The TCG 2016 V8 engine, which has an installed power of 350 kilowatts, is a high-efficiency engine specifically made for trigeneration applications. The gas engine has been installed in a trigeneration plant located in the Innova21 building at the University, which opened in mid-2010 and houses the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences.

Besides power supply, the Innova21 building’s heating and cooling is also supplied by the trigeneration plant. Since its successful commissioning in June 2010, the engine has supplied more than 400 operating hours of heating and cooling in the building.

With an overall efficiency of more than 87 per cent, the TCG 2016 series is suited to numerous trigeneration applications and is available in V8, V12 and V16 versions. The overall costs involved in the lifetime of the engine are reduced due to its high efficiency, with savings of 15 per cent in fuel costs per annum and 50 per cent lower consumption costs compared to similar engines in the same power range, due to the smaller amount of lubrication oil required.

Overall, these efficiency and cost reductions can be reached through operating the engine and the entire trigeneration system via a Total Electronic Management (TEM®) system that is able to optimise the system to the requirements of the consumer.

Article continues below…

The University of Adelaide is now the first university building to achieve a Green Building Council Australia ‘Greenstar’ energy rating of 6 stars – the highest building efficiency rating available. The 6 star Greenstar rating signifies 'World Leadership' in environmentally sustainable design and/or construction.

To reach this rating, design and building components need to fit perfectly together. Due to the optimised engine components and engine control concept, the MWM engine offers the best technology for the University of Adelaide to help reduce energy and utility costs.