CHP systems to save money and cut carbon

In this article, he explains how hospitals and other busy healthcare facilities thus ‘make ideal bedfellows’ for CHP, and outlines the key criteria and considerations, such as sizing, for healthcare engineers, when looking to specify such a system.

The energy and carbon-saving benefits of CHP, in fact, apply equally well to new-build and retrofit projects, but in retrofits combined heat and power technology can prove particularly advantageous when looking to replace existing boiler plant, or as an addition to new or existing boilers. Typical hospital CHP projects can provide a guaranteed utility saving of up to £500,000 per annum, including associated operational savings. The vast majority of the saving is generated through the more efficient use of energy and plant. The associated CO2 abatement – of up to 2,500 t CO2 per annum, will typically reduce the site’s carbon footprint by up to 25%.

According to the NHS Sustainable Development Unit’s Save Money by Saving Carbon document (visit: http://tinyurl.com/ nc5ywr6, and see the Marginal Abatement Curve, or MAC, on page 5), CHP offers NHS England ‘the most significant impact on operational costs and carbon’. However, accurate and appropriate system sizing is critical to ensure that the selected CHP system delivers the best returns. In addition, proactive monitoring and maintenance are also key to system performance and longevity.