T2 Energy Centre

The T2 Energy Centre is a biomass-fuelled combined heating and power (CHP) station at Heathrow Airport in London, England, which opened in December 2012.[1]

Operation

The energy centre, which has a CHP base heating load of 9 MW (thermal) and a biomass CHP power output of 1.8 MW (electric),[2] took its first delivery of woodchip fuel in November 2012. Prior to serving Terminal 2, due to reopen in spring 2014, the plant will provide base heating and power to Terminal 5.

The Energy Centre will use 25,000 tonnes of woodchips a year, which will be sourced within a 100-mile radius of the airport from sustainable woodlands to reduce haulage requirements, costs and CO2 emissions.[3] The resulting ash will be recycled and used to make fertiliser for local agriculture and manufacturing, eliminating the need to send the ash to landfill. Heathrow claims that the wood fuel process will enable it to save at least 13,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, compared with producing the same output from natural gas, and to reduce its carbon footprint by 34 per cent by 2020.[4] The electricity generated will be fed back into the local grid.

Award

In September 2012, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply awarded Heathrow Airport Limited for 'Best Contribution to Corporate Responsibility' with regard to the energy plant.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Heathrow’s T2 new Energy Centre that opened December 2012" (Press release). LC Energy. 2013.
  2. ↑ "Creating Renewable Heat and Energy for Terminal 2" (Press release). Morgansindall.com. 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "LC Energy wins 15 year woodchip contract at London Heathrow Airport" (Press release). LC Energy. 10 January 2011.
  4. ↑ "Heathrow's ground-breaking sustainable energy centre recognised in awards" (Press release). Heathrow Airport Limited. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  5. ↑ ADS Advance (2 October 2012). "Heathrow's T2 energy centre wins CIPS award" (Press release). ADS Advance. Retrieved 30 January 2013.

External links

Coordinates: 51°27′34″N 0°27′34″W / 51.459423°N 0.459365°W