Delivered by Centrica Business Solutions, the two 35kW combined heat and power units (CHP) will generate almost all of the coastal retreat’s energy needs.
Heat that is normally wasted in conventional power generation will help meet other energy needs, such as heating the hotel’s outdoor swimming pool.
The state-of-the-art equipment will also help the Estate to reduce its carbon emissions by around 70 tonnes a year – equivalent to the amount of carbon produced by 45 cars.
The £120,000 project received funding as part of the £19 million Cornwall Local Energy Market (LEM) trial, which has been established to test the role of flexible demand, generation and storage in helping to support future decarbonisation. Funded in part by the European Regional Development Fund, the trial is working with over 150 homes and businesses from across the county.
Stephen Baker, owner and Managing Director of the Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate said: “We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and are striving to become environmentally sustainable throughout our estate, while offering guests a luxury experience.
“Our energy consumption is considerable and with the completion of our new £15m beachside regeneration project, which includes further lodge and suite accommodation and a new extensive restaurant and events facility, the installation of these CHP units has come at just the right time.”
Centrica is looking for other businesses in Cornwall to take part in the pioneering trial, which will reward organisations for reducing their energy demand at specific times of the day. Businesses like Carbis Bay which have their own onsite generation capability can also be paid to feed power into the electricity network in response to requests from the local distribution network operator.
Mark Futyan, Distributed Power Systems Director for Centrica Business Solutions, said: “The challenge of climate change is bringing about huge changes to how energy is produced, used and transported around the country.
“The leisure industry is already playing a key part in efforts to secure a cleaner, more sustainable world for future generations by investing in new energy technology, and feeling the benefits of doing so through lower bills, improved operational resilience, and increased credibility for their brand.”
To register your interest in the trial, go to https://lemcornwall.com