Will battery storage soon surpass solar?

David Sheldrake, CRO, POWWR

For more than a decade, solar energy has dominated the UK public sector’s clean‑energy conversation. Supported by early subsidies, falling costs, and rising concern over climate change, rooftop solar panels have become a visible symbol of decarbonisation.

However, a quieter but potentially more game-changing eco technology is now emerging. Battery storage is moving rapidly from a niche add‑on to a standalone energy investment that could reshape how the public sector consumes, stores, and interacts with electricity.

As energy price volatility persists, grid constraints tighten, and desire for greater control over bills and resilience, I see no reason for this trend to show any signs of slowing.

Batteries are uniquely positioned

The UK grid is under mounting pressure. Electricity demand is rapidly increasing as transport and heating goes electric, and a whole host of super-sized data centres to power the transition to artificial intelligence come online. At the same time, the generation mix is becoming increasingly dependent on variable renewables. In fact, over the past year, approximately 40% of the UK’s energy came from renewable sources.

Because of this, pricing models are shifting. While most public sector organisations remain on flat‑rate tariffs, flexible time‑of‑use (ToU) pricing are becoming more popular, buoyed by enhanced smart meter rollout and Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS).

This matters because flexibility – rather than generation alone – is set to become one of the most valuable assets of our energy ecosystem. Batteries are uniquely positioned to monetise that flexibility.

An accelerating trend

A battery storage system allows public sector organisations to buy electricity when it is cheap and use or export it when it is expensive. This price arbitrage is increasingly attractive as peak‑to‑off‑peak spreads widen.

Crucially, batteries do not require solar panels to be economically viable. Battery‑only installations can charge overnight on low‑cost tariffs and discharge during the evening peak. This is a critical distinction from solar, which depends on roof suitability, export conditions, and the sun to shine.

Modern lithium‑ion batteries are accelerating the trend. They are compact, wall‑mounted, and increasingly standardised. Installers report that battery‑only systems can often be deployed faster and with fewer planning constraints than rooftop solar.

Batteries vs solar

Solar remains highly effective where conditions allow, but it faces structural limitations. Less than one in twenty UK buildings currently have solar, and uptake is heavily skewed toward the South of England.

Batteries, by contrast, are viable in shared occupancy offices, shaded buildings, and other areas where solar is impractical. They also align more directly with how UK electricity is priced, rather than how it is generated.

UK adoption of battery systems is accelerating quickly. Monthly MCS‑certified battery installations rose from dozens per month in 2022 to over 1,000 per month in 2024, signalling a shift from early adopters to mass‑market uptake.

Aggregated battery storage through virtual power plants

The system‑level implications of the move to battery storage are significant. Even modest adoption (say 20% of UK public and private sector businesses installing batteries) would represent several gigawatts of highly responsive, distributed capacity.

Through virtual power plants (VPPs), we are seeing citizen batteries already being aggregated to provide grid services such as peak shaving and reserve capacity. Platforms operated by Octopus Energy, SolarEdge, Kraken, and others are all integrating thousands of domestic batteries into flexibility markets.

And not a moment too soon. Recent policy analysis suggests the UK will require 23–27 GW of battery storage by 2030 to maintain stability, with 10–15 GW expected to come from behind‑the‑meter assets.

The importance of brand recognition

Brand recognition is accelerating adoption. Tesla’s Powerwall is helping normalise battery storage as a mainstream technology. This is only set to accelerate. In March Tesla received Ofgem approval to supply electricity directly in Great Britain, signalling deeper integration between batteries, tariffs, and grid services.

This visibility drives education. Not only among end users, but across installers, suppliers, and regulators alike. Lowering friction across the value chain.

A shift in focus

Battery storage is emerging as one of the most important developments in the UK energy market for years. While solar will remain a cornerstone of decarbonisation, the future of the UK grid may ultimately be defined not by how electricity is generated, but by how intelligently it is stored, shifted, and deployed.

As we all start to shift focus from energy generation to energy management, storage becomes the logical focal point. In many cases, solar may evolve into an optional add‑on to a battery‑first strategy, rather than the other way round.

www.powwr.com

This article appeared in the May 2026 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.

The energy is renewable, but is the infrastructure?

Professor Fiona Charnley, Professor of circular innovation at the University of Exeter and researcher at the ReMake Value Retention Centre (RVRC).

The UK’s renewable energy transition is often judged by the number of projects delivered, yet its long‑term success hinges on something far less visible – whether the technologies we deploy are capable of retaining value throughout their life cycles, or whether they shed it, ultimately adding to the waste burden we are trying to reduce.

Circularity should be understood not simply as a waste management challenge, but as an industrial strategy that will shape the resilience, cost‑effectiveness and competitiveness of the UK’s future energy system. Many high‑value sectors, including the aerospace and automotive industries, already demonstrate what this looks like in practice, with circularity embedded in how products are designed, built and maintained.

