LONDON, UK, March 28, 2007.
The city of London could generate power from wind turbines at 25 possible locations, and supply 116,000 homes with electricity while displacing 147,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.
The ‘London Wind & Biomass Study’ was conducted by the London Energy Partnership to examine how the UK capital could reduce its carbon emissions by using more wind turbines and by using biomass in combined heat and power (cogeneration) units. The report was compiled from two separate studies: a wind study produced by TNEI Services and a biomass report produced by SEA/RENUE, based on a 40 km radius of London.
The energy demand in London means that generation from wind and biomass are the most appropriate and cost effective forms of renewable energy for the capital, the report concludes. It represents the first publicly available assessment of potential wind locations in London and suggests that, if the projects listed in the study proceed, they could play a significant part in meeting the mayor’s targets of generating 665 GWh of green power by 2010.
“It is essential that we consider what renewable energy technologies work best in London and these London Energy Partnership studies illustrate the potential role for wind and biomass for the capital while also encouraging the implementation of energy strategies at a local borough level,” says mayor Ken Livingstone. “This is particularly important as London has some large-scale development and regeneration projects in the pipeline and we must ensure that sustainability is incorporated into every aspect of planning and design.”
“CO2 emission reduction is fundamental to London's goal of becoming a sustainable world city and, as the mayor has identified, decentralised energy has significant potential to meet this goal,” adds David Green of the London Energy Partnership. “The Partnership’s wind and biomass study will help developers, planners and others to understand its potential. Such awareness is crucial.”
“London faces unique challenges in generating a high proportion of renewable energy due to its predominantly high density, urban area,” the report explains. “However, to meet London’s challenging short and long-term carbon dioxide reduction targets, it is clear that we need to install significant renewable energy capacity.”
“Biomass is not perhaps a renewable energy source typically associated with London, yet it is one of the renewable technologies closest to commercial viability for the urban environment and, in appropriate locations and at the right scale, wind energy is currently one of the most economic and rapid ways of reducing carbon dioxide emissions of energy supply,” it adds. “Tackling climate change and reducing carbon emissions is an imperative and this feasibility study is a valuable and timely investigation into the potential biomass and wind resource available within the Greater London area.”
Current and planned large-scale development in London, such
as the Thames Gateway, represent “an unparalleled opportunity
for maximising renewable energy” which, in conjunction with
energy efficiency, “can make a significant contribution to
reducing carbon dioxide emissions whilst putting London on the
path to becoming a sustainable world city,” adds Livingstone.
The maximum estimated installed (non-building integrated) wind
energy capacity identified through this study for the Greater
London area is predicted to be 50 MW, generating 145 GWh of
electricity a year. The wind feasibility study also looked at
the potential for installing commercial-scale non-building
integrated wind turbines in the urban environment of the Greater
London area.
The London Energy Partnership is funded by the Department of Trade & Industry, Greater London Authority, Energy Saving Trust, London Development Agency and Argent Group with members from Business Councils for Sustainable Energy UK, Carbon Trust, EDF Energy, RBC Capital Markets, London Climate Change Agency, London Sustainability Exchange, Renewable Energy Association, and other groups.
