Southampton's green energy network to expand (From This is Hampshire)

Southampton's green energy network to expand

2:44pm Monday 20th July 2009

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SOUTHAMPTON has been awarded more than £3m in Government funding to expand its geothermal district heating network.

Two new energy plants at the proposed Woolston Riverside development will provide heat and power to shops, offices, a hotel and more than 1,600 flats. The £2.5m investment by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) means future residents of the former Vosper Thorneycroft site will enjoy savings of up to 10 per cent on the energy bills.

While a further £650,000 will be spent on connecting the 115-flat Gantry development, near The Mayflower, to the city’s existing low carbon power plant, behind WestQuay.

The two Southampton projects shared in a pool of £11.85m in Government funding which will be used to help reduce carbon emissions from housing.

This funding is part of a package of measures announced by Housing Minister John Healey, which also includes tougher new energy standards for all new homes from 2016 to be zero carbon.

David Edwards, regional director for the HCA, said: “This funding has made it possible to link in new development to the city’s existing innovative energy system.

“By capitalising on existing technology and extending its reach we will be able to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of new development, as well as reducing energy costs for residents. These pilot projects will play a key role in determining how we supply energy to new and existing development in the future.”

Councillor Matt Dean, Cabinet member for environment, said: “This funding is a great step forward helping to unblock obstacles to installing practical carbon saving technologies and their associated infrastructure, making a very real contribution to the transition to a low carbon economy as well as saving households money.”

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