£1000 GIVEAWAY PRIZE OF LOW CARBON REDUCING TECHNOLOGY

RINNAI AT INSTALLER SHOW – £1000 GIVEAWAY PRIZE OF LOW CARBON REDUCING TECHNOLOGY

All visitors to the Rinnai stall at the Installer Show (27 – 29 June, NEC, Birmingham) have a chance of winning £1000 of low carbon technology including water heaters, heat pumps, solar thermal, boilers in gas and electric models and a selection of other prizes.

The Installer Show is the ideal venue for contractors and consultants to view the range of carbon reducing H1/2/3 products and systems being offered by Rinnai. The Rinnai range is aimed squarely at offering P.E.T. solutions – Practical, Economic and Technically feasible – which help and assist in the process of lowering carbon at every available opportunity.

Rinnai’s stand will also feature a variety of products ideally suited and designed for all types of building stock including, off-grid, domestic or commercial. DME and BioLPG appliances as well as Rinnai’s H3 range of products that include decarbonising hybrid, solar thermal, heat pump and hydrogen technology will be available to view.

Staff members will be present to advise potential customers on the benefits of investing in Rinnai technology and to also inform customers of the many support services that Rinnai offer.

FREE Rinnai services such as system design, capital expenditure, operational expenditure and carbon modelling will calculate customer savings in the aforementioned areas.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE INSTALLER SHOW (27 – 29 June, NEC, Birmingham)

 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE RINNAI WEBSITE
or HERE to EMAIL RINNAI
CLICK HERE For more information on the RINNAI product range
RINNAI’S H3 DECARBONISATION OFFERS PATHWAYS & CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS FOR
COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY

                                                   

Rinnai’s H3 range of decarbonising products include hydrogen / BioLPG ready technology, hybrid systems, and a wide range of LOW GWP heat pumps and solar thermal. Also, within Rinnai’s H3 range is Infinity hydrogen blend ready and BioLPG ready continuous flow water heaters which are stacked with a multitude of features that ensure long life, robust & durable use, customer satisfaction and product efficiency.

Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products – H1/H2/H3 – consists of heat pump, solar, hydrogen in any configuration, hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H3 range of products offer contractors, consultants and end users a range of efficient, robust and affordable decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic and technically feasible solutions. The range covers all forms of fuels and appliances currently available – electric, gas, hydrogen, BioLPG, rDME solar thermal, low GWP heat pumps and electric water heaters.

Rinnai H1 continuous water heaters and boilers offer practical and economic decarbonization delivered through technological innovation in hydrogen and renewable liquid gas ready technology.

Rinnai’s H1 option is centred on hydrogen, as it is anticipated that clean hydrogen fuels will become internationally energy market-relevant in the future; Rinnai water heaters are hydrogen 20% blends ready and include the world’s first 100% hydrogen-ready hot water heating technology.

Rinnai H2 – Decarbonization simplified with renewable gas-ready units, Solar Thermal and Heat Pump Hybrids. Rinnai H2 is designed to introduce a practical and low-cost option which may suit specific sites and enable multiple decarbonisation pathways with the addition of high performance.

Rinnai H3 – Low-GWP heat pump technology made easy – Rinnai heat pumps are available for domestic and commercial usage with an extensive range of 4 – 115kW appliances.

Rinnai’s H3 heat pumps utilise R32 refrigerant and have favourable COP and SCOP.

Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year, operating on each of the five continents. The brand has gained an established reputation for producing products that offer high performance, cost efficiency and extended working lives.

Rinnai’s commercial and domestic continuous flow water heaters offer a limitless supply of instantaneous temperature controlled hot water and all units are designed to align with present and future energy sources. Rinnai condensing water heaters accept either existing fuel or hydrogen gas blends. Rinnai units are also suited for off-grid customers who require LPG and BioLPG or rDME.

Rinnai products are i2HY20 certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours. Rinnai offer carbon and cost comparison services that will calculate financial and carbon savings made when investing in a Rinnai system. Rinnai also provide a system design service that will suggest an appropriate system for the property in question. Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry including detailed CPD’s. More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its “Help Me Choose” webpage.

