Agenda item

For this witness session of the Committee’s review into Reducing the Council’s Carbon Footprint the following information was received:-

Decentralised Energy – Heat and Power- At the last meeting of the Committee discussion took place on the feasibility of this Council operating a Heat and Power plant, similarly to the Bunhill Energy Centre, in the London Borough of Islington. 

The Council’s Energy Manager also referred to the Pimlico District Heating Undertaking which had been around since the 1950s and was the first major initiative to combat London’s air pollution, ahead of the Clean Air Act 1956. The scheme provided heating and water services to 3,256 homes, 50 commercial premises and three schools within the area at a reduced energy cost.

In addition, Pimlico reduced carbon emissions by 11,000 tonnes per year.

Members were provided with details of potential heat and power networks within the Borough which included area close to Uxbridge High Street, Hillingdon Hospital and Brunel University. For such a network to work, the Council would have to work closely with both partners and customers. Reference was also made to the site of the old EMI vinyl factory in Hayes and officers were asked to give this site consideration as a potential network.

Reference was made to the different technologies used:

·           Gas Fired Central Boilers

·           Combined Heat and Power

·          Energy from Waste

·           Anaerobic Digestion

·    Solar Power

·           Air and Ground Source Heating

It was noted that for such a facility to be implemented within the Borough, it would require high level technical feasibility and financial modelling. Members acknowledged that as part of a long term strategy, initiatives such as at Pimlico and Bunhill would provide long term energy savings and benefits for the Council, its partners and its residents.

Discussion took place on Absorption Chilling, which was used in the summer to convert hot water to cool water and officers were asked to consider this in any considerations of Decentralised Energy. Members were informed that Absorption Chilling was cost effective and more economical than electrical chillers and therefore would reduce energy costs.

In conclusion the Committee agreed:

·        That decentralised energy would reduce the Council’s carbon footprint

·        The experience of other Council’s transference of waste heat could be replicated at Hillingdon

·        To understand the feasibility of Decentralised Energy in Hillingdon detailed research and special purpose business models would be required.

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) – Members were reminded that at the last meeting discussion took place on Anaerobic Digestion which was the use of farm and food waste and the using of the gas produced to generate heat and electricity.

The Council’s Energy Manager provided Members with information on the feasibility of such an operation within the Borough. Examples were provided of AD operations which other local authorities had implemented which included Windsor and Maidenhead who had an AD facility in Buckinghamshire.

The benefits of AD to the Council would be:

·        Reducing the amount of food waste which would go to landfill which was one of the key waste management targets. AD would be a cost effective alternative solution to landfilling

·        Income from electricity production by means of renewable energy sources. Energy companies were legally obliged to buy energy produced from renewable energy sources. This would be a revenue stream for the Council and could provide payback on medium scale AD plants of around 6-8years

·        There would be income to the Council of gate fees which would be a type of “toll” on allowing waste over a weighbridge 

·        The Borough had a large proportion of Green Belt in the region which could give the authority the ability to utilise or sell the digestate to the occupiers

·        Generating heat from an AD plant could help supply heat to nearby housing developments. This would again be a source of revenue to the Council and provide lower energy bills for residents.

Discussion took place around AD and reference was made to the possible utilisation of a site near New Years Green Lane. Members were informed that this would be dependent on the planning use of the land and whether an AD plant would be a permissible use. Officers were asked to investigate this.

Reference was also made to the proposed HS2 route and Members asked for clarification for the potential impact on New Years Green Lane.

Members were informed that to produce a feasibility study into this area, officers would require information on the amount of slurry produced at the farms in the Borough, tonnage, collection frequency and costs etc. In details of the volume and type of organic waste that was collected annually in the Borough and could the Council utilise these waste streams, longer term as part of an AD facility. Officers were asked to provide details, if possible, on these areas.

Helping local businesses switch energy supplier –Members were informed that there would be a promotion of this initiative on the Council’s website. Practical advice on switching energy providers and beating price hikes would be made available to businesses in the Borough in an attempt to save businesses energy costs.

Electric Car Charging Points – The Council’s Transport and Aviation Manager provided information on electric charging points within the Borough as requested at the last meeting of the Committee.

The Committee noted that the usage for the various electric charging points indicated that many of the chargemaster charging points were not used frequently, apart from at Grainges Car Park and at Brandville Road Car Park.

Electric cars were limited in their use mainly because of the perception of the range limitations of a full charged vehicle. However, Members were informed that there was a place for electric cars, particularly in urban Cities such as London, because average car trips were less than 10 miles, which were suitable for electric cars.

Discussion took place on possible incentives which could be offered to residents to use electric cars. These included free parking in car parks where electric charging points were located and free parking permits within controlled parking zones. The practicality of these would require investigation.

Consideration could be given to encouraging businesses such as estate agents to use electric vehicles which would reduce carbon emissions for the many short journeys across the Borough which were made.

RESOLVED –

1.   That the information provided as part of the witness session be noted and form part of the evidence for the review.

2.   That officers be asked to carry out the requests detailed above and report back to the Committee.