Thursday 10 September 2020

Low carbon greenhouses in Norfolk and Suffolk near completion

Giant low carbon greenhouses in Norfolk and Suffolk near completion.

The £120 million project managed by Step Associates is now on track for the testing and commissioning phase, which is scheduled to begin in autumn 2020.

The structures will be home to the largest heat pump system project in the UK and their construction has used more glass than the Shard skyscraper in London Bridge.

The greenhouses have been built next to Anglian Water treatment facilities, from which they will source waste heat to help grow 10% of the UK’s domestic tomato crop, along with peppers and cucumbers - carbon emissions from on-site electricity generation will be re-absorbed by the plants during photosynthesis.

Director at Step Associates, Mark Dykes, said “The scheme is using the UK’s largest system of heat pumps, which will channel heat from warm water into the greenhouses to help speed growth.

"This use of natural energy will cut carbon emissions associated with growing the tomato crop by 75%.”

Greencoat Capital, one of the UK’s largest clean energy funds, is helping to finance the plans.