Energy Audits

Most of our day to day is performing energy audits / energy balance studies in large organisations (Turnover > �50 million) that are used for compliance under S.I. No. 426/2014. We have good experience over a wide range of industrial and commercial sectors. e.g. animal feed mills, building products manufacturing, warehousing, data centres, commercial buildings, large retail, 5 star hotels, swimming pools to name just a few.

In some cases the audit is 100% covered by an SEAI program.

Other energy audits are performed to identify energy saving opportunities and help companies on their energy efficiency or net zero journey.

Generally we find energy savings of many multiples of the report cost. e.g. an energy audit for a large user typically identifies reasonably easy to achieve savings in the order of 25,000 Euro, but sometimes much more.

Energy Efficiency Design

We are qualified to act as the Energy Efficiency Design Expert (EED Expert) on projects using the IS 399 Energy Efficiency Design protocol. The IS 399 standard establishes Energy Efficient Design (EED) as a management system complimenting ISO9001 and ISO50001. It provides companies with an innovative and sustainable strategy for delivering energy, environmental, quality and competitiveness objectives.

Many public sector tnders are now specifying EED as the methodology. We welcome being part of a project consortium for large tenders/ projects.

IPMVP

We are certified International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol(IPMVP) professionals, which allows us to develop energy baselines and calculate energy savings to a recognised international standard. This allows us to write energy saving reports that are used to calculate and agree energy credit payments from obligated parties and support grant payouts from organisations such as the SEAI.

Market Models

SmartPower has developed a forward price model that we use to actively trade DAM & Balancing market prices. Access to the model output is available on a subscription basis.

We also review & advise on PPA contracts.

Procurement Group

SmartPower has a procurement group which negotiates cheaper electricity and gas prices for clients. We monitor market developments to ensure clients always get the most competitive prices in the market. Our buying strategy favours the low-cost floating tariff most of the time ­ this is essentially the power station price with a small management fee for the supplier - but we take advantage of dips in the market when they occasionally occur to lock in at very good prices. We keep clients informed on an on-going basis via our monthly newsletter and direct contact/meetings depending on client preference. We charge a small commission on the bill for the service.

Energy Efficiency Assistance Grants

There are a number of good energy efficiency assistance grants available including BEC (Better Energy Community) and EXEED (Excellence in Energy Efficiency Design). Typically, these grants are available up to a 30% capital investment level. In addition, it is also possible to get energy credit grants on top which are based on kWh savings achieved. SmartPower has run many grant programs with SEAI and can advise on the best approach to secure grant assistance for projects.

Our History

Fergus founded SmartPower some 15 years ago. His background is in control systems engineering related to large energy projects. Graduating in 1991, Fergus spent a number of years in the Middle East, China and Germany involved in project management and commissioning activities. In Ireland, Fergus worked at Hunststown Power in charge of the development of the power station control systems. In 2006 Fergus branched out into the emerging renewable energy field and the current SmartPower set up developed from this.

Peter started his career as a industrial chemist graduating as a chartered Chemist from the Royal Society of Chemistry in London. He then worked as an engineer for american multinationals (Hewlett Packard, Intel, Seagate) making semiconductor computer chips. He also spent some years trading currencies and oil & gas markets. His current role at SmartPower is business development including the commercial and project management of projects.

Over the last few years SmartPower has grown its client list rapidly with many household names such as St. Vincent´s Private Hospital, AIB, Keelings, Galway Clinic, Brown Thomas, Quinn group, AgroMerchants and Radisson Blu Hotel Group among its clients.