2017 – Energys Group

As we approach 2018, what key trends in energy efficiency are closing out the year?

Energy Live News is reporting that a new energy and carbon reporting framework would be supported by 87% of decision makers in British businesses.

The news comes from npower Business Solutions, whose research shows UK stakeholders believe new frameworks could drive a nationwide reduction in energy use, bills and carbon emissions.

According to Energy Live News, the survey of 500 senior figures suggests reduced energy costs would be the biggest benefit from a change in reporting frameworks (58%), followed by increased energy efficiency (54%) and reduced bureaucracy (45%).

The intriguing industry sentiment comes in response to the Government’s October 2017 Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting Consultation, which will run until January 4 2018.

Its purpose is to seek views on how to replace the reporting element of the Carbon Reduction Commitment, which will be abolished after the 2018/19 compliance year.

“The reform package has been put in place to cut down administration burdens and raise energy efficiency awareness for UK PLC,” comments Kevin Cox, Managing Director, Energys.

“In our organisation, as experts on energy efficiency, we are aware of the fact that reporting can be burdensome, but it’s also incredibly valuable.

“It can drive internal change, behavioural change, and take energy efficiency right up the boardroom priority list. We urge every UK company to make it their business to look at the consultation.

“If we can start off 2018 in the right way, with a fantastic new framework that delivers more and more energy efficiency throughout the year; that will be an amazing Christmas present.”

Gas vs energy efficiency

Elsewhere, Carbon Brief has analysed whether gas, which accounts for more than a third of UK emissions, can continue to play a role in the provision of energy, given the UK’s current climate ambitions.

Its research, released on December 5, cites recent analysis by the Tyndall Centre which suggests the role of gas will be extremely limited, due to the small remaining carbon budget.

Alternatively, Carbon Brief finds that energy efficiency remains a more attractive option for achieving long term carbon mitigation and business opportunities in the UK.

Its research explains; ‘While gas displaces some coal initially (prior to 2020), as is currently being observed in the UK’s electricity generation sector, the modelling points to a cost-effective pathway where new investment is focused on renewables and in energy efficiency measures.’

“We’re pleased to see more evidence that energy efficiency is the best option for mitigating carbon and delivering futureproof, responsive UK businesses,” says Cox.

“Many in the sector know and understand that the energy you don’t use is always cheaper and greener than any fossil fuel, even one which acts as a ‘bridge’ to help kick the UK’s historic fossil fuel addiction.

“We advocate; get energy efficiency to the top of the pile now, and let’s not pretend that fossils represent more than a transitory option at best.”

Energys wishes all our friends and partners a Happy Christmas, and we look forward to keeping you up to date with the sector throughout 2018.

Was 2017 finally the breakthrough year for low carbon and energy efficiency?

By any estimation, the sector has received some significant boosts this year.

In the Clean Growth Strategy, the Government made a solid commitment to lead the world in cost effective clean growth, setting out, in clear terms, a blueprint for Britain’s low carbon future.

That wasn’t all. Shortly afterwards The Industrial Strategy gave encouraging signs for low carbon, offering up measures to help large businesses cut energy use and bills.

Some of the headline promises included £2.5 billion to support low carbon innovation from 2015 to 2021, up to £10 million for innovations that improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings, and an Industrial Energy Efficiency scheme to help large companies install measures to cut their energy use and their bills.

Such themes been in the background for years, but politically, in 2017 they finally found their way into solid policy.

So today we ask; if 2017 started the breakthrough, what do we need in coming years to make low carbon ever more real on the ground in the UK?

Is this the beginning of the end for fossil energy and the old status quo?

“At Energys, we feel that there are hints 2017’s policy declarations do indeed signal a turning point in the UK’s evolution towards low carbon,” comments Kevin Cox, Managing Director, Energys.

“It is very important to remember that not long ago, a great many commentators were forecasting major issues for the UK’s environment policy, claiming that with Brexit in the headlights, there was nothing to stop us slipping back to a fossil based agenda.

“It is very clear that while there is always more to do, this has not happened. Indeed major policy documents have taken us far in the opposite direction; towards energy efficiency, low carbon, electric vehicles and major alterations to our electricity network.”

