Vital Energi Migration Prototyping

Category: Uncategorized

  • Vital Join the Ground Source Heat Pump Association

    Vital Join the Ground Source Heat Pump Association

    

    Vital Join the Ground Source Heat Pump Association

    We are pleased to announce our new membership of the Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA).

    The GSHPA was formed to drive forward quality, durability and customer outcomes in the industry by improving standards and the delivery of a technical compulsory professional development programme. Its aim is to provide the strongest possible sector support for the ground-source and water-source community, end-to-end, supply-chain to end-user.

    We took the decision to join the GSHPA as we believe these technologies will be a strong contributor to the UK’s carbon reduction journey and we expect they will continue to play an important role in legislation and regulations such as Building Regulations, Standard Assessment Procedure, Future Homes Standard and the GLA’s London Plan.

    As a company, we have been involved in promoting heat pumps in the UK market in ways ranging from advising the Government on overcoming the hurdles heat pump technology faced to undertaking feasibility studies to demonstrate their technical and commercial viability.  Most recently we are working to deliver the UK’s largest water source heat pump scheme at Queen’s Quay in Clydebank.

    We are looking forward to the year ahead, indeed, to the decade, when, in continuing to increase our levels of activity, working on behalf of our membership, and for the wider heat pump industry, we will promote and offer the only currently available and proven technology to decarbonise heating and cooling in the built environment

    Bean Beanland , GSHPA Chairman

    If you’d like to learn more about the GSHPA and the work they do then please click here: https://www.gshp.org.uk/

    Government estate
  • NHS Tayside’s Energy Scheme Sees Further Growth

    NHS Tayside’s Energy Scheme Sees Further Growth

    

    NHS Tayside’s Energy Scheme Sees Further Growth

    NHS Tayside’s 4MWe CHP energy scheme will see further growth with the connection of the refurbished Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the new Children’s Theatre Suite (CTS) at Ninewells Hospital.

    The project will see us supply, install, commission, and set to work additional steam and CHP generated low temperature hot water pipework to enable the upgraded facilities to connect to the existing energy scheme that we installed in 2017. Additionally, we will be supplying and installing two 600kW plate heat exchangers into the new NICU/CTS plant room which will ensure the heat source water reaching the facilities is at the correct temperature, and installing a new 750 litre expansion vessel in the existing energy centre to manage the increase in energy demand.

    We originally completed upgrades to the existing infrastructure at Ninewells Hospital which saw substantial enhancements to the energy centre. Additionally, we implemented a range of energy conservation measures at Perth Royal Infirmary and Stracathro Hospital to reduce emissions further, along with replacing over 22,000 light sources to new energy efficient LEDs across all three sites in the largest ever lighting upgrade to take place in fully operational hospitals. This is all guaranteed in an energy performance contract which will save the Health Board £2.6m per year in energy costs for a period of 25 years, with the first year of operation saving an additional £498k and second year saving an additional £337k

    The new pipework will be adopted by Vital as an integral part of the existing system which we have been providing operation and maintenance services for since its completion in 2017. By connecting the new facilities to the existing system, the capital costs are significantly reduced for the Health Board’s latest development as there is no need to purchase energy generation equipment

    John Runniff, Vital’s Account Development Manager

    The new facilities are part of a multi-phase project which will see the construction of a modern CTS comprising pre-assessment/waiting area, two operating theatres and a 10-bed ward; a refurbished NICU and the completion of the first phase of enhancement and resilience improvements to the existing high and low voltage electricity supply distribution systems.

    We are expected to finish our works on site by April 2020.

    Healthcare
  • Vital Supports Road to Heat Meter Regulation Compliance

    Vital Supports Road to Heat Meter Regulation Compliance

    

    Vital Supports Road to Heat Meter Regulation Compliance

    The revised Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations came into force on the 27th November which affect organisations that manage properties which are supplied with heat from a communal source, via a hot water heating system. The regulations will place a burden on Housing Associations and Property Managers to ensure operators of eligible properties provide individual metering and billing for their occupants.

