Power On has adopted the utilities networks and heat centre for a 1,374-home development overlooking The Oval cricket ground.
One of Berkeley's most ambitious and complex brownfield regeneration projects, Power On is delivering the electric, water, gas and, vitally, low-carbon heat and cooling, for the new residential and commercial area. The contract has now been signed for Power On to also officially adopt these systems, running and maintaining them in perpetuity.
Landmark complexity
Oval Village is a blend of contemporary London architecture and heritage conservation, comprising seven blocks of residential apartments with amenities including private gardens and a swimming pool. A key part of the project is the carefully restored 145-year-old Grade II Listed gasholder, a local landmark overlooking the world-famous Oval cricket ground, which now accommodates a block of over 200 apartments, known as The Halo.
Neil Fitzsimons, managing director of Power On, said: “This is a major heat and utilities project for high-rise central London. It is a prestigious but also complex site and we are delighted to have been selected by Berkeley Group for the job.”
Multifaceted heat network
The Heating Network for Oval Village is a complex system comprising of a four-pipe heating and cooling Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) located on the roof of Block B, The Pinnacle, which will maintain a water circuit temperature of 45°C. The ASHP will then be connected to three water source secondary heat pumps, located in the basement Energy Centre, which will further boost the water temperature to 70°C. Additionally, five thermal store buffer vessels with a 35m3 total capacity will be installed to allow for flexibility, which will maximise network efficiency and ensure it is cost effective. Gas boilers have been installed as a top-up option for peak demand times in winter, but Power On’s design team have managed to reduce these from an initial three, to two.
Remarkably, the ASHP is reversible and can not only provide heating capacity of 603kW in cooler times but also cooling capacity of 716kW in the summer, a vital option for high-rise living today.
Connection fundamentals
A temporary energy centre has been provided for the initial blocks and this will later be connected to the main, permanent energy centre once completed, with Power On adopting both. All seven of the blocks will be fed heat from this system through a network of pipes.
Block B, The Pinnacle, has been the starting and pivotal point for the whole development. This is where Power On brought in the main utility supplies. The basement substations of Block B comprise a 20KV electricity network, far higher than the standard 11KV. This has been fed from the Bankside UKPN primary station, involving lengthy offsite work across London from the Tate Modern. Housing the plant in the basement was a bespoke procedure with a great number of safety and building regulations to be met.
This development involves the collaboration of parties including the London Borough of Lambeth, Historic England, Surrey County Cricket Club, and local residents. Power On took responsibility for the whole project, liaising with all parties and managing any changes and additional requirements. To simplify the process, Power On maintained one point of contact throughout, for all four utilities.
Paul Vallone, chairman, Berkeley (Central London) Ltd, said: “Power On have made the multi-utilities aspect of the project straightforward. Having a single, multi-utilities provider has created one clear line of communication, offering a broader perspective and enabling any challenges to be resolved quickly and efficiently.”