UK
Ireland
Scotland
London
Construction News
22/05/2024
Equans To Deliver First Virtual Power Plant In Brockmoor
Equans is partnering with UrbanChain and Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (DMBC) to deliver one of the UK's first Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) in council-owned buildings, establishing a pooled energy solution in Brockmoor.
The Brockmoor neighbourhood is set to be Europe's first net-zero carbon neighbourhood, addressing climate change and fuel poverty concurrently.
The VPP solution integrates blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into a peer-to-peer (P2P) energy exchange, enabling communities and asset owners to share 100 per cent clean energy. It offers flexible distribution of energy and savings to multiple beneficiaries, with no upfront capital costs to the local authority or tenant. This innovative approach allows Equans to generate revenue streams, unlocking private finance or supplementing partners' revenue for reinvestment in other projects or services.
Equans previously secured £1.65 million in funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), for the wider net zero neighbourhood, which will act as a pilot to seek a scalable solution for decarbonising neighbourhoods across all seven local authority areas in the West Midlands, while supporting efforts to combat fuel poverty.
Colin Macpherson, Divisional CEO for Equans UK & Ireland, commented: "We are pleased to be working with UrbanChain, who share our vision of making green energy affordable and putting communities first. Together, we hope to unlock capital for the council so it can continue its bold journey of decarbonising, while improving lives.
"This is a truly innovative and groundbreaking project. As well as the promise of reducing carbon emissions, it has the potential of spearheading a step change in energy supply; but more importantly, it has the capability of making real inroads to combat fuel poverty."
Dr. Somayeh Taheri, CEO of UrbanChain said: "This collaboration represents a significant milestone in our mission to address fuel poverty and provide a return on investment for local authorities and communities committed to making a lasting impact. We are excited to showcase how our innovative technology can play a crucial role in transforming energy management and sustainability at the community level."
Work on the net zero carbon neighbourhood is already underway and will continue over the next two years.
The Brockmoor neighbourhood is set to be Europe's first net-zero carbon neighbourhood, addressing climate change and fuel poverty concurrently.
The VPP solution integrates blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into a peer-to-peer (P2P) energy exchange, enabling communities and asset owners to share 100 per cent clean energy. It offers flexible distribution of energy and savings to multiple beneficiaries, with no upfront capital costs to the local authority or tenant. This innovative approach allows Equans to generate revenue streams, unlocking private finance or supplementing partners' revenue for reinvestment in other projects or services.
-- Advertisement --
Equans previously secured £1.65 million in funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), for the wider net zero neighbourhood, which will act as a pilot to seek a scalable solution for decarbonising neighbourhoods across all seven local authority areas in the West Midlands, while supporting efforts to combat fuel poverty.
Colin Macpherson, Divisional CEO for Equans UK & Ireland, commented: "We are pleased to be working with UrbanChain, who share our vision of making green energy affordable and putting communities first. Together, we hope to unlock capital for the council so it can continue its bold journey of decarbonising, while improving lives.
"This is a truly innovative and groundbreaking project. As well as the promise of reducing carbon emissions, it has the potential of spearheading a step change in energy supply; but more importantly, it has the capability of making real inroads to combat fuel poverty."
Dr. Somayeh Taheri, CEO of UrbanChain said: "This collaboration represents a significant milestone in our mission to address fuel poverty and provide a return on investment for local authorities and communities committed to making a lasting impact. We are excited to showcase how our innovative technology can play a crucial role in transforming energy management and sustainability at the community level."
Work on the net zero carbon neighbourhood is already underway and will continue over the next two years.
Latest Construction News
17/01/2025
Leeds Trinity University has officially opened its newly refurbished City Campus at 1 Trevelyan Square in Leeds.
Completed by GRAHAM Interior Fit-Out, the transformation of the central Leeds site introduces state-of-the-art facilities designed to improve learning and collaborate with industry partn
17/01/2025
Trammell Crow Company (TCC) has secured planning permission for a Grade A logistics scheme in Heywood, Greater Manchester, following a successful planning appeal.
The development will feature two state-of-the-art industrial and logistics buildings. One building will house two units measuring 4,796
17/01/2025
Poole-based developer AJC Group has celebrated a record-breaking 2024, delivering 100 affordable homes, a significant increase from the 72 units completed in the previous year.
Since 2023, AJC Group has completed and handed over 172 affordable homes across five sites.
In 2024 alone, the developer
17/01/2025
Plans for one of the most ambitious parks projects in London have taken a significant step forward, with Haringey Council securing nearly two additional acres of land around The Paddock nature reserve in Tottenham Hale.
The agreement with Thames Water marks a major milestone in the transformation o
17/01/2025
Islington Council has unveiled two draft guidance documents aimed at helping residents, businesses, and developers combat climate change by making buildings more energy efficient and fostering a greener, healthier borough.
The consultation seeks feedback on the draft Climate Action Supplementary Pl
17/01/2025
The City of Wolverhampton Council has unveiled a £98 million investment plan over the next five years to develop around 500 new homes across the city.
The proposal, part of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan, received Cabinet approval this week and now moves to Full Council for final
17/01/2025
Croydon Council has announced a significant milestone in the redevelopment of the Purley Pool site, with revised proposals submitted for a new leisure centre, later living housing, and the regeneration of the surrounding area.
A planning application for the site was initially submitted in 2024, pro
17/01/2025
The City of Wolverhampton Council has announced that demolition work has commenced on the New Park Village estate, marking the start of a major £40 million redevelopment project to transform outdated council housing.
Contractor DSM Demolition has begun pulling down poor-quality bungalows on Valley
17/01/2025
Hillingdon Council has acquired 12 new homes at Carpenters Court in Uxbridge.
Leader of Hillingdon Council, Cllr Ian Edwards and Cllr Steve Tuckwell, Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and Growth, visited the site to officially mark the handover of the properties from local developer Kearns Devel
17/01/2025
Organisers of UK Construction Week (UKCW) have announced another major coup for the show's 10th anniversary year, with the news that UKCW London will be co-locating with the 14th edition of The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces, the principal industry event for surface design.
Established 26 years ago, th
