Do you use natural gas to power your steam boiler systems as your only fuel during normal operations? Then we’re happy to be the bearer of some great news!
FortisBC is rolling out several prescriptive rebates that are applicable to the purchase of new steam boilers or upgrades to existing steam boilers meeting certain criteria. A policy in place since February 2019, The new steam boiler rebate structure makes it considerably easier for customers to take advantage of modern steam boiler technologies that can yield reduced operating costs, reduced maintenance requirements, lower carbon emissions, and improved reliability.
Raven Supply is proud to be a FortisBC Commercial Partner. We’re happy to assist you in determining which steam boiler rebates you might be able to obtain in your next steam boiler upgrade, replacement, addition, or new construction project. Call us today for a free consultation!
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for these steam boiler rebates, you must be a FortisBC customer using natural gas as your only fuel during normal operation. This includes dual-fuel burners used for emergency backup. For a complete list of criteria, visit the FortisBC website or call Raven for more information.
Eligible Technologies
FortisBC offers rebates for steam boilers for four key technologies that can either be factory fitted on a new steam boiler or retrofitted onto an existing steam boiler as an upgrade:
- Parallel positioning burner controls
- Oxygen (O2) trim
- TDS (conductivity based) automatic blowdown controls
- Economizers (condensing or non-condensing).
Parallel Positioning
Steam Boiler Rebate Value – $9,000 – $16,000
Parallel positioning (often referred to as “linkage-less” control) is a precise, repeatable method of controlling the flow of fuel and air through a modulating burner. The fuel control valve and air damper are each moved by their own dedicated stepper motor actuators, each of which is electronically controlled by an air-fuel ratio controller.
On the other hand, a “linkage” burner uses a single servo motor to modulate both the fuel valve and air damper which are mechanically connected together by a series of adjustable jackshafts and linkage arms. The difference is similar to how modern electronic fuel injection systems compare to carburetors in automotive engines.
When air and fuel flow are parallel position systems, so when these elements are accurately controlled, a well-designed burner can be precisely tuned to minimize leftover oxygen in the exhaust throughout the full turndown range. This leftover oxygen in the exhaust is referred to as “excess air” and is inversely proportional to combustion efficiency. That means that lower excess air means lower fuel consumption.
There are many factors that can affect the net fuel savings realized by switching to parallel positioning controls. A typical estimate would be 5%, although savings of 15% or more are quite possible in certain circumstances. Linkage-less platforms like the Weishaupt W-FM and Siemens LMV are generally known to be safer, more reliable, and require less maintenance over time than conventional burner controls.
Oxygen Trim
Steam Boiler Rebate Value -$16,000 – $18,000
Oxygen trim is an additional control feature that works in conjunction with parallel positioning. A sensor installed in the flue stack provides the burner controller with continuous closed-loop feedback of the O2 concentration in the flue gas, allowing it to automatically make fine adjustments to the air/fuel actuators as needed for optimal combustion. This makes the burner adaptive to changes in air temperature, atmospheric pressure, or other factors that may affect combustion. Net annual fuel savings of 1-2% are typical when this technology is correctly applied.
Total Dissolved Solids Blowdown Control
Steam Boiler Rebate Value – $4,000
In addition to bottom blowdowns, a commercial or industrial steam boiler needs regular surface blowdowns to be performed in order to flush out excess treatment chemicals, debris, and other impurities that may naturally collect at the water surface during operation. In practice, we associate the concentration of impurities with electrical conductivity, which is relatively easy to measure with current technology. A total dissolved solids (TDS) automatic blowdown system monitors the water conductivity and automatically performs blowdowns only when required. This ensures minimal water is wasted while maintaining good water chemistry, which contributes to both energy efficiency and equipment longevity.
Economizers
Steam Boiler Rebate Value- $10,000 – 25,000
A stack economizer is a heat exchanger that extracts additional energy from a boiler’s flue gas and transfers it another medium which could be boiler feedwater, domestic water, or a hydronic heating loop. Economizers are typically found on larger boilers, usually mounted on top of the flue collector outlet. They offer the most energy savings in systems that consume a reasonably high percentage of cold make-up water, or where there is another consistent and substantial demand for water heating, such as a large domestic or process hot water load. Although economizers may add some complexity and space requirements to the system, they can produce significant energy savings when used in the right application.
Burner/Burner Control Retrofit (existing steam boiler upgrade)
Steam Boiler Rebate Value- Up to $49,000
Upgrading your existing steam boiler by upgrading the burner is a great way to increase fuel efficiency, improve reliability, improve overall boiler performance, and reduce maintenance/downtime expenses. Depending on the total project cost, FortisBC will offer up to $49,000 as an incentive for adding parallel positioning and oxygen trim to your existing boiler. In many cases, a burner retrofit can be completed within a few days, with minimal impact on the rest of your operations. Contact us to find out if your boiler is a good candidate for an upgrade!
Does the Fortis Steam rebate apply to your system? Click here for a Steam Boiler Rebate application and get your new steam boiler upgrades on their way today!