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ENERGY MANAGEMENT BSEE


Centralised plant rooms serving district and community heating schemes are becoming more commonplace, eliminating a number of issues associated with supplying gas to multi‐occupancy properties. They also offer the potential for tenants to enjoy energy‐cost savings. Paul Wilson, National Sales Manager at Remeha CHP, explains why Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units are suitable for such schemes and advises on how to get the most out of the technology.


emissions and cut heating bills for both commercial and domestic consumers. This is evidenced by the Government’s Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) capital investment programme, set up to provide £320m of financial support for up to 200 projects by 2021. The pilot phases of some of these projects used heat networks to generate hot water and space heating for local residents living in multi- occupancy high-rise buildings. Heat networks comprise three key elements: the heat source, the heat network route and the interface between the network and the heat consumer. With heat supplied from centralised plant and delivered via a single pipework distribution system, consumer heat interface units (HIU) are generally used to provide heating or heating with hot water to individual properties. Heat networks offer a range of benefits for developers, building owners and occupants. For the developer, they can significantly reduce the cost of compliance with Building Regulations. The incorporation of a heat network into a development can also contribute to Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD) compliance. Where planning regulations require a proportion of renewable technology in schemes, a heat network can help meet those requirements. Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) ratings from HIUs in low-carbon heat network properties are higher than more traditional forms of heating.


D High‐rise buildings


Using centralised plant also addresses many of the issues associated with supplying gas to multi-dwelling high-rise buildings. Capital installation and whole-life costs are reduced by eliminating the need to fit numerous flue terminals and plume displacement and condensate drainage systems. The risks associated with gas distribution pipework are also removed. Centralised systems that incorporate CHP offer significant benefits for tenants too. Compared with the more


COMBINED HEAT & POWER The heart of heat networks


istrict heating


schemes, also known as heat networks, play an important part in the Government’s plan to reduce carbon


traditional solution of installing separate heating in each property, tenants can potentially enjoy much cheaper electricity. Importantly, the HIU also records the heat consumed for easy individual billing; further guidance can be obtained from The Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014. While a number of different heat sources can be used in a heat network, a low carbon technology such as CHP enables both energy costs and carbon emissions to be reduced. CHP is approximately 30 per cent more efficient than relying on traditional heating plant and electricity supplied solely from the grid*, offering a significant opportunity for many organisations to reduce energy costs and improve environmental performance. To make the most of CHP technology, however, it is essential to get the fundamentals right. CHP units generate electricity whilst also capturing usable heat produced during the process. While there is no minimum operational period per annum at which cost savings kick in, savings will only be achieved if the CHP unit is actually running. Therefore there must be enough demand for the heat and electricity produced. For new buildings, this can be assessed using energy demand data either from design or benchmark information from other similar buildings.


Feasibility assessment


To carry out a feasibility assessment, we first consider the base load for heat and electricity. For example, on a R-Gen 50/100-CHP unit the heat produced is around 100kW (depending on the return temperature to the unit) and the electrical output is 50kWe. If the base load is above these figures, the CHP will run continuously, supported by boilers if necessary, and both the heat and electricity generated will be used within the building.


When specifying CHP it is best to keep it as small as possible. Some specifiers and consultants tend to follow the ‘10 per cent for luck’ rule, which ends up in the installation of an over-sized system. A better rule to follow is that no heat demand equals a CHP system that is not running – and without that, the anticipated electricity will not be generated.


To get the maximum output from the CHP, it needs to work in tandem with new or existing boilers and/or water heaters. In a properly designed and commissioned system, heating and hot water will be supplied by the CHP first, with any additional supply coming from the boilers.


Successful CHP installations require a team approach from the outset, with the CHP supplier involved in every part of the design and installation process. Once installed and operational, it is also crucial that the system is used and maintained correctly to deliver maximum efficiency and savings. Remeha offers a range of


maintenance and monitoring solutions. CHP engines are maintained on a running hours basis and remote monitoring is a valuable tool that alerts both user and service team when a service is becoming due.


Community heating schemes offer reliable and easy to maintain heating solutions for groups of buildings, whether they be residential housing, apartment schemes or commercial premises. Using CHP increases the appeal by delivering cheaper electricity and lower CO2


uThe Remeha R‐Gen Combined Heat and Power (CHP) range is the sustainable solution to providing highly‐efficient heat and power for applications with consistent heating and electricity.


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Successful CHP emissions. It is


also a relevant technology for both new and existing buildings. With funding schemes such as HNIP helping to pave the way, CHP is at the forefront of the drive for energy efficient and low carbon heat, hot water and power.


* http://www.theade.co.uk/what-is- combined-heat-and-power_15.html


www.remeha.co.uk


installations require a team approach from the outset, with the CHP supplier involved in every part of the design and installation process. Once installed and operational, it is also crucial that the system is used and maintained correctly to deliver maximum efficiency and savings.


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Remeha bolsters CHP sales team with new appointment R


emeha has strengthened its Combined Heat and Power (CHP) sales team with the appointment of Mark Gibbons as


Technical Sales Manager. Gibbons has worked in the engineering industry for more than 40 years and has held sales roles for the last 20. He joined SenerTec in 2010 before moving to a HIU sales


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role in 2016, and has now returned to the CHP sector. The announcement follows on from the integration of SenerTec’s CHP specialists into Remeha last year and the recent appointment of Paul Wilson as National Sales Manager for CHP.


Commenting on his new role, Gibbons said: “My experience has taught me that in-depth knowledge of


product, detailed assessment of customer needs and tailored technical support are a winning combination when it comes to recommending a heating and hot water solution. “The Remeha CHP team are unrivalled in this expert level of service and I look forward to working with them to continue to deliver maximum returns for every customer.”


Paul Wilson comments: “I’m delighted to welcome Mark back. His extensive knowledge of the CHP sector and his longstanding relationships with key customers makes him a great asset to the team. “Our expert technical sales managers cover all areas of the UK and provide support to customers across a range of sectors including healthcare, education and hospitality.”


BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AUGUST 2017 25


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