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Energy Efficiency in IndustryAuthor(s): Warwick HRI
Published: 2007
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
This document is a final project report for the project titled 'AC0401: Direct energy use in agriculture: opportunities for reducing fossil fuel inputs'
This report details the bottom-up approach that has been taken to estimate direct energy use in agriculture, with 2005 as the baseline year. Data comes from CCL returns, professional surveys and best available professional knowledge. The total, direct, primary energy use sums to 20,387 GWh (73,393 TJ), but with an associated CHP electricity generation credit of 748 GWh (2,693 TJ). This is around 12% more than the total given by DTI for 2005 in its Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES), which is based on returns made by energy suppliers. This report details the qualification of direct energy use, potential improvements to energy efficiency, and potential for integration of renewable energy across the agriculture industry.
This report is split into 4 sections, being:Author(s): Brunel University
Published: 2007
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
This document is a final project report for the project titled 'Potential for Solar Energy in Food Manufacturing, Distribution and Retrail.'
The overall aim of the study was to assess the potential for increasing the use of solar energy in the food sector. For comparative purposes the study also included an assessment of the benefits that could arise from the use of other renewable energy sources, and the potential for more effective use of energy in food retail and distribution. Specific objectives with a brief description are given below:Author(s): AEA Technology
Published: 2007
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
This document is the final project report for the project titled 'MARKAL Macro analysis of long run costs of mitigation targets.'
This report is the final report under the Defra contract EP0202 MARKAL Macro analysis of long run costs of mitigation targets. The objective of this study was to consider the additional impacts (economic and technological) of moving to an increasingly carbon constrained energy system, with reductions in CO2 of 70% and 80% by 2050. In addition, another objective was to assess the impact of including emissions from international aviation, and the implications for abatement in other sectors under a 60% constraint in 2050. This analysis builds on work led by Policy Studies Institute (further referred to as the EWP 07 MARKAL analysis), to inform the Government’s Energy White paper, published in May 2007. In that analysis, up to 60% reductions in emissions of CO2 by 2050 were considered, with many associated sensitivity runs undertaken to examine different assumptions.
A key part of the strategy outlined in the Energy White Paper Meeting the Energy Challenge included the provision of legally binding carbon targets for the whole UK economy, to progressively reduce emissions. A Climate Change Bill is being proposed that would implement such targets, and has recently been consulted on. As part of further discussions around longer-term targets, Defra commissioned this additional MARKAL analysis, to explore the impacts of more stringent targets than those considered in the Energy White Paper.
This report consists of 4 sections of model results and analysis, being:Author(s): Abstract for Project: Maintaining the quality of medium to high viscosity foods during heat recovery in counter current heat exchangers - AFM 126.
Published: 2001
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Author(s): Faraday Institution
Published: 2023
Publisher: House of Lords
Author(s): Evans, J.
Published: 2003
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
This document provides an abstract and a brief summary of the project titled "COLDROOM - Improving food temperature control in chilled and frozen storage rooms".
There are over 7,000 food manufacturers in the UK. At least 50% of these manufacturers operate refrigerated storage areas. In addition, all food retailers and most catering establishments also operate cold stores.
One, if not the most important, change in food refrigeration in the last 10-15 years has been the realisation of the interdependence of the different refrigeration operations and the concept of the 'cold chain'. It is essential, if food quality and safety are to be maximised, to attain:
The main project objectives were to improve the safety, quality and economics of chilled and frozen storage by closer control of food temperature. This was achieved by developing a user-friendly model to predict food temperatures in chilled and frozen storage rooms under real operating conditions. The model allows:
The model was verified against data for a chilled cold room operating at temperatures of between 1 and 10°C. The verification trials included simulated cold room breakdown and extended door openings during loading. The overall mean difference between the predicted and experimental centre and surface food temperatures were found to be less than 0.7°C.
Author(s): Fawcett, T., Hampton, S. and Mallaburn, P.
Published: 2019
Publisher: UKERC
We welcome the idea of offering more policy support to SMEs to enable the uptake of energy efficiency opportunities, to the benefit of their enterprises, the economy as a whole and the environment. Researchers have previously argued that there is not enough policy focus on SMEs (Banks et al, 2012, Hampton and Fawcett, 2017) and this consultation was valuable as part of a wider process of policy development.
This response covers general issues about design of policy for energy efficiency improvement in SMEs, and offers specific evidence on Option 2: a business energy efficiency obligation.
Author(s): Garvey, A., Norman, J. and Barrett, J.
Published: 2019
Publisher: CREDS
Author(s): Norman, J., Garvey, A. and Barrett, J.
Published: 2019
Publisher: CREDS
Author(s): Matthews, B., Cartmell, K., Jones, C. and Newbold, E.
Published: 2025
Publisher: Science and Technology Facilities Council
Author(s): Winstanley, P.
Published: 2019
Publisher: ETI
Author(s): Day, G.
Published: 2018
Publisher: ETI
Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) will reduce the risk and cost of the UK's transition to a low carbon energy system, according to this report delivered by the Energy Systems Catapult for the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI).
