Rugeley power plant to be transformed into community of green homes

50% of the energy demand for these super efficient homes is to be met by green sources, predominantly solar power, which is to be generated by panels fitted onto rooftops, in a field and floating on a lake.

The firm claims that the homes will be so efficient that they will use nearly a third less energy than average newbuilds. Heating will come from electric devices such as heat pumps instead of gas.

Rugeley power plant stopped generating electricity in the summer of 2016.

Seven coal-fired power plants are still in operation in the UK; all of which are due to close by a government deadline of 2025.

Wilfrid Petrie, Engie UK’s Chief Executive, said: “We are positioning ourselves as going beyond energy into place-making. It’s an example of us closing down our coal power plant and, instead of selling off the land, we’ve decided to regenerate it ourselves.”

Colin Macpherson, Development Director at ENGIE, added: "The scheme we are developing is still in its relatively early stages, we're still in discussion with the wider community and two local authorities.We're trying to find out what people think about the scheme because clearly it's important for the local people to be involved”.

"The move to take what was historically a carbon-polluting site and convert it into something that is a low carbon site for people to live and work is really really important to me, my team and the business.”

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/power/21112018/rugeley-power-plant-to-be-transformed-into-community-of-green-homes/