Work powers ahead on Olympic power supply

Work is powering ahead on the buildings that will provide electricity to the Olympics, according to Games officials.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) said work will start this week on an energy centre that will provide power, heating and cooling across Olympic Park.

Elyo, responsible for the construction, finance and operation of the centre, has cleared the site and is now surveying it with a view to install a piling mat within weeks.

It plans to sink about 200 piles 24m into the ground to form the foundations of the building.

It will build part of the centre in an existing Edwardian building on the site and install biomass boilers fed by woodchips and a combined cooling heat and power plant.

EDF Energy has also begun construction of the Park’s primary electrical substation that will supply power to the Games venues and surrounding Stratford City.

Piling has been completed while construction - expected to be finished in summer 2009 - will reuse crushed materials from the demolition of former buildings on the site.

The substation will also include a brown roof to increase biodiversity on the Games site.

ODA chairman John Armitt said the utility networks would provide a lasting legacy for residents in the area.

He said: “The energy centre and electrical substation will form the heart of the new utilities infrastructure and will be joined by the new utilities networks to form the backbone of the Olympic Park.

“The progress being made in constructing these essential works is a significant step forwards.”