News from the Blencathra Centre – August 2010

Some of you will recall that we have been hoping to replace our old administration/reception building with a new ‘carbon neutral’ build which would be a catalyst for changing our energy supplies. This was a ‘favoured’ Northern Rock project, though alas the economic climate changed the goalposts and ended our funding options.

Since then I have been looking at other options one of which is The Blencathra Centre: Low Carbon Vision Project Renewable Energy – the aim of which is to reduce the carbon footprint of the centre and to become a good example of low carbon energy technologies within the Lake District National Park creating benefits for the rural economy and community.

I have been successful in our Expression of Interest for a Low Carbon Bid. That of course does not mean that we will be successful in receiving funds! We are 1 of 23 projects to be assessed and our chances are in the 40% category. There are 7 of these in Cumbria and only 2-3 are likely to progress. As always with these applications the deadline is unrealistically short – I have to complete the Full Concept Stage Application Form before 30th August.

The project would incorporate four different renewable energy technologies:

- A 50kW high-head hydro scheme on the site of the original sanatorium system
- A 9kW ground-mounted Photo Voltaic system
- A 150 kW biomass boiler with distribution network to a range of buildings on the site
- Two combined solar thermal systems to supply hot water for showers, kitchen and other domestic uses

The Low Carbon Vision Project has the potential to reduce the 2010 Carbon Footprint of 280 tonnes CO2 by 80% to 52 tonnes CO2 by 2013 so that 86% of the energy will be provided by renewable energy. This will assist the centre in maintaining its educational profile, local employment and training provision as well as improving environmental performance.

At this stage these are ideas and will need much further work before anything happens – though interestingly we are returning to a scheme first developed by Dr Goodchild at the Sanatorium in the 1920’s.These ideas are relatively small scale, though will require planning and lots more discussion and consultation.

Tim Foster
Head of Centre Field Studies Council Blencathra
Tel: 017687 79601