Two new energy centers in London's Stratford City and Kings Yard areas are supplying 10 megawatts (MW) of efficient power, heating and cooling for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games as well as East London's businesses and residential areas after the Games conclude. Three of GE's 3.3-MW ecomagination-qualified Jenbacher J620 cogeneration units are powering the energy centers and generating electricity equivalent to the amount used by 24,000 average UK homes.
The energy center initiative is a cornerstone of London 2012's plan to increase the use of alternative energy, water conservation and recycling to minimize the environmental impact of the Games. The London Olympic Delivery Authority built the facilities to help reach its target of a 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions while meeting the city's power needs that are expected to surge as more than 15,000 athletes and millions of spectators arrive for the Games.
The energy centers are designed to operate in combined cooling, heat and power-or trigeneration-mode to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Absorption chillers using the high-temperature heat available from the exhaust of the unit generate chilled water. Combined heat and power (CHP) technologies are more efficient than using separate electrical and thermal power systems and thus helps to reduce emissions from power generation. By using this technology, about 13,000 tons of CO2 savings can be achieved. This amount of greenhouse gas emission savings is equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions emitted by about 6,500 European Union (EU) passenger cars.
“Our energy centers powered by GE's gas engines are not only crucial to the success of the London 2012 Olympic Games but also for the goal of establishing a more sustainable business and residential environment throughout the city long after the Games have ended,” said Simon Wright, director of infrastructure and utilities for the Olympic Delivery Authority.
