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www.eua.org.uk In this issue: Smart Grids and Smart Cities 2025 M2M Technology - A Business Opportunity in Disguise Gas is just Gas or is it? Smarter Energy Solutions

OUTPUT Winter 2014/15

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EUA's Member magazine. This issue includes Jonathan Reynolds MP in our 'View from the House' feature, the EUA Manifesto, a feature from member company Silver Spring Networks on trends that are driving the evolution of both energy networks and cities, a feature from Vodafone on Machine to Machine (M2M) technologies and our Leading Voice in this issue is Ernie McDonald who is MD at member company Fernox.

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Page 1: OUTPUT Winter 2014/15

www.eua.org.uk

In this issue:• Smart Grids and Smart Cities 2025

• M2M Technology - A Business Opportunity in Disguise

• Gas is just Gas or is it?

SmarterEnergySolutions

Page 2: OUTPUT Winter 2014/15

1 5

ACV UK LtdAdvance Appliances

Altecnic LtdAristonCotherm LtdDimplex UK LimitedGledhill Building Products LtdHeatrae SadiaHeatrod Elements LimitedHoneywell Ltd

Joule UK LtdKingspan Hot Water StorageMannley Cylinders LtdMcDonald EngineersNewark Copper Cylinders Co LtdOSO Hotwater (UK) LtdReliance Water Controls LtdRM Cylinders

Telford Copper Cylinders LtdVaillant Group LtdViessman LtdWorldheat Ltd

A O Smith Water Products Company BVAdey Professional Heating SolutionsAmbiRad LtdBabcock Wanson UK LtdBaxi CommercialBosch Thermotechnology UK Ltd

Calor Gas LtdCochran LtdEcoflam (UK) LtdEnergy Technology and Control LtdEOGB Energy Products LtdFerroli LtdGas Fired Products (UK) LtdGP Burners (CIB) LtdHamworthy Heating LtdHoval LtdIdeal Stelrad Group

Johnson & Starley LtdLochinvar LtdMHS Boilers LtdMikrofill Systems LtdNu-way (Enertech Ltd)Powrmatic LtdRemeha CommercialReznor (UK) LtdRiello LtdRinnai UK LtdRoberts Gordon Europe Ltd

Schwank LtdSabien TechnologySentinel Performance Solutions LtdStokvis Industrial Boilers (International) LtdStrebel LtdVaillant Group (UK) LtdViessmann LtdWeishaupt (UK) Ltd

A C WilgarAdey Professional Heating SolutionsAlpha Therm LimitedAltechnicAnton Industrial ServicesAriston Thermo GroupAtag Heating UK LtdAtmos Heating SystemsBDR Thermea GroupBe Modern GroupBEAMA Heating ControlsBEAMA Water TreatmentBFM Europe LimitedBiasi UK LtdBosch Thermotechnology LtdBowbros LimitedBritish GasBurley Appliances Limited

Calor Gas LimitedCarillion Energy ServicesCeramic Fuel Cells LimitedCharlton & Jenrick LtdCrosslee PlcCrystal Fires LimitedDaikin Airconditioning UK LtdDelta Energy & Environment LtdDomestic & General Group plcE.ON UKEcuity Consulting LLPEDF EnergyEncore EnergyEnertek International LtdFabdec LtdFernoxFerroli LimitedFlowgroup plcFondital Helpline UKGas Contract Services LtdGiona UK LtdGrafton Merchanting GBGraham Group LtdGrant Engineering (UK) LtdGrundfos Pumps A/S

Harvey Water Softeners LtdHETAS LtdHoneywell, ACS Control ProductsIdeal Heating LtdIE-CHP (UK & Eire) LtdInspirit Energy Holdings plcInstaGroup LimitedIntergas Heating LimitedJohnson & Starley LimitedKamco LimitedKane International LtdKiwa GASTEC at CRELettergold Water Treatment SolutionsLLPLogic Certification LtdMonarch Water LtdMorgan Lambert LtdNAPITNibe Energy Systems LimitedNirvana Energy Systems, IncNpower HometeamNu-Flame LtdOFTECPanasonic Industrial Devices SalesEurope GmbH

Pektron PlcPump House PumpsRangemasterRavenheatRinnai UK LtdRobinson Willey LimitedROC BoilersSentinel Performance Solutions LtdSime LtdSolar Trade AssociationSpirotech UK LtdSunamp LtdTeddington Appliance Controls LtdThe Electric Heating Company LtdThermoserv LtdTravis Perkins GroupUKLPGVaillant Group LtdValorViessmann LtdVokera LimitedWidney Leisure LimitedWolseley UK Ltd

Ideal Stelrad LtdKudox Ltd

Myson RadiatorsQuinn Radiators

Zehnder Group UK Ltd

AMEC Group LtdAmeyAVK UK LIMITEDBalfour BeattyBurdens UtilitiesBureau VeritasBuss Metering Services LimitedByBoxCalvin Capital LtdCapitaCarillion Utility ServicesCentrica Storage LtdCERRO EMSCEVA Logistics LimitedClancy Docwra LtdCNG Services LtdCOMEX 2000 UK LTD (Utilities &Communications)

Crane Building Services & UtilitiesDevelop Training LtdDI UK LtdDNV GLE.ON Gas Storage UK LtdEDF Energy Customer Field ServicesEDF Gas Storage LtdEDMI Europe LtdElectraLink LtdElectricity Solutions LtdELEXONELGINElsterEnergy Assets LtdEngage ConsultingEnzenFastflow Group LtdFerranti Computer Systems NVFiorentini UK LimitedFulcrumFusion Group LtdFuture Energy GroupG4S Utility & Outsourcing Services (UK) Ltd

Gas Measurement Instruments Ltd.Gateway Storage Company LtdGeneris Technology LtdGeorge Fischer Sales LtdGeorge Wilson Industries LtdGPS PE Pipe SystemsGTCHalite Energy GroupHarlaxton Engineering Services LtdHPHumbly Grove Energy LtdINEOS Enterprises LtdIslandmagee Storage LtdItron Metering Solutions UK LtdJ Murphy & Sons LimitedKing Street EnergyLandis+GyrLightsout Computer Services LtdLomax Training ServicesLowri Beck Services LtdMeter Provida LtdMike Stratton & Associates LtdMorland Utilities LtdMorrison Utility Services

National Grid plcNorthern Energy Connections LtdNorthern Gas Networks LtdP N Daly LtdPLCS LtdPower Plus Communications AGProvidor LtdRadius Systems LtdSarco Stopper LtdScottishPower Energy Management LtdSecure Meters (UK) LtdSensus UKSiemensSilver Spring Networks UK & IrelandSSE Hornsea LtdStatoil (UK) LtdStorengy UK LtdThe Co-operative EnergyTuffentech Services LtdUCML (Utilities ConnectionsManagement Ltd)Utility Customer Service Management LtdUtility Innovations Solutions LimitedWRc plc

Corporate Gemserv

M E M B E R S L I S T

ICOMEnergy Association

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ICOMEnergy Association

EUA President Vic Tuffen (Tuffentech Ltd)

EUA Vice President/TreasurerIan Hughes (Kingspan Hot Water Storage)

Chief ExecutiveMike Foster

HHIC DirectorRoger Webb

ICOM DirectorRoss Anderson…………………………....................Editor/EnquiriesCaroline [email protected] 513762

Energy & Utilities Alliance (EUA)Camden HouseWarwick RoadKenilworthWarwickshireCV8 1TH

Design and Publishing Mike Hill Graphics, Stratford upon Avon

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Contents2468918

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W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 - 1 5 W E L C O M E O U T P U T

FeaturesSmart Grids and SmartCities 2025

M2M Technology - A Business Opportunityin Disguise

Gas is just Gas - or is it?

evolution of both energy networks andcities over the coming decades. At theintersection of these trends sits thepotential of the Internet of Things torevolutionise industry and transformbusiness models. The IoT defines a hostof new devices and services which willimpact the way cities and grids areevolving - smart metering is gainingmomentum, ever cheaper and smallersensors and chips are possible makingthe business case for intelligence easierto demonstrate.

Vodafone also contribute with a featureon Machine to Machine (M2M)technologies, asking whether pioneerscan really get ahead of the game usingthe latest technology.

Engagement with Government is a keypart of EUA’s remit and we are delightedto have contribution from JonathanReynolds MP, Shadow Minister for Energyand Climate Change in the ‘View from theHouse’ column.

Enjoy the issue.

Caroline Taylor Editor, OUTPUT

RegularsNews from the divisions:Utility Networks

HHIC

ICOM, HWA, MARC

Presidents Column

View from the House

Leading Voice

Welcome

to the Winterissue ofOUTPUTEUA has launched its Manifesto whichaddresses the energy trilemma and callsupon whoever forms the next Governmentto invest to achieve improved security ofsupply, improve energy efficiency toreduce emissions and curb fuel bills andto recognise the role of energy in people’shealth and well-being. The manifestocovers 21 specific asks of any futureGovernment and in his column this issue,EUA President Vic Tuffen lists the actionsthat EUA will be lobbying all parties forover the weeks and months ahead.

Also, in this issue Silver Spring Networksconsider trends that are driving the

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U T I L I T Y N E T W O R K S N E W S

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The 11th Utility Metering seminartook place in September 2014.With mass roll-out of smart metersfast approaching there was nolack of subject matter for theseminar programme.

This popular annual event heardfrom those involved at the sharpend of system installation, testingmeter manufacturers bringingtogether important players fromthe equipment supply chain,government, regulators andrepresentative bodies.

The seminar explored howcompanies are managing riskthroughout the transition phase,reviewed the latest technicaldevelopments, suggested howefficient co-ordination duringenduring roll-out could beachieved, outlined how theindustry is working towardseffective deployment and SmartEnergy GB updated on the latestplans for engaging the Britishpublic in the smart programme.

