Edinburgh University installs trigeneration energy centre
A new energy centre for the heating, cooling and electricity networks of the University of Edinburgh’s Easter Bush Veterinary Campus will incorporate trigeneration. This £9 million project by Vital Energi will include a 1.5 MW(e) CHP engine and a 600 kW absorption chiller. There are also two 4 MW boilers and a 1.5 MW vapour-compression chiller. The heating and cooling systems will both have a 100 m3 thermal store.
The project includes a 4 km buried district energy network to transport hot and chilled water around the campus.
This will be the second energy centre delivered by Vital Energi for the university after a successful installation at the Holyrood Campus.
Mike Cooke, regional director for Vital Energi, comments. ‘Trigeneration is an exciting technology as it can operate at maximum efficiency all year round, and our similar installations have a great track record of reducing emissions and saving money, so it’s an ideal solution at Easter Bush where they have a clear vision to deliver a 21st-century low-carbon campus.’