Sterling Suffolk to use residual heat
UK: Greenery enters partnership with SITA to construct new 17 ha tomato glasshouse
The glasshouses will utilize heat and CO2 from the nearby SITA Energy from Waste facility. Cliff Matthews, Regional Manager of SITA UK said: “The plan is to supply heat from our energy-from-waste plant to heat the greenhouses and potentially use purified CO2 for the growth of the tomato plants. The pipeline will also form the basis for a District Energy Network reaching towards Ipswich, Suffolk County. The major environmental benefits created by this project fit in well with our aims to foster the circular economy and move us towards a society where there is no more waste.”
In Europe, consumers have been expressing an increasing preference for locally and sustainably grown produce. Responding to this trend, The Greenery has been seeking out opportunities to cooperate with local producers or to produce locally in the core markets. “This project fits with this strategy of The Greenery.”, Kevin Doran, Managing Director of Greenery UK Ltd, said. "We began discussions with SITA and local groups in August 2012, and quickly established that this is a serious group with shared vision for the development of domestic UK supply. In addition, the green credentials of the project are outstanding and fit well with our existing production at Cornerways and North Bank Growers (formerly known as John Baarda Ltd).”
The project will operate under the name Sterling Suffolk. “The environmental credentials for this project are compelling and it is a project all parties involved find very exciting.", said Michael Blakenham, co-founder of Sterling Suffolk. "Suffolk as a county is fast building on its reputation for high quality UK food production and this is another step along the way.” Stephen Wright, co-founder of Sterling Suffolk echoed this saying: “Our aim is to provide good employment for local people producing great food which will be a real taste of Suffolk. This will also be good news for other businesses and suppliers in the area and will help strengthen the local economy.”
Construction on the combined heat and power plant began in May last year and is expected to burn up to 269,000 tonnes of residual waste annually and generate enough electricity for 30,000 homes. The project remains on track for the opening of the facility in December 2014, which could see the first British tomatoes from Sterling Suffolk on retailers’ shelves by summer 2015. All produce will be sold locally and to selected supermarket chains.
For more info:
www.thegreenery.com