Archive for Netherlands
ZEPP (Zero Emission Power Plant) Introducing CO2 capture and storage – Netherlands
Posted by: | CommentsIn Drachten, a town in the North of the Netherlands, a project is being developed to build the first Zero Emission Power Plant (ZEPP) in the world that is able to produce enough emission-free electricity for a small town of hundred thousand households (68 MW). To realise the project two relatively new technologies are combined.
The ZEPP will be equipped with an innovative gas generator in which the combustion takes place with pure oxygen. To avoid extremely high temperatures, water is injected in the flame. The exhaust of the generator consists of pure CO2 and water vapour. After condensation, the water is re-used for injection and pure CO2 remains. This CO2 is stored in an existing gas field. All consequently the plant produces electricity without substantial emission of any kind. This will result in a CO2 reduction of one megaton in six years.
The ZEPP will use a gas field which is no longer used but still contains a considerable amount of natural gas. The injection of CO2 leads to an increased pressure and eases the extraction of the remaining gas of the field (Enhanced Gas Recovery), which will be used in the power plant. Additional the residual heat of the plant will be used for heating nearby buildings. In the Netherlands, several gas fields are suitable for ZEPP technology. And after the plant in Drachten will be operational, possibly others will follow.
This project will be the first project in the Netherlands with inland underground storage of CO2.
Area development Nieuw Terbregge – Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Posted by: | CommentsNieuw Terbregge is a demonstration project within the THERMIE-program RE-Start (Renewable Strategies and Technology Applications for Regenerating Towns). In which 8 European cities co-operated. In order to be part of this project should at least have a 25% reduction on energy use and this will be monitored also on comfort.
Nieuw Terbregge is a new residential area at the edge of Rotterdam, just outside the Ring. In early stage all participants (community, developers, utility) agreed on developing the area as an example project for sustainable building. The ambitions for Nieuw Terbregge were high for many aspects: architecture, sustainability, comfort, short distance to recreational areas and the city centre. Ambitions were met due to efforts of all participants and additional financing by the European Thermie program. The result is that sustainable building and energy saving measures work through all scales of the project. The design of the houses is made to avoid energy demand. Energy is produced both collective and individual. The water system in the area provides a good habitat for wildlife and is also storage for rainwater.
Iguana Project – Stavoren, Netherlands. [Urban project]
Posted by: | CommentsPresent-day house building has too great an impact on the environment. This impact makes itself felt throughout the whole lifetime of the building materials. The main problems lie in the area of environmentally-unfriendly materials, excessive energy consumption during construction and occupation of the house, large amounts of building sources of supply that are being used up.
Consumers, building contractors, project developers and authorities are insufficiently convinced of the feasibility and the advantages of bio-ecological houses. The aim of the Iguana project is to publicise the advantages of bio-ecological construction.
The project was funded in part by the European project and is encrypted LIFE: LIFE96 ENV/Dk/344.
Climate neutral: The new approach to building in Amsterdam
Posted by: | CommentsVery recently Amsterdam City Council has set a target of four out of ten newly built houses to be climate neutral by 2010. A climate-neutral house does not use any fossil fuels for heating, uses several installed facilities to generate green electricity and to limit electricity consumption. In 2015 this will apply to all new houses built within the municipality borders. The cumulative effects of this new approach to building are significant. With the accelerated savings proposed by Amsterdam, the increase in gas consumption (estimated on almost 4,5%) will be cut in half and the electricity consumption will decline by 30%. The new standard for climate neutral construction will also apply to new offices and businesses. This new standard has an effect on the entire process of land allocation, selection (or preselection) of parties and awarding projects.
TeleDock – Multifunctional Digital Centres in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Posted by: | CommentsThere are a lot of people in Amsterdam who work in professions which are suitable for telework. The main objective of TeleDock initiative is to provide a network of offices/telecentres spread around the city for local teleworkers who cannot or do not wish to work from home for various reasons. TeleDocks are equipped with access to high-quality computers, professional software and a fast internet connection within a short distance from their homes. At the same time, TeleDoks offer training courses, multimedia experiments and cultural and recreative events.
As a result, TeleDoking contributes to reduce the amount of kilometres driven from and to work, together with the damage to the environment and the annoyance of the traffic jams. At the same time, it streghtens social cohesion in the neighbourhood by reducing the gap between the people who have access to modern technology and people who are excluded from it.
Green-IT Initiative in Amsterdam
Posted by: | CommentsAmsterdam is an ICT-hub and therefore is a mayor player in the international ICT-sector. As a result of rapid technological developments and societal changes (economically, politically and legally) data transmission is increasing every day and new infrastructure investments are being made. The amount of energy consumed by these services and its infrastructure is growing at the same pace.
The leaders in the Amsterdam ICT sector and the Climate office (part of the Municipality of Amsterdam) are developing the Green IT programme. Its aim is to reduce CO2 emissions of ICT technology companies. In addition, Green IT is looking for possibilities to use ICT elsewhere in the economic system to achieve CO2 emission reduction. In 2008 the focus of the programme is on reducing the CO2 emissions of data centres. Gradually, the programme will comprise initiatives focusing on different issues, target groups and effects.
Step2Save – Energy Advise for tenants in the City of Amsterdam
Posted by: | CommentsStep2Save is a joint project from the City of Amsterdam, energy company NUON, housing corporation Far-West and Ymere and is sponsored by Philips. It consists on providing energy advice and an energy box to more to more than 10.000 social households in the City of Amsterdam. At the same time, this project aims to offer job experience as energy advisers to young unemployed people without basic qualifications.
As a result, the Step2Save reduces CO2 emissions, helps social housing households to reduce energy use and money and finally gives an opportunity to young unemployed to receive education and have a job for at least one year, facilitating their introduction to the job market.
