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 | | DALKIA - POWERING THE WELSH COMMUNITY | | | Dalkia | | 10/01/2008 | | | Dalkia, the technical facilities and energy management company, has installed three state of the art combined heat and power units (CHP) at three Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council sites, with each unit saving approximately 20-30 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. The CHP units have each contributed to cost savings of £5,000 per year by using locally generated electricity and heat on the three local authority sites. The scheme has also contributed to the Council winning a National energy efficiency award.
One of the CHP units, which has been installed in Dan Y Bryn Residential Care Home in Pontardawe, is expected to supply 70% of the electricity for the residents by providing low cost on site generated electricity and hot water resulting in more efficient heating and hot water systems to keep the building warm and serve the laundry. The other two units service the electricity and pool water heating needs at Pontardawe Swimming Pool and Vale of Neath Leisure Centre, resulting in significant annual energy cost savings and carbon dioxide emissions at both sites.
The 'energy efficiency accreditation scheme' is the UK's only independent award recognising achievements in reducing energy use. Neath Port Talbot CBC was the first local authority in Wales to achieve the award six years ago and has been re-accredited every three years since.
By installing a CHP plant the efficiency is greatly increased, electricity is generated on site to supply the needs of the residential building and leisure centres, whilst gaining from climate change levy exemption. Many sites have electricity and heat demands that favour the use of CHP, which has recently been described by DEFRA as the 'most cost effective single non-transport measure in the Climate Change Programme'. The system will provide secure and stable future energy supplies that offer a more cost effective and reliable energy solution.
The added value in combining the utilities, such as electricity, heating and hot water into a central plant allows energy strategies to give optimised performance when considering energy usage and metering, running costs and logistics. By generating electricity on site an organisation will save 8% in energy that is normally wasted through transmission via the grid we well as being less exposed to electricity price fluctuations.
The three Micro CHP units were part funded by the Welsh Assembly Government in order to promote the environmental benefits of commercial on-site micro generation in Wales. The Council provided matched funding to cover the installation costs of each unit from its Energy Conservation ‘spend to save fund’. Performance of the units to date suggests that the council will recover their capital investment within the next three to four years.
Derek Vaughan, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, said: "We are continually trying to improve, encourage and raise awareness of energy efficiency. By embracing new methods and keeping up with new technology, we are continuing our commitment both to energy efficiency and to reducing the environmental impact.”
An award winning installer and operator of CHP systems, Dalkia serves hospitals, manufacturing plants, community energy schemes, treatment works, and leisure centres. Dalkia currently manages 259MW of CHP electrical generation in the UK and 4,255MWe of CHP in 40 countries. | |
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