Bupa combines CHP and boilers to cut costs
As part of a £28.3 million investment over two years to retrofit energy-efficiency and renewable technologies into its property portfolio, Bupa UK collaborated with Bosch Commercial & Industrial to install over 200 bespoke heating systems comprising a CHP module paired with condensing boilers.
Each system installed at 150 locations throughout the UK comprises a CHP unit with an electrical output of 19 kW and acting as the lead heat source. The units also deliver at least 36 kW of heat, with 36 kW being possible with condensing technology.
The electricity generated is much cheaper than buying it from the grid. Collective annual savings are set to surpass £1.1 million in the first year, with the generation of over 14 MWh of electricity a year.
At Summerhill Nursing & Residential Home in Kendal, over 78 MWh of electricity has been generated since the CHP/boiler system was installed, which would have cost over £8000 from the national grid.
At Netherton Green Residential Green & Nursing Home in Dudley, the electricity drawn from the grid has been reduced by 80%. Converting lighting to LEDs reduced electricity consumption by 20%, followed by a further drop of 50% in electricity from the grid once the CHP system had been installed. There was another significant drop following the installation of solarPV.
To overcome the problem of no electricity being generated from a CHP unit, which would have a significant effect on the payback period, Bosch installed a remotely monitored BMS at each site so that Bosch and Bupa are notified if a CHP module stops working for any reason.
The BMS also enables Bosh to monitor how many hours a CHP module has operated and even when the next service is due.
