Energy giant E.ON and Australian real estate developer Lendlease have struck a deal to deploy a low carbon heat network in East London to serve around 6,500 new homes and businesses, the two firms announced yesterday.
Earmarked for heating homes at the Silvertown development at the Royal Docks in Newham, the project is set mark the first UK deployment of E.ON’s ‘ectogrid’ energy sharing network, which is designed to harness heat pump and cooling technology.
The system is designed to provide heating and cooling by first drawing on existing heat sources, such as air, water or ground, according to E.ON. Each connected building then sends excess heating or cooling to other buildings as needed, further maximising energy and emissions savings.
By sharing, balancing, and storing energy in rotation, ectogrid uses all available energy before adding any “new” energy, thereby drastically reducing consumption, costs, and environmental impact, the firms claim.
Once completed, the system is expected save around 4,000 tonnes of CO2 a year – a reduction of 88 per cent compared to installing gas boilers across the site – according to the developers.
Though a first for the UK, the technology is already in use at developments across Europe, such as at the Medicon Village in Lund, southern Sweden and the MIND Milan Innovation District in Italy. But when complete, Silvertown will be the largest ambient temperature heating and cooling network in the UK, E.ON said.
“Silvertown is a huge milestone for UK developments as this is the first ectogrid for Britain,” said E.ON UK chief executive, Chris Norbury.
“Allied to our recent investments in battery storage in Uskmouth, solar at the Port of Liverpool and our geothermal energy solution for the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, this is yet another example of E.ON stepping up as playmaker in the energy transition and investing at scale in the UK’s energy future.
“Making energy more affordable and sustainable is a critical element of growing the UK economy and it cannot be achieved without an ambition to deliver huge societal benefit too – creating opportunities for people across the country and delivering innovative change to bring real world benefits felt far beyond the world of energy alone.”
The Silvertown Partnership, which includes international real estate and investment group Lendlease, is working with the Greater London Authority (GLA), Homes England, and The Guinness Partnership (TGP) on the project. According to reports, the entire Silvertown regeneration scheme is expected to cost in the region of £3.5bn.
Homes England has already committed infrastructure loan funding totalling £233m to the project, which includes plans to restore the Millennium Mills – empty for more than 40 years – and build around 6,500 homes alongside modern workspace, shops, restaurants, bars, and a water sports centre. The regeneration project is expected to create more than 6,000 new jobs overall, it said.
Ed Mayes, development director for Silvertown, said the low-carbon energy network was central to Lendlease’s vision for the development. “We’re delighted to extend our relationship with E.ON and to be working with them to deliver their pioneering ectogrid in the UK for the first time,” he explained.
“Unlocking this complex site is the result of close partnerships – including the London Borough of Newham, the GLA, Homes England, and The Guinness Partnership – and in E.ON we have secured an equally strong partner to support us in delivering on our zero-carbon ambitions.”
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