• 12 High Level IndustrySpeakers

• 120 Delegates • 10 Sector ExhibitingCompanies

UtilityNetworksNewsManaging thetransition tothe Smart era

Grou

p s

Chairmen: Jeff Cooper – Elster (Metering Technology)Dave Gregson, Calvin AssetManagement (Metering Services)

The member groups continue to supportthe development of the Smart MeteringEquipment Specification (SMETS), GBcompanion Specification (GBCS) and theCommunication Hub TechnicalSpecification (CHTS). Work streamsinclude the Security Specification and theConsumer Product Accreditation (CPA)Smart Metering Key Infrastructure (SMKI).EUA also has representation viamembers on the Zigbee and DLMSprotocol committees.

EUA has recently been invited toparticipate in the UK Metering Forum(UKMF) meetings, to present the GasMeter manufacturers views to the group.The UKMF is a trade association open toowners and operators (managing agents)of both gas and electricity meteringassets, trading as Meter ServicesProviders (MSPs). It is primarily

concerned with interfacing with UK andEuropean legal metrology and regulationbodies, other relevant Industry bodies,other trade associations, and withrepresentation on standards bodies – i.e.political and technical matters. It differsfrom, but is in many ways complementaryto, the Association of Meter Operatorswhich deals with market issues relating toMSPs' Meter Operation role.

Due to the exit of its current Chairmenfurther to a change in job, the Data &Communications Management Group iscurrently looking to appoint a newChairman. If you are interested in this roleplease speak to Gary Cottrell.

Meeting:Joint meeting of the Metering Services,Metering Technology and Data andCommunications Groups, Tuesday 10February,EUA, Camden House,Kenilworth

EUA Contact:Gary Cottrell 01926 513764 [email protected]

Gas 2014As last year’s Gas 2013 event emphasised, natural gas is at the veryheart of helping solve the ‘energy trilemma’. So one year on Gas 2014reviewed what the industry needs to do to sustain this positivemomentum and to capitalise on the commercial, regulatory andtechnical leadership inherent in the sector and where it should be doingbetter.

The conference theme, Sustaining Sector Momentum, offered apacked programme including:- How the RIIO challenge is being met inkey areas, network reliability – understanding asset health and criticality,the challenges and opportunities of a future gas grid, what the industryneeds to do to reposition itself, making innovation work leveraging globalinnovation and enabling an unconventional future.

The event showcased a topical supply chain exhibition, providing anideal forum for networking and continued learning.

To conclude the day delegates enjoyed a full, very popular guided tourof the venue Manchester United Football Club!

Metering Technology, Metering Services and Data& Communications Management Group

O U T P U T

Sponsored by:

Sponsored by:

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Chairman: Andy Vine, Crane LtdOFGEM presented at SeptembersNEEG meeting, detailing the networksfirst year RIIO-GD1 performance andprovided an opportunity for attendees toask some challenging questions of theregulator and around the networksperformance.

In the December meeting National Gridpresented to the group on a variety oftopics including their first year RIIOperformance, ‘innovation workingtogether’ and an update on the mainsreplacement programme. The Energyand Innovation Centre (EIC) alsocontributed with a presentation on‘Innovations Route to Market’ which waswell received.

Multi-utility, water and shale gas havebeen identified as topics for futuremeetings with invitations also extendedto Scotia Gas Networks, Wales & WestUtilities and the Health & SafetyExecutive. The group will invite NationalGrid, OFGEM and EIC back.

Key step towardsbuilding smartmeteringconfidence asSMDA appointsoperator Work is now underway to establish anindependent assurance scheme forsmart metering equipment following theappointment of Gemserv as the SmartMetering Device Assurance SchemeOperator (SMDA SO) by Energy UK,BEAMA, the Community of Meter AssetProviders (CMAP) and Energy andUtilities Alliance (EUA).

The scheme will provide assurance toconsumers, manufacturers, financersand energy suppliers that smartmetering equipment will work effectivelyin a smart environment.

Once metering devices which havemet the testing requirements areinstalled, stakeholders will haveconfidence that they will provide thedata required and that the technologywill work regardless of which supplier aconsumer chooses or switches to in thefuture.

Although some of the details are still tobe finalised, resources are now beingmobilised with a focus on aproportionate and robust schemebeing up and running as soon asfeasibly possible.

Key areas of testingThe scheme seeks to cover two keyareas of testing - interoperability andinterchangeability – both of which willplay an important role in the successof the smart metering rollout.

In basic terms, interoperability is theability of all devices to provide thenecessary flow of information betweensmart meters and the businesssystems of energy suppliers, networkoperators and other authorised serviceusers.

Interchangeability is the ability ofdevices to interface and becompatible with other devices of adifferent manufacturer in a smartmetering system in the consumers’premises. Devices should be able tobe interchanged by energy suppliers,regardless of who was involved in theoriginal installation or who may havereplaced it/them at a later stage.

Initial stepsThe development of test specificationsand appointment of test houses are

the first key steps in establishing thescheme and Gemserv will work closelywith its partners TUV SUD and Adepticaon those stages.

Work is already underway to establish aTesting Technical Committee (TTC) -made up of testing and energy industryexperts – which will develop testscenarios and specifications. Testhouses will then be appointed after acompetitive bidding process.

A key issue for the TTC and test houseswill be to develop the scope of testscenarios and specifications which willbe used to approve meters. A risk-based approach, deploying a pre-defined number of scripts, will be usedto ensure assurance is achievedefficiently.

The scheme will ensure that testingcharges are competitive and thatsupply meets demand so that no‘bottlenecks’ occur which could delaythe smart metering rollout plans ofenergy suppliers.

A website will also be developed withinthe coming months which will includeinformation such as a list of all SMDAmember organisations and a list ofaccredited devices once testing hasbegun. The site will provide regularnews updates on the scheme’sprogress.

W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 - 1 5

Network Engineering &Equipment Group

Gas Storage OperatorsGroup

Work is underway to move forwardpotential strategic partnerships withbodies that complement the work of thegroup – GISG, Pipeline Industry Guild(PIG), National Joint Utilities Group(NJUG). A ‘memorandum ofunderstanding’ has been signed withthe Energy & Innovation Centre.

Meeting:Group meeting Thursday 5 Februarywith presentations from Northern GasNetworks, GISG, HHIC, ICOM, EUA,Camden House, Kenilworth

EUA Contact:Peter Day 01926 [email protected]

Chairman: Roddy Monroe, Centrica Storage

The main areas of campaign for GSOGmembers remain the increase incommercial rates, the Gas TransmissionCharging Review, potential issuesaround gas quality and the work CEER

is doing. The working groups arefocussed on HSE issues, security,safety, and general technical issuesalong with sharing best practice. The group is busy with three maingroup meetings having taken place inLondon in September, November andDecember along with an HSE/TechnicalWorking Group meeting and a GSOGCheshire Facilities Managers meeting.Representatives from DECC andOfgem attend all main group meetings,along with invited presenters fromNational Grid, Waters Wye, CEPA andGerald Eve.

After several years of lobbying, HMRCfinally decided to say no to any capitalallowances for gas storage facilities.The Taxation Working Group willcontinue to share experiences with allgroup members.

Meeting:GSOG Meeting Friday 6 February,London

EUA Contact:Vanessa Webster 01926 [email protected]

Update

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HHICNews

To me it’s becominga slightlyoverusedcommercialbuzzword. Itseems noindustry isimmune from the

allure of having a‘smart’ product. Kettles,

windows, light bulbs, plugs, eventoothpaste all have a ‘smart’ version.And whilst every product has aconsumer out there just bursting tobuy it, actually consumers are mostinterested in smart products when theyhelp them save money, or more easilycontrol their household appliances.

This has transported ‘smart’ advancedheating controls from hobby tech, tohigh street tech in a very short spaceof time, which is not only good for theheating industry, it’s also the smartthing to do for consumer’s bills andcarbon reduction. The heatingindustry must utilise this opportunityand the advancements in technologyto help drive the take up of advancedheating controls.

The Government need to assist this,by recognising the huge part domesticheating plays in the UK’s energyusage - a message HHIC delivers onour members behalf regularly. For toolong energy efficiency has been seenby Government as installing insulationand double glazing or changing lightbulbs, and these measures will helpreduce energy consumption; howevercontrolling the amount of heat beingcreated in the first place is vital.

Yet 11 million homes in the UK do notcurrently have even the minimumheating control requirements - a roomthermostat and thermostatic radiatorvalves.

Recent research at Salford Universityshows that adding these controls to aconventional central heating systemreduces the running costs of thatsystem by 40%. So why are we notinstalling them? Research suggests alack of interest and knowledge. I

actually don't believe there is a 'lack ofinterest' from the consumer perhaps just alack of informed choice. Which is why,HHIC have teamed up with BEAMA tolaunch the ‘Control Your Home’ campaign,aimed at reaching out to those 11 millionhomes.

The ‘Control Your Home’ campaign is away for the heating industry to worktogether to help consumers reduce theirheating bills through better control of theirheating system. We need to show how afew simple controls can both reduce theirbills and improve their comfort.

Increasing the numbers of households withheating controls will be driven to a greatextent by the rate at which householdsreplace their existing boilers, which iscurrently 5% of homes annually. Evidenceindicates that installers, rather thandomestic consumers, frequently makedecisions about which central heatingcontrols to install and where to install them.

Therefore ensuring installers are fullyaware of heating control products, andfully equipped to pass that knowledge on,is essential. The supporting informationavailable via the campaign will helpinstallers to communicate with theircustomers about the benefit of fittingcontrols, whether they are installing a newsystem, doing a boiler service or other visit.Raising general awareness withconsumers is also essential, as is the needto convey that heating controls can befitted at any time.

More information about the campaign canbe found at www.controlyourhome.org.uk,together with a downloadable leaflet forinstallers to give to their customers. Thesite also provides details of howcompanies can get involved in thecampaign.

Aside from raising awareness of thebenefits of the minimum heating controls,this campaign aids a wider discussion withboth installers and consumers on theadditional benefits of advanced - or smartdepending upon your preference -controls. If consumer awareness grows itwill certainly translate into demand. But let’s not be complacent, explaininghow different types of controls work to theconsumer is complex, particularly with newdevelopments occurring such as theintroduction of weather compensationcontrols. On that basis industry need tomake it as easy as possible for the installerto effectively communicate withconsumers.

