< Previous20 Business Link www.blmforum.net IT AND COMMUNICATIONS usage, now imagine that of your suppliers and all of the other companies they supply. On and on and it becomes abundantly clear that even the corporate world alone is responsible for a huge amount of data traffic. All this traffic is dependent on data centres, but this comes with a cost. For example, the biggest data centre on the planet covers around a million square foot and consumes as much power as a city of a million people. In total, data centres consume more than two per cent of the world’s electricity and emit about as much CO2 as the airline industry. With global data traffic more than doubling every four years, the demand for data centres is growing exponentially. There have been breakthroughs in recycling the excess heat generated by data centres, but air conditioning is critical to preserving the integrity and longevity of servers and to minimise the risk of fires. Yet air-condition units require a lot of space, especially in larger facilities typically housed in warehouses on out-of-town industrial estates. For all this, heat is still generated and wasted when it can be utilised as energy. However, Lincoln has been selected to be the first place in the world to host a different kind of data centre that looks set to address and transform both issues. coolDC was formed in 2017 with the aim of offering “a step change in how data centres are designed, built and operate”. The company’s way of cooling data saves ten-fold in physical space and converts surplus heat to energy and, in December 2019, the company opened its innovative data centre in Boole Technology Centre at the Lincolnshire 18-21.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 09:23 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 21 IT AND COMMUNICATIONS Science and Innovation Park. “After much research and development, we have come up with a more modern, energy-efficient way of securely storing and cooling data,” says coolDC’s CEO, Tim Chambers. “Using world-leading technology, we have responded to current concerns about the environmental footprint of our industry by creating a solution that uses less energy, less physical space and reduces our carbon footprint.” CEEDA, the global energy efficiency assessment framework, has awarded coolDC with Gold-level certification for both design and operate stages of the Lincoln project. To date, this is the only second colocation data centre in the world to achieve this accreditation, positioning Lincoln as a truly digitally innovative city. “What’s great is that we’ve been able to build in a science park in a shared building where our neighbours are ideal clients,” says Mr Chambers. “Although the building was not originally built for this purpose, because our design and space are both flexible, we have been able to build a facility that is hidden in plain sight but without impacting on the As an area ripe with innovation, the digital sector has a responsibility to boost its energy efficiency and reduce its emissions. Data centres are one of the key areas where a step-change is required as they’re both prolific users of energy and producers of carbon emissions. No doubt part of the solution is to power these data centres with renewable energy, yet that doesn’t address how that energy is utilised in the centres themselves. With innovative solutions, data centres can be made more efficient and environmentally- friendly, ensuring that businesses, particularly those in the digital sector, don’t have any roadblocks to innovation and success going forward. The coolDC data centre at Boole Technology Centre © Shutterstock /Gorodenkoff 18-21.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 09:24 Page 422 Business Link www.blmforum.net EMPLOYMENT LAW © Shutterstock /Zolnierek 22-24.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 09:25 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 23 EMPLOYMENT LAW It’s fair to say that companies might be focussing their efforts on the big changes coming across the board, including the new looming deadline for Brexit at the end of January and what it means for business going forward. So it might well be forgivable that some other aspects slip through the net, though it certainly won’t be forgivable on a legal basis, and could still land an employer in trouble. It’s not just the ability of the Government to unmake and repeal any existing laws they do not like, but also uncertainty over whether UK employers will need to follow existing rulings from the Court of Justice of the European Union. Legal experts expect that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK Government would try to maintain the status quo on this matter - at least until things settle down, but that’s not a guaranteed fact. Simply put, it’s a legal and political minefield at the moment, which will only get more convoluted as time goes on. That said, in the long run there is little to show that any of these changes would be intrinsically bad for business, it is simply that even for changes that would be beneficial, there will still be that period of uncertainty. The knock-on effects of these changes could also have financial implications for many, with contracts needing to be amended, or HR teams sent on training courses to learn more about what has - and has not - changed. These are just some of the changes which are going to be perhaps made as we go into the New Year. There are still the age-old issues faced by employers now in regards to issues such as grievances, sickness and absence - and the dreaded tribunal. Employment tribunals have long been an unpleasant experience for employers, with many suggesting that the system in the past has been weighted too far in favour of the claimant. Indeed, many would doubtless suggest the fact that those using the tribunal service did not have to pay any fees rather encouraged a host of speculative claims, often without merit, which simply added to the burden of employers, HR directors and managers. The right side of the law Given the consistently changing legislation in the field of HR, even the most conscientious employer could well find themselves inadvertently breaking the law. 24 Á 22-24.