Energy & Utilities
Having firmly established itself within the energy sector, SOCOTEC serves as a provider for a number of key players within the industry, including some of the UK’s major generators. With an unrivalled breadth of service offering industry-leading technical expertise, our teams can offer a bespoke testing, inspection and compliance suite to support any energy project.
UK energy sector
As the UK energy industry shifts its policy and impetus away from traditional fossil fuel reliance, SOCOTEC has evolved to cater for the needs of a changing market. In an industry that accounts for 10% of total investment and over 50% of industrial investment, SOCOTEC understands the need for a broad portfolio of services that can capture the need for a more carbon neutral future. DECC projections predict the renewables sector will account for 56% of energy generation in the UK by 2050, and SOCOTEC is fully committed to supporting growth in this area.
We offer UKAS-accredited testing, inspection and compliance services that cover a variety of energy projects and sectors, including:
Challenges facing the Energy & Utilities sector today
The energy and utilities sector faces interconnected challenges driven by the UK's transition to a carbon-neutral future, including the shift towards renewable energy sources (projected to reach 56% of generation by 2050), stringent regulatory compliance requirements for emissions and carbon reduction obligations, maintaining asset integrity across expanding transmission networks, implementing effective energy efficiency measures to reduce consumption and costs, and integrating waste-to-energy solutions as part of the circular economy whilst minimising landfill dependency—all requiring comprehensive testing, inspection, and compliance expertise to ensure operational excellence throughout this fundamental transformation.
Build up your standards in the Energy & Utilities Sector with SOCOTEC UK
How we can help
SOCOTEC, as a firmly established provider within the UK energy sector, serves major generators and key industry players through a comprehensive suite of UKAS-accredited testing, inspection, and compliance services. Our support spans the entire energy lifecycle across multiple areas:
Energy & Utilities
Energy and fuel supply
Whether you are supplying wholesale energy to the grid or fuel for electricity generation, SOCOTEC can help. With over 50 million tonnes of solid fuel produced per annum, we are active across the UK, with dedicated inspection and sampling teams available to support on the following services:
- Sampling and analysis of solid fuel for producers and offtakers
- Sampling and analysis of imported cargoes thanks to the presence of our experienced team at all major UK ports
- Specialist coal sampling and analysis including bores, cores and stock evaluation/exploration (both in the UK and internationally).
Whether you are supplying wholesale energy to the grid or fuel for electricity generation, SOCOTEC can help. With over 50 million tonnes of solid fuel produced per annum, we are active across the UK, with dedicated inspection and sampling teams available to support on the following services:
- Sampling and analysis of solid fuel for producers and offtakers
- Sampling and analysis of imported cargoes thanks to the presence of our experienced team at all major UK ports
- Specialist coal sampling and analysis including bores, cores and stock evaluation/exploration (both in the UK and internationally).
Energy & Utilities
Electricity generation
With power generation currently dominated by a growing renewables sector, a mixture of fossil fuels (predominantly coal and gas) and nuclear, SOCOTEC has the capability to support your business in all of these areas. Our team of experts also have unparalleled expertise and technical know-how encompassing all solid fuels and generation technologies, with on-site facilities present at many generator sites. Services include:
In a world where carbon comes at a high price, SOCOTEC provides a range of market-leading, bespoke services to biomass generators, including Drax and RWE Tilbury. With a technical team that is driving the way in which the industry analyses biomass, SOCOTEC is your perfect partner for biomass expertise – click here to find out more.
With power generation currently dominated by a growing renewables sector, a mixture of fossil fuels (predominantly coal and gas) and nuclear, SOCOTEC has the capability to support your business in all of these areas. Our team of experts also have unparalleled expertise and technical know-how encompassing all solid fuels and generation technologies, with on-site facilities present at many generator sites. Services include:
In a world where carbon comes at a high price, SOCOTEC provides a range of market-leading, bespoke services to biomass generators, including Drax and RWE Tilbury. With a technical team that is driving the way in which the industry analyses biomass, SOCOTEC is your perfect partner for biomass expertise – click here to find out more.
