How digital innovation is driving energy efficiency for West Midlands’ businesses
Eunice Mabey, Director of Digital Services, SSE Energy Solutions, explains how digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) can help West Midlands companies save money and reduce carbon emissions.
In today's rapidly evolving energy landscape, data is more than just a means for billing. It's a powerful tool that enables businesses to optimise their operations, reduce costs, and plays a crucial role in optimising energy security, affordability and carbon. At SSE Energy Solutions, we're at the forefront of leveraging this data to drive the decarbonisation of businesses and industry across the UK and Ireland.
Energy data empowers businesses in multiple ways. To begin with, it’s essential to understand energy usage, carbon footprint, and the factors driving them. This insight helps identify effective mitigation strategies. It allows companies to benefit from time-of-use tariffs and identify opportunities for cost savings and carbon reduction.
With this data, businesses can develop strategies to minimise energy waste and cut their energy bills. Furthermore, knowledge of how much energy is being used when, where and how can support the ability to shift your demand during peak periods opening doors to flexibility markets, creating additional revenue streams.
Our software solutions securely process and utilise accurate data, delivering advanced analytics, and intelligent optimisation to deliver energy efficiency benefits and/or carbon reduction through key building systems. These innovations are already making a significant impact in helping manage electricity demand and supply supporting the transition to sustainable energy
The potential for energy optimisation in the West Midlands is significant. As of May 2024, Birmingham alone boasted 1.97 million sq. ft. of office space available, including 750,000 sq. ft. of Grade A space. This vast expanse of commercial real estate represents an enormous opportunity for energy efficiency improvements and cost savings.
At SSE Energy Solutions, we've gained valuable experience in delivering substantial energy cost and carbon reduction across various building types, including large office spaces similar to those found in Birmingham. Our expertise extends to structures of all sizes and complexities.
For instance, in London, we've been working with Vertex, one of the city's most respected building services companies, to implement our AI-driven Building Energy Optimisation system in a seven-floor building. The results have been impressive: energy consumption has decreased by 113,000 kilowatt hours, leading to a 15% reduction in CO2 emissions and nearly £20,000 in energy cost savings for the owners.
Given that the built environment accounts for a quarter of the UK's carbon emissions , these kinds of improvements underscore the transformative potential of our solutions in driving energy efficiency and cost reduction across the entire building sector. The impact of implementing similar optimisations across Birmingham's office spaces, and more broadly throughout the West Midlands region, could be truly remarkable.
The West Midlands is poised to become a leader in energy system innovation. That’s why we're proud to sponsor Energy Capital Partnership's 2024 Autumn Conference, which is supporting the region's vision for smart cities and sustainable energy solutions.
As we advance our vision for a smarter energy system across the West Midlands and the wider UK, collaborations like the one we have with SSE Energy Solutions are crucial in realising our goals. The innovation and services available from the private sector will help us to harness digital and smart energy technologies, which align perfectly with our new regional energy strategy. Together we are creating a resilient and innovative energy ecosystem across the West Midlands that not only meets the needs of today but also sets the foundation for a sustainable future.
SSE Energy Solutions offers a range of innovative products and services. Our front-of-the-meter flexibility solution uses innovative technology to optimise asset performance and provides a route-to-market for trading. With 2.4GW of battery energy storage under contract, the technology will be used to provide control services for one of the largest flexibility portfolios in GB, including for one of the UK’s largest battery energy storage systems being built in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
We're also continuing to deploy our industry-leading Sentinel Computer Vision sensors, designed to gather evidential data on the natural and built environment. We're able to monitor and classify objects in its field of vision through AI and Machine Learning. The sensors will be installed at electric vehicle charging hubs, solar farms, highways, rail, and construction sites improving safety and operations.
Our experienced team has a proven track record in distributed energy solutions and associated flexibility markets. These markets allow for the adjustment of power generation and demand to account for changes in electricity prices, market conditions, and transmission and distribution system requirements. Flexibility markets can help to ensure grid stability, manage renewable intermittency, and mitigate anticipated network constraints.
Our comprehensive approach to energy management empowers our clients to unlock the full potential of their energy data to optimise their buildings and assets. As we work towards a net zero future, we will be a key partner in creating a smarter, greener, and more resilient UK energy network.
If you think your business would benefit from our range of services, and you share our ambition to turn the West Midlands into an exemplar of energy innovation, then get in touch. Together, we can establish the West Midlands as a national leader in energy system innovation and pave the way for a sustainable future.