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Northumbrian Water will power all 1,858 of its sites using renewable electricity for the next four years after signing a deal worth more than £100 million with Danish energy supplier Orsted.
The contract, one of the biggest the water company has ever awarded, will cover everything from Northumbrian’s largest treatment works down to its smallest telemetry systems.
It builds upon Northumbrian Water’s existing sustainability commitments including using 100 per cent of its sewage sludge to create energy through advanced anaerobic digestion, at its treatment works in Howdon, on Tyneside.
Orsted supplies renewable electricity from nine offshore wind farms in the UK, with the energy backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs).
The deal, which came into effect on 1 April, will help Northumbrian Water achieve 125,000 tonnes of CO2 savings each year – more than 600 times the weight of the Angel of the North.
Graham Southall, commercial director at Northumbrian Water, said: “Energy is an essential part of our business and our contract with Orsted has enabled us to significantly reduce our carbon footprint, as well as driving down costs.”
Philip Carvel, category manager, added: “At Northumbrian Water, we want to work with forward thinking, responsible supply partners whose values match our own. Orsted is a market leader in green energy solutions and has a remarkable vision for a more sustainable world.
“Combining this with a highly competitive commercial offer means that we can keep costs down as well as reduce our environmental impact – a great result for our customers.”
In 2016, Orsted announced it would supply renewable electricity at no additional cost premium, so that UK businesses can achieve their sustainability ambitions without commercial disadvantage.
Jeff Whittingham, managing director at Orsted Sales UK, said: “Orsted is driving the transition to low-carbon energy systems in the UK, and we believe that businesses should have access to renewable electricity supply without incurring additional cost.
“Naturally, we are delighted that Northumbrian Water shares our ambition of creating this greener energy future. It’s exciting that such a large and trusted UK supplier places such a strong emphasis on sustainability.”
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