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AIR QUALITY BSEE


Air quality and decentralised electricity policies


Environmental goals can be achieved with good product choice


The new TOTEM range of Combined Heat and Power units have NOX emissions of less than 10mg/kWh. This is less than 5% of the average NOX emission rate associated with the production of UK electricity and about one third that of the cleanest


condensing boilers available. The technology built into the TOTEM range to control emissions is arguably significantly better than anything else available.


deaths a year to poor air quality in the UK. Indeed, it is impossible to pick up a newspaper or watch the nightly news without a story about the poor air quality in our cities and the negative impact on life that this has. “As an environmentally conscious company heavily involved in emissions policy, we applaud the Mayor of London for his work on air quality. However, it is evident that the major focus is on reducing traffic emissions. We feel that due to the current level of air pollution, it is necessary to review all modern guidance and policies including those related to energy use in buildings,” said Bill Sinclair, Technical Director of Adveco Ltd.


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In the recent report ‘Up In The Air – How to Solve London’s Air Quality Crisis – Part 2’ (authored jointly by Policy Exchange and King’s College London), it is reported that 38% of polluting emissions in central London are the result of gas usage in buildings, and as traffic emissions are reduced this percentage increases. The resulting question is whether carbon dioxide emission reduction legislation leads to an increase in air pollution. An analysis of the legislation shows that this can happen in some circumstances.


A good business case for CHP


In the UK, national and local governments are promoting on-site production of electricity with waste heat capture for three main reasons. First, it reduces reliance on the UK electric grid which has become oversubscribed. Second, it reduces CO2 emissions and aids the UK in attempting to meet its environmental commitments. Finally, CHP makes a good business case; there is no other low or zero carbon technology with a payback time as short as CHP without government incentives.


These key benefits make CHP the first choice of the UK government to reduce


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he Royal College of Physicians released a study last year that attributes over 40,000 premature


carbon dioxide emissions. This can be seen in the London Plan’s Policies 5.5 and 5.6, which promote decentralised energy networks, and the Building Regulations Part L calculation methodology which rates CHP very favourably.


The unintentional


consequence of producing electricity at the point of use is the relocation of emissions from generation to within urban areas. Power plants are primarily located outside of city centres to limit the effects of pollution. While CO2 emissions are judged on a countrywide or worldwide scale, the emissions of nitrogen oxides have local consequences and are the main contributor to air pollution. The NOX emissions from a power plant, although very high, are not in densely populated areas and they disperse and dilute over large areas with minimal health consequences. CHP systems reduce CO2 emissions by 25%-30%, providing a countrywide benefit regardless of where they are located, but the local consequences of their NOX emissions must be considered. If CHP systems with equivalent NOX emissions to a power plant are installed in city centres, where the pollution levels are already elevated, there will be a terrible impact on quality of life and health. With modern technology, this is no longer the end of the story. The current discussion around this topic implies that designers must choose a decentralised network at the expense of air quality, or avoid


decentralised electricity production to limit pollution.


Advanced control


The TOTEM CHP range, with advanced control over the combustion process and NOX emissions, provides a third option. An accredited laboratory has certified that the TOTEM T20 and T25 emit only 4.8mg NOX per kWh of gas input and the TOTEM T10 emits only 7.5mg/kWh. Using a TOTEM CHP in city centre decentralised electricity production has no


measurable negative effect on air quality.


In normal working


conditions, the TOTEM is so much cleaner than the ‘average’ CHP unit


(240mg/kWh) that choosing it is the equivalent of removing 200 commuting Euro-6 diesel cars from the roads per CHP unit.


While cities struggle with the dilemma of reducing air pollution and guaranteeing reliable electricity


infrastructure, the TOTEM can successfully align clean air and decentralised energy policies without any harmful side effects. With a focus on standard, mass produced automotive components, the TOTEM is value for money and can provide this technology within the same price bracket as the older, more polluting CHP units. There are no barriers to choosing the TOTEM, and although legislation does not prevent the installation of high-polluting CHPs in urban environments, responsible designers should be selecting the technology with the least impact on air quality. The decentralisation of electricity production has already begun; in London alone, approximately 200MW of capacity has been installed with a goal to add a further 1GW by 2025. It is vitally important that the next 1GW is cleaner than the first 200MW have been. Additional benefits of the TOTEM include the highest total efficiency without requiring a separate exhaust heat recovery system. The TOTEM includes a built-in condensing heat exchanger delivering total net


efficiencies of 107.1% with up to 32.5% electrical efficiency. Furthermore, the TOTEM has an automatic oil change system which reduces wear on the engine. Combined with Adveco service packages, the efficiency of the TOTEM unit can be guaranteed to provide over 90% of the design electrical power output for 10 years. No other CHP can guarantee this level of performance. uAdveco Ltd is a sole distributor of TOTEM units in UK. Also it is the sister company to Adveco (AWP) Ltd, who trade as A.O. Smith Water Heaters in the UK and has over 45 years of expertise in the building services industry. With an ethos to offer the very best products, services and support, Adveco prioritise the needs of our clients to deliver bespoke, practical solutions. Call 01252 551540 or email enquiries@adveco.co


uWhile cities struggle to reduce air pollution and guarantee reliable electricity infrastructure, the TOTEM can successfully align clean air and decentralised energy policies without any harmful side effects.


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We feel that due to the current level of air pollution, it is necessary to review all modern guidance and policies including those related to energy use in buildings. Bill Sinclair, Technical Director of Adveco Ltd.


’ BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER APRIL 2017 35


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