The Carpenters Yard microgrid features solar panels, heat pumps and a centralized battery storage system. The developers say the system will eliminate electricity bills for at least the next five years.
For the next five years, customers in a new 113-home community north of London won’t pay a single electricity bill. Instead, the homes will be powered by a microgrid that includes solar panels, heat pumps, and batteries.
Located in the Epping hamlet of Thornwood in Essex County, Carpenters Yard is the second and largest “zero bills” community developed by Octopus Energy, a global clean energy tech business, and gs8, a UK residential developer. The first zero bills site built by the companies was in Walthamstow, East London.
Launched in 2022 by Octopus Energy, the zero bills initiative aims to develop 100,000 homes completely powered by green technology by 2030.
The company says its world-first energy tariff leverages:
This combination enables the building of energy-efficient homes powered by clean energy, with no energy bills guaranteed for five to ten years.
Excess solar power is either stored in a battery for later use or sent to the grid in return for an account credit.
“‘Zero Bills’ is not just about eliminating energy bills – it’s about creating a sustainable future,”
said Nigel Banks, Zero Bills director at Octopus Energy.
“Our partnership with gs8 to deliver a microgrid community is all about delivering a truly transformative solution that sets a new standard for affordable, eco-friendly living.”
The Carpenters Yard community features:
Builder gs8 is applying zero waste principles during construction, incorporating:
The company’s Planet Positive Framework claims to store more carbon in the homes than is needed to build and maintain them.
“This is a landmark development for us as a business, building on the groundbreaking regenerative housing approach we’ve been committed to for the past six plus years,”
said Josh Gordon, co-founder of gs8.
“We are delighted to continue our successful partnership with Octopus Energy, a pioneering business which shares our vision and values, and seeking to create homes built for the future and developments that bring positive lasting impacts to local communities."
Octopus Energy and gs8 aren’t the only players in the UK residential microgrid space.
In Oxfordshire, the Hook Norton community launched a community-led microgrid designed to power affordable, sustainable homes.
This smart microgrid includes:
The Epping homes, some of which will border a nature reserve, will be available starting April. 35 homes have been earmarked as affordable rent properties.
Octopus Energy has already accredited over 1,000 zero bills homes through contracts with other developers since the program launched.
The company is now expanding to new markets:
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