Eaton launches new building energy management software

Eaton has designed its new software to integrate EV chargers, solar panels, battery energy storage and an external electricity supply, and make the energy flows between these assets and the grid clear to see, as well as easy to manage on a simple dashboard. Commercial and industrial building owners can avoid high energy bills for electric vehicle (EV) charging, and use more zero-carbon energy, by installing the new software to monitor and manage how their buildings produce and consume energy. Fabrice Roudet, General Manager of Eaton’s Energy Transition Division, EMEA, says, “Our new software provides unique insight and control for building managers, facilities managers, and fleet managers. They can use it, even in a relatively small building, to manage renewable energy strategically and charge electric vehicles as cheaply and sustainably as possible.” Its new cyber secure software intelligently analyses data that includes the building’s own previous energy use, energy prices, and even weather forecasts to provide accurate predictions of expected solar production and consumption. This helps the user to make very efficient use of renewable energy for EV charging and other electrical requirements to reduce the amount of power its building takes from the grid, while at the same time ensuring its services are run effectively and occupant comfort is maintained. In this way, users can avoid the peak grid usage fees that can be triggered by EV charging, reduce the building’s energy bills, and minimise its carbon footprint to comply with net zero building regulations that exist, or are upcoming, throughout Europe. The new software is integral to Eaton’s buildings as a grid approach to the energy transition, which means transforming a building into an energy hub. Typical implementation involves using it with the company’s xStorage battery energy storage system to deploy output from a PV array either for substituting peak power from the grid or selling to the grid with resulting revenue offsetting energy bills. “By implementing the buildings as a grid approach at Eaton’s own office, the base for our EV Charging Centre of Excellence in Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland, we saved an average of €1,700 per month on energy bills in 2022, despite soaring energy prices, and reduced carbon emissions by an average of one ton per month. This included savings generated by facilitating the transition to EVs for our employees,” concludes Fabrice.

DSO sets transparency benchmark for flexibility markets

UK Power Networks Distribution System Operator (DSO) has published its commitment to a transparent ‘flexibility first’ approach. In its first ever Distribution Network Options Assessment report, it outlines where and when it would like to secure additional electrical capacity in the next five years. It showcases the options which are being considered on an annual basis, assessing options from reinforcing the existing electricity network, to offering flexibility options – and making recommendations for the lowest-cost investment option for customers. This is the first time that this process and the outcome have been published, providing full transparency to the company’s customers that the decisions are made by the independent DSO and that flexibility options are considered as the first option over more traditional means of managing capacity on the network. The assessment also offers accurate, detailed information on upcoming opportunities for flexibility market participants. It sets out the methodology for how its DSO selects areas where flexible capacity will be required in future. It is making it easier than ever for flexibility providers, local authorities, and policy makers to prepare for the rise in low-carbon technologies like electric vehicle chargers and heat pumps in the long term and help shape their development plans towards net zero. The data is a fundamental pillar of UK Power Networks’ independent DSO and underlines its commitment to transparency in the flexibility market. As more people opt for low-carbon, electric alternatives, the demand on the electricity network continues to rise, forecasted to double by 2050. ‘Flexibility’ is a rapidly emerging marketplace that can offer network companies a cost-effective additional capacity on the network at peak times as an alternative to the traditional method of building new infrastructure. In May, the company launched an independent DSO, with a commitment to save customers more than £400m over the next five years, by using flexibility to manage demand for new capacity instead of the traditional approach of building new infrastructure. Sotiris Georgiopoulos, Director of the Distribution System Operator at UK Power Networks, says, “Transparency is key to building trust in our marketplace, and this document is part of our commitment to demonstrate transparent and clear decision-making. It sets out very clearly how we evaluate traditional network options against flexible alternatives, where there are opportunities for new capacity on the network and what decisions we will make to ensure that we continue to deliver a fit-for-purpose network for the energy transition to net zero, at lowest cost for our customers.”

