HEATING TECHNOLOGY


Too often we see inexperienced suppliers attempting to resolve heating or hot water issues by maxing out settings or bypassing defective prepayment valves instead of fixing them. This racks up big bills for their clients until the fault is eventually properly rectified.


Is maintenance your top priority this year?


Why the maintenance of heat networks is vital to maintaining performance levels and maximising energy efficiency.


Steve Morris www.insite-energy.co.uk


D


Head of Maintenance at Insite Energy


espite their potential of being one of the most cost-effective low-carbon solutions for heating urban


buildings, many heat networks in the UK run at only 35-45% efficiency. This means numerous organisations and individual households are paying and polluting far more than they need to for their heating and hot water. Often, the difference between


‘good’ and ‘bad’ heat networks lies in the hands of maintenance contractors. If not properly looked after, heat networks become less efficient over time. As well as higher bills and emissions, this can lead to shorter repair and replacement cycles, impaired comfort for occupants, and even safety issues. Implementing a thorough


maintenance regimen, ideally via a planned preventative maintenance (PPM) contract, is crucial. This should cover every aspect of the system, including meters and heat interface units (HIUs).


Energy audit A good maintenance team should be able to help improve the efficiency of your heat network, both by optimising equipment performance and by recommending infrastructure


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improvements. The first step on the road to maximum efficiency is to carry out an energy audit. This typically identifies areas for immediate improvement that can enhance efficiency by 10-20%. That’s very worthwhile, when you consider that a 10% increase in a 50-unit development can yield total annual savings of around £9,600, while 20% can save as much as £16,100. Finding good suppliers is not always


straightforward, however. As heat network growth accelerates, engineers with the specific training and skills needed are in ever-higher demand. Unlike stand-alone gas boilers, heat


networks are complex interconnected systems comprising numerous interactive elements. Work on any single part can impact the entire scheme. If engineers don’t have in- depth knowledge of the technologies involved, as well as an understanding of how HIUs and metering and billing systems interact with the rest of the network, they can very easily make costly mistakes.


An energy audit


identifies areas for improvement and can enhance efficiency by 10-20%


Ask the right questions When selecting a supplier, a good way to ascertain whether they have the right skills for the job is to check their knowledge and understanding of CIBSE’s 2020 edition of the Heat Network Code of Practice (CP1). CP1 is an excellent handbook for optimising heat network performance, and although adherence to these standards is not yet legally required, that may change when the next generation of regulations comes into force in 2025. Find out, too, if they offer ‘smart


maintenance.’ This is detailed monitoring and analysis of real- time performance data to identify and precisely locate faults and inefficiencies. It means repair visits only happen when and where they’re needed, lowering overall costs. It’s far better to monitor a system remotely and then review any issues on site than simply servicing it every two years, potentially leaving harmful issues undetected for long periods. In one notable example recently unearthed at a client’s site, actuators were being knocked off a valve. This was a simple fix, but it was costing the entire network £6,000 per year in wasted energy based on a 15p/kWh unit rate. Monitoring is the bedrock of efficiency in any heating system, but with heat networks it’s even more important because of the interconnectedness of all the component parts. O&M providers proposing innovative data tools are more likely to have the kind of holistic understanding and in-depth expertise you need. Finally, if possible, find a


maintenance provider that can offer an end-to-end service covering your HIUs, and metering and billing platforms too. Check if your metering and billing provider can do this or


point you in the right direction – they’ll have a stronger understanding of the impact on the wider system than a general heating engineer. They also keep a close eye on the energy consumption and performance data across the network and can therefore be quick to spot problems. And, as an added bonus, in residential environments, they’re able to access homes more easily because they have an existing relationship with the bill payer.


Contracts count It’s important to ensure maintenance contracts are very specific about how equipment will be maintained, e.g. stripping down and checking bearings instead of just looking for leaks. The real value of PPM contracts lies in supporting the optimal functioning and longevity of assets. A provider that only performs basic maintenance tasks will not offer the best long-term value. The SP20 legislation setting out standards for plant room maintenance is a helpful guide to the level of work that’s needed. A full-service contract can help


to smooth out the unpredictable cost of repairs while also ensuring a good service. With a fixed annual fee covering scheduled maintenance, any unexpected repair visits are charged at a much lower call-out rate and happen within an agreed time frame. Admin costs are reduced too, as there’s no need to coordinate a maintenance programme internally.


Evolving landscape Energy prices have dropped considerably from the recent eye-watering highs that caused tremendous hardships for businesses and consumers alike. However, with ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the market is still highly volatile and fresh steep rises are not impossible. The Energy Bills Discount Scheme


(EBDS), which gives companies a discount on wholesale prices, will also be coming to an end in March 2024. It’s not currently due to be replaced by any other measures so, from April, there will be a return to normal energy procurement processes and incoming fuel prices. At the same time, with Ofgem due to take over as the new regulator for heat networks in Great Britain in spring 2025, new regulations and stronger enforcement are on the horizon. For all these reasons, it makes


sound sense to make 2024 a year to focus on best practice, optimise efficiency and reduce costs and emissions. That all points to making maintenance a top priority.■


EIBI | FEBRUARY 2024


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