Mansfield Halls - Case sTUdY
Low Carbon Energy Solutions for Building Services
loadTracker combined heat and power (CHP) The Project
The Challenge
Mansfield Halls near Reading provides accommodation for students at Reading University. For the purposes of the project the site is divided into Blocks A-F with a total of 457 bedrooms and Block G with 147 bedrooms and 14 studios.
To provide a system for domestic hot water that would reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions in support of the University’s sustainability strategy. The system also needed to deliver a high level of flexibility in order to respond to highly variable demands for hot water.
summary of site demand
The solution
Annual electricity demand Electricity price (excluding CCL) Gas consumption Gas price (excluding CCL)
2,145,204 kWh 11.46 p/kWh 575,293 kWh 3.10 p/kWh
features • Modular design for flexibility of installation • Automatic modulation of electrical output to minimise use of expensive grid electricity • Low noise levels (49dB), equivalent to a quiet office • Long service intervals (8,000 hours or 2 years)
Benefits • Onsite power generation with reduced consumption of grid electricity • Central plant room DHW production with minimal use of backup boilers • Significant reduction in carbon footprint • Major cost savings
Supplied and installed 3 x LoadTracker CHP with 15kWe/30kWth capacity each (two units for Blocks A-F, one for Block G) and 3 x 1,000 litre heat storage vessels.