'Still in the mix? Understanding the role of Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage', takes into account recent cost reductions in renewables and the latest ETI modelling on CCUS costs. The report reaffirms previous ETI work on the importance of CCUS deployment by 2030 and ETI analysis that if CCUS is not developed at all before 2050, the 'national bill' for low carbon energy that year would be circa £35bn higher - equivalent to circa 1% of expected GDP.
The report highlights gas power with CCUS (up to 3GW) as an effective low carbon electricity option that can be deployed cost-effectively before 2030 within an electricity generation mix that meets the 5th carbon budget. The report concludes that early investment in gas power CCUS in favourable locations for a CCUS industrial cluster represents the most straightforward, deliverable and best value approach to early deployment of the technology.
Key points:
The ETI has spent 10 years carrying out extensive research on the deployment of CCUS and for this report commissioned analysis from Baringa Partners and Frontier Economics. Baringa explored cost-optimal pathways for decarbonising electricity out to 2050 with a focus on the pre-2030s. Frontier Economics produced illustrative analysis against a baseline scenario informed by the assumptions constructed by Baringa's work.
Author(s): Bell, K., Blyth, W., Bradshaw, M., Green, R., Gross, R., Jansem, M., Ostrovnaya, A. and Webb, J.
Published: 2022
Publisher: UKERC
Author(s): Eyre, N. and Wilson, C.
Published: 2013
Publisher: UKERC
This document sets out a response of the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) to the Department of Energy and Climate Changes (DECC) consultation Electricity Demand Reduction.
In our response to the consultation on electricity market reform (EMR) we noted the potential importance of demand reduction and demand side response in achieving the Governments goals for the electricity sector of security, emissions reduction and reasonable cost.
All our responses are based on evidence from research by UK academic researchers independent of commercial or other vested interest. One particular focus of the response is on the option of premium payments (otherwise known as energy saving feed-in tariffs). UKERC supported research (Eyre, 2013) is the first peer reviewed academic literature on this topic in the world. We believe that an approach along these linesis consistent with addressing a market bias against energy saving that would otherwise be introduced by EMR proposals in their current form. We begin the response with four key concerns about the evidence base used in the consultation document and its supporting literature. We then respond to some specific questions identified in the consultation document itself.
Author(s): Taylor, P., Gailani, A., Barker, B. and Hicks, M.
Published: 2025
Publisher: UKERC
Author(s): Subtheme Group
Published: 2019
Publisher: Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Author(s): Fawcett, T., Hampton, S. and Mallaburn, P.
Published: 2019
Publisher: CREDS & UKERC
Author(s): Howard, D.
Published: 2007
Publisher: Joule Centre
Author(s): Howard, D.
Published: 2007
Publisher: Joule Centre
This document is a summary for the project titled 'Energy management in tourism: development of a comprehensive carbon footprint methodology and toolset.'
The project provides a stepping stone towards the development of a tool that will allow members of an important sector of the NW economy to monitor and manage their energy use. It will also help the NW to be at the forefront of essential environmental auditing and impact assessment methodologies. The project has expanded the NW's research capability in the field of energy consumption monitoring and brought researchers from three disciplines together (economics, environmental science and statistics). The application is being developed for all organisations working in the tourist industry in the NW, but will start with demonstrations in Blackpool and Cumbria. It is intended the application will calculate greenhouse gas footprints, which can be partitioned into their component energy sources and highlight major contributory activities. The tool will allow the user to see how their carbon footprint responds to: increasing their expenditure within certain industry sectors (e.g. food whole sellers, transport, construction); changing the nature of their expenditure within each sector.
This project used an existing prototype footprinting model and managed to demonstrate its economic robustness and realism. From this a tool was developed and then tested. The effectiveness of the tool was demonstrated by working with a hotel in the Lake District where the outputs have changed its purchasing strategy. A further £300,000 funding has been obtained (£200,000 ESRC and £100,000 NWDA) to continue developing the model and to create a system for widespread release.
Author(s): Cormack, W.F.
Published: 2000
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
The main objective and deliverable of study OF0182 was to develop a model of energy inputs in organic farming systems. To illustrate the potential of the model, it was used to contrast organic with similar conventional systems and to highlight important differences. This was presented as a detailed written report (49 pages) to MAFF and is summarised in this document. The report and model were delivered to MAFF in March 2000.
Organically grown crops require around 50% of the energy input per unit area than do conventional crops, largely because of lower, or zero, fertiliser and pesticide energy inputs. However, the generally lower yields of organic crop and vegetable systems reduce the advantage to organic when energy input is calculated on a unit output basis. In stockless arable crop rotations, the inclusion of fertility building crops and winter cover crops, that have energy inputs but no direct outputs, can result in a lower whole-rotation energy efficiency from organic methods. In livestock systems, where the fall in output may be less than in arable, and there are no dedicated fertility building crops, overall energy efficiency is greater in organic than in comparable conventional systems.
These conclusions were made using average yield data in the model and need to be interpreted with caution. On more fertile soil, where the yield difference with conventional arable production is smaller, organic systems would perform relatively better. The converse would occur on poorer soils. Also, in practice, energy inputs for cultivations and weed control will vary with soil type, weather, weed spectrum and population. The average data presented in the report are illustrative and are not definitive. The strength of the model is that it can be used to simulate many different management systems and yield expectations.
