Renewable Energy Institute and partners launch AI Centre for Energy Innovation and Technology to combat global climate change

With a combined legacy of over half a century of technical training and international cooperation, the Renewable Energy Institute (REI), the European Centre of Technology (ECT) and Centro Studi Galileo (CSG) have launched the AI Centre for Energy Innovation and Technology. The Centre builds on the broad expertise and international reputation of these institutions, which includes their long-standing collaborations with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR).

This new initiative will harness the power of artificial intelligence to accelerate progress in renewable energy, sustainable technologies, and efficiency improvements across Europe. The Centre will act as a hub for research, training, and knowledge-sharing, supporting professionals, industries, and policymakers in adopting AI-driven solutions for the energy transition.

Missions of the Centre

The AI Centre for Energy Innovation and Technology, led by the Renewable Energy Institute with its partners, will:

Provide professional education and certification, building on a long tradition of excellence in training.
Disseminate technical insights through journals and reports, strengthening global knowledge transfer.
Support international standards and policy development, ensuring AI tools contribute safely and effectively to decarbonisation goals.
Lead research and innovation in AI applications for renewables, energy storage, smart grids, and sustainable heating/cooling.

Building on UN Collaboration

In addition to this new initiative, the partner institutions have a history of collaboration with international bodies such as UNEP, UNIDO, and IIR. Together, they have organised high-level conferences, delivered technical training to professionals worldwide, and contributed to international policy dialogues on sustainability and climate change.

A central part of this collaboration is the International Special Issue (ISI) technical journal, produced with UNEP, IIR and other international partners. Distributed to Heads of State, policymakers, and national delegations at UN summits, the ISI is a recognised source of knowledge on refrigeration, renewable energy, and sustainable technologies.

History and Legacy

Centro Studi Galileo (CSG), founded in 1975, has become Europe’s leading training and knowledge hub for refrigeration, air conditioning, and renewable energy. The Renewable Energy Institute (REI) has grown into a globally recognised centre for renewable energy training and professional development, working with international organisations, universities, and industry to advance the energy transition. Together with the European Centre of Technology (ECT), whose Honorary Director is Enrico Buoni, these organisations represent decades of expertise, international recognition, and a shared mission to advance sustainable technology worldwide.

“With the AI Centre for Energy Innovation and Technology, we are uniting digital transformation with the energy transition. This collaboration brings together expertise, global networks, and a shared mission to accelerate sustainable change.”
Paolo Buoni, Director, Renewable Energy Institute and European Centre of Technology

“Since 1975, Centro Studi Galileo has worked with international institutions to advance knowledge in refrigeration and energy efficiency. This new Centre extends that legacy into artificial intelligence, addressing some of the most urgent challenges in our sector.”
Marco Buoni, Director, Centro Studi Galileo

“Artificial intelligence is having a transformative effect on the world but needs to see greater adoption in the energy sector. This new Centre, by bringing together expertise from academia, industry and training, can help accelerate the adoption of this new technology in the energy sector and ensure Artificial Intelligence delivers real-world benefits for all of society.”

Aidan O’Sullivan, AI Expert Lecturer Renewable Energy Institute and Associate Professor in Energy and AI at University College London

About the Partners

Renewable Energy Institute (REI) – A globally recognised centre for renewable energy training and professional development, working internationally to advance the global energy transition.
European Centre of Technology (ECT) – International platform for education in energy, engineering, and sustainability, with Enrico Buoni as Honorary Director.
Centro Studi Galileo (CSG) – Europe’s leading training centre for refrigeration, renewables, and efficiency, founded in 1975.

renewableinstitute.org

Beyond the buzzwords: Driving real sustainability in data centre cooling

Matt Evans, CEO at Lennox Data Centre Solutions.

Sustainability has become a catch-all word in the data centre industry. You see it in every investor presentation, government policy and marketing campaign. The rise of AI has only amplified the pressure, with headlines warning about the “environmental cost” of every ChatGPT query or new GPU cluster.

But too often, the conversation is oversimplified. Take the UK’s National Drought Group, which recently suggested that deleting old emails could help conserve water. On the same list: shorter showers and fixing leaks. As a message, it raised eyebrows across our sector.

Yes, water usage matters. But reducing a national debate on sustainability to email storage risks trivialising complex challenges. Oversimplified messages like that can backfire, raising a bigger question:

How should we talk honestly about the environmental impact of data centres without misrepresenting the reality?

The water debate

When it comes to cooling, water is one of the first things critics point to. Yet the reality is often misrepresented.

In the UK, nearly two-thirds of data centres don’t use water at all. Of those that do, only 4% consume more than 100,000 cubic metres annually. To put that into context, a single London golf club reportedly uses 85,000 cubic metres a year. The scales just don’t compare.

And, crucially, the water used in data centre cooling doesn’t “disappear.” It’s recycled, reused and returned to the water table. In fact, in many cases, using water can lower electricity demand and reduce carbon emissions. That shouldn’t automatically be seen as a negative.