 

 

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DISTRICT HEAT: A GAME CHANGER

Delivery manager for Heat Networks Investment Project says planned introduction of new government powers to prioritise district heat in certain areas of England will be a “game changer”

Construction on the first batch of heat network zones that would prioritise the use of district heating across specific parts of England could begin by 2025.

Experts argue that these zones would be a significant boost for plans to encourage the use of low carbon heat networks up to 2050 as part of national decarbonisation plans.

Proposals are currently being considered in parliament as part of a new Energy Bill that would grant the government new powers to create these zones, if passed into law.

David Lee, the scheme delivery manager for the Heat Networks Investment Project with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, said he expected the legislative reforms around heat network zoning set out in bill would be a “game changer” if implemented.

Mr Lee said he believed that the induction of zoning, as opposed to the development of any specific type of district heating innovation, was going to be significant factor in meeting current targets for expanding the number of networks in operation.

The Energy Bill proposals, which are currently under parliamentary review, would establish a methodology for defining certain types of areas in England that should prioritise district heating connections as a preferred option to decarbonise heat demand.

The bill also backs providing the government with the power to establish a ‘zoning coordinator’ to designate a heat network zone and enforce use of district heating solutions in these areas.  Local government bodies are anticipated to fulfil the majority of these coordinator roles under the bill.

Mr Lee said that the bill also established Ofgem as a regulator for heat networks standards and pricing, along with introducing the statutory powers to implement zoning.

According to the government’s own estimates, around two per cent of heat demand is currently provided though heat networks. However, it expects that close to a fifth of national demand for low carbon heat could be met by a new generation of district heating solutions and retrofits of existing systems by 2050, citing estimates from the Climate Change Committee (CCC).

Heat network zoning was described by Mr Lee as the process to identify areas where district solutions were identified as the lowest cost option to decarbonise heat at scale.

He expected further consultations to be launched going forward around the secondary legislation that would be needed to define the best process for zoning. This would in turn lead to the formation of the first zones for England being built potentially within two years.

Mr Lee said: “There is work underway to ensure that a batch of zones are under construction by the end of 2025.”

The comments were made during a workshop event hosted by manufacturing specialist Rehau this week in London to consider how to ensure the construction and operation of high quality and low carbon heat networks.

Among the day’s speakers were Dr Gabriel Gallagher of the Sustainable Energy consultancy. Dr Gallagher that heat networks offered a growing potential for city authorities and developers to more closely integrate renewable sources of power to meet heating demand in building and business.

He said that future projects would be able to look at the use of lower carbon technologies such as heat pumps that can connect to a network that makes use of wastewater and other sources of energy.

He also presented different examples of projects that could make use of nearby energy sources to provide heating to numerous buildings.  This included a project in Cardiff to capture heat provided from waste that could then be used to supply buildings in the Cardiff Bay area of the city.

There was also potential for lower scale use of networks, such as in proposed garden villages that set to be built across the UK.

Dr Gallagher said that an investigation on such project had identified the potential to provide heating to homes through a network taking heat from nearby coal mine workings.

Simon Eddleston, director of construction at district heating supplier Switch2 Energy, agreed that crucial changes were presently underway around planning and funding for heat networks that would help drive market expansion.

“As you see this change, you will also see a basic realisation that this is a technology that can decarbonise large chunks of housing in one go.”

“It’s probably the most vital technology in that way. So I think you will see the level of understanding about them change.”

Source: H & V News

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PLANNING: A Game of Roulette

Is Brexit to blame for planning applications falling sharply? Industry experts react

2023, UK newswire, Newspage, asked property experts why they believe this is the case.

Matt Baldock, Director at Charles David Casson: “We are finding that for the first time in many years it is actually cheaper to move than to extend. Moving costs, mainly Stamp Duty, have previously made people who need a bigger property look to extend but both labour and material costs have gone through the roof since the pandemic, while Brexit has also had a part to play, especially on the labour and importing materials front. For most mid-market family homes, extending was always largely a ‘needs must’ cost-based solution with compromises still made, so the fact that it is now cheaper to move means people can try and find that fresh new home that suits their needs better and can be justified financially.”

