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Coastal breezes power Penzance college
13.01.10
Truro and Penwith College has installed a wind turbine to supply power for its newly re-developed campus in Penzance.
The 40metre wind turbine in St Clare Street will generate electricity for equipment such as lighting and computers as part of the construction of new buildings and infrastructure on the site of the old Penwith College.
The wind energy project is expected to meet nearly 40 per cent of the energy needs on the campus. In the winter, this will include powering a ground source heating system using the power of the sun, stored naturally in the Earth, to heat the buildings.
Every year the turbine is expected to generate 236,520 units of electricity and 798,228 units of heat, saving 222 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Inside the college a live information system will show how much electricity is being generated and the carbon dioxide saved.
The £272,472 cost of the renewable energy project was met by £164,472 from the college, £34,000 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence Programme, £30,000 from EDF Energy’s Green Fund, £27,000 from the Learning and Skills Council and £17,000 from the South West Regional Development Agency.
Martin Tucker, Director of Penwith College, said: “The redevelopment of the site has given us the opportunity to create a more energy efficient campus which, when combined with the renewable energy source of the wind turbine and our other environmentally-based schemes, will reduce our carbon footprint significantly.
“Our students are very excited about the wind turbine and have been watching its progress with interest. They will be able to use the renewable energy in science-based courses on environmental issues, analysing the output of the wind turbine and seeing its effects first-hand. The college has an outstanding status from Ofsted for its provision of education and we take our environmental responsibilities just as seriously.”
Peter Thorn, who leads EDF Energy’s Programme for Greener Schools, said: “We hope this technology will inspire thousands of students to take an interest in reducing their impact on the environment. As we face up to the challenges of global warming, education has a key role to play in shaping attitudes towards energy generation, consumption and efficiency.
“This equipment will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while bringing the importance of tackling climate change to life for students who have their whole lives ahead of them as energy consumers.”
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office, said: “Developing a low carbon economy means becoming more environmentally smart in everything that we do. This ERDF Convergence investment in alternative energies, as part of the expansion of Higher Education provision in Penwith, is helping us do just that by providing a substantial renewable energy input into the needs of the Penzance campus.”
EDF Energy has awarded £4.25million to 245 renewable energy projects since the Green Fund was launched in 2001, including £1.7million to 103 projects in schools, nurseries and colleges. The fund supports renewable energy projects which produce power from the sun, wind, water and geothermal sources that reduce greenhouse gases linked to global warming. Awards of up to £30,000 are available for projects in Great Britain and such funds have helped schools, charities, local authorities, churches, water mills and other non-profit organisations to generate clean, green energy in their own community.
For further information:
Niamh Arnett
EDF Energy press office
01293 509153
Editor's notes:
1. The combination of EDF Energy and British Energy forms one of the UK’s largest energy companies. The new EDF Energy is the UK’s largest producer of electricity and the largest generator of low carbon electricity in Britain. Through Our Climate and Social Commitments we have launched the biggest environmental and social packages of any UK energy company. We produce around one-fifth of the nation's electricity from our nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. We provide power to a quarter of the UK’s population via our electricity distribution networks and supply gas and electricity to over 5.5 million business and residential customers. The company is a key player in national infrastructure projects including management of private electricity networks serving four London airports and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the country’s first major new railway in 100 years and has published plans to build up to four new nuclear power stations in the UK. EDF Energy and British Energy together employ nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK. EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
2. The Green Fund awards are possible through EDF Energy’s Green Tariff for consumers who decide to choose renewable energy for their home. Customers on the tariff pay less than £15 a year extra towards the Green Fund, which EDF Energy matches pound for pound. Customers can choose renewable energy for their home by calling 0800 096 9696 and requesting information on EDF Energy’s Green Tariff. Each Green Tariff customer receives an energy efficiency pack including a free home energy survey, information on energy efficiency grants, energy efficiency advice and two low energy light bulbs which can save £18 per year on your electricity bill.
3. The Northwind 100kW wind turbine was installed by Midas Construction Limited.
