Project developers' consortium Ontwikkelingscombinatie Overhoeks (ING Real Estate and Ymere) signed a contract with GTI Energy Outsourcing, subsidiary of SUEZ Energy Services in the     Netherlands, for the design, construction, maintenance and operation for 15 years of the sustainable energy supply of the Amsterdam?s new district 'Overhoeks', which is considerably more sustainable and efficient than conventional systems. The use of heat and cold ground storage will achieve a 40% saving in energy consumption and CO2 emissions will be reduced by 40%, around 2,900 tonnes per year.

Overhoeks is a new district of Amsterdam, located on the sunny side of the River IJ and named after the characteristic Overhoeks Tower on the bank of the river. Formerly the domain of Shell Research, now Overhoeks is to provide an inspiring combination of residential, working and leisure facilities. More than 2,200 apartments and penthouses are planned, along with 70,000 m2 office space, a range of hotels and restaurants, the spectacular new Film Museum and the new Oeverpark.

Shell is to establish its new laboratory, the New Technology Centre, at Overhoeks. GTI will also provide Shell with energy based on heat and cold storage for this facility. Amongst other things, Shell will conduct research at the technology centre into the development of biofuels and of cleaner fossil fuels. A wide range of tests will be carried out on a laboratory scale at the centre. In addition to the usual cooling of rooms for carrying out tests, extra process cooling will also be required. This means that demand for energy will peak at times. The energy supply must therefore be flexible and adapted to the varying energy demand.

Anneke de Vries, Netherlands' country manager Development at ING Real Estate: "Overhoeks will be a prime example of sustainable urban development in every aspect. The sustainable energy supply that GTI is installing is an important part of this. The savings that will be achieved are enormous. This is not only good for the future residents and users, but will also benefit all of society."

Edo van Assem, CEO of GTI says: "The huge size of the project is remarkable. We are building three power plants with five pairs of heat/cold storage in aquifers, spread across the area. In October, we will start drilling the first well. According to planning, we will provide heating and cooling for the first housing blocks and the Film Museum in the autumn of 2009." Thanks to the Long-Term Energy Storage, this sustainable energy supplies warmth in the winter and cooling in the summer. GTI will realise the entire installation as well as the heat/cold storage in aquifers, stations for distribution, heat pumps and heating units. GTI will be responsible for the entire maintenance and commercial operation of the power plants for 15 years.

The energy supply for Overhoeks is not only more efficient and cleaner than a conventional installation. There are also advantages from an aesthetic point of view. No unattractive installations are needed on the roofs of buildings, and the equipment occupies less space. This means that the net usable area of buildings is greater.

PRESS CONTACTS
GTI - Ingrid Clauwaert, +31 30 656 94 59, ingrid.clauwaert@gti-group.com
Overhoeks / ING Real Estate - Wieger Sietsma, +31 70 341 84 74, wieger.sietsma@ingrealestate.com

GTI
Together with the companies Axima, Elyo, ENDEL, INEO, Tractebel Engineering and Fabricom GTI, GTI is part of SUEZ Energy Services. As the European leader in multitechnical services, SUEZ Energy Services offers global solutions to its customers in the industry, the infrastructure and the tertiary sectors, from the design, realisation and maintenance of installations to energy and utilities management and long-term multitechnical management. SUEZ Energy Services employs 67,000 people and achieved revenues of 11.3 billion EURO in 2007. SUEZ Energy Services is one of the four business lines of the quoted international industrial group SUEZ.

ING Real Estate
ING Real Estate is an integrated real estate group focused on the development, financing and investment management of quality real estate in all major global markets with a total portfolio of over EUR 100 billion. ING Real Estate ranks among the world's leading real estate companies and serves a broad client base from offices in 21 countries in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. ING Real Estate is part of ING Group, a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to over 75 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries.