In what has been described as "an exciting first for the UK," the Cornwall Council-led scheme is proposing to build its own renewable power energy centre at Langarth Garden Village, which should ultimately provide up to 3,500 homes, a new primary school and an extension to the Truro Park and Ride service.
It is estimated this would generate around 17,500 kilowatts of green energy a year at Langarth, providing low cost power for residents while at the same time as helping to achieve the council's aim of making Cornwall carbon net zero within ten years.
The council said: "By ensuring a greater use of renewable energy created and used on site, and increasing capacity to support the future use of electric vehicles, the new energy centre will play a key role in helping Langarth, and the Council, to move away from carbon dependency."
To be located next to the park and ride, the centre will include a transformer compound to house the electricity substation, together with a bespoke battery storage area, which will provide storage for green energy produced on the site for residents. Both buildings will be surrounded by planted green walls.
The project team is investigating the possibility of providing solar panels on car ports on the proposed park and ride extension, as well as on other buildings and offices across the site, and exploring the potential of district heating using geothermal energy as a renewable source of heat.