Why Act Now? 

The summer months bring unique challenges and opportunities for large energy users. Rising energy use, ‘critical peak demand’ charges, overheated equipment, and new sustainability requirements mean that planning can save money, improve efficiency, and position your business well in 2025. Whether you’re looking to optimise operations, meet compliance obligations, or strengthen your decarbonisation strategy, it is a great time to take action. 

1. Compressed Air: Don’t Lose Capacity on Hot Days 

Summer heat can strain compressed air systems, especially if they’re leaking. Leaks not only waste energy but can also cause capacity issues during critical operational periods. Regular maintenance and proactive repairs can help improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Steps: 

• Conduct a full inspection of your compressed air system to identify leaks. 

• Use an ultrasonic leak detector or work with a technician to pinpoint problem areas. 

• Repair leaks promptly and consider adding pressure monitors to detect future issues. 

• Review maintenance schedules to ensure systems are cleaned and serviced before summer.

Unsure how to do this or want to get this done quickly? Get in touch or check out our compressed air guide.

2. Refrigeration: Close the Gaps 

Refrigeration systems are essential for many industrial operations, and small inefficiencies can lead to big losses. Poorly sealed doors, refrigerant leaks, vibration, failing compressors, unmaintained cooling towers, or inappropriate cooling use can result in unnecessary energy consumption and higher costs. 

Steps: 

• Inspect door seals for wear and tear. Replace damaged seals to prevent cold air from escaping. 

• Test automatic door closers and recalibrate or replace malfunctioning units. 

• Service compressor systems and cooling towers 

• Provide a refresher training session for staff on proper refrigeration management. 

• Review refrigeration system efficiency settings and adjust for optimal performance. 

Need assistance? Contact us for a tailored review of your refrigeration systems. 

3. Energy Contracting: Secure the Best Deal for 2025 

Energy prices and contracts can shift significantly, especially in a volatile market. If you’re locked into outdated terms, you could be overpaying. Reviewing and renegotiating your energy contract ensures you’re getting the best deal possible. 

Steps: 

• Gather your current energy bills and contracts for review. 

• Look for ‘critical peak demand’ tariffs or extra summer charges, and understand what they mean 

• Analyse peak usage patterns and ensure your contract aligns with your energy needs. 

• Research market rates or consult with Northmore Gordon to negotiate better terms. 

• Set up alerts to renegotiate contracts before they automatically renew. 

Not sure if you’re getting the best deal? Let us help you find out. 

4. Load Shifting and Demand Flexibility 

Energy prices and grid dynamics are changing rapidly, creating opportunities to reduce costs by shifting demand. Reshaping your energy load profile can help you secure better tariffs, avoid peak pricing, and improve efficiency. 

Steps: 

• Analyse your site’s energy usage profile to identify peak demand periods. 

• Explore which processes can be shifted to off-peak times without disrupting operations. 

• Review tariffs and incentive programs that reward demand flexibility. 

• Consider installing automation tools or software to optimise load shifting. 

Curious about the possibilities? We can guide you through the options. 

5. NGERs: Learn from This Year’s Reporting Season 

The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) season is an opportunity to reflect on what worked well and what didn’t. Identifying gaps and inefficiencies will save you headaches in the next reporting cycle. 

Steps: 

• Review your 2024 NGER submission to identify data gaps or reporting inefficiencies. 

• Cross-check reported data with operational records to ensure accuracy. 

• Update internal processes or tools for collecting and managing energy data. 

• Train your team on best practices to streamline reporting next year. 

Need expert advice? We’re here to help simplify your NGERs process. 

6. Carbon Health Check: Plan Your Decarbonisation for 2025 

Where is your business on its decarbonisation journey? A carbon health check can help you evaluate progress, identify gaps, and set clear priorities for the year ahead. This ensures your roadmap stays aligned with regulatory and sustainability goals. 

Steps: 

• Benchmark your carbon performance against your 2024 goals. 

• Prioritise projects that deliver the greatest impact on your decarbonisation roadmap. 

• Review upcoming regulatory requirements and align your plans. 

• Set a clear action plan with milestones for 2025. 

