Feature


ent:


is deciding on how to make improvements. The right course of action depends on the


type of organisation. The energy needs of a hospital, for example, are very different to those of a supermarket. But there are some key areas of consideration that will apply in most cases. An important question that energy insight


will answer is when does the business need to use energy? If the organisation has a lot of automated


Tim Wynn-Jones.


about any sort of meaningful change. One way of gathering that insight is


through sub-metering. Typically, a ‘centralised meter’ will collate data from the sub-meters at individual sites to give a holistic view of consumption across the entire organisation. However, installation tends to be expensive and means shutting down equipment temporarily. It will also only offer a snapshot of energy usage, rather than a constant flow of information. Smart sensors, on the other hand, are a far


better option. The wireless devices can be installed quickly, cheaply and without causing disruption to operational continuity. They can be attached to as many sites or individual pieces of equipment as necessary, providing infinitely more granular data than a typical sub-meter. The information is also relayed in real time.


Connecting these devices to a cloud-based


platform will then provide a central interface from which the data can be analysed easily. This can very quickly provide insight into how energy is being used and where equipment is operating sub-optimally.


Making insight-driven change


Once the sensors are in place and areas of inefficiency start to be unveiled, the next step


processes; a car manufacturer for example, it might be possible to move operations so they run outside of peak energy times – a practice called load shifting – that will mean energy can be purchased at a lower price. Load shifting can mean a significant operational change so the data provided by smart sensors will be vital to making the business case for it.


Consumption and generation


Energy insight doesn’t just have to be used to drive change in consumption. It can also be used to explore different types of power generation. Take combined heat and power (CHP)


as an example. This system puts to work the heat by-product of energy generation to fulfill another energy requirement. Smart


Case Study Example Carbis Bay Hotel and Estate in St Ives


installed two combined heat and power units to help keep its carbon footprint and energy costs down, as well as generate electricity, helping to relieve pressure on the local grid. Rated at 35kWe each, the units were


designed to produce electricity and use the heat that is normally wasted in conventional power generation, achieving an efficiency of nearly 90 per cent to unlock a reduction in carbon emissions of around 70 tonnes a year. The CHP units are used to help power the


resort’s new £15m beachside regeneration project which includes a new lodge, restaurant and event facilities.


sensor data could be used to identify different energy needs that can be met through this more efficient system. In a leisure centre, for instance, a significant


part of that facility’s energy usage will be heating one or more swimming pools. In this situation, rather than importing gas from the grid to warm the pool, the CHP unit uses the heat that is a by-product of on-site energy generation to do that job instead. The solution we installed at the Carbis


Bay Hotel in St Ives is a good example of this in action.


Renewables


Energy insight can also help to identify where more environmentally friendly energy generation can be implemented. As renewables and green energy solutions become more plentiful and more affordable, appetite to integrate them and access the whole-life cost benefit of not solely relying on the grid will increase. With that said, there are some fundamental challenges to these types of energy generation. Wind and solar, for example, are weather dependent and, therefore, can’t be relied on for the consistent or flexible delivery of power. This presents opportunities for the colocation of energy storage technologies. Referring to the data provided by the


smart sensor network will be key to identifying where renewable technologies can be used without causing disruption, pin- pointing systems that either don’t need to be on 24 hours a day or are non-critical and so could take intermittent power.


Seizing the opportunity


Energy management is increasingly becom- ing part of the job description for facilities managers. If approached positively and proac- tively, this is a chance to bring about organi- sational efficiency and affect the bottom line. Key to this is developing an energy strategy that uses insight to inform, and make the business case for, positive change.


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