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Electric boilers - effect on power demand of a block of flats

donf
Hello there.


I would like to  know if anyone on the forum has done a study of or knows about an existing study of the impact on power demand of introducing electric boilers to block of flats. 


I have been tasked with estimating the impact of a gradual migration to electric boilers for central and water heating in a modern block of flats. Nearly all of the flats currently use gas fired combi boilers.


I then have to present this information to UK Power Networks so that they can asses whether or not an increase in capacity to the building supply might be needed in future.  Finally I need to put any recommendations to the owners' management board.


Clearly electric boilers will have some impact on power demand.


I can start with an estimate of current power demand (worst case) for a typical flat.  To that end, I'll be doing a survey of about 25% of the flats to come up with a figure.


I can then apply the IET Electrical Installation Design Guide diversity calculations for a typical flat and then the building as a whole using figure 3.4 (IET Electrical Design Guide Nov 2008 page 33).


I can then do a second power consumption exercise adding the demand of a typical electric boiler per flat and then the whole building.


However, it's not clear to me if this approach will be suitable for a massive migration to electric boilers.  I need to be sure of my ground if I approach UK Power Networks with a demand figure.


If we look at the usual peak use of heating demand (morning and evening) a building full of electric boilers, to me, could add a significant load to existing street fuses and possibly even cable capacity.


I would be grateful for any suggestions and experience people could bring.


Kind regards


donf










Parents
  • 0
    If these are private rented homes and you change from gas to electric boilers you need to consider the Energy Performance Certificates as you may make it illegal to rent them out, unless the insulation and other energy saving measures are up to standard.


     I told some landlords not to take the storage heaters out of a flat, now I have to make time to go and survey it and quote to fit new storage heaters to replace the panel heaters they got another electrician to fit to replace the original heaters. 


    Do not be tempted by apparently smart and modern electric heating systems, effectively the EPC only considers there to be two types of electric heaters, storage heaters and everything else. 


    The EPC only considers the cost of the electricity, storage heaters use cheaper electric then the electric heaters lumped under the heading of everything else, gas is cheaper than both.


    There are going to be a huge number of private rented homes being occupied illegally in around five weeks time on the 1st April 2020, so consider the EPCs before getting to involved.


    Andy Betteridge
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  • 0
    If these are private rented homes and you change from gas to electric boilers you need to consider the Energy Performance Certificates as you may make it illegal to rent them out, unless the insulation and other energy saving measures are up to standard.


     I told some landlords not to take the storage heaters out of a flat, now I have to make time to go and survey it and quote to fit new storage heaters to replace the panel heaters they got another electrician to fit to replace the original heaters. 


    Do not be tempted by apparently smart and modern electric heating systems, effectively the EPC only considers there to be two types of electric heaters, storage heaters and everything else. 


    The EPC only considers the cost of the electricity, storage heaters use cheaper electric then the electric heaters lumped under the heading of everything else, gas is cheaper than both.


    There are going to be a huge number of private rented homes being occupied illegally in around five weeks time on the 1st April 2020, so consider the EPCs before getting to involved.


    Andy Betteridge
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