Construction and development company, the Cruden Group, has expanded its green portfolio and commitment to green energy housebuilding by signing a 3-year enhanced green energy supply contract with ScottishPower. This means that the Group will purchase electricity which always comes exclusively from renewable sources, with 100% of green electricity from
Leeds-based building consultancy, C80 Solutions, is urging property owners and businesses to begin preparing for the arrival of stricter energy performance laws in the coming years. The government’s Minimum Energy Performance of Buildings Bill was introduced earlier this month and will be debated by MPs this autumn, paving the way
Solar Energy Scotland welcomes the inclusion of solar into the Scottish Governments and Scottish Green parties’ draft policy programme, as announced earlier today. The document outlines the joint commitment from both parties to confront some of the greatest challenges faced in Scotland to date, responding to the climate emergency, supporting
The Government’s Hydrogen Strategy sets out hydrogen’s critical role in securing economic opportunities across the UK, cutting emissions and delivering Net Zero. Responding to the Hydrogen Strategy, David Smith, Chief Executive at Energy Networks Association which represents the UK and Ireland’s energy networks businesses said: “This is a much needed
Installing a solar power system is a big decision. Finding out the right installer is a bigger decision. A solar panel investment is a matter of more than twenty-five years, and you cannot hire just about any company, which claims to install solar panels. It will help if you choose
Leading utility specialist Fastflow Group, a subsidiary of United Living Infrastructure Services, has been chosen to rebuild a key Pressure Reduction Station (PRS) in North London. The c. £4 million project, on behalf of gas giant Cadent, will keep the energy flowing safely and reliably for many generations. With the
International engineering federation FIDIC (the International Federation of Consulting Engineers) has expanded the scope of its 2019 agreement with the World Bank which enables the bank to adopt the use of six FIDIC standard contracts until 2024 to now include the FIDIC-ITA Emerald Book form of contract for tunnelling and
Providing a complete energy efficient solution for household heating, NIBE Energy Systems has launched a selection Solar PV panels to power its heat pumps and expanded its range of smart home accessories to maximize indoor comfort and climate control. The new range builds on the heat pump manufacturer’s plans to
The design stage is crucial for a successful construction project, and Vital Energi are delighted to offer a complete design process across all RIBA stages to help organisations achieve their energy ambitions. By influencing key decisions made early on in the design process, the team at Vital ensure buildings are
Trading power and carbon presents on opportunity for the energy industry to capitalise on high-growth, high-value markets, in addition to the obvious benefits presented by the move to renewable, sustainable, Earth-friendly generation and decarbonisation solutions. Like any other, carbon emissions—as well as electricity—can be considered a specification for commodities and
Construction and development company, the Cruden Group, has expanded its green portfolio and commitment to green energy housebuilding by signing a 3-year enhanced green energy supply contract with ScottishPower. This means that the Group will purchase electricity which always comes exclusively from renewable sources, with 100% of green electricity from wind farms with zero CO2 emissions. In support of Cruden’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, ScottishPower as a Principal Partner for the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), is working closely with the Cruden Group to further develop a range of renewable and other clean, green energy solutions and smart technologies to reduce emissions and drive down homeowner energy bills. The Cruden Group builds around 1,500 new homes each year and together with ScottishPower, they are working on several market leading initiatives to offer more zero carbon alternatives. These include ground and air source heat pumps, installing infrastructure that will enable electric vehicle charging as standard across many developments, rolling out low carbon heating solutions for both apartment developments and family homes, installing photovoltaic solar panels and energy storage solutions and incorporating Passivhaus Standards to create energy efficient homes using innovative carbon neutral methods of construction. The Cruden Group’s commitment to green energy also extends to their management offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Cruden’s head office in Cambuslang benefits from electricity from renewable sources via solar panels covering 90% of the roof of the office building. ScottishPower is the first integrated energy company in the UK to generate 100% green electricity and is delivering almost £10 billion investment in clean energy between 2020-2025 to help unlock Net Zero. Kevin Reid, Chief Executive of the Cruden Group said; “We are pleased to continue our strong and successful 14-year partnership with ScottishPower with this new renewable energy agreement. We strive to continuously improve the environment through innovation and this new green deal will help us further reduce carbon emissions, exceed carbon reduction targets and positively contribute towards the global climate change agenda.” Stuart Angell, New Connections Sales Development Manager at ScottishPower said: “I’m delighted to extend and enhance our relationship with the Cruden Group and for ScottishPower to be associated with a like-minded company that is striving to deliver excellence in the marketplace and prioritises the customer experience”. “As ScottishPower have looked to deliver market leading initiatives, the Cruden Group have helped shape this change with their invaluable feedback and creative ideas. As work towards a carbon neutral future, we will continue to engage with the Cruden Group to understand their challenges and what we can jointly bring to the market to satisfy our goals and customer needs”.
