London’s Silvertown taps E.ON for ectogrid heat sharing network
Construction begins on the first affordable homes to be built on a historic 60-acre site at Silvertown. Image courtesy Silvertown.
The 760,000m² Silvertown site will be the UK’s first development of E.ON’s ectogrid system, an energy sharing heat network based on heat pump technology.
Public utility company E.ON and Australian real estate developer Lendlease signed an agreement to build the low-carbon energy network for more than 6,000 new homes and business properties at Silvertown in east London, UK.
Silvertown is a neighbourhood identified as one of the largest regeneration opportunities in London, UK.
Once complete, the ectogrid heat network will save approximately 4,000 tonnes of CO2 a year – 88% lower emissions than from traditional gas boilers.
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The principle behind 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. By sharing, balancing and storing energy in rotation, ectogrid aims to use all available energy before adding any ‘new’ energy, reducing consumption, costs and environmental impact.
Plans for Silvertown include the construction of around 6,500 homes alongside new generation workplaces, stores, restaurants, bars and a water sports centre, as well as the restoration of the iconic Millennium Mills.
Commenting in a release was Ed Mayes, development director at Silvertown: “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. 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.”
While the use of E.ON’s ectogrid is a first for the UK, it’s already being used in sustainable projects across Europe, such as Medicon Village in Lund, southern Sweden, and for the MIND project in Milan, Italy.
When completed, Silvertown will be the largest space heating and cooling network in the UK.
Additionally, E.ON and Silvertown plan for the location to become a new cultural hub for the Royal Docks, with potential for the network to supply other developments in the Royal Docks area, supporting the decarbonisation of heating across the district.