Justin Moy, Managing Director at EHF Mortgages: “It was inevitable that the cost of raw building materials, high mortgage interest rates and the general cost of living challenges have had a negative impact on home improvement work. Whereas borrowers have traditionally added this cost to a typical remortgage when their product was due to renew, given that many have no option but to take a product transfer with their current lender, unfortunately this has also meant that additional borrowing is off the agenda for the time being. Once the economy improves, confident homeowners will look to these opportunities again.”

Joe Garner, Co-Founder & Managing Director at Joe Garner Consulting: “Development deals no longer stack. Gross Development Values are down, land prices remain high and just about every other cost has risen from raw building materials to the interest charged on debt. Coupled with the faltering, failing planning system, it is Armageddon for house builders, main contractors and many sub-contractors as well as professional service providers operating in the new build residential housing market. Planning has become an expensive, long-winded game of roulette that many are no longer willing to play.”

Edward Checkley, Managing Director at Advias: “The cost of building has significantly increased, higher interest rates are increasing the cost of borrowing and a slowing housing market is reducing anticipated sales figures. Development sites no longer stack up, unless landowners are willing to take a big haircut. Let’s also not forget that Community Infrastructure Levy fees by local councils are taking a significant chunk out of these developments.”

Cliff L’Aimable, Managing Director at Building Control Surveyors: “Uncertainty caused by labour shortages following Brexit, rising interest rates and the steeply climbing costs of materials, including energy costs, have made a number of projects we handle non-viable, with many investors now not willing to take the plunge into property development.”

 

Source: IF Magazine

 

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Despite ‘Atlantic Declaration’ US Investment Confidence in the UK dips for the 3rd consecutive year

The confidence of US companies operating in the UK in Britain’s business environment has dropped markedly, and for a third year in a row, as a continuing toll from Brexit on American business sentiment towards the UK is aggravated by US firms’ anxieties over political stability, economic growth prospects and corporate tax.

The third edition of the Transatlantic Confidence Index, issued today by BritishAmerican Business and Bain & Company, shows continuing overall strength in the trade, business and economic relationships between the UK and US.

But its findings also starkly emphasise the impact on business confidence from the past year’s political and economic turmoil in Britain, with multiple changes of government alongside market turbulence, as well as the ongoing impact of Brexit.

For the third consecutive year, US investors’ confidence in the UK fell. On the Index’s 1 to 10 scale, the average business confidence rating for the UK dropped by almost a full point, to 6.5 for 2023 – nearly double the half-point decline to 7.3 in 2022’s results.

The confidence slide delivers a clear call to action for the UK government from business. It comes on the heels of the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s meeting with President Joe Biden last week and their ‘Atlantic Declaration’ announcing a new economic partnership between the UK and US, aiming to strengthen both economies and their ties, and to spur new investment.

Three years on from Britain’s departure from the European Union, US companies remain consistently concerned about the repercussions of Brexit, with the UK-US political and trade relationship the number one priority that US businesses want the UK government to tackle to attract more investment. Nearly 40% of US survey respondents rated this their top priority while 75% placed it in their top three concerns.

Notably, the BAB-Bain survey was conducted after the signing of the Windsor Framework agreement between the UK and EU in March. But while survey respondents acknowledged improvements in the UK-EU relationship, with confidence in this creeping up from 5.1 in 2021 to 5.6 this year, the pace of improvement did not appear to be enough to allay US companies’ concerns over the issue.

In addition to following through on the implementation of the Windsor Framework, US companies are keen to see the UK prioritise, among others, enhanced labor mobility and short-term mobility visas for service providers, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and extending cooperation outside the Trade and Cooperation Agreement to areas such as digital policy in its relationship with the EU.

The findings also highlight that worries for US firms over the UK-EU split are being compounded by their anxieties over UK political stability, Britain’s growth outlook, productivity and taxation.

