COMBINED HEAT & POWER
HOW CAN A BLENDED APPROACH TO ENERGY HELP IMPROVE
EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY? There are clear benefits in utilising CHP for energy efficiency and
sustainability. But where systems rely on fossil fuels, they are unlikely to be the single solution for the energy transition. Stuart Little, business
development manager at Powerstar, discusses how a blended approach - including Battery Energy Storage (BESS) in your energy management strategy - can enhance the benefits of CHP and help your Net Zero journey
C
HP can improve energy efficiency by more than 40%, using the heat produced in energy
generation that would otherwise generally be lost. However, the role of CHP as a standalone solution looks untenable as the technology currently stands for businesses looking to develop Net Zero strategies. Natural gas is still the major fuel used to power CHP plants. Where energy markets are volatile, the price of gas is a concern and, while it can work as part of an energy efficiency strategy, gas remains a fossil fuel. While hydrogen seems to address the sustainability issue, the environmental impact of different forms of hydrogen production have different associated emission levels. Green hydrogen produces zero emissions, being
reliant on renewable and fossil-free energy, but black or brown hydrogen relies on coal for its production - creating significant emissions. For many businesses, particularly at the smaller- scale, the investment needed to develop a Net Zero strategy that focuses solely on CHP for emission reduction makes such an approach a difficult proposition.
THE BLENDED APPROACH As the Grid moves towards an increasing percentage of renewables for centralised power generation, so too a reliance on CHP for emission reduction will decrease. This is one area where a blended approach to energy management, incorporating a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) as part of your energy infrastructure, can both enhance
Powerstar BESS
a CHP system and help ensure power resilience when it is most needed. For many sectors where CHP is the chosen solution to ensure critical power requirements are met - such as in the defence sector, for hospitals and data centres - CHP may prove effective for island-mode operation, but where disruptions are sub-second and very short term, the CHP cannot switch quickly enough to ensure seamless power. Here, a BESS can act as a load buffer, facilitating
the transition to the CHP and avoiding the issue of a sudden switch whereby the system might trip. Where the BESS incorporates Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) capability, this offers vital protection from these short term incidents where otherwise critical equipment may face shutdown - including the CHP itself. The transition from power disruption to CHP supporting the site takes around 20 seconds and, once grid connection is established again, an advanced BESS with UPS can seamlessly support transition back to grid connected power.
BESS PLAY A VITAL ROLE In addition to power resilience, a BESS can form a vital part of a CHP energy management system, most notably where there is a disconnect between demand and supply. In an increasingly electrified world, predicting demand poses a significant challenge, and so the capability to decouple supply from demand through energy storage is a clear advantage. CHP is particularly well-suited to sites with a constant load demand for heating and hot
Stuart Little
water, for maximum efficiency and a financial return on capital costs. But there are technical considerations where demand varies across the day. For example, if a site’s energy consumption peaks during daytime working hours, the load could be much lower in the early morning or during the night. Here, wasted CHP capacity will impact on the system’s efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and it will also be producing unnecessary emissions. Where BESS is incorporated into the energy
management system, it can be charged during these periods of low consumption, storing the energy to be discharged at peak times. This also helps when specifying the size of the CHP. Rather than requiring a CHP capable of supplying peak load, incorporating a BESS at the design stage offers greater returns, enabling a smaller CHP based on the flexibility provided by energy storage. In the current energy landscape, the requirement
to decarbonise - whether driven by national Net Zero targets or by stakeholders - needs to be balanced with increased electrification and associated power demands. A pragmatic, blended approach is vital. While the grid still relies on fossil fuels, there is a place for CHP. However, looking to a mix of energy management technologies can enhance performance and efficiency, and demonstrate clear sustainability commitments - all helping to futureproof your business’ energy profile.
Powerstar T: 0333 230 1327
www.powerstar.com
22 ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Summer 2024
www.essmag.co.uk
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