Woking, The UK’s leading Local Authority for Renewable Energy & Sustainable Development
Woking is a modern town located in South East UK, through its Environmental and Energy Policy in 1991 the council introduced a number of ground breaking measures to protect the environment and reduce pollution. By investing in energy saving and water saving techniques the revenue saved was re-invested in sustainable and renewable energy projects and futher measures to improve efficiency.The results have been remarkable and Woking Council is recognised as one of the most energy efficient and sustainable local authorities in the UK, supplying green locally generated electricity via private wire networks, and heat via local CHP systems.
Twenty three years later Woking BC has the highest concentration of sustainable and renewable energy power systems in the United Kingdom, covering a broad range of technologies, photovoltaics, CHP, low pressure absorption cooling, a ground source heat pump, a demonstration fuel cell, all combining on a grid-connected private wire system and managed by an ESCO. (Energy Services Company) the template has been adopted by the London Climate Change Agency as a model for the capital & other authorities.
Summary of Energy, Environmental and Financial Savings 1991 to 2006
Energy Consumption Savings 248,588,943 kWhrs 52% saving
Carbon Dioxide CO2 Emission Savings 144,380 Tonnes 82% saving
Woking’s innovation and leadership has been further developed with the adoption of a long term climate change strategy in 2002, the strategy is designed to meet the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution targets of 60% reductions of equivalent emissions by 2050, and 80% by 2100. The strategy takes a carbon neutral approach with the logo Think Globally, Act Locally, areas covered include, Planning & Regulation, Energy Services, Waste, Transport, Procurement, Education & Promotion, Management of Natural Habitats and Adapting to Climate Change.
- Brockhill sheltered housing scheme for elderly residents, grid-connected Hybrid Green Power System 81.5kWp photovoltaics and 30 kW CHP (Combined Heat & Power)
- Vyne Medical Centre & Knaphill Surgery, grid-connected Hybrid Green Power System with 40kWp photovoltaics and 22 kW shared CHP
- The UK’s first commercially operating grid-connected 200kW fuel cell (a demonstration project), PV and CHP system located at Woking Leisure Centre and pool
Related Training Programmes
Photographs Reproduced by courtesy of Woking Borough Council, www.woking.gov.uk