Leeds-based building consultancy, C80 Solutions, is urging property owners and businesses to begin preparing for the arrival of stricter energy performance laws in the coming years. The government’s Minimum Energy Performance of Buildings Bill was introduced earlier this month and will be debated by MPs this autumn, paving the way for legislation which will require all private rented sector homes to be Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2028. The government has also outlined targets which will have major implications for owner occupiers, mortgage lenders and commercial lettings. With thousands of properties likely to need significant energy performance upgrades, C80 Solutions believes that many landlords and building owners would benefit from an early assessment of their expected requirements to ensure they manage the necessary investments and meet the new standards in time. Harry Hinchliffe, Energy Consultant and BREEAM Assessor at C80 Solutions, said: “The bill is a key driver in the commitments set out in the government’s Energy White Paper and subsequent policy statements. It will have a widespread impact on the UK’s property sector, affecting a large percentage of people and businesses with a property investment. Its objectives include non-domestic commercial lettings to achieve EPC band B by 2030 and homes to be EPC band C by 2035 where practicable, cost effective and affordable. It will also affect financial services as mortgage lenders will be required to ensure an EPC band C average for their portfolios by 2030.” Dan Chadwick, Energy & Sustainability Consultant at C80 Solutions, said: “Recent studies have suggested that around 2.9m homes will need to improve to meet the proposed changes, with an estimated average cost of £9,872 per home and a total cost of £29 billion across the sector. Although the legislation needs to follow the usual process of parliamentary scrutiny, the bill is seen as an essential step in achieving carbon net zero – there is a clear direction of travel towards a much higher standard of energy efficiency and it’s unlikely to meet much resistance from MPs, especially in the context of the latest alarming reports about the climate emergency. An increase in minimum EPC from E to C is a substantial rise. With that in mind, many individuals and organisations would be wise to start the process of examining their properties and estates. For some, early planning could be vital in phasing the work and the costs required to achieve 100% compliance.” C80 Solutions provides expertise encompassing all aspects of Building Regulations and environmental performance, including energy, air tightness, sound testing, environmental noise and thermal modelling. Its services support construction across both the commercial and domestic sectors.
Solar Energy Scotland welcomes the inclusion of solar into the Scottish Governments and Scottish Green parties’ draft policy programme, as announced earlier today. The document outlines the joint commitment from both parties to confront some of the greatest challenges faced in Scotland to date, responding to the climate emergency, supporting economic recovery and strengthening a green and fair recovery from the global pandemic. Solar Energy UK Chief Executive Chris Hewett said: “Scotland has a more ambitious target on net-zero than the rest of the UK, so we are looking forward to working closely with the new government to ensure solar energy can play a full part in the race to cut carbon emissions. The opportunities are huge, from a new generation of solar parks, to co-location with wind farms, large rooftop schemes and using onsite solar to decarbonise heat and transport.” Solar Energy Scotland Chair Thomas McMillan said: “The solar energy industry in Scotland welcomes the clear recognition in the cooperation agreement of the important role solar can play in Scotland’s drive to meet our 2030 climate obligations. As the cheapest, most readily deployable renewable technology, with substantial benefits for the economy and helping to tackle fuel poverty, it is time for the sector to be allowed to grow and flourish. Scotland’s solar opportunities could see deployment increase 15-fold by 2030, and this would deliver a solar sector in Scotland proportional to what is being achieved elsewhere in the UK.” Solar Energy Scotland is calling on Government to set a minimum solar deployment target of 4GW by 2030, with an ambitious Government delivering as much as 6GW over the next decade.
