enfinium, a leading UK energy from waste operator, today announces a 25-year agreement with SSE to become the anchor supplier of low-carbon heat from its Skelton Grange energy from waste (EfW) facility into the Aire Valley Heat Network. The deal will support local industry and future growth in low-carbon heat across Leeds.
Under the long-term agreement, enfinium will provide an initial 6MWth of bulk heat from Skelton Grange. This will enable SSE to expand the heat network to serve more local businesses and, over time, potentially homes in the surrounding area.
The bulk heat supply is expected to become operational from Q1 2027, with phased expansion thereafter in line with growth of the Aire Valley Heat Network and demand from local users.
Over its lifetime, the initiative will help to anchor a circular economy approach in the Aire Valley: unrecyclable waste diverted from landfill, turned into reliable local energy, and used to support essential infrastructure on the doorstep of the facility.
The agreement builds on SSE’s role in developing phase one of the Aire Valley Heat and Power Network, which has received £10.81m from the Government’s Green Heat Network Fund. It also reinforces enfinium’s ambition to transform its EfW facilities into local decarbonisation hubs, capable of supplying power, heat and, in future, other low-carbon energy solutions to nearby communities and businesses.
Mike Maudsley, Chief Executive Officer at enfinium, said: “Heat networks only work when they are rooted in place. With Skelton Grange becoming the long-term anchor supplier of low-carbon heat into the Aire Valley Heat Network, enfinium is helping keep energy local, cut carbon, and make better use of our resources. This is the circular economy in action: unrecyclable waste diverted from landfill, turned into low carbon energy, and reused to support critical local infrastructure over the long term.”
Nathan Sanders, Managing Director for Distributed Energy, SSE said: “This is a positive milestone for our low-carbon heat network with enfinium in West Yorkshire. When constructed, the project will unlock new and plentiful heat sources, continuing to help West Yorkshire Combined Authority meet its ambitions of a net zero carbon region by 2038.”
Notes to editor
Construction of the heat offtake system and network connection is expected to begin in advance of operations commencing in Q1 2027, with phased expansion thereafter as the Aire Valley Heat Network grows.
About enfinium
enfinium is a leading UK energy from waste operator with five operational sites in the UK, in West Yorkshire, Kent and Flintshire, and one in construction. enfinium diverts 2.7 million tonnes of unrecyclable waste from climate-damaging landfill, putting it to good use by turning it into home-grown energy, enough to power around 600,000 UK homes. enfinium’s ambition is to transform its facilities into local decarbonisation hubs, supporting heat networks, industrial decarbonisation and future low-carbon energy solutions as the UK works towards net zero. For more information, please visit www.enfinium.co.uk
