RADICAL new ways of powering the city could soon become the norm in Derby as the council tries to slash its carbon emissions.

With a hydro-electric power station already in the pipeline, the city council is now turning its attention to the possibility of using waste heat to warm up its swimming pools and public buildings.

The authority is seeing if Derby would be suited to a system of producing energy, known as Combined Heat and Power.

It would collect the heat normally wasted when electricity is produced and pipe it via an underground heating network to buildings across the city.

The system integrates heat and electricity production into one process locally.

It can help cut bills and tackle climate change.

With its target of reducing its own carbon emissions by 25% by 2012 and an annual energy bill of more than £6m, the council is more than interested.

Councillor Bob Troup, cabinet member for housing and public protection, said the potential was immense.

"This way of using energy is so much more efficient so we would have fewer emissions than the current process produces and we should reduce our carbon footprint as well.

"The system can be expanded quite easily as well, so, if it proves successful, it can be extended throughout the city centre."

Graham Meeks, director of the Combined Heat and Power Association, which encourages more systems to be installed across the country, praised Derby's forward-thinking.

He said: "An increasing number of pioneering councils across the UK are realising the potential.

"Many already have systems up and running and are benefiting as a result. But it is fantastic to see Derby looking to join their ranks. It shows true environmental leadership on the part of the council and the people of Derby should certainly benefit as a result."

The location of the plant is very important as the best results are achieved when it positioned near the buildings it will serve.

That is why the council has commissioned a feasibility study to find out where in the city could be suited to the system.

Tim Findlay, head of property maintenance for the city council, said: "The feasibility study is looking at a range of options to see whether Combined Heat and Power would work well in Derby and what buildings it could be used for.

"It tends to work best for buildings which demand a lot of continuous heat, such as in swimming pools," he said.

"Generally we are looking at council-run buildings because these are in our control so there is the possibility of joining them together using a district heating scheme.

"I think some authorities have seen a saving in their utility costs but also in their carbon emissions, which is incredibly important."

The system has been used in Southampton, Birmingham and for some housing projects in Ashfield and Bristol.

In Birmingham, an engine was installed under Broad Street in 2007 which provides hot water for heating and electricity and cold water for air conditioning in many of the city's most prominent buildings, including the International Convention Centre and the National Indoor Arena.

The project won The Queen's Award for sustainability last year and been nominated for a string of further industry awards.

It cost £2.1m, £332,000 of which was from a Government grant, but it is saving businesses around £150,000 a year and is producing 3,800 tonnes less CO2 a year than the old system.

Derby still wants to develop a £1.66m hydro-electric power station on the River Derwent's Longbridge Weir. It would draw 46.8m litres of water an hour from the river to generate energy.

The Environment Agency is worried about flooding issues, however.

The council has been in talks with the agency for six months and hopes its objections will soon be removed.