Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility

The Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility (TV ERF) is an essential infrastructure project being developed by a partnership of seven councils representing Darlington, Durham, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton.

Together, the partner councils have a legal responsibility for safely managing the waste produced by one and a half million people living and working across the region.

Our responsibility is to put as much of our region’s waste to good use as possible, which means offering extensive recycling services, and helping residents to recycle, reuse, repair and repurpose all they can. For the waste left over after recycling – which amounts to approximately 450,000 tonnes each year across the region – our job is to manage this safely, reliably and sustainably.

Using the waste left over after recycling to generate energy is the best use for it, in accordance with UK Government guidance, and this is the important role of the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility.

Once operational, from 2029, the TV ERF will treat up to 450,000 tonnes of waste each year and generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 60,000 homes. It will help avoid the need to send this waste to landfill in future and, in doing so, save considerable greenhouse gas emissions by comparison. The Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility – Managing waste safely and sustainably

Furthermore, this forward-looking project could also provide a low-carbon source of heat to other nearby businesses and deploy carbon capture technology – actively contributing to net-zero carbon emissions goals both locally and nationally.

It is the only proven solution at scale for managing the region’s waste that is safe, reliable and sustainable. Subject to final commercial evaluation, it is also likely the most affordable solution too. On behalf of the seven partner authorities, we hope you find this short guide informative.

You can find out more about the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility project, and follow its progress here or by watching our short video about the project here.