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BSEE


The UK’s pledge to eliminate carbon emissions by 2050 is a necessary step in the fight against global warming, and binds the country to a transformative programme of change. Yet moving away from fossil fuels and achieving this goal is far from simple and will require pragmatism from building professionals and specifiers. With that in mind, Chris Rason, Managing Director for Northern Europe at Aggreko UK, explores the issue and the immediate tactical opportunities that are available to industry.


n June 2019, the UK government passed into law a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2050, following recommendations from the independent Committee on Climate Change (CCC). This legislation’s passing makes it more urgent than ever that businesses take steps to decarbonise, and represents a daunting change for the construction industry – it is now not a question of when action will be taken, but a question of how and what.


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Yet though the net zero 2050 deadline may look unfeasible and intimidating, its ambitions are firmly grounded in reality, with the CCC describing it as ‘necessary, feasible, and cost-effective.’ But in order to achieve these lofty future aims, it is vital businesses take immediate pragmatic actions in the shorter term. Reassuringly, this is an issue business at large is taking seriously, and are wishing to enact change.


In fact, research from Aggreko, gleaned from interviewing 200 UK energy professionals across a broad array of industries, confirms that improving sustainability is a key, ongoing concern. Yet though a resounding 96% of respondents said their company’s environmental impact was a ‘medium- to high-priority,’ there remained a disconnect with translating concern into concrete action. This can be showcased in the fact 85% of those surveyed still identified diesel as the fuel of choice for powering their on-site equipment. These findings show that while it is clear that businesses are looking for ways to reduce emissions and would prioritise greener options when available, there are still hurdles to overcome regarding uptake. However, there are a number of emission-lowering technologies and processes to can be implemented to accelerate the route to net zero.


HVO and CHP


For example, specifiers can opt for generators that run on greener drop-in fuels, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). In contrast to regular biodiesel produced via esterification, HVO is made using hydrogenation – that is, treatment with hydrogen. Unlike esterification, hydrogenation involves the removal of all oxygen from the HVO, so it can be stored for far longer without the risk of contamination. Crucially, depending on sourcing, HVO also produces as markedly less carbon emissions than traditional fossil fuels.


Combined heat and power (CHP) technology also offers a viable way to take steps toward net zero and enhance overall operational sustainability. Otherwise known as cogeneration,


CHP involves capturing and re-deploying the wasted heat produced in conventional power plants to make hot water or steam for on-site processing applications. As heat and power is all produced from a singular source, the technology can reduce carbon emissions by as much as 30 per cent, while reaching efficiency rates of 80 per cent or higher, and generating typical savings of 20 per cent on energy bills.


Breaking down barriers


While the sustainability benefits of HVO and CHP are clear, there may still be financial obstacles that prevent the uptake of these solutions. Indeed, in the COVID-affected business climate, many organisations may simply not have the capital to finance a permanent installation. However, with June surveys from Energy Live News stating that an overwhelming majority of businesses believe this is the perfect time to capitalise on net zero plans, more innovative funding approaches may be needed.


The hiring of equipment from short-term rental solutions suppliers like Aggreko represents such an approach. While CHP systems solutions require a substantial outlay, by instead hiring this equipment as a ‘bridging gap’ solution, business stakeholders


can reduce emissions in line with net zero without being hamstrung by unaffordable up-front costs. Furthermore, solutions rented from providers such as Aggreko can be treated as an opex cost that bypasses capex restrictions, allowing the business to build the funding required to purchase a permanent installation in the future. Aggreko are also responsible for the equipment’s ongoing maintenance throughout the rental period, ensuring optimal performance. This support means the company hiring the solution can enjoy peace of mind about the rented system’s continued reliability, as any potential issues can be quickly resolved by the supplier at no added cost. In conclusion, though the challenge of reducing emissions in line with Net Zero legislation may seem so challenging as to be off-putting, there are smaller steps companies can take to incrementally reach this long-term goal. Combined with the financial flexibility and support provided by ‘bridging gap’ hire solutions, organisations can take pragmatic action now and reap both cost savings and sustainability benefits. For more information about sustainability and Net Zero, download Aggreko’s latest report, ‘Bridging the Gap to Net Zero: Solutions towards the net zero challenge’.


www.aggreko.com/netzero


ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS Pragmatically Planning for Net Zero


About Aggreko


Aggreko is a world-leading provider of mobile modular power, temperature control and energy services. They are working at the forefront of a rapidly changing energy market and are focused on solving their customers’ challenges to provide cost-effective, flexible and greener solutions across the globe. They harness innovation that helps them maintain a global reach and supply portable equipment for a wide range of uses. From unique commercial industrial projects, through to utility provision and humanitarian emergencies. They bring expertise and equipment to any location, from the world’s busiest cities to its most remote places.


Aggreko specialises in serving eight key sectors: Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Mining, Petrochemicals & Refining, Business Services & Construction, Events, Data Centres and Utilities.


10 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JULY 2020


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