The project did not identify any significant opportunities for replacement of energy inputs by labour. This may be possible for weed control in some situations but, apart from the use of flame weeders, this is only a small proportion of the total energy input. More importantly, weed control is time sensitive; therefore for large-scale production it must be mechanised. There is also a shortage of suitable and willing labour for this type of work in many places.
This report is divided into the following sections:
Author(s): FRPERC
Published: 2010
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
This document is the final report for the project titled 'Fostering the Development of Technologies and Practices to Reduce the Energy Inputs into the Refrigeration of Food'.
The project has used all the data that is currently available to map energy use in the refrigeration from primary chilling through to catering and retailing together with estimates of potential for improvement. This has provided a ranked order of the top 10 application areas where the largest gains can be made. The top 10 and the data used to calculate the top ten has been widely disseminated and discussed. It has stood up to intense scrutiny and is accepted by the industry as a true reflection of the current cold chain.
It is notable that retail and catering are top of the list, followed by transport with food processing and storage applications coming much lower down. The energy saving potential of the top three sectors being almost 10 times that of the next 7 combined. There are however error bars in the estimates of current use and thus savings potential. This is mainly due to a lack of detailed metering in the industry and mechanisms for collating such information. The lack of detailed data also means that it has not been possible to benchmark actual versus theoretically needed energy in the various application areas. This is especially true in refrigeration operations such as primary and secondary chilling and freezing where there is little data relating the energy consumed to the throughput of the food being processed. In the few cases such as the primary chilling of meat carcases it is clear that the energy required to maintain an empty chill room is of the same magnitude as that required when the system is doing its job of chilling meat.
The objectives for this project are:
Author(s): Foxon, T., Flynn, A. and Turner, K.
Published: 2007
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
This document is a summary review statement of the report for phase 2 of the project titled 'Exploring the relationship between environmental regulation and competitiveness'.
The role of external review is to provide an independent challenge to the science commissioned by Defra, to ensure that policy is informed by a high-quality, robust evidence base and to raise the perceived standard of Defra-funded science among stakeholders. The Advisory Group on SCP evidence has a role in quality assurance of research commissioned under the SCP evidence base research programme. This has been undertaken through expert sub-groups of the Advisory Group, including experts from beyond the Group's membership where appropriate.
Objective of the research project:
Author(s): Stabler, L. and Foulds, C.
Published: 2020
Publisher: UKERC
At present, Governments commitment stands in sharp contrast with its inaction on heat decarbonisation to date. Under pressure to progress this agenda, Government has charged the Clean Heat Directorate with the task of outlining the process for determining the UK’s long-term heat policy framework, to be published in the Roadmap for policy on heat decarbonisation in the summer of 2020 (BEIS, 2017). This report, resulting from one of six EPSRC-funded secondments, is designed to support early thinking on the roadmap by answering the research question: How can Transitions research informs the roadmap for governing the UKs heating transition?
Delivered as part of the Energy-PIECES project, this report was developed during a secondment with BEIS.
Author(s): Fullonton, A., Lea-Langton, A., Madugu, F. and Larkin, A.
Published: 2024
Publisher: UKERC
Author(s): Tucker, G.
Published: 2005
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
This document is a report for the project titled 'Heat exchanger design hots up'.
This project was a 12-month Development LINK project that built on the findings from a previous project (AFM126) on innovations in heat recovery systems for tubular heat exchangers. In the previous project, laminar flow and heat transfer in the shell were of interest, whereas in this project, shell and tube flow with heat transfer under both laminar and turbulent conditions were considered. Commercial considerations dictated that any modifications to heat exchanger equipment required to promote heat transfer in heat recovery mode should also, ideally, result in enhanced performance in the conventional mode of operation.
This project, and its predecessor, concentrated on one particular type of shell and tube heat exchanger, namely a multi-tube heat exchanger with 7 tubes of external diameter 16mm and a shell of internal diameter 70mm (a Tetra Spiraflo MT 70/7x16C-6, as shown in Fig. 1). A number of design changes, aimed at improving the performance of the heat exchanger, were considered. Attention was first focussed on changes that improved the uniformity of flow distribution within the tubes of a tube bundle and in the shell around the tube bundle. Of primary interest were wall corrugation pattern, tube wall thickness, centre tube diameter and shell-side baffles.
By using CFD to experiment numerically with novel exchanger designs, it was possible to highlight the most promising features and thus reduce the quantity of real experimental testing. Computational work, carried out at the University of Plymouth, used the CFX code. The well-known k-ε turbulence model was used, as well as a 'shear-stress-transport' (SST) model incorporating more realistic flow physics near the tube and shell walls.
Commercial exploitation will initially be achieved with the ongoing improvement programme for Tetra Spiraflo tubes. Availability of CFD models for flow behaviour prediction will enable new exchanger designs to be evaluated prior to building prototypes. For example, changes in heat transfer performance were demonstrated computationally as a result of altering the depth of tube corrugations. However, it was questionable whether current manufacturing tolerances could allow these to be consistently reproduced in practice, which is an area that will be addressed in the future.
