A large Northern recycling company has switched from diesel generation to hydrogen power units, supporting their on-site generation. The hydrogen unit joins their existing solar panels and grid usage to power their electricity-intensive processes.
Stockport plant Elsa Recycling recycles plastic, paper and cardboard, using energy-intensive processes to keep waste out of landfill. The waste industry as a whole is renowned for high energy usage, using around 2.5TWh per year to power balers (waste compressors), shredders or sorting systems.
Even though other sites are taking steps to reduce their footprints, this plant is the first in the UK to implement a hydrogen/solar/grid power mix and lower their carbon emissions substantially.
The hydrogen power units, developed by GeoPura, provide additional power during periods of peak demand, allowing the plant to cut their diesel power completely.
Matt Barney, VP Strategic Partnerships at GeoPura, said: “This model has enormous potential across the recycling sector and many other energy-intensive industries. Full credit to Elsa Recycling for having the ambition to be first.Â
The organisation believe that this model will pave the way for other recycling facilities to follow in its footsteps.
