Toyota (Tri-Gen)

A Toyota initiative to reduce emissions in its non-production facilities saw the installation of a 65kW micro gas turbine tri-generation plant at the company’s Port Melbourne headquarters.

The tri-generation system provides electricity for building operations, and waste heat from the gas turbine is used to assist in the heating and cooling of the building.

A.G. Coombs was appointed Head Contractor for the project, responsible for the design & construction works including the supply, installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance of the plant.

Provision was made for a gas supply line extension within the facility, and electrical grid connections required for the new plant were agreed with the electricity supply authority, CitiPower.

The system itself is based around a Capstone micro turbine and a Broad absorption chiller. The heat exchangers, pumps and variable speed drives were pre-assembled off-site on a skid mount in A.G. Coombs’ prefabrication facility to reduce site installation time. The system was then installed and commissioned in a live environment.

Toyota has a longstanding commitment to improving our environmental footprint across all of our operations. The new tri-generation system at our corporate headquarters looks set to contribute to significant carbon emissions reduction and energy savings. A.G. Coombs’ seamless delivery of this project was critical to these targets being met and, ultimately, the facility being set to achieve a 4 Star NABERS rating.

Aldo Tiesi, Corporate Operations Manager, Toyota

Project Overview

Project Name: Toyota (tri-generation)

Location: VIC

Client: Toyota Motor Corporation Australia

Project Value: $1.1m

Year Completed: 2012

Project Type

Construction - Head Contractor (multi-services contract); Design & Construct works including supply and installation; Integrated commissioning and testing; maintenance works; electrical works; prefabrication

Outcomes

  • Successful installation of the 65kW tri-generation system, with minimal disruption across the facility.
  • System infrastructure is designed to allow for potential expansion should Toyota wish to install a second 65kW turbine.
  • Significant reductions in the facility’s projected operational carbon footprint, owing to the use of natural gas and the system efficiencies from heat recovery. The facility is on track to meet a reduction in carbon emissions by some 720 tonnes (20%) and to reaching its targeted 4 Star NABERS Energy rating.
  • Close communication maintained between A.G. Coombs, Toyota Australia, the Project Manager and CitiPower, which was pivotal to success.
  • The successful installation supported the securing of a 5-year extended warranty for the maintenance of the system.

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