Monthly Archives: October 2011

LEEF Launch Event

October 2011: The launch of the London Energy Efficiency Fund (LEEF) took place on Monday 3 October to a packed audience where detail was provided of how a wide range of public sector bodies could apply to the £100m fund to invest in energy-saving measures. The presentations made at the event by fund manager Amber Infrastructure; RBS who are providing £50m of support funding; technical advisors Arup and also the GLA, are all available on the following document (1.1MB PDF). Further information on the fund is available at www.leef.co.uk.

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Proposal for new Low Carbon Capital Workstreams

October 2011: A series of papers presented to the GLA Investment and Performance Board to seek approval for the Stage 2 Investment Decision to deliver three new Low Carbon Capital Programme work streams at a total cost of £360,000.

The paper – Low Carbon Capital Stage 2 –  sets out that:

“The Low Carbon Capital Programme seeks to build on the previous Low Carbon Capital work carried out by Ernst and Young for LDA [see previous posts here and here for further information] by carrying out three enabling projects that would lead to reductions in London’s CO2 emissions through energy efficiency and decentralised energy measures with an investment potential of up to £9.1bn:

i. Heat Map+: Creating green investment opportunities, job and skills. This work stream will generate a pipeline of decentralised energy (DE) and public sector retrofitting investment opportunities (RE:FIT) through the further development of the existing GLA Heat Map.

ii. Smart City – Intelligent Energy Integration: Public sector driving low carbon solutions and demonstrators. 70% of the world’s population will be living in cities by 2050 with growing pressure on resources. Cities haveto become increasingly efficient and self-sufficient in energy. This project will specify how London’s energy infrastructure and consumers can intelligently adapt to changing demands to deliver environmental benefits and lower energy costs.

iii. Green Deal – London implementation: Making London’s size count by developing delivery models for use in London. London has over 3.2 million homes, a large-scale market opportunity, and Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation represent the main mechanisms for retrofitting its existing housing stock. This project will identify the most appropriate role for the public sector to play and then develop and test delivery models that will maximise retrofitting activity in London whilst creating economic opportunities for London’s businesses throughout the supply chain.”

Also available to download are the Heat Map appraisal application, the outline of financials for the project and a cost benefit of Heat Map+.

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London Low Carbon Skills and Employment project

October 2011: Papers presented to the GLA Investment and Performance Board
Papers can all be downloaded at the following Board meeting agenda weblink (or individually via links below):

An outline paper for the Low Carbon Skills and Employment ESF Project is available along with a Investment Decision application
“The purpose of this paper is to seek agreement for the GLA to provide £484,000 to be matched £:£ by ESF [European Social Fund] to deliver either [sic] a £968,000 Low Carbon Skills and Employment project. The project will aim to identify suitable job opportunities arising from the growth in the low carbon economy in London and to support workless Londoners into sustained employment for a minimum of 52 out of 64 weeks in this sector.”
A more detailed Concept Paper is also provided which highlights that this “project builds upon the Retrofit Employer Accord Pilot project and aims to maximise opportunities arising from the RE:FIT, RE:NEW programmes as well as growth across the Low Carbon sector.”

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Home Energy Fact File 2011 Released

October 2011: DECC have just released the latest version of their comprehensive guide to energy use in homes – the Housing Energy Fact File 2011 (previously known as the Domestic Energy Fact File). The 2011 Fact File covers the period from 1970 to 2009, and aims to draw together most of the important data about energy use in homes in Great Britain. It is intended for policy-makers, researchers, and interested members of the public, and considers the relationship between domestic energy use and carbon dioxide emissions. The report provides information on all aspects of home energy use such as:

  • Carbon emissions and energy generation trends from homes
  • Household spending on energy
  • How much energy is used in homes in areas such as Space heating, Hot water, Lights, Appliances and Cooking
  • Energy efficiency (SAP) ratings
  • Use of Central heating etc.

No regional representation of the data is unfortunately provided, so issues reflecting  the very different housing mix in London (with high levels of: flatted accommodation, solid wall dwellings and  privately rented homes etc.) and its relation to energy consumption are not unfortunately covered.

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Blackfriars station to install the largest PV array in London

4 October 2011: Work is due to start to install more than 4,400 solar panels – more than 6,000 square metres of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels –  into the new roof of Blackfriars station in central London. The scheme will create the biggest solar array in London, and make the new station the world’s largest solar bridge. Further detail in an article in The Guardian and from developer Solar Century here.

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London Combined Heat and Power output falls

October 2011: DECC have just released their annual regional breakdown of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) statistics, providing further detail to the CHP chapter of DECC’s annual Digest of UK Energy Statistics, published in July of this year.
The statistics for London released indicate that:

  • 188 Good Quality CHP schemes were operational in  London as at the end of 2010
  • These schemes amount to a total electrical capacity of 185 MWe and total thermal capacity of 372MWth
  • They produced a total of 631GWh electricity and 1,680GWh heat – a total of 2,311 GWh energy
  • Unlike many other regions, London does not have many large-scale industrial CHP schemes, which have typically long operational hours. Hence the overall load factor of London CHP schemes is low – the second lowest in the UK – at only 39.8%
  • Importantly, whilst there has been a marginal increase in the number of CHP schemes operating in London (3 more in 2010) overall CHP generation capacity in London has decreased from 200MWe in 2009 to 185MWe. This is in despite an increase in overall increase in UK CHP capacity by over 500MWe.
  • Additionally, when compared to last year’s statistics, the output from CHP plant in the capital has also fallen. CHP data as at the end of 2009 shows that CHP output stood at 746 GWh electricity and 2,414 GWh heat – a total of 3,160GWh of energy (see last year’s DECC Energy Trends September 2010 for details). Hence, as compared to the statistics just released, CHP energy output has dropped a significant 27% in the capital over one year. It’s difficult to determine exactly what is happening here without access to more detailed data for London from DECC – especially in relation to those schemes which may have retired.
  • Note: there is a minor error in the latest Energy Trends article. Tables 5 & 6 suggest that 200MW CHP is operating in 2010. However, the report’s authors have clarified to energy for london that the correct capacity is 185 MWe and that:
  • in Table 5 of the article, CCGT+GTs+STs should be 80 MWe and NOT 95 MWe. This will make the total for London 185 MWe, and consistent with Tables 1+2
  • in Table 6 the London figure under the ’10 MWe and greater’ column should be 66 MWe and NOT 81MWe. This again will make the total for London 185 MWe, and consistent with Tables 1+2
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RE:NEW reaches Norbury and Upper Norwood

3 October 2011: The RE:NEW Home Energy Efficiency scheme is now operating in Norbury and Upper Norwood, where residents can arrange a free visit to receive energy efficiency advice from a home energy expert.  Further information can be found on the following news release as well as by calling Croydon RE:NEW  on 0800 652 7206.

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London Hydrogen Action Plan Update

October 2011: The latest details on work to progress the Mayor’s Hydrogen Action Plan have just been released, with £115,000  approved by the GLA for the London Hydrogen Partnership’s 2011-12 work programme.

Further information  on the London Hydrogen Partnership’s work can be found on their website.

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Hospital Heat and Power at Guy’s and St. Thomas’

September 2011: Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust have hosted a tour of their two Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants which have, since their commissioning in 2009,  helped the Trust reduce CO2 emissions at the hospitals by a total of almost 11,300 tons per year and save more than £1.5 million in energy costs annually. Further information is detailed on the following news release.

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