    The underlying principle of the regulations is that people are billed for what they actually consume. Individual billing provides greater visibility and control over their energy usage and costs.

    Failure to comply with the regulations puts the operator at risk of fines for non-compliance. The level of fine is set by an adjudicator and can be for up to 100% of the cost of installing the compliant solution.

    We can help and support operators to take the steps to understand their liabilities and develop solutions to achieve compliance.

    This will include;

    • Helping to define the classification of housing stock and the related liability
    • Carrying out detailed surveys and cost-effective assessments
    • Identifying technology solutions tailored to the client requirements
    • Full project and delivery management
    • Provide options for flexible financing solutions that remove the capex burden from the client organisation.

    The road to regulatory compliance is a two-stage process. After the 27th November Housing Associations, Property Managers and building operators will only have a year to review the classification of their housing stock and notify the OPSS (Office of Product and Safety Standards) by November 27th, 2021. This means that housing operators need to identify and determine whether their properties are classified as viable, exempt or open class, followed by completing the viability assessment tool for any properties within the “Open Class” group.

    The BEIS viability tool will determine whether additional works would be cost effective, If the tool determines the works are not cost effective the property will be classified as exempt. Otherwise the property will be classified as exempt.

    The second stage towards compliance will require the owner or operator of the heat system to install heat meters, heat cost allocators or smart technology in all properties classified as “Open Class” by September 1sth 2022.

    We can work with you to provide:

    • Stock Classification Evaluation Support
    • Survey Support
    • Cost Effective Evaluations
    • Technology Appraisals
    • AMR Solution Development
    • Full Project Scope
    • Procurement Guidance
    • Project Financing
    • Project Delivery
    • Meter Management

    Our soon to be launched smart app technology, Glass, can reduce installation costs, giving residents visibility of their consumption while ensuring housing operators can easily reconcile their finances and debt burden – it is designed to provide an affordable  and effective solution to the issue of compliance.

    Further education
  • Plans approved for Liverpool energy centre

    Plans approved for Liverpool energy centre

    

    Energy Centre Liverpool

    Plans for an energy centre in Liverpool with renewable technologies to help provide low carbon heat and hot water to residents and businesses have been approved by Liverpool City Council yesterday(16 February).

    The Peel NRE facility between Great Howard Street and Sherwood Street is expected to save around 4,200 tonnes of carbon per year, this will be achieved through the primary use of water source heat pumps and thermal stores to provide heat to Peel NRE’s Mersey Heat district heat network.

    It includes plans for two 3MW water source heat pumps which would work on an ‘open loop’ system to take heat from water abstracted from the Leeds/Liverpool canal before pumping it back into the dock system.

    Two thermal stores capable of holding 260 cubic metres of hot water will also be installed alongside heat only gas boilers with a combined capacity of up to 40MW as a backup, and for use during times of peak demand.

    The energy centre will provide heat for up to 9,000 homes and 4 million sq ft of commercial space at Peel L&P’s Liverpool Waters development, it will also connect to other key developments in the area.  The project is part funded by the Merseyside Pension Fund.

    The Mersey Heat Network is a major part of Liverpool’s developing low-carbon infrastructure and Peel NRE receiving planning permission for this new facility is fantastic news. The energy centre will be instrumental, not only to the network’s immediate success connecting new developments, but also to its continued expansion. The project has been future proofed with the capability to connect to existing city centre buildings, so that it can meet the long-term decarbonisation goals of Liverpool.

    Mike Cooke , Vital Energi Managing Director, North & Scotland

    This new facility will use renewable technologies as the main energy source to generate heat for the Mersey Heat network and connect homes and offices to low carbon heat and hot water. We’re pleased to receive planning permission for the energy centre to help meet national and regional climate emergency targets and we will explore options to decarbonise the network further as and when new technology develops.