The truth is, we need a more balanced debate. Data centres are an easy target because most people who don’t work in the sector don’t understand what happens inside – and, let’s be honest, the industry doesn’t always help itself, operating out of windowless sheds and often hidden behind strict NDAs.

But if we want meaningful sustainability progress, we have to start with honest numbers and fair comparisons.

Avoiding greenwashing

That same principle applies beyond water.

In cooling, much of the sustainability conversation has been dominated by Scope 2 and 3 emissions reporting. From a manufacturer’s perspective, these numbers can be massaged on paper without reflecting real-world impact.

That’s why we’ve taken a different approach at Lennox Data Centre Solutions; instead, focusing on tangible design improvements. By eliminating materials like foam insulation and HFCs, and optimising sheet metal use, we’ve cut hundreds of kilograms of weight per unit.

Multiply that across thousands of units, and the material savings – and environmental benefits – add up fast. And with over 1,000 solar panels set to be installed at our Genas factory in Lyon by 2026, these product-level gains are matched by site-wide initiatives that further cut emissions and support the UN Global Compact.

This is how you make sustainability real. Not by declaring yourself “the greenest” in the room, but by embedding practical, measurable improvements into every product you build, and – where possible – the space in which they are created.

Meeting customer priorities

Beyond sustainability, customers have many other priorities and focuses. They also want to know: Will it arrive on time? Will it work reliably? Will it hit the right price point? Our role is to build systems that deliver reliably and cost-effectively, while simultaneously reducing environmental impact where we can.

That’s why we take an engineering-led, collaborative approach. From logistics and installation to lifecycle support, we work with customers to anticipate problems and eliminate chaos. That’s where sustainability can slot in naturally, without slowing delivery or inflating costs.

It’s also why our ApX Series isn’t an ‘off-the-shelf’ product line. Each system is built around the specific challenges our customers face – from rising rack densities to footprint constraints – ensuring that cooling performance, efficiency and reliability are tailored to the real world, not just the spec sheet.

I grew up in design and build, learning my trade ‘on the job’. That grounding is exactly why I value solutions that are engineered for reality, not just theory. In practice, it means operators aren’t buying a generic unit, but a solution engineered to solve their unique problems today while adapting to tomorrow’s demands.

The case for smarter regulation

Looking ahead, regulation is both inevitable and welcome – if it’s done properly. Some European countries have started introducing cooling mandates, but these are still early-stage.

The challenge with those changes, though, comes when decisions are made top-down without enough input from the people actually building these systems. That leads to box-ticking exercises and unintended consequences.

Done right, regulation provides clarity, levels the playing field and can even accelerate project delivery by cutting through red tape.

Despite Brexit, the UK remains a critical hub for data centres. Historically, that’s been due to available power and expertise; but in today’s AI-driven economy, politics is also playing a role.

And with AI’s growth increasingly tied to national competitiveness, the UK wants to position itself as a leader. It’s just over a year since data centres were formally recognised as Critical National Infrastructure, and in that time the conversation around sustainability has only intensified.

That makes scalable, efficient cooling infrastructure an even more important part of the bigger picture – enabling growth while keeping environmental impact in check.

Moving beyond the buzzword

The challenges we face are real: extreme rack densities, supply chain volatility, fostering new talent while sustaining a highly skilled workforce, and rising scrutiny from regulators and the public. But the way through isn’t soundbites or overhyped efficiency claims.

It’s steady, practical progress. Smarter design to cut waste, honest communication about water and energy use, collaborative delivery that aligns with customer priorities and regulation shaped with, and by, industry expertise.

Sustainability in cooling won’t be solved overnight, and it won’t be solved with buzzwords, but if we focus on what we can do, and do it consistently, the impact at scale will be real.

That’s how we move beyond the marketing fluff, and build the homes the internet will live in for decades to come.

This article appeared in the October 2025 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.

Natural Ventilation: The Crowning Jewel

Window-Master-2-Photo-Credit-Paul-Kozlowski-for-VMZinc — ©Paul Kozlowski for VMZinc

WindowMaster brings the outdoors-in at the National Gemstone Centre

The National Gemstone Centre is a ground-breaking jewellery boutique, exhibition space, and training facility set against the stunning backdrop of Derbyshire’s Carsington Reservoir.

A benchmark in environmentally-friendly design, the building is the brainchild of pioneering-jewellers, C.W. Sellors (Sellors), which commissioned the project with a very specific brief. At its core, the centre needed to serve as a model for sustainable specification, wellbeing-centric design and community integration.

Whilst the core objective was to unite its design and manufacturing operations and showcase its most luxurious pieces in a brand-new showroom, and important secondary aim was to maintain harmony between the building’s purpose and its idyllic setting. As a proudly Derbyshire-based business, it was keen to ensure it remained a source of pride for the local community and not detract from its scenic beauty.

