"Within the next 20 years, the former ENGIE Rugeley Power Station will be turned into a 2,300 dwellings mixed-use development. However, studies have shown that the distribution network has little capacity left, with the local distribution network operator already being forced to procure Demand-Side-Response Services. And this is expected to increase with the introduction of electric heating, vehicle charging or additional local generation - even a new substation would alleviate problems only temporarily.

As observed in many areas of the country, the common understanding is that developments like this are unlikely to happen in low value area such as Rugeley, where capacity limitations in energy infrastructure require a high investment, leading to a lack of regeneration.

This project shall demonstrate the contrary. The project will deliver a detailed design of a smart local energy system for Rugeley Town and its surroundings, which is sustainable, low carbon, readily investable and that drives the regeneration of the town and local energy infrastructure while offering additional services and value to the residents. The key innovation of this project is the use of a major on-going development as a catalyst for the regeneration of a whole town and region, and the application of an innovative co-generation supported design process.

Specific options will include:

-Renewables generation and storage on the Rugeley Power Plant site to balance local network

-Identification of fabric and smart retrofit measures for existing housing stock to optimise demand

-Introduction of a Transport Hub to provide green fuel using local bio fuel production

-The opportunity to create demand for the possible biomethane plant nearly Wolseley Bridge, that could provide Biomethane for HGV CNG refuelling. With a filling station on the new development servicing the new and existing HGV fleets. This could include Rugeley council vehicles. Combination of biomethane with CNG vehicles gives greater emissions savings, compared to Natural Gas alone. Also the local tip is close by and could be a collection point for feedstock for the biomethane plant.

-Creation of a local smart control centre

-Creation of a local market platform"