SSE makes Vital investment

(SSE) today bought a 30 per cent share of energy services contractor,

for £6m.

Vital Energi specialises in the design, supply and installation of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and district heating systems. A typical CHP scheme generates electricity through the combustion of natural gas, landfill gas or biomass and then supplies the electricity and ‘waste’ heat to a local community.

Today’s announcement coincides with a recent agreement between SSE and Berkeley Homes (East Thames), to provide the energy services for The Warren, a major development in south east London.

Under the agreement, SSE will be responsible for installing an energy centre, including a CHP plant, which will serve over 450 apartments, a nursery unit, primary care trust and commercial units.

Vital Energi is SSE’s main contractor on Berkeley Homes’ Warren development and is responsible for all elements relating to the installation of the energy centre and the heat distribution network.

‘Our investment in Vital Energi demonstrates our commitment to providing sustainable solutions for our customers,’ said Ian Marchant, SSE Chief Executive. ‘We believe that towns and cities can play a significant role in fighting climate change, through the use of more efficient community heating projects which can also generate electricity.’

‘In locations with high heat demand density and smaller property sizes, community heating with CHP is likely to be one of the most effective and economic ways to deliver carbon savings,’ added Marchant.