The Energy Centre in the west of the Olympic Park

27 Apr 2012 - The final elements of the infrastructure that will help to make London 2012 the most sustainable Games to date have been completed by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), with it on track to exceed a challenging target to reduce the carbon footprint of the Olympic Park by 50%.

The final elements of the infrastructure that will help to make London 2012 the most sustainable Games to date have been completed by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), with it on track to exceed a challenging target to reduce the carbon footprint of the Olympic Park by 50%.

The Energy Centre on the Park is now fully operational, contributing towards the Park’s renewable energy target. During the Games, the Centre will provide heating and cooling to the Park and the Olympic and Paralympic Village, and will export low carbon power to the national grid.

The facility, around 30% more efficient than traditional methods of generating power and heat, uses innovative technologies including a Combined Cooling Heat & Power plant. This captures and uses waste heat and has been powering venues on the construction site since 2010.

The ODA has also installed solar panels (photovoltaic cells) on the roof of the Main Press Centre to generate renewable energy. Along with cells that will be fitted to the roof of the adjacent multi-storey car park after the Games, this will help save around 170 tonnes of carbon every year.

Dennis Hone, Chief Executive of the ODA, said: 'We set out to push the boundaries on the construction of the Olympic Park to see how sustainable we could make the venues and infrastructure – not just for the Games but for years afterwards. The result is one that the UK construction and engineering industries can be proud of as a showcase of innovation and careful planning.'

The ODA set itself tough sustainability benchmark in consultation with the Commission for a Sustainable London, an independent body set up to monitor and assure the sustainability of the Games.

Together with the Energy Centre’s biomass boiler, the solar panels will enable the ODA to deliver approximately 11% of the Olympic Park energy requirements after the Games from renewable technology. This is lower than the 20% target originally intended, as changes in industry regulations forced a rethink on installing a large wind turbine in the Park. However, a stronger emphasis on overall carbon reduction will ultimately mean the ODA is on track to substantially surpass the 50% mark.

This has involved the ODA funding two pioneering carbon-reduction schemes that will help save around 1,500 tonnes of carbon across London each year as part of the Greater London Authority’s (GLA’s) energy-saving drive.

Energy-saving technology will be fitted in 12 Host Boroughs schools as part of the RE:FIT programme, being delivered by EDF (official electricity supplier to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games). Measures including energy-efficient lighting, upgraded heating systems and optimising boilers will cut the schools’ energy consumption by 25% per year once the work is completed in September 2012, saving around 700 tonnes of carbon.

A further saving of at least 800 tonnes of carbon will be saved by retrofitting homes using the ‘whole house approach’ of the GLA’s RE:NEW model. This will be achieved through modifications including loft and cavity wall insulations, low-level lighting and draught-proofing.

Related Story

• Olympic Park light show marks completion of arts programme(04-28 09:59)
• London 2012 launches Uniform Distribution and Accreditation Centre(04-28 09:53)
• London 2012 sustainability measures praised by UN Environment Chief(04-28 09:31)
• Athletics Euros to be vital stepping stone to London(04-27 11:51)
• Denmark selects sailing team, wrestlers for London Games(04-27 10:59)