ADVICE & OPINION
COMMENT
FRESH ENERGY
As we all navigate volatile energy prices, the
transition to a low-carbon future is one that
many businesses are looking to accelerate where
possible. Energy management is central to this
and as energy prices continue to rise, for many
businesses successful energy management is
critical in order to thrive.
Most organisations have started their journey to a
low-carbon future with ‘quick win’ energy e iciency
measures. These may include switching to LED
lighting, using timers for appliances and adjusting
heating controls. These measures are important,
low cost and simple to implement and something
everyone should be doing. But to move closer to
a low carbon future and reap greater e iciency
and cost saving gains, businesses must take the
next step and adopt an integrated approach. This
should look at energy optimisation and behavioural
change, as well as reducing usage.
This holistic approach to energy management
will not just focus on how much energy a business
is using but also when and how they are using that
energy. Digital technology has an important role to
play here.
POWER OF DATA
To make e ective change, data is key. Put simply,
you can’t manage what you don’t measure, so
businesses should start measuring their energy
12 MAY 2022
consumption before they begin their optimisation
journey. Here technology will pay dividends, as
data will show where, when and how a facility is
using energy. This can be achieved with an energy
management system (EMS), which will collect
energy measurement data through a series of smart
meters and collate it so users can monitor and
ultimately manage their energy.
Smart metering can also help businesses to keep
on top of their costs by implementing an automatic
meter reading (AMR) device for non-half hourly
supplies or a data collection contract for half-hourly
supplies. This can provide them with greater control
with a managed rollout. Measuring half-hourly (HH)
data, particularly for those with multiple sites can
be challenging.
An EMS can include all aspects of an organisation’s
energy, from procurement, to usage, monitoring
and on-site generation. There are a number of ways
organisations can better use energy consumption
data to help inform business decisions, keep
energy costs in line with budgets and help with
future planning. Firstly, they should review data
regularly to understand how it can be used to
support their energy strategy. Businesses should
work from a baseline of their energy performance
and then identify how factors such as production
levels, behaviour and seasonality influence their
consumption. Then they can prioritise areas for
improvement and track their results to see if they
are meeting or exceeding their goals and if the
strategy needs further optimisation.
Organisations required to comply with regulatory
schemes such as Streamlined Energy and
Carbon Reporting (SECR) and the Energy Savings
Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) will appreciate that
sound data management is key. Those who have
already submitted reports for SECR will tell you that
data collation can be challenging, which means that
starting data collection early is crucial.
HARNESSING THE BENEFITS OF ON-SITE
GENERATION
Businesses that want to reap further sustainability,
site resilience and cost benefits are turning to
installing on-site generation. Energy management
systems are vital in helping facilities managers
harness the benefits of on-site generation, giving
more control over all aspects of energy use.
Today, solar PV is a popular, robust renewable
energy generation option and installing solar panels
on the roof of a building for a project of <1MW in
size shouldn’t require planning permission. Most
solar panels will provide a good level of generation
even on low light days and as they have a low
degradation rate, could last up to 40 years.
March’s Spring budget brought welcome news
for those interested in on-site generation.
The Chancellor brought forward an exemption
making green technology, including solar panels,
exempt from business rates from April 2022, which
is set to save businesses an extra £35 million in
2022-2023.
O en alongside considerations for on-site
generation, the question of battery storage and
its benefits is raised. One of the key benefits
for businesses is site resilience, and if you are
managing a facility where back-up power is
critical for operation, battery storage is worth
exploring. Battery technology is still in the earlier
days of development and we do see high levels
of degradation, so it’s important to factor battery
replacement into forward budgeting from 10 years
onwards.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE TODAY AND TOMORROW
Now is the time to step up energy management
initiatives to the next level to benefit from further
environmental and cost saving benefits. Embracing
digital technology should be central to this as it
will allow for comprehensive data gathering and
management and empower all facilities to make
well informed decisions about how and where to
make savings. Digitisation is also going to be key to
embracing on-site generation technologies, which
will all link to an innovative energy management
platform. It’s time to see net zero as a goal which
is essential for our climate and for business and
focus on the importance of the journey - every
little change is going to add up to making a big
di erence.
Laura Clare Davies, Sustainability Specialist at Inspired
Energy, discusses how using the latest technology and
data analytics can bolster energy management initiatives