1. Renewable Energy Options for Leisure
Centres
Michael Bell
Tipperary Energy Agency
3rd October 2013

2. • Which Renewable Energy Option
• Renewable Energy from Biomass
• Biomass Introduced
• Supply Chain
• Project Management Cycle for Biomass Heat Supply
• Specification of Systems
• Contract Options
• Case Studies of Completed Biomass Project in Leisure
Centre
• Key Considerations with Biomass
• Renewable Heat from Heat Pumps
• Other Renewable Energy Options
Introduction

3. • Every site is unique, however there are some common energy patterns
Which Renewable Energy Option?
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
Nenagh Thurles
EnergyConsumption(MWh)
Electrical (MWh)
Thermal (MWh)
• 75% Thermal Energy Consumption & 61% cost (Average)
• Therefore target thermal renewable energy 1st (After Energy Efficiency)

4. • Thermal Energy from Renewable Energy Sources
• Biomass
• Wood Chip
• Wood Pellet
• Heat Pump
• Solar Thermal
• CHP
• Biomass has been the logical choice in Tipperary (off gas)
• Lowest Cost
• Proven Technology
• Typically the space is available
• Suited to retrofitting to high temperature systems
Which Renewable Energy Option?

6. • Two fuels:
• Wood Chip and Wood Pellet
• Common Source
Introduction to Biomass
Renewable Energy from Biomass
Wood Chip Wood Pellet
Chip (35% MC) Pellet (8%MC)
kWh/tonne 3200 4800
€/tonne 125 230

7. Supply Chain

8. Partnerships to Supply Heat
• Local wood energy businesses – adopting partnerships

9. • Feasibility Study & Supply Chain evaluation
• Project Specification
• Project Contract Structuring
• Project Procurement
• ITT Documentation
• Tender award criteria
• Evaluation
• Develop & Set Contract
• Project Implementation on site
• QA/QC!
• Contract management until heat supply has finished
• Procure heat supply contract for further period
Project Management Cycle for Biomass Heat Supply

10. • Biomass = several interlinked
systems in one
• Expert skills required to fully
integrate
• Correct structuring of contract is
key to success
• Integrate supply of heat where
possible to one point of
responsibility
• Outline specification required for
procurement stage when going for
heat supply
• Risk assessment
Specification of Systems

11. • Thermal Store Size
& Location
Specification of Systems
• Boiler Type Size &
Location
• Fuel Delivery size &
Type & supply chain
evaluation
• Fuel Store &
Delivery size &
Type

12. Biomass Contract Options
• Separate Contracts for
• Design
• Supply
• Install
• Operate & Maintain
• Supply of Fuel
OR
• Contract to Supply, Install and supply all heat for period of 3 to 5
years, with subsequent contract options after initial heat supply contract
finishes (Customer pays capital)
OR
• Contract to Supply, Install and supply all heat for period of 3 to 5
years, with subsequent contract options after initial heat supply contract
finishes (ESCO pays capital)
OR ….. Etc
• Each situation is unique and should be evaluated on its own merits

13. Nenagh Biomass Boiler
Summary
Heat load in kWh 900,000
Biomass cost €42,903
Equivalent oil cost @80c/ litre €91,043
Saving €48,140
Capital Cost €203,165
SERVE EU Grant €80,000
CO2 Saving in Tonnes 207

14. Nenagh Biomass Boiler
With SERVE EU Grant Aid
Simple Payback in Years 2.6
10 Yr NPV €367,000
10 Yr IRR 69%
Without Grant Aid
Simple Payback in Years 4.2
10 Yr NPV €290,035
10 Yr IRR 32%
Key Innovation
• Contracts
• Design Build Operate Contract
• Contractor pays for all oil, maintenance, chip
etc.
• Single heat supply contract fixed at 4.2c/kWh
for 3 years
• All losses, breakdowns covered by contractor
• Chip supplied locally.