The Government’s Hydrogen Strategy sets out hydrogen’s critical role in securing economic opportunities across the UK, cutting emissions and delivering Net Zero. Responding to the Hydrogen Strategy, David Smith, Chief Executive at Energy Networks Association which represents the UK and Ireland’s energy networks businesses said: “This is a much needed and welcome first step for the development of the UK’s hydrogen economy. It puts in place the right pieces for Britain’s energy networks to act as the platform on which the UK’s hydrogen ambitions will be built, recognising the importance of hydrogen blending and investing in innovation. “We need further recognition that for hydrogen to play its part in Net Zero, producing 5GW of hydrogen by 2030 will not be enough. We must set our sights higher, towards a figure twice that amount.”
Installing a solar power system is a big decision. Finding out the right installer is a bigger decision. A solar panel investment is a matter of more than twenty-five years, and you cannot hire just about any company, which claims to install solar panels. It will help if you choose a solar installer who carefully looks at your requirements, your roof, stands behind their work, and honors any warranty. Take a look at the website and company values The company’s mission and vision statements, objectives, and values offer a glance into a business’s DNA, and you understand how you will be treated as a customer. If the values of the company match with what you are looking forward to, shortlist it. Look at their experience and longevity Gain information about the number of years they have been working in this field. If they are reliable, they will mention their past projects on their websites. Spend some time checking those and the certifications of the company. Examine the warranties Solarpower panels last for years without much maintenance. If an issue occurs, you should know who to contact. The solar energy system has several warranties, from the manufacturer warranties for various parts to workmanship warranties from installers. The latter warranty adheres only to the specific work performed by the installer and usually spans over a period of ten years. Understand the warranty carefully to know what is included or excluded and check with the installer to learn about hidden aspects of the warranties. Also, ask the installer if you have to pay charges during the check or replacement of any equipment. Who will install the system? Full-service installers involve their in-house team members to complete the project – designing, installing, monitoring, and maintaining. Sometimes, solar installers depend on subcontractors to perform all or part of the work involved in installing the system. There is nothing to be disappointed by this as it is a normal practice in the industry. You have to pay attention to the level of transparency from the installers about who will install the system – the installers themselves or the subcontractors. Also, try to know why they use the subcontractor and what portion of the work will be done by the subs. Everything boils down to one point – who will be responsible if there is a problem and who will you go to for a solution. If they answer clearly, you can go ahead with the company or switch your attention to its competitors. Verify their online reviews and speak to their customers Never hire a company without listening to or reading the recommendations. You may talk to friends and neighbors who have also installed solar panels. The reviews about a company from its users and customers are a great way to know about its services. Check out social media platforms and Google reviews to get an insight into the company’s workmanship. Peace of Mind A purchase should never pressurize you. Is the installation company pushing hard? If yes, you may not be alarmed immediately as many reputable solar installers offer incentives to their staff with commissions. But, if you notice that the representatives are moving from door-to-door, insisting you sign a contract without reading it and convincing you that solar will be great for your roof while others refuse to install without repairing the house, understand that these are signs of high-pressure sales tactics. Keep your eyes and ears open for choosing a solar installer. Make sure that the company is reliable and has been in this industry for a long time.
