King’s Cross energy centre
Formally launched in February, the energy centre for the King’s Cross development in London will provide 80% of the electricity for the entire development and all the heat. At the heart of the energy centre is CHP designed and installed by Vital Energi under a £9 million contract. Vital Energi will also operate and maintain it for the next 10 years.
The 67 acre development will include nearly 750 000 m2 of office space, shops, a university and up to 2000 homes and serviced apartments. The project will also see the creation of 20 new streets and 10 new major public buildings.
The focus for energy efficiency and sustainability at King’s Cross is the on-site Energy Centre. The centre houses a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant. In time, the CHP plant will provide 100% of the development’s heat and hot water needs and 80% of its electricity.
Each building will be connected to the Energy Centre through a hot-water distribution network. The cooling needs of the buildings will also be met in part by absorption chillers fed from the CHP plant . Cooling systems will use chilled beams to minimise energy use.
Renewable technologies such roof-mounted wind turbines, solar panels, ground-source heat pumps and solar thermal systems are also being used.
Energy usage at King’s Cross will be at least 39% less than industry norms.
Ian Whitelock, joint managing director of Vital Energi, comments, ‘How we create and consume energy is one of the most important issues facing society at the moment, so to play a part in reducing carbon emissions by 50% on a project of this size has been a great opportunity and something, as a company, we’re immensely proud of.’
