Recycling and waste management firm SITA UK and solar power company British Solar Renewables (BSR) have agreed a deal that could see a number of SITA UK’s landfill sites turned into solar power farms to generate energy for the National Grid.
Currently, a number of SITA UK’s landfills that have been sealed (or ‘capped’) and are no longer accepting waste material extract methane gas for energy generation, but plans to develop solar projects on the sites were pursued earlier this year in a bid to put the facilities to ‘best use’.
As such, it was announced today (26 August) that BSR has been chosen to develop solar projects at some of SITA UK’s landfill sites due to its ‘prior expertise in building upon landfill sites, alongside its integrated in-house capabilities to manage development, construction, independent connection and operational services’.
It will now conduct an assessment of SITA UK’s landfill estate to produce a shortlist of sites for development. However, any development will be subject to planning permission from the relevant local authorities and consultation with any local residents, where applicable.
SITA UK will remain responsible for all aftercare of the landfill operation.
Helping ‘to mitigate the looming energy crisis’
Speaking of the deal, General Manager for Landfill at SITA UK Geraint Rees said:“Following the tendering process, we’re very pleased to be able to announce that BSR have been selected to pursue these exciting projects, which will help us to extract the maximum energy value from our capped landfill estate.
“This renewable energy technology will complement the existing energy plants operated on a number of our landfill sites, which contribute a significant amount of sustainable energy to the National Grid by capturing landfill gases.”
BSR Business Development Director Giles Frampton added that BSR was “delighted” to have been chosen to pursue the renewable energy project and that the company “look[s] forward to working closely with SITA UK over the coming months”. He said that he hoped the project could “help to mitigate the looming energy crisis that is currently facing the UK”.
Similarly, earlier this month, rival waste management firm Veolia and REG Solarpower submitted plans to Thurrock Council to install a 38-megawatt solar array at its Ockendon landfill site in Essex. If approved, it is thought the solar field could produce enough electricity to power more than 8,000 homes a year.
Find out more about SITA UK or British Solar Renewables.
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