Leading utility specialist Fastflow Group, a subsidiary of United Living Infrastructure Services, has been chosen to rebuild a key Pressure Reduction Station (PRS) in North London. The c. £4 million project, on behalf of gas giant Cadent, will keep the energy flowing safely and reliably for many generations. With the old Tottenham Holder Station demolished, the new PRS set to be constructed off Albany Road, Tottenham. Once operational, it will adjust gas pressure, enabling it to be fed into the local gas distribution network, supplying thousands of homes, businesses and community facilities. The scheme also involves replacing ageing pipes with tough new ones, ensuring better connectivity and improved resilience of the gas network. The PRS rebuild forms part of the broader redevelopment of the area, supporting the £6 billion Meridian Water scheme that will deliver over 10,000 homes and thousands of new jobs in Enfield over the next 20 years. As well as supporting the delivery of new homes and jobs, the PRS rebuild will take place on a ‘clean construction site’, with minimal CO2 emissions and noise pollution, helping to drive a low carbon economy, support a green recovery and help deliver the UK’s clean growth strategy. Several innovative technologies are to be employed on-site to reduce carbon emissions, including trialling a Hydrogen fuel cell, zero-emission temporary welfare units, hybrid machinery, HVO fuel, Green Concrete, battery-powered hand tools, electric vehicles, and solar panel lighting towers. The predicted CO2 saving over a standard construction process is a massive 274.45T/CO2e, a significant reduction, which will help Cadent work towards its net zero ambitions. With the construction part of the rebuild scheduled to be completed by mid 2022, Andrew Hejdner, Senior Project Manager, Cadent Capital Delivery, said: “Cadent has a longstanding relationship with Fastflow and it’s great to see both the engineering and sustainability challenges being addressed in a collaborative way with passion and enthusiasm. “Decarbonising construction is a dilemma the whole industry faces and some of the initiatives being deployed at the Tottenham project will showcase what is possible. Over a short space of time I’m hopeful this technology will become business as usual meaning we can really make inroads into reducing our carbon footprint.” Benn Cottrell, Managing Director, Fastflow Group / United Living Infrastructure Services, added: “We’re pleased to have been chosen by Cadent for this exciting project and bring our engineering expertise to help secure safe gas supplies for years to come. Taking on this vital installation, with its specific challenges, is a project to which our team is looking forward. We’re already getting started on the planning in order to deliver safely and efficiently for Cadent. “The construction and infrastructure industry traditionally use a significant amount of energy to deliver critical projects that shape the communities in which we live. To counteract this, it is our responsibility to modernise the energy consumption approach and help reduce carbon emissions from our operations. “While creating energy-efficient buildings and infrastructure is key, it’s just as important to reduce the impact on the environment during the construction of these buildings. With solutions such as hydrogen fuel cells, hybrid machinery, clean, renewable fuel, we can improve our sustainability practices and reduce the impact construction sites have on the environment, as our industry strives towards meeting its carbon reduction targets”. Cadent is the UK’s biggest gas network. It ensures gas reaches more than 11 million customers, by maintaining and upgrading networks that include more than 80,000 miles of pipes, with new connections added every day. Placed end to end, that amount would already stretch more than three times around the world.
International engineering federation FIDIC (the International Federation of Consulting Engineers) has expanded the scope of its 2019 agreement with the World Bank which enables the bank to adopt the use of six FIDIC standard contracts until 2024 to now include the FIDIC-ITA Emerald Book form of contract for tunnelling and underground works. FIDIC has extended the terms of its license agreement with the World Bank dated 6 February 2019 to enable the international funding organisation to now use the Emerald Book contract for all underground works contracts under World Bank-financed projects, for which invitations for bids are published on the bank’s website no later than 31 December 2024. Both FIDIC and the World Bank have also agreed that the Conditions of Contract for Underground Works (Emerald book) 2019 will be used as part of the bank’s standard bidding documents for projects that are financed by World Bank until 31 December 2024. The bank already has a licence to refer to six major FIDIC contracts for projects they finance and these mainly include the 2017 Second edition FIDIC contracts, which cover a wide range of international construction and infrastructure work. Commenting on the extension of its agreement with the World Bank to now include the Emerald Book, FIDIC chief executive Dr Nelson Ogunshakin said: “I am delighted that the World Bank has chosen to adopt the use of the Emerald Book and include it in its standard bidding documents. The Emerald Book addresses several critical areas that should lead to the smoother running of contracts in the growing tunnelling and underground works sector and the bank’s move will help to command the respect and authority of the tunnel engineering and construction sector and further underline the fact that both clients and contractors can use this contract with confidence.” FIDIC hopes that the use of the Emarald Book on World Bank-funded projects will herald a new approach for hydropower projects that involve tunnelling and underground works. Large infrastructure projects, including hydropower and dams, are notorious for cost overruns and delays, especially projects with large underground works where the risks are high. The FIDIC-ITA Emerald Book is based on risk sharing principles and was developed through a joint initiative between FIDIC and the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association based on many years of experience. Commenting on the World Bank’s decision to adopt the contract, Professor Jenny Yan, president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, said: “We at the ITA welcome the World Bank’s decision to utilise advanced and proven contractual mechanisms to deal with subsurface construction risks more fairly and efficiently. The Emerald Book will make dam projects with significant underground works components more efficient to deliver and thereby support sustainable global hydropower energy initiatives.”