Yet, amid all this positivity, work remains to be done.

Policy vs reality

In environmental spheres, policy leads real world change. But policy alone is not a panacea; cash, while welcome, is not the sole solution.

One element that hints at real meaning behind the top level promises and strategic direction, is the appointment of an independent Industrial Strategy Council, planned for next year, to hold Ministers to account over progress.

When we look back on historic environmental promises, often the truth is that the money went to the wrong places, too slowly; that the funds established were misdirected.

The Council must ensure this doesn’t happen, and that the cash set aside for energy efficiency and low carbon reaches the places it can work best.

Moreover, as Brexit beckons, we must be aware of the UK’s challenging growth forecasts and give close attention to our burgeoning low carbon industry even while negotiating our exit from the EU.

The final word

All in all, the future for low carbon is not necessarily less challenging than prior to 2017’s policy moves.

But there is now room for hope and opportunity. There is a real sense that there is no turning back from this point, and that a lower carbon UK is unequivocally where we are firmly headed.

For this, we must be grateful. Let’s enter 2018 bursting with positivity, ready to do the hard work to back up the promising lead Government Ministers have delivered.

We hope you enjoyed this article? See more of energy articles here. Please drop us a line if you’d like to chat about any of the issues and themes covered or to find out more about our energy saving technologies.

The IFC says energy efficient buildings could drastically cut global C02, but policy and standards must step up also

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has weighed in on energy efficiency.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. It’s in such countries that climate change is predicted to hit hardest.

This status gives IFC’s words and position massive clout. IFC’s report, entitled Creating Markets for Climate Business, says making buildings more energy efficient could reduce carbon emissions dramatically, but only if countries adopt better building codes and higher standards too.

It’s a riveting piece of news, which should catalyse debate in both emerging and developed markets. What’s behind the IFC claims?

IFC lays it on the line for energy efficiency

The IFC offers compelling headline stats on what the right mix of energy efficiency, codes and standards can offer to mitigate global C02.

In Indonesia, for example, regulations created with IFC support have mandated energy efficiency requirements for large buildings throughout the capital.

This opened the door for the private sector to supply solutions; IFC now estimates the benefits include avoiding over 700,000 metric tons of carbon emissions, plus energy savings of almost $70 million in the last 3 years.

There are more astonishing figures. IFC says investments in green buildings could reach $3.4 trillion by 2025 in key emerging markets. That’s a huge chunk for energy efficiency firms to win.

But this will happen only if developing countries adopt the best building codes and standards and create targeted financial incentives such as green building certification and mandatory benchmarking of energy use.

At Energys, we take this underlying theme from the news…

If such trillions can be leveraged for C02 mitigation and energy efficiency in emerging markets, where financial resources are stretched, just consider what we ought to be achieving at home to help lead C02 reduction.

The opportunities are there, but they will cost

Overall, IFC’s report says energy efficiency in buildings needs an additional $296 billion globally, per year, to meet existing climate targets.

In terms of the standards both developed and emerging states require along with the cash; these must set minimum thresholds for energy performance, requiring certification to dedicated criteria.

In addition, programmes and codes should organise building data into a standardised format, that can be used to develop building benchmarking schemes; crucial for differentiating greener, more energy efficient buildings in the real estate market.

Without these elements, a lack of reliable data and awareness about energy efficiency and green building can hinder efforts to create a viable market.

Philippe Le Houérou, Chief Executive of the IFC, said: “The private sector holds the key to fighting climate change.

“We can help unlock more private sector investment, but this also requires government reforms as well as innovative business models, which together will create new markets and attract the necessary investment. This can fulfil the promises of Paris.”

What does it all mean at home in the UK?

“When we see a report that highlights how codes, standards and investment can build emerging market energy efficiency, we must then apply this thinking to how the UK, an established market, should be leading,” comments Kevin Cox, Managing Director, Energys.

“The sums and the benefits the IFC is talking about are vastly significant. Of course, many energy efficiency codes and standards for buildings already exist here in the UK.

