Green Gown Awards 2009
Stage 2 Application Form
Please note that submission of this form indicates acceptance of the Award rules,
enclosed at the end and contained in the Guidance Notes for Stage 2. The length for
the total application is between 4-6 pages.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Organisation
University of Warwick
Contact name
Nick Hillard
Position
Environment Manager
Contact name at
university or college (if
different from above)
Address
Estates Office
Coventry
Postcode
Phone No. (The stage 2
CV4 7AL
07738 598871
judging day is taking place on
nd
Tuesday 2 June, please ensure
that the number provided is
accessible to the judges, for any
queries, on this day)
E-mail
Category being entered
nick.hillard@warwick.ac.uk
Continuous Improvement – Specific Area
Supporting material?
Yes – photo montage showing the historical development
and enhancement of the initiative.
Confirmation that
background paper read,
and rules accepted
Yes
Application No:
TITLE
Warwick’s Enhancements to its CHP – From good to great. Ongoing modifications
to the campus CHP and district heating network create an exemplar model of
decentralised energy.
SUMMARY
An extensive combined heat and power (CHP) and district heating system has been the
bedrock of Warwick’s drive for effective energy management and carbon reduction since
its introduction to the campus early in 2001. The system has been delivering energy and
environmental efficiencies since its introduction, with more than 8,000 tonnes and
£1million saved in 2007-08.
Since inception, a strategy of expansion and optimisation of the system has yielded a
multitude of additional benefits around environment, finance, reputation and energy
security. The electricity generation potential has been increased and the heating network
extended into new developments and those undergoing refurbishment. Local district
cooling networks have been created to serve areas of high demand and increase the
demand for heat energy in the summer months. Furthermore, recent capital investment in
thermal stores to act as heat reservoirs effectively smooth out peak demands for heat
energy across the campus.
Today the system is one of the largest in the UK and represents an exemplar for the
introduction and subsequent optimisation of decentralised communal energy systems.
THE INITIATIVE
The initiative involves the ongoing expansion and optimisation of the decentralised energy
system, which has played, and will continue to play, a key role in the University’s
programme of environmental improvement.
The University strategy has always been one of extending the district heating system to
embrace all new-build and refurbished buildings. The design of energy efficient new
buildings is facilitated by the presence of such an extensive system. In addition, replacing
energy-inefficient stand-alone boilers with heat supplied and distributed from centralised
plant, the University is making both financial and carbon savings.
The electricity generated from the CHP engines is sufficient to cover the University’s base
load requirement, significantly reducing the reliance upon carbon inefficient grid electricity.
The heat energy generated by the engines is distributed via an extensive 16 kilometres
network of underground pipe work to provide heating, hot water and cooling capacity (via
absorption chillers) to the University facilities.
Significant enhancements to the system in 2008 included the installation of two large
Application No:
thermal stores to store surplus heat from the CHP engines, prior to its use during peak
times. Each thermal store contains 100 cubic metres of water and has a thermal capacity
of 10 MWth. The thermal stores are charged during periods of low heat demand, utilising
heat that may otherwise be surplus to requirement. During periods of peak load
(especially early morning), this heat load is preferentially distributed through the district
heating network, eliminating the local firing of relatively inefficient boiler plant.
Increasing the summer load for heat produced from the CHP plant is a further priority.
The innovative use of local absorption cooling plant and integration of district cooling
circuits forms an integral part of the ongoing carbon management programme.
Although the CHP engines and boilers at the central boiler house are currently gas-fired,
this does not preclude the future incorporation of low carbon fuel sources, such as biofuels. Outline planning permission for such an alternatively fuelled energy centre is
already secured, and this will provide diversity in fuel supply at a time of increased
concern around energy security.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BENEFITS
-
-
-
-
-
Conversion efficiencies associated with such decentralised energy production have
resulted in significant reductions in our carbon dioxide emissions. By comparison to
traditional oil and coal sources of power, our CHP has lower emissions of key
pollutants, in particular carbon dioxide and sulphur compounds, and higher overall fuel
efficiencies (around 80 to 85%).
In 2007-08, the CHP plant generated in excess of 25,000,000 kWh of electricity,
equivalent to the average consumption of 5,000 homes. If this electricity had been
supplied through the National Grid, this would have resulted in the additional release
of approximately 8,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Reduction in surplus heat energy. With the 24 hour operational requirements of the
University, the electricity demand is relatively constant. The heating load however
varies seasonally. In the colder winter months, the heat is fully utilised. This year’s
installation of thermal stores aims to reduce our CO2 emissions by a further 800
tonnes per year. We are also working to increase the summer heat load through the
development of local district cooling networks, thereby replacing energy-intensive
electric air conditioners. In addition to the optimal use of the central generation plant,
the replacement of electric chillers will decrease the electricity consumption at a time
when increasing temperatures and other climate adaptation issues will be coming to
the fore.