So that’s the carrot - what about the stick?Since 2002, Building Regulations haverequired the installation of heating controlswith systems fitted in new homes (PartL1a) and replacement boilers fitted inexisting homes (Part L1b). There is alsoguidance from the Energy Savings Truston commissioning central heating systemsto maximise energy saving.

However, the UK Government makes norequirement to implement systemefficiency and energy saving. Installers areonly mandated to ensure that the systemworks properly and the householderknows how to use it. To comply with thisthey can simply “provide a suitable set ofoperating and maintenance instructionsaimed at achieving economy in the use offuel and power in terms that householderscan understand.”

Could the Government do more to regulateand therefore raise the importance of‘proper’ heating controls? Could theyencourage take up by including advancedcontrols in schemes like the Green DealHome Improvement Fund? I for one thinkthey could.

What does SMAR

H H I C N E W S O U T P U T

Roger Webb,Director HHIC...

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W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 - 1 5

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With the approaching election, thepotential for power shortages combinedwith rising energy bills are a political hotpotato, and lower carbon emissions havebecome the Holy Grail for the Governmentin home heating; as they push ahead withplans to achieve an 80% reduction in CO2by 2050. There is no doubt that in order toachieve this, a combination of savingsand innovation is needed, but theconditions to facilitate this must be right.

Products like microCHP can help theGovernment deliver on carbon reduction.The technology is attractive tohomeowners, small businesses and theGovernment alike, as it operates at timesof peak demand, helping to reducepressure on the grid through electricityexport, and as the electricity is producedat the point of use it means that there isminimal loss during transportation makingthe system extremely efficient.

MicroCHP provides a dual energy lowcarbon solution for generating heat andpower for the domestic market. It typicallyuses natural gas or in off grid areas, LPGas the input fuel, and is an efficientreplacement for, or complement to, a gasboiler.

Because of the obvious benefits theGovernment is incentivising microCHP viathe Feed-In Tariff scheme. The scheme iscurrently under review, HHIC together withthe Sustainable Energy Association andthe CHPA (now the Association ofDecentralised Energy) have beenpreparing an appropriate response, partof our ‘ask’ is for a more suitablemicroCHP tariff to be introduced. Thespecifics of the tariff we will be seeking willdepend upon the outcome of the detailed

analysis the combined industry iscurrently undertaking, looking at the costsand performance of the technologiesavailable.

It is imperative that the Governmentestablishes the correct tariff for microCHPas it presents an ideal opportunity toencourage homeowners to embrace thistechnology. As we continue to read aboutpossible power shortages within the UK,and the annual threat of an unkind winter,this type of technology can help make upthe shortfall. The added benefit is therelatively low investment cost for theGovernment, and the potential shorttimescale to start production of locallyand efficiently produced electricity.

To achieve economies of scale at amanufacturing level and thus reducecosts to consumers, hundreds ofthousands of pounds needs to beinvested, yet manufacturers areunderstandably reluctant to make thislevel of investment until market demandincreases. This is where the Governmentand industry need to start to worktogether more closely. An effective andaffordable Feed-In Tariff, needs to beformulated that will provide the necessarysupport to create a viable market in theearly deployment stage. The JapaneseGovernment have been very successfulwith their electrical generation by givingsupport to microCHP manufacturers, andGermany is also the latest country to starta programme for the introduction ofmicroCHP units.

Cheaper energy and a potential saving ofup to 2.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide perhousehold per annum – microCHP mayjust be the sought after Holy Grail ofhome heating.

RT mean to you?MicroCHP- A smart solution

Remember,rememberthe 5th ofNovemberArranging our ParliamentaryReception for November 5th wasactually not intentional. However theprinciple of not forgetting is, inhindsight quite fitting; although I wantto assure you, no treason wascommitted to achieve the singlebiggest thing that has happened tothe heating industry- the compulsorycondensing boiler.

Over 120 people attended the event,to celebrate the 10-year anniversaryof the heating evolution, held at theHouse of Lords and sponsored byBaxi, the Energy Saving Trust,Johnson and Starley, KaneInternational and Worcester Bosch.The event brought together keyindustry players, all of whomcontinue to play a pivotal role in thedevelopment of the heating industry.

Guest speaker, Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State at the Departmentof Energy and Climate Change,Amber Rudd MP used her speech tolook forward, highlighting what canbe achieved when industry andGovernment work together.

We shouldn’t be shy when it comesto recognising our achievements.There will always be challenges toovercome – reducing emissions,developing green technologies arejust two, but as all of the speakers atthe event highlighted if we keeptalking, negotiating, advising, andguiding we can find solutions thatdeliver on Government policies to thebenefit of all.

Looking to the future our researchproject Pathways II - Part two of anevidence based study, into options toreduce the carbon intensity ofheating- is in motion. We anticipatesome initial results later this year,which we intend to use as a guide, toinform the Government of a smartpractical pathway to carbonreduction.

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O U T P U T

the country, fortunately, the UK is one ofthe highest weighted members, along withFrance and Germany. One of the major EUregulations affecting the heating industry isthe Ecodesign Directive, which setsthe mandatory ecologicalrequirements for over 40 product categories. TheUK representative forEcodesign is from theDepartment of Energyand Climate Change(DECC). ICOM has a verygood working relationshipwith the DECC officials, and ourviews are well represented atthe regulatory committee,although sometimes, the UKGovernment policy mayoverride the industry position. For other EU regulations, theUK is represented by DEFRAor BIS, where once again we have formeda good relationship with the officials whorepresent us at the regulatory committees. ICOM are members of EHI (Association ofthe European Heating Industries), which

gives us another avenue for presenting ourmember’s views to the EC. Located within a stone’s throw from the EuropeanParliament, EHI are a lobbying organisationand their job is to collate the views ofmanufacturers across Europe and thenpresent “position papers” on specificregulations and directives to the desk officers, who are the technical expertssupporting the MEPs. Once an initial draft ofa regulation or directive is published by the

EC, EHI forms an expert groupand develops a position paperto send to the EC. Usually asecond draft is published by theEC, giving a further opportunityto amend and/or confirm ourposition. There may be

successive drafts but ultimately the finaldraft goes to the Regulatory Committee forvote. During this whole process, the EHIlobbying aspect comes into play and they

One key point of differencebetween alternative heatsource choices and traditionalgas boilers is that the systemtemperature is often set atmuch lower temperatures.This can have significantimpact on the suitability andperformance of a heatingsystem if the right supportingproducts are not used.

Historically there has been amisconception that radiatorsare less energy efficient thansome other heat emitterswhen used with low watertemperature systems. In factmodern high performancesteel panel radiators work wellwith low water temperatures,

making them an ideal choice for eco-conscious developers and home owners.This has been driven by the introduction of

modern insulation materials and standards,bringing significant reduction in heat lossesand, therefore it may no longer benecessary to heat water to 80°C in order toachieve a room temperature of 20°C.

This message has been at the centre ofMARC’s activity in 2014; the humble radiatorhas been warming homes for over 150years, with technology evolving in line withdemand and legislation. Over the comingmonths MARC - together with BEAMA - willbe looking at the creation of low temperatureheating guide software, which willaccompany the BRE; Design of lowtemperature domestic heating systems - Aguide for system design and installers,published in 2013.

The software will be developed by aworking group and will assist the industrywhen designing low temperature heatingsystems, further details will be announced in2015. MARC is delighted to be leading on

this project. It is an opportunity todemonstrate the suitability of radiators withlow temperature heating systems, and alsoassist the installer with designing thecorrect heating system.

Not forgetting that radiators haveundergone something of a renaissance inthe last decade or so. In line with people'saspirations to create beautiful and uniquehomes that match their taste and lifestyle,the radiator has not been forgotten.Indeed, options in material, colour anddesign have meant it has becomesomething of a work of art in itself.

For membership enquiries, please contact;Caroline Taylor, 01926 513762,[email protected]

The developmentof EU regulationsand standards is adrawn out process.ICOM gets involvedearly on the process to

present industry’s viewsto the relevant authorities.

EU Regulations & DirectivesThe development of EU Regulations andDirectives has a large political element andtherefore, what is technically achievable ordesired can be overruled by the politics.

The process involves a number of reviseddrafts, each revision taking intoconsideration the comments from theconsultations, before publishing a finaldraft. The Regulatory Committee, madeup of a representative from each member state, then votes on the final draft andthese votes are weighted depending on

ICOMEnergy Association

Influencing directives and

I C O M N E W S

M A R C N E W S

MARC help the industry get‘smart’ with system design

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W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 - 1 5

have regular meetings with the memberstates delegations, desk officers and MEPsand put over the member’s views in anattempt to get support for the regulatoryvote as well as ensure that the desk officerand MEPs really understand thetechnicalities and impact of the regulation.

As members of EHI, ICOM have also beeninvolved in the lobbying process, where wehave been part of the team from EHI

meeting a delegation from a Member State.Overall, the development of EU regulationsand standards is a lengthy and politicalprocess, and if all goes well, takes the bestpart of two years, although some of themore difficult regulations take longer.

StandardsOn the other hand, when it comes todeveloping a new standard, the process is

purely technical and does not tend to havea political element. There are generally tworoutes – one for British standards and theother for European standards.

British standardsare written by BSIand there are anumber ofcommittees thatlook after

standards indifferent areas of technologyand processes. Thecommittees are made up ofa number of experts in thespecific field and they meetregularly to develop thestandard. When a standardis written by a committee, it

goes out for public consultation.Once the comments have been

received and the standard amendedwhere necessary, the standard ispublished.

European (EN) standards are initially writtenby CEN, the European equivalent of BSIand then put out for public consultationwith the standards body of each MemberState. At this point the relevant BSIcommittee reviews the document andsubmits any comments back to CEN.

