Exhibition preview: EMEX 2016

EMEX

EMEX 2016 is returning to the ExCeL Centre in London this November, and there will be a packed programme for attendees spread across four free-to-attend CPD accredited seminar theatres. This content, curated by the Energy Managers Association and its board, will include the opportunity to hear from renowned industry experts and peers, and to meet with the numerous leading suppliers that have sponsored and endorsed the show.

To give you a glimpse into the seminar programme and the exhibition – we bring you some of the themes and talking points that will be covered this year at EMEX.

INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

With over 120 exhibitors ranging from major utilities to brokers and consultants, equipment manufacturers to training companies and showcasing a broad range of energy-efficient solutions and services under one roof, EMEX has become a significant opportunity to learn about the new technology, systems and services available in this fast-changing environment.

Attractions include the latest variable-speed drive dedicated to HVAC applications with ABB, energy-efficient compressed-air systems with Atlas Copco, commissioning-free energy-saving lighting-control system with Feilo Sylvania, integration of artificial Intelligence in HVAC and BMS systems with Ecopilot, energy-saving EC fan technology for air-movement applications with ebm Papst as well as a full range of management services for multi-sited organisations with Ignite Energy and Sabien’s M2G boiler load optimisation control to prevent boiler dry cycling.

Other notable participants include Siemens, Schneider Electric, Total Gas & Power, EnerNOC, E.ON, Gardner Denver, Ingersoll Rand Compression Technologies & Services, Salix Finance, Carbon Trust, Carbon 2018, MWA Technology, Wilson Power Solutions, Fluke and Green Energy Consulting.

The human factor

One of the most important energy-efficiency measures is training. EMEX will this year focus on career development. The issues of skills shortages, improving environmental performance and changing employee behaviour will also be debated.

Experts, such as the operations improvement manager at British Sugar, the senior sustainability manager at Skanska, the energy and environmental manager at the Bank of England, the energy and utilities advisor at the House of Commons, and the energy and sustainability Manager at University College London, all specialists in behaviour change, to name just a few, will share their experience.

Their presentations will leave visitors better equipped to deliver energy efficiency in their organisations — from one-off projects to a strategy that is embedded in staff culture.

Accelerating flexibility in securing energy supply

Demand reduction is a key area for policy makers and companies this year, as this winter will see a very tight margin between supply and demand. The EMA will be launching a new report, ‘Dynamic response’, which will promote a new solution to this problem — flexible load shifting through battery storage from off-peak to peak periods. This system will help reduce costs through reduction in expensive peak-time pricing, reduce transmission charges and deal with security-of-supply issues.

This new technology will be rolled out in the next couple of years; seminars on how to incorporate this system into a business and actually make a profit will be explored in the presentations. This is a decentralising solution that will make renewables a central part of generation on the grid. How the electricity codes will need to be amended will be covered, and the work of the EMA in lobbying for these changes will also be highlighted.

Renewables now account for 25% of UK electricity generation, which is up from 9% in 2011. Good Energy will launch its new web platform for businesses customers to enhance transparency and control of their energy supply, with the ability to match with local renewable generators.

Also exhibiting at EMEX, offshore-wind market leader Dong Energy is leading the way in the development of sophisticated tools that enable businesses to be more flexible in the way that energy is consumed. It has come up with a unique way to help balance its own generation at times when the wind doesn't blow.

National Grid will present Power Responsive, a stakeholder-led programme of work to stimulate increased participation in the different forms of flexible technology in Britain’s energy markets. National Grid also plans to facilitate the rapid growth of demand-side solutions.

EMEX

Corona Energy, a leading independent energy supplier to UK businesses will offer expert advice on energy efficiency, with a fresh approach to managing energy usage being presented at the show. The company was recently awarded UK’s largest annual natural-gas supply contract by the Crown Commercial Service, a Government agency that provides commercial and procurement services for Government departments and the UK public sector.

Also presenting at the show, Origami Energy is an ambitious new-technology company created with the objective of developing the technology and financial that are required to connect, control and actively manage a large network of existing energy-generating/energy-using/energy-storing assets connected to the electricity grid.

Water deregulation

Businesses need to start planning now for the most radical changes in the water industry for a generation. From April 2017, over 1.2 million eligible businesses and other non-household customers in England will be able to choose their supplier of water and wastewater retail services. The smallest high-street shops to the largest public authorities will be able to shop around and choose their retailer or renegotiate their existing deal.

If you prepare well for the changes in advance, deregulation of the water industry presents a fresh opportunity for your company to make significant savings when it comes to managing utility costs.

Companies operating in multiple locations can use just one supplier rather than several, enabling them to negotiate price on a much larger volume and simplify billing process.

Some retailers will work with such clients to reduce their water bill through the introduction of water-efficient kit and metering in order to form the basis of a water performance contract in which water efficiency savings will be shared by the client and the retailer.

In Scotland, where competition was introduced in 2008, Business Stream achieved more than £35 million in water efficiency savings, experienced a 26% increase in customer satisfaction, made available more than £30 million worth of discounts, saved public sector customers more than £20 million and helped customers save 16 billion litres of water and more than 28 000 t of CO2 in the first three years.

Early birds in the market will snap the best deals, so don’t wait until April 2017 to do your benchmark. Business Stream, Water Plus (a new joint venture between Severn Trent and United Utilities), The Water Retail Company, Waterscan, Water 2 Business, to name a few, will be presenting their offerings at EMEX.

Business energy efficiency taxation review

EMEX is the place to get first-hand updates on the reform of the energy-efficiency tax landscape. The previous government responded to fiscal challenges by abolishing the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. The head of business energy tax and reporting from the newly formed Department of Business, Energy & Industry Strategy (BEIS) will give a review on current progress towards a single tax, the merger of CRC and GHG (greenhouse gases), how the tax will be based around CCL (Climate Change Levy), and an update on the consultations for a new streamlined reporting framework. Does this mean business will need to comply with ESOS, the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme, once a year instead of every four years? ESOS is an EU legislation that is written within the English law, so, in principle, it won’t be affected by Brexit.

With such diverse solutions, knowledge and expertise on offer, it is not surprising that people from hundreds of small and medium businesses as well as household names such as Coca-Cola, NHS, British Airways, Harrods, Hilton Worldwide, Boots, RBS, TATA, British Land, Ministry of Defence, AstraZeneca, Sodexo, Dixon Carphone, IBM, Bellrock, BAE Systems, Co-Operative Group, Ofgem, Network Rail, MITIE, CBRE, Whitbread, Mitchells and Butlers, British Telecom, House of Fraser and many county and city councils are already registered to attend.

EMEX runs from the 16 to 17 November at ExCeL, London. Register at the link below and contact chris@emexlondon.com for more information.

You can find Modern Building Services on stand G32.

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