Release Date: 15/04/2008
A study on installing a green power plant to heat and light civic buildings – and potentially local businesses – was given the go-ahead by Richmond Council’s Cabinet last night (14 April).
Experts will explore the feasibility of installing a small, combined heat and power unit in Twickenham to reduce the Council’s carbon emissions. If viable, the cutting-edge system would provide electricity, heat and cooling to Council offices, and depending on its size, local businesses too.
Woking Council were the first authority to build a system which now powers their offices as well as a conference and events centre, leisure complex, nightclub and hotels.
The power unit burns gas or even organic material such as wood chips, to generate electricity. The heat produced is then trapped and recycled.
It is anticipated that a private company would finance and build it before selling the energy to the Council at an affordable rate.
Cllr Martin Elengorn, Cabinet Member for Environment on Richmond Council, said:
“While this study is only in its infancy, it offers an exciting opportunity to make a large dent in the Council’s carbon emissions.
“Our aim is to be the most sustainable authority in London and this technology would help us make that vision a reality.
“We currently buy in gas and electricity for our buildings, often produced many hundreds of miles away. The state-of-the-art equipment delivers major carbon savings as power is produced locally and does not need to be transported. It is also generated in a very efficient manner.
“We have appointed a company to explore all possibilities and even see if local businesses could benefit. We await the outcome of that study with great anticipation.”