ENER-G powers major savings at landmark new museum

The largest newly-built national museum built in the UK for more than a hundred years will be powered using advanced renewable and energy efficient technologies from sustainable power group ENER-G.

Greater-Manchester-based ENER-G is installing an advanced combined heat and power (CHP) system at the prestigious new £72 million Museum of Liverpool, guaranteeing annual energy savings of more than £500,000.

The ‘trigeneration’ technology, which creates highly efficient heat, electricity and cooling, will also reduce carbon emissions by 884 tonnes each year – equivalent to the environmental benefit of 88,400 trees.

ENER-G was commissioned by National Museums Liverpool (NML) to design and install the new CHP system at the Mann Island site – part of the famous Pier Head at the core of the World Heritage Site on Liverpool’s famous waterfront.

The installation will be completed by spring 2010 ahead of the museum’s opening in 2011. ENER-G will also operate and maintain the plant for 17 years.

The CHP system is split between a plant room in the new building and the historic Great Western Railway (GWR) Goods Shed on Liverpool’s picturesque waterfront. ENER-G is converting the Goods Shed into a state-of-the-art energy centre with sophisticated remote monitoring and diagnostic facilities.

Challenges faced by ENER-G included preserving the GWR building exterior in line with planning conditions and designing the energy centre to operate independently of the utility electrical supply. The CHP system will provide the lead power supply for the site, meeting all of the Museum’s daily requirements for heating, cooling and power. The utility gird supply will provide additional back up, if required.

ENER-G has designed and manufactured two 385kW bio-diesel CHP units, two 768kW natural gas CHP systems, two 850kW boilers, a 1000kW absorption chiller and a 998kW conventional compression chiller which will serve all the new museum’s energy needs.

The GWR Building housing the CHP plant will also become an educational resource in its own right and NML together with ENER-G will create a small visitor facility where groups can gain an understanding of the technology and its contribution to the museum’s sustainability.

Tony Allen, executive director of finance at NML, said: “The new Museum of Liverpool will be a future landmark for the city’s world-famous waterfront, so it is vital that it has modern and efficient energy facilities and systems at its core. The savings that this energy project guarantees will allow funds that would ordinarily have gone towards powering, heating and cooling the building to be put towards showcasing NML’s outstanding collections in the best possible way.”

Chris Hayton, Business Development Director for ENER-G, said: “There are always challenges and obstacles to overcome when planning and installing an energy project. However, the strength of the team and overall spirit of the partnership on the Museum of Liverpool project has made for a pleasurable working experience. We look forward to building on this established working relationship as we embark on the 17 year contract to operate and maintain the energy system.”

Commercial law firm Hill Dickinson, working with Cynergin Consultants, advised NML on the outsourcing of the design, installation and operation of the new energy facilities – setting out a complex set of agreements between NML and ENER-G. The project is being funded by The Co-operative Bank.

Stephen Lansdown, Head of Commerce and Technology at Hill Dickinson, said: “This complex energy facilities project, which was recently awarded the Combined Heat and Power Association’s Innovation Award for 2009, included a number of features and benefits that have not been realised on other similar projects in the past. NML’s partnership with ENER-G will provide an innovative solution to the museum’s sustainable energy needs and help NML boost both its cost and carbon performance.”

The new museum has been designed to replace the former Museum of Liverpool Life, which was located in the old Pilotage and Salvage Association buildings on Liverpool’s Waterfront. The museum will provide 8,000 square metres of public space across three floors and will demonstrate Liverpool’s unique contribution to the world and showcase popular culture while tackling social, historical and contemporary issues.

Contact Information

Zita Palosi

Marketing Services Manager

ENER-G Group

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