NEWS
£52m funding buys Stoke a new district heating network
Stoke on Trent will soon receive a large-scale district heating network capable of supplying heat to thousands of homes and businesses in the city, following an injection of government funding. The Stoke on Trent District Heat Network will use deep geothermal heat energy to produce up to 45 GWh a year, save 10,000 tonnes of CO2 a year and lower energy costs by up to 10%. The network is expected to support more than 200 jobs directly, with another 1,350 protected in the supply chain. The venture is backed by £20m from the government
under its city deals initiative, together with £32m of local funding. There will be further private investment for energy projects across the local enterprise partnership (LEP). As well as providing the heat network, over its lifetime
the Stoke on Trent City Deal is intended to: •Help to establish the smart energy network project at
Keele University to test new lower carbon energy sources, which could save 37,300 tonnes of CO2 a year if applied to the Stoke on Trent District Heat Network •Accelerate the development of six new strategic employment sites, supporting the creation of up to 21,400 jobs
•Support local business support programmes to help commercialise new technologies. Stoke and Staffordshire is the 14th of 20 second-wave
areas to conclude a city
deal.like this. Greg Clark, Minister for Cities, told UKPN: “The businesses, local councils and universities of Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire have joined forces to propose a deal that would make the area a flagship for research and development in energy.” Ron Dougan, chair of the Stoke on Trent and
Staffordshire Enterprise Partnership, commented: “This innovative deal offers solutions for the challenges our employers face – the price and stable supply of energy, the need for highly skilled staff, creating the sites and connect- ing infrastructure that businesses need; and support to turn great ideas into commercial success.”
How the district heating will work in Stoke on Trent.
The main benefits of geothermal heating and cooling are provision of local, baseload & flexible renewable energy, and diversification of the energy mix.
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PassivSystems has installed more than half of the planned 75 hybrid heating systems in private and social housing properties in Bridgend, South Wales. This is part of a £5.2m innovation project designed to prove the economic benefits of providing a flexible choice between fuels for heating. Designing heating systems which combine gas boilers with air source heat pumps (ASHP), while employing smart switching between the gas and electric load, enables
Bridgend sees £5.2m hybrid energy‐saving heating system installed
the choice of fuels to match consumer demand for heat. This highly flexible approach allows the heating system to take advantage of time-of-use price differences between the two fuels – so-called ‘fuel arbitrage’. Hybrid heating systems can help householders save money on heating and hot water bills while supporting the shift towards the decarbonisation of heat. Avoiding the use of electricity during times of peak demand
will help reduce the need for further investment in genera- tion capacity. Initial modelling outputs from Imperial College London suggest that the UK energy system could save £1.3bn annually by 2030 as a result of installing hybrid heating systems instead of all-electric air-derived heat pumps. The Freedom project’s
hybrid heating system includes an exterior air source heat pump, a reliable, high- efficiency gas boiler inside the home, and a hybrid control panel that enables switching between the two heat sources to automatically use the most cost-effective heating mode at any time of the day or night. There are no further modifica- tions or interruptions required in customer properties. PassivSystems will monitor
the performance of the hybrid systems during the 2017/18 heating ‘season’ to evaluate the potential for energy savings and reducing carbon emissions. Initial estimates suggest a 35% reduction in carbon emissions per home.
GKinetic Energy reports succcesful prototype testing fullscale tidal turbine is the next production model
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reland-based tidal energy company GKinetic Energy is to develop its first commercial device after the successful completion of its prototype testing programme. The Newcastle West- based company will develop its first 25kW commercial device after its 8kW unit generated outputs above international industry standards. The device will be capable of generating enough electricity to power up to 15 homes. Horizon 2020 grant funding of €2.7m has been received through Gkinetic’s manufacturing
partner DesignPro Ltd to commercialise 25kW and 60kW devices using its unique technology. The GKinetic device operates in rivers with its turbines placed at either side of a vertical cylinder, exploiting the natural phenomenon of water accelerating around an obstacle. Research shows that the power available through this acceleration is twice that of natural water flow.
The compact design and size of the GKinetic device also means that it is easily deployed, operating in depths as shallow as two metres and widths of three metres, meaning remote, off- grid communities now have the option for their energy requirements. Chief executive Vincent McCormack said: “We came up with a floating device that accelerates the flow into the turbines, so we are actually getting double the speed of the water and, therefore, greater power. We are now going to develop our first commercial unit but that will require rigorous testing over two years. Once we’re beyond that we expect to be into full production of 25kW machines in 2020.” Its 8kW prototype has been successfully tested at the Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) over the past year. The 25kW device will also be tested at Limerick Docks prior to being deployed at certified river or estuary test sites.
SEPTEMBER‐OCTOBER 2017 UK POWER NEWS
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