Introduction

Estimated consumption, costs and emissions based on paper billing systems for large multi site users are no longer valid.  Therefore, there is a need for real time data flow.

Objectives and target audience

In coherence with the emission reduction targets set by UK government and the Kyoto Protocol, Liverpool City Council (LCC) aims to achieve Zero CO2 emissions. The first step to achieve that was to install absolute real time measurement systems to the entire property portfolio of LCC in order to allow full data control and protection from the energy market risks.

Financial Resources and Partners involved

No information available

Process

LCC has put a lot of efforts preparing its systems, with the installation of Automated Meter Reading (AMR) equipment across its entire estate providing half hourly consumption and emissions data on its entire utility portfolio. The systems handle large volumes of information providing actual real time data, total budget control and a shared basis for analysis and benchmarking.
The benefits of the new meter systems are immense to both customer and supplier alike along with the risk protection they provide in the future markets of time-based pricing and demand response strategies essential to mitigating new generation capacity. This is a clear winner with the ability to clearly target and reduce environmental impact. Such a strategy can provide the single largest direct load control system.

Results

The information provided so far has had immediate effect providing real management information pinpointing exactly where to target scarce resources.

Electricity: LCC policy has been purchasing green electricity for nearly ten years presently acquiring 100% for all of its commercial building stock, street and traffic lighting.
Oil: consumption continues to reduce through conversions to gas.
Gas: LCC is a founder member of the LGIU Carbon Trading Councils and is looking to offset its Carbon Emissions via Carbon Trading through this or other mechanisms. The ability to measure 100% of all real time gas usage is an essential makeup of the trading mechanism.

The end result will be that all data will be available 24/7 to all 500 utility accounts in a variety of displays and analyses. The LCC will be able to:

1. monitor budget absolutely (no estimates);
2. the site can report all anomalies immediately to maintenance (e.g. high consumption all night);
3. provide complete profile data for future flexible purchasing;
4. provide all CO2 data /profiles for future carbon trading;
5. Demand management shaving their own individual peak.

LCC will therefore manage all sites more precisely, having the ability to head towards Zero Carbon via carbon trading

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

• Data standardisation is essential. The whole exercise has taken much longer than expected in order to unify all utility data with our own in housing systems, our supplier system, and that of the various national database systems such as MPAS and Transco.
• The openness of the system will be essential for many of LCC’s savings with more individuals playing a part in the efficient management of LCC’s energy use.
• The strategy of offsetting 100% carbon emissions may at first look to be the easy option but LCC believes it to be achievable and the appropriate route to take. LCC continues to reduce emissions through projects on individual sites but to achieve the same result against the entire LCC estate will require considerable long-term investment for generations to come.