Ciao, Milan: a fashion-forward and futuristic smart city
From fashion capital to smart city pioneer… think Milan is all about fashion and elegance? Just beyond the city’s historic heart lies a groundbreaking development that’s reshaping its future
But just 10 miles from the historic city's centre lies one of Europe's most innovative and exciting – not to mention energy-efficient – developments.
Our energy efficient Milan Innovation District (MIND) is a testing bed for a smart city of the future. This innovative business district is not just a collection of intelligent buildings, it’s a fully integrated smart district that redefines how we think about urban living and energy efficiency.
MIND, with €4 billion in public and private investment, is a multi-faceted hub blending green architecture and innovation. When completed, it will house around 60,000 people alongside institutions such as the Galeazzi Orthopaedic Hospital, the University of Milan’s science facility, and the Human Technopole research institute. What makes this district exceptional is its energy ecosystem — one that’s connected, efficient, and sustainable.
At the heart of MIND is E.ON’s ectogrid™, a pioneering energy solution that integrates the heating and cooling requirements of all 32 buildings in one system. Unlike traditional one-way energy systems, ectogrid™ enables energy to be shared across properties. This revolutionary approach reduces waste by reusing heating and cooling energy where it’s needed most, making every watt work harder.
And closer to home…
What E.ON is achieving in Milan isn’t confined to Italy. The same transformative energy concept is powering a groundbreaking development in London’s Royal Docks.
Now under construction, Silvertown is becoming the UK’s first development to feature E.ON’s ectogrid™ technology, creating the largest ambient heating and cooling network in the country.
Traditional energy systems push heat or cooling in one direction, from the generation source to its destination, with any excess wasted. But ectogrid™ flips this idea on its head by circulating energy through a shared network, ensuring nothing goes to waste and ‘new’ energy is only injected into the system once the shared energy has been used to maximum effect.
At Silvertown, this means homes, offices, and public spaces will work together to optimise energy usage, slashing carbon emissions while improving efficiency.
From Milan’s forward-thinking MIND to London’s historic docklands, we’re proving that smart energy solutions can transform urban living. By turning ambitious visions into reality, we’re not just waging a war on waste — we’re pioneering the cities of tomorrow.