SustainableEngineering@Edinburgh

1. SustainableEngineering@Edinburgh Group 1: Decentralised Sustainable Energy GenerationBy: Marco Benfield (0454038); Louise Blackhall (0563220); Conor Lismore (0569554); Farlane Whitty (056187).IMS3/MSFM3 Sustainability Module, March 2008 30% of Britain’s CO2 Emissions are from Fossil Fuelled Energy Generation PV Cells Ugly! CHP Biomass: Biomass fuel is plant matter like crops or wood. Grown locally, the burning of biomass generates sustainable energy. When sourced correctly, the carbon released during combustion is re-absorbed by the new plant life growing making the process carbon neutral. The 570MW Avedøre-2 multi-fuel power plant in Denmark is up to 95% efficient. Renewables on a Local Scale: Decentralised renewable energy resources are a cheaper, cleaner and more efficient way of generating energy such as: Photovoltaic arrays, solar thermal panels and wind turbines to name but a few. Antrim Area Hospital’s wind turbine saves £70,000 a year. 100% Energy goes IN How we use Energy 61.5% Energy Lost to Heat Centralised Energy Power Decentralised Energy Heat 3.5% Energy Lost in Transmission “…the future of energy is not top-down, it’s bottom-up.” David Cameron, Conservative Party Leader. Conventional Fossil Fuels: In a Combined Heat & Power (CHP) plant, the previously wasted energy is used to heat the local buildings, resulting in greatly increased efficiencies of ~90%. This reduced fuel bills by £450,000/yr, and CO2 emissions by 2,600T+ in first year of operation at KB. More Examples: • Woking Borough Councilprovides an excellent example of how a town can benefit from decentralised energy in the UK. • Cut energy use by nearly half. • Cut council CO2 emissions by 77%, since 1990. • In 2003 the council’s energy infrastructure was 99.85% self sufficient. • Attracted investment from Danish pension companies. • Barcelonareceives 2800Hrs of sun light a year. • Local sustainability energy plan 2002-2010: • Energy consumption reduced by 17%. • Greenhouse gases reduced by 20%. • There are 56 programmes including Central heating from burning Municipal waste and Sustainable residential buildings (PV cells etc.) • All new social housing is 100% self sufficient in summer and 40% in Winter. 35% Energy comes OUT Wind Turbines • Key References • Greenpeace / Memory Box Films (2006) “What • Are We Waiting For?” • House of Commons - Trade and Industry committee (January 2007) “Local Energy – Turning Consumers into Producers.” • International District Energy Association (2006) • “University of Edinburgh Focuses on • Sustainability, Adds CHP” • Action Renewables, publications page • http://www.actionrenewables.org/site/default.asp? • CatID=4978&parentid=4879 • http://ec.europa.eu/energy/res/index_en.htm 100% Energy goes IN 90% Energy comes OUT CHP