ENGIE UK launches energy centre

Energy and services company ENGIE UK has launched the Helix District Energy Centre, a carbon-reduction energy facility in the city of Newcastle in the UK.

The facility forms part of a £20 million (€23.5 million) low-carbon scheme by the Regenerate Newcastle Partnership, which is a joint venture between Newcastle City Council and ENGIE. The climate change initiative aims to save more than 30,000 tonnes of carbon over the next 40 years. 

Nicola Lovett, chief executive of ENGIE UK and Ireland, said, “We are delighted to be marking the completion of the new Helix Energy Centre, the first of what we hope will be many innovative low-carbon energy projects delivered by our long-term partnership with Newcastle City Council.

Located at the Newcastle Helix site – a 24 acre (95,000 m²) area of the city undergoing regeneration – the energy centre will supply heating and cooling to 10 buildings and 450 homes on the newly developed site, using 5 km network of underground pipes.

Construction of the Helix District Energy Centre was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Government’s Local Growth Deal through the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.

ENGIE said it hoped the facility would be just the first of many resulting from the Regenerate Newcastle Partnership.

Lovett said, “With local authorities playing an increasingly key role in the drive to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions, ENGIE is committed to using its expertise to support Newcastle with its climate goals and on its journey to becoming a zero carbon city by 2030.”

Councillor Nick Forbes, Leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet so it’s incumbent on all of us to do what we can to reduce our carbon emissions.

“The opening of the District Energy Centre is a significant boost to our climate change credentials and will provide affordable and sustainable heating to residents and cutting-edge businesses which are bringing high quality jobs to the city.”