Category: Uncategorized

Building Services Degree Apprentice, Ibrahim Qadir is celebrating after landing one of the industry’s most prestigious accolades; the Rising Star at this year’s BESA Industry Awards.

The Rising Star category celebrates emerging professionals who have demonstrated outstanding performance and show great promise for the future of the industry. Ibrahim’s win in this category underscores his rapid progress and the significant impact he has already made early in his career.

The award recognises, not only his outstanding work in his day-to-day job, which has seen him work on over 20 projects across various technologies, but also his influence in the wider industry as a STEM ambassador, Vice Chair of the CIBSE NextGen Network and Vital Energi’s Future Leaders board.

Ibrahim joined us as part of our Net Zero Apprenticeship programme and has since worked on over 20 projects across various technologies.  He graduated from  his level 3 apprenticeship and has now moved on to a Higher Education degree.

If you’d like to know more about apprenticeships at Vital Energi, click here.

Vital Energi has partnered with Sandwell and West Birmingham (SWB) NHS Trust to deliver a decarbonisation solution which will reduce the carbon footprint of Sandwell General Hospital by over 2,000 tonnes a year, as part of the Trust’s journey towards achieving net zero carbon emissions.

The project includes the installation of a 1MW air and water source heat pump system, which will significantly reduce the hospital’s reliance on fossil fuels by providing low carbon heating and cooling into the hospital.

Over 1,000 light fittings across the hospital are being upgraded to energy-efficient LEDs, which not only reduces energy consumption but also enhances the environment for patients and staff by improving lighting quality and comfort.

Vital Energi is also improving the energy efficiency of the hospital buildings by upgrading building fabric, windows, roofs, and pipework insulation, which will help prevent heat loss, reduce draughts, and lower overall energy bills, contributing to more sustainable buildings.

As a result of these combined measures, Sandwell General Hospital is expected to reduce its carbon emissions by 2,000 tonnes each year, which is the equivalent to taking nearly 2,000 petrol cars off the road a year.

The project received grant funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), which is administered by Salix on behalf of the Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

Steve Black, Account Director at Vital Energi, said:

“We are delighted to be working with Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust to deliver this innovative energy solution, which not only supports the Trust’s commitment to reaching net zero but also helps create a more sustainable healthcare environment, and a more comfortable environment for patients, staff, and visitors. By combining renewable technologies with comprehensive energy conservation measures, we are demonstrating the tangible benefits of decarbonisation in healthcare settings.”

This partnership highlights Vital Energi’s commitment to delivering innovative energy solutions that drive sustainability in the healthcare sector, helping organisations meet their environmental goals while improving operational efficiency.

The project will be delivered through the Carbon and Energy Fund Framework, which has been specifically created to fund complex energy infrastructure upgrades for public sector organisations.

Vital Energi have been awarded a three-year contract to deliver bespoke operation and maintenance services across the L&Q Energy’s portfolio of heat networks across London, which consists of 22 developments providing communal heating and hot water to over 4,000 residents.

Mersey Heat, being delivered in partnership by Vital Energi, Ener-Vate and Peel Waters has quickly established itself as one of the most prominent heat networks projects in the country and we were happy to host our second ministerial visit in two weeks, welcoming Bill Esterson, MP for Sefton, and the recently appointed Chair of the Commons Select Committee for Energy Security & Net Zero.

As DESNZ plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the UK’s heating infrastructure, we were pleased to see the Sefton Central MP take such a keen interest in this pioneering renewable heat project that is changing the face of Liverpool’s low-carbon infrastructure.

Mersey Heat, which is owned by Peel and being delivered in partnership with Vital Energi and Ener-Vate, has seen the creation of an innovative energy centre which houses one of the largest water source heat pumps in the UK and takes heat from the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. This heat is distributed around the city via a 6km district heating network with the potential to deliver 45GW of heat to 6,700 homes and 1.3 million square feet of commercial space at full build out.

The initial phase alone is estimated to save 2,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

In addition to the technical achievements, large infrastructure projects like this are also an opportunity to embed ourselves in the local community, deliver social value and leave impactful, long-lasting legacies through employment and training opportunities, partnerships with local groups and supporting local charities. So far we have been able to place seven apprentices on the project, reached 340 local children through our Climate Education Sessions and supported Claire House Children’s Hospice through Peel Waters annual Dragon Boat Race.

