BEAMA

6 January 2010

The UK Government’s commitment to move to a low carbon economy will have a profound impact on all aspects of our society, and industry is already seeing this reflected in substantial changes in markets and legislation.

BEAMA, the association for the electro-technical sector, is acutely aware that standing still is not an option. We believe a proactive approach acknowledging the opportunities - andchallenges - of moving towards a low carbon economy, is the best way for UK manufacturers to ensure they are part of the future.

Manufacturers of electro-technical technologies also have a major role to play right now if Government is going to meet its shorter-term carbon budgets. BEAMA has established its own Steering Committee on Low Carbon Solutions, which has produced papers detailing the carbon savings that can be delivered by specific members’ products.

The focus is on existing, available, technologies with a significant carbon saving potential, but which currently represent missed opportunities for carbon savings due to market and infrastructural barriers. The papers identify the key barriers and propose how Government and industry can overcome them. The six technologies presently covered (as below) represent a potential missed opportunity of 11 million tonnes of CO2 per annum - equivalent to around 2% of total UK emissions.

Heating control upgrades in existing houses can address the 70% of homes that don’t have the minimum level of controls required for new heating systems. Savings of 17-23% per home are possible.

Power factor correction can address poor power factors in commercial and industrial buildings, meaning that more electricity is required to achieve the same task. Case studies show returns on investment of less than one year.

Lighting controls for residential buildings can automatically switch off lights in unoccupied rooms and reduce excessive lighting levels. Such technology has long formed a major element of US energy regulations in many states, yet is rarely applied in the UK.

Lighting controls for commercial buildings can automatically turn off lights when sufficient daylight is available, or when rooms are unoccupied, and restrict lighting levels to what is required for a task. Studies indicate potential savings of 30% of lighting energy from occupancy sensors alone.

Energy efficient distribution transformers deliver small increases in efficiency, but result in substantial lifetime carbon saving since they run ‘24/7’ with an expected lifetime of 25 years. Estimates suggest transformers currently account for 25% of total UK network losses.

Heating system cleaning and protection has been shown in tests to restore the efficiency of ‘wet’ heating systems by up to 15%. It is estimated that 40% of the 20 million UK homes with such heating systems would benefit from this technology.

The barriers to a greater adoption of these and other technologies, and hence the solutions required, are diverse and specific. However, we have identified common themes representing key areas where activity needs to focus:

• Need for better awareness of existing, available, technologies delivering carbon savings. Industry has an important role in helping policymakers understand the part that particular technologies can play and to substantiate the potential carbon savings and economic benefits for the UK from these technologies. Extending this role could ensure consumers, installers, regulators etc have sufficient information to deliver in practice. Government can also raise awareness by ensuring that technologies are included in formal statements on energy saving technologies, with clear validation of the benefits; that they are built into appropriate policies and targets.
• Need to consider improved calculation tools for building energy performance. SAP (for domestic) and SBEM (for commercial) are key tools underlying many Government policy instruments for reducing carbon emissions. These have been adequate for traditional solutions. However, there is a need to fundamentally review their suitability to assess the carbon impact of more complex systems where controls and communications play a key role, and where the interoperability of different technologies will require detailed assessment.
• Need to ensure a coherent policy framework to strategically overcome specific barriers. For instance, for certain technologies ‘split incentives’ apply; when the person deciding on capital expenditure is not the one who will benefit from lower energy bills. Also, it is essential that opportunities for proven savings are not missed in new buildings or at times of refurbishment – particularly for more opportune or cost-effective measures.

BEAMA believes these elements are key to realising the benefits of such technologies through a true partnership between Government and industry. The scale of the carbon targets facing Government, and the fundamental market changes industry will experience, mean both parties would benefit from a partnership built on mutual trust and support. A partnership providing the opportunity to reflect and plan for a strategic approach - and working together to deliver solutions.