A NEW greener energy system to deliver heat and power to Oxford's West End is being investigated by Oxford City Council.

The council is pressing ahead with a feasibility study to see whether a regenerated West End could be supplied by a combined heat and power (CHP) scheme.

The city is keen to follow the lead of Woking's council in creating its own municipal power company to eventually create CHP stations to power the new Westgate Centre and the redeveloped West End.

CHP stations use combined heat and power technology to produce environmentally-friendly energy services. Under the scheme electricity is distributed to local homes, shops and offices via private wires, and water services through private pipe networks.

The system, which can be gas- or electricity-powered, can reduce carbon emission by as much as 90 per cent. Engineering consultancy firm Arup has now been taken on to investigate the practicalities and cost of introducing a CHP scheme in Oxford.

The new £300m Westgate Centre could hold the key to making such a scheme viable.

With Green councillors among the most outspoken critics of the planned shopping centre, the Westgate Partnership has been anxious to emphasise green elements of the scheme. This week, development director Richard Cable said the Westgate would be using a biomass heating system, which involves the burning of waste timber.