Enfield's Latest Heat Network Project is on Schedule

The construction works are progressing well and on schedule at the Energetik Energy Centre in Enfield, where the project is being led by Chris Beckwith (Construction Director) and Philip Kyriacou (Senior Projects Manager).

Construction started back in March with groundworks, which consisted of a reduced level dig and installation of the piling mat. The building is located near to a water course and part of the design requirements are that it’s to be built to withstand a 1 in 100 year flood. The design of the elevated ground floor slab meant that our piling mat needed to be installed at a level 1m higher than the existing ground level. In order to do this, we laid over 1600m3 of hardcore, using around 110 wagons, all of which would be removed from site after the completion of the piles.

Before piling could commence, we engaged the services of UXO (bomb detection squad) who needed to map the area and scan for any unexploded world war 2 bombs. Thankfully none were found, although we did find an old pot!

We installed over 90 piles, the longest of which were 28m. To put that into context, that’s the same height as our Flue Tower, all below ground.

Finally, we poured the concrete slab, which was designed to take the weight of the Thermal Stores and 16-ton boilers, and ranges in thickness from 600mm to 900mm.

When we completed the concrete slab, which was our first milestone, Energetik arranged a site visit from the Deputy Mayor for the Department of Environment & Energy, Enfield Council’s Chief Executive, and other representatives of Enfield Council and the Greater London Authority.

Meridian Water Heat Network (MWHN) is the name of Energetik’s upcoming district heating network that will supply low carbon heat and hot water the 10,000 homes and businesses to be built at Meridian Water as part of the regeneration. The network will be supplied by the main energy centre, located nearby at the Edmonton Eco-Park. The centre will eventually supply all of Energetik’s heat networks by capturing up to 60MW of unused energy generated at the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) Energy Recovery facility next door.

The next phase of works is the superstructure, with the structural steel frame which will be followed by intumescent painting works of the structure and the installation of the envelope.