This report contains additional illustrations and cross-section figures.Author(s): Ferguson, S., Skinner, G. and Abbott, T.
Published: 2013
Publisher: ETI
Author(s): Ray, R., Abbott, T. and Phillipson, M.
Published: 2013
Publisher: ETI
Author(s): Wang, J.
Published: 2007
Publisher: Joule Centre
This document is a summary for the project titled 'Improvement of Energy Efficiency of pneumatic systems by recycling exhaust compressed air'.
Pneumatic systems are commonly used in industries as varied as automotive, aerospace, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and food processing. They are so commonly utilized in industry because they have a number of distinct advantages: they are environmentally friendly; have a high load-carrying capacity-to-size ratio; they are mechanically simple; low cost; and easy to maintain. In the UK over 10% of National Grid output is used to generate compressed air, in addition around 20% of electricity supplied to manufacturers/factories is used for this purpose.
Research on improving the energy efficiency of pneumatic actuator systems has been carried out for over seven years at the University of Liverpool. Early research has shown that around 3% energy could be saved by connecting a by-pass valve to partly recycle exhaust air. An improved control strategy has also been developed for some pneumatic systems, which is based on an idea of saving energy through better controls and can save between 1.5 to 2% of compressed air. Dr Wang and her research team are also working on using the highly efficient scroll type air motor in pneumatic systems to help recycle the exhaust air in order to generate electricity. This motor is currently widely used in air conditioners and refrigerators because of its efficiency and compact nature but has only recently been converted for air motors. They have created a test system to simulate the use of this motor as an air-electricity transformer to recycle the pneumatic systems exhaust air and experiments have shown that around 20~50% of exhaust air can be recovered using this system.
Author(s): Novikova, A., Keay-Bright, S. and Palmer, J.
Published: 2006
Publisher: UKERC
The workshop aimed to explore how the flexible mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol could better capture the large energy efficiency potential in the CEE region. While implementation of the mechanisms in the region is desired, in practice it is likely to be a challenging task. The workshop has made it possible for two interested groups to meet and learn from each other: one group being participants from the CEE region seeking knowledge transfer and capacity building, and the other group being carbon trading specialists.
Author(s): Garvey, A. and Taylor, P.
Published: 2020
Publisher: CREDS
Author(s): Lowes, R. and Woodman, B.
Published: 2020
Publisher: UKERC
The paper investigates the importance of governance for energy system change and specifically investigates some of the areas where the UKs net zero target implies significant infrastructure change or expansion, namely in industry and associated with buildings and transport.
Author(s): Smith, BW
Published: 2005
Publisher: Department of Trade and Industry
This document is a report for the project titled 'Once Through Benson Boiler - Vertical Tube Furnace'.
Situated in Henan Province, PRC, Yaomeng Power Plant consists of 4 × 300MWe coal-fired boilers, units 1 and 2 of which, entered service in the mid 1970's. They were of the high mass flux, once through, sub-critical universal pressure ( UP ) type, designed for base load operation to generate 935te/h main steam at 570°C.
From 1992 onwards, after overheating in some of the pressure parts, which led to a restriction of 545°C on the main steam temperature, the maximum output was reduced to 270MWe. The boiler's intrinsic intolerances to load changes, and operation below 230MWe were also problematic, and the prospect of more onerous emissions legislation was thought likely to impose even further restrictions on plant usage in the future, or even bring about its closure.
The scope of work for Mitsui Babcock was centred on the upgrade of the existing boiler, comprising refurbishment of the furnace pressure parts and improvement of the burners, start-up system and control philosophies.
The 168-hour full load reliability test was completed successfully during May, 2002. What made the occasion particularly significant for all concerned was that this was the first time Low Water Mass Flux Vertical Ribbed Tube Benson Boiler Technology had been used for commercial power generation anywhere in the world, a very significant achievement by Mitsui Babcock.
The Performance Guarantee Tests ( PGT's ) were performed by the Thermal Power Research Institute ( TPRI ) during the end of July / early August 2002, and these results and subsequent operation have confirmed the major improvements in the unit. Peak steam output is 1010.3t/hr and maximum continuous output is 954t/hr, both exceeding the guarantee requirements. Peak power output has increased from 270MWe to 327MWe, and in fact the boiler has now been formally up-rated to 310MWe.
The successful completion of this refurbishment is a major milestone in both the development of the technology of once through low mass flow vertical tube boilers and Mitsui Babcock's presence in the refurbishment market in the PRC. Wherever sub-critical once through boilers are suffering load restrictions, intolerances to load changes or high metal temperatures, this technology now offers a proven solution, which also extends to super-critical pressure conditions.
This report is divided into the following sections:Author(s): DTI
Published: 2001
Publisher: Department of Trade and Industry
Mitsui Babcock will provide a new furnace to the Benson 'once through' design as a retrofit to a Chinese power plant. The existing unit is based on Chinese technology and has reached the end of its useful life. The new boiler furnace from Mitsui Babcock will correct short falls and ensure the unit is able to match the best world practice. The new equipment will result in an 11% increase in station output and a reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions by over one third.