Want a professional assessment? Take our Carbon Health Check or get in touch. 

7. Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards: Get Ahead for 2026 

New Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards are approaching, and businesses must prepare. Setting up systems now to capture Scope 3 emissions data will put you ahead of the curve and reduce last-minute pressure. 

Steps: 

• Identify your Scope 3 emission sources and prioritise the largest contributors. 

• Start gathering data from your supply chain and engage vendors on sustainability metrics. 

• Develop procedures for ongoing data collection and reporting. 

• Review your readiness against the upcoming standards to identify gaps. 

Feeling overwhelmed? We can help you get prepared. 

8. Rooftop Solar PV: Maximise Your System’s Efficiency 

Your solar system should be working at peak performance, but inefficiencies can creep in over time. Dirty panels, inverter issues, or underperforming components can all reduce your energy generation. 

Steps: 

• Schedule a performance check for your solar PV system with your installer. 

• Clean panels and ensure they’re free of dirt and debris. 

• Check inverter performance and ensure all components are functioning optimally. 

• Monitor energy generation data for unusual drops in performance. 

Reach out to your solar installer to schedule a system performance review. 

9. Government Grants: Refresh Your Funding Knowledge and Unlock Opportunities 

Government grants can provide significant funding for energy upgrades and efficiency projects. Aligning your energy strategy with upcoming grant opportunities can unlock funding to help you achieve your sustainability goals. 

Steps: 

• Research available grants for your industry and region. 

• Review eligibility criteria to see which grants align with your energy strategy. 

• Work with experts (like us) to ensure your projects meet the necessary requirements. 

• Let us handle the application process, from start to finish, to maximise your chance of success. 

Want to unlock funding for your projects? Let us manage your grant applications and align your strategy to secure the support you need – Check out the latest grants or contact us today. 

10. Renewable Energy Purchasing: Plan for 2025 

How are you optimising your purchase of renewable energy and meeting your sustainability goals? Are you doing that at least cost and balancing power purchase agreements with unbundled Renewable Energy Certificates? 

Steps: 

• Review your current renewable energy and REC purchasing strategy. 

• Assess future needs and opportunities to increase renewable energy uptake. 

• Compare different suppliers and contract options for 2025. 

• Optimise your purchasing to align with sustainability goals and budgets. 

Want tailored advice? We can help you optimise your renewable energy strategy. 

Let’s Make 2025 Your Most Efficient Year and Do More With Less 

Preparing for summer and the year ahead can seem overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Whether it’s improving efficiency, managing energy contracts, or planning for sustainability, Northmore Gordon is here to help. Unsure how to tackle these steps or want to get them done quickly? Contact us to find out how we can support your business. 

The post 10-steps to get ‘Fit for Summer’ in Energy and Carbon appeared first on Northmore Gordon.

To stay competitive, businesses will need to reduce energy consumption, direct carbon emissions, and the use of carbon-intensive goods and services.

The Singapore Carbon Pricing Act

The 2019 introduction of the Carbon Pricing Act (CPA) marked Singapore as the first country in Southeast Asia to establish a carbon price. The CPA requires any facility emitting more than 25,000 tCO2e annually to pay S$5/tCO2e.

The CPA considers emissions from direct fuel combustion as well as from Industrial Processes and Product Uses (IPPU) such as the production of CO2 from steam methane reforming used in ammonia or hydrogen production.

Setting the taxable emissions threshold at 25,000 tCO2e allows Singapore to target a relatively low number of the country’s C&I facilities while still addressing roughly 80% of its national GHG emissions. By addressing the majority of the nation’s heavy polluters with an easy-to-understand tax, the CPA could prove to be a more effective policy measure than a highly complex carbon cap-and-trade mechanism.

Tax to Increase

The price per tonne of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) is set to go through steep price increases in the coming years:

• S$25/tCO2e in 2024
• S$45/tCO2e in 2026
• and potentially between S$50-$80/tCO2e by 2030

The 2022 CPA update offers businesses time to assess, plan, and execute strategies to reduce their carbon emissions and thus lower their tax liability.

