ABB UK Energy News

Feed-In-Tariff the battle continues!

2012-01-30T11:44:00.002Z

By: Neil Ritchie, Local Business Unit Manager, LV Drives at ABB

You might be surprised to hear that the Government and the solar industry have been at loggerheads over the last few months. The two have been fighting over the solar Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) and the battle has gone to both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Both courts have unsurprisingly ruled that the Government’s plans to bring in a reduction to solar FITs before the end of the consultation period is unlawful. But the Government is now seeking to take its appeal to The Supreme Court.
The background to the case is that the DECC has proposed to reduce the amount of payback for small-scale solar projects up to 4 kW in size, suggesting this should be set at 21p/kWh, down from 43.3p/kWh. However, after a case was brought forward by Friends of the Earth and two solar companies, a high court judge ruled that to rush through cuts to Feed-In Tariff (FIT) payments were ‘legally flawed’.

The appeal case went to court on Friday the 12th January and the judges have taken until now to reach a unanimous decision to uphold the original ruling. This means that, subject to the outcome of any appeal to The Supreme Court, solar FITs will remain at 43.3 p/kWh until March 3rd 2012, when it will be reduced to 21p.

The government’s argument is that the current high tariffs for solar PV are not sustainable and changes need to be made in order to protect the budget. This may be true, but surely the Government can simply make more money available to the scheme through the additional taxes it is generating?

With options running out, “The Government must now take steps to safeguard the UK’s solar industry and the 29,000 jobs still facing the chop,” according to Friends of the Earth’s executive director Andy Atkins. “Ministers must abandon plans to tighten the screw on which homes qualify for solar payments – and use the massive tax revenues generated by solar to protect the industry.”

Personally I think, the Government needs to accept the court’s decision and get on with its legal obligations. I remember a pledge being made by the Coalition Government at the very beginning of them coming to power - “to be the greenest Government ever”. Now is the time to live up to this pledge and support a flourishing industry, instead of restricting its growth.

Discover energy savings on your smart phone

2011-12-12T17:28:00.006Z

By: Neil Ritchie, Local Business Unit Manager, LV Drives at ABB

You might remember a while ago we launched an App for the IPhone…the ABB Energy Calculator App. So far it has had thousands of downloads and is continuing to show users the financial benefits of variable-speed drive control.

Now we have launched a BlackBerry version of the same App, so those of us who swear by our BlackBerrys, can discover how much a variable-speed drive can reduce energy costs.

The App allows you to calculate the energy savings you can achieve on a typical pump or fan load by replacing direct-on-line control with a variable-speed drive. By inputting some basic data about your application you get to find out how much you can reduce CO2 emissions, along with the energy and cost savings possible. The App is available to download on BlackBerry App world.

If you are more of an old-school engineer, we also have a traditional slide rule available. Although not as powerful as the App, the slide rule gives you an insight into how much you can reduce CO2 emissions and the energy cost savings you are likely to achieve. To get your slide rule, email energy@gb.abb.com and leave your address details so I can send one out in the post.

Summit in the air!

2011-12-09T17:17:00.000Z

By: Neil Ritchie, Local Business Unit Manager, LV Drives at ABB

So, 193 countries are in the process of meeting in Durban in order to broker some sort of deal on climate change. Sounds great, however this is the 17th time this annual event has been organised and on nearly every occasion, very little seems to happen.

The problem is that many of the larger, more powerful industrial nations such as China, USA, India and Brazil view such a deal as something that will restrict their growth and are likely to oppose any kind of agreement that will have a significant impact on how they do business.

Since these four countries account for nearly 50 percent of greenhouse gases, getting them to agree a reduction in output is to say the least…difficult.

The rest of the world understands the urgency of the matter and the vast majority of other nations, including the EU are pushing for a new legally-binding agreement. However, whether or not the other four are willing to shoulder their responsibility remains to be seen.

With only a couple of days to go before the talks conclude, I hope they break the deadlock and set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets, but I won’t be holding my breath.

The Village Bakery saves £20,000 a year with ABB drives

2011-11-07T12:02:00.000Z

Improved speed control on one of its production lines is enabling The Village Bakery (Nutrition) to save £20,000 per year at its Abenbury Way site in Wrexham. The installation of an ABB general machinery drive with high ingress protection (IP66) has delivered a combination of cost savings.

The new drive controls the speed of a depositing line, which is a conveyor-based system that divides the dough into the correct weights to make various rolls and loaves. The Wrexham bakery is the most advanced gluten-free facility in Europe, manufacturing around 250,000 loaves a week.

Leixlip Water Treatment Works saves €500,000 a year with ABB drives

2011-10-20T12:13:00.002+01:00

Watch the video and find out how Leixlip Water Treatment Plant is saving over €500,000 a year on its pumping costs thanks to the installation of ABB variable-speed drives.

The Leixlip Water Treatment Works in Co. Kildare is the second largest water treatment facility in Ireland. With a capacity of 175,000 m3 a day, it supplies over 30 percent of the drinking water requirements of the Greater Dublin Region, serving Fingal, Kildare and the northern part of Dublin City.

Calls for a rise in infrastructure spending

2011-09-19T09:59:00.000+01:00

How many of us have been delayed on a train journey due to “leaves on the line” or experienced excessively slow internet download speeds? I think most people in the UK believe that our infrastructure needs to be improved and the latest research from the Confederation of British Industry suggests our business leaders share this view.

According to the research, major investment is needed to help the UK bounce back from current weak economic conditions. The report suggests that investment in infrastructure such as Britain’s road and rail networks, digital, waste and energy would ensure we remain internationally competitive and would kick-start UK growth.

The findings highlight what the UK needs to succeed, however with the Government deep in the midst of wide reaching spending cuts, it is safe to say that essential investment on projects other than those that have already been ring-fenced, seems unlikely in the immediate future.

Of those surveyed, 58% rate the UK’s infrastructure worse than other EU countries when judged on quality, value for money and reliability. According to the poll, just 26% of firms saw the UK as favourable for infrastructure investment.

The results of the report are somewhat worrying, but sadly predictable. With potential investors harbouring major doubts over the UK’s infrastructure, how can we expect to attract investment from international companies wanting to expand their operations, or keep organisations that have already set up here?

