Staples Vegetables case study

Staples Vegetables supplies many of the UK’s leading retailers with high quality brassicas, sprouts, cauliflowers and cabbages from its extensive farming operations.

Following an initial suggestion from property consultants JH Walter, Staples invested in an innovative anaerobic digestion plant which uses out-of-specification vegetables to reduce energy costs and improve the sustainability of its operations.

The plant became the first of the anaerobic digestion projects funded through the Government’s Environmental Transformation Fund to be officially opened in 2011.

The Boston-based grower is now able to produce 11 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year from the £6.5m facility which is capable of processing 40,000 tonnes of vegetables.

As well as generating electricity which is used on site, the process generates heat used for offices on the site and to chill processing areas via heat absorption coolers.  The processed vegetable matter also replaces fertiliser currently used on the land.

Excess power is sold into the grid under a Power Purchase Agreement with SmartestEnergy.

Staples Vegetables’ director Vernon Read said: "Energy is a major cost for our business and this new facility gives us control over future electricity prices along with security of supply. It also increases the sustainability of our farming and processing operations."

Sean Cameron, of consultants General Energy Management of Boston, worked with the company to find the best deal for the excess electricity generated by the plant.

“I was already aware of SmartestEnergy and their focus on independent generators and felt they were able to offer a more innovative package than some of the big players in the market.

Although securing the best price for the client was obviously a critical factor, the flexibility provided by SmartestEnergy when it came to areas such as the terms and conditions of the contract was also very important.”

Staples Vegetables is already looking to build on the experience gained during the project by establishing a second AD plant at another of its sites.

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