A landmark bank building today became the first in the world to use an innovative green power system.
The Co-operative Bank’s Pyramid building, in Stockport, has had a compressed air electricity system installed to provide its backup power.
It replaces the previous set-up, which used scores of lead acid batteries.
The new system, called Air-DRUPS, cuts in as soon as the mains power is lost and is driven by compressed air to provide an emergency supply of electricity for a few seconds until the backup generator kicks in.
The generators forming the heart of the system are designed and made by Pnu Power, part of the AIM-listed Energetix Group, based in Chester.
Martyn Hulme, managing director of Co-operative Estates, said: “At The Co-operative we are always looking at ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint and so when our uninterruptible power supply was up for renewal we wanted to find a greener system that would make the lead acid batteries obsolete.
“This is the first time this compressed air system has been used in this way and we are confident that others will follow our lead.”
Energetix says a typical 2MW data centre could save more than £1.75m of electricity and cut CO2 emissions by more than 90 per cent over its 20 year lifespan, compared with a typical rotary system.