Delivering answers on effective energy management

It is necessary for the industry to come together to safeguard and ensure the future of energy resource efficiency, says Nicola Meadows, event director of The Energy Event.

With a constantly shifting energy sector, it can be quite challenging to stay abreast of the changes and understand what impact it may have on businesses across the public and private sectors. During its current term in power, the government has signposted significant changes to legislation and we are starting to see these come through in 2016. These address the Renewable Obligation and Feed-in tariffs, tax rationalisation for commercial and industrial end-users, and further adjustments to the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive, to name a few.

Local authorities are very much at the heart of discussions as they seek resource efficiency solutions in the face of austerity. Public sector organisations, with ever decreasing budgets, are under pressure to do more with less. Furthermore, the squeeze is also being exerted upon organisations as residents, tax payers and consumers demand greener, more cost efficient solutions. Campaign groups and those who were once considered to be on the fringes of mainstream thinking, are now firmly gaining their footing and leading the cause to move to more sustainable sources of energy. The scientific evidence‑base is also now strengthening, so much so that few can refute the experts.

Challenging the sector
Organised in partnership with key associations such as, the Major Energy Users Council, Energy Institute and Energy Services per cent Technology Association, the Energy Event at the NEC, Birmingham, on 13-14 September is a ‘must attend’ exhibition and conference. Not only is this an event for major energy users, it is also a key date in the calendar for decision makers as they grapple with energy supply, energy security and energy management concerns. The event is a key place for visitors to understand the latest policies, compliance requirements and find the latest technologies to drive a reduction in energy costs and improve their sustainability performance.

Apart from policy changes, there are also a number of issues which seem to be challenging the sector, including energy security which remains a thorny issue for UK businesses. With DECC intending to hold an early capacity auction in the winter of 2017/18, and energy suppliers not being allowed to delay payments, businesses could face higher than anticipated energy bills next year. But what will the implications be for your business?

Smart consumption
General sentiment is that the current monitoring systems are only useful for providers to measure and price. However, it also proposes further thinking to those within the sector; can smart metering help to reduce the size of the grid by facilitating smarter consumption? At present, monthly meter readings cause approximately 35 per cent of bills to be estimated. Better monitoring should stimulate behaviour change, sensible consumption and supply-chain awareness by providing accurate data on energy used.

On a bigger scale, The Energy Event, will be tackling these key topics, as well as the changes to energy policy, the advancement of half-hourly usage (P272) and demand‑side response (DSR). It will be exploring how various sectors can engage with smarter monitoring to improve energy management through accurate billing and consumption. The exhibition aims to provide visitors with answers and solutions to the challenges that are facing their business, making it a one‑stop shop for all of the industry’s needs.

Conveniently situated at the NEC, the event is ideally located to bring together the industry, with experts, decision makers and leaders under one roof for two days. Building on last year’s success, The Energy Event provides key opportunities for networking and professional development.

Looking to the future
The Energy Event organisers are also on the lookout for tomorrow’s energy management leaders and have launched a national search to find the industry’s ‘Rising Stars’.

The competition will celebrate trailblazing initiatives that challenge the way resource management works and inspire a new generation of efficiency managers.

Individuals based in or operating in the UK, who are developing innovative ways to improve energy efficiency, energy procurement, energy supply or are demonstrating best practice within the industry, are invited to apply via a short registration form on the RWM 2016 website.

Energy Information theatre
The Energy Information theatre is the place to be where key industry players come together to debate, discuss and share insights on the future of energy resource efficiency.

This year’s keynote speaker is Christopher Hodgson, Environment and Sustainability Manager at the Guardian News per cent Media. He will be sharing The Guardian’s accelerated path to low carbon energy management solutions and full supply chain engagement. He will be sharing insights and challenges from the digital media sector’s journey towards sustainable energy use. He will be exploring what drives energy consumption in digital media and what technologies and monitoring tools can be utilised to achieve green success. Across the two day event, the theatre programme will be informative and bold in facing industry challenges. There will be key panel discussions which cover ESOS next steps, including a guide from regulators and implementers on achieving long-term environmental compliance.

Key topics to be discussed include LED lighting and how to save your business money by retrofitting LED lighting. There will also be opportunities to explore a case study from Philips which explains how to guarantee 20 per cent savings on energy consumption with a one year payback on investment.

There will also be not-to-miss sessions which will discuss and share best practice on how public sector organisations can finance energy efficiencies through the Green Business Fund.

The Energy Event is Europe’s leading event dedicated to the needs, interests and challenges facing industrial and commercial end-users. The extensive exhibition, free to attend conference programme and business networking opportunities provide direct access for end-users to the latest services, solutions and best practice guidance. For energy managers wanting to find out more about how to tackle key challenges such as energy supply, energy security and energy management issues there’s no better place to be.

Further Information
www.rwmexhibition.com