Renewable energy boost for London
23-7-2005
New Wembley, Barking Town Centre, Merton and Aylesbury and Elephant & Castle developments in Southwark are being designated as pilot Energy Action Areas by the Mayor of London. They will use renewable energy technologies to power developments, improve energy efficiency and become low carbon communities.
The Mayor's Energy Strategy called for Energy Action Areas in London to showcase the future for energy use in London. The Mayor tasked the London Energy Partnership with developing and implementing the Energy Action Areas as a priority project. The London Energy Partnership is working on the ground with developers and local authorities to use renewable technologies in these areas to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.
The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: 'We need to implement major energy projects on the ground to forge the way forward in producing more sustainable energy and cutting London's contribution to climate change. The four successful areas announced today by the London Energy Partnership represent an exciting mix of projects offering a range of responses to meeting the challenging targets I set out in my Energy Strategy. The experience that we gain in these areas will be used in developments across London and will establish London as a world-class city, recognised globally as a leader in exemplar sustainable energy developments.'
Elliot Morley, Minister for Climate Change and Environment said: 'London is showing the way we all have to go, and the Mayor's pilot Energy Action Areas will contribute towards national carbon cuts and boost the development of technology producing greener, less wasteful sources of energy.
'The scheme will set a precedent for low carbon projects nationwide and will be a significant contribution to the government's efforts to achieve its goals for cleaner, smarter energy in the future.'
David Green, Chair of the London Energy Partnership announced the designated Energy Action Areas at the Annual PRASEG (Parliamentary Renewables And Sustainable Energy) Conference. He said: 'I am pleased to announce the selection of four pilot Energy Action Areas which will act as showcase developments for the potential to cut London's carbon emissions. We will be working with the pilot Areas to deliver a mix of established and innovative sustainable energy technologies and services for London that can demonstrate best practice. These pilots are about learning by doing and they represent real action on the ground and that bring together the significant players in Partnership.'
New Wembley is a development of 3700 new homes and 137,000mē of retail and leisure facilities, and aspires to produce 37 per cent less carbon emissions than a typical London development. Schools and residential property in the Aylesbury area will have solar panels and wind turbines which will be integrated into buildings to generate energy and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. Innovation will be demonstrated partly by technology but also finance and partnership arrangements.
The London Energy Partnership was launched by the Mayor on Monday 26 January 2004 to ensure that London takes a leading role in reducing energy consumption in the UK and works to minimise its impact on global warming by transforming London into a world class city for sustainable energy.
Notes to Editors
1. New Wembley is a new residential, retail and leisure development around the Wembley Stadium site.
The regeneration of Mitcham Town centre in Merton will aim to incorporate aspects of sustainable energy into the plans and to establish a large-scale district heating system in the Borough.
Barking Town Centre will integrate low carbon targets into Barking town centre regeneration development.
Southwark Concerto Community is a social housing regeneration project with new build residential elements incorporating a high level of renewables and with 75 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide. The sustainable regeneration of the Elephant & Castle mixed-use town centre includes 5,300 new dwellings, rebuild of the shopping centre, a new civic square, and major transport infrastructure changes.
2. The Mayor's Energy Strategy commits London to reducing its emissions of carbon dioxide by 20 per cent, relative to the 1990 level, by 2010. The Mayor's Energy Strategy can be found at www.london.gov.uk
3. The London Energy Partnership has received funding to implement the Energy Action Areas from the Greater London Authority (GLA), the London Development Agency (LDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
4. The different sectors involved in the London Energy Partnership include architecture, design and engineering, constructions, development and housing, education and research, energy efficiency, energy industry, utilities, government - London regional, local authorities, institutions and trade associations, investment and finance, voluntary and community.
5. David Green is the Chair of the London Energy Partnership and Executive Director of UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy.
For media enquiries please call Nicola Dillon in the Mayor's Press Office on 020 7983 4755.
For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000.
For non-media enquiries please call the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.