Full planning permission has been granted for an energy resilience project at London Design and Engineering UTC (LDE UTC) in the Royal Docks.
The scheme will be one of the first urban buildings in London to generate, manage and optimise a significant majority share of its own energy through an intelligent microgrid.
It combines five Hover Energy vertical-axis wind turbines with the college’s existing solar array, and a planned battery storage system with an intelligent control layer, the Hover Microgrid Management System.
As one system, it generates, stores and balances energy, and is expected to supply 81% of the building’s electricity.
The turbines are fully enclosed, with no exposed blades, and were designed for constrained urban rooftops.
Newham has assessed the scheme against planning, design, visual impact, acoustics, structural and London City Airport safeguarding requirements and found it acceptable.
The approval is the first of several projects Hover Energy is bringing forward across the Royal Docks in the London Borough of Newham.
Geoffrey Fowler, Principal & CEO of London Design and Engineering UTC, said:
“This is an exciting milestone for the College and for sustainable education. Our students will not simply study engineering, design and renewable energy, they will learn in a building that actively generates, stores and intelligently manages its own clean electricity. That creates a unique learning environment while demonstrating how existing buildings can play a major role in the transition to net zero.
“We are delighted to have secured planning permission, although the project remains subject to final approval from the Department for Education.”
Chris Griffin, CEO & Founder of Hover Energy, said:
“Eighty per cent of the buildings that will be standing in 2050 are already here today. If we are not retrofitting them, we are not getting to net zero. At London Design and Engineering UTC we are turning the built environment into its own energy source, starting with an existing building that generates and manages its own power on its own roof. Resilience matters as much as carbon.
“If it is not distributed, it is not resilient, and a building that makes its own energy keeps running when the grid is either not operating or simply can’t deliver. Although this is not the final stage of the process, it is a critical milestone for the project.”
Oliver Thomas, Project Director at Scott Brownrigg said:
“It’s fantastic to see the College continue to evolve, with LDE UTC identifying new opportunities to broaden its positive impact long after completion. The addition of wind turbines will continue to generate true and lasting social value, extending the building’s environmental contribution and reinforcing its role as a positive asset for both education and the wider community.
“Working closely with LDE UTC and Hover Energy has provided an opportunity to bring together like-minded ambitions and secure consent for a significant project that delivers sustainable design in an evident and tangible way.”
Image courtesy of Scott Brownrigg
