Whiteknights to build new Energy Centre

Wednesday, 14 August 2013

Artist's impression of the new Energy Centre

As part of our commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 35% by 2016, the University of Reading is installing a new Energy Centre that will use Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technology. The new Energy Centre will contribute almost 10% of the carbon savings needed to hit our 35% target and save over £250,000 in utilities costs annually.

CHP is the term used to describe the simultaneous on-site production of electricity and heat. In our case 12-15% of our Whiteknights campus electricity consumption will be produced by the new Energy Centre.

CHP technology also has lower emissions of key pollutants, in particular carbon dioxide and sulphur compounds, and higher overall fuel efficiencies (around 80 to 85%). This is because waste heat is recovered that is usually rejected and will now be piped around the campus to provide hot water and heating to 16 of our key buildings.

From early September 2013 the contractors (Balfour Beatty) will begin work laying a new network of insulated pipes to carry the hot water from the new Energy Centre across the East of the Whiteknights campus between Pepper Lane and Shinfield Road.

The trench digging for the new pipes will take place in three phases. Please see the Hot topic ‘Whiteknights Utilities Project' - see left hand side of page - for more detailed information and a map of areas that will be effected. This information will remain on the staff portal as a ‘Hot topic' for the duration of the project and we will keep you updated regularly as the project progresses.