POWER SUPPLIES & GENERATORS POWERING UP
While alternative energy sources are a big part of the UK’s sustainable energy plan, smart technologies and better energy management are just as important, says Nicola Meadows, RWM Event Director at Ascential Events.
On 25th November last year, a power cut plunged large areas of London into darkness – ironically occurring on Black Friday. The power cut lasted for almost four hours, impacting Soho’s bars, restaurants, offices, retail outlets, theatres, and other public buildings and private residences that did not have back-up power.
“DATA MANAGEMENT COMPANIES CAN HELP FACILITIES MANAGERS TO ANALYSE SMART METER DATA.”
Power outages like this are unfortunately common in the UK, check out UK Power Network’s live power outages map if you get a spare five minutes, for a real-time view of power cuts in London and the South-East. Power outages can have a far-reaching impact on an under- prepared facility, from loss of data and damage to computers and other equipment, to lost business thanks to disruption in services. As such, it is a central task of a facilities manager to ensure that business operations are resilient to power outages.
The power grid is advancing, with the UK government aiming to deliver 15% of the UK’s power from renewable sources by 2020. New initiatives such as the virtual power plant model are adding to the flexibility of the network, intelligently forecasting demand and optimising supply in real-time using energy from a range of renewable sources such as wind farms, biogas and hydropower. In fact, a facility that has solar panels installed on its roof can not only
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reduce its own demand, but also feed power back into the grid when there is a surplus, and support the virtual power plant network.
UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER There are many options when it
comes to establishing a complete uninterruptible power supply, including installing back-up generators. A building load test is required to establish the needs of a facility, and while diesel-powered generators have traditionally been the go-to for back-up power, other options are also available. Natural gas generators offer a cost- effective and efficient alternative to diesel for the right facilities. A typically comprehensive solution for any standby generator would see the additional installation of automatic transfer switch panels, sequential start-up control for any air conditioning, and a remote monitoring service.
At the same time as considering back-up power, facilities can benefit from intelligent building controls, and finely tuned data monitoring and analytics. Such systems can help reduce the overall power demands of a facility, saving money as well as reducing a building’s carbon footprint as part of an overall power management strategy.
SMALL STEPS BIG GAINS It does not have to be expensive – small
steps like introducing low-energy lighting, or increasing natural light sources, can make a big difference, and set a business on the path to a more sustainable future. New tools are also available to help facilities managers gain oversight and control of the amount of energy consumed in buildings, and improve efficiency.
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