15. Thurles Biomass Boiler
Summary
Heat load in kWh (Reducing) 1,500,000
Biomass cost €47,000
Equivalent LPG cost @55c/litre €115,000
Saving €68,000
Capital Cost €160,000
DoTTS Grant €135,000
CO2 Saving in Tonnes 400

16. Thurles Biomass Boiler
With DoTTS Grant Aid
Simple Payback in Months 6
10 Yr NPV €496,000
10 Yr IRR 194%
Without Grant Aid
Simple Payback in Months 30
10 Yr NPV €377,035
10 Yr IRR 59%

17. Key Considerations with Biomass
• Boiler integration with existing system
• Boiler, pipework & buffer & fuel store sizing
• Pump Control
• Building Energy Management System
• Operation and Maintenance
• Ensure competent personnel
• Supply of fuel
• Asses availability of fuel and level of competition in local market (Wood
chip has a local 50km delivery radius)
• Fuel quality
• Fuel Delivery systems and stores
• Ensure systems can accept deliveries from all suppliers in region
• Contract structuring
• Ensure appropriate clauses are covered and structured in contract to
cover all parties and enable a long-term sustainable supply of heat
(economically & environmentally)
Proper project
scoping, specific
ation, procureme
nt, contract &
implementation
will ensure
success

18. Renewable Heat from Heat Pumps
• Heat Pumps (HP) are suited to low thermal differential
situations
• EG: Pool water heating 29 Celsius is an ideal temperature
for HP to supply at
• Heat Pumps can be either air source or ground source
• Coefficient of Performance (COP) depends on how well
sized and integrated the HP is
• Fesible to supply large portion of Leisure Centre heat load
with HP
Economics (simplified):
• Unit of Electricity = 0.15 €/kWh
• Seasonal COP = 3 (est) , thus heat price = 0.05 €/kWh
• Unit of Oil = 0.1€/kWh
• Efficiency = 85%, thus heat price = 0.11 €/kWh
• 55% saving heat pump vs oil (conservative)

19. Ballina Swimming Pool Case Study
• Open 4 months per annum (summer)
• Outdoor pool, previously unheated &
unused
• Solution required to be
• Low maintenance
• Robust
• Suited to leaving switched off over
winter
• Low operational cost
• Achieve pool temperature of 24
Celsius
• Options Considered
• Cover
• Solar
• Biomass
• Heat Pump (chosen)

20. Ballina Swimming Pool Case Study
• 2 x 22kW heat pumps to heat pool
Include heat exchanger
• 1 x 9kW heat pump to heat DHW
• 1 x 500l DHW tank
• Aerated shower heads
• CAPEX = €48,000 ex VAT
• Contract structured at procurement
stage to include 5 year maintenance
• Annual maintenance is not onerous
• Payback N/A (70% less than oil as
system operated during summer with
high air & pool temperature) (COP of
4.5)

21. Other Renewable Energy Options
• Thermal
• CHP – (Only in Natural Gas areas)
• Should always be sized to meet les than peak electrical
demand & should be controlled to never dump heat.
• Note also maintenance agreements – look for
performance & output based contracts – not run hours
• Solar thermal
• Electrical
• Wind
• CHP
• Solar Photovoltaic

22. Other Renewable Energy Options
• Wind
• Payback 5 to 20 years (lots of variables)
• Two in operation (at leisure centres)
• Some Considerations
• Land Registry & Planning Application
Searches
• Local authority zoning & development
plans
• Planning & legislative constraints
• Wind speed data
• Location & selection of wind turbine
• Energy & C02 emissions savings
• Cost benefit analysis
• Site Access
• Grid Connection
• Social Acceptance

23. Other Renewable Energy Options
• Solar Photovoltaic
• Cost
• Becoming feasible

24. Contacts
Tipperary Energy Agency
Craft Granary
Church St
Cahir, Co. Tipperary
Michael Bell
Senior Energy Engineer
T: 052 74 43090
F: 052 74 43012
E: mbell@tea.ie
W: www.tea.ie
Thank you.