Cogeneration to power Hornsby’s new aquatic centre

Simons Green Energy will design and install a 100 kW natural-gas-fired cogeneration system for Hornsby Council’s new aquatic centre, currently under construction. 

Hornsby Council’s aquatic centre building works (May 2013).

Cogeneration is the simultaneous production of two forms of energy - electricity and heat - from a single fuel source (natural gas) at the point of use. These systems have a total efficiency of 85%, compared to the 32% efficiency of the NSW electricity grid. Thus, the aquatic centre will have a lower grid-electricity demand and reduced carbon output.

According to the centre’s project manager, Raymond Huzij, “An extensive study of the options available was carried out at the design phase and the provision of a cogeneration system was selected as the most cost-effective solution for the project.” Cogeneration will be able to provide a large portion of the facility’s electricity demand and the centre will use the waste heat generated by the engine to provide hot water for the facilities and for heating the swimming pools to 31-32°C.

The system is expected to do the following:

• Reduce energy costs by approximately $55,000 in the first year;
• Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 365 tonnes per year;
• Provide 494 MWh of electricity each year;
• Provide 850 MWh of thermal output per year in the form of hot water for use in pool heating;
• Offer a payback period of less than five years.

It will be supplied by global manufacturer Ener-G and commissioned by Simons Green Energy when the aquatic centre opens in early 2014.