EV charging infrastructure market to grow by 2030

According to Adroit Market Research, the market for electric vehicle charging infrastructure was estimated to be worth 25.2bn USD in 2022, and by 2030, it is anticipated to grow to 222.5bn USD, with a CAGR of 31.5%. When electric cars were originally introduced in the early 20th century, the majority of the charging infrastructure consisted of straightforward charging stations that were situated at homes or businesses. Low-voltage charging was offered at these stations, which often made use of regular electrical plugs. Public electric car charging stations started to develop in several urban areas around the middle of the 20th century. These locations, which were frequently situated in city centres, shopping areas, or close to transit hubs, frequently have specialised charging equipment. In the previous 10 years, there have been a lot more networks for EV charging. Charging stations have been installed in metropolitan areas, business districts, retail malls, hotels, and other public spaces, thanks to investments from both public and private organisations. This extension seeks to improve EV owners' access to and ease with charging in order to promote the development of electric transportation. The possibility to expand charging networks is substantial, especially in public spaces and busy regions. The ease and accessibility of charging for EV owners will be improved by adding more charging stations which will promote the adoption of electric vehicles more broadly. Rapid-charging infrastructure has prospects due to the creation and adoption of fast charging technologies. Shorter charging periods made possible by high-power DC fast chargers make long-distance travel more practical for EV users. Fast-charging infrastructure may be installed along highways and other key thoroughfares to increase consumer traffic and assist the expansion of electric mobility. The infrastructure for charging electric vehicles is being developed in large part due to the increasing demand for them. Governments all over the globe are putting supporting measures in place to promote the use of electric cars and the growth of the infrastructure. Incentives, subsidies, tax breaks, and laws mandating the installation of charging stations in public areas and new construction are a few examples of these. Fast-changing technology, such as DC fast chargers, are spreading in popularity, allowing EV users to charge their vehicles more quickly and conveniently. The market for EV charging infrastructure is expanding as a result of cooperation between several players, including automakers, charging station manufacturers, utilities, and technology suppliers. Collaborations and partnerships make the construction, setup, and maintenance of the infrastructure for EV charging more efficient and improve the charging experience for EV owners. Clean and sustainable charging is possible by combining the infrastructure with renewable energy sources like solar and wind. By integrating these technologies, charging may be timed to correspond with periods of strong renewable energy production and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The environmental sustainability of charging infrastructure may be improved by constructing charging stations with solar canopies or by making use of renewable energy purchase agreements. Demand response, grid balancing, and optimised charging are all made possible by the use of smart charging systems and V2G services. In order to maximise this and reduce the effects of peak load, smart charging systems can modify charging rates based on grid circumstances, energy demand, and pricing signals. V2G services enable EVs and the grid to exchange energy in both directions, supporting the grid and providing possible revenue streams for EV owners. Due to the rising acceptance of electric cars and favourable government legislation, the North American industry has seen considerable development in EV charging infrastructure. In terms of the development, the US has been in the lead because of both public and private investments in charging networks. Canada has also been making investments, notably in metropolitan areas and along significant transit routes. The construction of charging stations has been sped up around the area thanks to a number of partnerships involving automakers, utilities, and infrastructure providers.

BCIA fundraises for Teenage Cancer Trust

The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) has nominated the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) charity. It is asking its members to plan corporate activities throughout the year as part of an ongoing fundraiser. Taking inspiration from the TCT’s 15,000 step challenge, which is the amount of steps per day the average TCT nurse works in their role of supporting young people and their families affected by cancer, the BCIA would like its members to collectively complete five million steps and help raise £25,000 for the charity. Every day, seven young people aged 13-24 hear the words, “you have cancer”. They will each need specialised nursing care and support to get them through it. Teenage Cancer Trust is a UK charity dedicated to meeting this vital need. The awards event in May formed the centre piece of the BCIA’s fundraising with a spectacular £5,602 raised on the evening, including £500 from the company in lieu of development costs for its market information service. With almost 160 members employing tens of thousands of people, to reach five million steps, the BCIA needs 333 people to undertake a 15,000 step challenge to meet the five million step target. Members are being asked to fundraise either through a walk with colleagues, family and friends, or through other ways such as a bake sale or BBQ. BCIA President, Graeme Rees, says, “The BCIA is extremely proud to be supporting the Teenage Cancer Trust, which helps young people and their families dealing with cancer and it’s a charity that is particularly close to my heart. Several companies have already come up with some creative ways to donate and I would like to encourage as many of our members as possible to get involved and help us reach our target.”   

