SQW provides leading independent consultancy in the area of energy and carbon management. We offer tailored services in energy market design and regulation, energy technology strategy and policy, and carbon assessment and management. We combine expertise on both the supply of and demand for energy, and we are at the forefront of efforts by government and business to make our energy system more secure and carbon efficient.
Our energy specialists have extensive experience and a broad and deep knowledge of the energy and carbon sectors. They have backgrounds in the UK electricity sector, academia, national and local government, industry, and development agencies, and work with clients across public and private sector organisations to deal with complex strategic problems at a high level.
Whether you require advice on the challenges and opportunities in the energy sector or on carbon strategy, we offer tailored and comprehensive solutions that will fit with the culture of your organisation. From stakeholder consultation to multi-criteria analysis and scenario development, we use the methods best suited to fulfil our clients’ needs. Our services include:
- Energy markets and economics
- Planning and socio economic impact assessment
- Technology option analysis
- Carbon strategy and management plans
- Policy analysis
Examples of SQW projects
Economic study for ocean energy development in Ireland
Sustainable Energy Ireland and Invest NI commissioned an economic study of the development of an ocean energy sector in Ireland. The work involved a review of the technology options, the related supply chain required to achieve targets for ocean energy deployment, and the export potential for the Irish business base. Using all of this information we determined the potential net economic benefits to Ireland under various development scenarios.
Energy tetralemma indicator for enterprise
Forfás, Ireland’s Enterprise Agency, commissioned the development of a new indicator, ‘Enterprise’ under its Tetralemma Index for Ireland. The relative enterprise value to Ireland’s economy of different energy sources was explored and tested under various scenarios to 2020 and 2030.
Value of wind
A comprehensive review of literature on the valuation of power generation and other asset portfolios was undertaken, to enable an assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of alternative approaches to valuing wind. We then designed a model to estimate the incremental value of wind within a generation portfolio and then to apply the model to a specific market using real financial data on project costs, revenues and power prices. The outputs of the model were then analysed to assess the implications for the optimum energy mix in the target market.
Carbon assessment study
Scottish Enterprise commissioned an investigation into the carbon impact of the projects that it delivers to customers. The work involved calculating carbon emissions for a sample of current projects and developing an approach to calculating carbon emissions that could be input to the project development process. The findings fed into strategic advice on how to embed carbon impact assessment into the decision making processes of all Scottish Enterprise’s economic development activities.
NWDA Carbon Reduction Strategy 2009-12
SQW worked with NWDA to develop a plan for the carbon reduction strategy to achieve realistic short-, medium- and long-term goals. The work identified priorities for carbon-reduction and also included updating the corporate carbon footprint for the NWDA and developing a monitoring and evaluation methodology for the carbon reduction strategy.
Carbon management for higher education institutions in England
SQW was tasked with developing carbon baselines for individual higher education institutions in England for the years 1990 and 2005. The baselines cover all carbon emissions arising in buildings, and are intended to enable progress in reducing carbon emissions to be demonstrated by individual institutions. Following this SQW produced Carbon Management Strategies and Plans: a guide to good practice for all institutions on England.
Methodology for quantifying opportunities and constraints in English regions for the deployment of renewable and low carbon energy
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (Office for Renewable Energy Deployment) commissioned a methodology to allow regional bodies to assess potential for installed renewable capacity and low carbon energy on a consistent basis and set targets which mean that the UK meets its 15% renewables target. The methodology was based on best practice conducted within the regions, with refinements made to ensure consistency with the requirements of the renewables target.
North West renewable and low carbon energy capacity and deployment
This methodology was then applied in an assessment of the potential renewable and low carbon capacity in the north-west region, commissioned by the North West Development Agency. The Agency also requested an assessment of the impact of deployment constraints and economic viability from the view of the investor, involving the development of deployment curves for a number of scenarios.
The contribution of information and communication technology to energy efficiency: local and regional initiatives
The European Commission (Directorate General Information, Society and Media) commissioned pan-European research and dissemination on local and regional initiatives for promoting energy efficiency through the direct and enabling roles of information and communication technology.
Research into key sectors’ vulnerability to oil depletion and price volatility
The North West Development Agency commissioned research into the vulnerability of key sectors in the North West to oil price rise and volatility. The study provided an overview to the concept of Peak Oil, and established what the anticipated effects of oil depletion will be for the global supply of oil and its derived products, and investigated how this will affect economic systems. The vulnerability of businesses in the North West to volatile oil prices was assessed and, in the light of this evidence, the study provided recommendations for policy formation.
Permitted development issues with microgeneration
The Scottish Government commissioned a study to identify, understand, quantify and evaluate the permitted development (PD) issues associated with domestic wind turbines and air source heat pumps, in order to provide balanced quantified recommendations to Scottish Ministers on the granting of PD for the two technologies. The work included a literature review, a comprehensive stakeholder consultation (using small sectoral focus groups and larger discussion forums), a thematic analysis of focus group data and a Scotland-wide PD Regime Analysis using GIS for different regime scenarios.
Argyll Renewables Socio-Economic Impact Assessment
The ARC Consortium (“Argyll Renewables Communities”), founded by the community-owned Islay Energy Trust and Kintyre Energy Trust, and the Tiree Community Development Trust commissioned SQW to define the scope for the detailed socio-economic impact assessment (SIA) for the three communities most affected by the development and operation of the proposed Argyll offshore wind farms. The main objectives of this report are to set the context for the SIA by establishing baseline data and identifying the main areas of concern to the communities, and to make recommendations for communities’ ongoing engagement with stakeholders.