“The Government has recently promised to consult on improving the energy efficiency of new and existing commercial buildings, and on raising minimum standards of energy efficiency for rented commercial buildings in its Clean Growth Strategy.

“Could we see the UK taking a stronger position in the field, and providing the leadership IFC proves could be so valuable in helping our own and developing markets mitigate carbon?”

We hope you enjoyed this article? See more of energy policy articles here. Please drop us a line if you’d like to chat about any of the issues and themes covered or to find out more about our energy saving technologies.

The Bonn Climate Conference; what might it mean for efficiency, policy and tomorrow’s business?

As we write, The Bonn Climate Conference is ongoing; and is due to conclude today.

A lot of very negative headlines on rising C02 emissions have galvanised the event. 2017 looks set to be among the hottest 3 years on record, after C02 surged to a record high in 2016.

So while solid work is being done, the reality is there’s a huge distance to cover before emissions are meaningfully controlled, and the mantle of action will likely fall on the world’s businesses.

What needs to happen at Bonn?

There’s huge focus in Bonn to prove the US move out of the Paris agreement won’t derail progress. But, there’s a great deal else delegates need to achieve.

Speaking of the US, The New York Times writes that much of the crucial work at Bonn will happen behind closed doors, as diplomats try to build on the initial Paris agreement, crafting new rules and guidelines that, they hope, will help turn hazy national promises into concrete action.

One widely recognised problem with the current Paris pledges is they’re fairly vague. Pre-Brexit, the European Union vowed to cut emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, but offered few specifics on how to achieve that goal.

EDIE explains that the thousands of representatives from 195 countries are gathered in Bonn from November 6 to work on a ‘rule book’ for implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Essentially, the summit is expected to lay the groundwork for the rules and guidelines which will need to be established by each country before December 2018’s COP24 summit in Katowice, Poland.

“This nitty gritty is the key to actually reducing carbon,” comments Kevin Cox, Energys Managing Director. “When you take the pledges and run with them in terms of solid policy, you start to see the concrete low carbon landscape emerging.”

What exactly will be ready by the end of Bonn?

This is impossible to say, but remember the aim is that new rules to make the Paris pledges more useful will be here by 2018, so we might see some detail on these emerging by the end of the conference.

Of course, there is one major risk at Bonn. Following the US moves to denounce the Paris agreement, there is a concern that other countries will follow suit.

It’s to be hoped that this does not happen, but if it does, all progress could be derailed. This is unlikely, especially given Chinese positivity and a new sense of global statesmanship emerging from China in the nationalist wake of President Trump.

But even delays, or perhaps an uncommunicative US presence at the event might slow progress, and as more and more of the world’s leaders agree, time is not on our side.

“We need the new rules which make the Paris promises more coherent, and we need them soon,” says Cox.

“Without these it’s difficult to sense where the future will lie. Of course the UK has its own rules and we are setting our own path to low carbon. But we need to see our role within a global context and to do that we need to see movement on the concrete actions to deliver the Paris sentiments.”

An endgame at Bonn?

Ultimately, Bonn won’t provide an endgame for UK corporate leaders seeking certainty on efficiency, policy and tomorrow’s business.

But we might just get a glimpse of how the world plans to make Paris promises real, and how that will impact at home.

And this, ultimately, will affect the global low carbon market, which will also feed into how the UK’s low carbon futures play out.

As ever, everything is at stake as the world continues its battle to put C02 on the back-foot.

The Energys November Horizon Scan – your guide to what’s trending in energy

Energy efficiency saves billions

This month, the Telegraph is reporting that UK businesses can save billions in energy bills simply through basic energy efficiency measures.

In one example, the broadsheet notes that lighting accounted for £1.1bn of the identified £3.7bn of potential savings in a government report.

It consumes about 20% of the overall electricity used in commercial and industrial UK buildings and plays a more significant role in sectors such as retail and hospitality.

And, low-hanging fruit can also be found in carbon and energy management, which had the potential for £722m in savings across non-domestic sectors.

Among overall praise of energy efficiency’s winning bottom line, the paper also advises that while the incentives around energy efficiency tend to focus on the possible financial benefits, public-facing businesses in the retail and hospitality sector have other reasons to think about making improvements.

