NEW LANDFILL GAS BOILER FOR NELSON HOSPITAL

Energy for Industry has installed a larger landfill gas boiler at the Nelson Hospital.

Over 60% of Nelson Hospital’s thermal energy demand for heating, hot water and steam is generated by the new unit, creating savings worth almost $157,000 per year and reducing the hospital’s carbon footprint.

The 2.0MW boiler will produce over 60% of the thermal energy requirements of the hospital. The previous 1.5MW capacity boiler, replaced in September 2009, produced 48% of the hospital's energy demands.

The project is a three way partnership between Nelson City Council the landfill operator, EFI the owner and operator of the gas treatment and delivery system and boiler, and Nelson Marlborough District Health Board the end user of the renewable energy.

Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, General Manager Finance and Commercial, Nigel Trainor said, "We can expect a reduction in operating maintenance costs for the coal fired boilers if the new LFG boiler is operated to its maximum capacity. To achieve this it will be necessary to have the coal fired boiler plant shut down when not required."

The larger boiler will further reduce coal consumption by approximately 630 tonnes/year and the hospital's carbon footprint will also be reduced by a further 1,300 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

Mr Trainor said there would also be savings in electricity as the coal boilers would be in standby mode.

Additional savings were expected in makeup water, boiler chemicals, and reduced hours required for ashing out and boiler water testing.

Nelson City Council, Senior Executive Technical Services, Alec Louverdis said, "There was a positive partnership between the three parties," and he was delighted in the additional potential savings in annual operating costs for the hospital.

"It is good to see a positive use for the York Valley landfill gas," he said. 

Energy for Industry’s Industrial Portfolio Manager, Grant Smith, said the project was a great example of the significant benefits, both to bottom lines and the environment that can be achieved by investing in new clean technologies like this landfill gas to heat project.

“Collaboration allows large energy users, like the hospital, to harness unusual fuels such as the landfill gas.  EFI offers the technology and plant needed to turn that fuel into delivered energy.”

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