Renewing versus renewables

Buderus, carbon emissions, boiler replacement
These three Buderus SB 615 640 kW stainless-steel condensing boilers in the boiler room of M.W. Kellogg Ltd have replaced failed boilers and achieved significant reductions in carbon emissions.

Replacing aging boiler plant in existing heating systems is an extremely effective approach to reducing carbon emissions, as Richard Evans explains.

The release from the 1st July 2009 of additional funding of £45 million under the Government’s extended Lower Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2 is giving a new impetus to the installation of micro-generation technologies for the public sector and charitable bodies. The programme provides up to 50% grant funding for installations up to 300 kW using approved technologies up to a maximum of £200 000, and is open to all products and installer companies registered on the Micro-Generation Certification Scheme (MCS). This includes products in the Solar Keymark listing for solar thermal collectors and in the Environmental Technology List (ETA).

Ultimately, however, carbon reduction is only achievable by using less fuel. When investors talk about wanting to reduce carbon footprints, there is a general expectation that the solution will come from one of the relatively new technologies such as biomass, heat pumps, solar or solar PV.

Without a doubt these technologies — and several others still being developed — have an important part to play in reducing carbon emissions. At present, however, solar thermal tends to be the renewable of choice for commercial installations, with a condensing boiler system providing DHW back-up in the Winter and supplying most of the space heating.

Innovation and new technology will under­standably continue to dominate the headlines, but in practice condensing and high-efficiency boilers will continue to offer the greatest energy savings and, therefore, carbon reduction for a long time yet — and generally for a lower capital investment.

The need to reduce fuel consumption is one that faces all businesses right now, and with heating accounting for the lion’s share of most energy bills, it makes sense to target this area, especially in times when cost savings are under increased scrutiny. Investors need to be aware that fuel consumption can be substantially reduced, fuel bills lowered and the carbon footprint lessened using more established heating technology. Modern condensing and high-efficiency boilers fitted with intelligent controls and replacing inefficient boilers 20 to 30 years old are doing more to reduce fuel consumption than many renewable technologies, with savings of around 30% in most cases. With this level of return on investment, and with the loans and tax benefits now available from the Carbon Trust, it is entirely possible for many organisations to make a big difference to their fuel consumption in a relatively short time.

To maximise the benefits, it is essential that any new or upgraded heating system is properly planned and specified from the start. Careful and detailed assessment of the existing building, its method and materials of construction, the level of insulation and, importantly, how it is used by the occupants will help to establish any limitations on system design. An understanding of this could well identify requirements for improving the building itself to reduce heat loss and determine what can be realistically achieved in terms of carbon reduction.

Technology will continue to advance both in renewables and with existing heating products and controls. Decisions to be made by the heating engineer do not necessarily get easier in these changing circumstances. However, the control systems of all Buderus boilers are configured to be compatible with renewable systems when installations are ready to be upgraded by the addition of solar or other renewables.

Buderus has recently worked with M.W. Kellogg Ltd (MWKL), a London based client-focused, full-service engineering, procurement and construction contractor primarily serving the hydrocarbon market. Its head office and worldwide operations centre in Greenford, Middx employs around 1500 people in a 9-storey, 16 500 m2 building which requires efficient heating. The existing boilers in the building were suffering from corrosion and showing signs of leaking. The decision was made to completely replace these boilers.

Following an in-depth assessment of heat demands and system requirements, three 640 kW stainless-steel condensing boilers were chosen to replace the existing system.

The new installation incorporates an improved hydraulic layout using a low-loss header and individual shunt pumps for each boiler, which replaced the existing large common shunt pump. This arrangement gives simplified control over the flow through the boilers and significant savings in electrical power consumption.

For MWKL a key requirement for the replacement heating system was to reduce the building’s carbon footprint. ‘We wanted the latest in high efficiency to reduce carbon and NOx emissions compliant with the forthcoming Building Regulations upgrade due in 2010,’ says Les Hill, Building Officer for MWKL. ‘We believe we have made all the right decisions to achieve this goal.’ MWKL has applied for Enhanced Capital Allowances for its investment in energy-saving equipment.

By investing in modern high-quality heating equipment and taking the time to get the specification absolutely right, MWKL can expect to see a significant improvement in fuel efficiency and a much reduced carbon footprint.

Richard Evans is commercial director with Buderus in the UK.

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