Agenda item

This item will look at the current provision of heat to Southwark, the potential to expand heat networks, and the management of air quality. A report from SELCHP is enclosed.

 SELCHP representatives attending to present will be Neil Brothers (Head of ERF Operations) and Thomas Folliard (General Manager - SELCHP Energy Recovery Facility).

The following Environment Agency officers will attend:

:

·  John Tollervey, Regulatory Officer EPR Compliance, EPR Installations: Kent, South London and East Sussex

·  Paul Bennett

Paul Newman, Team Leader - Environmental Protection Team, Southwark council will attend to advise on air quality. A briefing note from officers is enclosed.

SELCHP representatives Neil Brothers (Head of ERF Operations) and Thomas Folliard (General Manager - SELCHP Energy Recovery Facility) provided a presentation, enclosed with the minutes

The chair then invited the following Environment Agency officers to comment on emission performance: John Tollervey, Regulatory Officer EPR Compliance, EPR Installations: Kent, South London and East Sussex and Paul Bennett, Installations Team Leader, Kent South London and East Sussex. 

The Environment Officers advised that SELCHP is a good performer. There has been one minor breach last year. SELCHP is rated as B. Members asked what would it take for SELCHP to be an A rated performer and Environment Agency officers said that there is a point system. A minor breach adds points preventing an A grade. This could be a small issue such as a late submission. There is also continual monitoring of emissions and there was one breach for VOCs, which was marginally over permitted levels, however the impact assessment said there was no impact. In a previous year there was a loss of data for a few days and that did require remedial work to prevent a reoccurrence including retraining of staff. There is process to monitor and assess problems and identify actions and SELCHP are very good at following through on remedial actions.

Members asked about the spread of performance across the country. Environment Agency officers that there is a spread. A & B is the expected level, whereas with C or D there is more to do on performance. Most incinerators are performing at B or C as incinerators are large and complex; SELCHP’s B rating is pretty good.

A member commented that some time ago Greenpeace occupied an incinerator over emissions, particularly re dioxin. The SELCHP representative that that there have been technology improvements on emissions, and on dioxin in particular. Public Health England’s evaluation was incinerators have negligible impact on Air Quality. The current dioxin output is sufficiently low that it does not require monitoring or further measures.

Environment Agency will be payed a subsistence fee to enable audit or non-compliance audits. This not a fine, but will incinerators have to pay for extra activity.

Paul Newman, Team Leader - Environmental Protection Team, Southwark Council, was asked to for advice on emissions from SELCHP and commented there are 8 grams per minute emitted, but gas would also have emissions.

Members asked about present costs to Southwark residents in estates using the SELCHP network.  Southwark bulk buys energy which go to communal District Heat Networks. SELCHP could not give a price comparison with gas but said it would be comparable, noting that there is a requirement that heat networks not to be more expensive.  Members asked to what degree the price is pegged to world energy prices. SELCHP said that the heat price is not impacted directly by volatility, rather it is linked to RPI so not subject to risks of the energy market.

Members asked how the second phase of District Heat Networks would be built and if there would be disruption that will that entail biodiversity loss. SELCHP representative said that the plan is to follows the route of roads and pathways; so not predominantly going through parks and green spaces. This will be temporary disruption and this will be managed. The impact to biodiversity would be minimal.

SELCHP were asked if this is the greenest option for an energy network and the representatives responded that there are differing views on this, however the heat is already generated so the energy is ready to be extracted and so it would be a green use as it is efficient to use this availability rather than sources such as gas.  They explained that this is still presently in development so looking at planning and risks. Once this is completed then Southwark would be able to make a decision.

Members asked where municipal waste would go if not SELCHP and the SELCHP representatives responded that waste would probably either go to another incinerator of landfill, and there is lots of studies that show energy recovery is better for the environment than landfill.

A member commented that he is excited by SELCHP as it is a bold civil engineering project, and that the expansion of the District Heat Networks offers an opportunity to provide heating to council homes. He asked about the time frame and if there will be enough capacity for council homes, private development and houses in the wider community. SELCHP said the council needs to retrofit council homes to receive the District Heating Network from SELCHP. Presently the council and SELCHP are in the commercialisation phase. If this progresses well then construction could take place at the back end of this year. It will take 2 to 3 years complete, but there could be some energy available in 1 to 2 years.

SELCHP would like to see full utilisation of the heat avaible. There are other projects in the pipeline, including the completed connection to the Biscuit Factory. There is a limitation on the amount of heat available but SELCHP is a few years away from that, and there is some possible room to expand.

Members asked if distance is a limiting factor and SELCHP explained that there can be quite long up pipes, up to hundreds of kilometres in Europe as this is hot water under pressure. Presently the network is only 2 miles.

SELCHP was asked about incineration efficiency, commenting that Gas is supposed to be 80% efficient, however the SELCHP presentation spoke of 20% efficiency rising to above 40%.  SELCHP responded that Gas energy efficiency is higher, however the carbon exists anyway in waste.

Members commented that for old buildings  that cannot be retrofitted it seems to make sense in terms of carbon savings to connect to the SELCHP District Heating Network , but new buildings ought to use heat pumps and electricity and a connection to SELCHP  makes less sense .The hierarchy in use ought to be old estates, rather than new estates.  However, planning applications reference connection to heat networks and this is encouraged.  There is an assessment that includes connection to a heat network - and often would include a recommendation to connect.

Members asked SELCHP how practical it is to connect to properties such a Victorian terraces. SELCHP said it is not usually economically viable to connect an individual property, rather it tends to be viable to connect to an old or new estate where it is viable, or a swimming pool, or an office development, such as the Biscuit Factory.