Specialist energy supplier GDF SUEZ Energy UK has signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with SITA UK for electricity produced from a new 17.65MW energy-from-waste facility in Billingham, Teesside.
The facility is currently under construction and is scheduled to achieve commercial operation in 2014. The PPA provides GDF SUEZ Energy UK with all of the electricity output, along with Levy Exemption Certificates generated by the facility until 2029.
The state-of-the-art energy-from-waste facility has a capacity of up to 256,000 tonnes of waste per year, which will generate electricity for the equivalent of around 30,000 homes. It significantly reduces the reliance on landfill, and will achieve green-house-gas emissions reductions totaling approximately 62,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.
David Park, Director of UK Retail at GDF SUEZ Energy UK said 'We are extremely pleased to have concluded this PPA with SITA UK as it demonstrates our commitment to diversify our energy mix and provides us with a reliable and consistent renewable energy resource for our customers.'
SITA UK's Andy Stokes said, 'At Billingham we will take a once-wasted commodity and turn it into a long-term, reliable source of low carbon energy, which is a major plus for the environment.'