#CEFLIVE23 celebrates its event with over 8,000 electrical professionals

#CEFLIVE23 has returned to the NEC Birmingham this month after four years of being away. Over 8,000 electrical professionals visited to discover cutting-edge innovations, new products, and network with like-minded people and experts.   Hosted by CEF, the two-day event had over 85 leading brands for attendees to discover, with giveaways and experts on-hand to share their latest innovations.  CEF’s joint CEO, Chris Ashworth, says, “Seeing so many of our suppliers, customers and industry experts in one space was incredible, and a huge testament to the partnerships and relationships that our team at CEF have built.  “There was an incredible buzz on the day, and we cannot thank our supplier partners enough for creating such an engaging and rewarding experience.  “Our industry moves incredibly fast, so it is important to us that customers gain value from attending CEFLive. Both the event, and the content we deliver via TechTalks, are about so much more than us ‘selling boxes’. We want to share our expertise and give back to our customers and the wider industry as a whole. We truly believe that as the UK’s leading multi-channel distributor, we have a responsibility to help drive the industry forward.  “The conversations we had with the media, our customers and our supplier partners really showed how forward thinking our industry is, covering updates from our new renewables division, social and sustainability right through to digital progress. It is amazing to hear that everyone had such a great time, and that the information and innovation they were exposed to, will help to find better solutions for the end user and also help our customers grow their businesses.”  Electricians and contractors earned 30 minutes CPD credits by attending TechTalks. It was presented by trade experts, and CEF content regulars such as Darren Staniforth, Head of Technical Solutions at CEF; Dave Austin; and Mark Coles, IET’s Head of Technical Regulations. There were seven different topics to choose from, covering updates and changes in the electrical industry.  Alongside technology updates and learning opportunities, customers also met celebrities including event host, TV star, Nick Knowles.  There was a flurry of activity online with more than 1,000 mentions of #CEFLIVE23 across social channels, attendees shared their feedback online. It was not just the customers that had an amazing time, the exhibitors also enjoyed meeting customers and professionals.

NET launches new AM2 certificate checker

NET has launched a new online service that allows users to check the validity of an AM2 certificate to help tackle the growing issue of fake industry credentials and paid-for qualifications. Unfortunately, it is now commonplace when browsing social media and industry chat to see adverts offering forged ECS cards, qualifications and other certificates. Any certificate issued by NET already incorporates multiple security measures to combat counterfeits, but to make it even easier for employers and others to check the validity of a certificate, the online search function now offers a further means of verification. Users are asked to enter the certificate’s issue number and the holder’s National Insurance number on the website. The results then show if it holds a certificate that matches those details, or if further investigation is needed. “It is very hard to stop these fraudulent adverts but there is no need for anyone to get away with fake certificates or cards,” says Carolyn Mason, Chief Executive, NET. “The industry is working hard to address this – awarding organisations such as City & Guilds and EAL have certificate checkers, ECS cards can be checked via the ECS Check service and now with AM2, our online service allows people to check AM2 validity directly. We urge employers to make these checks when recruiting to help combat those who are trying to cheat the system.”

World Wellbeing Week: time to check the mental health of tradespeople

In light of World Wellbeing Week, it is time to address why mental health in the construction sector is in such dire straits and the need to improve the support available to workers. The ONS reports that the suicide rate among construction workers is three times the national average for men in general. The Lighthouse Club finds that this equates to two builders taking their own life every working day. The need to improve the support available to employees and business owners in the industry is further highlighted in new research from Fix Radio, which shows that a shocking 38% of tradesmen are now experiencing the worst levels of stress and anxiety in their lifetime. Adding to this, research from Ironmongery Direct shows that 64% of tradespeople experience work-related stress at least once a month, with the report showing that a high workload, tensions with customers, and finances are the top three causes of stress for tradespeople. But despite its widespread effect, being a predominantly male-dominated sphere, 69% of tradespeople say that there is still a stigma within the sector surrounding seeking help for mental health problems, according to industry research. Industry experts say that the construction sector faces a testing time ahead, amid rising interest rates, surging costs and the threat of recession. The latest S&P Global/CIPS construction purchasing managers' index, showed that last month business optimism fell to its lowest since July 2020, with the sector experiencing its worst month for new orders for almost two and a half years. This comes at a challenging time, where overwhelming work schedules, material shortages, and new environmental directives, has left thousands of small businesses, equalling 27% of SMEs in the trade, on the verge of breaking point. Where can tradespeople go for help? The Lighthouse Club is focused on improving the welfare and wellbeing of the construction community in the UK and Ireland. It provides a range of free and proactive services to help companies deliver the best possible support to their employees and their families: The 24/7 confidential helpline is available to everyone on the site including subcontractors, agency workers and allied trades. Its Construction Industry Helpline covers all aspects of emotional, physical and financial wellbeing, and is available in different languages through the company’s partnership with translation services. A downloadable wellbeing support app called ‘Construction Industry Helpline’ covers all the aspects of wellbeing. The app is packed with information to learn about conditions, how to develop coping strategies, with signposting to over 3000 accredited organisations that provide support. Text HardHat is a 24/7 service that gives immediate access to text back counselling. Masterclasses Wellbeing are one hour scheduled CPD accredited wellbeing education sessions covering topics such as managing stress, building resilience, work-life balance, mindfulness, meditation, financial management and many more. Lighthouse Beacons have identified over 160 volunteer centres around the UK and Ireland, where workers can drop in to meet like-minded people, socialise and talk. It is facilitated by individuals with lived experience, and in this confidential environment, encourage those struggling with life problems to share their issues and if required, seek further help. In addition, Clive Holland, Host, The Clive Holland Show, shares, "There are several underlying reasons why the rate of suicide in the construction trades is so high. Firstly, there is a macho image in the industry and men are not brilliant at opening up and discussing their feelings. But I feel that this is changing slowly, but surely. “Secondly, there is a lot of stress involved in running a small business – long hours, few holidays, slow payers and cash flow issues. In the last two years particularly, spiralling costs of materials and spiking energy prices have squeezed margins even further. Couple that with the growing skills shortage, it ramps up extra pressures on daily site life. The pandemic has magnified many of these problems and tradespeople will tell you that they have never been this busy. Many are fully booked until the end of the year, if not further. “It is also worth remembering that while many of our tradespeople have fantastic skills and deliver outstanding work, the weakest part of their game is dealing with the details of their business. Great tradespeople are not necessarily great business people and it is worth remembering that they often feel intimidated by the admin and financial side of the business.”

