According to a sustainability progress report released this week by the Olympic Delivery Authority, the Aquatics Centre will use non-HFC chillers, confirming the discussions that took place last week in a relevant event attended by ammonia21.com in London. However, the choice of ammonia as a refrigerant may not be final just as yet.
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) announced this week that it is on track or exceeding the wide-ranging set of sustainability targets for the London 2012 construction project. It has for the purpose published a document titled “ODA Design and Construction Update”, providing an overview of the state of play of constructions with regards to sustainability. The publication comes a week after an event in London discussed the issue of sustainability in the next Olympics, including refrigerants.
Non-HFC chillers cooling the Aquatics Centre
According to the document, “cooling the Aquatics Centre will use non-hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) chillers. As a result, more than 90 per cent of cooling supplied to permanent venues will be HFC free after the Games”. The document, however, avoids mentioning the exact type of refrigerant, revealing that definite decisions may have not been taken yet and a “keeping all options open” approach.
In a relevant event held in London the week before the publication, Dan Epstein, Head Sustainability ODA, told ammonia21.com that the authority has been considering the use of ammonia chillers for the Aquatics Centre and has been in talks with the natural refrigerant proponents such as Star Refrigeration, Earthcare Products and the Environmental Investigation Agency. He added, however, that the Authority has also been in talks with the HFC chemical industry concerning drop in R134a replacement solutions.
The ODA had previously announced its decision to use natural refrigerants to cool the Aquatic Centre building, after receiving criticism last summer from the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 among others for its original plans to use HFCs for the purpose. The ODA had also announced to use natural refrigerants to cool the Olympic stadium. Nonetheless, neither the new document nor the London event provided any information concerning the cooling of the latter venue.
Energy Centre features Combined Cooling Heat & Power plant
The new Energy Centre and network being built on the site will provide efficient and low-carbon power by using new technology including biomass boilers and a Combined Cooling Heat & Power plant to capture the heat generated as a by-product of electricity production. According to the “Sustainable design and construction update”, 2,250 tonnes in carbon will be saved per year due to the Combined Cooling Heat and Power (CCHP) plant. The Energy Centre will feature ammonia chillers as announced earlier this year by chairman of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 Shaun McCarthy. However, no details in this respect are provided in the update.
Next 9 months critical in choosing suppliers
At the London event, Paul Hartmann, Development Manager of the ODA stated that the “next 9 months are key”, in terms of decisions. Only half of the available funds available have been allocated. It remains to be seen, therefore, whether the the London Olympics will feature truly sustainable cooling systems.
Non-HFC chillers cooling the Aquatics Centre
According to the document, “cooling the Aquatics Centre will use non-hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) chillers. As a result, more than 90 per cent of cooling supplied to permanent venues will be HFC free after the Games”. The document, however, avoids mentioning the exact type of refrigerant, revealing that definite decisions may have not been taken yet and a “keeping all options open” approach.
In a relevant event held in London the week before the publication, Dan Epstein, Head Sustainability ODA, told ammonia21.com that the authority has been considering the use of ammonia chillers for the Aquatics Centre and has been in talks with the natural refrigerant proponents such as Star Refrigeration, Earthcare Products and the Environmental Investigation Agency. He added, however, that the Authority has also been in talks with the HFC chemical industry concerning drop in R134a replacement solutions.
The ODA had previously announced its decision to use natural refrigerants to cool the Aquatic Centre building, after receiving criticism last summer from the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 among others for its original plans to use HFCs for the purpose. The ODA had also announced to use natural refrigerants to cool the Olympic stadium. Nonetheless, neither the new document nor the London event provided any information concerning the cooling of the latter venue.
Energy Centre features Combined Cooling Heat & Power plant
The new Energy Centre and network being built on the site will provide efficient and low-carbon power by using new technology including biomass boilers and a Combined Cooling Heat & Power plant to capture the heat generated as a by-product of electricity production. According to the “Sustainable design and construction update”, 2,250 tonnes in carbon will be saved per year due to the Combined Cooling Heat and Power (CCHP) plant. The Energy Centre will feature ammonia chillers as announced earlier this year by chairman of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 Shaun McCarthy. However, no details in this respect are provided in the update.
Next 9 months critical in choosing suppliers
At the London event, Paul Hartmann, Development Manager of the ODA stated that the “next 9 months are key”, in terms of decisions. Only half of the available funds available have been allocated. It remains to be seen, therefore, whether the the London Olympics will feature truly sustainable cooling systems.
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Nov 27, 2009, 13:59
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