The ExCeL exhibition centre is set to become an energy provider for homes and businesses in east London following a partnership with a utility firm.

Cofely East London Energy, which has bought the venue’s energy centre, will now supply its energy needs for heating water, electricity as well as cooling for its air conditioning.

It will also expand its network to generate enough energy to heat the equivalent of 45,000 homes. The network will also be able to serve the additional hotels, offices and housing developments as the area is regenerated over the next 20 years.

Cofely already owns and operates an existing generator at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

David Pegler, ExCeL CEO, said: “We are delighted to be part of this partnership with Cofely GDF Suez. It is fantastic that we can be at the cutting edge of energy management for such a vast conference and exhibition space like ExCeL London. As the only enhanced conference and exhibition facility in the UK with this upgraded energy centre, we are pleased to be able to guarantee total power security to our exhibitors and visitors, while simultaneously giving something back to our local community.”

Simon Woodward, Chief Executive for Cofely District Energy, said: “Our grand vision is to link the heating network which expands from this energy centre up with the one we already own and operate which supplies the Olympic Park – essentially a network of pipes in the streets which supply hot water to buildings – the building occupiers can then use this hot water for heating and also domestic hot water.

“Once linked together this combined network has the potential to supply buildings which have a heating demand equal to around 45,000 homes, but clearly actual consumers would be a mix of residential towers, shops, offices, hotels etc.”