Introduction
Phyllis Court, a prestigious private members club located in the scenic town of Henley-on-Thames, faced an urgent challenge. With spiralling energy costs and a desire to reduce their carbon footprint, the club sought an innovative solution to modernise their energy infrastructure. VitoEnergy, in collaboration with Touchstone Energy Analysts, took on the task, exploring advanced technologies to achieve both cost savings and environmental impact reduction. This case study outlines the process, the challenges encountered, and the transformative solution implemented at Phyllis Court.
Understanding the Problem
Like many commercial establishments, Phyllis Court was grappling with skyrocketing electricity prices, paying approximately 40 pence per kilowatt-hour. The club’s significant energy usage, combined with aging infrastructure, translated to inefficiencies and mounting costs. Their heating system, consisting of 25-30-year-old boilers, was running continuously, resulting in wasted energy and unnecessary emissions. The boilers, originally rated at 75-80% efficiency, had likely degraded over time due to scaling and wear, further compounding the issue.
In addition to inefficient heating systems, the lack of modern controls and poor energy management exacerbated the problem. The basement plant room, housing the old boilers, was excessively hot, indicating substantial heat loss. With these inefficiencies, the club needed a comprehensive overhaul of its energy systems to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and lower carbon emissions.
The Proposed Solution: Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
After evaluating various options, VitoEnergy and Touchstone concluded that a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system would provide the most effective solution for Phyllis Court. A CHP system is an advanced technology that simultaneously generates electricity and captures the heat produced during the process for on-site use.
Here’s why CHP was the ideal choice for this project:
- High Efficiency: With a combined efficiency of over 90%, CHP systems far outperform traditional power stations, which operate at efficiencies in the 30% range due to wasted heat.
- Cost Savings: By producing both electricity and heat on-site, Phyllis Court could significantly reduce reliance on expensive grid electricity, saving six figures annually.
- Carbon Footprint Reduction: While the CHP system uses natural gas, its overall efficiency and dual-purpose design make it a more environmentally friendly option compared to conventional energy systems.
- Suitability for High-Demand Settings: CHP systems are ideal for facilities with constant heating and hot water demands, such as sports clubs, restaurants, and hotels—making it a perfect fit for Phyllis Court.
Technical manager Greg Smith checking the wiring of the MMM control centre
Addressing Installation Challenges
Installing the CHP system at Phyllis Court came with significant challenges:
- Space Constraints:
- The existing plant room in the basement was too small and had low ceilings, making it unsuitable for the large CHP unit (2.5 meters long, 1.5 meters wide, and weighing 2.5 tons).
- VitoEnergy proposed renovating an old drinks store on the property into a new plant room. This required extensive preparation, including raising the ceiling height and laying a new concrete slab to support the CHP unit.
- Pipework Complexity:
- New pipework was required to connect the basement plant room to the renovated plant room. The large 76mm diameter pipes needed careful planning and installation due to their size and the cost of fittings. Every turn or elbow fitting could cost up to £100, so the pipe routes were meticulously designed to minimise waste.
A very old and well finished building required complex pipework runs
- Crane Delivery:
- Due to the size and weight of the CHP unit and buffer tanks, the equipment had to be craned into the new plant room. The roof of the drinks store was temporarily removed to facilitate the installation.
Crane delivery, through the roof of the new plant room
System Overview
The final system included:
- CHP Unit: The gas-powered engine generates electricity for the club while capturing heat for hot water and heating systems.
- Buffer Tanks: Two 2,000-litre tanks store excess heat generated by the CHP unit, acting as thermal batteries. This allows the system to run continuously and supply heat as needed.
- Plate Heat Exchanger: This component ensures compatibility between the old open-vented heating system and the new pressurised system.
- Flue Silencer: To reduce noise levels, the CHP exhaust system was equipped with a silencer, ensuring minimal disruption to nearby areas.
DAC plate and pumping station
Expected Outcomes
The new energy system is set to revolutionise the energy profile of Phyllis Court. Key benefits include:
- Significant Cost Savings: The club will save six figures annually by generating electricity on-site and reducing reliance on grid power.
- Improved Efficiency: The CHP system’s 90% total efficiency ensures optimal use of energy resources, minimising waste.
- Reduced Carbon Emissions: While the system uses natural gas, its efficiency and heat recovery capabilities contribute to a lower environmental impact compared to traditional systems.
- Enhanced Comfort: The system will provide consistent heating and hot water, improving the overall experience for club members.
Conclusion
The transformation at Phyllis Court is a testament to the power of innovative energy solutions. By implementing a CHP system, the club has not only tackled rising energy costs but also taken a significant step toward energy independence. Although we wouldn’t say that this is sustainable as it runs on fossil fuel, the self generation reduces strain on the grid and transportation losses. This project highlights the importance of tailored solutions and expert planning in modernising energy infrastructure for commercial establishments.
Every client and property is different and there is no panacea, VitoEnergy is comfortable discussing all solutions depending on environmental and financial driving factors. For Phyllis Court a CHP was right for this building, while on their more modern sports centre they have solar and heat pumps providing heat and hot water.
Generated power, nearly 1.2 million Kw of electricity so far!
Greg Smith - Technical Manager - Comment
“The super cool control functionality of the Vitocontrol, remote access and endless expansion and customisation options are worth mentioning, this is the MMM module which controls not only this plant room but the subsequent hot water production for the kitchen and more recently another remote plant room running some hotel rooms.
VitoEnergy is proud of the relationship we built with Phyllis Court and we are still providing ongoing solutions years later across their whole site, we are in the business of long term relationships with our clients.”
About VitoEnergy
VitoEnergy specialises in advanced heating and energy solutions for both domestic and commercial clients. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and a tailored approach, VitoEnergy helps clients save money and reduce their carbon footprint.
If you enjoyed this case study, get in touch to find out how we could help you with your innovative energy projects!
