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utILIty WeeK | 21st - 27th February 2014 | 23 Operations & Assets The tunnel will act as a storage tank before transferring the flows to Beckton sewage works, Europe's biggest, which is being expanded by a further 60 per cent to deal with the increased volumes. The Lee Tunnel is the first of two tunnels – along with the Thames Tide- way Tunnel, which is currently being examined by the Planning Inspector- ate – designed to combat the tens of millions of tonnes of sewage that spill into the River Thames every year. If you have an asset or project you would like to see featured in this slot, email: paul.newton@fav-house.com Pipe up Ziko Abram T he water industry accounts for around 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year. In other words, just 23 companies generate almost 1 per cent of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions could double as tighter water regula- tions take effect under the European Water Framework Directive. According to the Environment Agency, the additional wastewater treatment necessitated could boost energy requirements and hence carbon emis- sions by more than 110,000 tonnes a year. Moreover, if the volume of water requiring treatment and pumping continues to increase due to flooding – as we have seen recently on an enormous scale – the industry will have an even greater energy demand. Greater use of renewable power to feed this rising demand is sensible, but comes with its own difficulties, including intermittency. However, the water industry is well placed to assist with dealing with intermittency issues – through greater use of demand-side management. Demand response allows commercial and industrial sites to reduce their energy con- sumption during times of grid stress by temporarily turning down non-essential systems. Switching over to standby power assets, such as diesel generators, as part of a routine resilience-testing schedule is an effective way for many companies to save money and reduce the strain on the electricity network. Another option would be for water treatment plants to shi certain energy-intensive opera- tions to times when energy prices are lower. Sembcorp Bournemouth Water (SBW) has three operational demand response sites, which use assets at water treatment works and supply pumping stations at Alderney, Stanbridge and Knapp Mill. By participating in demand-side management, SBW is both saving money on energy and ensuring it has a reliable contingency for backup power in the event of a blackout or grid failure. Like a car engine, generators require frequent use to keep them working efficiently and, to ensure emergency preparedness, should be tested at least once a month. Demand response allows standby generators to be tested on-load and at full capacity, making it an ideal way to prove engine resilience and optimise performance. With no upfront costs involved in setting up demand response, and availability and participation payments made through aggregators such as KiWi Power, water companies are beginning to recognise the win-win situa- tion offered by the energy reduction programme. Ziko Abram, director and co-founder, KiWi Power "Demand-side management saves money on energy bills and is a reliable contingency for backup power" "Just 23 companies generate almost 1 per cent of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions"