Energy Management

At Maynooth University, we see and understand the impact that Global Warming is having, with dramatic changing climate effects. Much of what is happening today on a global scale is due to unsustainable use of fossil fuels, an abundance of what appeared to be a self-replenishing source of fresh clean water and a disregard for what happens to our waste when discarded.This has led to carbon pollution of our atmosphere, contamination of our waterways and seas and our
environment generally. The problem, of course, is not just local but worldwide, with many much greater offenders than Ireland.

Government Targets
The Government has set ambitious CO2 targets to be achieved by 2030 and beyond to 2050. As in the recent past, the public sector is again targeted to lead the challenge in order to make significant reductions in support of these targets. Ireland is committed by EU Law, to clearly defined carbon dioxide (CO2) targets, through COP22 and other international agreements.

These legal requirements are designed to reduce our CO2 emissions. Under Ireland’s National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP), the public sector is legally bound to lead the way in this regard. We also have the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2020. This is an ambitious piece of legislation, which commits us, in law, to move to a climate resilient and climate neutral economy by 2050. This bill will provide the platform to help us achieve this goal. Public bodies are required to demonstrate an exemplary role in terms of energy management and carbon reduction. The Government launched a Climate Action Plan 2019, which set out a pathway to reduce Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and beyond. The plan outlines actions to be taken by all sectors and highlights the need for the Public Sector to lead this regard.

Public Sector targets have been set as follows:

A 50% improvement in public sector energy efficiency by 2030
A 50% reduction in CO2e from the sector by 2030.
All Public Sector Buildings to be B2 rated by 2030.
Decarbonize the energy use for heat and transport by replacing fossil fuels with renewable where appropriate.
By 2050 achieve Near Zero Energy Related Greenhouse gases.
Reduction in annual water consumption and usage.
Revise the M&R reporting scheme to include for carbon reduction.

The Climate Action Plan 2021 section 9.0 outlines the actions required by the Public Sector to achieve the Government’s targets.

Energy Management Working Group

Leader: Ciarán Coffey, CPD Office [email protected]

Other members of the Energy Management team are:
James Cotter, Dept. of Electronic Engineering
Michael Rafter, Director of Estates
Mireia Guardino-Ferran, MGC coordinator
Sarah Coughlan da Silva, Dept. of Ancient Classics
Ivan Griffin, Campus & Commercial Services Manager
TBC, BMS (Building Management Systems) Manager
Victor Nava Millan, IT Services
Karen Jago, IT Services

Renewable Energy

The target for the Renewable Technology produced and consumed by Maynooth University by 2030 is 30%. The simplest and most effective way to achieve this target is to install a combination of a large wind turbine on or close to campus allied, to a substantial Solar PV installation. An on or near campus wind solution is unlikely to meet current planning requirements, however over time these regulations are likely to be eased, with the sterilisation zone between turbines and domestic property reducing. We will look at every opportunity to install Solar PV installations as we carry out works.

We undertook a survey/study of the Lyreen River with a view to the installation of a water turbine. The results were disappointing, indicating only a moderate level of energy produced with a high capital investment. The study also pointed to potential flooding related to debris and weed build up. There is also concern relating to adjacent trout spawning grounds.

We have engaged with a number of potential suppliers with proposals to provide renewable energy project solutions. The proposals come with varying financial packages and include but are not confined to:

Solar PV arrays for roof tops
Solar PV arrays ground installations (solar farm)
Wind Turbine – small scale/large scale
Lighting installations
HVAC plant upgrades
Air duct sealing solutions
Energy management systems

Electricity

It is common knowledge that Ireland’s electricity supply is becoming more dependent on renewables. There has been great progress here, however we sail very close to wind when we have gas fired generating stations out for maintenance and when it is very calm with consequently no wind generation. This summer we had a number of yellow alert days where capacity to supply power was at a critical level. Had a large generating plant failed during this period there would inevitably have been black-outs. Should a similar situation arise in winter when demand is at its highest it is likely that there would be power outages. Winter 2022/23 will create great anxiety for Eirgrid and its customers.

Gas

The current gas supply is relatively secure. Ireland's gas is supplied primarily from Norway and Scotland via the Isle of Man. We have a supply point at Gormanstown Co. Meath and an interconnector to Ballylumford in Northern Ireland. At present and for approximately the next four years Corrib gas field will provide up to 35% of our requirement. We are not dependent on a supply from Russia. However, a maintenance problem or a supply pipe failure would leave us exposed, as very little LNG will be available to purchase due to potential shortages on mainland Europe.

Our Government is currently looking at reducing our gas demand by 15% for Winter 2022/23. We may be called upon to assist with this particularly during peak demand periods.

Fuel Oil

Fuel oil for heating and transport has increased dramatically in price during numerous world events since the Suez War in the 1950’s. This current crisis in Ukraine is no exception; however on this occasion there was no evidence of supply shortage.