Renewable energy technologies, however, have yet to make this shift.

Solar power for example, is central to the UK’s net‑zero ambitions and its contribution to the energy mix has rapidly expanded over the past two decades, yet the end‑of‑life pathway for solar panels remains underdeveloped. Disassembly is complex, material recovery is limited, and the UK currently lacks the dedicated infrastructure needed to manage the growing volumes of panels approaching retirement. Globally, solar photovoltaic (PV) waste could exceed 200 million tonnes by 2050 and without change, valuable materials such as silver and silicon risk being lost, shifting the environmental burden from carbon emissions to waste accumulation.[1]

Alongside this, the UK imports most of the materials required for renewable energy technologies, creating a growing dependence on a diverse range of critical resources to support decarbonisation. This reliance exposes the sector to volatile global supply chains, only for many of these materials to eventually become waste. A circular economy approach can strengthen resilience and security by keeping these valuable resources in use for longer.

The solution to these issues therefore begins at the design stage.

Decisions made early in product development determine whether a technology can be repaired, upgraded or remanufactured efficiently, with industries such as aerospace and construction equipment already showing what is possible by remanufacturing components through multiple life cycles.

Applying these principles to solar and other renewable technologies would result in products that are easier to maintain, simpler to recover and significantly more valuable at end of life. Beyond reducing emissions and resource extraction, remanufacturing also strengthens supply chains and creates skilled employment, opening new revenue streams for UK businesses in the energy sector.

However, no single organisation can deliver this shift to circularity alone. Many companies face economic pressures that limit their capacity for long‑term research and development, making collaboration essential. Initiatives such as the ReMake Value Retention Centre (RVRC) led by the National Manufacturing institute Scotland (NMIS) brings together industry, academia and policymakers across high-integrity sectors, supporting businesses to share expertise, test new approaches and reduce the risks associated with innovation. These collaborations are critical for turning circular principles into practical, scalable solutions.

To accelerate progress, companies will need to collaborate more closely across the value chain and invest in digital tools that enhance traceability and maintenance. Developing skills, strengthening workforce training, and adopting new business models will be just as critical as developing technology. Sector stakeholders also have an essential role to play. By setting clear expectations early and supporting circular innovation. Whether through investors encouraging manufacturers to design products for disassembly and reuse, or policymakers funding research into remanufacturing, they can help create the conditions needed for lasting change.

The circular economy is no longer a niche sustainability concept. Instead, it is a strategic approach to building the next generation of renewable infrastructure. Solar PV for example, will be indispensable for decarbonising our energy generation, but without circularity, the industry risks creating a new environmental and economic challenge.

The opportunity now is to design renewable energy technologies that are themselves renewable. We need to consider circularity to make sure those technologies last, retain value, and can be reintegrated into the system – building an energy system that is resilient, resource‑efficient and fit for the decades ahead.

Frame, NMIS@framecreates.co.uk, 0141 559 5840 www.nmis.scot

[1] Circular Solar: The opportunities for increased circularity in the Solar PV industry

This article appeared in the May 2026 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.

Water Bill Validation for Businesses

vecteezy_faucet-in-modern-kitchen-sink-professional_42705604 — Faucet Stock photos by Vecteezy

Stop Overpaying on Your Water Bills and Improve Efficiency

Most UK businesses pay more than they need for water. At H2O Building Services, we specialise in Water Bill Validation to help businesses recover overpayments, reduce ongoing costs, and optimise water efficiency.

🔍 What is Water Bill Validation?

Water Bill Validation is a detailed audit of your water invoices, ensuring your business only pays for the water you actually use. Our team identifies errors, incorrect charges, and inefficiencies so your business can save money and plan budgets more effectively.

Key Checks Include:

✅ Meter reading accuracy
✅ Correct tariff and rate application
✅ Historical consumption trends
✅ Duplicate or misapplied charges
✅ Regulatory compliance and allowances

⚠️ Common Reasons Businesses Overpay

Even well-managed businesses often face overbilling due to:

Estimated or incorrect meter readings
Incorrect tariff classification
Duplicate or hidden charges
Billing system errors
Unclaimed allowances or reliefs

💰 Many businesses are losing hundreds to thousands of pounds annually without realising it.

🛠 How H2O Building Services Helps

Our Water Bill Validation Service includes:

Comprehensive Bill Audit – Examine your past invoices for errors.
Error Identification – Spot overcharges, duplicates, and misapplied tariffs.
Overpayment Recovery – Recover historic overpayments from suppliers.
Ongoing Validation – Monitor future bills to prevent overbilling.
Efficiency Advice – Recommendations to reduce water usage and operational costs.

