Have your say on co- and trigeneration in NABERS Energy ratings

NABERS is seeking industry submissions on its proposal for how cogeneration and trigeneration systems are dealt with in the NABERS Energy rating, as outlined in a position paper released last week.

The Acting Deputy CEO of the Office of Environment and Heritage, Bernard Carlon, said that co- and trigeneration systems have become increasingly popular over the past few years as a means of reducing a building’s environmental impact and costs.

“We are seeing an increasing change of focus in new developments from single building energy systems to the planning of ‘green precincts’ that have district-scale energy systems shared across a number of sites,” Carlon said.

“By sharing energy production across buildings, co- and trigeneration systems are a cost-effective way of generating cleaner electricity on site and reducing energy demands for heating and cooling.

“For example, the City of Sydney’s Decentralised Energy Master Plan proposed the rollout of trigeneration precincts and the intent to connect over 360 MW of building electricity demand.”

To reflect this changing trend, Carlon said that a review of NABERS rules would consider how externally supplied electricity and thermal energy from these plants could be accounted for by the NABERS rating system.

“NABERS exists to encourage and reward environmental performance so it is important that we aim to reflect the true environmental benefit of co- and trigeneration systems in a NABERS Energy rating,” Carlon said.

“The position paper, ‘Proportioning of Energy used by Cogeneration or Trigeneration Systems’, is now open for industry comment and I encourage everyone interested to review it and provide feedback.”

The position paper outlining the proposed changes to the NABERS Ruling is available here. Submissions are welcomed and will be received until close of business 24 August 2012. For more information, email nabers.energy@environment.nsw.gov.au.