December 2008 - Halcrow

Full of (renewable)
energy
ive employees from the renewable
F
energy team presented papers –
based on Halcrow projects – to an
international audience of 2,000 delegates at the
Glasgow-hosted tenth World Renewable Energy
Congress (WREC) in July.
WREC’s biannual conferences boast a strong
academic flavour in which to impart the transfer
of renewable energy knowledge. The event
attracts a wide audience of world experts, policy
makers, manufacturers and those interested
in the supply, distribution, consumption and
development of energy sources.
Halcrow’s speakers considered the potential of
wave, solar, combined heat and power (CHP) and
fuel cell technology to address the energy crisis.
Donna Munro related Halcrow’s experience as
the UK partner in a European Union-funded
programme, which aims to increase the mass
urban uptake of solar photovoltaic technology.
John Simmons based his observations on the
potential energy and carbon savings that can be
achieved through CHP based on a West Midlands
Regional Development Agency project, which
mapped heat demand across the region.
The findings of a Highways Agency project formed
the basis of Inma Andina-Pendas’ thoughtprovoking
presentation. It looked at the potential
savings achieved through the use of fuel cell
technology for roadside power applications.
Wave energy
surges forward
Two Halcrow experts were invited to
share their experiences of developing
wave power at the WREC.
Iain Mowat presented a paper on
Halcrow’s ongoing study into the
wave energy potential of the Western
Isles of Scotland.
He explored the available energy
resource, as well as the technical,
environmental, economic and social
challenges and benefits inherent in
implementing wave power projects.
Developing an effective wave energy
project was the focus for Peter
Croll’s paper. It covered all the major
stages from concept design and
marine developments through to
planning consent and preparing for
construction.
Tartan transition
Scotland on target for 80 per cent cut
in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
S
cotland’s determined bid to become one of the world’s first
nations to make the transition to a low carbon economy has seen
it enlist the help of Halcrow to realise its green dream.
While Scotland only contributes 0.15 per cent of total global carbon
emissions, it still emits a disproportionate level of greenhouse gases in
relation to its size. This initiative also dovetails into the recently devolved
government’s policy priority of sustainable economic growth.
Halcrow was commissioned by the Scottish Government to conduct a
strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of its proposals for the Scottish
Climate Change Bill (SCCB).
Such is the importance of the SCCB that it will effectively sit at the heart of
all Scotland’s future policy and decision making activities.
While Scotland only
contributes 0.15 per cent
of total global carbon
emissions, it still emits a
disproportionate level of
greenhouse gases
In essence, the bill aims to create a long-term framework to ensure that
by 2050, it will have delivered an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions relative to 1990 levels.
As one of the first SEAs to be conducted on draft policy in the whole of the
UK, Halcrow’s Scottish-based environment team applied some innovative
thinking and methodologies in undertaking the assessment. With direction
from Nick Murry, the team assessed the potential environmental impacts
of a range of possible future emission reduction measures across nine
key economic sectors. The team also made recommendations for further
increasing the net environmental benefits of policy proposals. Specialists
from AEA Technology provided support in several specific technical areas.
Consultation on the bill has attracted over 21,000 responses and the team
is now working towards the final phase of the SEA statement – expected to
be submitted to the government with the draft bill by the end of 2008.
Glasgow-based environmental scientist and SEA project manager John
Fox said: “This has been an extremely challenging project as it was the
first SEA of its type carried out in Scotland, coupled with the wide ranging
implications of climate change and emissions mitigation.”