We are really excited to be drawing to the end of our Fiji Water project, where we are installing three Capstone c1000 microturbines to the Fiji Water bottling plant in Fiji.
This project will reduce the customers carbon emissions from electricity by about 30%. It’s the first large scale project of its type in Fiji to move from diesel-based power generation to cleaner LPG.
Because of the remote nature of the site grid power is not available for the customer. Optimal’s scope of supply includes installation of microturbines, as well as the large onsite 100,000 litre propane storage facility and all of the associated pipes, pumps and equipment required.
In Fiji grid power is a mix of hydro, diesel and heavy fuel oil. The use of propane fuel microturbines provides an immediate greenhouse gas reduction to Fiji Water compared to diesels. It would also be a cleaner solution than power for the grid if it was available. Because Capstone microturbines synchronize seamlessly with solar PV, grid and other power sources, the equipment Optimal are installing will provide the customer with the ability to integrate further technologies into the power generation that will deliver further greenhouse gas reductions and will also further reduce their cost of power.
Specifically, by recovering the exhaust heat from the turbines this can be used to power absorption chillers to provide chilled water for the plant. Chilled water represents a significant component of the client existing electrical demand and incorporating absorption chillers well reduce the clients electric demand by 1 MW and provide a further 10 to 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from power. It will bring the combined system efficiency of the Capstone turbines and absorption chillers to over 80% which is double the average efficiency of most modern electrical grids. Adding solar PV to the power mix will further reduce the electricity demand during daylight hours and further enhance system efficiency.
Optimal’s approach for Fiji Water and indeed all of their customers is to develop hybrid energy systems incorporating a mix of Capstone turbines in co or trigeneration with additional inputs from solar, batteries or grid to deliver customers the maximum possible long terms savings and system efficiency. Whether it is a large-scale bottling operation, multi-story commercial officers or industrial application, Optimal energy solutions delivery long term, cutting edge, reliable energy, cheaper and more efficient than the grid.
A recent report from Macquarie Bank states that by 2035 as much of 33% of Australia’s electricity capacity will sit behind the meter rather than on the transmission network. This is an endorsement of the fact that behind the meter energy generation is cleaner, cheaper and more reliable than business as usual from the grid.