BCO research suggests that overall costs of on-site reneables far outweigh financial benefits

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Research carried out for the British Council for Offices (BCO) has found that the long-term cost of on-site renewable measures - such as biomass boilers - hugely outweighs their environmental financial benefit.

Researchers calculated, based on a survey of 77 developments, that the long-term cost of on-site renewables in central London totalled 拢174m over the technology鈥檚 lifetime, but delivered just 拢18m in savings, as defined by the net value of carbon emissions saved over that period.

The report says in some instances developers pay up to 拢2,800 to save a tonne of carbon while in other sectors the government was finding it hard to justify burdens of 拢60-90 per tonne required to make carbon capture and storage viable.

Commercial properties in the City should use large-scale renewable energy solutions instead of on-site measures to meet carbon-reduction targets, the report says.

The study by Sturgis Carbon Profiling says district-wide solutions such as combined heat-and-power plants should be explored, which runs counter to the Greater London Authority鈥檚 policy of targeting a 20% reduction in on-site carbon emissions through on-site measures.

Author Gareth Roberts said more flexible policies combining on-site renewables with the purchase of carbon allowances from developers that exceed emission reduction targets should be introduced.

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