This meant the project architects, the award-winning Evans Vettori, needed to select the very latest, lowest-impact and energy efficient materials, fittings and finishes. It was felt this would go some way to achieving the brief’s three criteria, and provide staff and visitors alike with maximum comfort throughout the interiors.

Yet success could only be guaranteed if this ethos extended beyond structural and decorative elements, to the very services and facilities specified, ensuring every detail aligned with the building’s intended embodiment of nature and community. So, the brief also extended to the services and utilities, particularly the site’s ventilation systems.

Keen to evoke the centre’s unspoiled, rural setting, Sellors wanted to ensure a steady flow of fresh, clean countryside air within the building, bringing the benefits of the surrounding nature indoors.

After considering a range of different options, the project team agreed to introduce a natural ventilation system, which could be programmed and automated to allow plenty of fresh air to circulate throughout the centre efficiently.

This inevitably led them to WindowMaster, one of the world’s leading natural and mixed-mode ventilation specialists, who joined the project during September 2023, to supply and install a new cutting-edge, low energy natural ventilation control system.

With a proven track record on commercial projects including: Space House, London, a modernised, sustainable, Grade II-listed office building and St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, Derby, the UK’s first Net-Zero carbon biophilic school, Evans Vittori was impressed by WindowMaster’s ability to create healthy, happy, and productive indoor environments.

When WindowMaster understood the blended requirements of the space, particularly an incorporated manufacturing facility it realised pureplay NV would not be adequate on its own. Alternatively, it recommended a strategy that combined high-quality components to amplify the naturally cool air of the Derby countryside.

This was achieved through six of its market-leading WMX 826-1, 400mm window actuators. Devices that respond to monitoring factors such as CO2, temperature and humidity. By opening and closing windows to within millimetre-perfect precision, it meant the building could facilitate the flow of fresh air in, whilst taking stale air out.

Working in conjunction with WindowMaster’s Motorlink® automated technology, users could achieve accurate window precision, without running the risk of over-ventilating or compromising their indoor comfort. This was especially important given the presence of on-site acid and ammonia-based chemicals used by jewellers, making the rapid removal of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) essential for safety.

Backed by WindowMaster’s trademark NV Embedded®, a cloud-based decentralised Control System, Sellors were empowered to monitor and control of indoor environments in real time. Synched seamlessly with the National Gemstone Centre’s building management systems (BMS), it delivers optimum indoor air quality (IAQ), room temperature and energy efficiency, all year round.

Commenting on the fitout of the natural ventilation system, David Brown, WindowMaster’s Sales Director, said: “With such beautiful surroundings, it was important for this building to capture a sense of nature by involving the surrounding open countryside. Thanks to WindowMaster’s NV Embedded Control system, the building occupants will have controlled clean fresh air, helping them stay alert & comfortable.

John Evans, Evans Vettori, the project’s architectural lead says, “To enable control of the high-level clerestory glazing in the central atrium space, the project required fully-automatic actuators to be discretely integrated into the frames. The windowmaster system fulfilled the brief and the motorlink technology enabled a connection to the BMS for synchronised operation and feedback.”

To find out more about WindowMaster’s market-leading smoke and ventilation solutions, click here.

How smarter lighting platforms unlock operational efficiency

Intelligent lighting platforms double as a network of advanced sensors, giving facilities managers live occupancy, environmental and fault data to cut energy use, speed up maintenance and future-proof estates. Here, Russell Vanstone, Product Manager – Connected Buildings at Legrand UK & Ireland, explains how integrated controls, open protocols and IT-led approaches deliver measurable operational savings.

Lighting controls are no longer just about controlling lighting. Over the past decade they have evolved into a networked layer that supports building-wide control, asset management and energy optimisation. For public sector estates where budgets, regulatory targets and service continuity all matter, treating lighting as part of a broader set of resources makes practical sense. Doing so enables facilities teams to draw on a steady stream of live data without installing separate sensing networks.

Connecting lighting into the energy ecosystem

When lighting controls use open protocols and integrate with building management systems, they become an instant source of operational intelligence. Real-time dashboards translate occupancy data, fault diagnostics and daylight levels into actionable insights: automatic dimming to reduce peak demand, alerts to plan maintenance before fittings fail, and occupancy-driven schedules that align heating and ventilation with real-world needs. This level of data availability is how lighting control is becoming integral to the public sector’s energy ecosystems — it supplies the inputs that energy managers need to control energy consumption and meet efficiency targets.

Modern multi-function sensors can incorporate presence detection, lux sensing and basic environmental telemetry. Alongside motion sensing, these devices can provide anonymised headcount estimates, patterns of room use and levels of daylight. Facilities teams can feed that information into space-planning, consider whether rarely used rooms should be repurposed, or link occupancy trends to HVAC schedules so it only runs when people are present. Where systems include temperature or humidity sensors, those readings can be surfaced on the same dashboard, reducing the need for separate monitoring hardware.

