2010 Media Releases
Cogeneration to Cut Carbon
13 January 2010
Willoughby City Council is making concerted efforts to cut the carbon emissions of its buildings and reduce electricity costs by installing a cogeneration system at the Willoughby Leisure Centre.
Cogeneration, or combined heat and power systems, work similarly to a car engine, generating electricity along with heat as a by-product. Instead of wasting the heat and allowing it to dissipate into the surrounding air, a cogeneration plant captures and stores the heat so it can be used for a range of purposes.
The system to be installed at the Willoughby Leisure Centre consists of a reciprocal six cylinder gas engine which will generate 160 kilowatts of electricity and 200 kilowatts of heat.
The heat energy will be used to heat the water in the swimming pools and spa, to heat the building in winter through the air conditioning system and to heat water for facilities such as the centre’s showers.
The Willoughby Leisure Centre currently utilises a boiler to heat the pool water. The cogeneration plant will be a much more energy efficient way of heating the water, reducing electricity requirements by utilising ‘waste’ heat generated by the engine.
“Installing a cogeneration system will reduce the Willoughby Leisure Centre’s carbon emissions by at least 500 tonnes every year so we are excited to enable one of our most popular council facilities to lead the way in sustainability,” said Willoughby Mayor, Pat Reilly.
“The Willoughby Leisure Centre will also employ other energy efficiency measures to reduce emissions and costs, including the use of energy efficient lighting and an efficient filtration system that will reduce both energy and water consumption. Combining these measures with the cogeneration system, the Willoughby Leisure Centre will reduce its carbon footprint by a dramatic 50 per cent,” said the Mayor.
The system will maintain the regular pool water temperature which is never below 27 degrees Celsius; ensuring learn to swim students and the many pool users swim in comfort.
For more information, phone Willoughby City Council on 9777 1000.
Media Contact
Media and Marketing Group Manager
Phone: 9777 7703
Mobile: 0421 492 757
Email: rebecca.hill@willoughby.nsw.gov.au