Coolbawn Water Treatment Plant Biomass ESCO Project

The Coolbawn Water Treatment Plant project was commissioned by Tipperary County Council and included both renewable energy and energy efficiency elements. The works included the installation of a 85kW biomass boiler, improvements to the insulation and air tightness of the building and installing additional zone controls to allow effective use of the heat being generated. The project was identified as part of a detailed energy audit conducted by the Tipperary Energy Agency as a part of its energy management service to the Local Authorities of County Tipperary. The Tipperary Energy Agency, acting on behalf of Tipperary County Council, specified, project managed and procured the project by utilising an Energy Services Contract (ESCO) approach. The contract was a 7 year contract to design, supply, finance and install plant and to supply all heat and operate and maintain the plant. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) provided a government grant of 35% of the total cost. The total capital cost to the energy consumer was nil. The annual cost under the ESCO contract was lower than the historic cost of fuel (oil), resulting in a (small) annual saving for the energy consumer during the first 7 years of the ESCO. The ESCO terminates after 7 years, at which point the plant will become the property of the local authority, resulting in material energy savings going forward.