The principal aim of the project is to validate the performance of the Mitsui Babcock 'once through' vertical ribbed tube boiler technology. The specific objectives of the project are:
This project will validate the Mitsui Babcock designs for the vertical ribbed tube 'once through' Benson boiler. An assessment of the existing Chinese boiler will address the existing performance of the small bore tubes employed in the furnace walls of the boiler and of the existing corner fired combustion arrangement.
A detailed assessment of new boiler performance will be conducted. The new vertical ribbed boiler furnace tubes will be heavily instrumented and data recorded under different operating regimes (e.g. turndown) to establish the performance. Study tubes will be representative of the whole boiler geometry (e.g. corner, centre tubes etc). Data such as heat transfer, metal temperatures, water mass flux rates, water temperatures, location of boiling, steam temperature profile at the furnace wall outlet and individual tube flows etc will be established.
This profile contains information on the project's:Author(s): White, G. and Parashar, U.
Published: 2007
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
This document is the final report for 'Phase 2 Exploring the relationship between environmental regulation and competitiveness'
SQW was commissioned in October 2006 to carry out a study to "gather and analyse evidence on the impact of the design of environmental regulation on competitiveness". Specifically, it was to consider:
There were three components to the review method:
Author(s): Prabhakar, M.
Published: 2007
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
SQW was commissioned by DEFRA in 2006 to conduct a literature review of the available evidence on the relationship between environmental regulation and competitiveness to establish the robustness of the conclusions from the available evidence and their relevance to the UK. This study highlighted the need to conduct further research on the impact of regulatory design & implementation and regulatory form on competitiveness
As a result, SQW were commissioned to conduct Phase Two of the research, which sought to 'gather and analyse evidence on the impact of the design of environmental regulation on competitiveness' through the undertaking of a set of case studies. The research examined the following policy issues:
This case study discusses 'Energy Labelling on particular household appliances; with a particular focus on the impact of the EU Energy Labelling Directive and the associated Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards on specific household appliances in the UK. Comparator evidence is also drawn from Labelling and MEPS schemes used in different countries, with a focus on the US experience'. This case study was selected, as it provides a cross-board comparison of the design and implementation of energy labels and also attempts to assess the competitiveness (and trade) impacts of the labels.
This report is divided into the following sections:Author(s): Prabhakar, M. and Hills, K.
Published: 2007
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
SQW was commissioned by DEFRA in 2006 to conduct a literature review of the available evidence on the relationship between environmental regulation and competitiveness to establish the robustness of the conclusions from the available evidence and their relevance to the UK. This study highlighted the need to conduct further research on the impact of regulatory design & implementation and regulatory form on competitiveness
As a result, SQW were commissioned to conduct Phase Two of the research, which sought to 'gather and analyse evidence on the impact of the design of environmental regulation on competitiveness' through the undertaking of a set of case studies. The research examined the following policy issues:
This case study discusses 'the relationship between the Renewables Obligation Order (RO) in the UK and the influence is has played on stimulating innovation and the competitiveness/productivity of the renewables energy sector. Comparison is also made to an alternative instrument used to reach similar environmental goals - The Renewable Energy Feed- in Tariff, with a particular focus on the German experience'. This case study was selected as the RO acts as one of the key instruments currently used by the UK to tackle climate change, with a particular focus on the commercialisation of renewable technology and energy policy, a topic which is of interest to a wide range of policy makers. The study also allowed us to compare two different instruments with similar environmental aims.
This report is divided into the following sections:Author(s): Stevens, I., Garvey, A., Barrett, J. and Norman, J.
Published: 2022
Publisher: CREDS
Author(s): Lee, P., Walsh, B. and Smith, P.
Published: 2007
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
This report quantifies business resource efficiency opportunities in the UK economy. The report is the result of a study carried out by Oakdene Hollins Ltd and Grant Thornton UK LLP for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) between March and September 2007.
This study focuses on resource efficiency savings that require low or no financial investment whilst reducing the quantity of waste produced or the consumption of energy or water.
The methodology used in this study comprised six main steps: Quantification of the overall consumption, Quantification of the savings, Conversion of physical savings into financial savings, The inclusion of any hidden or additional cost savings, Grossing up, and Regional Analysis.
This study estimated the total value of low-cost / no-cost resource efficiency savings to range between £5.6 billion to £7.4 billion (mean £6.4 billion annual savings opportunity), which equates to 0.6% of UK gross valued added and 1.9% of UK gross operating surplus (profit). Energy (52%) and waste (41%) are the two areas where the most opportunity was identified.
This report is divided into the following sections:Author(s): Mativenga, P.
Published: 2009
Publisher: Joule Centre
This document is a summary for the project titled 'Reducing energy and carbon footprints in manufacturing through sustainable machining (MANU-FOOT project)'.
The manufacturing industry is an essential part of the economy in the North West of England but it also contributes a large share of its carbon output and it is estimated that about 40% of global carbon footprints are attributable to industrial activity. A key part of manufacturing is machining which is used to shape materials into products for many applications such as aerospace, automotive and medical devices. This project focuses on reducing the emissions from work which involves machining therefore contributing to the development of a more sustainable manufacturing sector. Currently manufacturing processes are designed only from technical and economic point of view without energy considerations.