💡 Business Benefits

Immediate Cost Savings – Recover money you’ve overpaid.
Lower Future Bills – Ensure billing accuracy going forward.
Improved Cash Flow – Reduced operational expenses.
Actionable Insights – Understand water usage trends and inefficiencies.
Compliance & Risk Reduction – Stay aligned with regulatory requirements.

🏢 Who Can Benefit?

We work with businesses across industries:

Manufacturing & Industrial
Hospitality & Leisure
Retail & Offices
Healthcare & Education
Property Management

🚀 Take Action Today

Stop wasting money on inaccurate water bills. Let H2O Building Services help your business:

Validate current bills
Recover past overpayments
Reduce future water costs

📞 Get Your FREE Water Bill Validation Now
Visit h2obuildingservices.co.uk or call 08456580948

This article appeared in the May 2026 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.

Why does Britain have water shortages when it rains all the time?

During Water Saving Week 2026 we asked a water expert – why the UK can’t just store winter rain for summer?

After one of the wettest starts to the year in many parts of the UK, households and businesses may be wondering: if it’s raining this much, why are we still being encouraged to save water? And why can’t we just save it to use when we need it?

According to water experts, the answer isn’t as simple as “just store it and use it later”. Oli Shelley, Director of Water Efficiency Services at national water retailer, Wave, explains why Britain’s rainy reputation doesn’t automatically protect us from summer shortages.

“People understandably are looking outside at the continuous rain and thinking, ‘Surely we’ve got plenty,’” says Shelley. “But rainfall and usable water aren’t the same thing. The UK doesn’t actually have a rainfall problem overall. What we have is a storage, treatment and distribution challenge. The rain doesn’t always fall where demand is highest, we don’t have unlimited capacity to capture and hold it, and it must still be treated and made safe to drink before reaching our taps.”

While western parts of the UK receive high levels of rainfall, the South East – where millions of people live – is much drier. Much of the drinking water in these areas doesn’t come from reservoirs at all, but from underground.

“In places like London and the South East, a large share of our water comes from groundwater,” explains Shelley. “That’s rainwater that has slowly filtered down through soil and rock and is stored beneath our feet. In this part of the country, the rock is mainly chalk, which acts like a natural sponge. It looks solid, but it’s full of tiny cracks and spaces that hold water.”

For those underground stores to refill properly, they need steady winter rainfall.

“When rain falls slowly over weeks and months, it has time to soak in and recharge those underground supplies,” says Shelley. “But when we get short, heavy downpours, much of that water runs straight into rivers and out to sea instead of soaking into the ground. That means a very wet week doesn’t automatically translate into secure summer supplies.”

Many of the UK’s major reservoirs were constructed in the mid-20th century, with very few large-scale projects added in recent decades.

“Building new reservoirs takes years of planning, significant investment and careful environmental assessment,” says Shelley. “It’s not something that can be done quickly in response to one dry summer.”

Experts say the issue is less about how much rain falls annually and more about how it falls. “We’re seeing wetter winters but also hotter, drier summers,” says Shelley. “When rain comes in short, intense bursts, more of it runs straight into rivers and out to sea before it can be stored.”

According to Shelly, small behavioural changes still make a difference, especially in water-stressed regions. “Simple steps like fixing leaks, taking shorter showers and using water-efficient appliances help protect supplies in peak summer demand. Water resilience isn’t just about infrastructure, although that’s it increasingly important, it’s about using what we have wisely.”

Why electrification without optimisation is becoming the new bottleneck

Ian Rose, Sales & Strategy Director at Passiv UK

With the Future Homes Standard now formally announced, the UK has taken a decisive step toward electrified heating in all new homes. Heat pumps will become the norm, and this is a significant milestone in decarbonising housing – but are we optimising these systems to work intelligently within the wider energy network?

The government is getting increasingly serious about building a connected energy system, one that works better for everyone.

Recent initiatives, including the Energy Digitalisation Framework, and the Clean Power Action Plan, set a clear direction of travel, a more data-driven, interoperable and lower-carbon electricity system by 2030.

At the same time, the UK now has several important policies in place for homes: the Future Homes Standard for new builds, the Warm Homes policy for existing housing, and emerging governance around Smart Secure and Interoperable Energy Smart Appliances (SSES). Taken together, these frameworks provide the foundations for a modern, flexible energy system.

The question is no longer whether the policy exists, but whether it is aligned around the technology needed to make it work.

The UK has spent the last decade focusing on fabric-first improvements – better insulation, better glazing, better walls. That approach made sense when reducing heat loss was the primary challenge, but the system has moved on.

Electrification without optimisation is becoming the new bottleneck. As homes shift to electric heating and transport, the challenge is no longer just how much energy we use, but when and how we use it. We now need both approaches: fabric-first to reduce demand, and smart-first to manage it. At present, only one is consistently mandated.

