Centre for Alternative Technology

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Centre for Alternative Technology
AbbreviationCAT
FormationNovember 1973 (1973-11)
FounderGerard Morgan-Grenville
Legal status Registered charity
PurposeTo inspire, inform and enable humanity to respond to the climate and biodiversity emergency.
Location
  • Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales
Website cat.org.uk

The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) (Welsh : Canolfan y Dechnoleg Amgen) is an eco-centre in Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales dedicated to demonstrating and teaching sustainable development. CAT, despite its name, no longer concentrates its efforts exclusively on alternative technology, but provides information on all aspects of sustainable living. It is open to visitors, offers postgraduate degrees as well as shorter residential and one day courses; and publishes information on renewable energy, sustainable architecture, organic farming, gardening, and sustainable living. CAT also runs education programmes for schools and sells environmentally friendly items through its on site shop, restaurant and mail order department.

Contents

History

CAT was founded by businessman-turned-environmentalist Gerard Morgan-Grenville, and opened in 1973 in the disused Llwyngwern slate quarry near Machynlleth (once served by the narrow-gauge Corris Railway), where it occupies a seven-acre (28,000 m2) site. [1] [2] The organisation was originally known as the "British National Centre for the development of Alternative Technology". [2] : 14.39  Inspiration for the early CAT pioneers included the then-recent books Small Is Beautiful , A Blueprint for Survival , and The Limits to Growth [2] : 08.11  as well as an aim to explore alternative ways of living. [2] : 06.12 

CAT was previously aligned to the Urban Centre for Appropriate Technology (UCAT), which was based in Bristol and has since evolved into the Centre for Sustainable Energy. [3]

David Lea and Pat Borer won the Gold Medal for Architecture at the National Eisteddfod of Wales of 2001 for their work on the WISE building at the CAT. [4]

Visitor centre

In 1975 a permanent exhibition opened in order to generate wider interest. The 40-acre (160,000 m2) site with 7 acres (28,000 m2) of interactive displays is the largest tourist attraction in the area. It is open all-year except Christmas, seven days a week. It is a registered charity. [5]

The inclined railway from the car park to the ticket office Centre for Alternative Technology (28723902941).jpg
The inclined railway from the car park to the ticket office

The facilities and exhibits include:

In 2023, the CAT announced that financial pressures had forced it to stop admitting walk-up day visitors, although it would continue to hold group visits and other events and courses. [6]

Education

The centre offers a range of courses which are between a day and a week in length. Some of these courses are offered to the general public while others are accredited courses for professional installers. [7] CAT is involved with school education through training teachers, producing materials and offering special tours and materials on site. [8]

The Centre includes a Graduate School of the Environment. It offers postgraduate courses in renewable energy, architecture and environmental studies. [9]

Since 2008, the centre has run a Professional Diploma in Architecture course in Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies, which allows students to obtain an accredited Part II architectural qualification. [10]

Wales Institute for Sustainable Education

In summer 2010, CAT inaugurated the Wales Institute for Sustainable Education (WISE), a large educational building designed as a case study of sustainable architecture. The building contains a lecture theatre and accommodation [11] and demonstrates ecological building principles such as passive solar building design and heat recovery ventilation as well as low-impact building materials such as wood, hemp, lime and rammed earth. The external walls of the building are made from 500mm thick hempcrete, whereas the lecture theatre has 7.2m high walls made from 320t of rammed earth. [12]

A building management system is used to monitor a wide variety of parameters inside the building, providing data for research projects by CAT's sustainable architecture students. The building is used for teaching postgraduate degrees and short courses and is also available as a conference venue and exhibition space.

In 2010 the WISE building was awarded the first place in The Daily Telegraph's list of Top 10 Buildings 2010 [13] and came fourth in The Guardian 'sTop 10 list of buildings for 2010. [14] It received a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award in 2011. [15]

Energy

The site's wind turbine Community turbine - geograph.org.uk - 1234697.jpg
The site's wind turbine

CAT originally relied on a collection of water, wind and solar power, but following power shortages it began to receive power from the National Grid. Shortly afterwards, in 2004, a large new wind turbine was built using funds generated by selling shares in the project to the community, Bro Dyfi Community renewables. From 2009 September onwards CAT has operated a microgrid system, which includes elements of on- and off-grid operation. [16] [17]

CAT gets its water from an existing man-made reservoir in the slate quarry in which it is based and processes its own sewage in its reedbeds.

