Ecorazzi

When producers for the upcoming Batman flick The Dark Knight wanted a gritty, rundown location for a pivotal scene, they didn’t have to look further than London’s historic Battersea Power Station. The famous abandoned has appeared on the cover of the Pink Floyd album Animals, and has served as the backdrop for numerous movies and television shows, including ABC’s Lost.

Though development has been on the table for almost 30 years, a new ambitious $8 billlion plan may prove to be the most exciting — and environmentally-beneficial vision yet. According to Cleantech, the new project calls for 8 million square feet of residential, office and retail space on the 38 acre site, including a combined cooling, heat and power plant using biofuels, waste and other renewable feedstocks, and a natural ventilation system. A 300 meter high solar chimney would be set alongside the power plant, soaring almost three times as high as the existing chimneys. Almost 3,000 cubic meters per second of air would be drawn through the system on a sunny day, reducing energy demand in the buildings by 67 percent.

If everything goes according to plan, the new Battersea development would open in 2020. If Batman ever plans on landing there again, he’s got a good 12 years to take advantage of the gloom. After that, this place will be a better fit for the likes of Bruce Wayne.