Electricity demand is rising as households adopt electric vehicles, heat pumps and other low-carbon technologies. At the same time, more of our generation is coming from intermittent renewables such as wind and solar. This combination creates a new challenge: matching supply and demand in real time without overloading the grid. Without a more flexible and intelligent system, we risk inefficiencies, higher system costs and potential strain on infrastructure during peak periods.

Heat pumps are central to the UK’s decarbonisation pathway and, under the Future Homes Standard, will be required in new builds. But it stops short of mandating smart energy-management controls specifically for heat pump optimisation. Without optimisation, heat pumps behave as static electrical loads added to an already constrained grid. With smart controls, they become flexible assets capable of shifting demand in time without affecting comfort.

One of the most promising ways to address this gap is through Demand Side Response (DSR) and wider demand flexibility services. These allow electricity use to be adjusted temporarily to help balance the grid, while unlocking savings for consumers. Demand flexibility is not new. Grid operators have used it for decades at an industrial scale. What is changing is the opportunity to extend it into homes at scale.

Ofgem estimates that up to 60GW of flexibility from low-carbon technologies will be required by 2050. Achieving this will depend on automating high-power household assets such as heating systems.

The solution already exists in the market. Smart controls, such as the Passiv Smart Thermostat, can automatically respond to signals from the energy system. They reduce or shift demand when the grid is under pressure, while using preheating strategies to maintain comfort in the home. This turns flexibility into something invisible for the user, but valuable for the system.

As heating systems evolve, households are shifting from passive consumers to active participants in the energy system – often described as ‘prosumers’. This creates new opportunities for households to benefit financially from flexibility, particularly through time-of-use tariffs and carbon-aware optimisation. These smart controls can do exactly that.

The UK now has the building blocks of a low-carbon, smart and flexible energy system, but the challenge is alignment. If the Future Homes Standard, Warm Homes policy and SSES framework were more tightly aligned around smart controls and automated optimisation, the impact would be significant: heat pumps would be flexible from day one, households would save energy automatically, and the grid would be better able to absorb renewable energy.

The UK’s energy transition is no longer just about building cleaner homes or installing cleaner technologies. It is about using energy more intelligently. Smart controls and automated flexibility are not a future concept – they are the missing layer that allows today’s policies and technologies to work together effectively.

This article appeared in the May 2026 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.

Powerful partnerships for energy security in the public sector

Adriana Ziemianek, energy and carbon analyst Salix

The recent global energy shock from rising oil and gas prices has certainly placed a recent emphasis and a greater appetite for self-sufficiency and energy sovereignty. Since electricity is priced through the wholesale market, it is closely linked to fluctuations and therefore prone to absorbing impact from the spike in gas prices. This creates a challenging environment for the UK – particularly as decarbonisation targets must be met to achieve the national net zero goal by 2050.

The UK Government predicts that a sizeable portion contributing to this transition will be attributed to 70% of electricity being generated from renewable sources by 2030. For public sector buildings, where energy demand is high as well as being an unavoidable operational cost, the need for renewable energy generating assets is a crucial necessity.

At Salix, we are working with public sector organisations across the UK to support them in the energy transition and we’re pleased to be working with governments to achieve this. My job is to monitor data and help drive progress alongside a dynamic team.

In the UK, efforts to improve energy security and expand renewable generation have led to increased funding for technologies such as solar PV, while also improving access to these systems for public sector organisations.

Earlier this year, the Scottish Government announced a funding boost of up to £2 million for solar PV projects. At Salix we have been able to allocate the funds to public sector clients who applied for the Scotland Solar Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme.

This has enabled successful applicants to install their solar PV and improve their resilience by importing less electricity from the grid through increased on-site generation. In doing so, these buildings are better positioned to manage their exposure to volatile energy prices and take greater control over their long-term energy supply.

While many public sector buildings often utilise their large rooftops to support a sufficient PV array, organisations with larger estates such as universities may have the spatial capacity to invest in ground-mounted solar farms and distribute their own generated electricity to multiple buildings locally through a private wire network. In the past, at Salix we have supported projects focusing on maximising self-consumption across the site, such as Neath Port Talbot Council’s campus-style microgrid between its Service Response Centre and nearby Salt Barn in Wales. This approach to installing renewable sources of energy can provide many benefits. Public sector buildings on the same site with a more integrated, locally controlled energy system can not only include sites where roof-mounted solar PV is not feasible but also be able to avoid network constraints as grid connection capacity becomes a growing issue and poses a risk to energy security.

However, energy sovereignty is not just about generating electricity – it is also important to be able to use it when it is needed. Some sites might find that the annual generation yield may sometimes be greater than the building’s energy demand. In these cases, battery storage becomes essential in optimising the system so that electricity can be stored and used later rather than be exported back to the grid or not used and lost locally on-site.