Providing a complete energy efficient solution for household heating, NIBE Energy Systems has launched a selection Solar PV panels to power its heat pumps and expanded its range of smart home accessories to maximize indoor comfort and climate control. The new range builds on the heat pump manufacturer’s plans to offer customers a smarter and more connected home. New NIBE PV Package to Power Heat Pumps Homes with a NIBE heat pump and PV package can benefit from the production of free solar to power heating, hot water and cooling needs, while reducing carbon emissions and energy bills all year round. A key part of the connected home, NIBE solar-powered heat pumps offer greater control over household energy consumption via the NIBE Uplink technology, automatically adjusting the indoor climate for optimal indoor comfort. The NIBE PV package is comprised of monocrystalline silicone cell panels using PERC technology for maximum efficiency, available in two sizes with an elegant all-black design. Each base package consists of 10 panels with a nominal power of 3.6 kW, mounting parts and a suitable inverter with a communication module, all of which are ready for installation. New Smart Home Accessories The new range of myUplink wireless smart home accessories compliments the NIBE S-Series heat pumps, providing more comfortable, precise room-by-room or ‘zone-by-zone’ climate control. Delivering comfort through connectivity, each of the smart home accessories connects in a mesh network arrangement, communicating with each other to create a simpler but more advanced home. Each accessory is a small unit which can easily be mounted on the wall and connected to an S-Series heat pump, automatically adjusting the temperature, humidity and CO2 levels for high comfort and low energy consumption. Included in the range is the myUplink RPP 10 UK Repeater Plug, the THS 10 Temperature Humidity Sensor, the RPP CDS 10 Carbon Dioxide Sensor, the ROT 10 Room Thermostat, and the NIBE RMU S40 Room Unit. Phil Hurley, Managing Director at NIBE Energy Systems commented: “We are really pleased to be launching this new range of myUplink Smart Home Accessories and to be building on our promise to continuously update our products with new functions and accessories. It was a proud moment for us last year when we launched the S-Series range of heat pumps, and it is brilliant to be able to build on their offering today with the launch of accessories that will make sure our customers can truly make the most of them. Technology never stops developing or improving, and neither do we. “The launch of our PV Package is another big moment for us, and we look forward to now being able to offer our customers the full integrated package they need to truly harness the power of nature to heat their home. We are, as ever, committed to making it easy to be smart.” To find out more about the new product range, please visit https://www.nibe.eu/en-gb/products/s-series For more information on NIBE Energy Systems and its range of products, follow @NIBEEnergy on Twitter and NIBE Energy Systems Limited on LinkedIn.
