Emcor tops out energy centre at University of Liverpool

Emcor Group (UK) recently celebrated a key milestone in its major infrastructure upgrade project at the University of Liverpool, with a topping out ceremony for the newly constructed £14 million energy centre, marking the completion of the final section of the 47 metre chimney - the highest point of the development.

The new energy centre, which will provide a new and more efficient way for the University of Liverpool to generate and utilise energy, will reduce the University’s annual energy consumption by over 13,000 MWh and CO2 emissions by over 1,500 tonnes, equivalent to taking 477 cars off the road each year.

The project has also become an on-campus educational resource for the students, providing a new vocational dimension to their education.

Emcor’s heating infrastructure project comprises both a new energy centre and the upgrade of the existing campus energy infrastructure, from initial planning, design development and coordination of all electrical and mechanical construction through to commissioning and fit-out.

The new energy centre will produce power for the University of Liverpool at a more economical rate than buying it commercially, and will supply heat to most of the University’s buildings. The installation of a gas powered combined heat and power (CHP) unit and associated combination boiler will provide electricity and primary high-temperature heat and enable effective re-use of high and low grade waste heat generated from production of the electricity.

In addition, the project will centralise the heating infrastructure of the entire university campus and will also decommission the existing plant and demolish the boiler house and its 42-metre chimney, which is located next to the Grade II listed 19th century Liverpool Royal Infirmary.

Emcor’s solution gives the University of Liverpool’s engineering students the opportunity to experience a live construction environment and engage with the project team to learn about various aspects of construction. Students and staff can also view progress on a specially installed webcam.