Corporate PPAs were seen as the great hope of post-subsidy renewables. But they have perhaps received a disproportionate amount of attention in relation to the volumes of new renewables they have actually delivered, according to Aurora’s Hugo Batten and Dimitri Kyriazis. They argue that market opacity, high transaction costs and a lack of end-to-end expertise are hurdles to Read more…
Opinion: Why is energy regulation so glacially slow?
The energy market is changing far more quickly than the rules, stifling innovation and creating mounting problems. Jo Butlin urges rule makers to keep up. I gave a presentation last week on the future of the Energy market to 2050. During the presentation, I heard myself say ‘change has happened in the market far faster Read more…
Welsh start-up claims more massive lighting savings – 96% at retailer Claire’s
Welsh start-up EnModus claims its technology, which uses existing mains wiring to connect lights to an internet platform, has delivered 96% energy savings at a UK warehouse operated by retailer Claire’s. The trial follows claims by the company earlier this year that a similar project at a Virgin Media data centre cut lighting consumption by Read more…
Can you prove how good your last energy project was?
The Association for Decentralised Energy wants to hear from firms that think they have delivered world-class energy projects. If they are as good as you believe they are, and you can prove it, it’s probably worth entering the ADE’s awards. The Association wants to hear from parties that have helped deliver projects in areas including Read more…
Energy convergence: Why you can’t afford to miss The Energyst Event
The free conference and exhibition, 17-18 April at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, highlights the impact of the convergence of energy procurement, efficiency and flexibility on your business. The decentralisation of energy is having a profound effect on all aspects of the system. The Energyst Event aims to discuss what this means for businesses – Read more…
Reactive Technologies launches ‘CHP optimisation as a service’
Reactive Technologies has launched ‘CHP optimisation as a service’ which it says uses machine learning to optimise run times and revenues for combined heat and power plant. The firm’s initial client is a large retailer, for whom it is optimising “hundreds of small CHPs” around the country, according to head of retail, Mark Cavill, who Read more…
Opinion: Five things I learned from the Triad court hearing
I observed part of the hearing yesterday in the judicial review of Ofgem’s decision to reduce triad benefits for distributed generation by changing the charging base for the triad charging element of transmission network use of system charges from net demand (the power drawn by distribution systems from the transmission system to serve a supplier’s Read more…
Risky business: Carillion’s demise a warning for FM firms
Carillion’s demise illustrates the need for firms involved in the FM sector to carefully manage cost and risk, because the energy world is only becoming more complex, says Lisa Gingell. Smart cities, smart buildings, industry 4.0 and the move to more decentralised utilities and communications networks is creating a world filled with millions of connected Read more…
Blockchain – not the definitive article
Electron’s strategy director, Jon Ferris, explodes some of the myths surrounding blockchain’s security, scalability and energy consumption. The increasing media coverage of bitcoin may lead to a wider and better understanding of blockchain in the long term, but in the short term has entrenched a number of myths about security, scalability and energy consumption. Bitcoin Read more…
University of Strathclyde & Arbnco partner to solve energy efficiency fails in buildings
The Energy Systems Research Unit (ESRU) at the University of Strathclyde is working with software provider Arbnco on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership to work out why the actual energy performance of buildings is often well below design expectations. This gap leads to higher costs, higher consumption, unhappy clients and can foster distrust, and therefore energy Read more…
Why more firms are obtaining electricity supply licences
Consultant Jo Butlin believes a push to obtain electricity supply licences by aggregators, local authorities and renewable generators is set to continue as they try to maximise value and minimise reliance – and payments – to incumbents. Meanwhile those that fully exploit opportunities afforded to licence holders may actually deliver the innovation in business models that has long been Read more…
We need to talk about Triad
Smart Grid Consultancy director, Gary Swandells, believes heated debate around proposed cuts to Triad payments is fuelling fear and misunderstanding of the nature of the changes. He points out that Triad avoidance will likely become even more valuable, and only those generators that receive a disproportionate benefit by exporting power in those periods will be affected. Read more…
Directors ‘right not to spend cash on energy efficiency’
Energy efficiency isn’t a priority for many board directors, who would rather spend company cash on revenue generating activities. They are the smart ones, Capitas Finance energy efficiency specialist Jason Hunter tells The Energyst. Finance remains the biggest perceived barrier to energy efficiency investment amongst small and medium-sized enterprises and the public sector, according to a Read more…
Sustainable City Awards open for entries
London’s Sustainable City Awards today opened for entries. The City of London Corporation-backed awards, which recognise best practice in environmental management and sustainable leadership, seek applications from organisations of all sizes that can demonstrate that their work has contributed to a healthier, more environmentally friendly city. The six award categories include: Health and Wellbeing, Innovative Technology, Innovative Spaces, Sustainable Transport, Read more…
Gazprom launches ‘more transparent’ platform for large gas users and TPIs
Gazprom Energy has launched a gas buying tool for third party intermediaries (TPIs) and major energy users. The Energy Risk VuePoint service aims to streamline the procurement process between Gazprom Energy and customers with flexible purchasing contracts, plus any TPI that manages the customer relationship. It provides 24/7 access to live position data, bespoke reports, Read more…
Electric vehicle energy storage range ‘cuts costs, emissions and grid congestion’
Sponsored post: Powerstar is officially launching its Virtue energy storage range for electric vehicles. The firm says the system cuts costs, network congestion and CO2. As more companies are looking to invest in electric vehicles (EV), the need for convenient and rapid charging is becoming apparent. However, large numbers of EV connecting to the National Grid Read more…
Can you sell less for more? Energyst Media is hiring
The Energyst is hiring. We need smart, driven sales people who can listen, analyse and package solutions for demanding clients. Energyst Media is recruiting due to significant growth. Our engaged business and public sector audience buys billions of pounds worth of energy-related products and services – and our advertisers recognise the value we deliver. But Read more…
Flexing your site’s energy muscle pays off
Sponsored: Smart technology deployed to monitor the energy consumption of industrial buildings and facilities is enabling ScottishPower customers to earn additional revenue. Head of Energy Services UK, Malcolm Paterson, explores why being flexible with your energy consumption can make good business sense. Winter is coming which means a prolonged period in the demand for energy to Read more…
Reduced surface tension improves heating system efficiency
Sponsored: It is well-established that imperfections in a heat exchange surface can have a negative impact on heat transfer. Tony Willis of Sabien Technology explains how a CIBSE award-winning additive to reduce the surface tension of the heating fluid can improve performance. The efficiency of heat transfer from a heating fluid in radiators, air handling Read more…
The Heat Network Regulations: Messy delivery leaves landlords cold
Heating and hot water within buildings is responsible for 40% of the UK’s energy consumption and 20% of its greenhouse gas emissions. The Heat Network Regulations 2014 aim to tackle this but lack of publicity and messy delivery mean that many commercial and domestic landlords are left either unaware that they need to comply or Read more…