Energy & Utilities
Energy from Waste
Furthermore, as generators strive to reduce emissions and waste processors look to reduce landfill, an increasing number of energy from waste plants will emerge as a viable sustainable and alternative energy form. SOCOTEC has a broad service offering within the waste sector, including:
- Energy from waste
- Stack emissions
- Environmental chemistry
- Incinerator Bottom Ash
- Waste management
- Syngas.
Ground investigation is also available to all generators currently planning large scale wind farm projects.
Furthermore, as generators strive to reduce emissions and waste processors look to reduce landfill, an increasing number of energy from waste plants will emerge as a viable sustainable and alternative energy form. SOCOTEC has a broad service offering within the waste sector, including:
- Energy from waste
- Stack emissions
- Environmental chemistry
- Incinerator Bottom Ash
- Waste management
- Syngas.
Ground investigation is also available to all generators currently planning large scale wind farm projects.
Energy & Utilities
Transmission and distribution networks
SOCOTEC has the capability to support large scale transmission and distribution projects either at project inception via infrastructure and construction services, or during operation through compliance testing services. Examples of services we offer in this area include:
SOCOTEC has the capability to support large scale transmission and distribution projects either at project inception via infrastructure and construction services, or during operation through compliance testing services. Examples of services we offer in this area include:
Energy & Utilities
Energy regulation
For those operating within the renewables market, SOCOTEC can assist when your business is required to complete your Fuel Measurement and Sampling (FMS) questionnaire prior to any Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) claim. We can also ensure compliance with sampling and analytical standards by helping you to produce bespoke sampling plans that will meet Ofgem’s criteria in the following areas:
For those operating within the renewables market, SOCOTEC can assist when your business is required to complete your Fuel Measurement and Sampling (FMS) questionnaire prior to any Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) claim. We can also ensure compliance with sampling and analytical standards by helping you to produce bespoke sampling plans that will meet Ofgem’s criteria in the following areas:
Energy & Utilities
Energy management
As the UK continues to shift its focus towards renewable energy, SOCOTEC is committed to helping organisations with their energy management requirements, assessing current energy consumption levels and identifying ways in which to reduce a business’ carbon footprint and associated costs. Ways in which we can provide support include:
- Energy monitoring and targeting
- Energy and Carbon Reduction
- CRC
- Carbon Reduction Audits
- Bill validation
- ESOS Phase 2.
As the UK continues to shift its focus towards renewable energy, SOCOTEC is committed to helping organisations with their energy management requirements, assessing current energy consumption levels and identifying ways in which to reduce a business’ carbon footprint and associated costs. Ways in which we can provide support include:
- Energy monitoring and targeting
- Energy and Carbon Reduction
- CRC
- Carbon Reduction Audits
- Bill validation
- ESOS Phase 2.
Energy & Utilities
Utilities management
When working on or near to buried services, SOCOTEC’s Ground Investigation team can locate and provide a clear understanding of the depth and location of all underground utilities assets, including high voltage electricity wires, metallic and plastic pipes, drainage runs, as well as electric, communication and fibre optic cables. All utility surveys are carried out in line with PAS128 specifications and can be provided in a number of formats to meet your organisation’s project requirements. Click here to find out how we can help your organisation safely manage its utilities.
When working on or near to buried services, SOCOTEC’s Ground Investigation team can locate and provide a clear understanding of the depth and location of all underground utilities assets, including high voltage electricity wires, metallic and plastic pipes, drainage runs, as well as electric, communication and fibre optic cables. All utility surveys are carried out in line with PAS128 specifications and can be provided in a number of formats to meet your organisation’s project requirements. Click here to find out how we can help your organisation safely manage its utilities.
Energy & Utilities
Energy efficiency
SOCOTEC’s Health & Safety Consultancy also offers a number of services to ensure that buildings can become more energy efficient. Our team of qualified professionals can carry out TM44 Air Conditioning Inspections to assess the efficiency of a building’s air conditioning system, determining how and where this energy is used and highlighting any areas for improvement. We can also identify the feasibility of renewable energy solutions for your organisation’s premises and processes, helping to implement these where practicable.
