Remote Energy Management Centre Opens In Glasgow

Matrix has opened a new Energy Management Centre (EMC) in Glasgow, the largest of its kind in the UK.

Matrix works with businesses to reduce energy consumption, which results in savings and benefits the environment. This will become even more important next year, when all the firms listed on the London Stock Exchange will have to include an account of the carbon emissions they have produced in their annual reports.

Current Matrix clients include Virgin, BT, Oracle, M&S and Tesco. In recognition of its environmental importance, the Glasgow EMC was officially opened by the Scottish energy minister, Fergus Ewing.

Cutting power

The new, 4,200 square feet facility will employ 36 engineers, working with a state-of-the-art platform that can operate over 30,000 remote connections to the energy networks of various businesses.

The EMC can remotely manage lighting, heating, air conditioning, refrigeration and IT to help deliver long term savings.

First, the company engineers conduct data analysis of the site to determine the optimum parameters to conserve energy. Then they implement an energy alarm system, to ensure that specified site comfort conditions are maintained, whilst reducing energy consumption.

The company even collects environmental data, such as outside temperature and weather forecasts. This means Matrix will not switch off heating in the middle of the winter, or power down air conditioning during a heat wave.

The structure of electricity charges is designed to provide an incentive to companies who can reduce their consumption during certain times of the day when the load on the grid is heaviest. Matrix can alter the profile of its clients’ power demands to avoid the peak charging times, resulting in considerable savings.

“By closely monitoring and managing energy usage across multiple sites, we significantly reduce energy consumption and generate substantial cost savings for our clients in a sustainable manner. The EMC allows us to instantly see how each site is performing and means we can act quickly to ensure energy use is minimal,” said Ian Kelly, CEO of Matrix.

“The Scottish Government has an ambitious target to reduce Scotland’s final energy consumption by 12 percent by 2020 and we are on track to reach that target. Increasing energy efficiency not only cuts bills but also reduces damaging emissions,” added Fergus Ewing MSP.

“It’s for that reason that I’m delighted to open Matrix’s Glasgow Energy Management Centre. The work the company does helping customers keep their energy use down will help us reach our ambitious energy efficiency targets.”

Matrix CEO Ian Kelly was recently recognised as the Entrepreneur of the Year in the Cleantech and Renewables sector, at the prestigious annual Ernst and Young awards.

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