Through Scotland’s Recycling Fund, Salix has supported the University of St Andrews with the funding for a battery storage system to minimise imported energy for their 1MW solar farm. While the benefits of installing this technology are impactful, the capital cost of storage technologies can pose a barrier to integrating storage facilities within the system. This is a challenge the public sector must meet.

This is where partnership-led funding models become appealing, enabling the public sector to install solar PV and battery storage through using a blended finance approach.

In recent months, we have collaborated with Welsh Government and Welsh Government Energy Service (WGES) to deliver a joint loan and grant scheme as part of the Ymestyn programme to fund solar PV and battery storage. This is in collaboration with Great British Energy. This partnership has allowed up to £9 million offunding to be allocated to Welsh public sector bodies. For example, it has focused on funding renewable energy projects for various primary schools including 13 Newport City Council schools. The application process was streamlined to allow applicants to gain approval and access different funding streams for the installation of their solar PV and battery storage for quicker approval.

From the joint loan and grant programme of Ymestyn and the Wales Funding Programme (WFP), public sector applicants were able to maximise their funding profile and spend to strengthen the energy security of their assets and invest in their net zero strategy across their estate. It means that similar partnerships can function as an enabler in achieving energy security across the public sector more efficiently by granting access to finance to lessen the burden of up-front costs.

Energy sovereignty is therefore not a siloed function achieved solely through the installation of one technology. Within the public sector, partnerships can play an important enabling role in the improved financial accessibility to renewable technologies as well as better system optimisation. When applied effectively, this enables solar PV, battery storage and private wire networks to be more likely to deliver their full value when they are supported by funding and delivery methods that make renewable project installation pathways sustainable in achieving long-term energy security.

At Salix, we work every day alongside public sector and housing organisations across the UK to tackle pressing energy challenges. While complex, real progress is being made and it’s driven by collaboration, shared innovation and a clear, ambitious vision for the future.

www.salixfinance.co.uk

This article appeared in the May 2026 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.

Beyond monitoring: Why energy strategy needs a digital rethink

Executive Summary:
Many estates teams still manage energy reactively through manual processes, even as rising financial, operational and sustainability pressures demand smarter, faster decision‑making. Platforms like E.ON Optimum provide the clarity and connected insight estates need by turning complex data into actionable intelligence across multiple sites. This gives teams the confidence to focus resources effectively and maintain critical operations. With the right digital tools, energy becomes something organisations can proactively shape, enabling earlier detection, smarter management and a more resilient future.

For many estates teams, energy management still means spreadsheets, static PDFs and monthly bill checks – important but largely reactive tasks. As pressure on public and commercial estates increases, organisations need to act faster to control costs. Energy now underpins wider priorities such as financial stability, operational resilience and sustainability. Despite this, many teams still lack a clear link between energy use and these broader outcomes.

This gap isn’t due to a lack of effort. Most estates teams are juggling ageing infrastructure, limited resources and competing expectations. They’re asked to reduce costs, cut carbon and provide clearer insights with less time. As a result, energy often becomes a background task: important but not urgent until something goes wrong.

Driven by the rapid digital transformation, a new mindset is taking shape across the sector. Energy is increasingly viewed not just as an overhead, but as a strategic operational asset, one that can unlock resilience, efficiency and measurable value when supported by advanced analytics and modern technology. In certain cases, energy can even become a revenue stream for businesses.

Organisations are beginning to recognise that the way energy behaves across an estate can reveal much more than consumption trends. It can uncover failing equipment before it breaks. It can highlight inefficiencies invisible to the human eye. It can show where budgets will come under pressure months before invoices arrive. And when managed proactively, it can even unlock breathing room for teams who are stretched thin.

To do this, estates need more than data. They need clarity and connection – the ability to join the dots between systems, sites and outcomes. This is where digital platforms like E.ON Optimum are shifting expectations. Rather than simply showing usage, they make energy understandable, comparable and actionable across entire estates. They reshape data into insight by combining energy data with business indicators to provide context and help turn insights into actionable decisions with measurable outcomes.

Most importantly, they bring confidence. For a local authority managing dozens of ageing buildings, confidence means knowing where to focus limited resources. For a logistics operator, it means preventing energy related interruptions that impact throughput. For a healthcare or emergency services estate, it means ensuring critical environments stay operational, efficient and cost controlled. But what could it mean for your business? Are there metrics that would provide context for your energy data?

Energy will always be complex. But with the right digital intelligence, it becomes something that organisations can shape and benefit from, not just respond to. As estates face increasing uncertainty, the real opportunity lies not in monitoring more closely, but in managing smarter, detecting earlier and actioning with clearer purpose.

Platforms like Optimum aren’t just improving energy visibility; they’re enabling a more resilient, more strategic future for businesses like yours.