This visit underscores the importance of sustainable heating solutions in the UK’s journey towards a greener future and Mersey Heat clearly illustrates how we can implement cutting-edge technologies that contribute to a fossil-free future while meeting the energy needs of communities across the country.

The tour, organized by Vital Energi and Ener-Vate, in collaboration with Peel, ADE, DESNZ, and Liverpool City Council, encompassed the Mersey Heat  Tobacco Warehouse show apartment, plant room, canal pumping system and the energy centre which houses the water source heat pump. It provided a comprehensive look at how this ambitious project is shaping the future of heat networks.

The subsequent Q&A provided an opportunity to learn more about the evolution of Mersey Heat and how it’s changing the face of energy in Liverpool, reducing carbon and delivering energy security, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

It was a pleasure to be part of the group extending a warm, Liverpool welcome to with Bill Esterson, MP and we look forwards to a bright future for heat networks.

Lack of grid capacity is a potential hurdle to the UK meeting its net zero targets. Many organisations are hoping to utilise renewable electricity generation as part of their decarbonisation process, but face waits until 2030 and onwards for connection.

Vital Energi’s Design Director, EC&I, Steve Kelly, sets out the challenges facing UK organisations and helps explain how they can navigate the UK’s thorny issue of grid capacity to develop viable energy projects which will propel them to net zero.

A brief history of the UK’s Grid…

The electrical infrastructure in the UK has been evolving for over a century, from an individual and regionalised set of small supply networks to the UK National Grid Transmission Network and Distribution System that we have today. This is made up of 14 Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and 17 Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNOs).

Initially power generation was produced by strategically placed large fossil fuel generation plants such as coal and gas fired power stations that used a top-down approach to supplying end users via an electrical network. This was subsequently supplemented by Nuclear and Hydro electric generation.

To facilitate the mass movement of electrical energy from one point to another, a complex electrical network consisting of National Grid’s Transmission Network and localised Distribution Network Operators (DNO and IDNOs) were created to carry the power over long distances from the generation power plant to the customers that required power.

In addition to the larger power stations there has always been the ability for smaller, innovative, and greener embedded generation to be able to connect onto the network such as CHP, hydro and biomass, and more recently solar, wind and battery storage systems.

To further strengthen the Grid’s stability to provide power, a series of sub-sea interconnections have been installed from the UK to Belgium, France, Ireland, Netherlands and, more recently, Norway. This has enabled the bulk transfer of power to and from the European continent and provided us with stability and energy security.

Why is Grid Capacity a potential issue for the UK’s net zero targets?

Up until recently there has always been headroom on both the DNO and Transmission Network for embedded generation to be able to connect. These embedded generation schemes are generally made up of such technologies such as CHP (combined heat and power), biomass generators, roof and field mounted solar PV and have often been installed as part of wider schemes to reduce both energy consumption and carbon emissions and achieve BREEAM status for development.

Along with new forms of generation, additional loads are being introduced on the aging electrical infrastructure on both transmission and distribution systems. In line with net zero goals set by the government, consumers and the public are trying to reduce carbon usage and become net zero as soon as possible. This has resulted in initiatives to reduce the use of fuel and gas, and with the growing popularity of electric vehicles and home heat pumps, there is additional strain on the electrical network.

The additional load and generation that is trying to connect has put massive pressure on both the DNO’s local network and, more so, on the transmission network. Although it may be perceived that the additional generation and load may ‘net off’ it is often the location of the installed equipment that is the problem. For example, a new offshore wind farm in the northeast may be the ideal location in terms of wind, constructability, and planning, but if the load is required in the south, this puts substantial strain on the transmission network to deliver this required power through its current infrastructure. As well as the underground cables and overhead cable lines, all other parts of the electrical infrastructure, such as substations, need to be reviewed to ensure that they are capable of accommodating the new constraints that generation puts on it.

In a statement from National Grid, they said:

This is a phenomenal undertaking for National Grid, and it’s going to take some time and resources to complete.