These comments are then considered andthe standard amended where necessary.A final draft is published for final commentand once that process is complete, thenew standard is published. Thedevelopment of standards may take justas long as an EU regulation but the majordifference is that technical experts havecontrol rather than the politicians.

The process of developing new standardsor regulations may be time consuming,but by being involved in so many aspectsof the process, ICOM is able to give ourmembers the early warning of the contentas well as being able to have an input intothe writing of the document.

7

H W A N E W S

Knowledge is indeed power, butwithout information there is noknowledge. For the domestic hot waterindustry information about cylinderheat loss is top of the agenda.

In 2009 the Energy Saving Trust (EST)published a report which investigated the in-situ performance of boilers (Energy SavingTrust, 2009). As part of this report the heatloss from hot water cylinders wasinvestigated. This investigation was carriedout using data calculated using thegovernment’s standard assessmentprocedure (SAP) 2009, table 3.

A subsequent report published by EST in2011 further investigated the heat loss of 35hot water cylinders (Energy Saving Trust,2011). The published heat loss data variedfrom 230kWh/year to 2910kWh/year. Theaforementioned publications have createdan interest in investigating the effects ofservice length on hot water cylinderperformance both in heat loss and beneficialheat transfer. Subsequently HWA havelaunched a study; Investigation of EnergySavings from Replacement of Hot WaterCylinders.

The study will compare the effectiveness ofinsulation between a brand new cylinder

and a cylinder in service. The service lifemay vary from 1 to 25 years. It will alsoinvestigate the effect of service life on a heat exchanger within hot water cylinders.This will primarily focus on coiled tube heatexchangers for indirect hot water cylinders.A secondary focus will be placed on theperformance of immersion heaters withindirect cylinders.

As two additional lines of investigation, workwill be undertaken to identify “real life” heatloss where water temperature in a newcylinder is set using a programmer, andcylinder is installed in a standard airing cupboard and compared to the standardtest. Heat will be supplied from the internalheat exchanger, with the external heatsource being an inline electric water heater.The heat loss will be calculated for the system where all pipework outside theairing cupboard is well insulated and thetest being performed twice. Once with thepipe work inside the cupboard insulatedand once with the insulation removed.

HWA hopes that the study will trigger achange, by demonstrating how much couldbe saved by buying and installing a moderninsulated hot water cylinder. The findings willbe used to encourage government toinclude hot water storage in energyefficiency schemes. Incentive schemessuch and the Green Deal and ECO shouldbe encouraging cylinder replacement, andthis report will provide data to support this.

The study is due to commence in early2015, lasting approximately six months. For further information please contact; IsaacOcchipinti, External Affairs [email protected] , 01926 513742.

standards, d regulations

Knowledge is powerHWA Cylinder heat

loss study

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O U T P U T

P R E S I D E N T ’ S C O L U M N

P R E S I D E N T S C O L U M N

EUA

My presidency of EUA comes at a criticaltime with regard to politics, as we enter anelection year, and our industry is facingunprecedented challenges. Consumerswant energy to be affordable. As a society,we need our supplies to be secure andreliable. And on a global scale, we requireour energy to be clean, green and low-carbon, too– the so called energytrilemma.

The cost of the investment programme toachieve this is huge. No other industry isfacing the challenge of the energy sector.In 2013 the energy industry invested £11.6billion and a further £110 billion needs tobe invested over the next ten years tobuild and renew the infrastructure, powerstations, wires and pipes to keep the lightson, homes warm and supply power forBritish business.

With rising prices, tough carbon-reductiontargets, and mounting political uncertainty ahead of the election, energy has becomea crucial issue for Government. EUArecognises that each political party needsto find solutions to energy sustainability,affordability and security issues.

Therefore, EUA has launched its Manifestowhich addresses the energy trilemma andcalls upon whoever forms the nextGovernment to invest to achieve improvedsecurity of supply, improve energyefficiency to reduce emissions and curbfuel bills and to recognise the role ofenergy in people’s health and well-being.

The Manifesto covers 21 specific asks ofany future Government and EUA will belobbying all parties over the weeks andmonths ahead.

With a membership of 239 companiesacross the utility networks sector, domesticand commercial heating and hotwaterindustry, EUA is in a strong position to helpany incoming Government deliver anenergy strategy that works.

Bringing this back to the focus of myPresidential year, a skilled workforce is amajor factor in attracting investment. Nowmore than ever our industry needs to beconcentrating on attracting talent into thesector and counteracting skills shortages

and the anticipated shortfall ofwell-trained apprentices orgraduates.

There are some excellentexamples out there ofcompanies offering anddevelopingapprenticeships, trainingschemes and graduateopportunities. I shall becontacting membercompanies in the comingmonths to learn more aboutsome of the great work theyare doing and to see what lessons can belearnt from these success stories. I lookforward to speaking with you.

EUA’s list of actions are:

Recognise the role ofenergy in people’s healthand well-being1Make CO alarms mandatory in all newUK buildings and fund research into thehealth impacts of non-fatal levels of COexposure.

2Build 200,000 new homes each year.3 Establish joint industry governmentroundtables to ensure all new andrefurbished buildings incorporate themost energy efficient technology.

4 Ensure all Government policies reflect theimpact of energy on health and well-being.

5Apply a consistent and cost effectivePermit Scheme for streetworks andconsult on the establishment of a StreetWorks Commissioner for England andWales.

6Help to develop the market for gas-powered commercial vehicles to improveair quality in UK cities.

7 Pay the Winter Fuel Allowance in thesummer months to enable oil customersto take advantage of lower costs.

Invest to achieveimproved security ofsupply1Review the case for strategic investment inlong term gas storage for the UK.

2Develop stringent regulations to safeguard the environment and allow the production of shale gas.

3 Incentivise the production and use of greengas including BioSNG.

4 Extend the gas grid by a minimum of20,000 properties each year.

5 Encourage the uptake of high qualityapprenticeships in the sector and its supplychain.

Improve energy efficiencyto reduce emissions and cut fuel bills1Commit to a universal smart meter roll outby 2020.

2 Include all heating controls in any futureenergy efficiency programmes.

3Regulate to ensure that all new buildproperties are renewable ready.

4 Introduce a domestic and non-domesticscrappage scheme for boilers and hotwater tanks.

5Review the SAP mechanism to provideflexibility to incorporate new technologiesas they are developed.

6Remove unnecessary red tape for heatinginstallers – namely MCS and PAS 2030 andadopt current industry standards to certifyinstallers when implementing governmentpolicy.

7Commit to achieve EPC rating E in theprivate rented sector by 2020.

8Give greater priority to energy efficiencyprogrammes for non-domestic properties.

9Replace levies on electricity bills that fundenergy policies directly with taxpayerfunded schemes.

EUA Manifesto

8

Vic Tuffen is EUA’s President for the term May2014 – May 2015. He established TuffentechServices in 2008 providing consultancy andtechnical solutions to the Energy and Utilitysector. Today he is actively involved atcommittee level for both IGEM and the EUAwhom he represents at the DECC SmartMetering group for Consumer Engagementand Roll Out.

IsaacOccipiriti,EUA, picturedhanding theManifesto to EdMilliband, MP.

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Viewfromthe

House

V I E W F R O M T H E H O U S E

It was nearly eighteen months ago that Ibecame Shadow Minister for Energy andClimate Change and I can honestly say, ithas been one of the most exciting and eyeopening periods of my career inParliament. As probably is the case formost people, I had a general idea aboutwhere the energy which comes into my

home came from, whether it befrom a power station onthe Lancashire coastor from a wind farmin the Penninesnear to where Ilive. But what Ididn’t really knowis how much Iactually used inmy home and moreimportantly, how

words like kilowatt hoursor calorific value translate

into money in my pocket.

Recently, I had a smart meter installed andone of the key advantages which I sawwas that it will bring an end to estimatedbilling – which is one of the major areaswhere energy companies repeatedly failtheir customers. At present over 85% ofcomplaints to energy companies areabout billing, but Smart Meters will helpstop this. And as a Labour MP, I amextremely keen to see the end of peoplebeing charged more for their energy ifthey use prepayment metering. Theinteroperability of smart meters betweenprepayment and direct debit is essentialand this I am sure will be warmly receivedby the public.

Another benefit that smart meters andtechnology bring is a greater awareness ofhow we interact with the energy we use inthe home. If, like me you have threechildren (and a fourth on the way),knowing where and how your energy is

Jonathan Reynolds MPShadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change

used could help you save money. I recently had a PassivLiving heating system installed in my home and it is fantastic that I can monitor my energy usage on a weekly and daily basis via my IPad. Although smart technology is in an embryonic stage at themoment, I believe that in the future, it has potential to open up new ways of how we interact with energyand how we can help keep our personalenergy costs down.

But for all of the benefits that smarttechnology can bring, it is important toensure that the costs of the installation donot outweigh the consumer benefits that itcan bring, which is why the Labour focusfor the roll-out will always be on theconsumer.

With this in mind, I am conscious thatthere are some pressing issues facing thesmart community right now, with the keyone being the smart meter roll-out. Themost obvious concern is the costsassociated with this roll-out, a programmewith a bigger budget than the London2012 Olympics. The Government hasrecently said that the mass roll-out will bedelayed until 2016 due to technical issuesassociated with data communications.This delay is bound to put pressure on theroll-out schedule but it is clear that theGovernment isn’t working with providers toget these issues resolved and ensurevalue for money.

Another key concern relates to themanagement of the programme.Ultimately, the Government is fullyaccountable for the roll-out but there is realconcern across industry that there is asignificant lack of leadership from theGovernment, especially when it comes to

getting issues relating to the roll-outresolved. A recent National Audit Officereport last year laid bare the challenge thatup to 30% of properties are not suitable forthe Home Network Signal. I have to askthe Ministers why we appear no closer to aresolution to this fundamental problem.

With this in mind, I have very real concernsthat the Government has failed to listen tothe anxieties that have been raised by anumber of groups and organisationsregarding the roll-out, and is failing to takethe roll-out as seriously as it should. Thisisn’t good for anyone involved in the roll-out of the programme and ultimately, forthe consumer.

