes become trapped within the seperate compartments of a revolving door and subsequently forced into an internal area, normally the reception area. By combining a Boon Edam heater with a revolving door system this cold air is negated and prevented from entering the building. When installed, the main body of the heater unit is strategically mounted above the revolving door and using curved air outlets, creates a warm barrier around the inner opening of the doorway which counteracts any cold air infiltrating through the door. With the option to add a Boon Edam heater either from new or as a retrofit, we can ensure that your lobby area is kept at a comfortable climate at all times whilst not impacting on the aesthetics of your entry point. Not sure which heater to choose? At Boon Edam, we understand that our clients’ needs are as varied as they are which is why each of our heaters are created to match the curvature of each specific revolving door type. We are proud to offer a range of air curtains which can be made bespoke for all commercial, corporate or industrial requirements. For more details on the heating solutions offered by Boon Edam, please contact the Repairs and Retrofits team on 01233 505 900 or by emailing repairs@boonedam.co.uk
