As part of the 2nd round of the Homes and Communities Agency Low Carbon funding Initiative, Hackney Homes made a bid to the HCA to support a combined heat and power scheme at Cranston Estate, Hackney.

Vital Energi's unique experience and knowledge has been a key contributor to the entire Low Carbon Infrastructure initiative - providing the HCA with advice and insight on current market conditions and future low carbon initiatives. Head of Environmental Policy, Jane Forshaw commented:

"The Homes and Communities Agency has been running a low carbon infrastructure process and Vital Energi has given enormous support by providing imagination coupled with practicality. Their work is helping to drive forward cost effective solutions to low carbon heat and power at scale. We all need to work hard at ensuring infrastructure for future house building delivers the optimum outcome in terms of reduced carbon and reduced fuel bills for customers".

The Cranston Estate, Hackney was built in 1950 and consists of 7 separate blocks, totalling 215 flats.  The existing heating system was approaching 55 years old and was becoming increasingly inefficient and expensive for the residents. 

Initial funding was granted by the HCA to Hackney Homes for £500,000.  The Cranston estate is part of a wider initiative by Hackney Homes to connect over 500 residential units to a decentralised energy network consisting of approximately 1km of heat network piping and a natural gas CHP engine. The residential units are split over three estates within Shoreditch: Cranston, Wenlock and Thaxted. Part of the project will be delivered as part of Hackney’s Decent Homes Programme over the coming year.

Vital Energi was approached by Lovells house builders, on behalf of Hackney Homes to provide a full scheme appraisal of the Cranston Project to determine the feasibility of providing Combined Heat and Power energy to the three high density housing estates. Meanwhile, Vital Energi has been awarded a £500,000 contract by Lovells' (on behalf of Hackney Homes) to replace the risers and lateral pipework to eight of the housing blocks on the Cranston Estate.

Having already completed the installation of the new replacement buried heating mains to the Cranston Estate, Vital Energi is pleased to be able to continue its work with the project.

Funding for the £6.5 million project is expected from London Borough of Hackney and, potentially, the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP).

The Cranston Project will offer significant carbon reductions, not least as a gas-fired CHP engine is expected to replace ageing oil fired boilers located at theWenlock and Thaxted estates.

Once complete, the project will eliminate over 1,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.