Furthermore, 89% of those surveyed were worried about the security of energy supply over the next ten years and a staggering 95% were concerned about the rising cost of energy over the next five years.

With regards to energy prices, wholesale prices are rising across the globe. It is up to organisations effected by these rises to address energy efficiency within their respective organisations, however when combined with the list of other worries, it doesn’t bode well for the UK.

The report is a damning incitement of the UK government failing to recognise what is needed to make the UK an attractive place to do business. Currently the government is more concerned with lowering our national debt than protecting UK business interests and providing the tools and means to attract investment.

Much more investment is needed, otherwise the pot-holes in our policies will take the wheels off our economic recovery.

A light bulb moment

2011-09-02T10:08:00.001+01:00

September 1st marked the end of production for the 60 Watt light bulb. The European Union has called time on its production and is forcing consumers to adopt energy saving light bulbs in an effort to reduce energy consumption.

The banning of these light bulbs mirrors the recent introduction of minimum efficiency standards for motors in the European market. The EU MEPS (European Minimum Energy Performance Standards), scheme which I have previously talked about in this blog, is expected to save Europe about 135 TWh by 2020.

I guess, over the next few years, we can expect to see the trend for legislators getting rid of less efficient products, echo across all types of industries. This can only be a good thing as both consumers and industry are far too wasteful and slow to adopt new energy efficient technology. New legislation will force people into action and effectively create minimum standards across every aspect of our energy consumption, helping to save huge amounts of energy whilst reducing costs.

In terms of light bulbs and their demise, the vast majority of consumers will save a few pounds per year on each one they change, but for many businesses, changing light bulbs will make little difference to their overall energy costs. Organisations determined to find savings before they are forced into them, need to explore the wealth of energy efficient technology available on the market and take advantage of the huge energy savings on offer .

To help businesses afford their own “light bulb moment”, earlier this year ABB announced access for industry and commerce to over 50 energy appraisal experts. If you have a pump, fan, mixer, conveyor or any other motor-driven application, these experts can rapidly assess the energy saving potential of using variable speed drives and high efficiency motors. Call 07000 374837 (07000 DRIVES) to book your free, no-obligation appointment.

Voice your views on the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme

2011-08-26T09:32:00.001+01:00

Now here is your chance to say what you really think about the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. The government and the Environment Agency are asking for your feedback on the costs of complying with the CRC scheme. If you are affected by the scheme you can take part in an online survey here Deadline is end of August, so don’t delay.

Apparently some 4,295 of you have now submitted detailed reports on your carbon footprint before last month’s deadline. Only 254 failed to comply. The fact so many hit the deadline is remarkable. There has been a lot of catching up going on. But remember submitting the reports are only the start of the battle.

Despite the excellent response, many feel that the scheme is too complex and the costs involved in adhering to the scheme are putting businesses under increased pressures during financially difficult times. However, the government has made it clear that the scheme is still under review and may be simplified at a later date. So, if you want to have your say in the scheme and how it affects you, make your voice heard through the survey and maybe some of your suggestions will be incorporated into a new look CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.

What changes do you think need to take place in the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme?

Imitation the best form of flattery

2011-08-02T16:35:00.004+01:00

In May 2009 the government launched it's scrappage scheme for cars. The initiative was an attempt to reinvigorate the UK's ailing car industry by offering new car buyers a £2000 discount if they scrapped a car older than 10 years. The scheme provided the inspiration for ABB's own swappage scheme which we also launch in 2009. ABB and its drives and motors partners offer every user of a variable-speed drive and/or an electric motor an attractive discount - in this case at least 17.5 percent - should they swap their old drives or motors for new models from ABB?

Not only that, we would take away the old drive and motor and safely dispose of it to the latest environmental regulations.

But we did not stop there. For a small fee our UK wide team of independent drives and motors experts would rip out the old drive and motor and install the new model.

We call this the ABB swappage scheme. And full details can be found here: www.abb.co.uk/energy or here: www.drives.co.uk (click on the ABB banner on the homepage).

Well, four years later I am pleased to report that there is some truth in the saying imitation is the best form of flattery. I see some other players are capitalising on our success and launching their own scrappage schemes. But sadly they only cover one product - motors. And the benefits don't appear as comprehensive as the ABB swappage scheme. It's definitely worth a second look if you have not yet done so.... Click here...

ABB helps renewable company make waves

2011-07-19T12:40:00.005+01:00

Scottish power company Aquamarine Power Systems, unveiled their next-generation Oyster 800 hydro-electric wave energy converter last week. Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond marked the launch of the device, which is set to be installed at the European Marine Centre (EMEC) in Orkney later in the summer.

The Oyster 800 developed by some very cleaver Aquamarine engineers, features a whole range of ABB products, including, transformers, generators, power converters, control and instrumentation, helping the Oyster 800 generate a massive 800 kw of electricity from a single unit.

My organisation, originally gained interested in the company and its technology, after the development of Aquamarine Power’s first, full-scale 315 kW Oyster.

Since Aquamarine installed and grid-connected the Oyster at EMEC in 2009, my organisation has invested about $13 million in the company to help develop their technology and bring their product to market. Since 2009 the Oyster has operated successfully through two winters, delivering over 6000 operating hours; extremely impressive for a first, full-scale trial.

Alex Salmond, says: “Aquamarine Power has made huge progress in less than two years since its first Oyster device was connected to the grid at EMEC – proving the technology and driving down costs – a testament to the vision, commitment and expertise throughout the company.

We all know that renewable energy is set to play a significant part in the future of energy production globally, so it is important that companies such as Aquamarine Power receive necessary funding to develop their technology. I am pleased ABB is providing Aquamarine with the support they deserve and I know they will be given access to our technical research, engineering expertise and global supply chain network.

Dr Stephen Wyatt, Head of Technology Acceleration at The Carbon Trust, says “Wave and tidal stream could provide a fifth of our electricity needs and be a major ‘made in Britain’ success. Our new analysis has found that the best marine energy sites could be cost competitive with nuclear and onshore wind by 2025. The wave and tidal sector could generate up to £76bn to the UK economy by 2050, and could also generate over 68,000 UK jobs.