If you’re ready to rethink what energy management can deliver for your estate, simply scan the QR code to begin the conversation.

This article appeared in the May 2026 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.

Improving energy performance, without major CapEx.

10--Prefect-Irus-Investigator — Irus provides complete site overview, highlights high energy use, supplementary heaters, occupancy levels, noise/light/humidity issues etc. and most importantly acts automatically to mitigate issues.

Improving energy performance across high-density, multi-occupancy residential portfolios has become increasingly challenging as energy costs remain volatile. For owners, investors and asset managers, rising utility expenditure directly affects profitability, asset value and long-term portfolio resilience. While traditional approaches such as deep retrofits or full building management system (BMS) replacements can deliver meaningful savings, they are often capital intensive, disruptive to residents and slow to generate return on investment. As a result, there is growing interest in lower-cost, faster-to-deploy alternatives that deliver measurable outcomes without major capital expenditure.

Monitoring is more valuable with integrated automated control

Data-driven energy management and control platforms are emerging as a practical solution. By enabling real-time monitoring of heating systems, energy meters, and water usage, these systems provide continuous visibility into building performance. This level of insight allows energy managers to identify and control inefficiencies such as poor heat distribution, underperforming plant or abnormal consumption patterns before they escalate into costly issues or tenant dissatisfaction. Automated alerts highlight consumption spikes at room level, supporting targeted intervention and more proactive maintenance strategies. While automated control saves time.

Operational Efficiency isn’t improved by relying on human intervention

Physically turning energy input on and off is key to real savings. If this is automated, then the savings go beyond utility costs alone. The need for people to react and respond to flags from ‘monitoring only systems’ is removed, enabling them to concentrate on higher level, more productive tasks.

Unlike traditional BMS upgrades, which often require extensive rewiring, hardware replacement and system downtime, modern retrofit solutions integrate with existing infrastructure. This significantly reduces installation costs and disruption, while accelerating payback periods. Intelligent monitoring platforms can consolidate multiple data streams into a single interface, enabling anomalies to be detected quickly and automated response to happen in real time. Automated analytics that trigger control adjustments, improve system efficiency without manual input.

Building services performance increases asset value

The financial implications are substantial. Improved energy performance reduces operating costs and contributes directly to Net Operating Income (NOI), helping to protect yields in a market where margins are under pressure. At the same time, efficient, well-managed buildings are more attractive to both tenants and investors, particularly as sustainability considerations become central to decision-making. Access to accurate, real-time consumption data also provides a robust evidence base to support investment decisions and demonstrate performance improvements.

Happier residents, and more satisfied Asset Managers and Investors

For operators of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and build-to-rent (BTR) assets, maintaining consistent comfort levels is critical. Real-time monitoring enables more precise control of heating and utilities, reducing complaints and improving resident satisfaction. It also allows for better forecasting of demand, more efficient maintenance planning and the elimination of unnecessary energy use, ensuring that cost savings do not come at the expense of service quality.

Sustainability is another key driver. Increasing regulatory pressure and investor scrutiny mean that asset managers must be able to demonstrate measurable progress towards net-zero and ESG targets. Data-led platforms provide the granular, auditable information required for credible reporting, helping organisations track emissions, manage consumption and identify further opportunities for carbon and water reduction.

The panacea – Resident Comfort, Operational Efficiency AND Increased Asset Value

Ultimately, smart energy management offers a scalable, cost-effective route to improving building performance. With real-time data and intelligent controls, stakeholders can enhance operational efficiency, protect asset value and support sustainability objectives without the need for major capital investment. In an environment defined by rising costs and tightening regulation, this approach is becoming essential to keeping residential portfolios competitive and future ready.

www.prefectcontrols.com

This article appeared in the May 2026 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.

Bringing rail-grade safety and precision to energy: SPL Powerlines UK targets high-voltage growth in 2026

As one of the leading companies in rail electrification SPL Powerlines UK has marked 2026 as the year it further extends its expertise into the high-voltage energy infrastructure market in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Martin Hawley, Managing Director of SPL Powerlines, said that the new chapter in the company’s continued growth sees it seamlessly offering its proven specialist capabilities, rigorous safety standards and disciplines to the highly regulated energy sector.

He explained: “Our move into the energy and utilities sector is the fruition of two years’ strategic planning and development to grow horizontally and vertically in new industries and regions.

“We have a proven pedigree in delivering large, complex, multi-disciplinary projects in the rail industry on time, ahead of schedule and under budget. The rail sector in the UK and Ireland is heavily regulated and has a high expectation of safety levels, which is very similar to the energy market. The assurance and rigour that we bring to a regulatory environment is second to none.”

Powerlines already has extensive experience delivering large-scale, high-voltage transmission projects in the energy sector in Europe and has collaborated with major grid operators in Austria and Germany, which means expanding into the UK market is a logical next step.

