Greenwich Millennium Village

Newly built high rise buildings with trees in the foreground.

A world-class energy and multi-utility solution from Metropolitan is at the heart of King’s Cross, the largest and most exciting regeneration project in Europe.


It delivers low carbon district heating and cooling, electricity, end-to-end fibre-optic broadband, gas, water and wastewater. On completion, Metropolitan’s utility infrastructure will serve over 35,000 people living, working, studying and being entertained on the site, whilst setting an important new benchmark for sustainable new communities and inner-city redevelopment.

More efficient than traditional cooling systems
Estimated carbon savings over traditional solution
Amount of power generated onsite for the development

Trigeneration for the next generation

Metropolitan worked closely with main developer Argent, to deliver trigeneration at King’s Cross with central production of electricity, heat and cooling. Every building is served by a hot water distribution network connected to an on-site Energy Centre with a Combined Heat and Power Plant (CHP).

As well King’s Cross is one of the most energy efficient developments in Europe with a BREAM ‘excellent’ rated solution and lower energy bills for residents.

One partner to deliver all utilities

For Argent, Metropolitan was the innovative, competitive and unique alternative to the incumbent. Just one partner was needed to deliver all the energy and utility infrastructure serving King’s Cross, from initial network design to the upstream connections – and without the involvement of the incumbent provider. King’s Cross is the only known site where the same company provides, owns and operates the infrastructure for all utilities. This approach provides streamlined processes and a smoother and more efficient journey for the client.

King’s Cross is the only known site where the same company provides, owns and operates the infrastructure for all utilities. This approach provides streamlined processes and a smoother and more efficient journey for the client

Solutions that scale up & add up

Metropolitan designed the energy solution at King’s Cross to evolve and scale-up in controlled stages, mirroring the requirements of a growing site. The timings of the CHP plant engine installations corresponded with each new build phase, with the heat network extended as needed and each new building integrated on completion. Installing the District Energy Centre plant in stages in this way allowed output to match demand more closely; particularly important in the early stages to support cash-flow and enable the investment to roll out.

Fibre fast enough for businesses

Metropolitan’s Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) solution takes fibre-optic directly into every home and business. With unlimited capacity and infinite network potential, the FTTH networks support residential speeds of 300Mbps and commercial speeds of 1Gbps. This future-proof technology gives the best possible online experience to all, and can grow to meet increased demand from the householders and businesses on site.

ESCo solutions safeguard success

A fully managed ESCo is part of the solution for local delivery of decentralised energy. The ownership of the King’s Cross utility infrastructure is a long-term partnership between main developer Argent and Metropolitan. The ESCo is therefore fully invested in the long-term success of the development and the interests of the King’s Cross residents.

Underpinned by the heat trust guarantee

King’s Cross was one of the first schemes registered with the Heat Trust by Metropolitan who provides professional metering and billing services to the householders within its role as an ESCo partner. This demonstrates a commitment to abide by the Heat Trust service standards and customer protection requirements designed to safeguard the interests of all heat customers on the site, including the most vulnerable. It guarantees they will always receive best service and fair prices.

Fuel cell technology

Metropolitan and the development Partnership are committed to installing one of the UK’s first fuel cells, to produce electricity and heat. The fuel cell converts natural gas into hydrogen and then to electricity and heat. It is a highly efficient (up to 90%) electricity generator and with no particulate emissions.

“We have been working with Metropolitan since 2008 and they are an essential part of the team delivering the infrastructure at Kings Cross. They have been flexible and innovative and always willing to work with us when plans changed. With their help, we have been able to provide our occupiers with 21st-century infrastructure and deliver our targeted carbon savings of around 60%”.

Anthony Peter, Project Director, Argent

What we delivered

District heat

An Energy Centre comprising 2x2MWe Combined Heat and Power Engines (CHP), 3x10MW gas boilers, 2x3MW gas boilers and 2x75m3 thermal stores.

Water

Site bulk water connection to Thames Water and a new potable water network, owned under Ofwat regulated licence.

District cooling

A District Cooling Centre comprising 1×1.4MW absorption chiller, 3x3MW water-cooled electric chillers, 2x1MW dry air-cooled chillers, 5×2.5MW heat rejection cooling towers, 2x30m3 thermal stores, 2x2500KVA transformers.

Wastewater

Site bulk discharge connection to Thames Water sewer. New site wastewater network, owned under Ofwat regulated licence.

Electricity

A 66MVA 132kV site connection from UKPN. Primary Substation 11kV board and all site networks. All owned by Metropolitan under an Ofgem regulated distribution licence.

Gas

Site connection and new gas network to supply the Energy Centre and commercial buildings. Network owned under Ofgem regulated licence.

Fibre

An open access Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) network delivering fibre directly into every property. Residential Superfast speeds of 300Mbps and Commercial speeds of 1Gbps.

ESCo

A fully managed ESCo for the local delivery of de-centralised energy including all professional end-customer supply services with metering and billing.