Aquamarine says it will deploy another two Oyster wave power devices at EMEC in 2012 and 2013, bringing the total capacity to 2.4 MW. Let’s hope it’s the start of many more being rolled out across the globe.

New standard for industrial motors in the EU – are you ready?

2011-06-17T15:37:00.001+01:00

What is the new standard?

As of the 16th June, a new standard comes into play, introducing minimum efficiency standards for motors in the European market. The EU MEPS (European Minimum Energy Performance Standard) scheme covers 2-, 4- and 6-pole single speed, three phase induction motors in the power range 0.75 kW to 375 kW. Motor manufacturers are now required to show the IE (International Efficiency) class, year of manufacture and efficiency values on motor rating plates and in product documentation.
Under the scheme, standard efficiency (IE1) motors are no longer available on the European market. IE2 is now the European minimum standard.

So, why the need for such legislation?

Motors are all around us. Amazingly, electric motors consume about 45% of all electricity produced in industry, which means that just about every second power plant serving industry, is powering electric motors. The introduction of minimum efficiency standards will have a huge impact on consumption levels. Europe is expected to save about 135 TWh by 2020, which is the equivalent to the output of 22 nuclear reactors or the energy consumption of 32 million EU households.

And what does it mean for end-users?

Your installed base is fine at the moment. But over time, any motors that you replace will need to meet these minimum standards. Now is a good time to log your motors and find out which would benefit from being high efficiency. After all, over the lifetime of any new motor, the savings achieved through higher efficiencies will far exceed the increased initial purchasing cost.

Download the ABB EU MEPS guide

Living in fear but doing nothing about energy prices

2011-06-10T16:15:00.001+01:00

According to a recent survey by British Gas, 32 percent of medium-sized businesses have no intention of implementing energy saving measures, while 70 percent of them are not using any at the moment. However, according to another report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 60 percent of manufacturers say rising power bills are their biggest fear.

So, organisations are fearful of rising energy prices but are taking no action to rectify rising costs. This is staggering considering energy bills typically account for one fifth of a business’s running costs.

Energy reduction needs be part of every business’s strategy, regardless of size or sector. With energy costs predicted to rise even further, doing nothing is not an option.

Nor is there any excuse not to act. There is a wide range of initiatives and financial help available to help businesses keen to cut their energy bills. All organisations can apply for Enhanced Capital Allowances, for example, which provide tax incentives to encourage investment in energy saving technologies. Any that are willing to undertake an energy reduction strategy can also benefit from leases, loans and other financing options available through the Carbon Trust.

Equipment suppliers may also be able to provide help and advice. ABB, for example, conducts free energy appraisals that look specifically at motor-driven applications. After implementing the advice given in an ABB energy appraisal, it is not uncommon for a business to reduce energy spend on motor driven applications by 50 percent.

Take Trelleborg Sealing Solutions for example. After an ABB energy appraisal it was found that variable-speed drives could significantly reduce the aerospace manufacturer’s energy costs. The company is now saving £12,000 annually on energy costs and this is by no means a one-off example.

In today’s global market, UK companies need to be able to compete on the best possible terms in order to maximise both profitability and productivity. The technology and the help they need to start them off on the road to potentially massive energy cost savings is out there – they just need to make the effort to find them. To quote the old proverb – ‘the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.’

If your company has yet to start its journey to a more energy efficient future, then now is the time to swallow your fears and take your first steps to discovering how much your company could save by investing in energy saving technology.

Pump innovation wins industry award

2011-05-18T15:29:00.001+01:00

I was unable to attend this year’s Pump Industry Awards, but while not quite the Oscars, I hear a good night was had by all. Oh and guess what? We won!

ABB and its partner, Inverter Drive Systems (IDS), won the Technical Innovation Product of the Year for an innovative algorithm that Blaise Ford of IDS developed for an ABB drive.

While we affectionately call this the “poo pump”, make no mistake that this is a serious development capable of cutting pumping times for sludge pumps in water treatment works by a staggering 90 percent. Just think of the energy saving alone. This is a staggering development that is duly recognised by the British Pump Manufacturers Association. If you work in water and are serious about your CO2 footprint, take a look here.

Our survey said……..you are still looking in the wrong place

2011-05-03T10:20:00.000+01:00

Works Management magazine has recently conducted a survey in which it probed the energy habits of UK manufacturers.

While the results show the beginning of a change in attitudes towards energy efficiency, sadly many manufacturers are still not grasping the “easy option” when it comes to lowering bills.

Since 2004 electricity prices have risen a staggering 110 per cent and as such, businesses are now more than ever, trying to address energy spend through greater energy efficiency. While lowering electricity costs through the adoption of improved lighting control and boosting compressor efficiency (favoured methods of lowering energy costs according to the survey) is a great start, it pales into insignificance when compared to installing variable-speed drives and high efficiency motors.

Now I would say that, wouldn’t I. But thankfully so do thousands of happy customers.

Check out the results for yourself

ABB Automation & Power World 2011 , April 18-21, 2011, Marriott World Center, Orlando, Florida

2011-04-15T09:21:00.000+01:00

I am off to Orlando today. Not on my holidays. I am attending one of the biggest events in the automation and power calendar. It’s the annual ABB Automation & Power World 2011. It’s a gargantuan affair that starts on April 18th to 21st. For me it is quite a humbling experience. You see I am presenting a workshop on ABB energy appraisals for motor-driven applications - see video below.

Regular readers of this blog will know that I am passionate about this and the impact an energy appraisal can have on industry. It is truly enormous with magical savings to be made. And yet at this workshop you can find me tucked away on page 26 of a 56-page guide to over 400 workshops. And I have to say there are some amazing presentations listed.

Take a look for yourself. Stay tuned and I will let report back from Orlando with my highlights.

Win the chance to see what you're spending on home electricity

2011-04-11T10:08:00.002+01:00

While I continue to bang on about how easy it is to use variable speed drives and high efficiency motors to massively reduce the energy bill of your company, I sometimes wonder what the take up of such technology would be if it was our own money that could be saved? I think if you looked around your house you would be shocked at the places where energy is actually being wasted. And I’ve got just the device to prove it – the Wattson Energy Meter. This nifty little gadget shows how much you’re spending on electricity. So for your chance to win one, download the pdf of Energise. The competition is on the back page. But be quick … entries close on 29th April 2011 (Open to UK residents only).

