Supporting the city of Newcastle Upon Tyne in its endeavours to go carbon neutral by 2030, SES Engineering Services (SES) was directly appointed by Engie as main contractor to design and install complex MEP solutions on Newcastle District Energy Centre – the first of its kind in the UK – constructed on behalf of the groundbreaking joint venture between Newcastle City Council and Engie Urban Energy.

Located on Newcastle Helix, a 24 acre landmark sustainable development in the heart of the city centre, the £10m state-of-the-art energy centre has been designed to deliver heating, cooling, and electricity through a distribution network to 10 buildings and approximately 500 homes planned on the site. It will provide carbon emission savings of 30,650 tonnes or 766 tonnes per year for the next 40-years.

Critically, the energy centre is a key component of the city’s energy masterplan and will be a significant contributor to achieving Newcastle City Council’s ambitious green credentials and net zero carbon emissions target by 2030.

Key factors in the successful delivery of the scheme include SES’ early appointment, the collaborative approach of all stakeholders and the use of BIM to deliver innovative MEP solutions as well as the considered choice of technology and plant installed for reliable and sustainable water cooling and energy generation.

Lessons learned from the project will be implemented on all future energy schemes planned for the city.