Category B - Renewable Energy Project
Highly Commended - Dublin City Council
Judges Comments
"This renewable project, in which a hydro turbine was neatly integrated into the surroundings of the waterworks, without disturbing the visual amenities, represents a very innovative solution with replication potential in other water reservoir facilities."
Project Description
Dublin City Council's Vartry Waterworks has provided the city and surrounding areas with potable water since the 1860's. The treatment plant is situated below the impounding reservoir and because of this, the pressure of the incoming water must be reduced before treatment. Vartry Small Hydro Project consisted of the installation a turbine on the plant intake to convert this excess energy to electricity.
A Kaplan turbine was selected, which regulates the incoming flow to any required pre-set level by means of hydraulically operated guide vanes linked to a flow meter. Water treatment at all times takes precedent over power production and to ensure the water supply is never interrupted, gravity operated body valves are incorporated to provide automatic failsafe operation of a bypass in the event of the turbine stopping.
The turbine was commissioned in November 2007 and has been operating continuously since early 2008. The generator capacity is 90kW and average plant usage is 35kW with surplus power exported to the National Grid. The project will have an estimated payback period of approximately 8 years. The turbine both regulates the incoming flow to the treatment plant and harnesses a renewable source of energy previously destroyed. It will result in a net reduction in CO2 emissions of 380 tonnes per year.
Winner - Gorey Courtown Forest Park Ltd.
Judges Comments
"The National Sustainable Energy Centre, has demonstrated a highly integrated renewable energy and energy efficiency solution together with an effective and instructive building monitoring system. The project is therefore considered to be innovative with a high replication potential"
Project Description
Gorey Courtown Forest Park Ltd is a non profit organisation, formed in 1993 by the Gorey Courtown Development Committee set up by local business people. Having built holiday homes and a leisure centre in Courtown Harbour to enhance the seaside resort, the decision was made to establish a National Sustainable Energy Centre.
Phase 1 of the project was the incorporation of large scale renewable technologies (biomass boiler and wind turbine) in the existing leisure centre. Prior to the installations, energy efficiency and conservation measures were introduced and a new Building Management System was installed to allow constant monitoring and control.
SEI funded a 500kW biomass boiler under the ReHeat Programme, the decision was taken to make the renewable installations accessible to the public and a display panel was placed in reception and a visitor friendly Biomass Boiler house was built with an outside viewing platform to allow visitors to see the fuel store and 500kW biomass boiler from a safe vantage point.
As no funding was available for the wind turbine, the route of obtaining a reconditioned Vestas V17 75kW unit proved a cost effective option with the ability to substantially displace electricity from the grid. The turbine is highly visible from all over Courtown harbour and is positioned close to a car park at the entrance to the Leisure Centre allowing the public to view from close proximately.