But on a more optimistic note, I do believethat smart technology can provide a real

opportunity to hand power backto the consumer rather than itbeing in the hands of theenergy companies. It isopening up new boundariesfor consumers, and as aLabour Government, wewould ensure that they willreceive most benefitfrom this technology.

9

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service automation, perhaps the notableabsences are of greater interest – the internetor personal mobile phones for example, whichhave transformed many aspects of modernlife.

This stylized popcorn view of the worldperhaps never aimed for 100% accuracy, butit illustrates the challenges of predicting thefuture.

That being said, we believe that severaltrends already visible, are driving the evolutionof both Energy networks and Cities, and thesewill underpin a major transformation over thecoming decades.

The World of Infrastructurein 2025Let’s start by looking at the external pressuresbeing brought to bear on our energy andmunicipal infrastructure in 2015:

l The changing role of energy consumers –they are now often producers anddistributors of energy, and thanks to theworld of internet enabled services, far moredemanding and less patient customers

lGovernment drivers for green generation– in the UK there is already a proliferationof more wind and solar poweredgeneration, which puts pressure on thegrid in ways never imagined when it wasfirst built decades ago

l The fluctuation in oil prices is having areal impact on the direction of gas flows

l Wholesale energy prices are becomingmore volatile due to reduced capacitymargins and reliance on Russian gas

l New technologies are everywhere –electric vehicles, microgeneration, LEDlighting, and a multitude of low costsensors

l Global population is growing at analarming rate, and is congregating incities. This directly contrasts with theneed to produce less CO2, causingstrain on infrastructure such as transportand health

l The unprecedented threat from terrorists,both in the real and the cyber worlds.Where these two worlds meet there is aspecial threat which needs to be dealtwith in new ways.

The IoT RevolutionInternet of Things is not a new term, buthas recently become the buzzword todefine a host of new devices and services.

Brian McGuigan,EuropeanCommercial Directorfor Smart Cities21st October 2015 rapidly approaches, adate when we can expect to witness theproliferation of flying cars, self lacing shoesand hoverboards, at least if Back to theFuture II is to be believed. While this filmmanaged several accurate predictions suchas the proliferation of video conferencing and1 0

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(Moore’s law) making the business case forintelligence much easier to demonstrate.

And thanks to the likes of Google andAmazon, society is finally switching on to theidea of big data – modern, intelligent ways ofmashing/meshing different data types fromsensors/citizens/the internet/city and gridback offices to develop useful insights andapplications will really drive change in thearea of grids and cities. Some of the wayswe can expect to see this materialize in2025 are:

Microgrids for CitiesMany cities are now looking at performingsome of the roles previously the preservethe energy industry – producing their ownenergy from renewable sources,transporting it and managing consumptionfor maximum efficiency. By 2025 these willbe more widely adopted and at greaterscale. This introduces challenges for theexisting power networks, which were builtaround one way transport of energy fromlarge power stations over long distances, tohomes and businesses.

Using City Infrastructureto Balance the GridDemand Response (DR) as a way toreduce consumption is not new – placeslike Oklahoma in the USA have beenrunning programmes for some time nowusing the turn down of air conditioning incustomers’ homes to reduce therequirement to switch on peaking plant attimes of high demand, and of courseNational Grid has been able usecommercial rate incentives combined withautomatic control systems to call on largeindustrial plant to turn down at such timesfor many years. By 2025 providers willleverage new technology and connecteddevices to build a far greater array of DRproducts which will be sold to bothconsumers and utilities.

Some areas which have not yet beenexplored include the use of cityinfrastructure such as: l Use of cities’ estates such as streetlighting/council offices/other councilowned infrastructure for DR schemes,

Morgan Stanley created the diagram (right)which neatly outlines the 3 factors driving anddefining the IoT industry.

It illustrates the combination of 3 aspects:Moore’s law, which states that exponentialimprovements in microprocessors see thembecome smaller, cheaper and more powerfulat an alarming rate. This drives developmentin 2 directions. At one end we all now carrydevices more powerful than the most powerfulsuper computer of 1985, and at the other ithas become cost effective to enableconnectivity of millions of new devices to theinternet.

The lesser known Metcalfe’s law, which statesthat the value of a network increasesexponentially as users join. This can bewitnessed across social media or in theuptake of new messaging apps, and is key tothe success of residential Demand Responseprograms.

Finally, big data - the gathering and real timeanalysis of the resultant data is exponentiallyincreasing the value of the data from all thesenew networked devices by combining andprocessing it.

At the intersection of these trends sits thepotential of IoT to revolutionise a range ofindustries and transform business models.

Technology developments are also going toimpact the way cities and grids evolve overthe next 5 years – smart metering has takenoff around the globe, ever cheaper andsmaller sensors and chips are now possible

Smart Grids and Smart Cities 2025

W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 - 1 5 F E A T U R E

Moore’sLaw

Semiconductors Telecom

Software

Metcalfe’sLaw

Big Data Laws

Internetof Things

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l Turning down microgeneration and usinggrid storage/increasing consumption (whatabout electric vehicles as a large battery?)to balance the electrical properties of thegrid at times of fluctuating demand

l Meshing of all 3 utilities - using waste waterto generate power, ground source heatpumps to deliver municipal heat services,storage heating or EV batteries at a councillevel to respond to spikes in demand.

City ResilienceSome councils are currently looking at theIoT and sensor data as a way to enablebetter incident response. For example, onecouncil in the UK is integrating its intelligentstreet lighting control systems with its bluelight emergency response centre – if there’san incident in a particular area all of the streetlights can be turned up to 150% output untilthe incident is resolved. The possible usecases for these sorts of data and controlcombinations are endless, and we expect tosee many pop up over the coming years.

Carbon NeutralityAlmost all cities have stated intentions toreduce their carbon footprint over the comingyears (Copenhagen will be carbon neutral by2025!). Many systems will contribute toachieving these targets, including transport,energy, waste, logistics, infrastructuremaintenance and many more - connecteddevices in all of these areas will be a keyenabler for the transition.

Organisational/StructuralChanges Required In the UK, Utilities have been completelydisaggregated both from councils, and withintheir own supply chain -

generation/production, distribution and supplyare all separate in energy, and water is alsomoving in the same direction. Budgets aretight, and austerity means that councils areroutinely dealing with 60% or more reductionsin annual opex allowances. Policy needs toenable innovation in such a complex anddisaggregated environment.

Councils need to find ways to pull togethersiloed business functions - truly intelligentcities can’t just look at lighting or transport orhealth in isolation, as the benefits to societywill come from bringing all of these areastogether and enabling them to talk to eachother. This will drive significant sharing ofinfrastructure assets, alongside sensor dataacross multiple departments and services.Utility regulation needs to consider thecompeting drivers between different roles inthe industry. For example truly integrateddemand response in energy will never happenuntil the commercial interests of suppliers arealigned with those of DNO’s and generators.

There are many smart grid and smart cityapplications which are regularly discussed inthe media, but nobody really knows what themost likely ones are to have taken off by 2025.Both cities and utilities need to really analyse t he business case for a couple of “headpin” applications, like adaptive street lighting , smart parking, smart metering or Substationmonitoring – those that demonstrate abusiness case in their own right should beimplemented now, together with a business process and technology framework, whichpositions the council/utility to take advantageof the new opportunities for innovation in thevery near future.

Technology Approach to Get ThereTechnology will play a huge part in thedevelopment of the smart city and the smartgrid. Many low cost sensor types are out in the

market now, and this industry is booming,from intelligent street lights, traffic andpedestrian cameras, parking bay sensors,to flood monitors, medical alerting sensorsand chips that tell you when your bin is full.

Councils and utilities need to take aplanned platform approach to the deliveryof these sensors and the uses of the datathat they provide, otherwise maintainingmultiple proprietary platforms, networksand applications will be a major headacheand cost.

In order to do this, open standards shouldbe delivered across the entire stack, fromthe software application and its integrationinto back end systems, through the big dataplatform that integrates all sensor data,data from the web, data from other systemsand elsewhere, down to the sensornetworking and connectivity platforms.

The Android model makes the most sensein this environment. Connect to anycompliant device type, have an open,intelligent platform and operating system tomanage the data and the devices, andenable multiple applications to be built ontop. Processing sensor data at its sourcewill quickly become very important,increasing the speed and efficiency ofanalytics and software applications.

SummaryIntelligent cities and smart grids arepossible now – positioning for them doesn’tneed to be a leap of faith, rather anintelligent approach to technology andstructural organization that then allows thebenefits to develop and blossom.

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M2MTechnology - A business opportunity in disguise?

W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 - 1 5 M 2 M T E C H N O L O G Y F E A T U R E

Great Britain must be fitted with a smartmeter(3) that provides real-time feedback onenergy usage and cost.

UK energy suppliers are now at a crossroads.They can stand still and wait until 2016 whenthe government’s common standards areexpected to come into force and thenationwide rollout of smart meters begins. Orthey can get ahead of the game and join thepioneers already finding efficiencies, reducingcarbon emissions by implementing smartmeters which use the latest machine-to-machine (M2M) technology.

What is M2M?Machine to machine (M2M) communication isan innovative technology that is enablingeverything to become connected. M2M isoften talked about as part of the ‘Internet ofThings’ or ‘Internet of Everything’ revolution

and it is transforming people’s lives andbusinesses for the better.

Using a combination of embedded SIMcards, secure global mobile networks andfixed line connections data can bewirelessly transmitted anywhere in theworld. Today M2M technology can befound inside cars, white goods, shippingcontainers, security cameras, TVs,industrial machinery, drinks coolers andmuch more. Almost anything can beconnected. These previously ‘dumb’ assetsare now able to communicate with eachother over wired or wireless connections.

As well as ‘talking’ to each other they arealso able to send data and receivecommands from a central managementsystem, autonomously and often in realtime. For businesses, this opens up awhole new world of opportunities toincrease business agility and efficiency.

