MONITORING & METERING
PUTTING DATA AT THE HEART OF YOUR ENERGY
MANAGEMENT PLAN
O
ver the past few years, volatility in the energy markets and the resulting high costs
have led many businesses to reassess how they manage their energy consumption. As a result, companies are taking control of their energy use in innovative ways – from shifting demand to off-peak times to investing in energy efficiency and on-site generation. When it comes to implementing these energy
management and sustainability strategies, energy managers are often the ones tasked with recommending the technologies that achieve the best return on investment, both in terms of reducing costs and lowering carbon emissions. This is where understanding your energy
data becomes critical. It not only helps you to monitor usage and identify any anomalies, it can provide you with the evidence to make strategic investments that will result in long-term energy, emissions and cost savings. Here are three reasons why data should be at the heart of your energy management plan and Net Zero delivery roadmap.
1. IT GIVES YOU BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR ENERGY USE If your business has Automated Meter Reading (AMR) meters, these automatically collect half- hourly data, providing accurate insight that equips you with the knowledge to better manage your energy and reduce carbon. However, for those businesses with larger sites, or those that operate across multiple locations, it can be challenging to pinpoint when and where you use energy and how best to target efficiency measures. Installing sub-meters enables you to monitor and target different areas individually, for example, machinery, refrigeration, lighting and temperature control. Sub-metering technology can also provide access to your consumption data in real-time, rather than every half hour, giving you even greater insight into how energy is being used and where improvements could be made.
32 The detail is in the data:
Why knowing your energy numbers can save you cost and carbon. Ben Whitelam, director of
Commercial at npower Business Solutions, comments
2. IT HELPS YOU TAKE MEANINGFUL ENERGY AND NET ZERO ACTION When it comes to taking any meaningful action, you need to understand how the consumption recorded by your meters is then converted into the data you can use to develop your energy management plan. If this useful data is not being analysed correctly, then it is meaningless. There are intelligent tools and easy-to-use energy management platforms available that allow energy managers to visualise, track and analyse electricity and gas consumption. They can also enable users to customise features and reporting, set alarms and compare sites to help maximise efficiencies and reduce costs and carbon emissions. Using these platforms, such as our Intelligent
Analytics tool, means your data can then be transformed into actionable insights that can be used across your organisation. Having robust data can also help energy
managers build a business case for investment in carbon reduction measures such as energy efficiency, or larger sustainability projects such solar photovoltaic (PV) panels or electric vehicle (EV) fleets. In addition, any savings made can be reinvested into further energy reduction projects.
3. IT HELPS YOU PREPARE FOR FUTURE METERING DEVELOPMENTS To support the UK’s transition to a more responsive, low-carbon energy system, the sector
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Summer 2024
is about to embark on one of the biggest changes in the energy market – the roll out of Market- wide Half-Hourly settlement (MHHS). This means that all businesses will be settled
half-hourly, which makes the MHHS one of the biggest reforms the UK’s electricity market has seen for decades. This change will also mean an increase in
the data available to businesses, so it is important that energy managers already have an understanding of their consumption, so that they can be prepared for future energy market developments.
MAKING ENERGY METERING A PRIORITY Understanding energy data is crucial to reducing costs and delivering an effective sustainability strategy. However, despite being a mandated service, choosing a metering and data collection partner isn’t something many companies give much thought to. Businesses may just go with their energy supplier if they are accredited to offer metering services, or the provider that’s historically always done it. Or, if they are new to metering, then they may just choose to go with the cheapest provider. However, historic or cheap doesn’t always translate to accuracy and cost savings. Choosing a reliable metering and data collection partner is crucial - npower Business Solutions takes accurate and timely data extremely seriously, which is why in April 2024, more than 99% of data from our larger HH meters was in place for the first settlement run, with around 70% less missing data than the industry average for that month. Working with experts ensures that energy and carbon reduction strategies are supported by good and robust data. By prioritising data, businesses can make informed decisions, demonstrate the value of investments, and take meaningful actions towards energy management and sustainability goals.
npower Business Solutions
https://npowerbusinesssolutions.com/
www.essmag.co.uk
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