Technology

Every time someone claims to have produced the silver bullet that will cure all ills, closer examination reveals the devil in the detail and the silver starts to tarnish. Networked CHPs may not be a silver bullet but the concept certainly merits closer attention as a money-saver for many estates.

CHPs burn gas to generate electricity, whilst also harvesting the heat generated from this combustion. With grid gas being so much cheaper than grid electricity – and provided the heat generated can also be used on site – there is a considerable net saving: the larger the CHP, the greater the scale of potential saving.

CHPs are not a new technology: many hotels, retail outlets, and other high-demand sites use them to reduce their reliance on grid power. Several schools also have CHP systems already, but these are usually relatively small by comparison and insignificant in the overall site power budget. To date they have tended to be overlooked in schools or discounted as only of marginal worth. The technical issue at schools is that most heating plant rooms – considered in isolation – do not have a high enough demand for heat to justify large CHPs. However, networking plant rooms together can overcome that limitation, which is the innovation that ReEnergise is now offering. In addition, with careful engineering we can design a heat network that will also be compatible with the demands of networked heat pumps, i.e. the eventual net-zero technical solution (in most cases).

This interim approach is an example of sound navigation through the current challenges all schools face relating to their use of energy: wanting to reduce energy costs and increase energy security as soon as possible but also aspiring to achieve net-zero in due course. It sounds trite, but from an engineering and commercial perspective it can be a win-win, saving money now but also preparing the ground for net-zero in due course.

Another thought. CHPs often work alongside other forms of heating plant, such as an existing gas boiler. The CHP will be set up to provide the baseload for heating, whilst the gas boiler will only need to be run to meet any peak demands. When this pairing is set up correctly the school will be sourcing much cheaper electricity via the CHP and needing to run its gas plant somewhat less. This will have the added benefit of extending the life of the gas plant. The message is, don’t dismiss the option of installing a CHP because the school’s existing heating plant isn’t yet due for replacement: that probably isn’t relevant.

The feasibility of networked CHPs does depend on the detail at each site, but it’s potentially such a good money-saver that it’s always going to be worth an initial discussion.

Strategic Planning

Many of our team have previous experience at senior levels in a range of public and private sector careers, operating at all corporate levels from central government and large listed companies to small start-ups. Between us we have acquired decades worth of strategic training and practice, which we now apply to our consultancy and project management work. From the largest estates to just a few buildings, we help clients move from uncertainty to a clear and deliverable pathway to meet their short, medium and longer-term energy related goals. Our core strategic product is the Energy Systems Masterplan. It assesses the Energy Trilemma trade-offs across the whole estate. The balance will vary depending on the client’s strategic goals but given what most currently seek it’s aptly described as the gateway to achieving savings on energy usage and increased energy security.

Financial & Carbon Modelling

We’re proud of our financial and carbon modelling capability. We have our own suite
of proprietary models to assess the combined effect of all the relevant energy
infrastructure interventions, with more granularity than we have encountered in any other models. Authentic, data-driven modelling is a critical component in plans,
business case analysis and budget forecasting.

Project Financing

We’ve recognised that clients often aspire to undertake the innovative engineering that we offer, because it will save them money and improve the operation of their estates: but they lack the capital to invest. To that end we’ve worked with a finance partner to develop funding packages that will significantly reduce the direct investment required by clients. The message to clients is clear: don’t be put off by a lack of capital to invest. We’ll collaborate to make it work. Inevitably the return on investment will not be as high as for self-financed projects, but it can still be much better than doing nothing.

Building Services Engineering

Building services engineering offers the means to turn strategic thinking into action. Our depth of knowledge of the relevant engineering systems and our forensic attention to detail combine to enable us to achieve unsurpassed results in project engineering. In support of this assertion, we are increasingly being called upon to intervene to put right systems that have failed through previous poor attention to
engineering detail. Being good at building services engineering also enhances our strategic output, enabling us to unlock the full potential of a given mix of technologies on an estate.

Project Management

We have extensive experience managing projects, from the optimisation of a single
plant room to the installation of large heat networks and conversion of multiple plant
rooms to different technologies. As well as keeping projects to time, budget and
quality, we major on health and safety. We also recognise that our clients need to be able to get on with their own daily challenges with minimal interruption.

Energy Broking

The addition of energy broking to our capabilities makes us ideally suited to
becoming an energy partner, covering all energy related services. The hallmark of our broking is strong advice on market timing and choosing the right type of contract, backed up by complete transparency: no hidden broker fees. One example: we’ve recently saved a multi academy trust 19% on their annual gas supply costs over the next 3 years, and that’s against a backdrop of a rising market due to the Iran War energy crisis. The result took them completely by surprise. On request, we can also provide account management support, including invoice validation.

Compliance

We are qualified to provide a wide range of energy related compliance services, including ESOS, SECR, EPCs, and DECs. Our aim is to shoulder the burden of this work for clients. For example, as well as completing the required surveys and reports, we will work with clients to keep track of due dates and provide timely reminders when reports are due.

Heat Networks

Our project track record means that we have acquired extensive experience in scoping, specifying, designing and managing the installation of heat networks, ranging in scale from networks linking a few buildings up to large sites with over 100 buildings and networks stretching over several kilometres. We see this as a growing capability in the company, as the demand increases in line with government policy.

Networked Combined Heat & Power Systems (CHP)