Call up the “A” Team

2011-03-01T10:32:00.000Z

ABB now has over 50 engineers within 45 minutes of most UK mainland businesses who, in half-a-day, can offer a free, no obligation energy appraisal of motor-driven applications. Now that’s a lot to take in, in one sentence. So it’s worth reading again. An engineer who can be with you in 45 minutes, and in just under 4 hours can show you how to reduce your energy bill by 20 to 50 percent. Be rude not to enquire really. Call us on 07000 DRIVES (07000 374837)

The Carbon Trust another victim of boom to bust?

2011-02-21T15:59:00.000Z

The Carbon Trust has had its funding cut by 40 per cent, causing the cancellation of grants to a number of major projects and dozens of redundancies. The trust, which provides funding and free advice to the public in order to help them reduce their energy spend, expects to make around a third of its 300 staff redundant and is now actively seeking private investors to fill the funding gap.

In a statement on its website, the Trust expects to receive approximately £50 million in government funding for 2011/12 – a reduction of £33 million from the previous year.

When our current leaders set out their manifesto, they pledged to be the “greenest government ever” yet they are denying many organisations the funding essential to making a commitment to achieving necessary CO2 and energy reductions. We all understand that the government needs to make cuts and it was always clear that a number of quangos set up by New Labour would fall victim to the cull. However, it is impossible to deny the success the Carbon Trust has achieved in helping the UK take strides to meeting emission targets.

By getting industry to think about its environmental impact, the Trust has also increased UK competitiveness through reduced energy spend, as a consequence, organisations are able to make themselves more competitive whilst safeguarding employee positions.

Our government says we are about to see the inception of the new Green Investment bank, however the details of this are still being finalised, the government has already made it clear that funding for this will be limited and the bank will not be operational until at least September 2012. What about this year and the first seven months of 2012? Many organisations are already struggling with rising costs and with a faltering economy, may struggle to find funding until an underfunded Green Investment bank comes to fruition.

More needs to be done to help organisations take the steps to reduce their CO2 and energy use otherwise the UK will struggle to meet its emissions reduction targets in 2020 and 2050. Lets hope the private sector steps in and provides the Carbon Trust with the funding it needs because CO2 reduction and energy sustainability are key to the future success of UK PLC.

Greater efficiency is the way to improve environmental performance

2011-02-07T10:54:00.000Z

We see much in the news these days about going green and how green individual products are, but what should we be really doing to improve environmental performance?

We have become so focused on green issues that we are ignoring the real answer to the problem. Greater efficiency offers the path of least resistance to meeting the green agenda but also allows an organisation to reduce its energy bill. For organisations willing to invest, the first important step is to identify processes where energy consumption is high and find ways of improving that process.

A study, carried out in cooperation with Tampere University of Technology, demonstrates how long It takes a drive to start making a positive contribution to the environment. The ecological payback was calculated for three ABB drives of 0.75 kW, 7.5 kW and 250 kW, respectively. The payback times were short in all instances, decreasing with higher power ratings. The 0.75 kW drive compensated for its global warming potential in 6 days; for the 7.5 kW drive it was 1.1 days and for the 250 kW drive it was 0.5 days.

By operating the drive for just half a day it is possible to avoid enough emissions to fully compensate for the carbon impact of the drive’s manufacturing and disposal. The carbon footprint of the organisation then starts to shrink as the drive will continue to benefit the environment by saving emissions throughout its lifetime. An ABB industrial drive will typically provide a total lifetime savings of around 7,500 MWh or 3,800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

There are not many pieces of equipment out there that offer such a positive environmental impact after such a short period of time, generally products take much longer to compensate for their own manufacture and disposal. Installing a new drive will improve an organisation's energy efficiency, helping them to improve their environmental contribution whilst lowering energy bills in the process.

Emissions Performance Standards to give the UK a chance to meet its targets

2011-01-28T15:18:00.000Z

According to the Energy & Climate Change Committee, the UK government should move ahead with its pre-election promise to introduce Emissions Performance Standards (EPS).

With the UK government committed to lowering emissions through the introduction of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme, setting a standard for the power sector (a huge contributor to CO2 output) could go a long way to helping the UK meet its emissions targets.

The introduction of the EPS would see power stations and other high polluters having to take steps to minimise their emissions through the introduction of energy efficient technology. The power suppliers would need to integrate new equipment into their exiting set-ups or invest in new energy efficient power stations that incorporate energy saving as a fundamental principle of their build.

With much of the UK’s power supply in desperate need of replacement or refurbishment over the next decade the opportunity exists to invest in making UK PLC a much greener forward thinking environment. The government needs to be strict in its application of the EPS, so power suppliers are burdened with the responsibility of making emissions reduction a priority within their organisations.

There is a danger however that power companies will simply pass on the costs incurred through meeting the EPS to their customers, so you, me and the thousands of organisations out there could potentially end up paying the costs. The government needs to be careful in how they introduce the standard, make sure the standards are progressive enough in terms of emission reductions and ensure that power customers are adequately protected through rigorous legislation.

Overall I think the introduction of the EPS could be a good thing because as it stands at the minute, not enough is being done to force industry into meeting UK emissions targets. However the government has to ensure consumers are adequately protected and organisations that need to conform to the standard are made accountable for their actions.

Can Huhne make a breakthrough at the Cancun climate talks?

2010-12-08T16:24:00.001Z

So, 193 countries are meeting in Cancun for a fortnight of climate negotiations in a bid to edge closer to a deal on climate change. Why does it also seem to be snowing heavily in the wealthy countries when these meetings occur? Despite this de-ja-vu, climate change is snow joke. 2010 was the warmest year on record and the world’s eyes will be on Cancun to see if any significant deal can be brokered.