SOCOTEC’s Health & Safety Consultancy also offers a number of services to ensure that buildings can become more energy efficient. Our team of qualified professionals can carry out TM44 Air Conditioning Inspections to assess the efficiency of a building’s air conditioning system, determining how and where this energy is used and highlighting any areas for improvement. We can also identify the feasibility of renewable energy solutions for your organisation’s premises and processes, helping to implement these where practicable.
Asset Lifecycle Support Stages
Full Asset Lifecycle Support
SOCOTEC offers comprehensive support across the entire energy lifecycle through the following stages:
1. Project Inception & Planning Stage
- Ground investigation for large-scale wind farm projects
- Infrastructure and construction services for transmission and distribution projects
- Utilities surveys (locating and mapping underground assets including high voltage electricity wires, metallic and plastic pipes, drainage runs, cables)
- Feasibility studies for renewable energy solutions
2. Construction & Installation Stage
- Foundations testing for transmission and distribution networks
- Construction support services
- Utilities management (carried out in line with PAS128 specifications)
3. Operational & Maintenance Stage
- Fuel Supply & Analysis: Sampling and analysis of solid fuel for producers and offtakers, imported cargoes inspection
- Generation Support: Solid fuel inspection, sampling and analysis; stack emission monitoring; biomass analysis services
- Asset Integrity: Transformer oil testing, oils and grease analysis
- Compliance Testing: Services for operational transmission and distribution networks
4. Compliance & Regulatory Stage
- Fuel Measurement and Sampling (FMS) questionnaire support for Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) claims
- Bespoke sampling plans meeting Ofgem's criteria for biomass and energy from waste
- Stack emissions monitoring
- Environmental chemistry services
5. Energy Management & Efficiency Optimization Stage
- Energy monitoring and targeting
- Energy and Carbon Reduction programmes
- CRC Carbon Reduction Audits
- ESOS Phase 2 compliance
- TM44 Air Conditioning Inspections
- Bill validation services
6. Waste Management & Circular Economy Stage
- Energy from waste services
- Incinerator Bottom Ash analysis
- Syngas testing
- Environmental chemistry
- Waste management solutions
SOCOTEC's comprehensive service portfolio demonstrates their capability to support energy projects from initial planning through to operational excellence and ongoing efficiency improvements, with particular expertise in supporting the UK's transition towards renewable energy sources.
SOCOTEC offers comprehensive support across the entire energy lifecycle through the following stages:
1. Project Inception & Planning Stage
- Ground investigation for large-scale wind farm projects
- Infrastructure and construction services for transmission and distribution projects
- Utilities surveys (locating and mapping underground assets including high voltage electricity wires, metallic and plastic pipes, drainage runs, cables)
- Feasibility studies for renewable energy solutions
2. Construction & Installation Stage
- Foundations testing for transmission and distribution networks
- Construction support services
- Utilities management (carried out in line with PAS128 specifications)
3. Operational & Maintenance Stage
- Fuel Supply & Analysis: Sampling and analysis of solid fuel for producers and offtakers, imported cargoes inspection
- Generation Support: Solid fuel inspection, sampling and analysis; stack emission monitoring; biomass analysis services
- Asset Integrity: Transformer oil testing, oils and grease analysis
- Compliance Testing: Services for operational transmission and distribution networks
4. Compliance & Regulatory Stage
- Fuel Measurement and Sampling (FMS) questionnaire support for Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) claims
- Bespoke sampling plans meeting Ofgem's criteria for biomass and energy from waste
- Stack emissions monitoring
- Environmental chemistry services
5. Energy Management & Efficiency Optimization Stage
- Energy monitoring and targeting
- Energy and Carbon Reduction programmes
- CRC Carbon Reduction Audits
- ESOS Phase 2 compliance
- TM44 Air Conditioning Inspections
- Bill validation services
6. Waste Management & Circular Economy Stage
- Energy from waste services
- Incinerator Bottom Ash analysis
- Syngas testing
- Environmental chemistry
- Waste management solutions
SOCOTEC's comprehensive service portfolio demonstrates their capability to support energy projects from initial planning through to operational excellence and ongoing efficiency improvements, with particular expertise in supporting the UK's transition towards renewable energy sources.
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