Martin added: “Our European model within Powerlines Group, an Equans company, operates in multiple countries and sectors, predominantly mass transit, mainline rail, and energy transmission and distribution and this is the model that we have now adopted in the UK and Ireland.

“We are able to bring in our company’s expertise of undertaking large transmission works in Germany, Austria and France, and supply our company’s vast range of skills to the UK energy sector.”

He added: “The energy sector is entering a defining moment, and with it comes an extraordinary opportunity. For years, the sector has been ready for a renewed focus on people: developing talent, strengthening skills, and building a sustainable workforce pipeline. That moment has arrived. This is where we thrive.”

SPL Powerlines are HV and OLE contractors who design, build and deliver full system architecture solutions. They offer the complete portfolio including surveying, design, construction, procurement, test plans, section proving, sub-stations and civil engineering. The company readily invests in people, plant and premises and its direct workforce is also supported by sub-contractors and SMEs where required.

Martin explained: “Our team has many transferrable skills which makes our entry into the utilities sector the sensible next step to provide first-class delivery to a thriving industry.

“With a strong corporate background and our existing capabilities, we have the ability to transform and enter these new sectors with minimal training of our highly skilled workforce.”

Martin said: “Alongside the transferrable skills within our team in the UK and Ireland, as we expand in the energy sector the requirement for further personnel will grow. We’re not just delivering services; we’re elevating capability. We’re reigniting a culture of development, progression, and long‑term investment in people; the foundation of a stronger, more resilient energy future.”

As part of this drive members of the SPL Powerlines team has recently fast-tracked experienced linesmen to an accredited core Wood Pole competence. This included elements of pole top rescue, general positioning at the pole top working in teams, rigging and dismantling of an existing 11kV line in preparation to run a new line, pole installation and pole top make off. The training also covered the installation of low voltage tails from transformer to low voltage fuses, the installation of high voltage jumpers to transformer, fitting anti-climb guards and electrical testing.

SPL Powerlines has extensive experience not only in OHL installation but also in substation construction and the installation of associated distribution equipment. Across the UK, SPL Powerlines teams have delivered over twenty-five 25kV substations on Network Rail infrastructure to support new electrification programmes.

These portfolios across England and Scotland included several 400 kV National Grid feeder station connections, associated HV cable installation, protection and control systems and full testing and commissioning. Offering a full integrated delivery solution, SPL Powerlines acted as Lead Design Organisation Principal Contractor, Construction and Testing delivery for all associated civils’, telecoms and electrical works.

The company is also highly experienced in stakeholder relations and communicating on environmental issues with local residents, for example when undertaking land works.

SPL Powerlines has obtained NERS (National Electricity Registration Scheme) Partial accreditation across all available scopes with a view to progressing to full accreditation within the year. This is a key industry standard recognising competence and compliance for Independent Connection Providers (ICPs) working on UK electricity infrastructure.

SPL Powerlines UK Limited is a leading multi-disciplinary infrastructure specialist, offering end-to-end delivery across both rail and energy sectors with capabilities that sets it apart in highly regulated environments. Its energy infrastructure expertise spans HV/LV distribution up to 132kV, transmission systems up to 400kV, substation design and build, BESS installation, and renewable energy connections. What differentiates the company is its ability to integrate these services seamlessly with decades of rail electrification experience, ensuring assured engineering, safety discipline, and consistent delivery performance.

SPL Powerlines operates one of the industry’s most comprehensive fleets of rail and construction plant, supported by in-house logistics, haulage, welfare, and 24/7 maintenance, enabling rapid mobilisation and fully controlled project execution. Its design and consultancy teams provides multi-disciplinary engineering across civils, OLE, cable routing, and substations, combined with advanced digital engineering, BIM, CDE management, surveying, and full systems engineering and assurance – ensuring compliant, efficient, and right-first-time outcomes.

SPL Powerlines is also a RISQS-certified and National Skills Academy for Rail–accredited labour provider, supplying technical, engineering, and specialist HV and OLE professionals across the UK and Ireland. With integrated PMO, governance, and recruitment solutions, the company provides a complete, scalable service – delivering safe, high-quality, and future-ready infrastructure for clients in both rail and energy markets.

About Powerlines

Powerlines build future networks for rail, energy, and e-mobility. The Group implements complex overhead and transmission line construction projects for international customers and provides innovative charging infrastructure solutions. The Powerlines Group is one of Europe’s leading providers of infrastructure electrification solutions. The electrification of public transport systems is the basis of decarbonisation and thus the reduction of CO2 emissions in transport. The construction and expansion of energy transmission infrastructure is paving the way for the energy transition. The Powerlines Group has its headquarters in Lower Austria and local subsidiaries in Central and Northern Europe. The Group employs over 1,370 people. In the 2024 financial year, it generated a turnover of EUR 440 million. The Powerlines Group is an Equans France company.

https://www.powerlines-group.com/en

About Equans Group

A subsidiary of the Bouygues group, Equans is a global leader in the energy and services sector, operating in 20 countries, with 83,000 employees across five continents, and €18.7bn in revenue in 2025.

