Veolia is extending low carbon heat supply to a further 1,618 residential properties across six apartment blocks in Bermondsey, using energy supplied from the 35MWe South East London Combined Heat and Power (SELCHP) facility. Working with property real estate company Greystar’s Bermondsey Project development, the 25 year contract will help lower carbon emissions through a new district heating network. The aim is to save an estimated 1,524 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year compared to natural gas derived heat supplies.
The new district heating scheme marks another step in decarbonising domestic heat as almost a third of the final energy consumed in the UK is used as heat in the domestic, commercial and public sectors. District heating networks that harness the heat from the waste-fed electricity generation process represent an efficient, affordable and decarbonising alternative to provide households with cleaner energy.
Due to start operating in May 2026, this infrastructure project aims to provide the heat with around a 60% renewable content due to the biogenic component of the waste treated at SELCHP. As this system represents a low carbon solution compared to alternative supplies, it will also help to advance London’s ongoing commitment to combat climate change by lowering the carbon footprint.
Veolia will design, construct, and commission the network, and be responsible for operation, maintenance, and lifecycle replacement. The system will be supplied with hot water from SELCHP, fed into the systems at 75oC, to distribute heat in the connected buildings and meet the thermal demands at each location. To ensure system resilience, the network will include an additional facility housing a back-up boiler installation.
John Abraham, Chief Operating Officer, Industrial, Water & Energy UK , Ireland & Nordics said, “Locally sourced energy, derived from previously untapped resources such as waste, is becoming a true driver of regional growth. Veolia’s engineering solutions can make a real and lasting difference, help break the reliance on fossil fuels, deliver the essential energy to support communities, and address the issues of energy price volatility.”
Philip Hirst, Director, Sustainability, Greystar, said, “Trends such as urbanisation, energy transition and digitisation require a forward-thinking approach to infrastructure. The connection to decarbonised SELCHP heat network aligns with Greystar’s net zero and infrastructure ambitions, whilst also providing value to our Bermondsey residents with locally generated, low carbon heat.”
Cllr John Batteson, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Jobs & Business at Southwark Council said, “This ambitious project will provide thousands of residents with cleaner energy sourced locally in south-east London, making positive use of waste generated in Southwark and the wider area while reducing the borough’s carbon footprint in the process.”