This project aims to get an accurate picture of the energy requirements and carbon footprint of the manufacturing sector in the region. A methodology manufacturer's can use to work out the energy and carbon footprint of products developed using machining will be developed as part of this project. The impacts of varying production times and levels of machine utilization on environmental footprints will also be examined. It is hoped that by enabling companies to easily workout the size of the carbon and energy footprint attributed to their products will make it easier for them to reduce their overall footprints. Another way in which carbon emissions can be reduced for machining is to try and address the problem of energy being lost due to friction. Friction occurs in machining because tools become worn and corroded and it is estimated that some 30% of all energy generated in industrialized countries is lost this way. One potential method of addressing this problem is through the use of extra hard nanostructure tool coatings and their effectiveness in addressing the problem of friction will be assessed as part of this project. It is intended this project will lead to the creation of an industrial guide on curbing the effect of machining on energy consumption and carbon footprints.
Author(s): DTI
Published: 2005
Publisher: Department of Trade and Industry
The objectives of this project were:
The benefits to the operator, Yaomeng Power Generation Limited, (YPGL) from the project have included:
This brochure describes the principles used for the Yaomeng upgrade to a Mitsui Babcock Posiflow boiler and illustrates the clear benefits to boilers designed or converted to utilise this low water mass flux, optimised internally ribbed vertical tube boiler technology.
This summary provides information on:Author(s): Watson, J., Ekins, P., Gross, R., Froggatt, A., Barrett, J., Bell, K., Darby, S., Webb, J., Bradshaw, M., Anable, J., Brand, C., Pidgeon, N., Demski, C. and Evensen, D.,
Published: 2017
Publisher: UKERC
UKERCs 2017 Review of Energy Policy, appraises energy policy change over the last 12 months, and makes a series of recommendations to help meet the objectives of the governments Clean Growth Plan.
Our main recommendations are:
Author(s): Watson, J., Bradshaw, M., Froggat, A., Kuzemko, C., Webb, J., Beaumont, N., Armstrong, A., Agnolucci, P., Hastings, A., Holland, R., Day, B., Delafield, G., Eigenbrod, F., Taylor, G., Lovett, A., Shepard, A., Hooper, T., Wu, J., Lowes, R., Qadrdan, M., Anable, J., Brand, C., Mullen, C., Bell, K., Taylor, P. and Allen, S.
Published: 2019
Publisher: UKERC
Author(s): Taylor, P., Bays, J., Bradshaw, M., Webb, J., Britton, J., Bolton, R., Chaudry, M., Qadrdan, M., Wu, J., Anable, J., Brand, C., Rattle, I., Gailani, A., Bell K., Halliday, C., Shepherd, A., Watson, S., Lovett, A. and Hastings, A.
Published: 2023
Publisher: UKERC
Author(s): Watson, J., Ekins, P., Wright, L., Eyre, N., Bell, K., Darby, S., Bradshaw, M., Webb, J., Gross, R., Anable, J., Brand, C., Chilvers, J., and Pidgeon, N.
Published: 2016
Publisher: UKERC
This review takes stock of UK energy policy ahead of the Autumn Statement, Industrial Strategy and new Emissions Reduction Plan. Its main recommendations are:
Author(s): Faraday Institution
Published: 2021
Publisher: Faraday Institution
Author(s): Gailani, A., Cooper, S., Allen, S., Taylor, P. and Simon, R.
Published: 2021
Publisher: UKERC
Author(s): Knapman, D., Herbert, A. and Ellis, J.
Published: 2002
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Three related surveys were carried out during the first six months of 2002 to establish estimates for the arisings and use of construction and demolition waste (C&D waste) in 2001 in England and Wales, and in each of the regions covered by Regional Aggregate Working Parties. The work was commissioned by the Minerals and Waste Planning Division (now part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - ODPM - formerly part of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions - DTLR) with the support of the Welsh Assembly Government. It was carried out by Symonds Group Ltd, with the support of WRc plc on issues of statistical design and analysis.
The three surveys covered operators of crushers and screens, licensed landfills and Paragraph 9 & 19 registered exempt sites. Between them, these surveys were designed to generate estimates for recycled aggregate and soil, C&D waste used and disposed of at licensed landfills, and C&D waste spread on registered exempt sites. The surveys made a clear distinction between hard C&D waste and excavation waste in order to identify not just the current rate of aggregate recycling, but also the further potential.
The information generated will feed into the revision of MPG6 (in England) and the Aggregates Technical Advisory Note (in Wales), and into other policy documents which deal with recycled aggregate.
The expectation is that comparable surveys will be run in future, to coincide with the four-yearly collection of data on primary aggregate production.
