At UEA we generate 60% of our own electricity (enough power to run over 7,000 households each year) through our Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant. This uses natural gas to generate electricity and the waste heat from this process is used to heat and cool (via absorption chilling) most of our buildings. This process is 86% efficient rather than 35-40% in conventional power stations.
We are also the first UK University to commission biomass technology for power generation - an alternative to burning fossil fuels. It will use wood fuel sourced within a radius of 50km of UEA, capable of generating 1.4 megawatts of electrical power and 2 megawatts of thermal energy (which is approximately 30% of UEA’s need).
There is still a need for us to use some gas and electricity from the National Grid (at present generated by the burning of fossil fuels).
• Combined Heat and Power - Reduction of over 30% in carbon dioxide emissions.
• Tri-generation and district cooling - Saving approximately 770 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
• Renewable biomass generation - saving over 7000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
There is still a need for us to use some gas and electricity from the National Grid (at present generated by the burning of fossil fuels).
See below for methods of Carbon emissions reduction currently employed at UEA:
• Combined Heat and Power - Reduction of over 30% in carbon dioxide emissions.
• Tri-generation and district cooling - Saving approximately 770 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
• Renewable biomass generation - saving over 7000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