Putting the IT in Lighting

Lighting networks now function as IT systems as much as electrical ones, requiring the same focus on connectivity, security and data, offering three immediate benefits. First, a networked lighting estate can be managed remotely — faults are logged with diagnostic and location information, so engineers arrive with the right spares first time. Second, centralised configuration and software-led commissioning can speed up deployment across multi-site portfolios. Third, when lighting is an IP-attached element of the estate it becomes available to broader analytics platforms and enables consolidated energy reporting as well as automated responses that would be difficult to achieve through legacy electrical wiring alone.

Public buildings are repurposed more often than many planners expect. A classroom becomes a conference room; a civic hall is split into smaller lettable rooms. Wattstopper PLUS supports wired, wireless and hybrid options while also allowing luminaires and sensors to be reassigned in software to new room boundaries – minimising physical rewiring. Commissioning tools like Polaris Config speed up initial setup, while Polaris Monitor provides ongoing visibility. Together they let teams reconfigure scenes and occupancy profiles as layouts and use patterns evolve.

Viewing lighting as a flexible layer can reduce long-term cost. Phased refurbishments become feasible because new zones can be commissioned and integrated without complex reconfigurations. By using comprehensive status reporting and fault logs, proactive maintenance lowers the likelihood of emergency repairs and extends the life of components. Aggregated data builds a clear picture of energy use and asset health, helping estates managers focus on the priorities that deliver the best lifecycle return rather than chasing short-term savings.

What does optimised efficiency look like?

In practice, optimised energy efficiency would almost certainly include aspects such as scheduled dimming during low-occupancy periods to reduce energy consumption, automated load shedding tied to building-wide demand response, or remote diagnostics that cut time needed on site for engineers. For example, retail and high-footfall public spaces can benefit from reducing lighting when headcount dips. Similarly, offices can adopt scheduled scenes to lower energy use during lunch hours. These are pragmatic, measurable interventions that align with net zero commitments and everyday budget pressures.

Advanced lighting control platforms such as Legrand’s Wattstopper PLUS make automation, reporting and maintenance simpler while enabling growth and change. Choosing a supplier who supports technical design, full-service commissioning and training reduces implementation risk and ensures the system continues to deliver value long after the installation is complete – including commissioning assistance and support, both remote and on-site.

Practical, incremental, strategic

Modern lighting controls are a cost-effective route to more usable operational data, smarter energy use and lower whole-life cost. Treating lighting as an IT system — not just an electrical service – transforms how it can be designed, managed and integrated making buildings more adaptable, maintainable and aligned to evolving policy and occupancy demands. That mix of immediate operational wins and longer-term lifecycle savings is why lighting control should be carefully considered as part of any estates strategy.

For more on Wattstopper PLUS, see Legrand.co.uk.

This article appeared in the October 2025 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.

Can heat pumps ignite change within our domestic heating system?

6--DNV_150_PMC_Contrast_HD-13 — Photo credit: Kars Tuinder www.ktf.nl

Rachel Freeman, Senior Consultant at DNV Energy Systems

Most consumers care most about two things: affordability and reliability. This balance is unlikely to change as the UK navigates its path towards net zero.

While the environmental benefits of the energy transition are widely acknowledged, what is less often discussed is the impact it will have on our finances.

Modelling from DNV on the UK market suggests that the transition to a low-carbon energy system will eventually deliver a clear prize for the everyday consumer, in the form of tangible cost savings.

As highlighted in our third UK Energy Transition Outlook (ETO) report – a comprehensive study on the likely trajectory for the UK energy system – the energy transition is affordable and could reduce average household energy expenditure by nearly 40% by mid-century, compared to 2021 levels.

Improvements in affordability are primarily driven by more efficient, electrified technologies, particularly heat pumps for homes and electric vehicles for transport.

Our forecasts indicate that by 2035 the UK’s electricity system will be completely decarbonised and electricity will provide as much as half of the UK’s final energy demand by 2050. However, the building sector will only see a 12% drop in emissions.

Removing emissions from buildings is a stubborn challenge. Over 23 million homes, almost 80% of the UK housing stock, are currently heated by natural gas boilers – accounting for 13% of UK CO₂ emissions. Heat pumps are a prime option to decarbonise home heating, being up to three times more energy-efficient than gas boilers. They can produce 2-3 kW of heat from each 1 kW of electricity consumed.

For consumers, however, it is not always clear that heat pumps are a good choice. Heat pump adoption is hampered by high installation costs, the disruption caused by installation especially in older buildings, and uncertainty about whether the savings in running costs will pay for installation costs.

Electricity prices are still roughly four times higher than gas on a per-kWh basis. A rule of thumb is that heat pumps will only be economic if the electricity price is no more than double that of gas. This is even when counting in the UK’s generous subsidies for heat pumps. The levelised cost of home heating with heat pumps will remain higher than for gas boilers for up to another ten years. Not all homes are suitable for heat pumps. Based on EPC ratings data, only about half of the UK housing stock is suitable for heat pumps without significant building improvements.