By automating certain processes likechecking energy meters in people’s homes,reporting machine faults or operatingstatus, employees are free to focus on whathumans do best: thinking creatively,innovating and growing their businesses.

Used intelligently, M2M can offer a numberof benefits for the energy and utilitiesindustry and beyond. Data gained fromM2M enables managers and engineers toobserve and influence every part of theirbusiness down to the smallest detail. They

Vodafone Head ofSmart Metering,Wayne FlanaganThe energy and utilities sector has arrived ata critical moment in its history; regulatoryframeworks designed to reduce carbonemissions and drive up energy efficiency areabout to be enforced. Could this be theopportunity the industry needs to transformageing infrastructure and address currentand future needs?

It is easy to forget that 120 years ago thesector did not even exist – and hard toimagine that electricity was then a radicalnew technology. Throughout the 20th centuryrapid development and public investmentsaw the sector transform the lives of peoplearound the world, but much of the technologyand the infrastructure introduced during thattime is still being used.

Demand for energy never stops growing, butthe pressure is now on energy suppliers tomeet this need in a more sustainable way. Inthe quest for sustainability, the EU hascommitted to reducing carbon emissions by20 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020(1), with theUS also aiming to reduce carbon emissionsby 26 per cent from 2005 levels by 2025(2).Meanwhile, the UK government requires thatby 2020 every home and small business in

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M 2 M T E C H N O L O G Y O U T P U T

however, have been quick to see theopportunity that M2M presents.

And by embracing the prospect of turningdevices and appliances into intelligentlyconnected assets, they are opening up aworld of possibilities for how companies arerun, grow and make customers happy –before their competitors get the edge.

Getting closer to thecustomerUtilities companies need clear differentiationto stand out in a fiercely competitivemarketplace.

Primarily, they need tolower distributioncosts and improve the experience for thecustomer, while

finding more ways to conserve natural energyresources and reduce carbon emissions. CanM2M create differentiation, conserve moreenergy and reduce customer churn?

In Vodafone’s 2014 M2M Adoption Barometer,we identified smart meters and smart grids asthe most popular choice for energy and utilitiesbusinesses planning their first M2M initiatives.Smart meters, for example, are being deployedinnovatively across a number of industrysectors to monitor consumables, drivetransparency and forge closer customerrelationships.

In the UK, energy suppliers such as BritishGas, Npower, E.ON and First Utility, are

already installing smartmeters for residential andbusiness customers, withBritish Gas and Npowerusing Vodafone SIMs totransmit data via Vodafone’smobile network(6). The smartmeters give customers real-time data on their energy

consumption and spend, while the suppliers can generate accurate bills, adjust

can then refine processes and optimisesupply chains, cutting out unnecessarycosts and providing a better service to theircustomers.

The use of M2M technology has alreadyhad a significant impact in several keyindustries. Automotive, healthcare, consumer goods and energy and utilitiesare all adopting M2M for a wide range ofuses.

According to the Vodafone M2M AdoptionBarometer 2014, 62 per cent of energy andutilities companies are expected to have anM2M deployment in place by next year(4),no doubt as a consequence of regulatoryneed.

The 30 per cent of energy and utilitiescompanies that had an M2Mimplementation in place as of last year(5),

P ParkingKing’s Road

Queen’s Street

321 PLACES

FULLSUPERMARKET

CAFECAFE CAFE

BANK

Giving new insights asto product performance

Keeping plant assets planted intheir location

Digging deep, avoiding costlyconstruction cable damage

Securing your site

Making binssmarter

Saving fuel andcutting emissions Proactive service &

maintenance alerts

The benefits of energydata managementTaking the

hassle out ofparking

Optimising retail stockmanagement

Measureable savingson energy costs

1 4

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tariffs and provide customers withrecommendations on alternative productsthat could save them money.

The suppliers also benefit from theopportunity to ensure their internal systemsare robust enough to handle smart meterdata and their engineers are experiencedenough to help customers get the best outof smart metering before the majority ofcompetitors have trialled or installed thetechnology.

Equally, engineering companies, whichconsume thousands of litres of liquid gas ina day, can use smart meters to monitorsupplies in real-time and relay the readingsto their utility suppliers. Should gas reservesreach a minimum level, the supplier canautomatically receive notification of an orderto release the supply accordingly, giving theengineering company the transparency tomake informed decisions about theirconsumption and where to cap it. In both instances, the supplier has createdoperational and environmental efficienciesby minimising the need to send out fleets ofstaff to read meters.

The data opportunityWith M2M, utilities companies also have anopportunity to roll out connectivity more

effectively and drive greater value fromdeployments, including new opportunities toextract, share, and capitalise on data topredict usage and better manage supply.

As consumption of more sustainabletechnologies such as solar panellingincreases, energy companies need to find away to manage the incoming supply fromconsumers. And as more consumers adoptelectric cars, suppliers will also need to find away to meet the higher demand created byhybrid and electric vehicles powering up atcharging stations around the country. Themore intelligently organisations use real timedata gathered through M2M technology topredict and manage usage, the better theycan match demand to available supply.

Additionally, the ability to predict consumerbehaviour leads to opportunities to createinnovative new services for customers, whilestill helping them reduce the size of their bills.

A strong new M2M business proposition – forexample, might be an intelligent thermostatthat can be remotely managed via an app toensure heating is never wasted yet the familyalways returns to a warm and cosy home.Not only does this support reduced energyconsumption, but it is an innovative way todelight customers.

Be part of the M2MrevolutionIt is always better to be ready for tomorrow.Rather than waiting to be pushed, energyand utilities companies have an opportunityto proactively embrace the business benefitsthat M2M technology presents. And by doingso have a way to stand out for the rightreasons, regain the trust and loyalty ofconsumers and find smarter ways tomanage the supply of valuable naturalresources.

F E A T U R EW I N T E R 2 0 1 4 - 1 5

The connected,smarter home

Keeping the traffic flowing,smart routing, reduced fuel use

Makingadvertising morepersonalised

Calling time onestimated meterreadings

Keeping the lights on...saving money on streetlight management

The connected car for safer, moreconvenient transport

Safer driving with useagebased insurance

1. http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/g-gas/index_en.htm2. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/11/11/fact-sheet-us-china-joint-announcement-climate-change-and-clean-energy-c3. https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/helping-households-to-cut-their-energy-bills/supporting-pages/smart-meters4. https://m2m.vodafone.com/cs/m2m/insight_news/2014-07-02-the-m2m-adoption-barometer-20145. https://m2m.vodafone.com/cs/m2m/insight_news/2014-07-02-the-m2m-adoption-barometer-20146. http://m2m.vodafone.com/cs/m2m/insight_news/case-study/npower-smart-meters-shine-a-light-on-energy-use.jsp

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It’s a truth generallyacknowledged that whencustomers are provided withindependent and trustedinformation about a productthey will want to make an

informed purchase. The Energy SavingTrust is committed to making sure allheating and hot water products not onlymeet higher standard requirements but arealso independently verified. This is why wewant to introduce a new standard at a timewhen we are seeing the rise of the ‘informedconsumer’ who has access to moreinformation than ever before and willresearch products before buying them.

We help manufacturers to promote theirmost efficient products so their customerscan use less energy and cut their energybills. In our latest consumer attitudes poll theUK Pulse we found 73% of consumers areworried about the cost of heating theirhomes. But one measure householders can

take to reduce their heating bill is toupgrade their hot water cylinder to a newermodel which saves £20 to £30 a year on anannual heating bill. These new cylinders arefactory insulated and help to keep hot waterat the right temperature for longer so theyplay an important role in supplyinghomeowners with readily available hotwater. It is simple measures like this that goa long way to cutting your bills and usingless energy.

A new Energy Saving TrustEndorsed Product standardAlmost half (49% ) of households in the UKnow have a hot water cylinder so we arekick-starting a new Endorsed Productstandard for this product to complement ouralready existing range of Product Standardsfor other heating products: boilers, controls,chemical inhibitors and water treatmentproducts. This will provide consumers andthe supply chain with more information

about products that will help them improvethe efficiency of their heating system andimprove the comfort of their home. As the trusted and independent experts inenergy efficiency, we work withmanufacturers to establish, throughconsultation, an industry-wide productperformance standard for their productcategory. This typically has two phases: thedevelopment of product performancecriteria followed by endorsement. The ESTEndorsed Product brandmark highlights theproducts that have achieved thisindependent endorsement and helps themto build consumer acceptance and trust.These Endorsed Products are alsodisplayed on our online product registertool, EST Online, which is a directory forboth consumers and businesses to findenergy saving products, and a platform formanufacturers to present them.

The ErP (energy-related products)regulation and energy labelling for hot water

Setting the standard fo

Gas is just gas ...or is it?

Roger Webb, Director of theHeating and HotwaterIndustry Council.The gas we use today is changing. Lessthan 50% of the gas in our network is nowprovided by North Sea gas production.Consequently our import infrastructure hasincreased fivefold over the past decade, andalthough the UK’s gas demand decreased inthe second quarter of 2014 – possiblyreflecting warmer temperatures - the move toinclude imported natural gas (both pipelineand liquefied natural gas or LNG) andalternative sources of gas, such as shale andbio gas, will be a continuing trend.

As a result we will have a networktransporting different types of gas, withdifferent compositions, from different places,entering the system at different times. Thisaffects the stability of gas composition,which has existed across the UK sinceNorth Sea gas was first brought ashore inthe sixties.

UK Gas QualityGas entering the UK transmission anddistribution grid has to meet certainspecifications under Gas SafetyManagement Regulations (GSMR). Underthese regulations, a variety of differentparameters and limits are used to describe

C A S E S T U D Y

The Oban TrialWith growing LNG importation, thegeographical mixing and distribution of LNGin some areas of the UK grid may lead toswings in the quality parameters of the gassupply – even though these will be within thelimits specified by GSMR. Put simply a housein Harrow could be receiving different gas toa house in Harrogate. Whilst this doesn’taffect our ability to heat our homes or cookour meals, there has been some concern thatit may affect appliances.

