GTC has been selected by Barratt Redrow to deliver the complete Smart Home energy and utility infrastructure for Cosmeston Farm in Penarth – the UK’s largest net zero carbon housing development, and one of the most influential residential sustainability projects in Europe.
The 576-home scheme will exceed the Future Homes Standard by deploying GTC’s fully integrated Smart Home system at scale. The Smart Home system at Cosmeston Farm combines networked ground source heat pumps, smart controls and optimisation, grid flexibility services, home battery storage and GTC-owned electricity and water networks, as one seamless service.
This whole-system approach is what enables Cosmeston to deliver low energy bills, through smart optimisation and grid-flexibility earnings – all while reducing demand on the electricity grid and ensuring freedom of choice of electricity supplier.
GTC will monitor whole-home energy use across Cosmeston Farm, capturing detailed, real-world performance data from the heat pumps, solar PV, batteries, smart controls and the local electricity network. This sitewide monitoring will provide the clear evidence needed to demonstrate that the development is performing to the defined net zero carbon-in-operation target.
GTC supported Barratt Redrow from the earliest feasibility stage, shaping the technical and commercial strategy that secured the Welsh Government-led project. Cardiff University will independently review real-world performance, helping set a new benchmark for large-scale net zero carbon housing across the UK.
GTC’s Smart Home system will deliver:
Networked Ground Source Heat Pumps:
Low-carbon, high-efficiency heating and hot water for every home. Shared boreholes draw on stable ground temperatures, enabling consistent performance year-round. Each property will have a Kensa Shoebox heat pump which sits discreetly inside the home.
Electricity Networks:
A resilient, future-ready electricity network supporting low-carbon technologies at scale with advanced energy monitoring. Requires a lower grid capacity, thanks to the efficient ground source heat pump system.
Water Networks:
Fully integrated potable water services designed for long-term reliability and efficient delivery.
Battery Storage Solutions:
Home batteries enabling greater self-consumption of renewable electricity, ability to utilise time-of-use tariffs and providing grid flexibility benefits to help reduce household bills.
Energy Monitoring and Smart Control:
Making new technology easy to use, helping homeowners understand and optimise their energy use, supporting low running costs, grid stability and verified net zero performance.
Through our long-term ownership and operation model as a fully regulated business, GTC will provide residents with dependable service, transparent billing and resilient, future-proofed infrastructure.
Homeowners also have the ultimate protection of government regulation through Ofgem.
Cosmeston Farm is expected to become a flagship site for national policy, demonstrating how next-generation energy systems can transform communities, cut carbon and support the UK’s transition to a low-cost, low-carbon housing future.