Reasons to be optimistic for the future of the UK Grid

As of February 2023, the National Grid had a connections queue of 257MW worth of projects waiting to connect against a 147GW of low carbon requirement to achieve net zero. Unfortunately, only 30-40% of the applications in the queue materialise into an actual project. This has meant that new connections are being given a date of between 12-15years before they can connect, which are dates that are not acceptable to investors.

One cause for optimism is that the core players with the power to transform our grid infrastructure have all issued definitive indicators that there is appetite for reforms which will enable a stronger, more resilient, more flexible grid.

In order to try and free up capacity and remove the “speculative projects”, as of March 2023 the National Grid published a 5-point plan to help.

1) Operating a Transmission Entry Capacity Amnesty until April 2023, allowing developers to terminate their connection contracts without incurring liabilities, freeing up capacity in the queue.

2) Updating modelling assumptions to reflect current connection rates and reducing the assumption that most projects in the queue will connect.

3) Changing the treatment of storage, including batteries, on the network to allow them to connect faster and free up capacity for other projects.

4) Developing new contractual terms for connection contracts to manage the queue more efficiently so that those projects that are progressing can connect and those that are not can leave the queue.

5) A ‘soon-to-be-made’ offer of an interim option for storage projects to connect to the network sooner, but with the caveat that they may be required to turn off more frequently when the system is under stress without initially being paid to do so.

Additionally, OFGEM issued an open letter on future reforms to the electricity connections process, which focuses on reforms to deliver benefits to current and future customers, accelerate progress to net zero, begin to deliver as soon as possible, coordinate across onshore and offshore networks on the transmission and distribution grids and ensure the reforms are resilient to wider reforms.

In April 2023, the The Energy Networks Association (ENA) published a three-step plan to speed up connections to the grid. If successful, this will result in mature projects which are closer to delivery gaining priority. Another core priority is changing how transmission and distribution networks co-ordinate connections, improving their interactivity. The final of the three points aims to bring greater flexibility for storage customers through new contractual options.

A combination of the work being undertaken by National Grid, OFGEM and the ENA, alongside the new investment in the Grid infrastructure should enable projects to connect earlier than their proposed date, but these could still be 2030 onwards.

This issue has become such a frustration to investors and customers that the former Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak detailed changes needed to be made in his new approach to net zero speech given on the 20th September 2023.

How can organisations best manage their potential low-carbon electricity projects?

Although there are encouraging noises being made by both National Grid and the Government, new connections will still be beyond most customers’ requirements for their own targets to reach net zero.

It is now more important than ever to ensure that grid applications are progressed as early as possible and that planning and funding is in place to ensure that “shovel ready” projects can connect to the grid as quickly as required and they are not sat in a queue awaiting a long connection date.

Additional mitigation measures can also be considered to overcome these timescales by ensuring that any proposed scheme does not significantly impact either the DNO’s or Grid’s existing network. Schemes such as Active Network Management, Curtailment schemes, export limitation, fault level reduction could be introduced into the design at an early stage, ensuring an early connection.

Communications should be started with the local Distribution Network Operator at the feasibility stage of the scheme. This will allow any potential limitations on the network to be known about in advance of a timely and costly application being submitted, and should also inform the size and design of the scheme. Early engagement with DNOs has enabled us to convert many schemes into real projects that might otherwise have been sat in a queue.

Many clients who wish to use renewable electricity generation as a way to decarbonise are now in a position where this is not viable within their set timeframe. If we scale this across the entire country, then it becomes a genuine barrier to the UK meeting its net zero targets.

Experienced energy partners, like Vital Energi, can help clients evolve their projects so that they are both technically and economically viable. All schemes are unique, so solutions need to be unique too, but by partnering with an experienced service provider, clients are able to access their considerable experience of finding creative solutions to unlock projects.

If you’d like to discuss your potential project and the options available to you then please get in touch with us. 

Marking the first ministerial heat network visit under the new government, Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, stopped by Liverpool’s Mersey Heat Network Energy Centre this week. Led by Peel Group’s district heat network specialist Ener-Vate, and being delivered in partnership with low carbon solutions specialist, Vital Energi, the heat network has been twice funded by the Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) and will provide low carbon heating and hot water to existing and new build regeneration projects for the locale, with plans to scale up to expand to a wider regional area.

