The project will be based at the utility’s energy centre in Exeter and will demonstrate how solar panels and heat pumps can work alongside the existing district heating scheme in Cranbrook “to provide a lower cost and significantly lower carbon heating and hot water source”, Eon said.
Eon’s head of community energy Jeremy Bungey said that by migrating the heat network from gas-fired combined heat and power to renewable sources the project could achieve a “significant” reduction in carbon emissions whilst maintaining secure supply.
“This is a demonstration project at this stage but if it proves successful, the integrated technology we are pioneering here could be replicated in existing and new district heating schemes right across the country and would make a significant contribution to easing the impact on the environment which comes from domestic heating,” Bungey said.
Eon said the first phase of the project will create a detailed design of the integrated system and an assessment of possible energy performance, carbon savings and cost efficiency.
If successful, the second phase will see the installation and integration of all the technologies ahead of a full 12 month trial to test the system, Eon added.