Decentralised Energy Production

What is CHP?

When energy is produced, heat is released. Combined heat and power (CHP) installations generate electricity and useful heat at the same time, where the heat released can be applied for other useful purposes (e.g. used as process heat or for heating buildings). CHP or cogeneration can offer many advantages in situations where there is a constant heat demand.

Cogeneration is an energetic process where the same installation can be used to simultaneously generate useful heat and electricity.

The heat released when fuel is burnt (usually natural gas, biogas, etc.) is first used to produce mechanical energy, which is then converted into electricity via a generator. The residual heat is used to fulfil the specific heat demand of a company, hospital, etc.

Therefore, CHP is essentially a smart way to produce heat. The most important factor in this system is heat, which is why a CHP installation is dimensioned based on the heat demand of the user. The electricity generated is consumed locally and this leads to a more rational use of primary energy (lower CO2 emission).

Combined heat and power can be achieved with the help of different technologies:

• Internal combustion engine running on natural gas, biogas or diesel
• Steam turbine
• Gas turbine

Renewable Energy

Companies producing organic waste (e.g. from water purification stations, landfills, manure, etc.) can convert this waste into biogas and make use of renewable (green) energy for powering their CHP installation. The proper conditioning of biogas requires a certain amount of experience and investment. Vanparijs Engineers is happy to help you with this. Moreover, the production of electricity from renewable energy is rewarded with Green Certificates (Belgian version of a Renewable Energy Certificate), so it is definitely worth taking a closer look at these possibilities!

What are renewable energy sources?

• Biogas
• Biomass
• Wind energy
• Solar energy
• Hydroelectric power

Role of CHP in the energy landscape

CHP provides a stable and predictable method of producing electricity and can be used to perfectly supplement less predictable sources of renewable energy (read: wind, sun) on a sustainable basis. With CHP, it is possible to respond flexibly to the energy market.

In future, renewable energy sources will become more important for CHP installations, due to new developments such as biomethane and power-to-gas.

Trigeneration

Trigeneration or combined cooling, heat and power (CCHP) is an extension of the principle of combined heat and power where, in addition to electricity and useful heat, cooling is also produced through the use of an absorption chiller. In short: a machine that uses heat to produce cold.

A CCHP installation can be used when the heat demand is temporarily low (e.g. in summer) or for applications that have a large cooling demand (e.g. data centres).

All-inclusive technical concept

Vanparijs Engineers oversees your CHP project from A to Z. Our service is not merely limited to the delivery and installation of your CHP systems. We integrate the delivery of your CHP system within an all-inclusive technical concept, where your specific needs are taken into account right from the start:

• Study of the current situation, possible bottlenecks and your needs
• Study and proposal of a suitable bespoke solution and an optimum integration of this solution within your infrastructure:
  • Different manufacturers and technologies from 50 kWe up to more than 10 MWe
    • With combustion engines on natural gas, biogas or dual fuel
    • With steam turbine
    • With gas turbine
  • Setup: in a building or outdoors in a container
  • Acoustics: sound-insulating cabinets in compliance with European noise standards
  • Emission: compliance with European emission standards
  • Intelligent Energy Monitoring:  the system can be controlled remotely
  • Electric, hydraulic and aeraulic integration
• Including all peripherals (transformers, exhaust, cabinets, dampers, etc.)
• Making the system fully operational
• Proposal for a flexible maintenance contract
• Option of full operation or EAAS (Energy as a Service)

Since we work independently of any brand or manufacturer, we can offer our clients the solution that is most suitable for them.

The legislation related to these projects is constantly evolving and clients are often faced with an almost impenetrable tangle of laws and regulations. We closely monitor the changes in the legislation and can guide you with regard to:

• Construction and/or environmental permits
• Application file for obtaining Green Certificates and combined heat and power certificates
• Trading of certificates
• Subsidies
• Emission trading
• Electricity contracts