Cost effective low carbon store analysis and replication

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Session 18 Paper 2, University College London, 16-17 April 2015

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This paper explores how low carbon buildings can be easily and cost effectively replicated for a commercial retailer. The analysis investigates zero carbon supermarkets using bio-methane combined heat and power (CHP). Results show that CHP & district heating is the most cost effective design for a sustainable supermarket. However, its implementation depends greatly on third parties and thus is not easy to replicate. The second best alternative is to use a CHP coupled with an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) when the buildings heat-to-power ratio is below 0.5. Otherwise, a CHP with no heat recovery solution is deemed best. Overall, the most cost effective ZCS projects are the ones implemented in stores with a high heat-topower ratio, high energy intensities and large surface floor area.