The Mersey Heat Network Energy Centre is a true success story for the industry. The project was initially awarded £1.3m worth of funding in round 2 towards the first phase of its heat network which would connect new homes and businesses within the development. It was later awarded £6.2m in round 8 to fund one of two 3MW low-carbon heat pumps and an expansion to include Liverpool’s Three Graces buildings.

The Liverpool Waters regeneration development, spanning 2.3km across the city’s northern docks, will benefit from low carbon heat and hot water from a Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP), harnessing heat from the Leeds/Liverpool Canal. The innovative Energy Centre, which is being designed and built by Vital Energi, will reduce Liverpool’s carbon footprint and improve the energy-efficiency levels of over 6,700 new homes, 1.3 million sq feet of commercial space, the Titanic Hotel and conference spaces.

The funding has also facilitated a potential further extension of the network to the Grade II listed Cunard Building, George’s Dock Building and Museum of Liverpool, all of which define an iconic skyline along Liverpool’s Pier Head.

In April this year, the Princes Dock’s office buildings became the first commercial buildings to connect to the Mersey Heat Network. The Mersey Network Heat Energy Centre near Great Howard Street which houses the WSHP is set to complete by the end of this financial year.

Vital Energi and Ener-vate joined forces at Peel’s annual Liverpool Waters Dragon Boat Race which takes place each year on the iconic River Mersey.

The event combines the excitement of competition with a fantastic demonstration of community spirit and, most importantly, raises money for a very worthy cause.

Once again, our team fell short of the gold medal, but our crew paddled their way to an impressive second-place finish.  The only result which actually matters on this day, however, is the over £30,000 raised for Claire House Children’s Hospital.

Congratulations to Peel on a fantastic day, the 15 boat crews who took part and the overall winners, If We Ran The Zoon and Fisher German.

Here’s to making a difference, one paddle at a time.

Vital Energi are delighted to announce that we are now an Independent Connection Provider, thanks to accreditation from the National Electricity Registration Scheme.

As part of an ongoing process to introduce competition to the electrical service market, Lloyd’s Register operate the National Electricity Registration Scheme (NERS) on behalf of the UK Distribution Network Operators (DNOs). This allows ICP’s to carry out contestable connections work on the UK electricity network.

As an ICP, we bring knowledge and experience in the design and delivery of electrical infrastructure to support the heating, cooling and electricity needs of our clients; offering a more responsive, cost-effective, faster and coordinated utility approach.

Our vast experience of working with developers and consultants in the design and delivery of low carbon infrastructure projects enables us to take full ownership for the successful delivery of the electricity infrastructure.

The Leeds PIPES heat network has been recognised as an international exemplar of a city-wide heating solution, following a visit by the Canadian-based Boltzmann Institute. The delegation attended as part of a pan-European “study tour”, to gain crucial insights to aid in the expansion of Canada’s low carbon energy infrastructure.

Leeds PIPES, one of the UK’s fastest growing, major heat networks provides homes, businesses and public buildings with affordable, reliable, low carbon heat and hot water through the use of recovered heat from a nearby Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility.
Being delivered by Vital Energi, in partnership with Leeds City Council and Ener-Vate, the scheme was responsible for a near 6,000 tonnes of carbon reduction in 2023 alone, and has delivered over 430 green jobs across the Leeds city region.
Its current customers include some of the city’s most notable organisations, including Leeds Playhouse, Leeds Beckett University and St James’s University Hospital.

Connecting over 2,300 homes and 28 key buildings across the city centre, the city-wide heating network has attracted national recognition, having recently won the “Energy Project of the Year – Residential” category at the prestigious Energy Awards in London.
The project is also making significant local impact through inspiring the next generation of heating and electric engineers, as well as aspiring design and construction professionals. 40 students from the Urban Energy Systems course at the University of Leeds also had the opportunity to tour the network in action and gain unique insights from senior staff at the organisation.
Representatives from The Boltzmann Institute visited energy facilities across eight countries in Europe in advance of their ambitious plans for district energy expansion across Canada, helping the country reach its goals for net zero emissions by 2050.

To find out more about the Leeds PIPES network, visit: https://www.leeds-pipes.co.uk/.