A vision of a smart energy hub for the benefit of a Grimsby community renaissance is progressing, with a high speed electric vehicle charging station outlined as part of a footfall generator.
The Freeman Street proposal would include a 鈥渦nique combination of technical innovations,鈥 building on initial success with the greenest market in the 海角视频.
A large solar PV system covering new residential, community and commercial properties, as well as existing buildings, could be connected to a large scale battery storage system.
This will be combined with a private wire ring main allowing the development to share and maximise use of renewable energy, taking in the entire block from the market to what was House of Holland, where we revealed yesterday a new 拢8 million YMCA is to be built.
It is the first step in the huge regeneration of the decaying shopping precinct the Enrolled Freemen were handed back by the Crown, following a High Court ruling in March 2018, after the owner, Agra, was liquidated.
Plans for green community spaces, eco-friendly mixed use spaces and a potential community stadium have been brought forward by them, as it looks to transform the area close to the town's docks - once a thriving commercial zone. High rise flats and a dated office block have recently been demolished, creating a blank canvas in the centre of North East Lincolnshire, where the emergence of the offshore wind is raising aspirations.
The freemen also propose trading with the National Grid to buy in cheap off-peak electricity and sell back any excess as it works towards a carbon Net Zero status 20 years ahead of the 海角视频, and a decade before the wider Humber鈥檚 goal.
The car charging station is proposed for a spot by the market, across Nelson Street, and various cafes with free Wifi, market stalls and office facilities with ultrafast broadband providing a welcoming environment as drivers wait.
Freeman Richard Bellamy said: 鈥淭he overall aim is to support the redevelopment of this central area of Grimsby, having suffered from a lack of investment for many years following the demise of our fishing industry. Bringing the latest technological innovations in the form of a virtual power station to Grimsby will put us back on the map as a leader in energy. Grimsby had its own electricity company in 1898.
鈥淲e are excited about the benefits that regeneration of Freeman Street will bring to the community. We will work alongside the investment being brought through the Town Deal and other developments in the area to share ideas developed by this community energy project. 聽
The development will also be a leader in other innovations including low energy heating systems, rainwater harvesting and Internet of Things (IoT) technology.
It is supported by the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy-backed Midlands Energy Hub, The University of Nottingham and Lincolnshire based commercial renewable energy installers Greenio, Amelio Energy and its spin-off EV Camel.
Richard Jones, managing director of the latter two, said: 鈥淲e are delighted to support this visionary work and to assist in the development of the concept and delivery of this smart energy project.
鈥淪olar PV and battery storage have been talked about for many years but bringing them together in a community-based private wire network to bring benefits to the community at this scale will be unique.
鈥淲e look forward to working with partners such as Northern Powergrid and others to deliver the best technological and practical solutions. These solutions will not only bring low costs for residents and businesses, but also a very low carbon solution with high environmental standards.鈥
Whether it could power a football stadium鈥檚 floodlights remains to be seen, as talks over a site away from Blundell Park for Grimsby Town continue.