In 2022’s edition of the Index, respondents’ views on UK political stability were evenly split between positive and negative. In the new edition these views skewed more than two-to-one to negative, emphasising the salience of political risk as a significant concern for US investors in the UK while US businesses also reported a drop in the attractiveness of the UK’s regulatory environment and the certainty this provides.

US investors asked about confidence in the UK’s ability to bolster economic growth and productivity gave a rating of only 5.8 out of 10, despite Mr Sunak’s efforts to rebuild confidence in UK economic policy after the political and market upsets over the past year.

Tax also rose up the rankings of US companies’ concerns over the UK, with more than 60% of companies naming this as a top-three issue. More than half of US respondents said the planned rise in the UK’s main corporate tax rate from 19% to 25% would affect their confidence in Britain as a place to do business, while the UK tax environment emerged as the second highest priority among American investors.

Despite their increased concerns, US companies also continued to highlight the UK’s historic strengths as a business location, with more than half of respondents reporting they will continue or increase their investments in Britain.

UK business confidence in the US business environment continues to run at high levels

In contrast with US businesses declining sentiment over key aspects of the UK business environment the Transatlantic Confidence Index found that British businesses’ confidence in the US remained stable at high levels, with an average confidence rating of 8.4 out of 10. About three-quarters of UK respondents said they believed they will increase their investments in the US over the next two to three years. The Index findings again showed attractiveness of the US to UK companies continued to be buoyed by the size of the American market, access to capital and the US workforce’s skills base, while the US also emerged as a more attractive innovation hub than the UK. But new business incentives in the US such as the Inflation Reduction Act received mixed responses from companies, dependent on sector.

The findings also showed a dip in UK companies’ perceptions of regulatory certainty in the US, concerns over US labour mobility, and signs of an increased focus among British firms on political risk in the build-up to the next US presidential elections.

While US companies reported very clear and narrow priorities for the UK government, British firms reported a wide and varied set of challenges for the US government, with five different issues ranked as number one or number two priority by around a third of respondents. These topics included a future UK-US trade deal, the timely implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act and other incentives, greater bipartisanship in the US Congress, the tax environment and the relaunch of a global US trade agenda.

British and American companies united on need for greater UK-US economic partnership 

While the survey revealed divergence in confidence in the UK and US, it also found a strong alignment among companies on both sides of the Atlantic over their desire for increased economic collaboration between the UK and US and agreement on the actions the two governments should take to bolster the trading relationship. Companies from the US and UK prioritised the top issues almost identically. 60% of all respondents want to see improvements in business mobility, 55% want a data transfer agreement between the US and UK.

Strikingly, more than two-thirds of respondents said a comprehensive UK-US free-trade agreement was a priority, with 73% of UK companies rating this among their priority topics. The finding, despite the currently unfavourable US political climate for the striking of large trade deals, underlines how strongly companies wants to see greater UK-US economic partnership.

Duncan Edwards, CEO, BritishAmerican Business, said:

“This year’s results highlight that confidence in the transatlantic corridor remains strong. This is welcome news and indeed companies on both sides of the Atlantic are calling for greater economic collaboration and trade partnership between the US and the UK. Last week’s talks between PM Sunak and President Biden were encouraging and we hope that the new Atlantic Declaration will lead to further progress in the year ahead.

“The survey results do however show a marked difference in investor sentiment in both countries. It is no surprise that the political turmoil seen in the UK over the last twelve months has taken its toll. This instability, coupled with ongoing concerns over Brexit, growth prospects and taxation have led to a drop of confidence in the UK for a third year in a row. The message from US investors is clear. They are calling for a stable political environment and business friendly policies from the UK government. In direct contrast, British businesses’ confidence in the US remained unchanged and at strong levels, which the US government should continue to build on to attract further investment.”

Jonathan Frick, partner at Bain & Company in London, said:

“The transatlantic economic relationship and wider UK-US partnership are crucial anchors for the security and prosperity of both nations, particularly in our current, turbulent times. At Bain, we partnered with BAB on this study as a reflection the reality that the transatlantic corridor has rarely been more critical.

