Case Studies

Combined Heat & Power

• Dr Ian Entwistle is the Responsible Person for Combined Heat & Power. One of the CHP schemes comprises two off gas fired reciprocating engines each generating 836kW of electricity. The electricity is consumed on site and waste heat utilised to meet the needs of the centralised heating services. Apart from calculating the quality of the scheme according to the Combined Heat & Power Association (CHPQA) requirements, CHP advice is also given on the operational aspects of running the CHP units.
• Several CHP advice studies have been undertaken for clients with businesses as diverse as horticulture to chemicals and brick production. The advice is generally specialised toward the smaller end of CHP plant i.e. up to 5MWe. Payback periods of between 1.5 and 4.0 years are not uncommon, in view of fuel prices rising, and many clients are now looking afresh at the prospect of CHP being installed in their premises.

Wind Power

• An assessment of the economics of wind power has been conducted for a Northern Ireland Community Trust. The study calculates optimum size of wind turbine circa 600 kW suited to the Trusts largest site, a 900 bed Hospital at Antrim. The payback period is favourable in view of the high cost of electricity in Northern Ireland, and the benefit of Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC’s). Trading of the resulting carbon saved, through the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) can offer further benefits to eligible members. The report gives guidance on selection of a suitable wind turbine and concludes best location, subject to next steps which are proceeding toward submission for planning permission and detailed local wind speed monitoring prior to final turbine selection.

General & Specific Opportunities Assessments

• An assessment of energy saving opportunities has been conducted for many clients. The range of measures varies from simple improvements to plant maintenance, to longer term investment e.g. in energy saving controls and boiler replacement. Te measures are well established and the main skill is in identification of the areas, and ability to give directed advice in a concise easy to understand manner.
• An assessment of savings opportunities has been undertaken regarding opportunities to decentralise the 40 year steam boiler plant for a pharmaceutical manufacturer. The report assesses current heating losses and concludes that decentralisation using dual fuel condensing boilers would give the most favourable return on capital invested, in comparison to replacing the central boiler plant and yield a saving in fuel cost of some 21%.

Implementation Advice & Detailed Studies

• Advice on detailing electricity sub metering together with automatic monitoring and targeting (aM&T) for a plastics packaging manufacturer
• Advice on waste heat recovery from air compressors and production area ventilation extracts for unheated warehouses in the manufacturing sector.
• Detailed study to prepare documents for tendering of Bio-diesel fired condensing boilers for a heated glasshouse. The study also included a mix of fuels together with mini CHP.