The estimate for production of recycled aggregate and soil has risen steeply, from 25.13 million tonnes in 1999 to 45.07 million tonnes in 2001. This growth accounts for almost all of the increase in overall C&D waste production in England and Wales between 1999 and 2001. The total for 2001 is estimated at 93.91 million tonnes ± 15% at a confidence level of 90%. Although this is almost 30% higher than the equivalent estimate for 1999 (72.5 million tonnes ± 35%), the difference between the central estimates for the two years is not statistically significant.
An estimated 38.02 million tonnes (± 18%) was crushed and/or screened prior to being recycled as aggregate: more than five times the tonnage of recycled soil. Some of the apparent rise in recycling activity can be attributed to a better 'detection rate' of crushers and screens used for processing hard C&D waste into recycled aggregate and soil, though the population of such machines is widely thought to be rising.
The greatest source of uncertainty, as in 1999, surrounds the true population of Paragraph 9 & 19 registered exempt sites, and the extent to which any unreliability within the national database of such sites is regionally biased. The study team concludes that such bias may well exist, and that as a consequence the regional estimate for the South West of England may well be disproportionately higher than those for other regions.
This document is divided into the following sections:Author(s): DEFRA
Published: 2007
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
This note provides a summary of the key sustainability impacts of clothing and current interventions aimed at improving clothing sustainability performance. This is based on the Defra commissioned Environmental Resources Management (ERM) study Mapping of Evidence on Sustainable Development Impacts that occur in the Life Cycle of Clothing, 2007 and discussions with stakeholders engaged in sustainability and clothing within the Sustainable Clothing Roadmap.
The clothing roadmap is focused on garments to include textiles used in the manufacture of clothing, but excluding shoes, accessories and commercial textiles. To date, evidence has been gathered on the sustainability impacts (environmental, social and economic) of clothing across the lifecycle as well as current interventions designed to improve sustainability performance through desk based research and stakeholder meetings. In support of this, Defra commissioned Environmental Resources Management (ERM) to conduct a project to map the sustainability impacts of clothing and interventions to address these impacts. The briefing note summarises the sustainability impacts and interventions identified from this study and follow up meetings with stakeholders.
The note includes the following topics:Author(s): ETI
Published: 2018
Publisher: ETI
Author(s): ETI
Published: 2018
Publisher: ETI
Author(s): Evans, H., Thirkill, A. and Hussain, B.
Published: 2018
Publisher: ETI
Author(s): Rosenow, J., Lowes, R., Broad, O., Hawker, G., Wu, J,. Qadrdan, M. and Gross, R.
Published: 2020
Publisher: UKERC
Author(s): Hammond, G.
Published: 2009
Publisher: UKERC
This UKERC Research Landscape provides an overview of the competencies and publicly funded activities in energy efficiency (industry) research, development and demonstration (RD&D) in the UK. It covers the main funding streams, research providers, infrastructure, networks and UK participation in international activities.
UKERC ENERGY RESEARCH LANDSCAPE: ENERGY EFFICIENCY - INDUSTRY
Author(s): Bell, K., Eyre, N., Hawker, G., Castagneto Gissey, G., Dodds, P., Darby, S., Irvine, J., Paul, G. and Watson J
Published: 2017
Publisher: UKERC
Scope of the Call for Evidence and objectives in respect of flexibility
We welcome the attention being paid by Ofgem and BEIS to the need for flexibility in Britain’s electricity system. In our view the main reason to support electricity system flexibility is that it can help minimise the costs of meeting the UK’s statutory climate targets whilst ensuring that system security is not compromised. The electricity system’s ability to adapt to changing demand in timescales of years down to minutes and varying availability of power from different resources will be extremely important to meeting these policy goals. Furthermore, action is needed so that those consumers that are best able to adapt their patterns of use of electricity have sufficient incentives and rewards for doing so. One manifestation of the main goal in accommodating future generation and demand is an objective to maximise the utilisation (across each year of operation) of electricity system assets, i.e. generators, network components and storage facilities.
Whilst the title of the call for evidence focuses on ‘a smart, flexible energy system’, most of the raised relate to the electricity system. We have therefore focused most of our responses on electricity rather than the energy system as a whole. Our responses are selective. We have only answered those questions where we can offer relevant evidence, based on our research and expertise.
Author(s): Darby, S
Published: 2017
Publisher: UKERC
Scope of the Call for Evidence and objectives in respect of flexibility
We welcome the attention being paid by Ofgem and BEIS to the need for flexibility in Britain's electricity system. In our view the main reason to support electricity system flexibility is that it can help minimise the costs of meeting the UK's statutory climate targets whilst ensuring that system security is not compromised. The electricity system's ability to adapt to changing demand in timescales of years down to minutes and varying availability of power from different resources will be extremely important to meeting these policy goals. Furthermore, action is needed so that those consumers that are best able to adapt their patterns of use of electricity have sufficient incentives and rewards for doing so. One manifestation of the main goal in accommodating future generation and demand is an objective to maximise the utilisation (across each year of operation) of electricity system assets, i.e. generators, network components and storage facilities.
Whilst the title of the call for evidence focuses on 'a smart, flexible energy system', most of the raised relate to the electricity system. We have therefore focused most of our responses on electricity rather than the energy system as a whole. Our responses are selective. We have only answered those questions where we can offer relevant evidence, based on our research and expertise.
