Onsite energy centre for logistics scheme

Developer Tritax Symmetry has entered into its first joint enterprise project with developer and operator of sustainable energy services BasePower, to provide a 2MW energy centre at its 2.16 million ft² Symmetry Park Biggleswade scheme.

BasePower will supply clients with uninterrupted greener, cheaper power solutions, through the creation of an on-site 2MW energy centre.

Located on a greenfield site where the grid is constrained, the centre will augment the grid with renewable and resilient generation from a number of sources including rooftop solar PV, batteries and a combined heat and power (CHP) plant.

The project was specified, designed, procured and built by BasePower who will continue to develop energy systems in line with the evolving needs of the tenants.

Tom Leeming, Development Director at Tritax Symmetry said: “One of the priorities our clients have when deciding on a new location for their business is power. We realised the need to supplement and enhance the national grid supply to ensure a continuous, robust and greener alternative power supply for our occupiers.

“The installation of energy centres on our parks will provide tenants with greater resilience, more competitive energy and a pathway to fully net zero carbon in occupation. As the energy centre is managed by a separate entity, all maintenance and repairs are delivered cost free with no risk to the occupier.

“We estimate a saving of between 5-10% on grid energy bills, and the energy centres are also upgradeable if extra power is needed – for example adding additional PV.”

Dan Poulson, co-founder at BasePower added: “The need for the creation of alternative energy resources has never been greater and we are proud to have been selected by Tritax Symmetry for this project in Biggleswade along with multiple energy projects on their other sites. Across our business we currently operate 10 energy centres in the UK, with a further 20 in development. Through their lifecycles we invest to enhance each site to deliver increasing levels of decarbonisation as client requirements evolve.”

The announcement is the latest in a series of sustainability measures the developer has taken in recent years to decarbonise its schemes including achieving net zero carbon in construction across all of its construction programmes.

The principal contractors on the project included Rolls-Royce, whose Power Systems division installed the mtu-brand CHP systems, battery units and standby generators. Powersystems UK acted as the high voltage (HV) specialist partner for the electrical infrastructure. Service personnel from Rolls-Royce Power System’s UK subsidiary will provide ongoing maintenance to ensure operational excellence.

Symmetry Park Biggleswade Phase 1 consists of a pre-let to The Co-operative Group Limited for a new 661,000 ft² Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) over 50 acres.

Phase 2, extending to 45 acres, is now fully let consisting of three speculatively developed buildings: Unit 02 (160,00 ft²) has been pre-let to Bidfood, Unit 03 (75,408 ft²) has been let to Bowman Ingredients, Unit 04 (230,000 ft²) has been pre-let to Noatum Logistics. Unit 05 (112,00 ft²) is pre-committed to Bond International.

A planning application for Phase 3 consisting of three buildings totalling 927,000 ft², has been submitted with a target committee date of February 2023.

Source: logisticsmanager.com