The locknote address at the 7th National Water Summit (November 21st at Croke Park, Dublin), titled ‘Energy optimisation for water infrastructure’ was delivered by Kevin Fitzgibbon (Water Co-ordinator, Nimbus Centre). The Minister of State for Research & Innovation, Sean Sherlock gave the Ministerial Address, followed by the Opening Address on ‘Managing Risk & Ensuring Resilience’ by David Gee, European Environment Agency, Denmark. Laura Burke, Director General of the EPA, spoke on ‘Working with Others for a Better Environment’.

Kevin’s presentation described the huge potential saving for water treatment & networks based on energy optimisation, and was very well received. Nimbus modelling of water networks and facilities determines the optimal operating parameters for use with an existing energy optimisation platform for buildings (SESOP). There are 4 models – Potable water treatment plant, potable water network, waste water treatment plant and waste water networks with indicative cost savings of up to 19%.

Dr. Joe Harrington, Head of School of Building & Civil Engineering, Cork Institute of Technology was part of a panel discussion entitled ‘H2O meets ROI’. Despite water shortages in various regions around the world, water, on average, remains remarkably cheap. The paradoxically low cost of water makes the business case for implementing innovative conservation, recycling, and re-use technologies that much more challenging. Even so, there are a number of verticals – from manufacturing to agriculture to food & beverage – where the economics are beginning to look attractive and customers are investing in changing the way that they use water.

The panel discussed the emerging opportunities where water technology can provide real value, efficiencies and innovative solutions. Also on the panel were Padraic Fogarty, Operations & Business Efficiencies Lead, Irish Water Programme; Paul O’Callaghan, CEO, O2 Environmental; Paul Butler, Senior Commercialisation Specialist, Enterprise Ireland; Charles Dwyer, CEO, LowFLo.

The contributions by CIT (including the Nimbus centre) formed a large part of the event, and we look forward to further contributions to the water agenda for business in Ireland.