The immediate catalyst for change was Bosch putting in place a new environmental policy for all sites to reduce emissions by a minimum of 15 per cent before 2012 (set against a 2007 baseline) and by a minimum of 25 per cent ahead of 2020.

After an extensive analysis, it was concluded that the Glenrothes site had the potential to produce one third of its total electricity requirement with the installation of three 140kW (electrical) CHP units. The units work 24 hours a day, seven days per week, with four GB162 100kW boilers as heating back up during planned maintenance cycles.

In addition, hot water is stored in three 10,000 litre buffer tanks which can hold hot water at 90oC. The entire system is controlled by a full building management system, which controls and measures all inputs and outputs from the CHP units and can be adjusted on PCs located around the site.