The UK target of 600,000 heat pump installations by 2028 is highly unlikely to be met. In fact, the government has recently reversed an earlier decision to ban the sale of new gas boilers by 2035, as practical difficulties become apparent.

Over the medium to long term, DNV’s data shows that there will be a strongly growing trend toward the electrification of heating in domestic buildings, as heat pump technology improves and the electricity to gas price ratio gradually decreases. By 2040, heat pumps could be heating 20% of UK homes, rising to almost 40% by 2050.

Regarding policy, it is clear that despite their high efficiency and environmental benefits, heat pumps will not scale on ambition alone. There needs to be more government intervention to promote the use of heat pumps, develop significant improvements in their attractiveness to customers through technological innovation, and invest in improving engineering practices in the heating supply chain.

More work is needed to ensure heat pumps can be rolled out without placing any further financial strain on households that are already facing energy and cost-of-living pressures. Industry investment is needed to ensure the affordability of heat pumps for households is improved through: (i) reducing upfront installation costs, (ii) reducing running costs that are dictated by the price of electricity, (iii) finding better ways to make older buildings heat pump ready, and (iv) improving the real-world operating efficiency of heat pump equipment and homes.

If done right – including rebalancing energy prices to be fairer for electrification over the use of gas – heat pumps, especially when paired with improvements to building energy efficiency, will eventually lead to leaner energy bills for consumers across the country and support our net zero target. This would provide positive effects for millions of households, particularly at a time when fuel poverty and energy affordability are at the forefront of the public consciousness.

ent, DNV helps its customers seize opportunities and tackle the risks arising from global transformations. DNV is a trusted voice for many of the world’s most successful and forward-thinking companies.

www.dnv.com

This article appeared in the October 2025 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.

The true cost of clean energy for UK businesses: what energy managers need to know

Louise Ward, Head of Optimisation and Customer Costs, npower Business Solutions

Most energy professionals will be familiar with Labour’s Clean Power 2030 commitment. The pledge to generate 95% of the UK’s electricity from clean sources within this decade is bold, ambitious, and has been broadly welcomed as a progress towards a more sustainable energy system.

But what does it mean for large energy consumers, especially organisations with high demand, and what is the actual cost of clean energy?

Rapid change ahead

The scale of change is unprecedented. Currently the UK generates just over a third of its electricity from gas. By 2030, this must fall below 5%. Filling the gap will require a considerable expansion of renewable capacity, led by offshore wind.

Capacity must increase from 15GW today to 50GW by the end of the decade, while solar generation is set to triple. To achieve this, the UK will need to contract as much new offshore wind capacity in the next two years as has been delivered over the past six.

A £60 billion infrastructure bill

Delivering this scale of renewables also means building the infrastructure to connect and transport power. Around 5,500 km of new grid capacity is needed in the next five years, more than double what has been built in the past decade. Together with wider system upgrades, this could cost around £60 billion. Much of that will ultimately be recovered from customers over many years.

Rise in non-energy charges

The portion of bills that pays for networks and levies, known as non-commodity costs, will take the brunt of this shift. Three charges in particular are likely to be impacted.

Contracts for Difference provide developers with a guaranteed price for power, ensuring new projects are financially viable. They are central to delivering Clean Power 2030, but they come at a cost. CfD charges could rise from around £10/MWh today to nearly £30/MWh by 2030.

Transmission costs will also rise. With the network needing to grow four times faster than in the last decade, operators expect their investment to double. For businesses, that means annual charges could also double. A customer in the lowest high voltage band, for instance, could see costs increase from £8,000 in 2025/26 to £25,000 by 2030/31..

Balancing costs are also likely to increase. These cover the cost of ensuring supply meets demand and are already heavily influenced by constraint costs, payments to generators who cannot sell their output because the grid cannot accommodate it. Unless the grid expands in step with renewables, balancing costs could rise from £12/MWh now to around £20/MWh by 2030.

The knock on to commodity costs

In the short-term, the greater reliance on homegrown renewables will not immediately translate into lower wholesale prices. Gas will continue to set the marginal price for some years, and with more renewable generation coming under CfD arrangements, forward market liquidity will shrink.

As a result, organisations may find it more complex and more costly to hedge far out on the curve. Liquidity is likely to concentrate in the day ahead market, leaving energy managers more exposed to short-term swings.

Liquidity down, volatility up

An increase in volatility means procurement strategies need to adapt. The traditional reliance on forward hedging will be harder to sustain, while volatility will become more of a year-round challenge. With more weather-dependent generation, price swings will not just appear in winter peaks but could arise from day to day, depending on wind speeds and solar output.

Public sector pressures

For the public sector, these issues present an even sharper test. Councils, NHS trusts, universities and schools are under pressure to cut emissions while managing constrained budgets. Rising non-commodity costs will make long-term financial planning more difficult, while varied estates often limit the scope for demand flexibility. Strict procurement frameworks can also make it harder for public bodies to respond quickly in volatile markets.