In 2013 the annual Gas Network InnovationCompetition (NIC) awarded funding to ScotiaGas Networks, for a project to establishwhether gas which sits outside the Britishstandards could be used safely andefficiently. The project – Opening up the GasMarket - is based in Oban a resort town onthe South West coast of Scotland, which hasits own isolated gas network

Following a period of very thorough surveyingand testing, and subject to approval by HSE,a new mix of LNG has been injected intoOban’s grid for a 12 month investigationperiod. This will allow a detailed assessmentof the possible approaches which the UKcould adopt to accommodate such changesin gas quality on a national basis.

Innovation such as this is integral to the futuredevelopment of the UK’s energy networks;and demonstrates how gas suppliers andappliance manufacturers are reacting to thenew set of challenges presented by thechange to our gas supply.

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cylinders is being introduced in the UK inSeptember 2015 and ErP requires allproducts to meet a minimum efficiencystandard. It will apply to all vented andunvented hot water cylinders and domestichot water products including instantaneouswater heaters, small water heaters, wall-mounted cylinders, domestic hot water heatpumps, solar cylinders and indirect waterheaters.Energy Saving Trust’s Endorsed Productstandards enable companies whoseproducts exceed the minimum requirementsto highlight these products and theirimproved performance to householders andthe supply chain. The EST website reachedapproximately six million visitors in the lastyear and we are ideally placed tocommunicate with consumers and the supplychain to improve education and raiseawareness about the new energy label for hotwater cylinders, helping them to understandthe benefits of choosing a more efficientproduct for the home.

Benefits of an independentendorsementEnergy Saving Trust Endorsed Productstandards are designed to highlight productsthat exceed minimum requirements; provideinformation on how hot water cylinders can beused more efficiently and enable consumersto make informed choices about the productsthey choose to buy. The standards alsoprovide manufacturers with a platform topresent and showcase their most efficientproducts and communicate their benefits to awider audience. The benefits of anindependent endorsement are:

• Competitive advantage by differentiatingyour products• Commercial and marketing benefits in termsof the potential to increase product sales• EST Online acts as the ‘go-to’ searchableresource for consumers and businesses to find trusted and accurate information about energy efficient products.

• Our Endorsed Product logo highlights thatproducts have been endorsed by anindependent organisation trusted for itsenergy saving advice

Our expertise in providing trusted adviceabout energy efficiency is growing everyday because competitive pricing is not theonly deciding factor for consumers, andindependent endorsement now has aneven larger role to play.

Whether we communicate directly withconsumers or through our work withgovernments, business and many others,our aim is to help everyone save money ontheir fuel bills, have warmer, cosier homes,use water more sustainably and reducecarbon emissions.

Tom Lock is Certification Manager forEnergy Efficiency at the Energy SavingTrust.

what may be generally referred to as “gasquality”. These GSMR limits have beenestablished over many years in order toensure that gas combustion in all types ofdomestic appliance, and in commercial andindustrial applications, is safe and efficient.

In December 2005, the UK governmentrecognised concerns that UK gas reserveswould decline in the near future, leading tothe increase in imports now taking place.After an extensive study on future UK gasquality involving many industrystakeholders, the then Department of Tradeand Industry (DTI) determined that thecurrent quality specifications should notchange until 2020 at the earliest, as the costof accommodating a broader gas qualityrange would be too high. The governmenthas recently re-affirmed their position.

With the growth of imports, we now have avariety of sources for our supply and thischanges the composition of the gas

entering the UK grid. In some cases, for example with imported LNG, to ensure thatGSMR gas quality specifications are met,nitrogen ballasting can be used to regulate

the quality of the distributed gas. In othercases, gas sources of different compositionscan be blended to achieve this.

Using measures such as ballasting andblending different gas supplies, the UK ismanaging the transition to incorporatedifferent sources of gas into the grid so thatgas quality is maintained in future. Howeverthe possible benefit of adjusting the GSMRlimits to allow a greater diversity of supply infuture is now being recognised.

European activityA similar scenario to that in the UK is nowemerging in Europe and there are movesacross the EU to widen the range of gasesbeing put into the transmission system, toenable an open and attractive Europeanenergy market.

The European Commission began a projectin 2007 to harmonise gas quality in the EU,

in cooperation with theEuropean Association forthe Streamlining of EnergyExchange (EASEE-gas),Gas Infrastructure Europe(GIE) and all otherstakeholders.The project seeks to ensurethat every country ortransmission system in theEU will accept the samerange of gas qualityparameters. To that end,the European Commissionissued a mandate (M400)to the European Committeefor Standardisation (CEN);

The purpose of this mandate is to invite CENto draw up standards for gas quality

parameters that are the broadest possiblewithin reasonable costs. This will ensure thatgas from a wide variety of sources can beaccepted and will help to maintain “securityof supply” throughout the EU.

The Heating and Hotwater Industry council(HHIC) - together with its members - hasbeen working at both UK and Europeanlevel on measures such as standardsdevelopment which will support thesechanges, whilst ensuring the continuedsafe, reliable and cost effective supply ofgas to UK homes.

In 2014, following the publication of a draftstandard, HHIC, represented the UKdomestic heating industry at a EuropeanCommission Workshop on Gas Quality. Theworkshop was well attended, with over 150representatives from all sectors of the gaschain attending to express their views onnew moves to "harmonise" gas qualityacross the EU through this new "H-Gas"standard. HHIC also worked closely with theAssociation of the European HeatingIndustry (EHI) to gather information to betterinform the Commission of the factors toconsider in relation to the standard.

Through this workshop the Commissionwere made fully aware of the concerns of allgas users on the proposed Europeanstandard and its implications– although allpresent agreed on the need for the gasindustry to continue to work together on theissue of future security of supply.

Discussion on the development of thestandard and its future implications iscontinuing, both in Europe and the UK, andHHIC will maintain close involvement as thiswork progresses.

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or hot water cylinders

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Fernox is a leading manufacturer ofchemical water treatment. A well-known,trusted and reliable brand providingprofessional installers and heatingengineers with both domestic andcommercial water treatment solutions, aswell as leading filter technology. Fernoxproducts are sold via merchants anddistributors.

Fernox are part of Alent PLC with officesand manufacturing plants throughout theworld and a head office located in Woking,Surrey. Fernox products are manufacturedin the UK and in other parts of the EU.

About ErnieErnie has been in the Water TreatmentIndustry for over 30 years initially working inthe laboratory at an international Industrialand Commercial Water Treatmentbusiness. He progressed his career viatechnical sales before joining Fernox asSales Director and later becoming GeneralManager.

His career has provided a wealth ofknowledge about a wide range of systems,the issues and challenges encountered, aswell as the appropriate water treatmentsolutions. The applications he’s dealt withover the years vary from oil refineries andsteel works right through to domestic

systems, which are the cornerstoneof the Fernox business.

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Joining Fernox in 1999 Ernie managed theUK Sales team, being promoted severalyears later to run the overall business.Fernox was predominantly a UK centriccompany, however over the intervening 15years the business has developed andexpanded geographically throughout therest of Europe, to the Americas and Asia.Ernie is particularly proud of being part ofthe team that has achieved this growth andlead this recognised success story.

The organisationFrom its inception, Fernox has investedtime and expertise in innovation, which hashelped to shape the landscape of the watertreatment industry. Research anddevelopment is a core part and ongoingfunction of the company’s daily business.Fernox benefits from a worldwide networkof the industry’s largest, purpose built, in-house research and development facilitiesand a team of 58 dedicated scientists. Thisbreadth of knowledge and experience isunrivalled in the industry, which meansthey are uniquely placed to invent, adaptand improve the product line. There is areal pioneering spirit and culture at Fernoxand it is one of which Ernie isvery proud. It’s not simply afocus on new productdevelopment - an ethos ofconstant improvement meansalso looking at establishedproducts and makingenhancements to improve itsoffering.

Over time, the product rangehas developed and improvedand has achieved other notablesuccesses. Every Fernoxproduct is formulated andpackaged in an ecologicallyresponsible way in order to

lower the environmental impact of thecompany's products by not only increasingtheir efficacy, but also by developing moreconcentrated products which reduce theamount of packaging. Independentresearch, verified by the Carbon Trustconfirms the gas saving capabilities ofFernox Protector F1 and Cleaner F3 whenused in combination to clean and treat asystem can reduce fuel consumption by upto 15% every time a room is heated.Another milestone in Fernox portfolioincludes the development of the award -winning TF1 filter range.

Ernie believes that empowering andsupporting colleagues is fundamental to hisrole as General Manager. Every businessrelies upon its people to succeed – they areits greatest asset. It is also important thatindividual team members fully understand

speak

comment

answers

performance

people

viewpoint personal

words

opinion

business

feedback strategy

background voiceThis issue Output Magazine talks to

Ernie MacDonald, Managing Director of Fernox

growth Leadingtime

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An innovative Oxfordshirecompany is improving safety atstreet works, construction sitesand events, while helpingcontractors to fulfil theirenvironmental responsibilities.

Oxford Plastic Systems Ltd’s modular roadplates are anti-slip crossing ramps that canbe placed on highways to cover trenches,reduce traffic delay and ensure safepassage for vehicles and pedestrians.Road plates are vital in the utilities,highways, infrastructure, construction andevent industries – and commonlyconstructed from steel.

Oxford Plastic Systems’ products aredifferent because they are made fromcomposite materials. Tested to a vehicleweight of 44 tonnes, the road plates areevery bit as strong and durable as theirsteel counterparts – and much easier andsafer to deploy.

According to Business DevelopmentDirector Peter Creighton, the benefits ofOxford Plastic Systems’ road plates aremyriad.

“Our aim was to create road plates thathave a lower impact on the environmentwithout compromising on safety,” he said.“In using composite materials we havebeen able to engineer other major benefitsinto our design, including ease of use.Unlike steel models, our road plates weighjust 44kg each, meaning they are easilylifted by two people and installed inminutes, eliminating the need for heavylifting equipment. As well as this, they areeasy to store and transport.”