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 09:25 Page 224 Business Link www.blmforum.net EMPLOYMENT LAW And the issue could be getting worse. In a case touted across most newspapers, judges ruled in favour of a Morrisons customer who was subject to a violent assault by one of their employees. The Supreme Court ruled that Morrisons could be held liable for this, due to vicarious liability - where someone is held accountable for another’s actions. This could have far-reaching consequences on many companies in the region, especially if they employ people who work with customers directly. In reality it’s unlikely to lead to a raft of new claims, as even before the legislation companies were hardly going to employ - or keep employing - people who would racially attack another. However, it does open the door for claims and lawsuits, which even if found false, could have disastrous effects on the reputation of a company, not to mention the legal costs - which will be felt much more keenly by SMEs. It’s important to note that the law has not changed, per se. Vicarious liability was always in effect, and will continue to be so. But it does open the door for further questions as to how far it can be taken, as originally both the High Court and Court of Appeal declared Morrisons not responsible. With all the changes taking place it’s certainly going to be necessary for companies to take a look at their process and seek the aid of a professional. © Shutterstock /PhuShutter Bespoke training solutions with LACTS Lincolnshire & Counties Training Solutions (LACTS) deliver high- quality training solutions across the UK that are typically delivered at your business premises, ensuring the most cost-effective and efficient use of your personnel’s time. LACTS can design and deliver bespoke training solutions purposefully tailored to meet your organisations specific needs. Although LACTS cannot change any compliance or legally required elements, it can, however, adjust the focus to suit particular roles as well as the situations. LACTS will therefore work with you to develop custom health and safety training courses. The process couldn’t be simpler, just get in touch either via our contacts page or by calling 07775877057, discuss and order bespoke training courses, put forward your business training requirements and order your training. Simple. As well as a training provider, LACTS also offer H&S health check-ups, a way of finding out where you stand legally, financially and morally. To find out more, visit www.lacts.co.uk. 22-24.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 09:25 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 25 Annual IoD Lincolnshire Lunch In December, The Institute of Director’s (IoD) once again held its Annual Lincolnshire Lunch at The Bentley Hotel in Lincoln. Taking place on the 6 December, the highly anticipated event offered a lively and informative afternoon, offering IoD members and the wider business community the opportunity to enjoy relaxed networking over a festive three-course luncheon. This year’s guest speaker was Ursula Lidbetter OBE, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Co-op. CARI GRICE, RON LYNCH, SUE CHARLESWORTH, TOMMI DUCK (IOD) PHOTOS COURTESY OF RICHARD PICKSLEY BUSINESS SCENE STEVE HUGHES, RICHARD WILLS (LINCOLN CO-OP SOCIETY) SUSAN LOVELL, ALAN WILLMONT (JCH WEALTH MANAGEMENT) GARRY SMITH (IOD EAST MIDS REGIONAL CHAIR), URSULA LIDBETTER (CHIEF EXEC LINCS CO-OP), GARY HEDLAND (GREATER LINCS IOD CHAIRMAN) JAMIE CROFT (REFLEET RECRUITMENT), KATIE WATMOUGH (GREENS WATER SYSTEMS) NEIL GRAY (STREETS), CLAIRE WAKELIN (BENJAMIN EDWARDS RECRUITMENT SOLICITORS), GREGG FAWCETT (BETTER ALL ROUND GROUP) LYNNE HOUSTON, RUBEN STEVENSON (STREETS) ETTA BLAKEY (LASS), JAMIE ARNOLD (COUNTY OAK FRAMES) TOM STANSFIELD (FORTAS LAW), ADAM DAVEY (PETACORUM LOCAL) 25.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 09:26 Page 126 Business Link www.blmforum.net RENEWABLES © Shutterstock /fokke baarssen 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 09:28 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 27 RENEWABLES In December 2019, wind energy generation almost surpassed 17GW, breaking the previous record that had been set just days before. We’re entering a tipping point where renewables including wind power are transforming our energy mix. Leading the pack these last few years is our region. 2018 saw major steps forward for our region’s offshore wind offering with, for example, work beginning on Hornsea One. Seventy-five miles off the Yorkshire coast, Hornsea One will be able to generate enough renewable energy for more than one million homes and will be the world’s biggest offshore wind farm when complete in 2020. The year also saw the official opening of Race Bank and the revelation of plans to double its size. Operated out of Grimsby the wind farm is capable of powering over half a million UK homes. Grimsby has certainly helped the region cement its place as a leader in offshore wind, being chosen by many in the offshore wind industry as a base for their O&M teams due to the access the town offers to the world’s largest offshore wind farms in the North Sea. Yorkshire also hosts the largest single site renewable generator in the UK and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe, has plentiful land for onshore wind farms and biomass projects are growing in the region. Support for renewables in Yorkshire has also been strong with the last year seeing: £4 million ERDF funding, £2.5 million funding from Green Port Hull and £5.5 million funding from University of Hull invested in the Aura Innovation Centre that will drive innovation in the region’s low-carbon sector; £1 million invested by ABP into a solar initiative at the Port of Google; £400 million invested by Aviva Investors to support the construction of the Hornsea 1 offshore wind farm. 28 Á Leading the way Renewables is a fast-growing sector in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and our region is leading the way in offshore wind with numerous wind farms operational or planned off the coast. 