Hydrogen fuel cell to power TfL and LDA building

The hydrogen fuel cell will provide electricity, hot water, heat and cooling for the Palestra building in Southwark.

The completion of the building’s retrofit by TfL (which acquired a 20 year lease back in 2006) should ensure that it generates a quarter of its own energy at peak times, rising to 100 per cent off-peak.

It is hoped that other organisations in the capital will be inspired by the Palestra’s example, where it is estimated that the fuel cell and power plant will cut carbon emissions by up to 40 per cent and generate £90,000 cost savings each year.

A permanent multi-media exhibition display – fueled by the energy generated on site – will communicate the benefits of hydrogen and the fuel cell to people passing and visiting the building.

“Zero polluting hydrogen fuel has the potential to radically transform the way we power our city to create a more pleasant environment,” said Kit Malthouse, chair of the London Hydrogen Partnership and Deputy Mayor of London for policing.

“This isn't a fuel of the future, but available right now. To catalyse its use more widely, we are showcasing the technology, so others will be inspired to follow our lead.”

Radical improvement in the energy efficiency of the capital’s buildings will be essential if the target set by the Mayor of London – to reduce CO2 levels by 60 per cent by 2025 (against 1990 levels) – is to be met.

Greater London Authority Group buildings, including those occupied by TfL and the LDA, produce around 0.18 million tonnes of carbon a year – accounting for just one per cent of all emissions from London's commercial and public sector buildings.

So there is a limit to what organisations like TfL and LDA can do simply by improving the energy efficiency of their own buildings.

London's commercial and public sector buildings overall, however, produce around 15 million tonnes of carbon per year and account for a massive 33 per cent of total London emissions – so the value inspiring others to make cuts is clear.

TfL and LDA have saved £2 million through energy efficiency measures
The installation of the fuel cell and power plant at the Palestra building is just one of a raft of measures that TfL and the LDA have adopted in order to cut carbon emissions and improve their organisations’ environmental impact. The two organisations claim to have saved almost £2 million by improving their buildings’ energy efficiency over the past four years.

TfL and the LDA have now joined City Hall in signing up to the 10:10 campaign, making the pledge to reduce carbon emissions from their head offices by 10 per cent in the next financial year.

A range of initiatives will be employed to do this – from solar panels to heat water, to green roofs to boost insulation, help absorb rainwater and boost local ecology. Around 1,000 halogen lamps will be replaced with low-energy LED lamps and motion and daylight sensors will be installed so lighting will only come on when needed.

From this April, TfL and LDA will also embark on a programme to encourage staff to become more energy efficient, with a view to cutting unnecessary energy use from office equipment.

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Related links:
www.tfl.gov.uk
www.lda.gov.uk