Birmingham District Energy Scheme

Delivering Low Carbon Energy

Photo Credit: Dr Bartolomeo Gorgoglione - http://www.panoramio.com/photo/54057387

Birmingham District Energy - 1 Birmingham District Energy

The Birmingham District Convention Centre, Barclaycard Energy Scheme is playing Arena, , Birmingham’s District a pivotal role in Birmingham residential and educational Energy Scheme was City Council’s climate change buildings on Aston campus conceived in 2003, strategy, which aims to and council housing. The reduce CO2 emissions by scheme makes extensive and the first 25 60% by 2027. use of highly efficient large- year energy supply scale combined heat and agreement with The scheme is a working power (CHP) technologies, partnership between ENGIE and uses conventional boilers Birmingham District and for ‘top up’, standby and Energy Company was and includes three district increased resilience. signed in 2006. energy networks, all built and operated by ENGIE, under the BDEC’s three core schemes name of Birmingham District initially involved the supply Energy Company (BDEC). of energy to ten prestigious users from both the The overall network comprises public and private sectors. three schemes, Broad Street, However, due to the scheme’s a Tri-generation (heat, power significant delivery of and cooling) led system, and financial and carbon savings two Eastside Schemes, Aston to its consumers, it has and Birmingham Children’s rapidly expanded to supply Hospital, both CHP led systems several third party private (heat and power). Customers developments. include the International

2 - Birmingham District Energy Scheme WHAT IS DISTRICT WHAT IS AN WHAT ARE CHP & ENERGY? ENERGY CENTRE? TRIGENERATION?

District Energy is widely At the heart of every CHP plants simultaneously recognised as a sustainable, District Energy scheme is produce heat and electrical cost-effective solution to an Energy Centre serving a power. For much of the the provision of heating, range of buildings through year the heat output is used cooling and power. District a network of underground for heating and hot water Energy scores highly in pipes and cables. In most in the buildings served by environmental assessments District Energy schemes the District Energy scheme, such as Code for Sustainable the Energy Centre includes while the power meets Homes (CFSH), BREEAM and a CHP plant, which may be local or national electrical LEED. combined with chilling requirements. In summer, the surplus heat may be (tri-generation) where there used to drive an absorption It also facilitates compliance is a cooling requirement. with Building Regulations chiller to generate chilled Part L requirements. water for cooling in these Schemes may also Increased use of District buildings (Tri-generation). Energy coupled with incorporate other low In the correct situation, Combined Heat and Power and zero carbon (LZC) this can deliver significant (CHP) is a cornerstone of technologies such as fuel energy savings compared the Government’s strategy cells, biomass, solar thermal, to conventional methods of for reducing carbon heat pumps and high providing heating, cooling emissions in urban areas. efficiency gas-fired boilers. and power.

Birmingham District Energy Scheme - 3

4 - Birmingham District Energy Scheme Birmingham District Energy

The first phase (the Broad be linked together to improve applied to maximum effect. Street scheme) encompassed resilience and maximise a range of buildings in the energy saving opportunities. For example, the Birmingham central business district served Children’s Hospital scheme by an Energy Centre at the The Birmingham District (which includes a connection International Convention Energy scheme has enjoyed to Birmingham City Council’s Centre (ICC), and was launched rapid growth since its Lancaster Circus) features in October 2007. Further inception, enabling the on- a low carbon energy centre phases began operation at going expansion of the housing a 1.6 MWe CHP, Aston University during 2009 scheme and its combined designed and built by BDEC and Birmingham Children’s low carbon plant capacity, as and is expected to save 4,300

Hospital in 2010. The schemes more customers have come tonnes of CO2 emissions per are also being extended into on stream. As the scheme annum. Overall, the scheme is several regeneration areas evolves, ENGIE’s innovative saving over 15,000 tonnes of across the city and, ultimately, approach ensures that low CO2 per annum compared to all of these ‘sub-schemes’ will carbon technologies are traditional systems.