Regional impact

The presence of the Centre in the Dyfi Valley has brought an increased environmental emphasis to the area, which is now designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. [18] In the nearest town, Machynlleth, CAT plc formerly operated a wholefood vegetarian café and a separate shop. Following the closure of CAT plc the CAT charity retained ownership of the vegetarian cafe but subsequently sold it to its workers. The cafe is now run as a private enterprise but continues to operate as a vegetarian cafe. The wholefood shop was closed, since the building was not owned by CAT. However a new wholefood shop, Dyfi Wholefoods, was opened by the staff who were made redundant. An industrial estate (the Dyfi Eco Park) near Machynlleth railway station houses the offices of Dulas Ltd, a renewable-energy company founded by ex-CAT employees.

See also

Related Research Articles

Sustainable living describes a lifestyle that attempts to reduce the use of Earth's natural resources by an individual or society. Its practitioners often attempt to reduce their ecological footprint by altering their home designs and methods of transportation, energy consumption and diet. Its proponents aim to conduct their lives in ways that are consistent with sustainability, naturally balanced, and respectful of humanity's symbiotic relationship with the Earth's natural ecology. The practice and general philosophy of ecological living closely follows the overall principles of sustainable development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distributed generation</span> Decentralised electricity generation

Distributed generation, also distributed energy, on-site generation (OSG), or district/decentralized energy, is electrical generation and storage performed by a variety of small, grid-connected or distribution system-connected devices referred to as distributed energy resources (DER).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy development</span> Methods bringing energy into production

Energy development is the field of activities focused on obtaining sources of energy from natural resources. These activities include the production of renewable, nuclear, and fossil fuel derived sources of energy, and for the recovery and reuse of energy that would otherwise be wasted. Energy conservation and efficiency measures reduce the demand for energy development, and can have benefits to society with improvements to environmental issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental technology</span> Technical and technological processes for protection of the environment

Environmental technology (envirotech) or green technology (greentech), also known as clean technology (cleantech), is the application of one or more of environmental science, green chemistry, environmental monitoring and electronic devices to monitor, model and conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement.

Energy demand management, also known as demand-side management (DSM) or demand-side response (DSR), is the modification of consumer demand for energy through various methods such as financial incentives and behavioral change through education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable architecture</span> Architecture designed to minimize environmental impact

Sustainable architecture is architecture that seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings through improved efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, development space and the ecosystem at large. Sustainable architecture uses a conscious approach to energy and ecological conservation in the design of the built environment.

A microgrid is a local electrical grid with defined electrical boundaries, acting as a single and controllable entity. It is able to operate in grid-connected and in island mode. A 'stand-alone microgrid' or 'isolated microgrid' only operates off-the-grid and cannot be connected to a wider electric power system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microgeneration</span> Small-scale heating and electric power creation

Microgeneration is the small-scale production of heat or electric power from a "low carbon source," as an alternative or supplement to traditional centralized grid-connected power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zero-energy building</span> Energy efficiency standard for buildings

A Zero-Energy Building (ZEB), also known as a Net Zero-Energy (NZE) building, is a building with net zero energy consumption, meaning the total amount of energy used by the building on an annual basis is equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site or in other definitions by renewable energy sources offsite, using technology such as heat pumps, high efficiency windows and insulation, and solar panels.

Renewable heat is an application of renewable energy referring to the generation of heat from renewable sources; for example, feeding radiators with water warmed by focused solar radiation rather than by a fossil fuel boiler. Renewable heat technologies include renewable biofuels, solar heating, geothermal heating, heat pumps and heat exchangers. Insulation is almost always an important factor in how renewable heating is implemented.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smart grid</span> Type of electrical grid

The smart grid is an enhancement of the 20th century electrical grid, using two-way communications and distributed so-called intelligent devices. Two-way flows of electricity and information could improve the delivery network. Research is mainly focused on three systems of a smart grid – the infrastructure system, the management system, and the protection system. Electronic power conditioning and control of the production and distribution of electricity are important aspects of the smart grid.

Sustainable Silicon Valley (SSV) is a collaboration of businesses, governments, and non-governmental organizations that are identifying and addressing environmental and resource pressures in Silicon Valley. As its first initiative, SSV engaged Valley organizations, who are the SSV Partners, to work towards a goal of reducing regional carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions 20% below 1990 levels by 2010. The SSV approach to reaching this goal is to facilitate strategies to reduce CO2 emissions through increased energy and fuel efficiency and through the use of renewable sources of energy.

