The seven partner authorities involved in the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility (TV ERF) project, which could provide a sustainable and zero-carbon waste treatment solution for more than one and a half million people living and working across the North-East, have launched a new website for the project today.

Publication of the website also comes just ahead of an expected critical announcement on Government funding support for industrial carbon capture projects within the East Coast Cluster (ECC).

The TV ERF is a vital infrastructure project for the North-East and will provide the seven partner councils (Darlington, Durham, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton) with a secure, sustainable and reliable treatment solution for municipal waste from 2026. Once operational, the energy recovery facility will treat 450,000 tonnes of residual waste every year and generate nearly 50MW of electricity – or enough to power the equivalent of 60,000 average homes.

The launch of the project’s new website this week comes as the region awaits an announcement by BEIS to determine which projects within the East Coast Cluster (ECC) will be considered for financial assistance to support the deployment and ongoing operation of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology.

As an Industrial Carbon Capture (ICC) project within the East Coast Cluster, the TV ERF project partners submitted an application to BEIS for “business model support” under Phase Two of the Cluster Sequencing Process in January 2022 and this application was accepted by BEIS in March 2022 – with a decision on which projects will be progressed to the next stage now expected in July (delayed from May).

Three bidders – SUEZ, Viridor and Green Recovery Projects Ltd (FFC and Icon Infrastructure) – are currently bidding to design, finance, build and operate the TVERF, which will be situated at Teesworks on the site of the former British Steel works, where it is anticipated that the project will contribute to the economic regeneration of the area.

The procurement process is being led by Hartlepool Borough Council on behalf of the project partners.

Hartlepool Managing Director, Denise McGuckin, said: “This is an exciting time for the project as we await a decision from BEIS to determine which industrial carbon capture projects within the East Coast Cluster will be progressed to negotiations for funding support, which would bring us a step closer to making carbon capture a reality for the TV ERF.

If BEIS ultimately choose to provide Carbon Capture and Storage funding support to the TV ERF it will provide more than one a half million people living and working across the region with a zero-carbon waste treatment solution and could be among the very first facilities of its kind in the UK to deploy CCS.

The TV ERF is not only in public sector ownership with a sound financial footing but has a secured location with planning consent; is ideally situated close to emerging carbon transport infrastructure within the cluster; and has guaranteed access to waste tonnages in full control of the partner authorities – ensuring the plant is deliverable and will remain viable over its operational lifespan.

We therefore view the TV ERF as the natural front-runner in this process and hope BEIS come to the same conclusion.”