E.ON and Lendlease have signed an agreement to develop a pioneering low carbon energy network - ectogrid™ - to serve more than 6,000 new homes and businesses at Silvertown, East London.

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.

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 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.

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.

“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."

Ed Mayes, Development Director for Silvertown