Case Study: Nelson Landfill Gas Energy Plant
Nelson Hospital
Added value thinking generates energy and environmental benefits for all Nelsonians:
Nelson Hospital and Nelson City Council are reaping even greater significant benefits from the 2.0MW capacity landfill gas boiler installed at the Nelson Hospital.
2007 EECA Awards - commended in the Renewable Energy category.
Key benefits to the hospital include:
- The 2.0MW boiler produces over 60% of the hospitals thermal energy demand for heating, hot water and steam.
- Further savings worth almost $157,000 per year and a reduction in the hospital’s carbon footprint by a further 1,300 tonnes of C02 per annum.
- CEMARS® a globally recognized emissions measurement reduction scheme framework for year on year measurement and management of intensity targets.
- A further reduction in coal consumption of approximately 630 tonne/year.
- Installation at no cost or financial risk to the hospital.
- Utilisation of greater volumes of lower cost landfill gas fuel.
Benefits to the Nelson City Council include:
- Provides a practical and strategic use for more of its landfill gas (a valuable energy source) that was previously flared at the York Valley landfill.
- A long term revenue stream for the landfill gas.
- A major boost to the Council’s efforts to reduce local air pollution, which is a significant public health issue, and to meet tighter clean air standards.
The project is a three way partnership between Nelson City Council the landfill operator, Energy for Industry Ltd the owner and operator of the gas treatment and delivery system and the boiler, the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board the end user of the renewable energy.
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board Property Officer, Technical, Russell Dickson initiated the original project when he commissioned a study into the hospital’s potential use of landfill gas. The NMDHB selected Energy for Industry to implement the project for its ability to partner effectively with multiple stakeholders with differing needs yet create and deliver on consensus outcomes.
“We selected Energy for Industry because of their track record in this area and their extensive background in the health sector,” says Nelson Marlborough District Health Board Property Officer: Technical, Russell Dickson.
“They developed the commercial and technical specifications, and handled all the relationship management and contractual arrangements. Everything went smoothly and all parties are very satisfied,” says Russell.
“And they didn’t let us down – they are reliable and professional, they are technically very competent and experienced, and they pay attention to detail and rectify promptly any issue that needs to be addressed.”
”The landfill gas scheme has the Council’s backing partly because it provides a strategic and valuable use for the landfill gas, and partly because it would enable the hospital to reduce coal consumption from its coal fired plant, as well as air emissions.
Nelson City Council, Senior Executive Technical Services, Alec Louverdis said “There was a positive partnership between the three parties.”
“It also added considerable strategic value by allowing the hospital to cut energy costs and reduce environmental impacts in the wider region. This was very much in line with our longer-term air quality goals.”
Under a 15 year contract, EFI sells the steam to Nelson Hospital with an arrangement that ensures the hospital pays less for steam generated by landfill gas than it does when it produces steam from its own coal-fired plant.
The project is 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. Collaborative partnerships allows large energy users, like hospitals, to harness unusual fuels and Energy for Industry offers the technology and plant needed to turn that fuel into delivered energy.
