Reduced carbon footprint
August 1st 2007 The issue of global warming has barely been out of the headlines over the last few years and has bought the issue of carbon emissions to the forefront. With this comes the pressure on industry to reduce its carbon footprint. One business doing just that is Findons, a leading Midlands commercial horticulturalist. It is using the emissions generated by a gas-powered microturbine at its premises to nourish plants in its main 9000 ft sq glass house
At its headquarters at Bordon Hill Nurseries near Stratford-on-Avon, Findons specialises in the production of young plug plants from seed and cuttings specifically for the commercial trade. For the past four years, it has been using a 25kW microturbine, using a Hydrovane gas compressor, to generate the electricity needed to power some of the sodium heat lamps in the nursery. The surplus heat produced from the microturbine is used to maintain a constant temperature in the glass house and the company is feeding CO2 generated by the operation into the glass house to provide a rich and fertile environment for the plants to flourish in.
David Findon, nursery owner explains: "The use of microturbines in combined heat and power (CHP) applications are an alternative to using gas-powered piston-driven generators which produced emissions that needed to be cleaned through a catalytic converter. Because the microturbine system uses no oil, its emissions are uncontaminated so we can port them directly into the glass house where the elevated CO2 atmosphere enhances plant growth." This practice is popular in the horticultural industry in Holland where nurseries use this technology much more extensively, with larger systems. They also sell the excess energy they produce which becomes an additional profit stream.
David adds:"The combined heat and power applications are popular in the horticultural industry in Holland.Although we are using the technology on a much smaller scale than our Dutch counterparts, it is an effective and environmentally acceptable way of power generation. It has its own built-in carbon footprint reduction process by utilising the heat and carbon dioxide produced as a by-product of the microturbine process." As well as being a highly efficient technology, the use of microturbine generated CHP can be very cost effective. David Findon: "When we first introduced the system about four years ago, the comparative price of gas and electricity made this a very economical way of 'purchasing' the electricity we needed to power the heating system. Obviously there have been significant changes in energy prices, but with the recently announced gas price reductions, this will again be a very competitive way of generating power." Hydrovane's gas boost compressors are available in 4 to 37kW output and are suitable for sweet, sour and bio gases. There is a choice of 100% duty or stop start operating modes and a speed regulated option. In addition, customers can opt for the Advance warranty for added peace of mind which covers the machine for either 48,000 operating hours or 10 years, whichever comes first. More articles from Compair Hydrovane: | 
