Work on an Education and Resource Centre (ERC) started on site in February and marks the latest phase in the development of the Eden Project.The design scheme features a number of plans in keeping with the Eden ethos that support environmental and sustainability strategies.In developing the design,Buro Happold,as the project’s building services consultants,conducted a detailed study into possible alternative energies.

The findings have led Buro Happold to recommend the adoption of a number of alternative energy technologies,including biomass heating to contribute to the centralised site heating strategy.

The ERC will demonstrate and communicate the overall Eden culture,to promote the understanding and responsible management of the vital relationship between plants,people and resources leading to a sustainable future for all.

The ERC is to be a world-class example of sustainability in its approach,design and materials and will demonstrate available forms of alternative energy generation.

Currently,Eden’s energy needs are met by centralised natural gas-fired boiler plant and power bought from a ‘green’ electricity supplier.

As part of the ERC project Buro Happold were asked to complete a detailed review of all alternative energy technologies.From this review a further study was conducted into the feasibility of using locally-grown energy crops as an alternative energy source,replacing the need for fossil-fuelled energy systems.The results suggest that Eden’s location presents an opportunity for biomass to be a viable local and environmentally friendly source of energy that also supports the local economy and improves agricultural biodiversity.

This in-depth study considered the feasibility of delivering biomass energy to provide an important part of the energy needs of the Eden Project.It compared the use of cultivated energy crops and wood fuel from forestry cuttings and wood processing as potential sources of biomass.The energy crops considered potentially suitable were Willow and Poplar forms of Short Rotation Coppice(SRC)and Miscanthus (elephant grass).

Use of these crops can provide benefits such as:use of agricultural land set aside;improvement to the use of agricultural land; help to the local economy;local environmental benefits and local amenity; provide landscape variety and a habitat for many species of plants, birds and wildlife.

“The study’s analysis was more accurate than any previously conducted,because we had the benefit of being able to gauge the performance of real,live Biomes and make comparisons against data from the project’s first two years’ gas bills.

The use of biomass should ensure low running costs at the Eden Project.Possible long term benefits include reducing energy costs” notes Buro Happold’s Steve Williamson,who has led this initiative.

There are significant shorter term environmental gains to be made from using biomass at the Eden Project.Using locally produced fuel will boost the region’s economy,help to balance farm workloads as biomass requires labour outside the normal peak farming seasons,and the development of a supply network at Eden would help provide a secure system that could lead to further local use.

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