Cities (energy) reimagined: the power behind urban transformation

Cities might be the beating heart of modern life – but they’re also responsible for more than 70% of global emissions. Tackling that is going to be a big challenge, but with challenge comes opportunity.

Urban areas are uniquely placed to lead the clean energy transition. They’re hubs of infrastructure, innovation and ambition. With the right mix of technology, collaboration and people power, they can rapidly decarbonise – and show the rest of the world how it’s done.

At E.ON, we’re working shoulder-to-shoulder with city leaders, councils and communities to cut carbon and boost climate resilience. Whether it’s capturing waste heat, unleashing drone technology or creating partnerships that prioritise people and place – we’re helping shape cities that work better for everyone.

Here’s how.

1. Reimagine how customers access clean energy

With Zac Curtis, Innovation Lead at E.ON Next

Making energy greener is one thing – making it easy and affordable is another. That’s where Zac and his team come in. “We’re redefining the customer experience by removing barriers to clean tech and offering smarter propositions that work for real lives.”

That includes Energy as a Service – a model where customers can access ‘batteries and heat pumps without upfront costs, with the energy supply included as well as a heat pump service, allowing more households to have greater control of their energy needs and to have the benefits in terms of lower carbon emissions and bills.

The innovative teams at E.ON Next also create exclusive tariffs for EV owners and heat pump users, rewarding customers for making sustainable choices – and helping the grid to stay balanced with greener power.

“Clean energy shouldn’t be a premium option, it should be the standard. And we’re making that future a reality today.”

 

2. Heat smarter, not harder

With Antony Meanwell, Head of Heat Zone Development

From your search engine to your local supermarket, the energy powering city life often goes to waste – literally.

But what if we could capture all that excess heat from data centres, fridges, sewers or industrial sites, and use it to warm homes, shops and schools?

That’s exactly what Antony and his team are working on.

“If we can recycle the heat that’s already there, we can drastically reduce the energy we need to generate in the first place. In fact, London already wastes enough heat to meet almost 40% of its heating demand.”

In the capital, we’re supporting the Mayor’s push to decarbonise heat, with a 22km network of heating and cooling pipes in the Square Mile. Using deep geothermal boreholes and cutting-edge heat pumps, we’re turning what’s beneath the city into a source of sustainable warmth.

And further north, in Sheffield, our Lower Don Valley heat network is powered by waste wood that would otherwise go to landfill – and now we’re planning to extend the network by another 10km, connecting more homes and businesses with lower-carbon heating.

We’re also exploring exciting new options like capturing heat from Yorkshire Water’s nearby Tinsley wastewater treatment site. In every case, it’s about partnership: working with local players to spot opportunities and make it real.

 

3. Let tech do the heavy lifting

With Claire Whitmore, Head of Digital Technology

Cities can’t evolve if their systems stay stuck in the past. Claire’s mission is to make everything we do at E.ON smarter, safer and more efficient – from the inside out. With customers seeing the benefits.

“We’re using AI, automation and aerial imaging to speed things up, boost precision and improve outcomes for customers. Drones, for example, help us identify where solutions like EV chargers, heat pumps or insulation are most needed – scanning rooftops in minutes, not hours.”

Tools like Kestrix – dubbed the ‘Google Maps of heat loss’ – use drones and thermal imaging to pinpoint exactly where heat escapes from homes, making retrofit planning faster and more effective.

Claire’s team is also supporting Coventry City Council through our Strategic Energy Partnership,  using tech and data to identify homes in fuel poverty and map where solar panels will have the most impact.

At the heart of this work is Digikoo – a smart tech platform creating a digital twin of Coventry, helping to visualise not just how the city works today, and also how it could evolve by 2049. It’s about using data to drive smarter and more targeted action in the real world– lowering energy bills for those who need help the most in the most efficient way.

 

4. Build partnerships that work for people

With Natalie Robinson, Head of City Partnerships

For Natalie, the decarbonisation of cities isn’t just a technical challenge – it’s a relationship one. “Cities want to go green, but they don’t always have the skills, funding or capacity to do it at scale. That’s where we come in.”

By working closely with councils and local organisations, Natalie’s team helps turn climate ambition into real-world progress – from delivering affordable, cleaner energy to homes and communities to generating local, renewable power and cutting energy bills.

Our work with Coventry City Council is a perfect example. As their Strategic Energy Partner, we’re helping to create a joined-up approach to decarbonisation – one that delivers environmental wins while making bills more affordable, improving air quality, and boosting the local economy.

“We’ve developed a blueprint for learning,” Natalie adds. “Every city is different, but collaboration is key – bringing together councils, universities, hospitals, businesses and communities to deliver meaningful, long-term change across everything from transport and housing to public services and infrastructure.”

 

5. Put social value at the heart

With Ben Tuck, Social Value Programme Manager, Coventry SEP

Decarbonisation isn’t just about tech – it’s about people. And for Ben, ensuring no part of the community gets left behind is central to everything we do.

“Our role is to align what we offer with what communities actually need – whether that’s skills and training, job creation, inspiring the next generation, or tackling fuel poverty today. We’ve got a big supply chain and an even bigger opportunity to do great things, so our goal is to go bold – and go local.”

Ben leads the social value delivery for our work with Coventry, ensuring that energy transformation goes hand-in-hand with wider benefits. That could mean offering apprenticeships, supporting local supply chains, or improving health outcomes through warmer homes.

And the work doesn’t stop there. At npower Business Solutions (nBS), we recently launched the npower Business Solutions Foundation – a grant fund supporting not-for-profit and community social projects in the West Midlands and Yorkshire.

From recycling and carbon-cutting schemes to skills programmes and green space improvements, the foundation is all about powering positive local change. And in its first year alone, it’s already supported 89 projects across the Midlands.

 

The future is urban – and low carbon

Cities may be complex, but the path forward is clear. With smart infrastructure, powerful partnerships, inclusive planning and innovative thinking, urban areas can become leaders in the race to net zero.