“A more efficient building is increasingly viewed as a better asset class,” says Pedro Guertler, a Senior Policy Adviser at the independent climate change think tank, E3G.

“[So] it’s easier to attract better quality tenants and it is more attractive to the tenants because they face lower energy costs.”

“At Energys, we strongly advise any firm seeking better understanding on how efficiency can help your business win to check out this feature,” comments Kevin Cox, Managing Director, Energys.

It lays out, in a simple way, the massive opportunities energy efficiency and energy management will deliver.

Massive C02 rises – how can they be mitigated

Worrying rises in the volume of C02 in the atmosphere have recently been reported.

Concentrations of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere surged to a record high in 2016, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), writes the BBC.

2016 saw average concentrations of CO2 hit 403.3 parts per million, up from 400ppm in 2015. “It is the largest increase we have ever seen in the 30 years we have had this network,” Dr Oksana Tarasova, Chief of WMO’s global atmosphere watch programme, told BBC News.

The news is hugely troubling. But EDIE is taking a positive tack, and examining which business actions will be under discussion as participating nations meet to discuss the next steps at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn.

EDIE notes that as part of the much praised Clean Growth Strategy, the largest UK business and industrial consumers will be asked to implement energy efficiency savings of 20% by 2030.

Large businesses collectively account for 25% of the UK’s total carbon emissions, so if achieved, these reductions will make a big impact on our national targets .
Building in the finest efficiency tech will be vital to this goal. But also, writes EDIE, behavioural change could deliver potential savings of around £860m for UK businesses, with large businesses accounting for £460m of this.

The sectors with the greatest scope for savings were identified as wholesale and retail, manufacturing, administrative and support services, and scientific and technical.

EDIE’s takeaway message is one we applaud here at Energys; for any business, cutting energy use and emissions is not only good for the environment, it makes a positive impact to your bottom line by delivering lower energy bills.

“We will watch with peeled eyes the developments at Bonn, as leaders meet to look at the next steps in terms of business actions on C02,” comments Kevin Cox.

“Energys will track the activities, and keep you alerted to the changes.”

Energys Group works with WSCC Purple Bus team to encourage young people’s passion for engineering, design and racing

The Billingshurst-based energy solutions group has been working with West Sussex County Council’s Youth Service to support two Purple Bus teams from Storrington and Petworth Youth Groups, which have been taking part in the Greenpower Trust F24 international competition.

The teams worked hard throughout the season to design, build and develop two electric racing cars to race against teams from across the region, and ultimately qualify for the international competition at Rockingham Raceway.

Following practice sessions and their first competitive race at Goodwood, the teams had time to refine and develop improvements to the car, and to improve how well they worked together as a team, before entering their second race at Dunsfold Park. There was then a painful wait for results from elsewhere to find out whether they had qualified for the International Finals, over the weekend of 6-8 October.

However, they weren’t content to sit around, hoping for good news. During the wait, the teams researched engine performance improvements; visiting Shoreham’s Ricardo Engineering to get every bit of guidance and information they could to improve their cars’ performance. Then, two weeks before the final, the teams found out that both cars had qualified.

Dan Sneller, Project Manager for the Purple Bus, says, “Having worked with these young people since March 2017 it has been great to see them develop as a group and individually. We set them the task of researching what Greenpower Trust is and what other teams do. We worked with them to explore group dynamics and group roles, looking at what it means to be a part of a successful team.

“One of the team’s tasks was to plan for the International Final, in preparation for qualifying. They had a set budget which they had to allocate for accommodation and food for the weekend. It became very clear to them that the budget provided them was not enough and they had to look elsewhere to gain extra sponsorship. This was something I had planned to develop their problem-solving skills and encourage them to approach local business for support. The Energys Group was amazing at supporting the young people throughout this, helping them to a very successful international final, in which they placed 53rd in the world – which was an outstanding achievement and one they should be very proud of.”

Energys Group’s Managing Director Kevin Cox commented, “We have been thrilled to support the fantastic work done by the Purple Bus kit car teams throughout their design, build and racing in the Greenpower Trust’s annual challenge. We’re so proud of them for qualifying for the international final and for their outstanding result. Young engineers are the future for innovation in so many fields, including ours in energy solutions and we look forward to seeing these pupils develop their careers in science and engineering.”

