INDUSTRY NEWS E.ON FORGES A GREENER FUTURE FOR SHEFFIELD


A decade after its transformation into a renewable energy hub, E.ON’s Blackburn Meadows renewable energy plant is marking its own 10-year anniversary by pushing forward with bold innovations in sustainable energy. Once home to the iconic Tinsley Towers, Blackburn Meadows has since


evolved into a biomass-fuelled power plant, using waste wood – otherwise destined for landfill – to generate heat and power. Construction of the plant began in 2009, with power generation starting in 2014, followed by the site supplying heat to the network in 2015. By 2017, the site’s industrial battery storage became operational, delivering rapid- response support to the grid in under a second to enhance stability. E.ON is now playing a key role in supporting Sheffield’s ambition to become a zero-carbon city by 2030. One of the biggest steps forward is the planned expansion of the Don Valley district heating network, which is powered by the biomass-fuelled Blackburn Meadows plant. This will add 10km to the existing 8km network, which already supplies energy to Sheffield landmarks such as IKEA, Ice Sheffield, and Forgemasters, extending low-carbon heating to even more homes and businesses across the Lower Don Valley. Jess Dhariwal, plant manager at Blackburn Meadows, said: “Sheffield has always been a city of innovation, and


now it’s leading the charge in the UK’s transition to Net Zero. With ambitious heat network expansion plans, pioneering hydrogen research, and commitment to low-carbon energy, the city is proving that sustainable solutions can power both industry and communities.” Blackburn Meadows is playing a pivotal role in the HYDESS project (Hydrogen Decarbonisation of Sheffield Steel),


exploring how hydrogen can help decarbonise one of the UK’s most energy-intensive industries. The site has the potential to initially produce 1,500 tonnes of hydrogen annually, with capacity to scale up as demand grows. At the same time, advanced AI and automation will be integrated into site operations to enhance efficiency,


optimise energy use, and reduce environmental impact. www.eonenergy.com


ENERGY MONITORING FOR COLOCATION CUSTOMERS


inefficiencies, optimise workloads, and avoid costly overuse. In colocation environments, where customers are billed based on energy usage, the RL9405 ensures fair and accurate cost allocation. Designed for seamless integration


Colocation customers no longer need to worry about unpredictable energy costs and limited visibility into their power usage. With DOLD’s RL9405 Smart Energy Meter, businesses can monitor exact rack-level consumption, pinpoint


into the tightest server rack spaces, this 35mm-wide meter delivers real- time precision energy monitoring without requiring additional infrastructure. With no complex wiring or downtime, deployment across multiple racks is fast and effortless. Beyond preventing unexpected power charges with precise kWh tracking, the RL9405 provides real- time access to critical performance


metrics. Users can track historical consumption trends, detect anomalies signalling inefficiencies or potential server failures, and perform preventive maintenance to avoid costly downtime. Even during power outages, the RL9405 securely stores energy data, ensuring critical insights are never lost. With Modbus TCP/RTU connectivity, it enables remote, real-time tracking, integrating seamlessly with existing monitoring systems to identify and resolve inefficiencies instantly, improving overall operational efficiency.


www.dold.co.uk


“We are thrilled to partner with Kia Stockton and SSE Energy Solutions on this project,” said Alistair Booth, CEO at Ortus Energy. “This installation showcases the growing demand for solar solutions among businesses seeking to reduce their environmental impact and operating costs. It’s a testament to the strength of our partnership with SSE Energy Solutions and our shared commitment to driving the adoption of renewable energy across the UK.”


https://ortusenergy.com www.sseenergysolutions.co.uk


CREATING LOW CARBON COMMUNITIES: NEW COMMUNITY HEAT HUB GOES LIVE


The future of decarbonised home heating is being rolled out across the UK with some of the country’s largest housebuilders – with the latest housing development benefiting from the solution ‘going live’ in recent weeks. The Community Heat Hub (CHH), one of GTC’s Future Homes Standard-compliant heat network solutions, is delivering low-carbon heat at The Gateway in Bexhill, Sussex, a housing development being delivered by Vistry Group. The CHH is one of GTC’s low carbon heat


network solutions that answers the Future Homes www.essmag.co.uk


Standard by reducing carbon emissions by 75-80% from day one, combing the two FHS notional specifications of heat pumps and heat networks in one future-proofed, Net Zero solution. Vistry contracted GTC to deliver heat via


its innovative Community Heat Hub to The Gateway in Bexhill, alongside electric, fibre, water, and wastewater. Once fully built the scheme will provide 801 high-quality mixed- tenure new homes, a primary school, community centre and sports pavilion connected to the low carbon solution.


GTC commissioned The Gateway Community Heat Hub in late February and the first homeowners moved in on February 24th. This is the UK’s second Community Heat Hub to be commissioned since its launch, with more contracted across the country being delivered in the coming months. The Community Heat Hub at The Gateway is estimated to save around 850 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually in comparison to individual gas boilers in homes.


www.gtc-uk.co.uk ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Spring 2025 5


DRIVING SOLAR ADOPTION AT KIA STOCKTON


A partnership between Ortus Energy and SSE Energy Solutions has seen the installation of a 601 kWp solar PV system, optimised to maximise the clean energy used at the Kia Stockton dealership. This is projected to generate 538,000 kWh of clean energy annually, meeting approximately 45% of Kia Stockton’s electricity needs. SSE Energy Solutions is financing the


solar installation and has signed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Kia Stockton, which will enable the dealership to pay a fixed rate for the power generated over 25 years without the need for any upfront investment. PPAs on projects such as Kia Stockton enable businesses to hedge against the volatility of wholesale energy prices, access clean energy to meet their sustainability goals, and gain greater predictability in their energy expenditure.


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