Southbank aims for district-wide energy options

The study is a joint effort by the London Development Agency (LDA), the South Bank Employers’ Group (SBEG) and London South Bank University (LSBU).

Studies will be done to understand the area’s current and projected energy consumption patterns and to explore opportunities for decentralised energy systems including district heating, combined heat and power (CHP) and biomass.

The project will encourage proactive energy efficiency throughout the South Bank neighbourhood through co-operative business partnerships.

The project will:

• Estimate peak demands of energy consumption within existing buildings and future developments;

• Identify options for creating low carbon energy supply and distribution;

• Estimate the capital, operating and maintenance costs of low carbon options;

• Estimate the carbon emission savings possible;

• Establish a business case for potential options; and

• Report on the recommendations to enable the SBEG Property Group and other key stakeholders to carry them forward.

LSBU project manager and chair of the CIBSE CHP group Phil Jones said it was a good opportunity to study energy supply options for the area and hopefully implement a network of heating, cooling and electricity supplied by CHP. “This should save in running costs for South Bank buildings while reducing CO2 emissions at the same time,” he said

LDA chief executive Manny Lewis said: “The South Bank is an area that is undergoing extensive regeneration with new residential, commercial, high density and mixed-use developments planned in the next few years so there is real potential to make a difference to the area’s carbon emissions. This is an exciting opportunity to develop an integrated area-wide approach to energy efficiency.”