Partnership with UK District Energy Association will promote the benefits of networked heating and cooling
Ecobuild has announced an exclusive strategic partnership with UK District Energy Association (ukDEA) to present the ukDEA District Energy Town Square at next year’s exhibition at ExCeL, London. The Town Square will also host international pavilions from Sweden and Denmark, two of the most mature district energy markets in the world.
The ukDEA District Energy Town Square will act as a focal point for visitors who want to learn about the advantages of local heating and cooling networks. Reflecting growing interest in the sector, the area dedicated to district energy has grown significantly, from 180 square metres at Ecobuild 2016 to 1,400 square metres at the 2017 show.
Exhibitors in the ukDEA District Energy Town Square will showcase the latest technology and systems, while a dedicated seminar theatre will host 36 informative sessions, sharing case studies, business models and best practice from the UK, Scandinavia, and further afield. Each day will focus on a different sector: local authorities; universities and campus-style networks; and private and public sector housing developers. Also new for 2017, the ukDEA lounge will provide a relaxed networking environment for visitors to interact with the 100+ district energy experts present at the show each day.
The ukDEA District Energy Town Square will be located directly off Regeneration Drive, the main thoroughfare running through Ecobuild 2017, as the exhibition adopts a city-style layout to deliver a thought-provoking and interactive experience for visitors.
Already widespread in many European countries, district energy schemes are becoming more common in the UK. Around 60 per cent of homes in Sweden are connected to a district heat network, while nine-tenths of homes in Copenhagen have access to municipal heating supply. In November 2015, the UK Government announced a £320 million fund to be invested in district energy schemes in towns and cities across the country and the pilot project involving £39 million is now open for applications.
Simon Woodward, Chairman of ukDEA, said: “In today’s planning and regulatory environment it is almost impossible to develop a housing or commercial scheme in the UK without consideration being given to a district energy network. The ukDEA District Energy Town Square will demonstrate how it is possible to comply with planning stipulations and tap into sources of funding and deliver a scheme that makes good business sense.”
Martin Hurn, Brand Director at Ecobuild said: “The purpose of this year’s show is to help redefine sustainability for the industry, and district energy is an initiative with real potential to have a lasting impact on the UK environment. We’re excited to work with the ukDEA and experts from Sweden and Denmark to educate built environment professionals on the district energy opportunity. The list of confirmed exhibitors is growing almost daily, which really demonstrates the current levels of interest in the sector.”
About Ecobuild
Ecobuild is the leading exhibition and conference for construction, design and energy in the built environment, attracting over 33,000 high calibre, senior level decision makers and influencers from architects and developers, to local government and major infrastructure clients.
In 2017, the event will return on 7-9 March, with a renewed focus on enabling sustainable construction for 2017 and beyond. With Lead Partner the UK-GBC, Ecobuild 2017 will explore sustainability as a driver to innovation and growth, a catalyst for regeneration and as a way for organisations to do better business.
In the lead up to the event, Ecobuild will be driving industry-wide conversation around the ongoing evolution of sustainability. Industry professionals can get involved in the conversation on social media using #SustainabilityIs