OREANDA-NEWS. A*STAR's Experimental Power Grid Centre (EPGC), together with Hitachi Ltd and Building and Construction Authority (BCA), have commissioned an advanced Combined Heat and Power (CHP) pilot plant, furthering research in powering cities sustainably.

Singapore-Imagine powering a building's air-conditioning using heat. A newly completed Combined Heat and Power (CHP) pilot plant has been commissioned to harness waste heat, and convert it to energy to power air-conditioning. A*STAR's EPGC and Hitachi have been working on a joint verification testing of the CHP control systems, which will control heat and power facilities as the operating point to best minimise costs and energy consumption. The plant marks the successful completion of a milestone in the three-year research collaboration project between EPGC and Hitachi.

The advanced CHP plant combines EPGC's expertise in energy technologies with Hitachi's strength in energy-saving air conditioning control systems that have been developed and commercialised. The newly operational plant is funded by the A*STAR-Ministry of National Development (MND) Green Building Joint Grant call. As the lead agency championing the green building movement, BCA administers this grant as part of its drive towards more environment-friendly energy-efficient buildings.

CHP systems are not widely adopted in Singapore as most buildings obtain power from the grid to provide electricity for air-conditioning, mechanical ventilation systems (ACMV), water pumps, lights and other services such as lifts and escalators.

These needs account for up to 54 percent of total electricity consumption in a commercial building. With the large electricity consumption, there is a need for an energy efficient system that decreases reliance on fossil fuels, and reduces carbon dioxide emissions. This is crucial as buildings are estimated to contribute almost 14 percent of Singapore's carbon emissions by 2020.

The advanced CHP pilot plant will enhance a building's efficiency and sustainability as it explores the integration and control of two systems-utilising existing embedded generation and using excess heat from generators, normally discharged into the environment, for heating and cooling purposes in air conditioning.

When a CHP system is integrated into a building, a generator need not perform at full capacity as excess heat is now used to power air-conditioning. The building now has the ability to produce and control both electrical power, and heating and cooling services required to power air conditioning, thus increasing energy-efficiency. EPGC and Hitachi estimate an increase in energy efficiency from 36 percent with just a generator, to 52 percent with the implementation of this integrated system.

The simulation software developed in this project can simulate various building system configurations. This enables consultants to implement the best control strategy resulting in optimal performance, thus improving energy savings even before a building is built.