60,000+ 18,000+ 8,000+

MWh of heat per tonnes of CO2 saved MWh of chilled annum per annum water per annum

47,000+ 12 km Electricity MWh of electricity of insulated supplies from the CHP plant distribution pipe synchronised with the National Grid 100°C/60°C 0.5°C Hot water flow/return temperature loss temperatures per km of pipe

Birmingham District Energy Scheme - 5 Broad Street District Energy Scheme

Broad Street District Energy - Birmingham New Street CONNECTION TO Scheme is a large, commercial Station & John Lewis BIRMINGHAM NEW district Tri-generation energy The Broad Street Scheme STREET STATION scheme which features a 1.6 saves over 5,700 tonnes MWe CHP unit. The scheme’s AND JOHN LEWIS of CO2 per annum, a figure low carbon generation plant which will increase as new DEPARTMENT STORE was originally only based at consumers are added to the Working with Network Rail, the International Convention network such as the New BDEC successfully connected Centre (ICC) but a further Library of Birmingham. 600 kW CHP engine was the Broad Street heating installed at the Barclaycard network to the newly Arena (BCA) in 2008. The THE ICC ENERGY refurbished Birmingham low carbon energy is used to CENTRE New Street Station. A new provide heating and cooling 1.6 MWe CHP engine was This building houses the to the buildings connected to installed as part of the project energy generation plant which the scheme through thermal providing both BNSS and provides heating, power and networks laid under the the new flagship John Lewis cooling to the consumers streets of Birmingham which Partnership store with a low on the Broad Street District interconnect the schemes carbon heat and power supply. Energy scheme. Built at the buildings. same time as the ICC and BCA it was ideally suited to The connection to the Station The Broad Street Scheme’s be adapted to house the first and John Lewis store allows consumers include: BDEC CHP unit. the interconnection of the existing schemes across - The Town Hall As the Broad Street scheme Birmingham City Centre, expands, this Energy Centre integrating the Broad Street - The Council House will be supplemented with and Aston district energy further satellite energy centres networks. This enables longer - Hyatt Regency Hotel (such as the new BCA CHP) operating hours of CHPs - The REP Theatre in strategic developments (reducing imported electricity) connecting to the scheme. and improves operational - ICC These additional Energy efficiency, resulting in Centres will thermally link additional citywide capacity, - Barclaycard Arena and into the networks serving resilience and an anticipated International Convention the core buildings along further 3000 tonnes

Centre Broad Street. CO2 saving.

6 - Birmingham District Energy Scheme Birmingham New Street Station

International Conference Centre

Birmingham District Energy Scheme - 7 Birmingham Children’s Hospital

8 - Birmingham District Energy Scheme Eastside Schemes

The Eastside schemes are within BDEC’s Jennens Road In addition, the scheme split into two phases. energy centre. The scheme contributed in the ITHECA

initially delivered CO2 emission consortium being outright Phase one is the Aston reductions of 5,300 tonnes per winners of the Business University Scheme and phase annum, with further contracts Innovation category at the two is Birmingham Children’s for third party connections Midlands Environmental Hospital (BCH) Scheme. placed to receive heat from Business Company awards There is also a large urban the scheme before the CHP due to innovative partnership regeneration area which the construction project had even collaborations with Aston Eastside schemes are planned been completed. University, Open Energy and to expand into. Cenex in producing a world Additionally, a new purpose first Intelligent Transport, The Eastside scheme built Energy Centre, consisting Heating and Electrical Control consumers include: of a 1.6 MWe CHP now serves Agent (ITHECA). the Birmingham Children’s - Aston University Main Hospital and Birmingham Campus City Council’s Lancaster Circus Offices with low- - Birmingham Children’s carbon energy. The scheme, operational from August Hospital 2010, delivers a further

4,300 tonnes of CO2 - Lancaster Circus emissions savings each year. (Birmingham City Council) BDEC has received a number of awards over the - Woodcock Street years around low carbon Administration (BCC) energy, innovation and partnership. These include BDEC commenced its delivery acknowledgement from the of low carbon sustainable Association of Decentralised energy to Aston University in Energy (ADE), recognising 2009. A total of 3 MWe of CHP major innovation within capacity has been installed heating networks and CHPs.

Birmingham District Energy Scheme - 9 Third Party Consumers

Considerable financial, - Cambridge and Crescent FUTURE PROOFING environmental and planning Towers AND RENEWABLES benefits make joining the Birmingham District Energy The City’s district energy Scheme an extremely RESILIENCE OF THE networks have also been attractive proposition to SCHEMES designed to integrate the building owners, developers use of new, emerging Birmingham’s district energy and residents. technologies such as fuel cells schemes are designed to and renewable heat sources be at least as resilient as The reinvigoration of into the network, as the conventional supplies. In the Birmingham City Centre overall energy demands and unlikely event of a CHP engine coupled with the considerable improved efficiencies makes being offline, sufficient top-up gains associated with a these technologies financially and back-up plant is in place connection to the scheme viable. to meet the energy demands has resulted in the rapid of the energy network. expansion of BDEC’s district BDEC expects to add energy networks to third substantial renewable energy BDEC achieves this by linking party consumers. These third generation to the schemes as and installing additional boiler/ party connections are made new consumer connections chilling plant, and ensuring possible through a mixture of are made. This will not only there is a grid connection. public and private connection reduce emissions but also help agreements and grants. to future proof the scheme There is also a need to against fossil fuel shortages. ensure there is sufficient Contracted third party energy generation and supply connections to the scheme capacity during the planned currently include: maintenance of major plant. - Library of Birmingham

