Kent Science Park is the largest campus in southeast England providing 500,000 square feet (46,450 square meters) of high specification, purpose built laboratory and office accommodation. The current 86 tenants range from start-up businesses to mature bio-tech companies including Eclipse Scientific Group Ltd, Vivacta Ltd, Harada Industry Co Ltd UK, BOC Ltd and Ecologia Environmental Solutions.
Kent Science Park is a large energy user (5MVA capacity) with many tenants reliant on resilient and continuous power supply. LaSalle identified an opportunity to increase the site’s energy capacity and provide cheaper electricity using sustainable fuel. Collaborating with Aquafuel, an on site tenant, LaSalle will install CHP technology which runs cleanly on glycerine – a biodiesel by-product. Benefits of the technology include (i) low emissions and waste (ii) non-toxic, biodegradable and non-flammable fuel (iii) suitable for commercial premises (iv) cost efficient energy for landlord and tenant (v) helps promote expanding tenant base on the campus.
Success Story
- Aquafuel to fit a glycerine based CHP plant at Kent Science Park at their cost
- CHP plant will produce 1 megawatt of energy
- LaSalle to purchase back power at the cheapest rate on the market
- Annual rate set in contract between parties and reviewed annually
- LaSalle, Aquafuel and other partners to promote use of other glycerine based engines
- Prospects for creation of a new cluster of companies focussed on renewable energy