    Jonathan Burley, Peel NRE Commercial Director

  • Vital Welcome Two More Apprentices

    Vital Welcome Two More Apprentices

    

    Vital Welcome Two More Apprentices

    We have a long-standing commitment to supporting apprenticeships and we are delighted to continue this tradition with the appointment of two new recruits based in London

    Dylan Hodges will start his new role by joining the site team on the Royal Warwick Square project in Kensington, having previously worked in labouring and maintenance.

    Nathan Crick will be supporting our Mechanical Fit Out Supervisor working on the West End Gate project in Marylebone and is joining us straight from school and at 16 is our youngest ever apprenticeship recruit.

    Their involvement on these schemes will allow Dylan and Nathan to gain practical experience and knowledge of heat network projects, whilst studying Level 3 Plumbing at College.

    The apprentices of today are the skilled workforce and leaders of tomorrow and we’re delighted to give these two enthusiastic people an opportunity. We will now put them alongside some of the most experienced and knowledgeable people in the industry and ensure they get the support and experience they need to achieve their full attention

    James Guyatt, MEP Fit Out Manager, Vital Energi

    Further education
  • St Edward Awards Vital Additional M&E Work on Kensington Development

    St Edward Awards Vital Additional M&E Work on Kensington Development

    

    St Edward Awards Vital Additional M&E Work on Upcoming Kensington Development

    Our involvement with the energy scheme at Berkeley St Edward’s Royal Warwick Square has developed as we have been awarded the £8.9m contract to provide the complete mechanical and electrical infrastructure for two residential blocks and the leisure suite.

    The work will see us complete the entire shell and core build out for 127 apartments, leisure facilities including a gym and pool, and the double basement car park, and involves installation of the low temperature hot water, chilled water, boosted cold water and low voltage distribution systems from the basement plant rooms to each apartment. We will also be installing all domestic hot and cold water services and heating and cooling systems to each property, the leisure suite and communal areas.

    Each apartment will also benefit from the installation of their own heat interface unit (HIU) to distribute the heating and cooling supply to each property

    This is the second project we have worked on at Royal Warwick Square after we won the scheme to expand the existing energy centre to cater for additional demand from 6 new residential blocks, which has seen us install two boilers, a 210 kWe CHP engine and a new chilled plant room, along with low temperature hot water, chilled water and low voltage connections to the blocks. Our knowledge and experience of the site has put us in the best possible position to successfully deliver the comprehensive mechanical and electrical infrastructure for two of the blocks to ensure they are ready for client handover.

    Rob Callaghan, Regional Director for the South

    Royal Warwick Square is a collection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom properties with private leisure facilities in the Royal Borough of Chelsea and Kensington.

    Work for the additional phase is expected to be complete by February 2021.

    Urban networks
  • Vital Wins Further Work at Camden Lock Village

    Vital Wins Further Work at Camden Lock Village

    

    Vital Wins Further Work at Camden Lock Village

    We are continuing our work at Camden Lock Village after being awarded a 3 year operation and maintenance agreement for the energy scheme at the mixed-use Hawley Wharf residential development which we installed in 2018, and we will also be providing full metering and billing services to the properties.

    The scope of works will see our engineers provide 24/7 maintenance and support for the energy centre and associated equipment, the remote plant rooms, and the entire district heating and cooling network, all in accordance with industry guidelines laid out in the SFG20 recommendations to ensure quality of service.

    In addition, we will be providing maintenance to the 195 heat interface units (HIUs) and the 195 mechanical ventilation with heat recovery units (MVHRs) within each property.

    As well as completing all planned preventative maintenance, we will also be providing reactive maintenance for the entire energy scheme to quickly resolve any unexpected issues. We are delighted to continue working on the Camden Lock Village energy network for our client Labtech and look forward to providing a high-quality service for our customers.

