26.02.20
Council's £2m plans for largest smart city project in UK
Peterborough City Council has unveiled £2m plans for the largest smart city regeneration project in the UK.
The city-wide scheme, The Peterborough Integrated Renewables Infrastructure project (PIRI), will be designed to cut energy bills and facilitate green heat, electricity and transport for people in the area by combining modern heat and electricity networks and electric vehicle infrastructure.
The new, council-led partnership set to deliver the two-year scheme involves SSE Enterprise, Element Energy, Cranfield University, Smarter Grid Solutions and Sweco UK.
Efficiencies not currently being delivered will be unlocked through this new project, part funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), by uniting new energy generation, demand and storage.
It is expected to boost major social and economic value for Peterborough from 2022, with significant private sector investment carried out for and by partnership members with decarbonisation expertise.
There is potential for energy bills to be cut by up to a quarter thanks to the PIRI project as well as a significant drop in CO2 emissions.
Cllr Marco Cereste, cabinet member for the environment at Peterborough City Council, said:
“This exciting announcement will give Peterborough the opportunity to use its own green, locally produced electricity and heat to benefit residents. It's a landmark step in our aim to be carbon-neutral by 2030 and will be the most exciting and innovative clean, green energy project the city and indeed the country has ever seen.”
Peterborough City Council declared a ‘climate emergency’ in July 2019 and have set targets of carbon neutrality by 2030. This new scheme, set to be completed by 2022, will play a big part in achieving that goal.
Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, Kwasi Kwarteng, said:
“Every corner of the UK has a part to play as we eliminate our contribution to climate change entirely by 2050. This innovative project in Peterborough will deliver energy savings and reduce carbon emissions – a win-win for communities and the environment.”