ENERGY MANAGEMENT, OPTIMISATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
What do incremental Net Zero gains look like for the engineering sector?
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Net Zero is a bigger priority within the engineering sector than it has ever been. With this in mind, Martin Barnes, chief executive of Crossflow Energy, one of the UK’s leading renewable technology specialists, talks to us about the sustainability challenge facing the industry and discusses how small, incremental gains need to play a pivotal role in any successful transition towards clean energy generation
oving towards clean and green technologies is a priority for most businesses at the moment, especially those within the engineering space. Making this shift
not only aids the Government’s upcoming Net Zero targets but also creates long-term benefits for engineering companies that can implement sustainable strategies. With the engineering sector in the spotlight, it is clear that there has been a shift in focus regarding job requirements and specialist skillsets. Now, more than ever, there is greater emphasis being placed on sustainability and the integration of green solutions. In fact, the significance of this switch was identified in a recent report from Engineering UK that stated ‘green’ roles in engineering have increased by 55 per cent over the past five years. This suggests that the engineering sector is moving in the right direction, however, there is still cause for concern, with experts feeling that the change is not happening fast enough. Indeed, according to Motability, the engineering sector is lacking in its efforts to decarbonise compared to other sectors, such as financial services. Currently, 65% of the financial sector has established plans to reach Net Zero whilst only 45% of large engineering firms have set short and/or medium-term milestones with the same goal in mind. This is particularly interesting given the engineering sector is actively responsible for developing large swathes of the renewable technologies we see on a day-to-day basis. It begs the question, given the engineering sector’s role within innovation across all sectors, why is it falling behind when it comes to renewable thinking, and what can be done to bridge the gap?
Energy in engineering
Despite the scale of investment into renewable technologies, engineering, along with other industrial industries, still remains one of the UK’s
most energy-intensive sectors. In 2022, 22 million tonnes of oil were used in the industrial sector. Even at first glance, you can see how much of an impact the engineering sector is having on the environment. These numbers are even more stark when you compare them to other sectors in the UK. In 2022, the agriculture, commercial and public administration sectors accounted for a combined 20 million tonnes of oil consumption, which demonstrates the scale of the problem facing the engineering industry, and the role it has to play in helping the UK realise its Net Zero ambitions. This reliance on fossil fuels needs to be minimised, however making it a reality in a sector that requires such high levels of energy is a major challenge. Of course, recognising this need for change is a positive step in the right direction, but it is also where the work really gets started.
In general, these one-off changes are unlikely to have as big an impact on Net Zero targets as initially thought, will face opposition from internal bureaucracy, and often don’t achieve planning permissions. All of this halts any progress from being made. Instead, engineering companies can look to build momentum through small, incremental gains alongside long- term sustainability projects. Making small-scale improvements can be: • more attainable • more affordable • deliver faster return on investment
Any ‘green thinking’ is a positive step in the right direction, but engineering firms should be thinking about the incremental gains they can make, rather than just one Hail Mary. So, what could this look like?
Taking small steps
We all know that integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, is an excellent way to accelerate towards Net Zero and how important it will be to the engineering
sector’s ability to meet its sustainability ambitions. Minds will, of course, tend to immediately cast to traditional large-scale projects, like giant offshore wind farms. However, a host of small-scale solutions have now come to the forefront of the market and can provide considerable advantages to businesses looking to take small steps towards Net Zero. Engineering is one of many sectors that could benefit from the integration of small-scale solutions, like Crossflow Energy’s technology, which has made wind power a viable option for embedded renewable generation. The idea behind the technology is to combine the use of wind and solar power to harness the power of small-scale renewable energy into a company’s energy mix. With the ability to connect the grid or work independently, companies can benefit from renewable energy generation without the costly overheads and significant planning that large-scale renewables often present. Instead, engineering firms can benefit from more immediate renewable energy generation to help deliver on their Net Zero commitments, bolstering their energy credentials. Connecting wind power to industrial sites might seem challenging, given the limited space and planning restrictions, but this is where small-scale wind can really play an important role. Crossflow’s solution is quiet and causes minimal vibration on the structure, as well as being planning-friendly. With this in mind, these attributes can truly provide a great solution for companies operating in the engineering and built environment sectors, where planning can often prove a challenge.
To conclude
Moving towards a green future isn’t easy for any sector, especially engineering where so much reliance is placed on fossil fuels. In order to take positive steps towards Net Zero the engineering sector needs to consider small complimentary renewables, such as solar and wind, that could provide incremental gains towards a Net Zero future.
20 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER APRIL 2024
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