At Maynooth University we have reduced our dependence on fuel oil for heating down to four installations at:

Rye Hall
Education House
Kitchen Yard – Logic
Junior Infirmary

As we carry out renovations in these locations, it is planned to replace oil with alternative systems.

Recent Projects

Lighting
In 2020 we replaced the entire external lighting installation on Campus with LED light fixtures. This has not only reduced our energy consumption and our carbon footprint but it also improved the general light levels. This is most notable in car parks and adjacent to student accommodation. The colour temperature of the light emitting from the fittings is 3000k. This is towards the warmer end of the lighting spectrum and is biodiversity and wildlife friendly. Please, see information regarding best practice for public lighting here

New Building - Technology, Space & Inovation (TSI)
We took possession of our newest building in July this year. It is our most Sustainable building on Campus. This is the first building at Maynooth University that does not have a fossil fuel supply. A decision to achieve a standard of build above the Part L requirements for air tightness, achieve a BREEAM rating of not less than Very Good and an EXEED Certificate from SEAI, allowed us to remove gas heating and hot water systems and install electric heat pumps as an alternative source. The building also includes green roofs, a Solar PV Array, large areas that are naturally ventilated, an integrated intelligent lighting management system and a sophisticated building management system. This should not be our benchmark for the future - it should be our baseline.

Pathfinder Project
In 2021 and through spring of 2022 we undertook phase one of a Pathfinder Project at the
John Paul Library. The project, funded by the HEA and overseen by SEAI allowed us to
replace the end-of-life heating plant and associated equipment in the original plant room.
The main elements of the project include:
An electric heat pump, which provides 80% of the heat requirement. This operates in conjunction with two small modular gas boilers, which may be required to run in colder weather.
Two modern air-handling units with heat recovery.
Energy efficient pump sets.
Up graded sections of roof insulation.
A 30 sqm array of solar pv panels delivering up to 12kW’s of energy.We will monitor the effect of the improvements over time. We are confident that these upgrades will reduce our energy consumption and reduce our Carbon footprint. We will then use the information gained as a basis for future refurbishment projects.

Rye Hall
We are currently in the process of replacing the roofs on all of the Rye Hall buildings.
We are adding 100mm of dense insulation throughout. The total area involved is:

Maynooth University’s Energy Plan
The 2030 and 2050 targets are onerous. To achieve these goals we have embarked on a campus wide survey of buildings to establish the scale of the work required and an indication of the cost involved.
Our newest buildings may only need plant and small fabric upgrades, however
older building stock will need deep retrofit works to reach the standards set out.
The surveys will allow us to put together estimates to allow us to budget to
upgrade our buildings and achieve our targets. It is anticipated that these cost will be high.

Phased Approach
The target delivery for 2030 looms large and to make progress we have set out a
multi - phase approach to achieving our goals.

Phase (1) Modern Buildings: Recently constructed buildings

The School of Education, Eolas, Iontas and Rowan House are large but relatively energy efficient buildings. They each have good building fabric insulation and airtightness. The general infrastructure is sound, however, the heating, and water heating boiler plant is fired by natural gas. Using the learnings from the JPL Pathfinder project, we are confident that we can achieve the standard required by replacing this equipment with a combination of heat pumps, and by retaining or replacing a percentage of efficient natural gas heating plant. This will reduce fossil fuel energy consumption and our CO2 emissions.

We are in the process of surveying these building. Part of the process uses a software modelling package. The system allows us to see what is required to bring these buildings up to the standard required. It also lets us know what our current CO2 emissions are and can predict what the reductions will be. Based on this information we can put a scale of cost against the modifications/upgrades required to achieve the current requirement of a BER 2 rating.

Phase (2) Larger Older Buildings:

The next tranche of substantial buildings are older and constructed with inferior fabric insulation properties, inefficient fenestration and older plant and equipment. These buildings include:

John Hume
Bio-science & Electronic Engineering
Callan
Science
Phoenix & Sports Halls
The original John Paul Library
Rye Hall and associated buildings
Arts

In recent years, many of these buildings have had some plant and equipment upgrades. However, with the exception of Callan little fabric, fenestration or roofing modifications have been undertaken.
Unlike the newer buildings pipe work, air ducting and associated air handling plant and equipment have reached or are close to “end of life”. BMS control and zoning, which targets where heat and hot water needs to be delivered efficiently and effectively were not part of the original design.
This deeper retrofit of buildings, which may include major electrical, lighting and plumbing works, will be at a much greater cost per square meter to renovate than the newer buildings.
We are currently progressing the tender templates to have each of these building surveyed and modelled in order to establish a scale of costs to carry out the works necessary to bring these them up to the standard required.

Phase (3) Smaller Buildings
Smaller buildings will deliver less energy and carbon savings but will require a similar if not greater cost per square meter due to their scale of renovation. For this reason with the exception of the most modern of these buildings, we should survey to get a scale of cost for the works require but not prioritise them at this stage.

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