New boiler helps cut airport's footprint

A STATE-OF-THE-ART biomass boiler could cut Stansted Airport s gas consumption by nearly 40 per cent. Recent figures show the woodchip boiler, which is used to heat the terminal building, is performing better than expected. We have one of the largest

A STATE-OF-THE-ART biomass boiler could cut Stansted Airport's gas consumption by nearly 40 per cent.

Recent figures show the woodchip boiler, which is used to heat the terminal building, is performing better than expected.

"We have one of the largest biomass boilers in commercial use for heating in the UK," said Stansted's head of environment Andy Jefferson. "To say we're delighted with its performance is an understatement."

Part of the �50 million terminal extension completed in 2008, the boiler was introduced to make the development carbon neutral and designed to support the gas fired boilers that have heated the terminal since its opening in the early 1990s. However, its performance has proven so efficient that it is now the airports primary boiler.

"We set out to ensure the recent terminal extension would be carbon neutral but performance data so far indicates those savings go much further with results between November 2008 and March 2009 alone showing that gas consumption at Stansted was around 60 per cent of the predicted forecasts for this period; and over 30 per cent lower than the same period the previous year - and all this despite it being one of the coldest winters on record for over a decade."

"We're proud to maintain our leading position as the largest UK airport to hold ISO14001 accreditation for environmental management and shall also publish our first Airport Carbon Footprint before this summer which will outline how our footprint is comprised today, and help inform future decisions relating to emissions management at Stansted moving forward.