Baxi introduces a new range of heat pumps

Baxi has introduced a new Baxi Assure Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) range for housebuilders and developers, as demand for low carbon heating technologies for new build homes grows in line with the 2025 Future Homes Standard.   The newly unveiled, Baxi Assure HP50 monobloc ASHP range offers winter heating capacities ranging between 4kW and 13kW to suit the majority of homes. Designed specifically for use with the Baxi Assure ASHP Cylinder for hot water performance, it is suitable for standalone and hybrid heating and hot water solutions.   The company also offers an in-house design service for housebuilders and developers looking to introduce its range of products into their projects, providing added support and ensuring correct specification.   Training courses are available at its facilities across the UK to provide specifiers, contractors and heating engineers with a thorough understanding of air source heat pumps, from their specification and design to installation and commissioning, for new build properties.   Lee Caulfield, Head of Sales, Residential Specification at Baxi, says, “We are pleased to include this advanced heat pump solution within our extensive solution offering for housebuilders and developers. This sector of the market is leading the way with highly efficient homes, so it is vital that we can provide the new build market with the most innovative solutions, extensive training, expert design support and commissioning, servicing and maintenance service.   “By partnering with Baxi, housebuilders and developers get access to the Baxi Assure complete home service, providing them with the best in efficient heating to meet net zero goals in the future.”

Industry experts to judge ECN Awards

ECN is delighted to announce the panel of expert judges for the ECN Awards. All six judges are specialists within their field and we are thrilled that they are sharing their expertise with us in judging the 20 ECN Awards. The judges of the ECN Awards 2023 are: Frank Bertie, Chief Technical Officer, NAPIT Paul Collins, Technical Director, NICEIC Gary Parker, Senior Technical Manager, ECA Darren Staniforth, Head of Technical Solutions, CEF David Watts, CEO, SparkyNinja Robin Whitehead, CEO, BGEN For more information on all of our judges please click here.

Naked Energy appoints Chair to propel international expansion

Naked Energy has announced the appointment of Martin Schwab as Non-Executive Chairman. Martin brings over 25 years of international experience in the private capital market and a mission-aligned passion for sustainability to Naked Energy’s leadership. He has extensive experience in investing and building companies globally. He will play a particularly pivotal role in setting the company’s strategic direction working with the board of directors and C-suite leadership. Beyond his role at Naked Energy, Martin is a Managing Partner at Pamplona Capital Management, where he and his team focus on investments in Europe and the US, delivering highly flexible investment strategies across a broad range of asset classes in both public and private market situations. He is also the Founder and Trustee of Ocean Born Foundation, an organisation that is creating new sources of sustainable revenue against climate change by focusing on the health of the ocean. His expertise will be integral to the company’s growth as it continues to rapidly scale its global operations. Over his career, Martin has executed over 50 transactions and has been in over 20 boards of directors. Prior to joining Pamplona, he was Vice President at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, responsible for financial sponsors and telecoms in equity capital markets. His experience also includes time as an Investment Executive at CapVest, specialising in acquisitions and portfolio company monitoring and development in Germany. Earlier still, he was an analyst in Merrill Lynch’s investment banking division. Christophe Williams, Co-Founder and CEO of Naked Energy, says, “At Naked Energy we are at the next stage of our journey where we are scaling quickly. We want the best people onboard to help us drive our ambition to build a new green energy landscape. Martin’s expertise in finance and business development will be pivotal in continuing this pace of growth. We are delighted to have him onboard.” Commenting on his arrival at Naked Energy, Martin Schwab says, “I’m very glad to be joining a team of such talented individuals. The technology they have developed to decarbonise heat on a global scale is truly innovative. They have already achieved impressive milestones with this pioneering technology and I know this is only the start of what we are going to achieve.”