This document only answers questions 28 -32 inclusive. Another document is available http://ukerc.rl.ac.uk/UCAT/PUBLICATIONS/Response_to_Ofgem-BEIS_call_for_evidence-smart_flexible_energy_system.pdf which gives answers to other questions in the consultation.
Author(s): CCFRA
Published: 2007
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
This executive summary describes work on the project AFM248Br, which involved CCFRA and Bristol University as a research consortium and the collaboration of Shipston Mill, Kerry Aptunion, Kraft Europe, Kellogg's UK, Warburtons, Unilever, RHM Culinary Brands, Greencore, Weetabix and Glaxo Smith Kline Nutritionals.
AFM248Br was a one year Bridge-LINK project that finished in October 2007. The project identified sources of waste thermal energy from food processes that could be recovered to produce mechanical power using Stirling engine technology. In the context of the project 'waste thermal energy' implied any source of heat released from a process that was rejected to the environment. Flue gases from combustion processes, hot air from baking ovens, steam or steam condensate from cooking operations were a few examples found in the food industry.
The project proposed the assessment of Stirling engine technology to achieve this purpose. Stirling engines are external combustion heat engines, with several advantages that make them suitable for waste heat streams (no contact between heat source and moving parts, scalable to application, low maintenance). They have high theoretical efficiencies and have been developed for several applications (micro CHP systems, biomass and solar powered), although they have not reached yet full commercial development except for very specific niche applications.
Ten different food factories were visited to gather information on waste energy streams released from processing operations. The nature of manufacturing operations studied was varied because the companies chosen for collaboration in the study belonged to different food sub-sectors. These included bread and cereal manufacturing, wheat processing, fruit processing, production of coffee, elaborated and prepared foods and soft drinks.
The project showed that although a significant amount of energy was lost through food manufacturing operations, the range of temperatures at which it was released (typically in the range between 30 and 200°C maximum) did not allow for an efficient and cost effective transformation into mechanical power. It concluded that exploitation of this potential was constrained by the lack of suitable technology. Attractive alternatives to the Stirling are now emerging: for example rotary scroll compressors for refrigeration and automotive air-conditioning. Together with new methods of manufacturing compact heat exchangers and reactors (direct laser deposition, DLD), these could form the basis of a new rotary heat engine using a recuperated rotary Ericsson cycle. This "scroll" engine will have the same theoretical efficiency as the Stirling, but will achieve a higher proportion of it in practice, at commercially acceptable costs. A research proposal on this concept was submitted to Defra following the finalisation of this project.
However, another potential application for heat engines within food processing facilities was identified. This comprised the concept of utilising high grade primary energy (from gas burning) to run a Stirling engine and produce electricity, and then use the remaining thermal energy to run the food process (e.g. baking oven).
Author(s): Mottram, H.
Published: 2024
Publisher: UKERC
Through a case-study of Yorkshire water, staff interviews, examination of its current practices and insights from academic literature, the brief identifies opportunities for reducing energy use in water management. It underscores the need to enhance public awareness of water-energy interdependencies, emphasising shared responsibility for environmen
Author(s): Daniel_Watanabe, L., Moore, R. and Tongue, B.
Published: 2024
Publisher: UKERC
This policy brief explores the dual nature of DHTs in contributing to and mitigating healthcares carbon footprint. Focusing on Englands National Health Service (NHS), the study delves into how the adoption of digital technologies could either reduce or exacerbate the healthcare sectors carbon footprint, raising critical questions for the NHSs digital transformation efforts.
The analysis reveals that while DHTs offer avenues for reducing emissionssuch as telehealth reducing the need for patient and cl
Author(s): Garnett, T.
Published: 2000
Publisher: Department for Transport
This report focuses on food miles - what they are, whether and how it might be possible to reduce them and what the consequences of so doing might be.
'Food miles' is a phrase used to encapsulate concerns about the increasing distances our food travels, and the environmental and social consequences thereof.
In this report we consider whether measures to shorten the food supply chain and reduce food miles can help cut CO2 emissions from transport and, in so doing, achieve an overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the food system.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that we need to achieve a 60-80% cut in human-generated greenhouse gas emissions. All sectors, including the food industry, will have to make a proportionate contribution to achieving this goal.
We suggest that the features of a lower carbon food system would include the following six elements:
In short, action to foster a lower carbon food system requires movement in the following direction:
Finally, industry, government and consumers alike have a choice. We can seek to salvage elements of sustainability from the current system, in order to keep the system going as it is for a little longer. Or we can take a risk, look further into the future, and start to think and do differently. We believe the second route to be the only survivable option.
This report contains an executive summary, and is divided into the following sections:Author(s): Faraday Institution
Published: 2023
Publisher: Faraday Institution
Author(s): Thomas, P.
Published: 2021
Publisher: Faraday Institution
This document is the supplementary written evidence from Professor Pam Thomas, CEO at the Faraday Institution, submitted to the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology following an inquiry evidence session on Tuesday 9 March 2021 for the 'Role of Batteries and Fuel Cells in Achieving Net Zero'.
This evidence is in response to four points, being:Show more results