UK centre to deliver large carbon reductions and save £500m

The UK could save more than £500 million and cut eight million tonnes of carbon emissions within the next decade. That’s according to a new report, which claims the National […]

The UK could save more than £500 million and cut eight million tonnes of carbon emissions within the next decade.

That’s according to a new report, which claims the National Physical Laboratory’s (NPL) Centre for Carbon Measurement would help make those savings. It suggests the level of carbon savings made would be equivalent to 2% of the UK’s annual carbon footprint.

The Centre, launched in March last year, was set up to reinforce and expand NPL’s work on climate data, climate accounting and help accelerate the take up of low carbon technologies.

The report evaluated the Centre’s portfolio of projects, which includes those to improve the accuracy of climate data from satellites, assess the potential to use biomass in end-of-life coal power stations and create a temperature based control circuit to make energy efficient lighting even more efficient. It assessed results that have already been achieved as well as anticipated results over the lifetime of the innovations.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, who recently visited the Centre said: “The Centre for Carbon Measurement at NPL has supported businesses large and small with their innovations and in some cases has even designed its own emissions savings technologies. This work is essential in ensuring the effectiveness of energy reduction initiatives, for example the Government’s Green Deal, which lets householders and businesses pay for energy-saving technology over time through their energy bills.

“For programmes like this to be effective – for the individual and the environment – we need accurate ways to measure energy savings and assurances that the technology we install does what it says on the tin.”

The report by Technologia, a consultancy that assesses the impact of scientific projects, looked at 12 projects in detail and found measurement plays an important and “economically advantageous” role in carbon reduction.

Jane Burston, Head of the Centre for Carbon Measurement said: “This analysis confirms we are on the right track and that carbon measurement brings a clear, quantifiable economic and environmental benefit. We can now assuredly forge ahead with a diverse range of projects that use our measurement expertise to provide vital support to climate science, low carbon technologies and carbon reduction initiatives.”

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