A combined heat and power (CHP) plant could, thanks to a smart connection to the electricity grid become a lucrative investment. In this video, David Schellingerhout of Glen Avon Growers in Yorkshire explains how their CHP generated more than £ 300,000 in the past decade.
Glen Avon Growers purchased the CHP in the early 2000’s and they have been working with Flexitricity since 2011, who – by installing an outstation in the engine room – offer the flexible capacity of the CHP up to the National Grid.
“From the beginning of March through to the end of October we need one engine running 12 hours a day, seven days a week for the production of CO2 and nothing else. Outside of those times and with the other engine that we no longer needed for the heat, except in January and February, there was an opportunity to maximize revenue from those engines.”
The company produces 8 acres of cucumbers and 8 acres of tomatoes. “Energy accounts for approximately a third of our costs, so it is something that we are paying a lot of attention to”, says David. “Anything we can do to keep our energy costs down, we will explore it. Our customers want the cheapest possible products. They like it to be British, but we have still got to be competitive at the same time.”
For more information:
Flexitricity
+44 (0)131 221 8100
info@flexitricity.com
www.flexitricity.com
Glen Avon Growers
http://growcoltd.co.uk/members/glen-avon-growers-ltd