    Rob Callaghan, Vital’s Regional Director for the South

    Hawley Wharf is a 580,000 sq ft mixed-use space consisting of 195 apartments, co-working space, 60 restaurants, public spaces, arthouse cinema, a new primary school and 150 retail stores. We previously completed the installation of the energy scheme which was designed by Hoare Lea with consultants Aecom and includes a 185kWe CHP engine, two 1,700kW condensing gas boilers, three 8,000 litre thermal stores, and three 633kW air cooled chillers.

    Urban networks
  • Supporting You To Become Compliant to the New Heat M&B Regulations

    Supporting You To Become Compliant to the New Heat M&B Regulations

    

    Supporting You To Become Compliant to the New Heat M&B Regulations

    Do you know your obligations in becoming compliant to the new Heat Metering & Billing Regulations?

    Vital have developed a range of solutions to support heat network operators. This includes stock assessments, technology, and funding options. These measures will support heat network operators in understanding their liabilities under the regulation and what is required in order for them to deliver compliance. If you’re not sure whether the changes impact you or your organisation, then please read on.

    Housing providers and block management companies across public and private sectors will be required to comply with the updated heat network metering and billing regulations due to be issued in May 2020. The proposed update clarifies the viability assessment criteria for first time heat metering installations, for properties in the “Open” classification (generally this applies to older district or communally heated blocks where the viability of heat metering installation has been questioned, and where heat consumption is often wrapped up with rent or service charges). As a result of, this bill via rent with no link to individual consumption will no longer be acceptable.

    The assumption that runs through the M&B evaluation tool is that the behaviour of consumers will change when they are metered for what they consume. The cost of the fuel saved as a result of the reduced demand, forms the basis for the cost effectiveness evaluation. The assessment tool within the December 2019 Technical Index gives the clearest indication of the thresholds that will mandate installations of first-time heat metering, or the installation of heat cost allocators.

    Once the revised assessment tool is published, heat suppliers will be obligated to carry out the cost-effectiveness assessment and install meters or cost allocators where required, within a specified compliance period.

    Vital are liaising with key industry and government stakeholders to prepare technical and commercial support for those with affected property portfolios.

    At Vital we offer:

    • Housing stock assessment support

    • Technical solutions for data collection and account management

    • Financing options

    • Digitalization of Energy data that allows users and operators to understand and optimise network performance.

    We can help you to deliver a complete end to end journey to comply with the latest regulations.  If you’d like more information, please contact us via [email protected]

    Government estate
  • Decarbonising Islington Waste and Recycling Centre

    Decarbonising Islington Waste and Recycling Centre

    

    Decarbonising Islington Waste and Recycling Centre

    Islington Council had a target for their Waste and Recycling Centre to be decarbonised and to take steps towards a greener and healthier future for the borough. The project is now complete, and this milestone achievement marks a significant step forward in the Council’s efforts towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2030. The Waste and Recycling Centre will be the first council building to be completely transformed with energy saving upgrades.

    Vital Energi installed 852 solar panels on the roof of the recycling centre and delivered essential mechanical and electrical work which included the replacement of six Air Handling Units (AHUs) with electric and refrigerant coils. The generation system in the plantroom which was run by two Direct Gas Fired Domestic Hot Water (DHW) now runs via an air-to-water source heat pump DHW system which supplies the centre with hot water.

    Vital Energi upgraded the Low Voltage (LV) electrical infrastructure by building a new LV switch room which included the installation of lighting, power, containment, fire alarm and protection services. This upgrade will improve energy efficiency, increase carbon savings to the environment and reduce energy consumptions and costs.

    “Islington Council has a commitment to achieving their carbon net zero target by 2030 and this project not only displays the importance of renewable technologies, but it also takes the council a step further towards reaching their goal. Great to see the impact social value initiatives have had on the charity and local football clubs, strengthening the community whilst ensuring we are protecting the planet for our future generations”.

    Gerry Davies, Regional Director, Vital Energi

    To celebrate the completion of the project, the council organised a ceremony which saw the attendance of the Mayor of Islington, Council Champion, and many others present at the inauguration of the new project.