Reduction in energy embedded within existing plant on the University of Warwick
campus. It is sometimes easy to overlook the embedded energy and resource use
within replacement plant. Linking existing buildings into the district heating network
eliminates the requirement to purchase replacement boilers. This has the indirect
environmental benefits of reducing raw material usage and associated energy in the
manufacturing process.
Reduced maintenance requirements also have indirect environmental benefits for the
University of Warwick campus. For example, through this reduced maintenance
requirement, transport movements onto and within the campus are reduced.
Application No:
OTHER BENEFITS
1. Financial
- In 2007-08, the CHP plant generated in excess of 25,000,000 kWh of electricity,
equivalent to the average consumption of 5,000 homes. If this electricity had been
supplied through the National Grid, the financial burden to the University would have
been an additional sum in excess of £1 million.
- The certification of the installed system to the CHPQA scheme and its qualification as
“good quality CHP” enables the gas used to carry an exemption to the Climate
Change Levy (CCL). In 2007-08, if this exemption had not been in place, then the
CCL cost would have been in the region of £130,000.
- The addition of large-scale biomass systems to provide additional heat and/or
electricity into the decentralised system is integral to the carbon management
programme and, with the distribution pipe work already in place, the payback
calculations on such an investment start to look very favourable.
2. Reputation / awareness raising
- Prior to the installation of the thermal stores, much of the capital investment in such
energy efficient equipment was either hidden in acoustic enclosures in energy centres
or buried beneath the ground. The two 100 cubic metres thermal stores are a very
visible addition to the system and acted as a catalyst to raise awareness across the
campus. As such, external information boards have now been erected at specific
locations across the campus to detail the extent of the CHP and district heating
system, the impact on existing building performance through refurbishments and the
strategy for the future.
- The CHP and district heating system serves to enhance the University’s existing
record of energy efficient operation.
- Internal articles promoted effective energy management. Improvements to the CHP
system, together with other energy conservation measures, have been widely
promoted in various internal media – intranet, staff newsletters etc. This increases
general awareness around the financial, social and environmental benefits of
improved energy efficiency, both at home and at work.
- Education - Interest in this specific project and general energy conservation work at
the University has resulted in a series of educational opportunities. Numerous
lectures, presentations, final year projects and site-specific design projects have been
undertaken both at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
3. Other
- The University acknowledges that it is heavily reliant upon natural gas. The future
strategy for the system involves diversifying away from exclusively gas-fired
generation. In uncertain times, this will have advantages in terms of security of supply
and knock-on effects for business continuity.
Application No:
RELEVANCE TO THE SECTOR
-
-
-
-
-
This initiative not only involves the introduction of a major environmentally beneficial
system, but also highlights its modification, adaptation and enhancement to drive
improvements – from good to great.
The work over several years has demonstrated a firm commitment to enhance existing
energy management and acts as an exemplar to other public and private sector
institutions.
The reduced carbon emissions associated with this system, if extrapolated across the
entire sector, could go a long way to meeting the likely targets imposed by central
government.
The financial savings associated with the operation of the system (when compared to
conventional energy supply contracts) are significant.
At a time when many institutions are looking at the opportunities that CHP presents, a
long-standing case study such as this system will serve to inform the decision-making.
The enhancements to the system (matching supply to demand, installation of thermal
stores, addition of absorption cooling etc) should again act as a demonstration to other
institutions with existing systems installed or planning to be installed.
Security of supply implications associated with diversification of energy production will
have increasing importance in the future.
Application No:
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
•
Entries must be submitted using the official Green Gown Awards 2009 entry form.
Only entries which were successful at Stage 1 will be accepted.
•
Whilst it is accepted that some overlap is inevitable, activities which have formed the
basis of previous winning or commended entries will be given less weight than others.
•
The closing date for stage 2 entries is 12:00 noon on Monday 18 May 2009.
•
Unless otherwise stated, it is assumed that applicants accept that their applications
will be in the public domain.
•
Unless otherwise stated, it is assumed that applicants will allow the Award organisers
to use applications and materials provided for publicity and marketing purposes.
•
On submission of your stage 2 application form you must complete and return the
short listed marketing information form and accompanying material. This form will be
used for marketing purposes only and will have no bearing on your application.
•
It is expected that winning institutions will be willing to make a presentation on their
applications, if asked, or host a Masterclass for dissemination of best practice in
collaboration with EAUC and other Green Gown partners.
•
The Awards organisers reserve the right to a) refuse an entry if the rules have not
been met, and b) audit stage 2 applications to ensure that claims made are fully
justified.
•
The Award organiser’s decisions are final and no correspondence or appeal will be
entered into.
•
A reliable telephone number must be given for Tuesday 2 June 2009, the stage 2
judging day, in case the judges have any queries about the application.
Application No: