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Examples of the type of projects we've been invited to work on.
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Product Commercialisation
A client approached us with an idea. They had developed a new way to pre-treat feedstock being used in the production of biogas and in composting. Technically their idea was feasible, but what were its chances commercially?
Our brief was to take the product and commercialise it, to include a review of its technical development, the equipment economics, the potential market and how it was positioned to enter that market.
This involved us in a careful and considered study of the equipment itself, an analysis of exactly what it would provide prospective users and whether the use of this new product would match up to the requirements of the appropriate statutory waste regulations.
Thereafter our brief extended to the establishment and planned implementation of a marketing philosophy for the equipment.
We first provided an in depth report identifying the current technological status of the equipment and prepared all the available test data in such a form that it could be used for marketing purposes.
At this stage we also made a number of suggestions for the further testing, research and additional development of the new product.
We also presented our client with economic viability analysis that included a model that balanced the cost of manufacturing the equipment against its performance, and the current market price for dealing with the wastes that it could treat.
From the results of this analysis we were able to identify a number of marketing opportunities that were detailed to our client, along with suggestions as to how these could be optimised to achieve the best commercial return.
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Waste Treatment Assessment
We were asked to assess and review what options were available to improve the management of the waste stream from an existing food processing plant, with a view to implementing our proposals across their whole group of companies.
Our client was producing both solid and liquid waste, and was considering an in vessel composting system to treat both of these.
We inspected the current systems used by the business and made an analysis of the waste generated by the plant.
We were then able to review the options available to us.
The waste analysis had showed that treatment of the complete waste stream was possible but that this would require the introduction of dry bulking fractions to the feedstock.
A centralised in-vessel composting system would meet our client's requirements. However, we were able to identify that another possible solution was the local treatment of the waste at each factory, a solution that was both technically and economically feasible and brought the company other benefits, such as diversification and the reduction of their risk.
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Domestic Energy Assessment
Our client owns a small farm complex that includes a manor house, a few cottages and some associated farm buildings. He wanted to know what opportunities existed to introduce renewable energy technology into his complex both in terms of what was technically and commercially viable.
We inspected the premises as they stand, and factored in his longer term plans to develop his property.
We then considered all the various sources of renewable energy that might match the scale of the site, and assessed their suitability.
To meet our clients brief we provided an analysis of the main technologies (energy conservation, solar PV, solar thermal, wind, and heat pumps) available, how best these could be applied, and an economic assessment for each.
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School Energy Assessment
Due to an increased use of IT equipment and other powered teaching aids our client, a large secondary school, had become aware of, and concerned by, the fact that the school's energy consumption was at the limit of the available electrical supply, and had already started to suffer from 'brown outs', the most obvious symptom being when lights dimmed unexpectedly. This was potentially putting existing equipment at risk.
We were initially asked to investigate what opportunities existed to use renewable energy sources to bolster the current supply, and to provide the school with a secure power supply to take them into the future.
We first decided to carry out a complete review of the school's current power consumption, including lighting and heating, and how these were controlled.
We discovered that there was considerable scope for both energy conservation and for efficiency improvements simply by reconfiguring an existing building management system. This, in conjunction with improved working practices and various equipment upgrades such as the use of low energy bulbs, thermostatic radiator valves and improved insulation cut power consumption considerably.
The replacement of inefficient portable electric heaters by the extension and upgrading of the existing heating system also helped as did the dissemination of helpful information concerning energy savings to both staff and pupils.
Taking these measures even further, we also suggested that opportunities existed for the school to incorporate these developments into the educational curriculum as both a teaching aid and to involve pupils in the whole process of energy saving, pointing to other freely available schemes from a number of sources, all aimed at encouraging student involvement.
What was interesting about this project was that simply by applying the efficiency improvements available to them the school was able to more than overcome the shortfall in their existing and predicted future energy requirements, so alleviating the need for any additional renewable energy generation.
There was also the bonus of providing a useful and relevant addition to the curriculum.
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Commercial Energy Assessment
The client's offices were old, single story, single glazed, and spread over a large area.
They had minimal insulation. Their problem was that the staff were too hot in summer and too cold in winter, and that there were marked differences in temperature from one side of the building to the other.
What could we do to provide a renewal energy solution to give them acceptable climate control throughout the year?
After an extensive study of the site we proposed a ground sourced heat pump that could be used to provide both the cooling and heating they needed and that would and maintain an even temperature throughout the building.
In particular the system we suggested provided a balanced heating and cooling regime by effectively moving heat from overheated areas to cooler areas, and vice versa, to provide the best working environment for any given set of circumstances.
The system provided the additional benefits of humidity control and fresh air circulation - all contributing to a considerably improved working environment and staff morale.
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Technology Research
Another client asked us to prepare a report detailing the most effective and efficient means of treating the waste from their chicken processing plants, with particular reference to meeting all the applicable regulations.
To do this we investigated a considerable number of techniques available in the market place from two particular points of interest, would they:
- Result in a reduction in the waste
- Remain economically viable.
Our report also included a review of the various funding and operational options available to our client, these included straightforward owner operation, a franchised option and the option of partnering and outsourcing.
With this project we ended up providing a gasification solution utilising the latest leading edge technology in a plasma gasification process that remained robust and efficient.
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