Sweet energy savings

UK-based confectionery manufacturer Tangerine will achieve sweet savings on energy thanks to cogeneration and trigeneration technologies. Tangerine is installing energy efficient combined heat and power (CHP) systems at its Pontefract production site in West Yorkshire – where famous brands such as Wilkinson’s Pontefract cakes and Butterkist Popcorn are made. Each year, Tangerine will achieve cost savings of almost €234,000 and save 630 tonnes of carbon, equivalent to the environmental benefit of 63,000 trees. The two-phase contract involved the installation of an ENER-G 500kWe cogeneration unit in September 2010, followed by a 230kWe trigeneration system to be commissioned in February 2011. The smaller unit will provide electricity, heating and cooling to supply a second production facility. Tangerine has utilised ENER-G’s discount energy purchase scheme which entails no capital outlay for the business. The contract is structured to deliver low-cost, low-carbon energy onsite thus reducing the facility’s carbon footprint whilst improving profitability. UK-based ENER-G is also working with Tangerine to develop CHP solutions on a number of other sites. A multi-site roll-out will facilitate a significant carbon reduction which is increasingly important given the advent of the government’s Energy Efficiency Carbon Reduction Commitment scheme. Tangerine is the largest independent sugar confectionery manufacturer in the UK, owner of brands such as Barratt, Lion, Mojo, Wilkinson’s and Butterkist. Its seven UK production sites employ approximately 1500 people and in three years, turnover has increased from €47 million to €175 million. Its factory in Ferrybridge Road, Pontefract, comprises two production units - one manufacturing liquorice, gums and nougat - and the other making popcorn, chocolate and sugar panned products. Combined heat and power (CHP) – the simultaneous generation of electricity and useful heat - is almost twice as efficient as conventional power generation as the majority of heat is recovered and used on site, rather than wasted into the atmosphere. There is also less transmission loss by avoiding the transportation of electricity along many miles of electrical distribution cables. The Typical pay back period on CHP technology varies between two to four years. Peter Sanders, Operations Director for Tangerine, said: “We are continually seeking ways to raise our environmental performance and this move to on-site generation of power is a key element of our carbon-cutting strategy. We are very pleased to be partnering with ENER-G which is able to provide us with a total service - from initial design to long term care of the systems. This has required no capital investment by the company as the technology is being supplied by ENER-G in return for us purchasing the generated electricity at a very favourable rate.” Anthony Mayall, Sales Director for ENER-G Combined Power Limited, commented: “The challenge of this project was to design a high quality system before the contract was placed, which involved working with the client to understand activity on site, shifts in energy demand patterns and future trends. This is the key to a successful project that will deliver substantial carbon and cost saving, with no capital outlay from the client.” He continued: “We offer customers a flexible aftercare solution, including a variety of service packages to meet precise requirements. Our CHP on-board computer systems provide a two-way communication channel to our remote monitoring centre. Such intelligence means we can diagnose and resolve issues before they become problems – providing proactive, predictive maintenance that enables customers to minimise downtime and prolong system life.” ENER-G delivers small-scale 4kW to 10MW CHP solutions to customers around the world and it offers a broad product range, incorporating more than 1,400 installed cogeneration systems across the globe – powered by natural gas, biogas, diesel, biogas, propane or biodiesel. Edited by Constanze Schmitz