-  Block M

- Bagot Street Student Accommodation

10 - Birmingham District Energy Scheme Library of Birmingham

Birmingham District Energy Scheme - 11 Developers’ Guidance

The scheme is open to both public and private sector consumers. The primary energy service is for heating and domestic hot water purposes. Chilled water is also available on the Broadstreet Network.

Electricity is available at local Energy Centres, generally where consumers are able to accommodate an on-site CHP unit, subject to there also being sufficient overall heat load.

A DEVELOPER’S GUIDE TO CONNECTION

What savings can be expected from connecting to the scheme? Savings are typically achieved in two ways. Firstly, capital costs can be reduced by around 10-20%. Secondly, there are significant savings on operation and maintenance throughout the term. Further, plant room size requirements are lower therefore providing more usable space for developments.

12 - Birmingham District Energy Scheme Frequently Asked Questions

Do existing heating and What energy services Can connecting to the cooling systems need are available? scheme help meet local to be changed? ENGIE can provide hot water planning obligations? Not usually. The temperatures for building space heating and Yes. Many local authorities and pressures used by the domestic hot water purposes. are choosing to address their scheme are the same as those Chilled water is also available climate change obligations by typically used in heating and in some areas. Electricity can encouraging development of cooling systems. generally be provided if a CHP energy efficient, low carbon unit can be installed within the and sustainable energy Heat exchangers are generally site or building. schemes. installed to ensure that the customer and client systems remain separate What ongoing savings Can the scheme can tenants expect? facilitate compliance with energy legislation What is the typical The inherent efficiency of meet local planning contract period? District Energy schemes obligations? means that most consumers Contracts are typically for at can save 5-10% on their overall Yes. As the scheme is least 20 years. Crucially, the energy bills, compared to inherently efficient it helps to value of the initial cost saving traditional methods. reduce energy consumption is maintained, in real terms, and carbon emissions, thus over the life of the contract assisting with obligations through a transparent system Does electricity from under the Building Regulations, of annual indexation. the schemes substitute the CRC Energy Efficiency grid reinforcement Scheme, Display Energy from the regional Certificates and Energy electricity companies? Performance Certificates. No. The scheme’s power generation (where available) only offsets a proportion of electricity from the grid and does not substitute grid reinforcement.

Birmingham District Energy Scheme - 13 Our UK business activities

No.1 5GW 27,000 in district of power Customer sites and industrial generation energy capacity

•• Technical SERVICES Services ENGIE is a leading provider of transformational services designed to improve •• Facilities the performance and efficiency of buildings, industry, infrastructure and cities. Management Across the public, private and healthcare sectors, ENGIE teams work closely with •• Business customers to provide integrated solutions by utilising their strengths in technical Services services, facilities management and business processes, often combining these with its energy expertise. The operations encompass 14,000 customer sites that include over 1,400 government buildings, 20 hospitals and 8 nuclear power stations. In every case, ENGIE adds value to customers’ operations while helping to reduce their costs and carbon footprint.

14 - Birmingham District Energy Scheme •• Energy Consulting ENERGY SOLUTIONS & Efficiency ENGIE works as an energy partner delivering sustainable energy and •• Energy Supply energy management solutions to meet each customer’s current and future & Power Purchase requirements. Its extensive capabilities are designed to serve both public and •• Localised Energy private organisations, including businesses of all sizes, from SMEs to the largest Generation multinationals. The development of unified solutions enable customers to take control of their energy needs and address the challenges of an ever-changing •• District Heating energy environment. & Cooling

•• Power ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE Generation •• Renewables As one of the UK’s largest independent power producers, ENGIE has interests Development in 5 GW of generation including the UK’s foremost pumped storage facility (First Hydro) and a well-established renewables development business (wind •• Trading & Portfolio and solar). Furthermore, it operates multiple customer sites with large-scale Management embedded generation capacity across the UK, providing specialist management of on-site generation with the ability to export to the Grid. The trading function provides the market interface for ENGIE’s generation portfolio in the UK, in order to manage the commodity price exposures of the assets within the wholesale energy market.

Birmingham District Energy Scheme - 15 For more information: ENGIE Kings Yard 1 Waterden Road Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park London E15 2GP business.engie.co.uk