CRed - The Community Carbon Reduction Project at UNC-Chapel Hill

Energy dependence and fuel poverty are two major problems in England today. Along with the threat of global warming, the reduced production of oil, gas, and coal in the U.K. causes concern for future energy supplies. An important goal for England in the future is to become energy independent. About three million households in the U.K. are considered to be in fuel poverty, with individuals with lower incomes barely able to afford heating or are spending a great proportion of total income to obtain heat and electricity. Providing heat and electricity to all homes, and thereby promoting social justice, is an important sustainability goal. Energy dependence and fuel poverty can be reduced with the implementation of more sustainable power sources like a CHP facility at the North West site.

The current electricity needs of Cambridge are fulfilled by power plants using several different fuel types. The use of gas (40%), coal (32%), and nuclear (22%) power dominates the fuel use in the U.K., a mix similar to that in Cambridge. As of 1997, only 1.8 percent of electricity was produced by CHP facilities and 0.9 percent from renewable sources. Electricity generation contributes approximately 30% of the overall emissions of carbon dioxide in the U.K., equivalent to a per capita rate of 2.7 tons of carbon dioxide per person.

The Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) carries out the Quality Assurance aspects for CHP to achieve the Government's target of at least 10,000 MW of installed Good Quality CHP capacity by 2010. CHP schemes offer substantial environmental, economic, and social benefits, as well as security of energy supply. In 2001, about six percent of U.K.'s electricity requirements were supplied by CHP plants, saving about 4.4 mega tons of carbon (MtC) annually. The use of CHP can increase fuel efficiency to 75 percent, compared against the 40 percent for conventional electricity generation. The new energy target will help England and Cambridge move towards a competitive, thriving, low-carbon economy. The The graph to the right shows the trend of use of CHP within the U.K. since 1977, as well as the government's goal for 2010. It illustrates a large, but attainable goal for CHP installation in the next six years.  Installing a CHP at the North West site would help reduce overall carbon dioxide emissions. Because CHP is locally provided, it reduces transmission and distribution losses. It also significantly increases fuel efficiency by capturing waste heat and distributing it to local buildings, thus reducing the need to heat those buildings using energy produced off-site.

Many areas and universities around the world have shown that CHP can provide the required energy to satisfy needs while reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill installed a CHP that provides one third of the electricity and all of the heat for the campus (a campus that is approximately 50% larger than the entire University of Cambridge). This facility captures 60% of heat lost in traditional systems and uses it to heat nearby homes and buildings. It has been recognized twice, in 1999 and 2003, by the U.S. EPA with the Energy Star's Combined Heat and Power Award given to leaders who increase the electric generation efficiency of the nation through CHP projects. UNC has reduced their carbon dioxide emissions by 10,620 tons annually as a result. A highly efficient CHP facility can reduce such emissions by 50 to 60 percent and effectively reduce other pollutants. A facility at the North West site could provide similar reduction in carbon dioxide emissions relative to more traditional technologies, as well as create recognition for the University of Cambridge and the community as a leader in installing a sustainable energy source and helping England move towards a low carbon economy.

For a more detailed analysis of the industrial sector and a possible CHP facility, please see the 2004 Final Report.