The UK city of Northampton has had a recent addition to its skyline in the shape of a 26-metre (m) flue shaft, complete with LED screen, which is part of the University of Northampton’s woodchip-fired energy centre located on its Waterside Campus.
The University of Northampton’s Waterside Campus is currently being built on a former 58-acre (≈ 23.4 ha) brownfield site on the banks of the River Nene close to Northampton town centre. Work started in July 2015 on the GBP 330 million (≈ EUR 363.6 million) project and the campus will open in September 2018 ready for the new academic year.
The University has worked closely with UK-based sustainable energy specialists, Vital Energi to construct the GBP 6.5 million (≈ EUR 7.16 million) energy centre for the campus and marked the completion in a special ceremony on August 1 where the screen was officially switched on by Professor Nick Petford, Vice Chancellor of the University of Northampton.
We are delighted to have the opportunity to develop the University’s commitment to its sustainability agenda and environmental infrastructure has been a key factor in the planning and construction of the Waterside Campus. By working with Vital Energi we have a sustainable, future proof heating network which will serve the campus well, said Bob Griggs, Project Director at the University of Northampton.
A 1 MW woodchip-fired boiler following the completion of the 1.6 km district heating network will distribute the heat and hot water to 16 buildings around the campus. The energy centre also contains three 4MW gas fired boilers and a 120m3 thermal store.The flue shaft is fitted with a 27 sq.m LED screen, which has been incorporated to enhance the visual architecture of the building, will showcase the university at the gateway to the town on the Bedford Road.
According to a statement, the energy centre has been designed to produce fewer emissions than traditional systems and will save over 1 000 tonnes of fossil carbon dioxide (CO2) in the short term by using woodchip and gas to provide hot water and low carbon heating to buildings around the campus. This is expected to rise to 2 200 tonnes annually once the combined heat and power (CHP) engine is added to the centre.
Creating a renewable energy solution for a new town centre campus is an ambitious objective, however, the University has achieved this whilst demonstrating their commitment to sustainability. From the energy centre’s unique architecture and cladding through to the LED screen of the flue shaft, the scheme creates a great example for the industry, said Mike Cooke, Regional Director at Vital Energi.
