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MEMBER’S PRESS RELEASE: Energy Minister supports Clearfleau’s renewable energy technology

On Tuesday (February 10th 2015), Amber Rudd MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change officially opened the on-site anaerobic digestion (AD) plant designed and built by Clearfleau at the Nestlé confectionery factory at Fawdon, Newcastle. 

The Minister was shown around the plant by Andy Griffiths, the project manager from Nestlé, Hannah Whall, a young engineer working at the site and Richard Gueterbock, from Clearfleau.  

Having toured the site, Energy and Climate Change Minister, Amber Rudd cut a ribbon to officially open the AD plant and expressed her support for digestion of production residues.  She commented:

It’s fantastic to see first-hand how Nestlé’s innovative anaerobic digester at its Fawdon factory turns sweet waste products into clean green power.

Energy from waste has an important part to play in our low carbon energy mix and that’s why we have schemes in place to encourage organisations to get on board.

She also expressed support for the development of British technology in the renewables sector.

Welcoming Amber Rudd to the site, Richard Gueterbock, Director of British technology company Clearfleau, market leader in the UK’s on-site industrial digestion sector, said:

Nestlé’s on-site digestion plant is a great example of how food companies can make better use of production residues to reduce their carbon footprint.  It is very encouraging that Nestlé chose to work with an emerging British company to build this plant. 

We are pleased that the Government recognise the need to develop a British technology supply base for the renewables sector, creating jobs and hopefully future export opportunities for innovative technology.

The on-site AD plant, which was built by Clearfleau, handles all bio-degradable production residues from this confectionery factory.  It treats about 1,200 tonnes of solid residues a year as well as over 200,000 litres per day of trade effluent and converts fats and sugars into renewable energy.  Over 8% of the site’s power requirements are met from renewable energy created from their residues.  

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