Olly Wells

Former Liberal Democrat Councillor for Knaphill Learn more

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Visit to Thameswey Milton Keynes combined heat and power station

by admin on 10 October, 2010

On Saturday 18th September I took part in a council visit to the Thameswey Milton Keynes combined heat and power (CHP) energy station in Milton Keynes. I was finding it hard to get my head around why Woking Borough Council has invested in a power station and private wire network to convert mains gas to electricity and to sell it to companies and local people. Following the visit I think I have a much deeper understanding of the benefits beyond the simple loan margin (profit) that Woking makes from the difference it charges the ThamesWey group in interest on loans over the interest it pays itself.

There is very little environmental benefit to converting gas to electricity on the face of it. However, if when converting the gas to electricity, the excess heat from producing the electricity is captured and used to provide heat for heating many of the same businesses and residents who purchase the electricity, the carbon footprint is reduced. By doing this, carbon involved in the process is 20% lower than if the two processes of producing electricity and heating were carried out separately.  In Milton Keynes the CHP saved approximately 1,108 tonnes of CO2 during 2009. That is equivalent to the total annual carbon emissions of 170 Woking households.  It is worth noting that Woking also has a variety of CHP stations working in a very similar way to the one in Milton Keynes.

While this is impressive I would like to see the gas used switched from gas from the mains that is currently referred to by the Council as a sustainable source, to a renewable source, such as gas from landfill.  This would also enable Woking to continue to be an environmental leader, rather than as at present, as a former environmental leader.

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