ENGIE, the leading energy and services specialist, has commenced the operation of a low carbon district energy scheme serving the new mixed-use Principal Place development, on the border of Shoreditch and City of London.
The 25-year contract will see ENGIE manage the operation and maintenance for the energy centre and pipe distribution network and also the provision of full customer metering and billing services.
The network has a capacity of over 2.5 MW of heat and 1.5 MW of cooling and incorporates gas-fired combined cooling, heat and power (CCHP) or tri-generation technology; providing efficient, cost-effective energy and enabling affordable heating and cooling to all businesses and homes on the landmark development.
The network provides energy to the 50-storey Principal Tower, 1,850m2 of retail space, including a public plaza, 913m2 of commercial space across four buildings — including new offices for Amazon and over 400 new homes across the site; 56 of which are managed by housing association Notting Hill Genesis.
Incorporating district energy into the overall development has allowed it to align with the London Plan encouraging low carbon development and also the UK’s wider ambition to achieve net zero carbon by 2050.
Andrew Hart, Managing Director at ENGIE’s Urban Energy division commented: “It is great to be a part of this development which will be of huge benefit to the surrounding areas, both for local residents and business. The heat network complements the London Plan by prioritising net zero ambitions to offer affordable, low carbon heat and help deliver a scheme that is fit for the future.
“Principal Place presents the first high-end, residential-led, standalone scheme to which ENGIE is providing related services; supporting the strengthening and diversification of our customer portfolio.”
