A low carbon energy centre which uses sustainable local woodchip to power, heat and cool a Waitrose store has opened today on the Isle of Wight.
Waitrose East Cowes’ advanced new energy centre - developed by FTSE 250 outsourcer and energy services company Mitie - provides the vast majority of the supermarkets’ energy needs, making it almost completely independent of the national grid.
Officially opened by local MP Andrew Turner, over time the energy centre may even become a community energy hub, with the potential to supply heat to local homes and community facilities. It will also contribute £150,000 per year to the local economy in the form of jobs and purchasing of local supplies.
The energy centre, which makes use of renewable and low carbon technology, will cut the stores carbon emissions by over 750 tonnes per year – equivalent to 1500 transatlantic flights.
It is the first energy centre which has been developed as part of a partnership between Mitie and Waitrose which will help the supermarket chain achieve an absolute carbon emissions reduction of 15% by 2020/2021 when compared with 2010 levels.
The second energy centre – currently being developed in Bracknell – will come online at the end of May. Using the same technology the centre will cut carbon emissions by the same amount.
Mike Tivey, Managing Director of Mitie’s Asset Management business, which has developed and will operate the energy centre over a 12 year contract, said:
“Mitie’s partnership with Waitrose means the East Cowes store will be the first in the UK to get the vast majority of its energy needs from an independent energy source.
“This will not just have a positive environmental impact, but create jobs and prosperity in the local economy, and is a perfect example of the many benefits decentralised energy can provide our communities with.”
Nigel Keen, Director of Development at Waitrose, said:
“We are committed to reducing our carbon emissions by an absolute reduction of 15% when comparing our emissions from 2010 with those in 2020 and the one-site energy centres at East Cowes and Bracknell will help us achieve our target – growing the Waitrose business in a sustainable and innovative way.”
Andrew Turner, MP for the Isle of Wight, said:
“I am very pleased to see the development of this new energy centre. The John Lewis Partnership’s decision to take this course of action in reducing Waitrose East Cowes’ reliance on the national grid, and reducing carbon emissions, is a very positive move.”
-ENDS-
FACT BOX
- The 18,000 sq foot store in East Cowes opened in November 2010;
- The energy centre will reduce carbon emissions by more than 750 tonnes a year;
- Around 175 tonnes of woodchip, sourced from Firestone Copse on the Isle of Wight, will be delivered to the energy centre every month;
- The energy centre will contribute £150,000 per year to the local economy in the form of jobs and purchasing of local supplies.
For further information, contact:
BELL POTTINGER
Chris Watts
D: 0207 861 2859
E: cwatts@bell-pottinger.co.uk
For more information about Mitie, please click here.