“While it’s heartening to see the continuing vitality of the relationship between Britain and America, our findings also show important challenges, on both sides of the Atlantic, but especially in respect of US investors’ confidence in the UK. These are a call to action for both governments as well as businesses in the two countries to work together proactively to further strengthen our transatlantic ties.”

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England’s Planning System – Inadequate

The current system lacks explicit goals for net zero targets and nature restoration, hindering progress, according to a report.

Campaigners are sounding the alarm over the inadequacy of England’s planning system in tackling the climate crisis.

A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has highlighted significant flaws within the system that hinder progress towards net zero targets and nature restoration.

According to the IPPR, the current planning system lacks explicit goals and mechanisms to support the delivery of net zero targets.

Environmental requirements often exist outside of the planning system or come into conflict with it – this disconnect poses a significant challenge in effectively addressing the climate crisis, according to the report.

Analysts note that England’s current rate of onshore wind development is insufficient to achieve full energy security in a net zero world.

The report estimates that it would take nearly 4,700 years to reach the capacity recommended by government advisors.

Changes to planning laws in 2015, which made it more difficult to obtain permission for new onshore turbines, have exacerbated this issue, according to the think tank.

The IPPR is calling for a comprehensive reset of the English planning system to address these shortcomings.

Their recommendations include reinstating national and local housebuilding targets, aligning new neighbourhoods with net zero goals and actively restoring nature.

Additionally, the report suggests reducing restrictions on onshore wind and solar power and compelling local authorities to identify suitable land for renewable energy projects.

Luke Murphy, the IPPR Associate Director for Energy, Climate, Housing and Infrastructure, said:

“The current planning system in England is not remotely fit for purpose to build a net zero world, restore nature, or meet housing needs.

“Fundamental planning reform is needed to accelerate efforts to reduce emissions and restore nature, roll out renewable energy generation and deliver the level of housebuilding that the country so desperately needs.

“Without a reset of the planning system all the main political parties will fail to deliver on their key objectives, from economic growth to energy security, and addressing the climate and nature crises.”

Source: Energy Live

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Heat pump policy will see foreign imports steal lion’s share of UK market

The heating industry met with Whitehall officials recently to warn them of the dire economic consequences for UK manufacturing and UK consumers of their plans to promote heat pumps.

Under the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, currently being considered by MPs in the Energy Bill, boiler manufacturers in the UK face being fined over £300 million next year if consumers do not fit heat pumps. According to the Government’s own figures, an average heat pump installation costs over £13,000 compared to £2500 for a gas boiler replacement and under the new Ofgem Energy Price Cap, a heat pump costs 8 per cent more a year to run than a gas boiler.

Under government plans, the fines levied would mean gas boiler sales are subject to a stealth “boiler Tax”, which would be used to subsidise those who can afford to fit a heat pump. Alternatively, UK boiler manufacturers would shed jobs and cut investment in order to pay the fines.

Over 90 per cent of boilers fitted in the UK are made in the UK, compared to an estimated 30 per cent of heat pumps. The Government admit that at best only half of heat pumps will be made in the UK, with the rest imported.

Commenting on the proposals, Mike Foster CEO of the energy trade association, Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) said:

“The most senior figures in our industry voiced their concerns, again, directly to Whitehall officials. The industry knows either jobs will be lost, investment plans hit or the consumer will be asked to pay a “boiler tax” by stealth.”

“Under government plans, boats carrying foreign heat pumps will be flooding into the UK market. Put bluntly, for every foreign heat pump sold it is a British boiler being replaced. This has dire economic consequences here at home, which the Government seem oblivious to.”

“The UK market for boilers is unlike that of the rest of the world. They do not have a world-class gas network, they weren’t used to relatively cheap and abundant natural gas reserves and our housing stock was built with coal fires and then gas heating in mind. Heat pumps are sold in the millions across the world and the UK will simply end up importing these if gas boiler manufacturers are fined for making boilers.”

