The South West’s first energy centre unveiled.

The South West’s first energy centre has been unveiled - marking the end of construction work on the �3million facility at Cranbrook.

The E.ON energy centre, measuring 30,000 sq ft, will serve Exeter’s new Skypark as well as the new community of Cranbrook.

To mark the project’s completiton, Councillor Andrew Moulding, the deputy leader of East Devon District Council, joined project partners Ian Guy, of St Modwen, and Jeremy Bungey, of E.ON, to plant a tree.

The tree represents the wood that will eventually be used to power the energy centre which will initially run on natural gas.

The E.ON centre is one of the key developments forming part of the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point.

Councillor Paul Diviani, the leader of East Devon District Council, said: “What an amazing year this has been so far for East Devon, not only is our vision of the new community and Skypark business park becoming a reality but so too are our aspirations to deliver them in the most sustainable way possible. I am incredibly proud to be the leader of a council which has taken on the carbon reduction challenge and to be in partnership with people who can really deliver.”

The energy centre will serve as the energy hub for a district heating heating network that will provide a sustainable and cost-effective source of energy to businesses at Skypark and homes at Cranbrook.

At Cranbrook, approximately 2,900 homes will be fuelled through the first phase of residential development. The system could provide an estimated 13,000 tonnes of CO2 savings per year, the equivalent of removing 5,200 cars from the road – potentially making Cranbrook one of the largest low carbon communities in the UK to deliver combined heat and power to all residents.