Silkworks & Silvermill – Case Study

Overview

Minutes from Canary Wharf, Silkworks and Silvermill is a prestigious St. James development of 462 apartments, boasting magnificent views across London and benefiting from a wealth of environmental design features. The development has two heat networks (supplied by independent gas-fired energy centres and heat-interface units that are installed in each apartment) from which residents can access the heat network on a 24/7/365 basis. Data Energy was appointed by the building’s managing agent, Michael Laurie Magar (MLM), to resolve legacy issues with the heat network that ultimately led to the metering process being suspended.

Challenges Faced

Our specialists found that the lack of metering data prohibited accurate billing and heavily restricted the managing agent’s ability to monitor network performance. This inability to monitor performance exposed the network to inefficiencies that couldn’t be identified, consequently putting residents at risk of unnecessarily high billing. Furthermore, the absence of metering data hindered transparency when recharging costs to residents. The contribution and cost of on-site renewable energy heat pumps was unknown, which amplified the problem of being unable to determine network performance. Additionally, both the managing agent and developer were unclear of the network’s carbon savings.

Our Solutions

Data Energy presented a structured plan to MLM for the recommissioning of the heat metering network, which in turn required access to more than 10% of the apartments in order to inspect tenant-level metering equipment. We upgraded the metering infrastructure to re-instate the system for residents, and several performance improvement measures of the network were identified.

Impact

First, we shared with the developer a comprehensive range of network performance insights that will improve future home energy strategies by solving the trilemma of carbon emissions, local planning requirements, and practicability. Second, both metering networks were recommissioned, and the original design reinstated, allowing for accurate and transparent recharging to residents. And finally, we determined the energetic, financial and carbon performance of the renewable heat generation assets, which enabled us to calculate that it has the potential to generate healthy financial benefits under the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme.

We instructed Data Energy to review the existing arrangements and to provide proposals for the heat metering platform that had experienced significant level of issues at all levels. After an initial review, a structured plan was agreed and implemented, resulting in a recharging platform that allowed us to comply with the obligations under the Heat Network Regulations.

 

This was a new instruction to us, so we were under the scrutiny of all. The performance of Data Energy reflected positively on MLM and we would have no hesitation in recommending their services to other managing agents that may be experiencing legacy issues with heat networks.

Rupy Jandu BSc (Hons) MIRPM, New Business Manager, Michael Laurie Magar

It was great to see a scheme where the team have such a good understanding of the system.

Matthew Bailey BA (Hons), MSc, CEnv, MEI, Hodkinson Consultancy