WIREDGOV

A new deal signed by professional services firm PwC has secured the largest ever office supply of recycled chip fat from bars, restaurants and businesses across London to generate low carbon energy for the firm’s new headquarters on the Southbank of London.

Two 6,000 litre tankers a week will be filled with used cooking oil collected by Arrow Oil, from offices and restaurants from city centre locations. The oil will be transported to a local refinery, Uptown Biodiesel, and then on to PwC for use in the firm’s state of the art tri-generation facility on site at their new office at More London, for 5500 employees.

Over 45,000 litres of cooking oil will be sourced per month, equivalent to the oil needed to fill 9,000 average domestic deep fat fryers. The tri-generation facility will use 100% biofuel, and is the largest installation of its type in a commercial office building in the UK. The oil will be used to fire two large generators creating 25% of the electricity needed for the building, as well as 20% of its heating and cooling. Overall, 25% of the energy needed in the building will be generated on site.

Guaranteeing the source of the supply within the London area was critical to the deal, as supplies from outside the area would have increased the carbon footprint of the oil.

PwC worked with its catering supplier partner ARAMARK to secure supplies from other offices around the City, and oil collection company, Arrow Oil, to source supplies from a network of restaurants, hotels and bars within the M25. Pub group Fullers, restaurant chain Zizi’s and city wine bar chain Corney and Barrow are amongst those participating in the recycling scheme for cooking oil. This oil is then delivered to Uptown Biodiesel in Southwark where it is refined for use in the generators.

Jon Barnes, Head of Building & Facilities Services, PwC said:

“When you think of green technologies you don’t think of used oil from a kitchen but the reality is these technologies offered us a real low carbon alternative to traditional fuel. It was an ambitious plan, when you realise a small restaurant might use 10 to 20 litres a week, and you see the scale of the deal we’re talking about, for just one site.”

“Securing the supply within the M25 was essential, as otherwise the carbon footprint for moving the oil increases and would have defeated the purpose of investing in the low carbon technology.”

Over 6000 PwC employees move to 7 More London over the coming months. The office was the first in London to achieve the BREEAM Outstanding rating for its environmental performance and design.

Over 50% of the building’s energy demand is met from low and zero carbon technologies and 25% of the building’s electricity will be generated on site including solar panels to heat water. A Chiller Heat Recovery system recycles waste heat from the chiller units and the lighting has daylight saving control.

Overall, PwC has targeted a reduction in energy usage per square meter of office space of 25% by 2012 from a 2007 baseline. The firm has achieved 16% to date.

1. Amongst the outlets who have signed up to the oil recycling scheme are Zizi’s, ASK, pub group Fullers, Geronimo Inns, Corney and Barrow, Selfridges, and Young’s pubs.
2. ARAMARK Limited is a food service partner to organisations across a range of sectors, including business and industry, education, healthcare, offshore and defence.
3. About Uptown: Uptown Biodiesel Ltd, a subsidiary of Uptown Oil collects used oil from restaurants and catering establishments and refines the oil into Recycled Biodiesel at its unique refinery in Southwark. See uptownoil.co.uk for more information.
4. About Arrow Oil: A nationwide company servicing many national clients with used cooking oil collections, with 15 depots around the UK. See www.arrowoils.co.uk for more details
5. A report from RSPB, ActionAid and Nature Kenya warned this week that supplies of African biofuels destined for Europe will result in up to six times the carbon emissions of fossil fuels.
6. Hi - resolution images available on request or from https://www.ukmediacentre.pwc.com/imagelibrary/default.aspx?SubjectID=493