CHP solution shrinks emissions, costs and boosts reliability

A global plastics and recycling manufacturer needed a cleaner, more reliable energy solution to power its intensive recycling processes. By replacing diesel generators with a 2.2 MW gas-powered combined heat and power (CHP) system, Aggreko reduced carbon emissions, lowered energy costs, and improved efficiency by repurposing waste heat for steam cleaning plastic.

The Challenge
Cheaper, greener and reliable power supply
The Solution
Our expertise and combined heat and gas power to optimise processes
The Impact
Reduced footprint and costs

The Challenge

Cleaner, greener, reliable power supply

A major player in the plastics and recycling industries was exploring how to improve their energy supply for their recycling processes.

Operations involved grinding up and chipping plastic into shreds before cleaning and processing. This required a lot of power, as well as heat to clean the plastic - with no room for interruptions.

With local power supply unable to provide the answer, mounting energy bills and an elevated carbon footprint, other energy solutions needed to be investigated.

2 xGas generators

1 xSteam boiler

2.2 MWTotal power provided

2007Jul-stock-mass-production-manufacturing

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The Solution

Our expertise and combined heat and gas power to optimise processes

We work closely with our customers to find the best possible answer as every project is different. On this occasion, we carried out extensive infrastructure work that allowed us to switch the power supply from diesel to a much greener gas solution.

Our combined heat and power (CHP) equipment would allow our customer to repurpose heat generated from the two 1.1 MW gas generators, via a steam boiler, that would provide the power supply. This has far less impact on the environment than the previous diesel-powered package the customer was relying on.

We weren’t finished yet. We installed a new gas main that ensured consistent supply, as well as new cabling and cable trays and a brand-new switchboard to feed into.

By harnessing previously wasted heat/steam, this would also lower costs for our customer.

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The Impact

Reduced footprint and costs

Replacing the site’s diesel generators with a gas-powered CHP system meant that carbon emissions were shrunk, along with their energy bills.

The steam recovered by the CHP system was used for the customer’s recycling processes. Specifically, the steam is used to clean the chipped and shredded plastic – a far more efficient method than was used previously. Not only that, but it does it at a fraction of the cost.