UK's 'first' building-integrated wind turbine and PV system to go up
August 13, 2006
A renewable energy system combining building-integrated wind turbines will photovoltaics will be the first such project in the UK, according to the London Climate Change Agency.
The 84kW system will provide electricity for the new offices of the London Climate Change Agency (LCCA), due to move into the Palestra building on Blackfriars Road in September.
"This is the first combined photovoltaic and building-integrated wind turbine system in the UK," LCCA chief executive Alan Jones told edie.
"Other similar projects may be in the course of design or planning application submitted but Palestra already has the photovoltaics installed, and the building integrated wind turbines will be installed in September 2006."
The system brings the benefits of combined photovoltaic and integrated wind generation to urban settings, with solar output highest in the summer, wind turbine output highest in winter, and wind filling in the night-time gap in solar generation, he explained.
Fourteen wind turbines generating 21kW will go up on the roof of the Palestra building in September, adding to the existing 63kW photovoltaic panel array.
The PV-wind system will provide 4% of the offices' total energy needs, Mr Jones said. A feasibility study into using fuel cells alongside the renewables to give all of the energy used for electricity, heat and cooling in the offices is on the way.
The LCCA hopes that the Palestra building will become an example to businesses of how renewables can be successfully integrated into urban settings. The renewables system will cut carbon emissions from the offices by 10%, or 3,300 tonnes over its lifetime, according to the agency.
Allan Jones said: "The LCCA, in 'showing by doing', is hoping to stimulate the renewable energy market not just for new development where renewable energy is required to gain planning consent, but also for existing development, in particular office, retail, commercial and public buildings, where owners/occupiers are subject to the EU Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings."
"There are many buildings in London that could replicate the renewable energy system at Palestra, which collectively could have a huge impact in reducing London's carbon footprint."
The cost of the 84kW renewable energy system is expected to come to £436,000. This should be offset by future savings:
"The premium for green tariff to serve a building like Palestra would be in the region of 15%, so this is being saved, in addition to the avoidance of paying the Climate Change Levy plus the income that would be generated from the Renewable Obligation and Levy Exemption Certificates," said Allan Jones.
Contractor Solar Technologies will install the fourteen Swift rooftop turbines, manufactured by Edinburgh-based Renewable Devices.
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, said: "The London Climate Change Agency has provided the expertise for this project which will act as a living example of how the Agency can help other organisations to become more sustainable in their use of energy."
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