Demonstrating Strong Intention for Social Good

Singapore’s carbon price commitment showcases the nation’s determination to decarbonise in a meaningful way. According to Singapore’s National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS), the government will not receive additional revenue from this carbon price increase. Rather, the money will go towards supporting businesses and further efforts to promote decarbonisation — such as grants and tax incentives for ESG reporting — as the country advances its transition away from carbon.

Additionally, the CPA will allow for 5% of a business’s taxable emissions to be offset via certified international carbon credits. This gives businesses access to a wide range of options to mitigate their tax liability, yet the CPA still places overwhelming emphasis on reducing on-site emissions, which will compel businesses to reduce their actual carbon emissions and create a positive impact in Singapore.

Creating a Carbon Reduction Strategy

Decarbonising industry and the built environment is in the public’s best interest and increasingly aligns with corporate agendas. Economists and business leaders alike have stressed the importance of expanding the price of carbon to accelerate global decarbonisation.

Effective decarbonisation requires a deeper understanding of baseline conditions and how to profitably transition away from fossil fuels. With many potential pathways in an ever-changing energy landscape, keeping up with current trends, technologies, and policies can be a daunting task.

A corporate carbon reduction strategy is the best way to achieve your goals at the lowest cost. The following diagram shows what needs to be taken into account.  A simplified approach is to be considered:

1. Increase energy efficiency
2. Electrify as much as possible
3. Buy renewable energy
4. Offset the remaining carbon emissions

How Businesses can Decarbonise through Energy Efficiency

There are no one-size-fits-all solutions to decarbonise the industry. There is however a universal principle that can be applied across all sites in which reducing energy waste means less energy use, fewer emissions and that businesses will save money at the same time. This is a ‘no regrets’ strategy.

How Electrification and Renewables Decarbonise Business

Beyond improving energy efficiency, plants can also undergo electrification to transition away from equipment and machinery that burn fuel on site. For instance, a natural gas water heater can be replaced with an electric heat pump, or a traditional furnace can be replaced with an electric one. In addition to helping transition away from burning fossil fuels, electrified equipment typically comes with fewer maintenance costs.

When purchased electricity is produced from clean, renewable sources with minimal carbon intensity, such as wind and solar power, the electrification process can significantly reduce a business’ overall emissions.

Current studies suggest that electrification could transition roughly 50% of the fuel that global industry uses for energy to electric-powered operations. This includes processes requiring low-temperature heat (≤ 100°C), such as food preparation, to industrial activities like steam reforming that require high-temperature heat up to 1,000°C.

The remaining fuel in the industry is often natural gas. There is an increasing amount of renewable gas available in the network, for example between 40%-50% of Denmark and Germany’s piped methane gas is from renewable sources.

Certificates and Carbon Offsets

Northmore Gordon will Guide You Through Profitable Decarbonisation

As a full-service Consultant, Northmore Gordon has energy experts prepared to guide businesses through all phases of their decarbonisation journeys to ensure a successful and profitable transition.

Northmore Gordon assists with the design and implementation of a carbon reduction strategy, which includes but is not limited to:

1. Develop the carbon strategy
2. Implement energy efficiency
3. Electrify fuel use
4. Create and competitively buy priced renewable energy and high-quality carbon offsets

We help businesses design and implement carbon reduction strategies and long-term roadmaps so that they can meet corporate goals and stay ahead of the changing landscape. This can include alignment with and commitment to the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a robust framework strategy developed to keep the global temperature rise well under 2° Celcius from pre-industrial levels. In addition, Northmore Gordon helps businesses capture available grants, certifications, and incentives to make the process as profitable and streamlined as possible.

The world recognizes the threat of climate change and the risk of continued fossil-fuel dependence. Acceleration of decarbonisation is needed, and policy measures such as Singapore’s Carbon Policy Act showcase that more and more countries are making definitive steps to reaching a net-zero carbon economy. With an energy partner like Northmore Gordon, your business can incorporate our energy policy and engineering expertise to demonstrate leadership in sustainability and build a thriving business as the world undergoes this pivotal energy transition.

The post Singapore’s Increased Carbon Tax Signals Urgent Need to Decarbonise appeared first on Northmore Gordon.