Q: Will Cantium really install renewable CHP for free?
A: Well almost; if we agree to install we will pay for the plant and we will also pay any delivery and commissioning costs. We will contact the local electricity network provider and pay any connection charges or for any infrastructure improvements needed, that are related to our plant. The site owner may need to pay for revisions to their existing heating or electrical systems to accommodate our Biofuel CHP plant, depending on the quality of the existing services inside the building.
Q: How is it that Cantium can provide this service?
A: We ask the building owner to buy both the electricity and heat energy our CHP plant produces. In addition to this income we claim ROCs (Renewable Obligation Certificates) which are a tradable ‘green’ electricity incentive based on our power output as well as a few other generator benefits. In total, this income pays for the installation, fuel, maintenance and eventual replacement of the CHP.
Q: What are the risks of fuel availability at a reasonable cost?
A: Cantium designs Biofuel CHP plant that can operate on a range of fuels, which minimises the risk of price increases. Most forms of vegetable oil can be used in combination with various gases. In extreme situations a Cantium CHP plant will operate on a mix of veg oil and natural gas, which is still more efficient and probably cheaper than obtaining electricty from the grid.
Q: What are the charges for buying a Biofuel CHP plant directly or Renewable Energy under an Energy Services Contract from Cantium?
A: We are happy to quote for the supply and installation of a Biofuel CHP plant; please complete the form in the Sales section of the website. The cost of energy supplied under contract is estimated on the tariff page although we may need to vary the costs slightly based on the particular demands of a site.
Q: What type of contract is required with a building owner to install Biofuel CHP under and Energy Services Contract?
A: We ask for a minimum five year contract to supply energy from our CHP plant located on a site. This gives us time to recoup the costs of installation and compliance with the local network operator’s requirements for grid connection.
Q: How much CO2 is actually saved by the installation of a Biofuel CHP plant?
A: Provided that the renewable CHP plant is operated efficiently, we calculate that each kWh of Cantium electricity used by a building occupier saves approximately 1.2 kg of CO2. You can see how this figure is derived on the GHG Calculations page. If you would like to know what this means for your property please complete the Energy Audit Form and we would be happy to work out some figures.
Q: Could I install and run renewable CHP myself?
A: Of course you can, operating engines using biofuels is not rocket science and if you really are interested we are happy to offer the benefit of our experience. However, maximising the benefits from Biofuel CHP is rather more complicated and we would suggest either purchasing the plant from us, or ask us to convert your generator.
Q: Can renewable CHP meet my total energy demand?
A: Yes, but CHP operates most efficiently when both the heat and electricity produced are being fully utilised. If an occupier attempts to generate all the energy needed in a building by means of a CHP plant then almost certainly either heat or power will have to be dumped at certain times. Cantium will generally operate plant as ‘heat following’; this means we run the plant only when there is sufficient demand for heat from the building.
Q: Can renewable CHP also save money on my energy bills?
A: Yes (with some provisos); renewable energy is generally more expensive than fossil energy; clearly if it wasn’t then there would be no need for the various incentives and regulations to persuade building occupiers to use it. Under an Energy Services Contract with Cantium we would expect to sell energy at a similar price to the tariff of existing suppliers. If a customer is prepared to purchase a Biofuel CHP plant then considerable savings on fossil energy prices can be made, because the customer benefits from the ROCs and other incentives. We would be happy to discuss how the various options for installing CHP might affect returns at a particular location.
Q: What if a customer has access to a suitable renewable fuel supply (such as waste vegetable oil), would Cantium help exploit it?
A: Of course, we would be happy to install renewable CHP in partnership with a fuel supplier or business that produces suitable waste oils. Usually, waste vegetable oil needs to be processed into a fuel before use but we would be happy to reach an equitable profit share arrangement.
Q: Can a Cantium CHP plant provide emergency power for my property in the event of grid failure?
A: Yes, the CHP plant can easily be configured to pick up the building electricity load in the event of a power failure. This may involve the building occupier in some additional up-front costs as the integration of our plant into the site infrastructure is slightly more complex. However, any costs incurred would certainly be less than the price of installing a dedicated back-up generator.
Q: Will Cantium help with alternatives if bio-fuel CHP is not suitable for my premises?
A: If a site is not suitable for CHP we are happy to suggest some alternative technologies and provide the contact details for consultants and contractors that might advise further. Our useful links page lists some of the organisations that might also be helpful.
Q: How does renewable CHP add value to a property?
A: For property developers and investors installing Biofuel CHP may have a number of benefits: it helps meet Planning and Building Regs, it can offer back-up power, it improves the building EPC, for larger energy users it helps reduce the cost of the CRC and finally, it looks good when listed on sales particulars.
Q: Are there any grants available that can help with the installation of renewable energy systems?
A: There are details of some organisations that will provide funding on our website.
Q: Where does the fuel used by Cantium come from?
A: Our fuel is derived from locally sourced waste vegetable oil. This comes from catering businesses and food preparation companies that use deep-fat fryers. It is cleaned and processed into an Environmental Agency approved fuel. We can also manufacture fuel on site by the installation of an Anaerobic Digestion plant or Wood Gasifier.
Q: Are there any dangers in using waste vegetable oil and would it smell unpleasant when combusted in an engine?
A: No, the fuel is clean, biodegradable and combusts completely in the high-temperature high-pressure environment of a diesel engine. As with any vegetable derived fuel there may be a slight whiff of ‘chip shop’ at certain times, but this is not usually noticeable.
Q: Is a Cantium Biofuel CHP plant noisy?
A: No, if the plant is supplied in a stand-alone container it will be fully sound-attenuated including the exhaust and the air intakes for the engine. The sound levels would measure less than 56 dBA at 4 meters from the plant. For comparison, a normal conversation is in the range of 55-60 dBA and the inside of a moving car registers about 70 dBA.
Q: How often would fuel be delivered?
A: The Renewable Power Station contains an integral fuel tank which provides enough fuel for two weeks continuous operation.
Q: What if fuel prices change, will this effect the price charged for supplying energy by Cantium?
A: The contact to purchase energy from Cantium will specify a fixed price for an agreed period. However, over the entire duration of the contract, energy prices may fluctuate because the cost of the fuel we use may change.
