COMBINED HEAT & POWER (CHP)


USING ON-SITE POWER FLEXIBILITY TO BOOST SUS


Jamie Storry, UK commercial lead, describes the work that Enel X has carried out to support the sustainability initiatives and on-site


power generation efforts of a major food company, through innovative use of CHP within the energy flexibility markets


the whole solution did not disrupt operations.


TURNING CHP PLANTS INTO NEW REVENUE STREAMS Enel X worked closely with the business to ensure that its existing infrastructure at the initial site met the requirements for Capacity Market access. This avoided having to install expensive new equipment and helped to minimise the cost of participation. The continual process and operational


As CHPs use power produced on site, directly feeding into the consumption source, there is less reliance on the national grid for power, which effectively frees up capacity that can be used elsewhere


A


global, farmer-run, cooperative with significant operations and brands in Great Britain and


Ireland, is boosting its sustainability initiatives and on-site power generation to meet its Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) sustainability goals. The production and processing of dairy products


have thermal energy intrinsically built into their processes. Clarification and pasteurisation require temperatures of up to 95˚C; and cooling and refrigeration are crucial parts of dairy storage and distribution. As a result, dairy manufacturers require resilient, robust, flexible and efficient energy sources to support the production process. One particular food producer has ambitious


sustainability plans and targets in place, which have been approved by the Science-Based Target Initiative. It aims to have transitioned to 100% renewable electricity by 2025; and reduced its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 63%, and scope 3 emissions by 30% per kilo of raw milk by 2030. The company has already implemented numerous sustainability projects –from investing in renewable energy and converting its heavy and long-distance vehicle fleets to run on alternative fuels, through to replacing over 80% of its UK site lighting to energy efficient LEDs.


UNLOCKING MORE POWER FROM CHP Combined heat and power (CHP) plants are core to the business’s on-site operations. These are an


30


efficient way to harness wasted energy from the heat and steam that is needed for dairy processing. CHPs capture thermal energy that would otherwise be lost and repurpose it for additional heating, cooling or generation of electricity for other critical assets. Using on-site CHP plants is more efficient and less carbon-intensive than importing power from the grid. As a form of on-site


requirements of dairy production mean it cannot curtail its load. This makes the Capacity Market the most appropriate market to participate in as it presents an opportunity to create revenue from CHPs without having to turn down production. The Capacity Market scheme supports the


“CHPs


capture thermal energy that would


otherwise be lost and repurpose


power generation, the firm’s CHPs put it in a strong position to support grid flexibility by participating in the Capacity Market. This means it can help to balance energy demand to stabilise the national grid, while reducing emissions and creating an additional revenue stream. Since 2020, the dairy manufacturer has partnered with Enel X to capitalise on the flexibility that its CHP plants make available to the grid. As its initial participation was at a single site that processes and produces a significant proportion of the UK’s milk, it was essential that


ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Winter 2024


it for additional heating, cooling, or for generating electricity for


other critical assets. Using on-site CHP plants is more efficient and less carbon-intensive than importing power from the grid”


electricity grid by balancing available supply with demand, especially when the grid is experiencing heightened demand. Capacity Market customers earn revenue by modifying their energy consumption or production in response to grid signals. By ensuring its CHPs produce power above its contractual minimum, participants make additional capacity available to support grid stability and flexibility when the grid is experiencing high demand. The cooperative’s entry to the scheme


includes compliance, data analysis and testing, and submissions to the Electricity Market Reform


Settlement body. When the first


site’s Capacity Market access proved successful, participation was extended to five further dairies and creameries that used CHPs. Since first participating in the Capacity Market


in 2020, the dairy producer has generated over £1.25 million in revenue and unlocked a consistent stream of new revenue every year.


www.essmag.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36