Comparison and Evaluation of the Potential Energy, Carbon Emissions, and Financial Impacts from the Incorporation of CHP and CCHP Systems in Existing UK Hotel Buildings

Radwa Salem,Anastasia Mylona,Paulina Godfrey,Darren Cook,Ali Bahadori-Jahromi

doi:10.3390/en11051219

Abstract

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the incorporation of distributed energy resource (DER) systems such as combined heat and power (CHP) and combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) in commercial building applications as they have shown considerable environmental and financial benefits when compared to conventional energy generation. This paper aims to investigate the potential energy, carbon emissions, and financial impact of the size of co/tri-generation systems on a real case scenario of an existing UK hotel. The analysis is carried out using Thermal Analysis Simulation software (TAS) and a payback methodology is adopted to carry out the financial analysis. The results show that the average percentage decrease in carbon emissions with CHP is 32% and with CCHP it is 36%. Whilst both CHP and CCHP systems increase energy consumption in the building, the costs are reduced, and a CHP system contributes to a higher percentage of cost savings and shorter payback periods. The incorporation of a CCHP system leads to lower energy consumption for a similar-sized CHP system. Further simulations under future climate projections revealed that a CCHP system outperforms a CHP system.

Highlights

A projected increase in energy demand combined with a growing energy supply gap means that energy generation must be optimised
The total energy consumption value considers heating, cooling, auxiliary, lighting, domestic hot water (DHW), equipment, and is the net of any electrical energy displaced by the C/combined heat and power (CHP) generators
The main objective of this paper was to compare the performance of CHP and CCHP systems on an existing UK hotel to assess which of the two systems offer the best solution depending on energy, financial, and carbon emissions savings

Summary

Introduction

A projected increase in energy demand combined with a growing energy supply gap means that energy generation must be optimised. Energy consumption loads are supplied by electricity from the national grid and/or heat generated via fuel burning in a boiler. This conventional approach to generating energy ‘separately’ tends to have a low efficiency of 30–45% [1]. In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the incorporation of distributed energy resource (DER) systems, ranging from renewables to co/tri-generation systems, in residential and commercial buildings. Combined heat and power (CHP) or cogeneration is an alternative method that utilises by-product heat, which can amount up to 80% of total primary energy during electricity generation [1].

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Conclusion