New Energy from Waste Partnership Announced

UK energy-from-waste company Viridor and leading European energy supplier Vattenfall have announced a planned collaboration that will allow heat to be transferred from Viridor’s energy from waste facilities (EfWs) to businesses and homes.

The heat will move through pipes created and operated by Vattenfall and will be distributed to the areas surrounding the EfWs. This partnership's goal is to build a closed-loop energy system that turns the community’s collected recycled waste into heating for the same locality.

Together they will explore opportunities to develop new local energy systems anchored around Viridor’s fleet of EfWs to deliver low carbon, low cost heat to the nearby communities.

At 37%, emissions from heat are the single biggest contributor to UK's carbon emissions.

Heat networks make use of natural resources to reduce emissions, improve air quality and help address fuel poverty by providing affordable and low carbon heat to homes and businesses.

In Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands, Vattenfall has already been working with several EfW companies to distribute heat in this way.

Viridor already runs eleven of the UK’s EfWs and intends to expand its fleet. It's present goals are to bring this heating to areas of urban regeneration, fitting in with the UK Government, Scottish Government and Welsh Government's commitments to providing district heating in these areas.

The Government’s Heat Networks Investment Program and the proposed Green Heat Networks Fund are specifically aimed at partnerships between waste heat sources and heat network operators.

Installing the heat moving pipes can initially be expensive but in the long term, offers the potential for local authorities to combat fuel poverty, improve energy security and cut down on the use of conventional fossil fuels.

Noah Nkonge, Head of Partnerships at Vattenfall Heat UK said, “Working together with Viridor, we’re looking to bring all the right people and organizations to the table so we can reduce emissions and provide reliable, affordable heating for homes and businesses in cities across the country.”

Richard Pennells, Viridor’s Managing Director of Energy, added, “This announcement underlines Viridor’s commitment to ensuring that all waste becomes a useful resource which contributes to the UK economy.

Our [EfWs] put non-recyclable waste to work within sophisticated combined heat and power plants. We are excited about this new collaboration with Vattenfall which combines two leading businesses in their sector to create meaningful change in towns and cities across the UK.”

Minister of State for Business, Energy, and Clean Growth, Kwasi Kwarteng said, “Heat networks are playing a vital role in decarbonizing the way we warm our homes and businesses and that’s why the Government has committed £320 million of funding through the Heat Networks Investment Project.

“The UK continues to lead the way in transitioning to a future with net zero carbon emissions and I’m delighted to see Vattenfall and Viridor working together to deliver innovative, low carbon heating.”