Centrica has begun work on a major energy project which will see the NEC in Birmingham generate its own power onsite.
The deal is the first under the recently launched energy as a service bundle by Centrica Business Solutions and a spokesperson said the company was actively working with a handful of other major industrial and commercial customers on similar arrangements.
Under the agreement, heat and power will be provided to the exhibitions centre through the design, installation, operation and maintenance of three gas generators, including an 850 kWe combined heat and power (CHP) unit .
Centrica Business Solutions will finance the delivery of the project – repaid from the savings made over the contract term while British Gas Business will supply the top-up electricity.
The company said the deal will see the NEC reduce its energy costs and improve energy resilience on site, as a result of being less reliant on grid power. It will also future proof the site to take advantage of demand side response activity including operating on the capacity market.
Alan Barlow, director of UK and Ireland, Centrica Business Solutions, said: “The nature of a venue such as the NEC is that its electricity use is incredibly varied, with large shows creating a high demand for power, while the periods between the shows have limited demand. By transitioning to decentralised power the venue is now able to generate additional revenue by selling this additional capacity to the grid.”
He added: “Our research found that over a third of businesses rank energy security and resilience as an organisational risk. We’re aiming to provide peace of mind to our customers helping them with investment in energy solutions, improve their energy security and provide energy costs savings. This also helps our customers transition to a sustainable future without needing to find significant capital.”
The construction and commissioning of the project is expected to take around 12 months.