Severn Trent Green Power, has announced that it has successfully secured a contract with Warwickshire County Council to regenerate the county’s food waste into renewable energy.
The project which will process food waste from Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick districts (approximately 128,000 homes), is scheduled to commence on 1 February 2024. Additional boroughs of Nuneaton and Bedworth, North Warwickshire, and Rugby (approximately 136,000 homes) are planned to come online during the five year contract term.
The contract has been agreed for an initial 5 years, with the option to extend for an additional five. This is expected to divert up to 20,000 tonnes of food waste annually at its peak.
As part of the contract, Severn Trent Green Power will work with the Council to deliver a range of initiatives that contribute to the local community and the environment, including:
- Support for local environmental and community projects: Green Power will invest in local initiatives that promote environmental stewardship and social development.
- Apprenticeship placements: Green Power will create opportunities for young talent to enter the field of renewable energy and waste management.
- Educational outreach: Green Power will provide educational visits and resource to raise awareness about sustainable waste management.
- Volunteering: Green Power colleagues will actively engage in community volunteer work within Warwickshire.
Andrew Simm, Commercial Director at Severn Trent Green Power said:
“I am delighted that we have been able to build upon the foundations created through our extremely successful short-term contract with Warwickshire County Council to secure the county’s long term food waste treatment contract”.
“All waste derived from within the county will be treated at our Coleshill anaerobic digestion facility, converting the waste into renewable energy and a valuable organic fertiliser. We are also excited to work collaboratively with the council to rollout our proposed social value offering, which will see Green Power deliver social and environmental initiatives throughout the contract term.”
Over the full ten-year period the total amount of electricity that will be produced amounts to an estimated 73,000MWh, enough to make almost 1.3 billion cups of tea!
Cllr Heather Timms, Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Environment, Climate and Culture, said:
“We are very happy to be able to extend our contract with Severn Trent Green Power to cover food waste from the whole of Warwickshire. This is a clear demonstration of this Council’s commitment to doing everything it can to reduce its impact on the rapidly changing climate.
“Not only does this provide a solution to increase the proportion of food waste collected for recycling from households across the county, it also produces a large amount of totally renewable energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser for our farmers.”
Severn Trent Green Power and Warwickshire County Council look forward to embarking on this transformative journey towards a greener and more sustainable future.
