Update

Matrix – the UK’s largest energy management company – has opened the doors to a new, state-of-the-art facility in Glasgow, which will manage the energy outputs of some of the UK’s largest organisations.

Pioneered alongside key clients Tesco and Marks & Spencer, Matrix has invested over £1 million in the new Energy Management Centre (EMC) which covers over 4,200 sq ft.

Replacing Matrix’s existing facilities, the new EMC now manages over 30,000 assets for some of the largest property owners in the UK. Both Marks & Spencer and Tesco have several thousand sites connected to the EMC and have already made significant annual savings by using the remote service.

The new EMC – which is the largest of its kind in the UK – focuses on optimising energy usage for a site to deliver long term energy savings. A key problem for many large organisations is their ability to control when lights are on or off and the temperature of their buildings. After determining the optimum level for energy outputs, the EMC helps to regulate this in order to effectively manage energy investments. For companies like Marks & Spencer and Tesco, connection to the EMC is now a key part of their energy management strategy.

Steven Daniels, director at Matrix, said: “There’s been an increase in demand for Remote Active Energy Management (RAEM) services, as organisations now realise that it can help them significantly reduce their energy use and maintenance support costs. The RAEM system monitors a site’s performance against its energy efficiency profile 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whilst a support service from our team of dedicated engineers enables the EMC to react quickly to changes in demand. If the site or plant deviates from its profile, the EMC is notified and will immediately view the site remotely to diagnose and correct the problem. This passes on significant financial benefits to our clients. With the advent of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), companies understand that these systems also help them reduce their carbon footprints.”

He added: “Large organisations accept that it’s impossible to effectively control the lighting, heating and air-conditioning in every single one of their buildings, but linking up with the EMC allows us to determine the optimum levels of energy that clients need over a 24 hour period.

“Some of our existing clients see the cost of the service recovered within months, making it a very attractive commercial proposition for them. It’s also attractive to companies as the service sees them reduce their carbon footprint at the same time.”

Daniels continued: “Every day in the UK, energy efficiency schemes are delivered using, for example, upgraded Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) or new lighting systems. These schemes are healthy and responsible actions in reducing energy usage, but they often display performance drift. There’s only one effective way to avoid this and that’s by using remote active energy management.”

As well as providing benefits for organisations, the new Energy Management Centre will create over 30 jobs in the Glasgow area over the next 12 months. The EMC’s opening heralds an exciting time for Matrix, which has recently been awarded a contract from the National Grid to be part of its short-term operating reserve (STOR) programme. This scheme provides customers with a revenue stream for reducing its energy or providing power to the National Grid when it requires it.