“Heat pumps have a role to play in net zero, so do hydrogen-ready boilers. The Brits invented the hydrogen-ready gas boiler; the Government wants to make them compulsory in homes, which is great, but other parts of Whitehall wants to fine them for making them. Chinese manufacturers will be laughing all the way to the bank.”

 

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ADSA Helps Spearhead Competence Initiative

The Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA) is taking part in a ground-breaking initiative to increase levels of competence and confidence in the UK building envelope sector.

The Joint Competence Initiative (JCI) has been established in response to the Building Safety Act – considered the most significant change to health and safety legislation affecting the construction industry in the past 40 years

The JCI is an “association of associations” providing guidance and support to move forward industry standards and raise the bar higher.

ADSA was invited to represent the doors sector as part of the JCI steering group along with other trade associations, including Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB), Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF), the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT) and Society of Façade Engineers (SFE). They are joined by representatives of leading contractors, sub-contractors, manufacturers and suppliers and education providers such GQA Qualifications Ltd.

 

Ken Price, ADSA’s managing director, said that it was an honour to be involved in an initiative which would

“radically reform and improve quality and standards throughout the industry.”

“It has brought together leading associations which have responsibilities in establishing and maintaining competence levels within their own sectors. By working together, we have been able to define what competence looks like, how we measure and achieve it against specific roles and requirements.

“We have shared the work which we have undertaken individually and helped contribute to a bigger picture of competence. Moving forward, we have pledged to drive through change against a recognised set of standards that relate to different parts of the industry: subcontractors, specifiers, manufacturers, etc, and identify the kind of training and continuous professional development that is required to prove competence.”

 

JCI was initially formed of technical and procurement leads from BAM, ISG, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Lendlease, Mace, Morgan Sindall, Multiplex, Sir Robert McAlpine, John Sisk, Skanska and Wates Group. Its vision has been to establish, “proportionate and practical requirements relating to both organisational and individual competence of those working in the glazing, cladding and roofing sectors”. This has led to the publication of a white paper, ‘Achieving Competence in the Building Envelope Sector’.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE WHITE PAPER

 

Said JCI chair, Neville Grunwald:

“JCI will consult with Principal Contractors and Developers to adopt the white paper as the preferred measure of subcontractor competence as part of the supply chain process.  In order to maintain the currency of these measures, the volunteers and associations of the JCI will continue to interact with Government bodies and other stakeholders to monitor changes in laws and regulations surrounding the issue of competence in the Built Environment and lobby them to ensure those laws and regulations are proportionate and applied in a practicable manner.”

CLICK HERE for more information on ADSA

 

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Solicitors Shy Away from High Rise Conveyance

The Building Safety Act 2022 is meant to showcase the government’s commitment to reforming the building safety system.

However, brokers have stated that due to stringent building regulations on cladding, a number of solicitors and conveyancers are refusing to work on cases where the building is above five storeys, or 11 metres, high.

Beth Rudolf  director of delivery at the Conveyancing Association (CA), said to her mind, this is an issue that goes beyond high-rise buildings and is exacerbated by Part 1 of the UK Finance handbook.

Providing clarity

Rudolf said under the guidance of UK Finance, where the security will comprise a leasehold flat you must request the following information from the seller’s conveyancer about the safety of the building in which the flat is situated:

  • Confirmation as to whether the building has been or will be remediated under the Building Safety Act 2022.
  • Copies of any landlords’ certificates, signed by the landlord in the form set out in the building safety leaseholder protections regulations 2022.
  • Copies of any executed leaseholder deed of certificate, in the form set out in the building safety leaseholder protections regulations 2022, and confirmation that they have been submitted by the relevant leaseholder to the landlord.

She added that the handbook also states you may want to consider any guidance from your professional body and/or regulator about the information and advice you should provide to the home-buyer relating to building safety. The guidance, Rudolf believes, needs to be clear that, if the flat is in a relevant building, the Building Safety Act 2022 applies.

“We at the CA, and the Conveyancing Task Force, have been asking UK Finance to update this since last year, but as of yet, that has not been done,” Rudolf said.

