Irresponsible advisors are suggesting to food manufacturers and cold storage operators that they could face massive costs in rushing through measures which will enable them to meet the government’s requirements for carbon reduction (CRC) as its energy efficiency scheme starts to take effect.
CRC is being seen as a huge issue for unprepared manufacturers as it has been put in place to cover ten per cent of the UK emissions which are generated by low energy users.
Firms qualify for CRC if they used more than 6,000 MWh of electricity in 2008, and there are penalties for failing to disclose information and failing to register. Costs will also be incurred for purchasing allowances (£12 per tonne of carbon dioxide) and the government has indicated it plans to publish league tables of the worst performing companies in each market sector.
These factors, plus the positive actions of supermarkets like Waitrose, Sainsbury and Tesco, have prompted many smaller manufacturers and cold store operators to look for expert help.
“We are hearing too many stories amongst those who waited until the last minute to seek assistance of being recommended by experts to spend millions on ripping out refrigeration plant and replacing it with modern and more efficient equipment,” said Tim Bartholomew, managing director of Next Control Systems, an award-winning company in the fields of control and energy management.
“Very often it is simply a case of getting proper control of existing refrigeration plant at a cost of thousands rather than replacing it with new plant at a cost of many hundreds of thousands,” he added.
This is now a very hot issue for the food industry and one that is not going to go away. Mr. Bartholomew said his company has developed systems to help companies meet current CRC requirements while, at the same time, saving money year after year through better control and greater operating efficiencies.
Further benefits which the systems deliver are fully manned 24 hour remote temperature alarm monitoring and site energy usage management services.
“One company spent £55,000 with us and saved £60,000 in the first year whilst significantly reducing its CO2 footprint. It is going to save more than that this year and they are secure in the knowledge that they more than exceed government CRC requirement,” he added.
Next Control Systems
Tim Bartholomew
Tel. 01252 406398
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