Cofely completes first phase of Leicester district energy scheme based on CHP and biomass
Cofely has completed the first phase of the Leicester district-energy scheme serving thousands of homes, as well as council-owned and other buildings. The scheme uses a combination of over 5 MW of gas-fired CHP and upgraded biomass boilers, which will help reduce carbon emissions by around 12 000 t a year by 2012, rising to over 20 000 t a year by 2020.
This scheme is a 25-year partnership between Leicester City Council and Cofely District Energy. It covers six city estates and is said to be the largest system of its kind in the UK installed in one phase. Work to lay the 7 km of pipework took about 18 months and was completed five weeks ahead of schedule.
Included in the scheme is a new 3.2 MW CHP engine at the University of Leicester. It will provide heating to several city-council buildings, including De Montfort Hall, the Town Hall, Moat Community College and Leicester Central Library. It will also provide heat to HMP Leicester.
Simon Woodward, chief executive of Cofely District Energy, said, ‘The Leicester district energy scheme is one of the largest projects of its kind in the UK to be constructed in the UK and has been completed ahead of schedule and on budget. Now fully operational, the scheme will stand as an example of what can be achieved with the vision and ambition that Leicester City Council has shown.’
Grant Charman, deputy director of estates at Leicester University, said, ‘We have a sector-leading carbon-reduction target (60% by 2020), and the district-energy scheme will help the university to make the first big reductions against this target.’
