E.ON has unveiled plans to deliver what it claims is a first-of-its-kind combination of retrofit and community energy solutions at the Becontree estate in London.
The company is partnering with Thames Freeport to roll out its Next Gen Home package across 50 homes at the estate.
The package combines solar power, battery storage, heat pumps and EV charging without any upfront cost. Residents will be able to choose which measures are applied to their homes, while being part of a community energy scheme that cuts carbon and builds local energy resilience.
E.ON will also lead the delivery of sustainable construction across the estate working alongside EnergieSprong UK (ESUK) and Rainmaking.
The ‘Becontree demonstrator’, which is part of the wider Sustainable Construction Programme, will see 50 mixed-tenure homes retrofitted though a combination of fabric upgrades and renewable energy systems.
The pilot, which has been supported by a combination of grants, private investment and local authority funding, will provide insights to inform the Demonstrator Accelerator programme, which aims to retrofit more than 5,000 homes across the region in the coming years.
Vijay Tank, chief operating officer at E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions, said: “This partnership comes at the right time. There’s growing urgency around affordable decarbonisation – but also a real opportunity to show how public and private sectors can work together to make change happen. For us, it’s about turning ambition into action – starting with local projects that deliver lasting impact.”
Tank added: “We’re proud to be part of the wider Sustainable Construction Programme, beginning in Barking and Dagenham. This is a vital step forward – bringing together the public and private entities and local stakeholders to put energy efficiency at the heart of development. As we have shown with our other partnerships, these can be the key to unlocking more affordable, secure, sustainable energy, as well as green skills and jobs to local economies.”