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 09:28 Page 228 Business Link www.blmforum.net RENEWABLES On a national level, the picture for renewables is bright. 30% of UK power generation came from renewable sources in 2017, according to government statistics. Moreover the DUKES energy statistics show that coal power fell sharply once again in 2017, with overall coal generation dropping 27% year-on-year. Gas power generation also decreased by 4.6% while renewables output jumped 19.5% to make up 29.3% of all power generation in 2017. Wind power made up a significant share of renewables contribution to power generation, and is certainly recognised as the leading light in the sector, with an 8.6% contribution from onshore wind farms and 6.2% from offshore wind farms respectively - together providing almost half of renewables contribution to power. Though fossil fuels remained the primary source of energy supply for the UK, it was at a record low in 2017. 2018 continued the rise of renewable energy with renewables generating 30.1% of UK power in Q1, with onshore wind farms generating 10.6% and offshore supplying 8.5% of UK’s power, accounting for almost a fifth of the UK’s entire electricity in the quarter. This positive momentum extended into Q2 where the renewables industry’s share of electricity generation reached a record 31.7%, while coal fell to a new record low, highlighting a welcome step forward in the UK’s plans to phase out coal power by 2025. Though onshore wind generation decreased by 12% in the period, due to lower wind speeds, offshore wind increased by 19%, offsetting this. Other stand-out increases noted in government data came from bioenergy, with generation up 8.9%, and plant biomass (wood) in particular which grew by 12%. The growth in the period has also been accredited to the success of the solar sector in the summer heatwave, which generated enough solar power to fuel over 1 million homes. Despite the contribution of solar, and it being voted the most popular source of energy in the UK, concerns are strong in the sector after new solar power installations were revealed to have more than halved in 2017, attributed in part to subsidy cuts. With this decrease, UK solar growth is anticipated to decelerate, and according to predictions from SolarPowerEurope, the UK will only add 2.1GW of solar by 2022, making it the slowest growing market amongst the world’s top 20. However, solar farm cost reductions have passed expectations this year, with solar now 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 09:28 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 29 RENEWABLES © Shutterstock /Roel Slootweg anticipated to become the lowest cost form of new generating capacity in the next decade, which has led the Solar Trade Association (STA) to predict a rise in solar farm development in 2019. Solar is now recognised as cost competitive with fossil fuels and the STA state that with the right policy framework for solar and storage, the government will allow the technology to realise its potential as an affordable low-carbon energy system. 2018 also marked the first instance in which the UK’s total renewable energy capacity overtook fossil fuels, according to the latest Drax Electric Insights report. While a third of fossil fuel generating capacity retired in the past five years, capacity from wind, solar, hydro, biomass and other renewables has tripled, with total renewable capacity available on the system reaching 42GW, overtaking the 40.6GW capacity available from fossil fuels. Broken down, wind farms offer the largest share of renewable capacity with more than 20GW available, followed by solar with 13GW and biomass with 3.2GW. Despite the increasing contribution renewable energy is making to power, the UK is still not on course to meet its emission targets for the late 2020s and early 2030s. In response to this, those in the renewables industry have called for the government to improve domestic and industrial energy efficiency and better allow for development of cost effective solar and wind farms. Additionally, with the contribution onshore wind farms make to the UK’s energy, the lack of support for new onshore wind projects is causing frustration, with opinion polls showing that two-thirds of people think current policy, which has placed planning restrictions on onshore wind farm construction, should be altered to allow onshore wind to proceed wherever it has local support. Since 2015 onshore wind projects have also been banned from competing in the UK’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) framework - the government’s main mechanism for supporting low-carbon electricity generation - and will continue to be so for the next auctions in 2019. The 2019 auctions have received further negative reactions as the £60 million assigned for them is lower than the level of support expected. This has been critiqued for jeopardising UK climate goals and hindering the expansion of the renewables industry, though a spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has said that the £60m is a reflection of “the fall in costs of renewable electricity” which “means that we should be able to secure more generation than the last auction at a lower cost for consumers.” Further negative news for the wider renewables sector arose in research from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, which indicated a major drop in investment in wind and solar power in 2017, with investment in the renewable sources of energy declining by 57%, the second year of reduced investment, but growing independent capacity is stated to be pushing the sector forwards, and the declining cost for electricity from solar panels and wind turbines is to put subsidy free renewables in reach. 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 19/12/2019 09:28 Page 4Next >