The design stage is crucial for a successful construction project, and Vital Energi are delighted to offer a complete design process across all RIBA stages to help organisations achieve their energy ambitions. By influencing key decisions made early on in the design process, the team at Vital ensure buildings are designed in an optimum way by working alongside M&E consultants, sustainability consultants, structural engineers, and architects, to ensure clients benefit from design efficiency from the beginning. Vital have recently been working with one of the UK’s largest developers, Taylor Wimpey, on their Hepscott Road project in Hackney Wick, which comprises 145 apartments and 23,820 sq. ft of commercial space. Early involvement in the project from RIBA Stage 2 has allowed Vital to work with the architects at the pre-planning stage, influencing key decisions and providing optimal support to Taylor Wimpey. Spatial provisions, such as the location of HIUs and utility cupboards, rooftop plant areas, riser sizes, ceiling void depths, and energy centre plant areas have been determined. These key considerations provide the architect with valuable information to ensure the building works get the best out of the heat network. Amanda Daly, Senior Technical Manager for Taylor Wimpey London, said: “The introduction of Vital Energi at concept stage has been invaluable. Design input has been consistent, and the Vital team have fully integrated with the design team to make the process efficient and successful.” Elliott Sharpe, Vital Energi’s Design Director, said: “It’s great to be able to share the company’s experience from design, installation and operation of heat networks with the project design team and clients at such an early stage of a development. Not only does the professional team benefit, but so does the end customer through the creation of an efficient, low carbon heat supply.” With over 30 years’ heat network experience, Vital Energi’s design team specialise in creating robust and creative energy generation, distribution and conservation solutions of all sizes for small to large scale projects across all sectors, and are proud to have developed schemes for over 83,000 properties and installed upward of 30,000 HIUs. The Vital team can share their knowledge at any stage of the design process, however by RIBA Stage 4, many of the key decisions have already been made, some of which may be irreversible, such as defining the energy strategy, size and location of the energy centre, number and size of risers required, and the optimum district heating route. If the initial concept needs reworking, this can cause project delays, redesign work and additional cost. Having a heat network specialist on board from the early stages also integrates Vital’s experience of installation, ESCo services, metering & billing, and operation & maintenance into the design from day one. If you’re based in the South and would like to see your energy ambitions become reality, please contact Elliott Sharpe on Elliott.Sharpe@vitalenergi.co.uk.
Trading power and carbon presents on opportunity for the energy industry to capitalise on high-growth, high-value markets, in addition to the obvious benefits presented by the move to renewable, sustainable, Earth-friendly generation and decarbonisation solutions. Like any other, carbon emissions—as well as electricity—can be considered a specification for commodities and the industry is experiencing a development, acquisition, and consolidation “boom” right now. Nord Pool exchange links Norway and Britain Nord Pool, Europe’s leading power market has announced that it has received an operating license to host day-ahead power trading auctions for the first electricity cable linking Norway and Britain from this autumn, Norway’s Energy Regulatory Authority (NVE-RME) said. Much the same in principle as any British trade platform, Nord Pool offers day-ahead and intraday trading, clearing, and settlement to customers regardless of size or location. 360 companies from 20 countries trade on Nord Pool’s markets and the concession allows Nord Pool to run auctions for delivery over the new 1,400 megawatt (MW) North Sea Link cable once trial operations begin on Oct. 1. US private equity firm acquires UK renewable energy firm Anesco On the back of this news comes that of the acquisition by Ara Partners, an industrial decarbonisation-focused private equity firm, of Anesco Holdings, a UK market leader in renewable energy that develops, designs, and manages the construction, maintenance, and market optimisation of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Anesco has developed and constructed more than 115 solar farms and energy storage facilities—including the UK’s first solar farm free from subsidies—while its operations and maintenance service now has close to 1.2 gigawatt (GW) of renewable assets under management. Charles Cherington, co-founder and managing partner of Ara Partners, said, “Our focus is on accelerating decarbonisation by investing in and building ambitious companies such as Anesco that have energy efficiency and sustainability at their heart.” Mark Futyan, who joined Anesco as CEO in 2020, will continue to lead the business with the support of the senior management team. “This is a pivotal moment for Anesco, as we gear up to deliver the next wave of large scale, subsidy-free solar and energy storage capacity,” he said. Ara Partners invests in the industrial and manufacturing, chemicals and materials, energy efficiency and green fuels and food and agriculture sectors, seeking to build businesses that are focused on sustainability and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) principles. Ara Partners and Anesco are considered ideal partners owing to their strong focus on the services business model and commitment to supporting the net zero energy transition.
