Cogeneration and trigeneration technologies from UK’s sustainable engineering group ENER-G will enable confectionery manufacturer Tangerine to achieve considerable savings on energy costs.  Tangerine is installing energy efficient combined heat and power (CHP) systems at its Pontefract cake and popcorn production site in West Yorkshire. It is estimated that Tangerine will save around £200,000 along with 630 tonnes of carbon, equal to saving 63,000 trees.

Combined heat and power (CHP) is the simultaneous generation of electricity and heat. It is twice as efficient as conventional power generation because most of the heat is recovered and used onsite, instead of just released into the atmosphere. There is also less electric transmission loss.  Companies recoup their investment in CHP on average between two to four years.

The upgrade is a two-phase project. In September 2010, a ENER-G 500kWe cogeneration unit was installed. In February 2011 a 230kWe trigeneration system will be commissioned, with the smaller unit providing electricity, heating, and cooling to supply a second production facility.

Peter Sanders, Operations Director for Tangerine, says the company is continually seeking ways to raise our environmental performance “and this move to on-site generation of power is a key element of our carbon-cutting strategy.  We are very pleased to be partnering with ENER-G which is able to provide us with a total service—from initial design to long term care of the systems. This has required no capital investment by the company as the technology is being supplied by ENER-G in return for us purchasing the generated electricity at a very favourable rate.”

Tangerine has taken advantage of ENER-G’s discount energy purchase policy which requires no cash outlay for the business. The deal is designed to deliver low-cost, low-carbon energy onsite which decreases the carbon footprint and increases profitability.

ENER-G is also working with Tangerine to develop CHP solutions on a number of other sites.

Anthony Mayall, Sales Manager for ENER-G Combined Power Ltd, notes, “The challenge of this project was to design a high quality system before the contract was placed, which involved working with the client to understand activity on site, shifts in energy demand patterns and future trends. This is the key to a successful project that will deliver substantial carbon and cost saving, with no capital outlay from the client.”

Mayall says ENER-G offers customers a flexible aftercare solution, including a variety of service packages to meet precise requirements. “Our CHP on-board computer systems provide a two-way communication channel to the ENER-G 24/7 remote monitoring centre. Such intelligence means we can diagnose and resolve issues before they become problems – providing proactive, predictive maintenance that enables customers to minimise downtime and prolong system life.”

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