Sustainable energy at heart of Olympic Park power plans

The Energy Centre will be built in the west of the Olympic Park, providing an efficient power, heating and cooling system across the site for the Games and for the new buildings and communities that will develop after 2012. A planning application for the energy centre will be submitted in March and the latest designs have now been released as part of public consultation to allow local residents to have the opportunity to comment on the energy centre plans.

The Energy Centre will use innovative technologies to support the ODA’s commitment to utilising renewable energy technology and providing efficient energy systems in the Olympic Park. It will include biomass boilers using sustainable biomass fuels (woodchip) and gas to generate heat, and a Combined Cooling Heat and Power (CCHP) plant to capture the heat generated by electricity production. The site-wide heat network will be used to generate domestic hot water and to heat the Aquatics Centre swimming pools and other venues and buildings.

ODA Director of Infrastructure and Utilities, Simon Wright, said: 'The Energy Centre will be at the heart of the new utilities networks in the Olympic Park, powering the site during the Games and providing energy to local communities in legacy. Sustainability runs right through this project and our energy centre plans will ensure the Games deliver the lasting legacy of a sustainable energy supply for this part of east London.

'By releasing details of the Energy Centre now we are giving local residents chance to comment on the latest plans for this essential infrastructure which will help fuel the lasting regeneration of the area for many years to come.'

The energy centre is due to be built by preferred bidder SUEZ Group, through its subsidiary Elyo, and is being designed by John McAslan Architects. Part of the utilities infrastructure will be housed within an existing Victorian building at Kings Yard in the west of the Olympic Park which will be retained and renovated. Construction work on the new Energy Centre building will begin in the summer to coincide with the start of work on the main venues in the Olympic Park, allowing the utilities connections to be fitted into the building foundations at the start of construction. The Energy Centre design is sustainable and flexible to allow future technologies to be used within the centre as they are developed in years to come.
The Energy Centre will be joined by a primary electrical substation in the west of the Olympic Park to form the heart of the new utilities networks that are being built across the area.

Notes to Editors

1. Images of the Energy Centre designs are available from the ODA press office on 020 3 2012 700

2. A planning application for the Energy Centre will be submitted in March. Representatives from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) will be available to answer questions about the Energy Centre at the following drop-in sessions for local residents:

• Hackney Library - Wednesday 20 February, 2pm - 5:45pm
• Bow Ideas Store - Thursday 21 February, 3pm - 6pm
• Whitechapel Ideas Store - Friday 22 February, 2pm - 5:30pm
• Community Event at Bow Boys School, Tower Hamlets – Tuesday 26 February, 7pm - 9pm

3. Elyo is part of Suez Energy Services SUEZ Energy Services are the European leader in multitechnical services with sales of € 11.3 billion in 2007 and one of the four business lines of SUEZ. SUEZ, an international industrial and services Group, designs sustainable and innovative solutions in the management of public utilities as a partner of public authorities, businesses and individuals

4. The Olympic Park Energy Centre is being designed by John McAslan & Partners, one of the UK’s leading design practices

5. A second Energy Centre will also be built within the Stratford City development. It will be subject to a separate planning application.

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700

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