Commitments
ODA
The ODA has committed that:
- Across the Site as a whole, sufficient on-site renewable energy generation capacity shall be installed to meet at least 20 percent of the annual carbon emissions of the venues and other buildings to be retained within the Site in the Legacy phase. (Planning Conditions, LTD1.3)
This commitment is also contained within the ODA Sustainable Development Strategy and forms part of a wider commitment on carbon reduction.
- The ODA aspires to achieve a reduction in carbon emissions for the built environment of 50 per cent by 2013 (ODA Sustainable Development Strategy).
This is also listed as a commitment in the London 2012 Sustainability Plan, 2nd Edition, December 2009
LOCOG
When bidding to host the Games London 2012 made this commitment:
- At Games time, 20 per cent of Olympic Park electricity requirements will be met by new local renewable energy sources: eg advanced waste-to-energy technologies, photovoltaic panels, small scale wind turbines, bio-diesel generators and micro-co-generation for public lighting venue, accommodation, and electric vehicle power. All additional site electricity demand will be imported from off-site renewables, eg wind farms and marine current turbines.
This was re-iterated in the London 2012 Sustainability Plan, which stated that they will supply 20 per cent of Olympic Park electricity requirements at Games-time from new local renewable energy sources.
For the purposes of this target, local was provisionally defined as Greater London, plus Thurrock and North Kent Thameside. Games-time is the 77 day period from 27 June 2012 (when the Main Media Centre opens) until 12 September 2012 (when the Main Media Centre and Paralympic Village close).
In the London 2012 Sustainability Plan, LOCOG’s Sustainability Partner, EDF Energy, committed to providing a low carbon fuel solution for the flames of the Olympic torch and the cauldron. They are currently considering options for this.
OPLC
The OPLC inherits the ODA targets of
- 50% carbon reduction in the operation of the built environment by 2013 and
- 20% of energy in legacy to come from onsite renewable sources.
In addition, housing built after 2016 will need to comply with Government plans for zero carbon homes.
Plans being developed
The ODA have adopted an approach of lean, mean, green:
- Lean – They are minimising the energy demand, through building energy efficient venues.
- Mean – Then they are supplying heat, cooling and power from an on site energy centre. This further reduces their carbon emissions.
- Green – Finally they plan to generate heat and power from renewable sources.
The ODA are installing biomass boilers in the energy centre to supply part of their renewable energy target.
The ODA originally intended that a significant proportion of the target would come from a large wind turbine situated to the north of the Olympic Park. Plans for this were dropped after it emerged that new health and safety legislation would impact on the preferred turbine and that it was not likely to be possible to resolve all the issues to allow for construction before the Games. The Commission supported this decision on the condition that we still expect the ODA to meet their renewable energy and carbon reduction targets. The Commission made a statement on this, which can be found here. Alternative plans are being developed to meet the target.
LOCOG are developing their plans for renewable electricity. They described this target as being challenging in the 2009 London 2012 Sustainability Plan.
LOCOG are currently considering options for a low carbon torch and cauldron.
The Commission will review all these plans as they develop.
