ENGINE & TURBINE TECHNOLOGY
Tis seemingly extravagant waste is a natural consequence of the fact that electricity is so much easier to transport than heat. Te heat lost in the form of steam clouds is more than balanced out by the economies of scale enjoyed by large power plants, making the excess energy expendable.
When it comes to manufacturing plants, however, many have a large enough demand for both heat and power, so installing a system capable of producing both on-site can generate significant savings, compared to simply buying power in and relying on a conventional boiler system. Studies show that by taking
advantage of the heat wasted in conventional power generation, CHP plants can reach efficiencies of more than 80%, while coal and gas fired plants struggle to achieve more than 40%. For users that see substantial portions of their budgets eaten up by energy bills, this increase in efficiency can generate significant savings. In a recent report, the Association for Decentralised Energy estimated that a properly sized CHP system could reduce an industrial user’s primary fuel use by up to 30%.
FUNDING YOUR SYSTEM Tere are many benefits to installing a CHP system, but there are also a few barriers that need to be overcome before companies can start enjoying its benefits. Te biggest of these is undoubtedly up-front expenditure, even though this will pale in comparison to the savings a system generates over its lifetime. Even a mid-sized manufacturing plant will be considering an investment of several hundred thousand pounds, possibly edging into seven figures for bigger sites and more advanced technology. However, if approached in the right
way, securing finance need not be a barrier to installing CHP. By working with a supplier, such as Finning, it is possible to put together a firm business case that shows the benefits of CHP, and the cost savings that can be realised, and therefore makes it significantly easier to secure capital funding or debt financing.
INVEST IN YOUR INVESTMENT Once a company decides to make an investment, it still pays to ensure
that the operator maintains their commitment to quality. After all, when budgets are tight, it can be tempting to try and make savings wherever possible. Tis can potentially lead to companies trying to cut corners by getting a cheaper deal on support equipment or by opting out of an operation and maintenance (O&M) contract. Tis, however, is not recommended. Assuming a standard 20-year lifespan for a system, the maintenance costs alone will likely be larger than the
CHP IN SHORT C
initial outlay, so the quality of the product plays a vital role in its financial performance. Fuel costs will be an even larger component of the lifetime costs of a system, making up as much as 75% of the overall spend. Investing in a more efficient product can generate big savings in the long run.
Nigel Thompson is with Finning.
www.finning.com
ogeneration or combined heat and power (CHP) is the use of a heat engine or power station to
generate electricity and useful heat at the same time. Trigeneration or combined cooling, heat and power (CCHP) refers to the simultaneous
generation of electricity and useful heating and cooling from the combustion of a fuel or a solar heat collector. The terms can be also applied to the power systems generating simultaneously electricity, heat and chemicals.
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