Chris Huhne, the UK’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has already played down the expectations of a breakthrough at Cancun. “We are not expecting a final agreement. The objective is to reinvigorate the talks. Success means getting the world to within shouting distance of a deal, keeping the show on the road and making practical progress on areas like forestry, finance and reduction commitments.”

Every year counties around the world meet in the hope of coming to an agreement on climate change and every year, not very much happens. To this day, there are still people that do not believe climate change is happening, despite expert opinion and the hordes of evidence to support it. However not believing that climate change exists is hardly an excuse to continue pumping fumes into the air, is it? Breathing polluted air and deforesting the earth’s lungs is bad for humans so how can it not be affecting everything else on the planet?

The technology to reduce emissions already exists and legislation should be put in place to make global industry adopt it. The only way this is going to happen is to force those responsible to make changes within their respective countries. Those that take a lead now could even see their countries becoming global leaders in “green technology” and with the general public beginning to look discerningly on industry and how they treat the environment, it’s only a matter of time before customers are demanding that the products they buy or the services they use have limited environmental impact.

Countries and large industry players need to do their part to reduce their emissions and in doing so, they may find that they are making more money as a result of going green. As it stands, we can not continue to pollute the planet as we are currently doing or we will tip the fragile balance of the environment and long for a time when we could have actually made a difference.

The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme becomes a business tax

2010-10-27T15:39:00.000+01:00

So the 20th October 2010 has passed and the coalition government has delivered a spending review that will affect everyone. All of us can expect to fork out more money for much less with a series of spending cuts and tax rises spread across all aspects of our life. The government is aiming to claw back £83 billion over the next four years and you, me and every business in the UK is going to pay for it.

In terms of its energy policy, there has been a major change for organisations affected by the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme - it is no longer government neutral. The government has decided to change the terms of the multi-billion pound scheme and keep all the revenues raised from it, rather than re-distribute the money back to participating organisations who successfully reduce energy. It is estimated that the introduction of the “stealth tax” (as some are calling it) will raise £3.5 billion for the treasury by 2015.

Before the announcement, organisations that made efforts to reduce their energy consumption could expect to be rewarded for their efforts, so the change is likely to upset a large number of organisations participating in the scheme. Energy reduction is still the best way to lower fixed costs and over a short period of time, the initial capital outlay can easily be recouped through energy savings.

With the government’s austerity measures likely to see half-a-million public sector workers out of work by 2015 and with some business leaders estimating the private sector likely to see similar levels of job cuts, I believe that reducing energy use is vitally important to the survival of many organisations and the recovery of the economy as a whole.

Despite organisations no longer receiving rewards through the scheme for their efforts, the savings achievable through investing in energy saving equipment speak for themselves. However with the current financial frailty of the economy, finding spare cash for the initial capital outlay may be hard for some businesses to swallow. We might end up seeing organisations do the bare minimum because they simply can’t afford to outlay huge sums of money in order to take advantage of the huge range of energy saving technology that exists on the market.

What do you think about the changes to the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme and how they will affect business?

Conserve the UK’s energy policies

2010-10-13T16:30:00.003+01:00

So, we have just had the Conservative party conference last week; Not exactly the most exciting or inspiring program I have ever seen, but I watched it all the same to get an idea of what might happen in the next round of spending cuts. Surprisingly it was not all bad news for industry. Some of our policy makers spoke about their green ambitions and made it clear they intend to support businesses that are doing their best to reduce their Carbon Footprint.

The government has stated its ambitions to be “the greenest government ever” and in doing so will have to set an example. The coalition will need to be proactive in terms of the policies they introduce and most importantly to the energy conscious businesses out there, maintain the support that is currently available for those willing to invest in their energy future.

Minister of State, Oliver Letwin, speaking at the conference insisted on the government moving forward with a range of proposals, such as the Green Investment Bank, Renewable Heat Incentive, Green Deal, feed-in tariff (FIT) and reforms to the Climate Change Levy, many of which where thought to be in danger of falling foul of the upcoming spending review.

These comments were welcomed by Dr Neil Bentley, CBI director for business environment, who views the statement as intent on the government’s behalf to engage with businesses on the need to tackle carbon emissions.

I don’t think we will manage to hold on to everything, but the signs are promising. It will be interesting to see what policies we are left with after the 20th October spending review, but Letwin has stated that we "will see the preservation of our carbon agenda and indeed the ability to follow it through." Lets hope this is true and industry can get on with driving forward the low carbon economy and forging the foundations of an economic recovery.

We've got an app for that...

2010-09-20T14:00:00.008+01:00

I was at a conference in January, with a room full of engineers of advancing years. What surprised me was that more than 50% of these guys owned iPhones. Given the slowness to embrace new technology by most firms, it came as quite a surprise to see so many users working their finger tricks to slide and glide through their screens flicking between emails, maps and other apps. Wow what a marketing opportunity, I thought. So I set about developing an energy calculator app. Not me personally - I don't even own an iPhone - but our clever lads in marketing took up the challenge. And so today I am pleased to announce that we have just created what I think is the first energy calculator app for variable speed drives, from any drives manufacturer.
If you are fortunate enough to own an iPhone then I urge you to get your hands on it by visiting iTunes -http://itunes.apple.com/. By inputting some basic data about your application you get to see the CO2, energy and cost savings possible. Let me know what you think below. However, being a fair man, I also had the other 50% of my January audience on my conscience. And you know what I came up with? A good old traditional slide rule. It's not as powerful as the app, but it certainly gives you an insight into how much energy can be saved by switching a direct-on-line motor over to variable speed control. There's also an interesting twist relating to light bulbs! If you'd like discover what this is then email energy@gb.abb.com and leave your address details and I'll send one to you. Happy calculating!

A low carbon economy we all have to pay for

2010-09-16T09:18:00.001+01:00

A recent study by the Carbon Trust suggests that most financial heads of the largest UK companies anticipate that all organisations regardless of size will have to measure their carbon footprint (72%) and pay a price for the carbon they emit (76%). A total of 40% expect this to happen within the next decade, whilst 16% believe this will happen within the next five years.

Larger UK companies are already beginning to feel the effects of the switchover to a low carbon economy with the introduction of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme. However, as the economy begins to clean up its act, smaller companies will inevitably begin to feel the burden of green legislation in a bid to make further carbon reductions.