Energys Group are experts in delivering energy efficient technologies. We’d be delighted to talk about any of the issues and themes covered in this article. Give us a call for a chat.

UK Clean Growth Strategy; is a low carbon UK now inevitable?

Just days ago, the Government published its Clean Growth Strategy, in which it promises to lead the world in cost effective clean growth.

Entitled ‘The Clean Growth Strategy: Leading the way to a low carbon future,’ can the document really set out a blueprint to an energy efficient, low carbon UK?

Clean Growth; the details

The overarching driver behind the Strategy is to maximise the social and economic benefits for the UK from the low carbon transition.

The document promises to create low carbon economic opportunities, through the creation of new technologies and new businesses, building jobs and prosperity across the UK along with ambitious national targets to tackle climate change.

On the numbers; over £2.5 billion will be invested in low carbon innovation from 2015 to 2021. This funding covers low carbon energy, transport, agriculture and waste.

This includes up to £505 million from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s Energy Innovation Programme, which aims to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative clean energy technologies and processes.

It’s estimated that in total, all this cash can help the low carbon economy grow 11% per year between 2015 and 2030; faster than the rest of the economy.

There will be up to £10 million for innovations that provide low carbon heat in domestic and commercial buildings, plus £10 million for innovations that improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings, and an extra £14 million for the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund.

Carbon Capture and Utilisation gets £20 million, while another £20 million will demonstrate the viability of switching to low carbon fuels for industry. Another £20 million will support clean technology early stage funding.

An as yet uncosted package of measures will help businesses improve their energy productivity by at least 20% by 2030.

Striking measures

There is more. The Government will phase out the use of unabated coal to produce electricity by 2025, and invest around £841 million of public funds in innovation in low carbon transport technology and fuels.

It will also spend £1 billion supporting the takeup of ultra low emission vehicles, including helping consumers to overcome the upfront cost of an electric car. It will also work towards the ambition for zero avoidable waste by 2050.

Clean Growth; the verdict

PwC, generally a fair and impartial voice on UK sustainability, said that presently the UK leads the G20 on clean growth and is decoupling emissions from economic growth significantly faster than its peers.

“The Clean Growth Strategy should continue the UK’s transition to a low carbon economy,” Jonathan Grant, PwC sustainability director and Low Carbon Economy Index author, said.

“There’s no denying that the Government’s new Strategy offers some compelling drivers, both financial and strategic, to further deliver the low carbon UK we already know represents our future,” comments Kevin Cox, Managing Director, Energys.

“At Energys we are particularly delighted to see promises of £10 million for buildings energy efficiency; we are primed and ready to help put this money to work in the best possible way.”

We hope you enjoyed this article? See more of energy policy articles here. Please drop us a line if you’d like to chat about any of the issues and themes covered or to find out more about our energy saving technologies .

5 things you need to know about this year’s party conferences and energy

We round-up the key issues in energy which the UK’s political parties are grappling with at their respective conferences.

1. Energy prices won’t go away

According to this i news briefing, MPs of all parties are demanding Theresa May keeps her promise to curb big energy price rises.

It claims Theresa May is facing a growing Tory rebellion before her party’s conference, over failing to act on a manifesto commitment to cap electricity and gas bills for 17 million families across the UK.

The government signalled on Thursday 28 September that it was prepared to legislate to curb excessive price rises if the regulator Ofgem failed to produce adequate proposals to combat profiteering.

2. Labour to re-nationalise energy

Metro writes that John McDonnell has confirmed that Labour will re-nationalise railways, water, energy and Royal Mail, if in power.

“Building an economy for the many also means bringing ownership and control of the utilities and key services into the hands of people who use and work in them. Rail, water, energy, Royal Mail: we’re taking them back.” he said.

3. Brexit trumps energy

Richard Black, Director of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, says feedback from MPs suggests it is difficult to predict what will be happening in Parliament over the next couple of months following conferences. “The prime ministership is very fragile,” he told Utility Week.

