Waste gas CHP for Peterborough development

A combined heat and power (CHP) system running off biogas from waste is the preferred option for providing energy to a new Peterborough zero carbon development.

Gas produced by processing waste in anaerobic digestion tanks could be used to provide heat and electricity to commercial units and 344 homes on the seven-hectare site on the city’s South Bank.

Earlier this month the consortium pPod was named the preferred developer for the project by English Partnerships, the East of England Development Agency, Peterborough City Council and Opportunity Peterborough.

English Partnerships programme manager Tracy Gorden told New Energy Focus a CHP facility would power a district heating system and that while options were still being considered, a biogas powered CHP was the preferred option.

Ms Gordon said: "The size of the CHP plant will be scaled to the heat demand, but there will also be photovoltaics on every building to provide electricity."

The CHP system is expected to have to provide 127kW of energy and there will also be 2,000 square metres of solar photovoltaic panels generating electricity.

By aiming for homes to be zero carbon, and in compliance with the Sustainable Homes Code’s highest level – six – the development will be ahead of a government target for all homes to be zero carbon by 2016.