    “As a council, we’re committed to making the borough a greener, healthier place for everyone. To truly tackle the climate emergency, it is going to need the whole borough to play its part. I’m delighted that we can lead the way by making existing buildings as green as possible, using the best technologies available including solar power to create clean energy, and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The transformation of the Waste and Recycling Centre shows the huge benefits and impact that greener technologies can bring, and how vital it is for local and national government to work together on projects like this. By taking advantage of state-of-the-art technology, we are reducing our environmental impact and showing how we can make a difference, leading by example in combatting climate change.”

    Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member

    Vital Energi share the council’s passion for maximising the social value of the project and were able to sponsor Kentish Town under 12s girls football team, Vital Energi organised two football tournaments which we titled ‘The Vital Energi Cup’ with a family fun day theme held at Market Road Football Pitches in Islington. The tournament helped raise more than £700 for Kentish Town F.C., all proceedings went towards equipment and pitch hire, and we provided a new kit to one of the Kentish Town teams.

    Vital Energi went further and raised over £7000 for Islington Giving towards their Islington Winter Appeal which helps to make an impact in the local community, helping to create opportunities for isolated older people to make connections and beat loneliness.

    “Since the beginning of our partnership with Vital Energi, the team have gone above and beyond in their social value commitments. In addition to significant contributions to the work of Islington Giving, Ben and the Vital team have been all hands on deck to organise fundraising events – from raffles to an under 13’s community football tournament – and support our events and campaigns. Their support is helping to making a real difference to the lives of people in Islington, providing essential funding to a range of local community projects like Grub Club – helping isolated older men to make connections and build confidence in the kitchen, and Mother2Mother – a group providing therapeutic support for female caregivers. We are so grateful to the team for their enthusiasm and dedication and look forward to continuing to work together to make Islington a more equal place, where everyone has the opportunity to live a good life”.

    Lisa Robinson at Islington Giving, Director of Communications and Development

  • We Welcome 3,000 NHG Residents to O&M and Metering & Billing Services

    We Welcome 3,000 NHG Residents to O&M and Metering & Billing Services

    

    Vital Energi Welcome 3,000 Notting Hill Genesis Residents to O&M and Metering & Billing Services

    Vital Energi are delighted to announce that they have been awarded a 5-year contract to deliver Operation and Maintenance (O&M) and Metering & Billing (M&B) services to over 3,000 residents connected to district and communal heat networks in and around the London area on behalf of Notting Hill Genesis, one of the UK’s largest housing associations.

    Katy Lister, Client Relationship Director for Vital Energi explains, “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to partner with Notting Hill Genesis and play a crucial role in ensuring the efficiency, reliability and sustainability of their heat networks, and we are committed to providing an exceptional service to enhance the communities we serve.”

    “We are now working to upgrade some of the heat networks to ensure reliable heat and hot water is delivered to residents, the energy centres perform optimally, and the in-home heating systems are all performing as expected. Thank you to Notting Hill Genesis for entrusting us with this important responsibility. We are excited about the opportunity to make a positive impact and build a long-lasting partnership.”

    Having well-run, efficient heat networks on our estates is so important to the residents living there, so we’re pleased to have agreed this five-year contract with Vital Energi which will offer consistency of service across those estates. The maintenance of some of our heat networks has been a challenge over recent years, and Vital Energi’s knowledge and expertise has been central to our efforts to give residents the quality of service we aspire to, and they deserve.

    Laura Coleman, Heat Network Operations Manager, NHG

    Resident Drop In Image NHG Press Release 15042024

    Vital Energi are already working collaboratively with Notting Hill Genesis to engage with residents within local communities and have hosted resident drop-in sessions at the purpose-built Community Hub at The Factory Quarter, and Woodberry Grove developments. The sessions have given residents the opportunity to meet the team, share any concerns and discuss key topics such as the imminent upgrades to the heat interface units within their homes, improvements to the energy centre and the roll-out of their new metering and billing services. Residents also have the chance to share their ideas the types of social value initiatives they would like to see in their communities.

    Solution detail