The environmental benefits of renewable energy technologies are widely recognised, but the contribution that they can make to energy security is less well known. Renewable technologies can enhance energy security in electricity generation, heat supply, and transportation. Since renewable energy is more evenly distributed than fossil fuels at the global level, the use of renewable energy technologies can also lead to decentralized and self-sufficient energy systems and reduce energy dependencies among countries.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute(EESI) is an independent, bi-partisan 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that aims to promote environmentally sustainable societies. Based out of Washington, DC, EESI seeks to be a catalyst moving society away from environmentally damaging fossil fuels and toward a clean energy future. The organization was established in 1984 by a bipartisan and bicameral group of members of the United States Congress who were concerned with global environmental and energy problems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in developing countries</span> Overview of the use of renewable energy in several developing countries

Renewable energy in developing countries is an increasingly used alternative to fossil fuel energy, as these countries scale up their energy supplies and address energy poverty. Renewable energy technology was once seen as unaffordable for developing countries. However, since 2015, investment in non-hydro renewable energy has been higher in developing countries than in developed countries, and comprised 54% of global renewable energy investment in 2019. The International Energy Agency forecasts that renewable energy will provide the majority of energy supply growth through 2030 in Africa and Central and South America, and 42% of supply growth in China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environment Centre (Swansea)</span>

The Environment Centre in Swansea, Wales, is an independent charity organisation for environmental information, education and activity. Environment Centre may also refer to the building the charity is located in.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wales Institute for Sustainable Education</span> Educational institute

The Wales Institute for Sustainable Education (WISE) is an educational building located at the Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth, Powys, Wales. It was designed as a case study for sustainable architecture and green building and has won several awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunny Sanwar</span>

Sahibzada Sanwar Azam Sunny is a Bangladeshi-born American artist, environmental activist and entrepreneur. He became fluent in multiple languages and is one of the youngest artists to have a solo exhibition at the National Art Gallery with work in permanent collection at the Liberation War Museum. He finished four years of American high school in eight months with honours and was a college senior by the age of eighteen, teaching university courses in engineering at the age of 21.

Vera Silva is a Portuguese engineer and the chief strategy and technology officer (CSO/CTO) at General Electric (GE) GE Vernova Electrification Systems division. She is one of the few women to hold a chief technology officer position in a one of the top three players in the electricity transmission and distribution space. She works on electricity grids technology and renewable energy integration.

The Queen's Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development is awarded each year on 21 April by Queen Elizabeth II, along with the other two Queen's Awards for Enterprise categories.

References

  1. ↑ MacGregor, Sue (28 April 2014). "BBC Radio 4 - The Reunion, The Centre for Alternative Technology". BBC. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "The Reunion - The Centre for Alternative Technology - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  3. ↑ Centre for Sustainable Energy
  4. ↑ "Gold Medal for Architecture". National Eisteddfod of Wales. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "CENTRE FOR ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY CHARITY LIMITED, registered charity no. 265239". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
  6. ↑ Parry, Anwen (8 November 2023). "Centre for Alternative Technology shuts doors to visitors and jobs under threat". County Times. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "CAT Short Courses". Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  8. ↑ "CAT Education Department" . Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  9. ↑ "Graduate School of the Environment" . Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  10. ↑ Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), Machynlleth, Wales; Professional Diploma in Architecture Part II: Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies, The Architects' Journal, December 2010. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
  11. ↑ "Venue Hire at CAT" . Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  12. ↑ "CAT Information Service: The Wales Institute for Sustainable Education" . Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  13. ↑ Woodman, Ellis (14 December 2010). "The Daily Telegraph: Top 10 Buildings of 2010". London. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  14. ↑ "The Guardian: The best architecture of 2010, by Rowan Moore". London. 12 December 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  15. ↑ Jonathan Glancey RIBA awards offer a bird's eye view of British architecture, The Guardian, 19 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
  16. ↑ "The Ecologist: First island power grid being used in Wales" . Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  17. ↑ "Microgrid research at Centre for Alternative Technology". Mendeley.com. doi:10.1109/ISGTEurope.2011.6162725. S2CID   41022025 . Retrieved 13 June 2012.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. ↑ "UK National Commission for UNESCO: Dyfi Valley awarded unique UN status". Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2014.

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