For organisations willing to invest in energy saving technology such as variable speed drives and high efficiency motors, the Carbon Trust offer interest free loans, meaning that you can reduce your energy costs without the burden of capital expenditure. Through the savings you achieve as a result of investing in energy saving equipment, you can pay back the Carbon Trust loans, once the loan is paid back, capital costs will fall helping anybody that invests, to boost their competiveness.

So, is their any reason not to invest?

Increase your businesses competitiveness through better environmental performance

2010-08-11T10:27:00.000+01:00

David Kennedy, the chief executive of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has came forward and said that the UK needs to do more to meet its climate change agreements. At present, the UK will comply with its first five years of carbon budgeting, but this is only as a result of the recession.

While greenhouse gases have fallen by 8.6% in the last year, only a small proportion can be put down to measures addressing climate change, organisations are still not doing enough to meet the government’s climate change commitments. However, new legislation in the shape of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is now in place and businesses will have to start making an effort to reduce their CO2 output or face financial penalties for failing to act.

The new directive only effects larger organisations, so those below the threshold (6000MWh/yr) don’t have to make any investment. However, reducing energy consumption means reduced energy bills and lower CO2 output, so it is in the interest of all businesses regardless of size to invest. For smaller organisations (who spend less than £100,000 per year on energy) the Carbon Trust offers interest-free loans to help make investment more affordable. The loans are paid back through the savings achieved meaning that businesses can effectively get new, reliable, efficient equipment for FREE.

Small businesses need to take advantage of the Carbon Trust loans as a way of reducing their energy costs. By reducing fixed costs (energy costs) through the adoption of energy saving equipment, organisations will automatically become more competitive, which could make all the difference in the current climate.

What energy saving methods do you think are best for improving competitiveness?

Turn off 4,500 lights or switch on one variable speed drive…. Which would you prefer?

2010-07-21T09:56:00.002+01:00

Here we go again. The Independent on Sunday (18th July 2010) has just written a lead news item with the headline: UK’s emissions could be cut at the flick of a switch. Why do I know what’s coming? Yet another article applauding the concept that switching off the lights will save the planet. Don’t get me wrong. Anything that reduces CO2 emissions is a good thing. And when you consider the eye-watering statistics revealed by the article (“...turning electrical appliances off at the mains and installing energy-efficient light bulbs could slash the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions by about 40 megatonnes a year*”) I am definitely a supporter of the lights-off concept.

But there is just as compelling a CO2 message that really deserves the big national headlines, yet does not seem to be getting through. Take a look at these statistics: a single 110 kW motor without any form of speed control consumes 770,880 kWh per year when running for 8,760 hours**. This is the same as running 6,111 high efficiency light bulbs. However, if you add a simple variable speed control device to the same motor, the energy consumption falls to 376,189 kWh per year, which is the same as running 2,689 energy saving light bulbs.

Therefore adding ONE variable speed drive to ONE electric motor can be the same as switching off 3,422 low voltage light bulbs. How amazing is that!

So why is it that, of the estimated 10 million electric motor population in the UK, only 5 percent have variable speed drives applied? There really is no logical reason.

These are the typical electric motors found, for example, throughout the water industry. It is only during the last five years that the effect of weather patterns has started to filter down as to the likely impact on the water cycle. And already it is affecting the way water is managed. The more that the water cycle is managed, the more energy intensive it becomes. The more that is pumped the more energy is used. The more sewage removed, the more methane is generated.

As such some 4 to 6% of the world’s greenhouse gases come from the water industry. A typical water company consumes around 270 GWh a year, 80 percent of its usage (over 215 GWh) is from the pumping of water and sewage. And it is in the speed control of pump motors where variable speed drives can have their biggest impact.

These are figures that urgently need to be addressed through energy efficient pumping. So come on Nationals, give some exposure to the big CO2 savers.

*40 megatonnes of CO2 is equivalent to the annual CO2 produced by 7 million houses in the UK.

**ABB has just created a good old traditional slide rule that offers a rule-of-thumb measure of just what you can save by switching a direct-on-line motor to variable speed control. To order a slide rule Click here reference "Energy slide-rule"

ABB energy appraisal - Identify were you can save energy

2010-06-22T11:41:00.002+01:00

With a half-day energy appraisal, an ABB engineer can identify applications were you can reduce energy consumption and lower costs with variable speed drives and high efficiency motors.

Swap scrap drives and motors for ABB drives and motors

2010-06-15T10:10:00.001+01:00

With many organisations having to reduce their overheads and balance the books, reducing energy spend is probably the least disruptive way to save money during financially difficult times.

In order to save energy, organisations generally have to spend money on upgrading installations so they perform in a more efficient manor. These upgrades can be expensive, but over the new installation’s lifetime, the savings can be enormous.

To help make things easier, ABB has launched a swappage scheme, allowing you to swap old drives and motors for new ABB products. The scheme covers drives from 0.12kW to 400kW and motors from 0.75kW to 710kW and gives those wishing to trade in their old equipment a minimum 17.5 percent discount off published list prices on a new ABB replacement.

Help is also available through The Carbon Trust in the guise of interest-free loans and enhanced capital allowances which, if required, can be applied for with the help of ABB’s channel partners located throughout the UK.

Through the savings achieved as a result of investment, organisations can pay back their Carbon Trust loans. With the addition of a minimum 17.5 percent swappage discount, businesses can reap the benefits of reducing energy bills faster then ever before.

For more information on the new ABB Swappage scheme, visit http://www.drives.co.uk/

Knock-knock, who’s there – a Coalition government

2010-06-08T12:37:00.001+01:00

SO, number 10 is now a cosy flat share between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats but what does this mean for manufacturing?

The reality is that only time will tell, but George Osbourne, the new Conservative Chancellor has came out and pointed towards reforming corporation tax, making the UK rate the most competitive in the G20. If this actually happens, it will encourage businesses to set up in the UK and boost the country's manufacturing base; so all in all, an extremely positive start to the new coalition.