Oxford Plastic Systems’ road plates havean integral flexible edge made from a PVC

compound, which dampens the sound ofvehicles crossing and therefore makesthem ideal for works in residential areas.This flexibility can also compensate forcambers in the road. Heavy-duty linkingpieces lock the product together, while adrop-pin system increases stability. Withtheir moulded anti-slip surface the roadplates are safe for pedestrians too.

Thanks to the polymer material from whichthe road plates are fabricated, they arerobust and long-lasting and, unlike steelroad plates, not subject to rust orvulnerable to theft. Contractors investing inthe road plates may enhance their greencredentials through Oxford Plastic Systems’refurbishment service, further extending thelifespan of the products.

Peter said: “With increasing pressure forcontractors, local authorities and eventorganisers to show sustainability in theirprojects, using Oxford Plastic Systems’environmentally responsible road plates isyet another way to lessen their impact onthe world.”

Founded in 1985 as a trade mouldingcompany that focuses on recycled plastic,Oxford Plastic Systems Ltd now distributesits groundbreaking products to more than20 countries. Thanks to the company’sextensive experience in plasticsmanufacturing, the team is able to providetrade moulding services as well as in-houseproduct design.

For more information visitwww.oxfordplastics.com or contact Peter Creighton on 01608 678888.

the business strategy and where their roleand contribution fits into the bigger picture.It’s also vital to ensure they have theresources and skills to deliver what isexpected of them. His motto is: ‘It’s neverenough,’ and by this he means as soon asyou think you have achieved what you setout to do – there is always a new goal tostrive towards.

The majority of the company’s innovation isdriven by market and customer need.Fernox has an Installer’s Club, designed toadvise, educate and reward customers.Members also provide an excellent‘sounding board’ for current and futureneeds. Fernox has a large team ofscientists and technicians across a varietyof disciplines who are dedicated to thedevelopment of new products. They alsohave access to additional scientificexpertise and resource within the overallAlent organisation. Typically the companylaunches a number of new products perannum and in Quarter 1 2015, will belaunching the Fernox TF1 Delta Filter – anin-line filter specifically developed forcommercial applications and markets.

ChallengesThe main challenge facing the company isto manufacture best-in-class products toprovide appropriate solutions to matchcustomers' needs. There are also a numberof legislative changes on the horizonincluding GHS (Global HarmonisationSystem) and CLP (Content, Labelling andPackaging) as well as changes to biocides,which will involve a huge undertaking on thepart of manufacturers, like Fernox, toupdate product formulations and packagingin order to comply and meet the legislationimplementation deadline.

Current market conditions are positive,supported by the increasing awareness ofthe need to use water treatment and theassociated benefits. The majority of boilersare now being fitted on existing systemsand globally there is a rise in the use ofcondensing technology. This is drivinggreater use of cleaning and protectionsolutions including the installation of asystem filter. In addition, Fernox envisagesthat gas boilers will continue to be thefoundation for the domestic heating market.

Looking to the future, Fernox has a range ofnew products in the development andtesting phase whilst working on the nextlandmark innovation. After celebrating its50th anniversary in 2014, 2015 is shapingup to be another interesting year. Fernoxhas been the market leader for half acentury, and Ernie is sure the company’sceaseless drive for the advancement ofchemical water treatment will ensurecontinued success for the next 50 years.

We would like to thank Ernie MacDonald forhis input to Output!

Plastic fantastic: UK company shows youcan be greenandsafe

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The energy sector is one of the most visible andscrutinised industries in the UK, playing a vitalrole in keeping the nation’s businesses runningsmoothly on a daily basis. Even a small glitch inoperations can wreak havoc up and down thecountry. Keeping an energy company up andrunning is a truly mammoth logisticalundertaking. From an engineer in Newcastlecollecting a consignment of smart meters toinstall, to delivering parts to London to fit newcabling, to dealing with a power loss inCornwall; energy providers have to deal withmultiple demands simultaneously across hugegeographical areas and there is no room forerror or respite.

Energy companies are one of the UK’s greatestlifelines, but what is the backbone supportingthem? It’s smart logistics companies operatingin the background dispatching parts, tools andengineers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year tolockers across the country. If the logisticsproviders to the energy sector were to suddenlystop operating for just a week, or indeed even aday, parts of the UK would quite literally switchoff. An energy company is only as efficient asthe logistics network it distributes its partsthrough. Without this support network, it isimpossible to coordinate efforts nationwide.

One of the major issues faced by energycompanies at present is coordinating theinstallation of smart meters across the country.

The FT reports that 53 millionelectricity and smart meters will beinstalled across 30 million homes

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and businesses by the end of 2020. This isno mean feat to achieve so ensuring a 24hour, technologically advanced supportnetwork is of more importance than ever.

The most efficient way of distributing theengineers and tools necessary to completethis roll out is through fully tracking the supplychain in real time. Smart logistics providersare able to track, trace and route these partsthrough intelligent software, for exampleByBox’s Thinventory™ technology. Thisallows them to provide energy companieswith a real time update on location, saving onboth time and money.

The benefits to such a network are bountiful.The first is also the most obvious: a happy

customer. Be they a corporate company oran individual, delivering good customerservice is paramount, especially at a timewhen good-will towards the energy sector islacking. When a fault is reported, a fastresponse allows for an equally fast repair,something all customers will appreciate.Through working with RWE nPower and theroll out of its smart meter technology. Smartlogistics company ByBox has seen thebenefits of how a wide distribution andcollection network can radically improve thespeed with which these meters can beinstalled and customers serviced, providinga real benefit to its business along the way.

Slow delivery of parts or labour across thecountry leads to wasted time which quicklybuilds up, damaging customer perceptionand costing money. It makes no sense tomaintain a system that limits an engineer’sefficiency when a logistics partner can mapout their time in order to maximise it.

A logistics network should not just beefficient but convenient. Good providers willensure that an engineer has to travel onaverage no more than 3 miles from theirhome or workplace to collect smart metersand other equipment to reduce travel time.The best logistics companies will deliverthese parts to lockers overnight and pre-8am, so that engineers can make multiplecollections in one go; creating room for extrajobs in their day.

Such cost saving measures are crucialwhen considering the value of what is out ‘inthe field’. This is not just in terms ofemployees and parts, but also the logisticsnetwork itself, made up of a vast array ofdifferent supply methods. After all, what isthe point of having a multi-million poundsupply-chain if it isn’t then operated to thatfull potential?

The logistics question should be front ofmind for the energy sector. It isn’t just aboutbeing able to make repairs quickly and keepcustomers happy. It has a wider implicationfor the running of the business as a wholeand how money is invested into the areasthat matter, so it should be a crucialconsideration in every business decision.

2015 Events CalendarMarch 4 *Utility Street Works, Cavendish Conference Centre,

London W1GMay 14 **EUA/IGEM Awards Lunch, The Hilton on Park Lane, LondonJune 4 **ICOM Luncheon, RAF Club, LondonLate June TBC *Utility Asset ManagementSept 10 *Utility Metering, Heart of England Conference Centre, Fillongley November 4 *Gas 2015, F1 Conference Centre, Grove, Oxfordshire

For information on attending, speaking, sponsoring or exhibiting at any of the above events, please contact:*Vanessa Webster e: [email protected] or t: 01926 513763 or**Natalie Flay e: [email protected] or t: 01926 513741

Logistics – the behind thescenes facilitator to theenergy sector

Mark Garritt, Managing Director, ByBox

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NOMINATION FORMI wish to make a nomination for the 2015 Gas Industry Awards for the category indicated below

(please place a tick in the appropriate box and use a separate form for each nomination)

INDIVIDUAL OR COMPANY BEING NOMINATED

Name ______________________________________________________________ Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms/Other ______________________

Title, Decorations _____________________________________ Quali� cations ___________________________________________

Company and Address _________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________ Post Code ___________________

Telephone _______________________ Fax ____________________________ Email _____________________________________

REASONS FOR NOMINATION – Up to thirty words to form the basis of the citation

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOUR BULLET POINTS DETAILING ACHIEVEMENTS OR OTHER CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT

A __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

B __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

C __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

D __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other supporting information to assist the Judges to reach a decision

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________ (please continue on a separate sheet, if necessary)

NOMINATOR:

Name _____________________________________________________ Title ____________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Postcode ________________ Telephone* _______________________ Email* __________________________________________

Context in which Nominee is known _____________________________________________________________________________

Signature ________________________________________________________ Date _______________

Manager of the Year

Company of the Year

Engineer of the Year

Gas Industry Leadership

Gas Industry Safety Award

Young Person’s Achievement

Gas Industry Innovation Award

Energy E� ciency

Customer Service Award

NOMINATION FORMNOMINATION FORMNOMINATION FORMNOMINATION FORMNOMINATION FORMNOMINATION FORMNOMINATION FORMNOMINATION FORMNOMINATION FORMNOMINATION FORMNOMINATION FORM

* This information will be used to contact nominators so please provide direct contact informationPlease send completed forms to: Gas Industry Awards 2015, Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers, IGEM House, High Street, Kegworth, Derbyshire, DE74 2DA

marked “Awards Nomination - Con� dential” E-mail address: [email protected]

CLOSING DATE FOR NOMINATIONS TO BE RECEIVED: Friday 27th February 2015

A copy of the Award Scheme Rules and Notes for Guidance is available on the IGEM Website: www.igem.org.uk or on request by e-mail to [email protected]: 0844 375 4436 Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers, IGEM House, High Street Kegworth, DE74 2DA Registered Charity No 214011

2015

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2015

Organised by: Manager of the Year

Engineer of the Year

Leadership Award

Safety Award

Young Person’s Achievement

Innovation

Energy Efficiency

Company of the Year

Customer Service

NOMINATIONS

NOW OPENDownload your nomination form at

www.gasindustryawards.com

Closing date for entries 27 Feb 2015

2015 CATEGORIES