Equans designs, installs and delivers tailored solutions to enhance its clients’ equipment, systems and technical processes and optimise their use as part of their energy, industrial and digital transitions. With a strong local footprint built on its historic brands and leading technical expertise, Equans’ highly qualified experts support regions, cities, industries and buildings across HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), refrigeration and fire safety, facilities management, digital and ICT, electrical, mechanical and robotics services. Equans is the market leader across key European markets (France, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK) and also has a strong presence in the United States and Latin America.

www.equans.com

This article appeared in the May 2026 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.

Businesses back voluntary carbon credits as market ramps up

Georgia Spyrou, Solicitor in the Energy team at law firm Shakespeare Martineau.

Voluntary carbon credits are fast emerging as one of the most dynamic tools in the race to net zero. Once seen as a niche sustainability gesture, they’re now moving firmly into mainstream ESG activities for corporates. As momentum builds, such schemes are drawing serious attention from policymakers, investors and businesses alike, with an increasing focus on ensuring their integrity and credibility. Now more than ever, a streamlined, global standard is needed.

A recent survey by the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing found that over 90% of companies currently purchasing voluntary carbon credits plan to continue doing so and expect volumes to grow over time. With corporate net zero strategies becoming more of a priority and the UK’s commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 drawing ever closer, the market has potential for rapid growth.

Anticipating this growth, the UK government consulted on proposals to raise integrity in voluntary carbon and nature markets, including how its 6 Principles for Voluntary Carbon and Nature Market Integrity could be implemented through guidance, policy and, where appropriate, regulation. The government has now published a summary of the feedback received, revealing broad support for improving integrity, confidence and usability in these markets.

Respondents emphasised several key priorities: internationally aligned expectations on the appropriate use of credits; robust approaches to credit quality; transparent reporting; proportionate approaches to assurance and enforcement; and avoiding unnecessary fragmentation. These themes provide a clear roadmap for policymakers and signal what businesses expect from any future regulatory framework.

In particular, many respondents supported the government endorsing the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market’s Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) and accompanying Assessment Framework as a minimum quality requirement. The CCPs were widely viewed as a credible, science-based benchmark that could improve trust, comparability and reduce the risk of perceived greenwashing. However, several respondents qualified their support, noting that whilst they endorsed the CCPs in principle, clear guidance for practical application would be essential. The government’s policy response is expected in summer 2026.

Voluntary carbon and nature markets channel private capital towards environmental initiatives, for example funding restoration and conservation projects that may otherwise not be supported, which, as a result, offer a simple way for businesses to offset their emissions while also providing significant commercial and reputational benefits. For example, such credits could help bolster a business’ financial resilience. This is because they may be viewed favourably in the context of sustainability-linked finance and preferential terms may be offered by lenders to businesses that demonstrate strong ESG credentials, including diversified approaches to decarbonisation.

Despite these benefits, the main challenge to wider adoption remains inconsistency in the regulatory landscape. With many different carbon crediting methodologies and standards in the market, there are concerns from businesses and their stakeholders about the credibility of their offsetting activities. Allegations of misleading environmental claims have become relatively common within the business community, and the consequential reputational damage can be vast. When it comes to a holistic ESG approach, relying solely on a voluntary carbon credit scheme is risky. While these credits are a valid route to decarbonising supply chains and incentivising third party suppliers, to properly engage with prudent ESG compliance, businesses must review their own operations and actively work on reducing Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions where possible.

Whilst a great way to get an ‘industry view’, the consultation process does not lend itself to agility. It can take time to form these responses into a plan with actionable steps, and then begin to execute that plan. To capitalise on the current popularity of voluntary carbon credits, the government must address the concerns with the framework swiftly. This also means ensuring the policies are then acted upon. Government consultations have been known to struggle with delivering change after they have concluded, and it’s vital that the outcomes from this one don’t get pushed aside for other items on the political agenda.

It is also important that the government does not just stop at implementing a national integrity framework, but works with other countries to establish a coherent global standard. If all countries had the same integrity standards for voluntary carbon credits, this would allow for better benchmarking and adherence across the board. On a global scale, such standardisation can help to encourage businesses around the world to participate in offsetting initiatives.

Voluntary carbon credits are on the precipice of becoming a standard part of businesses’ ESG initiatives, with interest at a national and international scale. The government urgently needs to implement a standardised framework for the voluntary carbon credit market, and the consultation responses provide a clear indication of what stakeholders expect from such a framework.

This article appeared in the May 2026 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.