EDF subsidiary Dalkia will oversee M&E works on the British Musuem’s new energy centre, which will cut carbon emissions by around 1,700 tonnes a year
Part of plans to phase out fossil fuels from the British Museum estate, the scheme is comprised of a new energy centre, additional plant in the East Road building and a secondary plant building, in total representing 1.8% of the Musuem’s total footprint.
Sir Robert McAlpine is the main contractor for the energy centre, whereas Quinn is delivering structural and civils works on the East Road building.
Valued at £33m by Glenigan, the overall programme is scheduled for completion in 2029.
Modernising the energy infrastructure of a heritage estate
The refurbishment programme will replace the existing gas-fired boiler plant with an all-electric system, adding 5.1MW air-source and 7MW water-source heat pumps, as well as a 900kW electrical boiler for additional capacity.
The Museum believes these upgrades will reduce carbon emissions by 1,700 tonnes a year by eliminating direct emissions from the site’s current gas boilers.
To more efficiently distribute energy across the site, planned infrastructure upgrades include new cabling and pipework, a new high-voltage ring main, low-temperature hot water services, rewiring of sub-mains and relocation of the high-voltage intake substation.
The new facilities have all been designed to integrate with the Camden site’s Grade I-listed buildings, by lead consultant and MEP engineer Steensen Varming and architect Wright & Wright.
Strengthening the “resilience and sustainability of our estate for decades ahead”
Colin Brunton, regional managing director at Dalkia, said: “We are proud to deliver infrastructure upgrades that align with the museum’s sustainability objectives while preserving its operational integrity throughout the works.”
British Museum managing director Judith McNicol said: “Modernising our energy infrastructure is essential to transforming the museum, reducing our environmental impact and ensuring we can continue to care for the collection for generations to come. Dalkia’s expertise in delivering complex, low-carbon energy solutions gives us confidence that this programme will strengthen the resilience and sustainability of our estate for decades ahead.”
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