A sweet leap to zero emissions: what we can learn from the Sugar Valley project
E.ON’s Sugar Valley project in Munich is set to become a green energy marvel - harnessing geothermal and advanced technology to create a sustainable, community-driven energy solution. Sweet progress, indeed!
Sugar by name, sweet by nature? Not quite, but E.ON’s revolutionary new sustainable energy concept for the Sugar Valley neighbourhood in Munich is a brilliant example of how we’re developing pioneering, sustainable energy projects whilst showcasing our commitment to innovative green energy solutions.
Developed on the site formerly housing 'Sugar Mountain,' an old concrete factory, the project will now transform 20,000m² of green and open space, making it accessible to the local community—a sweet repurposing of industrial land.
Once complete, the Sugar Valley project will stand as the largest and most advanced development of its kind in Munich, supplying an impressive 6,300 kW of heat and 8,000 kW of cooling capacity via state-of-the-art geothermal flooring (spanning 37,000m²—about half the size of Buckingham Palace!), reversible heat pumps, and 600 thermal-activated bore piles.
To put that into perspective, that’s enough heat to power over 1,500 homes and enough cooling to comfortably manage the climate of several large commercial buildings, ensuring both residential and commercial needs are met sustainably.
Together with Salvis Consulting AG, the project is being developed as a sustainable, fossil-free, and cross-sector energy supply concept. This ambitious initiative also includes extensive e-mobility infrastructure, with around 1,300 parking spaces equipped with EV charging facilities, further driving Munich towards a greener future.
Other energy concepts: our ectogrid™ projects
While Sugar Valley showcases our dedication to advanced energy solutions, an alternative technology is our E.ON ectogrid™ system which represents another leap forward in our commitment to sustainability.
Developed at Medicon Village in Lund, Sweden, ectogrid™ is now powering projects like the Transurban.NRW 'energy transition laboratory' in western Germany and the Milan Innovation District (MIND) in Italy.
By connecting multiple buildings and optimising their energy use, ectogrid™ sets a new standard for efficiency in urban energy management. Inspired by ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals, it adapts to local conditions and makes the most of the energy available in its surroundings.
And at home...
In south London's Elephant & Castle neighbourhood, the Elephant Park development houses our energy centre which has brought a green, sustainable energy source to this new-build community. The CHP plant uses natural gas, with a biomethane offset to supply low-carbon heating and hot water to the development’s 3,000 new homes, as well as multiple businesses, community areas and leisure spaces. This summer, we’ve successfully completed the heat network after a 14-year project with Lendlease.
Another major development is again in London - at Silvertown in the Royal Docks - which will be home to the UK's first development using the ectogrid™ system - connecting all the buildings together to make the most efficient use of energy across the community.
Silvertown, as a brand-new development, will house the largest ambient heating and cooling network in the UK, meaning all its buildings are interconnected, sharing energy between one another so they can balance out the energy needs between them.
Our journey towards sustainability and innovation in the energy sector is marked by ambitious projects that push the boundaries of what’s possible. At the heart of these developments is our dedication to creating the most sustainable urban spaces. By leveraging advanced technologies and pioneering new solutions, we are not only meeting today’s energy demands but also paving the way for a more sustainable future.