Looking ahead

Clean Power 2030 is a once-in-a-generation chance to cut carbon and improve energy security. While in the long-term, this could result in lower prices, for energy managers, the challenge is to prepare now for a system where non-commodity charges rise, forward markets thin out, and volatility increases.

Energy managers who act now by rethinking procurement, building flexibility, and strengthening resilience will be better equipped to control costs, manage risk, and capture the opportunities of a clean energy future.

www.npowerbusinesssolutions.com

This article appeared in the October 2025 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.

Rinnai and Kimpton deliver zero-downtime hot water solutions for Spire Murrayfield Hospital

Request a free brochure today on the Rinnai range of high efficiency, future proof continuous flow water heaters https://www.rinnai-uk.co.uk/contact-us/request-brochure

Kimpton, the Liverpool and Northwest-based HVAC specialist contractor, has supplied and installed the Spire Murrayfield hospital in Barnston, Wirral with an emergency replacement Rinnai hot water heating system after the site’s gas fired storage water heaters failed to operate.

Replacing the hot water heater system meant that the hospital could continue supplying daily care to the community without interruption to medical continuity. The hospital produced its hot water for the X Ray and other departments via a single gas fired storage water heater. When this unit failed, an urgent response was required to ensure continuity of supply for patients and staff.

Kimpton offers temporary boiler and water heater hire, so this was the first port of call. Within a few hours problem had been isolated, and the new temporary boiler set had been installed to ensure zero downtime. This system was made up of two 58kW gas-fired Rinnai water heaters on a simple skid. The temporary system had been designed by the team at Kimptons with support of Rinnai, so we were confident it would work exactly as required.

The finished system was made up of a buffer vessel and two higher efficiency Rinnai modulating gas-fired 20% hydrogen ready water heaters of 58kW each. This set up allows the system to regulate capacity as required and ensure both continuous flow water heaters are cycled evenly. The new system allows water to be raised in temperature from 20 degrees to its max of 65 degrees in only 15 minutes, so allows huge flexibility.

The project was managed by Paul Bowes and Stuart Dilworth from start to finish. Speaking about it, Paul said “The whole project went well from the outset. Customers like Spire Murrayfield must be able to operate with zero downtime. Our temporary hot water heater system saved the day in this project and allowed us to conduct the system upgrade with no dramas and zero downtime.”

The Rinnai instant hot water solutions are an ideal solution for mobile, temporary and heat for hire services as they are light weight (28kgs) high power (58kw) diminutive water heaters. Another added benefit is that they come with market leading warranties up to 12 years and can be easily set for LPG or NG dependent on site needs.

Sam Carson speaking on behalf of Rinnai stated, “It is a pleasure working with Kimptons and I am pleased that the easy fit, high flow rate nature of Rinnai appliances proved to be an ideal option for the hospital and my friends at Kimptons.”

Rinnai is global leader in hot water systems with 2M+ units produced annually. The gas-fired water heaters are hydrogen 20% blend ready and BioLPG ready, future proofing hire applications and many more. Rinnai also provide innovative heat pump and hybrid solutions for a wide range of commercial projects. Ensuring the supply of heating and hot water systems for multiple fuel sources and creating options for clients such as Kimptons.

Kimpton has been delivering M&E projects, commercial fit-out and HVAC services across the Liverpool City Region since 1963. The company places great emphasis on M & E innovation. For example, for many, heat pump technology is new, but Kimpton began designing and installing heat pumps in 1974 when it helped Walkers Crisps and Golden Wonder solve the problem of how to make the stored potatoes last longer. By dramatically changing the length of time potatoes could be stored, it allowed them to buy potatoes when they were plentiful and, in its own way, revolutionised the UK’s potato crisp industry.

This culture of innovation has led to the delivery of two other UK firsts in renewable technology – Kimpton designed and installed the UK’s first water source heat pumps in open sea at Plas Newydd, Anglesey for the National Trust and installed one of the UK’s first Transpired Solar Collectors with TATA steel at the SBEC Building on Deeside.

For free gaseous, heat pump or hybrid system design support contact Rinnai experts today https://www.rinnai-uk.co.uk/contact-us/help-me-choose-product

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For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com

Is the Time Up for MHHS?

David Sheldrake, Global SVP, POWWR

2025 has seen a real ramp up in efforts by the energy industry to ensure both pricing and settlements become better aligned through a move towards Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS). The migration ordered by Ofgem is more than simply a technology upgrade. Rather, it signifies a move towards a more adaptable, responsive, and sustainable energy framework that should benefit the entire public sector.

Meters need to smarten up

MHHS sets the stage for a future where achieving net zero becomes much easier for the public sector. However, the transition has thus far proved far from easy. Much of this has been down to the sheer variety of meters being used up and down the land.

