CAfE announces start of district energy scheme feasibility
CAfE announces start of district energy scheme feasibility work
The Christchurch Agency for Energy
(CAfE) has announced the letting of
contracts for
feasibility studies for New Zealand's first city heating
and
cooling District Energy Scheme (DES). A DES
distributes heating and cooling
energy to city buildings
using an underground network of pipes.
The Christchurch
proposals call for the use of renewables as the primary
fuel
source. Being a "smart grid" it will be possible to
capture energy from
other sources, including waste heat,
as well. Such schemes are common in
Europe and North
America and can result in significant savings for
building
owners and their tenants.
CAfE along with the
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA)
has
confirmed selection of the agencies to undertake
three feasibility studies.
The studies commissioned from
the RFP process are:
1. Technical study which will
determine technical aspects and commercial
viability has
been awarded to a consortium consisting of Bizcat, Aurecon
and
FVB.
2. Social, Environmental and Economic study -
awarded to a consortium led by
MWH Global, Taylor Baines
and Associates, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
3. A study
considering possible ownership and investment options has
been
awarded to KPMG.
Octa Associates will project
manage the three feasibility studies on behalf
of
CAfE.
CAfE CEO Merv Altments has welcomed the
appointments, "These studies will
tell us if Christchurch
can realistically take a major step-change towards a
more
renewable and sustainable energy future. We will be keen to
share with
Christchurch the outcomes of the studies in
early 2012, at which stage we
will be better placed to
consider the next steps.
"The rebuilding of Christchurch
has created a one-off opportunity to move
forward with
21st century solutions to our energy requirements without
the
burden of legacy costs associated with existing
building systems," said Mr
Altments.
About Christchurch Agency for Energy
The Christchurch Agency
for Energy (CAfE) Trust is a charitable organisation (Reg #
44869), established by the Christchurch City Council in
partnership with a number of other organisations to:
* raise awareness and promote energy efficiency
initiatives and the
use of renewable energy in
Christchurch;
* reduce environmental problems caused by
the use of fossil fuels in
Christchurch;
and
* introduce initiatives to address the negative
health and social
impacts caused by fuel poverty and
energy affordability issues in
Christchurch.
CAfE is
tasked with investigating options for enhancing
Christchurch's
energy mix, such as the district heating
project proposed in the recently
released draft Central
City Plan.
CAfE works with Government, Councils,
local businesses and building and
property
owners.
ENDS