E.ON and Lendlease have signed an agreement to develop a pioneering low carbon energy network that will serve about 6,500 new homes and business properties at Silvertown in East London.
The 760,000 sqm Silvertown site will be the UK’s first development of E.ON’s pioneering ectogrid™ system, an energy sharing network based on balancing heat pump and cooling technology that, once complete, will save approximately 4,000 tonnes of CO2 a year – 88% lower emissions than from traditional gas boilers.
Silvertown is being transformed as a vibrant new heart for the Royal Docks and a new visitor destination for London. Plans include the restoration of the iconic Millennium Mills and construction of about 6,500 homes alongside next-generation workspace, shops, restaurants, bars and a water sports centre. The regeneration of the area will deliver significant opportunities for the local community, creating more than 6,000 new jobs.
The core principle of ectogrid™ is to provide heating and cooling by first using existing energy sources available locally, such as air, water or ground. Each connected building sends excess heating or cooling to other buildings as needed, and by sharing, balancing, and storing energy in rotation, ectogrid™ uses all available energy before adding any ‘new’ energy, drastically reducing consumption, costs and environmental impact.
Chris Norbury, Chief Executive of E.ON UK, said: ”Silvertown is a huge milestone for UK developments as this is the first ectogrid™ for Britain. It’s fantastic we can bring this to life in such an iconic redevelopment area as the Royal Docks. 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.”
Ed Mayes, Development Director for Silvertown, said: “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Lendlease and a low-carbon energy network is central to our vision for Silvertown. 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.