Too complex

For most firms, Rudolf said the mid-rise and above position is too much work for them to take on, as they are uncomfortable charging the additional costs to do so.

“Plus DLUHC is updating its guidance as the loopholes are discovered, for example, the update on surrender and regrant recently, which will require updated legislation,” she added.

For this reason, Rudolf said there appears to be only a few conveyancing firms willing to take on mid/high-rise leasehold conveyancing.

The few conveyancing firms who are willing to take on these cases, Rudolf said, are choosing to specialise in this area to set themselves apart from competitors.

Rudolf said it is essential that brokers check with their local connections as to which conveyancers are comfortable taking on mid/high-rise leasehold conveyancing.

“While there are some conveyancers setting up as specialists on the legislation now, as the legislation beds in and the insurers become more comfortable, others will start acting on these cases,” she said.

Mortgage advisers, Rudolf said, should remind their customers they will need to check their conveyancer is prepared to work on leasehold cases which include mid/high-rise property before instructing them.

“Otherwise, it can cause huge delay and frustration to them and the rest of the chain of transactions when they have to instruct another conveyancer and start the process all over again,” she added.

Source: Mortgage Introducer

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RECYCLING SAND

A FAMILY-RUN Teesside firm is experiencing increased demand for its recycled sand as more companies recognise the environmental toll that extraction is having on the planet.

Scott Bros recently invested £6m in one of the country’s largest ‘urban quarries’ that converts construction and excavation waste into high-quality builder’s and sharp sand together with five grades of aggregate, ranging from 5-10mm up to 60-120mm.

Still undergoing commissioning, the wash plant – one of the largest in the UK – is currently processing 180 tonnes of inert material per hour. Once fully operational, the site at South Bank, Middlesbrough, will process up to 300 tonnes per hour.

Since ramping up production of its ‘green’ construction materials, the Teesside company has seen a sharp rise in demand – with several major North-East suppliers having switched from natural sand to buying more than 800 tonnes of recycled sand every week.

Scott Bros has the capacity to produce more than 200,000 tonnes of recycled sand annually.

The huge investment followed on from the market created by Scott Bros’ first and much smaller £1m wash plant, which processes up to 50 tons of inert material per hour.

Bob Borthwick, a director of Scott Bros, said:

“Our first wash plant, which we opened in 2019, created a strong market for green construction materials and even with the addition of our new £6m wash plant, recycled sand is being sold almost as quickly as we can produce it.

“Over the last few years, the construction industry has definitely recognised both the economic and environmental benefits involved.”

“One of our customers has completely switched from supplying quarried sand to our recycled sand and is now taking away up to 500 tonnes per week. We are also seeing other customers increasing the amounts they buy as confidence grows in recycled aggregates that is helping fuel Teesside’s circular economy.”

Last year, it was estimated that the UK imported almost £7m worth of sand, but the world is facing a shortage of sand, given that desert sand is unsuitable for construction whilst marine sand must be washed clean of salt.

Fellow director Peter Scott added:

“In the past, such construction waste would have often ended up in landfill. It is now being converted into recycled sand that is not only cost effective and of a high quality but is helping to preserve valuable natural resources and protect ecosystems.”

Source: Yahoo

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Grey or Green Hydrogen

Protium explores green hydrogen production in a case study of the Protium Project Pioneer 1, exploring carbon storage and net zero possibilities in energy

Hydrogen is widely seen as a critical component of a net zero future and has a key role to play in decarbonising sectors such as heavy transport and industrial processes.

It has seen a recent boom in interest, driven by the urgent need to tackle climate change, technological improvements, and the challenges faced by industries in decarbonising through electrification.

Is hydrogen the future of energy?

Hydrogen is already commonly used in industries, particularly in chemical processes. The dedicated production of hydrogen as an energy carrier is an emerging trend.

The speed by which demand has grown is nothing short of phenomenal, and it is only increasing, but this has led to two important questions – is it a sustainable solution, and where does it come from?