As we know, despite their well-publicised advantages, many have been reticent to transition to smart meters. In fact, according to the most recent data, 42% of meters in the UK are still not smart. Meaning several million meters need to be ripped and replaced before MHHS can be activated on them.

What is MHHS?

Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) is the new electricity market arrangements that will enable the flexibility to support transition to Net Zero. A shorter and more accurate Settlement timetable using Half Hourly meter readings for settled energy will support a cost-effective electricity system, encourage flexible use of energy, and help lower bills. The MHHS Programme is an industry-led programme established to deliver the Target Operating Model and aims of the Electricity Settlement Reform Significant Code Review (SCR). This will see meters migrate to a new topline to comply with the changes. MPANs will migrate in phases by supplier. The suppliers are going through a qualification process, and this will determine when the MPAN is migrated.

Time has run out

The fact that the physical meter transition is far from complete is making the back-end transition of the Top Line Supply Numbers problematic. There are certain older pre-smart meters that simply cannot be transitioned correctly. Yet, time has run out. September 2025 was the date that Ofgem has ordered the industry to be ready to change the Top Line Supply Numbers and migrate meters to be half hourly.

The migration programme has meant to have begun. With those suppliers within the first phase needing to migrate their meters to MHHS half hourly billing. It is thought that two of the big six are included in this first phase.

Easier said than done

The fact that there are four distinct phases of transition staggered over a one-year period is putting pressure on all within the downstream supply chain. This is because the meters associated with those energy suppliers participating in the first phase are needing to be listed differently and have a markedly different Top Line Supply Number. The Meter Time Switch Code (MTC) is removed and replaced with a Settlement Configuration (SSC) Id, and the Current Line Loss Factor (LLF) is split into a DUoS Tariff Id and a new LLF.

It may seem like a minor change, but changing the Top Line Supply Number impacts every system, process or document which holds these numbers, whether that be customer bills or market-wide databases. Because of the phased approach, all databases will need to be able to process both the old, and new Top Line Supply Numbers. This is far easier said than done.

Comparing apples to oranges

Each supplier has needed to interpret how to get the Ofgem mandates to work for them. The reality is that each supplier has different technical expertise. The energy industry is one that is in some ways shackled by the past and has remained resistant to digital transformation. Because of this, each supplier has very different technology stacks and markedly different billing platforms. Now, they are being asked to use different field lengths within the databases to be able to process both the old and new top lines during the transition. This is tantamount to comparing apples to oranges.

This is unfairly hampering the less technologically adept suppliers. Because they cannot input the new Top Line Supply Numbers, it is impossible for them to take on that meter. This is leading to an unfair playing field.

Time to push back

The whole point of the move towards MHHS was for consumers to get the best and most appropriate rates. It was feted as something that would boost accuracy and stability for the public sector. Yet, the industry is clearly unprepared. The transition is placing multiple hurdles in front of those within the downstream supply chain. Until the migration of all the suppliers happens in 2027, those in both the public and private sector will simply not be getting the best deals.

The move to MHHS was always going to include teething period. Yet, with the earliest that time of use tariffs will come in being another two years, maybe it is time to push back.

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This article appeared in the October 2025 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.

School embraces innovative energy solutions in leading rebuild scheme

Sustainable energy solutions are being integrated into the fabric of a school being rebuilt under a flagship government project.

Architectural consultant Pick Everard has designed Penwortham Girls’ School to be net zero carbon in operation, meaning any carbon generated through its day-to-day running will be offset. This will be achieved through a combination of renewable energy technologies, design strategies to maximise the use of natural light and shade, and an enhanced building fabric to reduce energy consumption.

The Lancashire high school was included in round three of the Department for Education’s £1 billion School Rebuilding Programme and work has now started on the three-storey, 800-place state-of-the-art learning centre. The existing school, which dates back to the 1950s, will remain in operation while the development takes place.

The transformative project includes a new sports hall, six science laboratories featuring cutting-edge facilities, a drama studio and large library. Support for students with social, emotional and mental health needs will also be strengthened.

Joe West, architecture associate at Pick Everard, said: “Rather than relying on conventional systems, the building will utilise more environmentally efficient solutions for energy generation and storage, such as solar panels, heat pumps, and passive ventilation.

“The considered design manages thermal gain and daylighting, balancing the benefits of natural light and heating sources with strategies for visual comfort and healthy room temperatures.

“Penwortham Girls’ School wanted a nurturing environment for 11 to 16-year-olds that promotes learning as well as personal growth and development. Working with main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, as well as our delivery partners, we have created a high-performance building with fresh and inviting surroundings to encourage productivity. We have also designed indoor and outdoor spaces with flexibility in mind, enabling out-of-hours use, improved connections to the natural environment and inclusive learning experiences.”

Paul Skyes, Bowmer + Kirkland Regional Director said: ‘We are delighted to have been appointed as the construction partner for Penwortham Girls’ High School and are incredibly proud to be working on a project that has sustainability at the core of its design and delivery. We look forward to providing the school and local community with state-of-the-art facilities whilst being part of something that makes a lasting difference’.

