1,500 homes in Gospel Oak are set to benefit from surplus heat generated from the Royal Free Hospital, using a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) network. Heat which would otherwise have gone to waste will be captured and recycled to supply housing estates in the area.

The project, due to start at the end of the year, will reduce carbon emissions and supply residents with lower cost energy on estates in Gospel Oak.

Surplus energy from the heating plant at the Royal Free Hospital will be pumped into a new energy centre, containing a mini CHP system, which Camden will build on one of its nearby estates.

Heat from the hospital will provide around half the total amount needed for the homes, and the rest will come from the energy centre. The energy centre will also be able to supply all the energy for heating and hot water if the system at the Royal Free is interrupted, for example for planned repairs.

Estimates indicate that at least 2,800 tonnes of CO2 will be saved annually. This is equivalent to the same savings from insulating the lofts of around 4000 typical semi detached houses.

Work will also be done to look at the possibility of connecting other low carbon technologies such as heat pumps and solar thermal to the network.

Councillor Angela Mason, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Sustainability said;

"I am delighted to support this exciting project which will help with Camden’s borough-wide target to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2020.

" All our research shows that using combined heat and power is one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions in Camden. "