While it is very encouraging to see a desire for a greener future, it is important to consider how hydrogen is produced to ensure that there is a positive difference being made to a net zero future.

Today, most of the hydrogen in the UK and around the world is produced through a process called Steam Methane Reforming.

As the name suggests, methane (made from natural gas) is broken down by steam and heat into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, the latter being released into the atmosphere. Due to the emissions associated with this, it is often labelled “grey hydrogen”. If all hydrogen for future “green projects” was from “grey” sources, this would simply shift emissions from the point of use to the point of production.

The opportunities of carbon storage

Methods to capture and store carbon, commonly termed CCS for short, are being developed. When CCS is added downstream of the steam reforming process, the hydrogen can be labelled “blue”. However, this process is still not a zero-emission procedure, as not all carbon can be captured.

The best zero-emission method for hydrogen production is called electrolysis, where water is ‘split’ into its constituent parts using electricity. If the power is generated by renewables or nuclear power, there are no carbon emissions, and the hydrogen can be labelled “green” because there are no carbon emissions.

Currently, the availability of green hydrogen is very limited, but this is fast changing with companies like Protium leading the charge.

Pioneering green hydrogen facilities and projects

There is a growing shift taking place towards green hydrogen, with production facilities being planned and developed across the UK.

Protium is one of the companies leading the way, having unveiled its first operational electrolyser earlier this year and with more projects already in development.

The Protium Pioneer electrolyser unit is the largest installation of Enapter AEM technology in the UK. Pioneer 1 consists of 40 Enapter electrolyser modules that can produce over 40kg of hydrogen per day. This is the equivalent to powering 13 cars for 350 km.

The electrolyser load can be adjusted to match the fluctuations and intermittence of the renewable power, while the hydrogen produced can be stored as a gas or liquid and consumed as and when the user needs it. Therefore hydrogen will be so important in a net zero future.

However, developing and implementing this kind of infrastructure is not without its pitfalls.

The impact of energy supply chain disruptions

The effects of the pandemic and ongoing war in Ukraine, coupled with a surge in demand for green hydrogen products have put a squeeze on the supply chain in nearly every area involved in the mechanical manufacturing of products.

There is evidence currently of costs increasing over 30% as well as lead times increasing over 100% in the space of a few weeks. From a developer’s perspective, this has put pressure on getting orders placed early and managing contracts to prevent cost overruns.

Managing inherent hydrogen safety

A key aspect of any project is ensuring that inherent safety is achieved within the design. By its nature, hydrogen is more flammable than natural gas. However, being a much lighter molecule, it also disperses faster.

Therefore, achieving adequate ventilation for a hydrogen system is a key challenge to prevent hydrogen from reaching its flammability limit (4% v/v in air). To achieve an inherently safe site, many key pieces of equipment should be deployed outside of containers to ensure maximum natural ventilation and to prevent hydrogen build-up.

Additionally, the hydrogen container for Pioneer 1 fitted with forced ventilation, ensures hydrogen can never reach its flammability limit. Explosion-proof equipment should also be used where needed.

Stakeholder engagement

Green hydrogen is a nascent industry, and many key stakeholders are unfamiliar with hydrogen in contrast to other fuel sources. The key takeaway is that educating stakeholders and the public about the benefits of green hydrogen as well as the setbacks, should be encouraged.

This will speed up the acceptance of green hydrogen and ultimately allow the general populace to appreciate the need for a quicker move towards a net zero emission future.

Extending the development of the UK hydrogen market

Project Pioneer 1, as well as all green hydrogen production projects, show the ongoing development of the UK hydrogen market.

Project Pioneer 1 demonstrates the importance of scaling up in the market from a smaller project. It also proves that with the required technology and processes, a blueprint can be created to aid in planning for larger-scale green hydrogen projects.

This means that outcomes will be delivered more quickly not only for companies like Protium, but, more importantly, for the wider hydrogen market.

Projects Pioneer 1 demonstrate that green hydrogen can be a viable decarbonising solution and it is a major step forward towards a net zero economy.

 

Source: Open Access Government

 

 

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