But others are more candid; saying there’s little doubt which issue will be most on Tory activists’ minds when they assemble in Manchester. “The Tory party will be dominated by Brexit, I’m afraid,” says Tim Yeo, the Conservative former Chairman of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee.

4. But, there is hope…

However, Luke Clark, Head of Public Affairs at Renewable UK, believes the consensus around the need to decarbonise the energy mix has strengthened over the past year.

“Across the parties there is a very strong majority in favour of continued development of renewables. Very few fringe voices are questioning the direction of travel,” was his takeaway for Utility Week.

5. Nuclear is in the mix

The sense is that nuclear power will continue to be under the spotlight at the Tory conference, with environmentalists calling for a rethink of government support following the dramatic reduction in offshore wind prices thrown up by the recent contracts for difference auction.

The nuclear lobby will be heartened that BEIS Secretary Greg Clark’s biggest energy speaking slot on the Tory fringe will be an hour-long Q&A at a Nuclear Industry Association meeting.

“There’s so much electricity capacity coming off in the next 10 to 15 years that we need to develop all of the low-carbon options available to us and that includes nuclear,” says Peter Haslam, Head of Policy at the Nuclear Industry Association.

Energys Group are experts in delivering energy efficient technologies. We’d be delighted to talk about any of the issues and themes covered in this article. Give us a call for a chat.

What does London’s Draft Environment Strategy hope to do?

London has a fast rising list of environmental issues. They range from harmful air quality to climate change mitigation, plus achieving greener energy, less waste and less noise.

London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan, published his draft London Environment Strategy in August. Right now, it’s out for consultation, and all Londoners can have their say.

Khan promises to tackle the urgent environmental challenges facing the capital, as well as safeguard London’s environment over the longer term.

What’s the problem?

Half of Londoners have poor access to public open space, and water demand is set to outstrip supply by 2025.

Further, carbon dioxide emissions are way too high, and in some areas the city’s electricity infrastructure is approaching full capacity.

Interestingly then, some of London’s major challenges are identical to those facing the UK as a whole. It’s to be hoped its Strategy can act as a test-bed, for rollout across many other areas.

In another interesting coincidence, the Strategy sets out its overarching vision for London for 2050, the same year the UK Carbon Budget targets kick in.

Key Strategy targets for London

By 2050, London will be a zero carbon city, with zero emissions transport. London will send zero waste to landfill by 2026 and recycle 65% of its waste by 2030.

More than half of London will be green by 2050, featuring new parks and biodiversity. The Mayor’s new Energy for Londoners programme will help Londoners and businesses to generate more renewable energy.

In this new capital, tree canopy cover will increase by 10% by 2050. London will have the best air quality of any major world city by 2050, going beyond the legal requirements.

London’s transport system will phase out fossil fuels including diesel, making the whole bus fleet zero emission by 2037 at the latest. The Ultra Low Emission Zone, by 2019, will deter the most polluting vehicles from entering the capital. 2,000 EV charging points will appear.

London’s zero carbon 2050 target is very tough. By 2019, all new buildings will be zero carbon. Renewables will provide 15% of energy by 2030. Low carbon heat will be city wide by 2030.

The analysis; can it happen?

Khan’s promise is immeasurably challenging. Remodelling every facet of a city London’s size for zero carbon in 30 years is a vast undertaking.

His full Strategy document numbers some 200 pages; worryingly any high quality, deep strategy document or review on London’s energy alone should take at least this many pages.

Add in a missing 200 pages for a deep review on waste and water, let’s say about 100 for air and another 100 for vehicles and the deeper insight, or cohesive plan behind the promises begins to appear very lacking.

Aspiration vs reality

But, in many senses this is an aspirational plan. Zero waste, included in its promises, has always been an idealistic idea.

Further, any environmentalist knows London’s 2050 success, given its size and infrastructure, depends on myriad factors way outside the Mayor’s direct control, or that of his Strategy.

What matters may not be Khan’s deep understanding or detail, but his top level desire and willingness to transform London into one of Earth’s greenest cities.

That is worthy of high praise indeed; but the path to getting there, one suspects, needs stronger foundations than this one document.

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