The big question is do we have enough electricity to meet the potential increased demand created by new manufacturing - or even enough to meet the demands of our ever increasing population? The new government needs to urgently address the very real problem of lack of capacity in the UK grid - electricity shortages are looming and security of supply is paramount for UK plc. Years of under-investment in our generation capacity will shortly come home to roost.

In the meantime, we must all do our bit to use the electricity we have more efficiently and manufacturers can start by deploying variable speed drives and high efficiency motors. This will not only help preserve our precious electricity supply but will significantly reduce their electricity bills!

Take ownership today to help prevent future shortages and increase your bottom line at the same time - enough said!

Building a Greener Britain – Showing on The Information TV channel

2010-04-22T10:58:00.002+01:00

Remember my brief TV appearance on the Business Channel back at the start of January – well, it didn’t make me a star, but it was an excellent platform to talk about the energy benefits of variable speed drives and how they can help organisations meet their Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme requirements.

Now the powers that be, have decided the programme “Building a Greener Britain”, will be available on the Information TV Channel, 3 times per week, so if you happen to have a little bit of free time, tune in and listen to me explain the benefits of variable speed drives and how they can save organisations across all sectors, huge sums of money.

Watch “Building a Greener Britain” on http://www.thebusinesschannel.tv/workplace/index/abb/

Reducing carbon now can provide energy cost protection after the next election

2010-04-07T10:44:00.002+01:00

According to a recent study by the Carbon Trust, businesses are more concerned over rising energy prices and higher taxes than the latest energy legislation.
Out of 700 businesses, 49 percent said energy price hikes were a cause for concern. One fifth of businesses questioned said changes in government where a worry while 13 percent viewed environmental legislation as a worry.

With the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme now part of legislation since the beginning of April, these findings are somewhat worrying. From April, large non-energy intensive organisations have to measure their energy use and report back their findings with a view to steadily reducing consumption over time.

Businesses need to wake up to the facts. By taking the steps necessary to reduce consumption, energy bills will tumble. The latest energy legislation has been designed to help industry lower energy bills through incentivising them to lower carbon output. Lowering bills will free up money and any change in government, along with potential new laws and taxes that may come in and the costs that they incur will be much easier to deal with if businesses act early and make reducing energy consumption a top priority.

Help is available so take advantage!

2010-02-11T11:16:00.001Z

Theo Paphitis of Dragon Den's fame has been rather busy lately. Whenever I listen to the radio, there he is driving home the Carbon Trust’s message about the Big Business Refit and the interest-free loans that are available from £3,000 to £500,000. You see the Carbon Trust has provided a pot of £100 million in interest-free loans to invest in energy saving equipment such as variable speed drives and motors. However, uptake on the loans has been slow and there is a real danger that the money will be withdrawn as the government struggles to balance the books after the recession. Hence the upsurge in publicity: at least the government can then say it tried.

With the government facing up to the prospect of funding cuts in everything from healthcare to transport in order to plug the ever expanding financial black hole the country finds itself in, it is increasingly likely that it will withdraw funding to the manufacturing industry if they fail to take advantage of what is effectively “free money”.

End-users need to act fast before the loans are withdrawn. The advantages of investing are compelling: improved energy efficiency, lower energy bills, a healthier balance sheet and the fact that the loans are interest-free.

Using an interest-free loan to obtain energy saving equipment, effectively means businesses get the equipment free of charge, its cost being paid for out of the savings achieved through reduced energy bills. For some this could play a crucial part in survival.

So why wait? Applying for a loan is straight forward. Loans are unsecured ranging from £3,000 up to £500,000 at 0% interest, with payback periods typically under 18 months.

Apply for an interest free loan here

Why do you think organisations are not taking advantage of the loans?

The ABB Drives Alliance - celebrating 10 years of first class service

2010-02-01T11:54:00.009Z

Last week I had the honour to host the 10th anniversary to celebrate the founding of our ABB Drives Alliance. This group of 12 channel partners set out in 2000 to completely revolutionise the way variable speed drives are bought in the UK. The focus then, as is now, is on three areas: the supply of world class products; the best customer service and lifecycle support in the industry; and a determination to reduce the energy and CO2 bills of customers, wherever they are in the UK. Since 2000 the alliance has sold over £60 million worth of drives and saved an estimated 5,781,553 tonnes of CO2. Here are some more interesting facts. If the ABB Drives Alliance was a manufacturer, it would be the third largest drives supplier in the UK, being at least twice the size of the majority of drive manufacturers UK sales. So from humble beginnings we now have an extremely powerful and unrivalled partner network. Click here to watch our new video which describes the power of the ABB Drives Alliance.

Building a Greener Britain

2010-01-18T10:36:00.001Z

My fifteen minutes of fame are now in the past! Recently I had the opportunity to talk to the business channel about variable speed drives and how they can help companies significantly reducing energy costs, whilst meeting their CRC (Carbon Reduction Commitment) Energy Efficiency Scheme requirements.

OK, so nobody is going to recognise me in the street and its not the start of a fledgling Hollywood movie career, but it was a great opportunity to get in front of the cameras and let the world know how variable speed drives can save businesses massive amounts of money across every sector.

If you listen closely, you may recognise the voice of the man who interviews me. Can you guess what TV programme his voice is from?

The Copenhagen summit, probably the most important meeting in the world

2010-01-11T10:55:00.003Z

With delegates from 192 countries coming together in Copenhagen for the recent UN climate change summit, has anything actually changed? Not really, as ever the outcome has been ambiguous and non-committal.

However, responsibility for pollution does not rest solely with those countries that attended the summit, it is also up to individuals within each state to do their bit.

It is within our current capabilities to reduce pollution and with or without an agreement at Copenhagen, it is important that industry realises its responsibility to reduce its impact on the surrounding environment.

Companies that invest in energy saving equipment and do their bit will benefit from lower energy bills, reduced CO2 output as well as good publicity from acting in a responsible manner. So it really shouldn’t matter if an agreement was reached or not. The incentive is still there to reduce energy consumption.

What is your opinion on the recent UN climate change summit?

Any new ideas on how to promote variable speed drives?

2009-12-07T17:39:00.003Z

I have just finished filming a TV programme for The Business Channel called "Greener Britain" - due to be broadcast in the early part of next year. Don't worry I will let you all know in good time - it's bound to be on at about 0300am on a Sunday morning on BBC Freeview, but hey let's take any opportunity we can to show British business just what energy saving technologies can do.

