Middlesex Energy Centre

A 2G CHP plays a pivotal role in Middlesex Energy Centre
The Old Vinyl Factory is a 150 acre site in Hayes, Middlesex, where EMI manufactured records from the early 1950s. The site is now being developed into a mixture of commercial, retail, education and residential premises and 2G were contracted to provide the CHP for the project by Vital Energi.

Facts & figures

Application:
District heating
Country:
United Kingdom
CHP:
agenitor
Output el/th (kW):
450 kW electrical / 480 kW thermal
Operator:
Vital Energi

The development will provide 9 separate buildings consisting of over 600 homes, creative office spaces, a research & design hub, a school, restaurants, shops, a live music venue, and a 3-screen cinema.

The energy centre required a 450 kW CHP engine which will run a site wide district heating network (DHN), providing heat and hot water to the homes and 22,000 m2 of mixed-use commercial space. The use of CHP and its associated efficiencies will save up to 396 tonnes of CO2 per year. Alongside the CHP is a 50,000 litre thermal store, 6 boilers and a 69m Flue. The DHN consists of 1000m of series 2 insulated pipework.

2G worked with Vital Energi to create the ideal energy centre to aid fast delivery and commissioning of the CHP plant. 2G delivered a fully containerised solution allowing for a reduced 

installation time on site, keeping costs down and posing a low risk to the project deliverables being delayed.  

The CHP engine was installed in a Highline container to meet the strict noise requirements set out by the client, as the PowerHouse will also be used as a music venue and café. This achieves a noise rating of 55 dBA at 1m from the container. Owing to the proximity of accommodation, a urea based SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system was utilised to reduce the NOx output to 80 mg/Nm3, reducing pollution of the local area for a higher quality of environment.

“2G were tasked with a full suite of mechanical & civil works including a very difficult install through the Energy Centre entrance with about 150mm either side for clearance. After a week of planning they executed the install perfectly to keep the project on time.”