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THE PERFECT FIT


In order for savings to be achieved with CHP, it must be correctly sized and suitable for the building’s heating and hot water patterns. Gary Stoddart, Technical Sales Director at Remeha, explains more.


The fifth carbon budget announced earlier this year has set the ambitious target of delivering an overall 57% reduction in emissions between 1990 and 2032. This, coupled with an increasing demand for sustainable BREEAM rated developments, means that facilities managers are looking for more economical and ecological methods of heating.


Enter CHP, which has gained popularity among professionals for its potential to reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs. CHP can help to achieve carbon reduction either as part of a standalone heating system, or as part of a heat network. It delivers savings in two ways – by producing electricity using natural gas rather than purchasing electricity from the grid, and through the generation of heat.


In comparison to electricity from the grid, CHP electricity doesn’t suffer transmission losses, and costs three or four times less. At the same time, where heat from the generation process is lost at gas power stations, the heat generated by CHP can be reused in the heating/hot water systems. Overall, it means CHP can be approximately 30% more efficient than traditional electricity.


But in order to achieve the predicted savings, it is essential to first consider whether CHP is appropriate for the building in question, has been specified and installed correctly, and used as intended.


20 | CHP


CHP has gained popularity for


its potential to reduce both


greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs.


Energy Project of the Year category at the Energy Awards. With such a large capacity of students, it was vital that constant heating and hot water was provided, while at the same time acknowledging the impact the building had on the environment.


You should be aware that the CHP needs to be kept running even when demand is low, in order to generate efficiency savings. Oversized CHP units will not run if the heat demand is not present, and as a result the anticipated electricity will not be generated, this is a particularly important issue for CHP users.


The golden rule for CHP is to keep it as small as possible. Sizing the system so that the base load heating and hot water requirements can be met primarily by the CHP unit alone will result in the continuous generation of low cost, low carbon electricity as a by-product of producing base-load heating.


Remeha has recently expanded its CHP range to include the Dachs Mini-CHP 5.5kWe - Europe’s biggest selling mini-CHP product - previously sold by its sister company SenerTec.


Earlier this year, SenerTec was challenged with upgrading the heating system at Portland Green student accommodation in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to significantly reduce the building’s carbon emissions. The project was recently shortlisted in the Residential Building


Three SenerTec Dachs mini-CHP 5.5kWe units


were specified and installed during the upgrade. The CHP was able to provide hot water and additional electricity for the complex as well as reduce the complex’s carbon emissions, contributing to the achievement of a BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’.


CHP plays an important role in improving the efficiency of UK buildings, particularly those with continuous heating requirements like student accommodation. The long running hours result in substantial savings on energy bills, whilst reducing carbon emissions. What’s more, all hot water and electricity produced by a CHP system is used inside the building, to achieve the most cost-effective and energy- efficient results.


The best way to ensure that CHP works most effectively is for all parties to work together at the early stages of a project. It is also important for the CHP supplier to stay involved with the project after commissioning, to ensure that the system continues to perform and deliver savings.


www.remeha.co.uk www.tomorrowsem.com


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