Active travel is also being promoted with the creation of 30 cycle parking and storage spaces, as well as safe and convenient school pick up and drop off points.

The 71,000 sq ft new school building is due to be completed by winter 2026, with the final handover of the site expected to take place the following summer. The programme of works has been designed to minimise disruption to students and staff.

Dijon Marples-Wall, senior carbon consultant at Pick Everard, said: “Technology is improving, this is what is going to make Net Zero achievable. We need finance to enable it, education in how to use it and benefit from it, and unlocking the data we need to evidence the achievement.

“Net zero is being realised, thanks to design features built into construction projects like the new Penwortham Girls’ School.”

Caption: Pick Everard has designed Penwortham Girls’ School to be net zero carbon in operation, meaning any carbon generated through its day-to-day running will be offset.

Caption: The transformation includes a new sports hall, six science laboratories featuring cutting-edge facilities, a drama studio and large library.

For more information, please visit https://www.pickeverard.co.uk/

Biomass without the breakdowns

How excitation systems reduce maintenance and boost uptime in biomass generation

Nearly 5,000 active biomass power plants generate over 83 GW of electricity worldwide, with 1,000 more expected by 2033, according to ecoprog. Here Matthew Slater, director at generator excitation specialist Excitation & Engineering Services (EES), explores how brushless excitation systems help biomass plants maintain stable voltage, reduce maintenance needs and ensure reliable grid compliance amid this growth.

Biomass power plants use organic feedstocks such as wood pellets, agricultural residues and forestry waste as fuel. These feedstocks combust in a boiler to generate high-pressure steam, driving a turbine connected to a synchronous generator. The turbine’s rotational energy is then converted into electrical power by the generator.

These plants can operate as standalone power stations or in industrial cogeneration systems where electricity and thermal energy are produced,

Biomass generators face several challenges that directly impact their operational efficiency and reliability. Fluctuations in fuel, moisture content and energy density can impact combustion efficiency, leading to voltage and frequency fluctuations that jeopardise power supply stability.

Additionally, biomass combustion generates significant ash build-up, residues and corrosive gases that can degrade equipment, increasing maintenance costs and reducing operational lifespan.

The importance of excitation systems

Excitation systems are crucial in addressing these challenges. By regulating generator voltage and providing reactive power support, they supply direct current (DC) power to the generator field windings, creating a magnetic field in the rotor that induces alternating current (AC) in the stator. When instability occurs, such as fluctuating fuel quality, the system rapidly adjusts the DC to maintain stable output.

A well-designed excitation system precisely controls the generator voltage, rapidly adjusting to load fluctuations. It can handle sudden shifts without triggering instability and normally includes features like fault detection and quick corrective actions. This ensures compliance with regulations like the UK’s Grid Code and the Connection and Use of System Code (CUSC) while minimising downtime and reducing maintenance needs in challenging conditions.

These regulations require generators to keep voltages within strict limits and provide reactive power to stabilise the grid, particularly during fluctuations in demand or network disturbances.

By stabilising the generator’s voltage and supporting reactive power, a well-maintained excitation system ensures consistent performance through regular servicing, calibration and testing. This reduces the impact of combustion instability, helping prolong the plant’s operational life and minimise downtime.

Biomass plants, typically smaller than traditional power stations, have unique design and maintenance demands, for which brushless excitation systems are particularly suitable.

Unlike static excitation systems, which rely on additional components like brushes and external rectifiers, brushless excitation systems are, by nature, more compact. Their smaller size allows direct integration into the generator eliminating the need for bulky external enclosures. With fewer moving parts and minimal maintenance, they offer improved reliability and reduced operational costs, ideal for smaller decentralised applications.

The role of brushless excitation systems

In brushless excitation systems, a rotating exciter mounted directly on the generator shaft generates an AC supply, which is rectified to DC and supplied to the field windings. This design removes the need for brushes and commutators, components that are prone to wear and gathering carbon dust — common issues in static systems that can lead to reduced reliability.

Brushless systems offer fast voltage regulation, essential for smaller plants that must adjust to load fluctuations quickly. Their compact, self-contained design makes them ideal for decentralised biomass stations where space and consistency are critical.

EES provides bespoke brushless excitation system designs to enhance reliability and provide low-maintenance benefits crucial for biomass plants in today’s rapidly growing and diversifying energy sector. The robust design, coupled with the company’s expertise in excitation systems, ensures plants can meet technical requirements, improve performance and extend operational life — all while reducing the frequency of downtime.

With another thousand biomass plants expected in the next decade, stable, efficient and compliant operations are more critical than ever. Brushless excitation systems tackle fuel variability, reduce maintenance and ensure grid compliance, making choosing the right provider essential. Visit www.excitationengineering.co.uk/consultancy to discover how EES’s team can help your application.