So, there I was waxing lyrically about the virtues of variable speed drives, when I played my master stroke and produced an actual drive. Product placement on the BBC, I thought, could this be a first? The interview stuttered to a halt. The presenter, the director and even the cameraman all looked perplexed at the magic box of electronics that I had produced. Not because of my blatant product placement, just that the genius that is a drive was as dull as a grey box.

I am not sure what they were expecting but it was a rude reminder, yet again, that despite the 40 years that drives have been on planet earth, there are so many people out there who still don't get the power of this product. And I don't just mean the lay-persons.

Despite our best efforts we are still seeing industrial companies arguing the merits of changing electricity suppliers as the best way to reduce energy costs. Yet the cost savings achieved by doing this are miniscule.

The key to reducing costs is to reduce your consumption in the first place. I shared with The Business Channel some of the success stories stretching back to 2002 when the Queen's bank, Coutts, invested in drives and saved a staggering £70,000 per year in energy costs on its ventilation system, reducing its bill by an amazing 90 per cent. The arguments are compelling. This really is FREE MONEY.

So what are we doing wrong? What more could and should we be doing to get UK business to wake up to what is probably the best energy-saving technology the world has ever produced? Let me have your suggestions by replying to this post. The best suggestion can have the drive that is about to become a star in the "Greener Britain" programme.

New efficiency categories for motors

2009-11-24T22:28:00.003Z

New international standards for measuring and categorising efficiency of low voltage motors are now in place. Out go European efficiency categories Eff1, Eff2 and Eff3. In come IE3, IE2 and IE1. In the future, we may even see a new breed of super-efficient motors, IE4. The new testing standard and classification system will make for a fairer, more accurate comparison between motors and provides a level playing field for motor manufacturers.

There are 11 million motors in the UK alone, many of them with very long running hours. The average electric motor has a service life of 14 years but it will consume its capital cost in energy in around one month.

Typically, a motor costing £500 can consume over £50,000 worth of energy in its lifetime. Yet, for various short-sighted reasons, many motors are selected on the basis of purchase cost alone, rather than life cycle cost, which is why mandatory efficiency levels are now being introduced.

The first phase of the scheme is due to come into force in 2011 and will require all single speed, three-phase induction motors with output ratings from 0.75 to 375kW to achieve at least the IE2 efficiency level.

The second phase begins in 2015 and will see all new motors rated from 0.75 to 375kW, legally required to meet the IE3 efficiency level or meet the IE2 level whilst being equipped with a variable speed drive

Finally, the same regulations will be rolled out to all motors from 750W upwards in 2017.

The legislation will lead to annual energy savings across the EU of about 135 TWh by 2020, roughly equivalent to two-fifths of the UK’s annual electricity consumption.

Interest-free loans for everyone.....well almost

2009-11-19T12:56:00.013Z

Great news from the Carbon Trust. In further recognition of the amazing energy saving and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduction possible by using variable speed drives (VSDs) and high efficiency motors, The Trust has launched its equipment scrappage scheme, named the Big Business Refit.

The scheme provides small and medium businesses (SMEs) with £100m in interest-free funding to replace old equipment with new energy efficient upgrades. It recognises that over half (52%) of British businesses do not have the cast to upgrade old, inefficient equipment. The Carbon Trust is now experiencing a 250% surge in enquiries about the loans, as more businesses become aware of the opportunities to cut their energy bills by scrapping old VSDs and motors.

I also fell upon another interest-free loan cash pile recently. The government in partnership with Salix Finance and the Carbon Trust will provide £51.5 million in interest free loans to help public sector organisations take advantage of energy efficiency technology.

So, as I said, great news for SMEs: interest free loans from £3,000 to £400,000 with no stings attached. And great news for public sector organisations too.

But wait a minute! What about the big businesses wedge between these two groups? What about the supermarkets, hotels, leisure centers and even my own organisation, ABB which are now being targeted by the governments Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme?

You see, if you are one of the 5,000 business and public sector organisations consuming 6,000 MWhr per annum on a half-hourly meter, then you will be aware of the pressure on you to record your energy use, report it and then wait for the a bill so you can buy carbon credits at £12 per tonne, as well as the opportunity to appear in a green league table.

While getting your recording and reporting infrastructure in place is critical, it is also proving resource intensive for many organisations. But that is just the start. To ensure your green reputation remains in tact and you secure a favorable place in the government's league table, you have to then find ways to reduce energy.

Clearly, as the government has acknowledged with its Big Business Refit, drives and motors are the way forward.

By adjusting the speed of a fan or pump motor to precisely meet the demand, a VSD can achieve greater than 50% reduction in an energy bill for a motor driven load. Based on these figures alone, a VSD often can pay for itself in less than 12 months.

So why not extend the interest-free loans concept across the board, so we can all benefit and help the government reach its CO2 targets that much quicker? Given that the government willingly bailed out the banks, then it would be relatively small change to offer interest-free loans to large businesses especially when the payback helps the government in its quest to reduce CO2 by 80% of the 1990 levels by 2050.

We could all do with a little help in harder times, but what do you think needs to be done to help industry within the UK?

Vary the speed of your pumps and fans and save the planet (while reducing your bills)

2009-11-18T16:59:00.006Z

With the introduction of the CRC Energy efficiency scheme (formerly known as the Carbon Reduction Commitment), organisations are looking at ways to record, analyse and report their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

However, it is important that they do not lose sight of the ultimate goal of CO2 reduction. Installing variable speed drives (VSD) is one of the greatest ways to save money within buildings, particularly when installed into HVAC systems.

A VSD is an electronic device that adjusts the speed of an electric motor driving a fan or pump, thereby ensuring that the flow meets demand at any moment in time. By matching the speed of the motor to the installation, it is possible to save up to 60% on electricity bills, with payback as short as six months.

In order to help businesses adapt to the new legislation, ABB has produced a 6-step CRC Energy Efficiency plan which includes details on its free energy appraisal, aimed at identifying which fans and pumps could benefit from VSD control.