Dr. Alem Tesfai Renewable Energy Consultant, CIBSE micro-CHP Dr. Alem Tesfai Renewable Energy Consultant, CIBSE

Introduction to CIBSE What we do … The professional body that exists to support the Science, Art and Practice of building services engineering, by providing CIBSE members and the public with first class information and education Services.   What we do … CIBSE is the prime source of expertise for sustainable buildings. CIBSE is the 6th largest Professional Engineering Institution with over 22,000 members worldwide CIBSE provides best practice advice

Micro-CHP program at CIBSE Motivation: The built environment is a large contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions. The need for using micro-CHP in Europe is increasingly becoming clearer. CIBSE members are considering installing micro CHP systems to comply with Building Regulations. Fuel cell micro-CHP for the built environment are slowly reaching commercialisation CIBSE members are asking for information

Key aim of CIBSE program Evaluate micro-CHP systems and ranking of their applicability to different building scenarios. Produce guidance for recognition of micro-CHP within regulatory assessment measures such as BREEAM. Provide recommendation relevant to CIBSE members. Promotion of guidance to government stakeholders and legislators.

Objectives Work in partnership with the industry To improve awareness of the technology and to develop targeted policy towards achieving sustainable market for micro-CHP. To facilitate the commercialization of micro-CHP systems by creating and transferring knowledge to stakeholders (architects, builders and building designers). Raise awareness through education and dissemination of the current status of the technology and the barriers to market uptake in the UK.

What will the commercial companies involved gain from this collaboration? This is an excellent opportunity to showcase micro-CHP systems. Successful demonstration of effective performance by a clearly independent arbiter will surely be of key value to the companies involved and indeed to the wider industry. An important output of this project is the promotion of micro-CHP systems and their increased installation. CIBSE will develop independent recommendations at policy level, which would help stimulate micro-CHP market for office and multifamily residential buildings.

CIBSE fuel cell micro-CHP case study CIBSE Headquarters Key achievements: SOFC micro-CHP BlueGEN installed at CIBSE HQ in London. System tested for over 9 month generated 9500 kWh electricity. Most of the DHW for the office building is covered by the heat recovered from the fuel cell micro-CHP. 300L hot water tank FC-micro-CHP

SYSTEM PERFORMANCE TEST RESULTS performance initially showing over 60% electrical efficiency stabilising at 58% 1.5kW Power A consistent 3K difference between Flow and Return temperature shows high heat recovery. Week end tank temp Reaching almost 60 ˚C

CIBSE micro-CHP survey Initial results: This survey aims to capture the views of CIBSE members who have experience of micro-CHP systems (below 5kWe) and to identify barriers to market. Status Open Partial complete 5% Total responded so far 81 Completed 95%

Micro-CHP are preferred to large scale CHP Getting multiple clients to agree to a joint CHP is considerably more difficult than providing it on a building by building basis Easier to install Easier to maintain

Barriers to market System up front cost Maintenance cost Lack of awareness Lack of evidence that includes Performance Reliability Lack of communication (engagement with end users and stake holders)

Barriers to market Technical issues: Over sizing seems to be a common problem Optimized micro-CHP and developments in system design needs more attention. Lack of matching heat and electrical requirements in many buildings to a typical micro-CHP unit.

Barriers to exporting electricity onto the grid and getting paid a fair price The layering of charges that make up the end users bills is complex, the generation cost would not represent the majority of the charge. Additional charges for distribution of the power, metering , billing etc all add to the mix. Another approach is that of peer to peer local network charging. In this arrangement individual micro-CHP owners could sell their surplus to local users. Prices can be set around the retail pricing rather than to cost of generating.

Other factors affecting market confidence Hard to find good quality advice from contractors. Most specifiers don't understand that insufficient heat demand means the CHP will not operate. Hard to convince facilities managers to use this technology due to bad reputation (failure, high maintenance costs)

CIBSE Recommendation Build confidence Build communication through knowledge transfer from industry to end users and building engineers Identify current and future cost of the technology Identify and communicate barriers Understand analyze and verify current status of the technology including enabling technologies such as Thermal and Electrical storage Control Develop technical guidance for building engineers

Conclusion One of the key barriers to the market uptake of micro-CHP in the UK is lack of awareness about the technology. CIBSE believes there are market opportunities for fuel cell micro-CHP We want to work with the industry to improve awareness of micro-CHP to CIBSE members and the general public.

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