Powering maintenance: Maximise CHP benefits

Our customers often ask us questions about the important of lifetime maintenance for CHP systems. The importance of having a preventative maintenance system should not be underestimated.

We’ve rounded up the most frequently asked questions and put them to our experts at Centrica Business Solutions so you can receive up-to-date information. Whether you’re contemplating if you can complete the maintenance yourself, or if you want to know more about what a good maintenance agreement looks like, this brief summary can help.

How often does CHP need to be serviced?

CHP engines are designed to run continuously. They will usually require the equivalent of five to six maintenance calls per year. Be prepared to spend time planning and collaborating with your maintenance provider. Engineers, servicing equipment, spare parts and consumables all need to be available at the right time if you are to avoid operation downtime.

Is monitoring really needed?

In short, yes. Monitoring will help to identify issues with the operation, if any repairs are necessary, or if the system isn’t performing to its maximum output. Monitoring does not have to take time out of your day, though. This can be done remotely.

The development of the latest high-quality touchscreens and graphics makes monitoring more accessible. With a cloud based system critical information can be seen on an engineer’s smartphone, helping the to react to and rectify problems quickly.

Does ‘fit and forget’ mean the customer doesn’t need to worry at all?

Not entirely. ‘Fit and forget’ means customers can leave the daily management of the CHP to the specialist maintenance providers. However, customers need to be constantly aware that if there are changes on-site that could affect the CHP operation, they need to advise the maintenance providers as soon as possible. Adjustments can be made immediately via the monitoring system, which will help keep the CHP working efficiently.

Can the decision on maintenance be left until later?

Maintenance really needs to be discussed at the project design stage and included in the project specification. Communication protocols for monitoring systems and even spare parts allocations can be planned and incorporated into the CHP project design.

Factor maintenance costs into the economic feasibility of the CHP so that these do not become an unwelcome impact on the project’s return on investment. Lifetime maintenance agreements are designed to provide complete care from the start of CHP operation for a fixed cost, giving the maximum long-term savings which can then be budgeted for.

Can the customer look after the maintenance?

It’s not recommended. Maintenance providers have experienced, trained engineers who are Gas Safe registered, have received full electrical training in-house and are kept up-to-date with all legislative and technological advancements.

It’s a maintenance provider’s business to be cost-effective in what they do, whether it be the management of service and resource scheduling, allocating spare parts, or the more onerous activities of dealing with CHP system diagnostics.

Key takeaways:

• Preventative maintenance reduces the chances of equipment breakdowns.
• It should include remote monitoring and control, all year round, to keep the CHP system running continuously for optimised efficiency.
• CHP maintenance providers are able to react fast to any operating issues.
• Customers should take advantage of the ‘fit and forget’ solution.
• Long-term maintenance agreements extend the solution by including major planned works within the complete maintenance package.

Discover how a maintenance agreement from Centrica Business Solutions can power your CHP’s lifetime operation.
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