The Tomorrow's Valley Hub led by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and including Merthyr Tydfil and Newport City Councils has successfully signed an agreement with the UK’s leading anaerobic digestion specialist company Biogen, to construct and operate a much anticipated green energy plant in the area. Preparatory work at the site has begun this month and construction work is set to start in January 2014.

Partner councils Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport City have worked together on  the Tomorrow’s Valley project to find the most suitable and affordable solution to manage food waste in a sustainable way.

The new anaerobic digestion facility has the capacity to convert 22,500 tonnes of food waste into green electricity. Based on current food waste recycling rates across the three councils involved, this could result in a further one megawatt of green electricity being generated, powering an additional 1,500 homes. UK- based Biogen has carried out the design and implementation of the new process.

Biogen’s Chief Executive, Richard Barker said: “We are delighted to be finally kicking off this project with the Tomorrow’s Valley Hub. This is a great investment into the area. Not only will it bring state of the art technology to transform food waste into renewable energy and a nutritious biofertiliser, but it will also bring much needed employment into area. This is our 3rd such project in Wales, and we look forward to working with the Welsh Government and the Local Authorities to drive forward its waste and renewables agenda”

Rhondda Cynon Taf Cabinet Member for Frontline Services, Councillor Andrew Morgan, said: “We are pleased that the food waste project will get underway in earnest in the New Year. The success of this partnership proves our continued commitment to working towards a more sustainable and environmentally-focused future, through innovative and efficient waste, recycling and re-use practices.”

One million tonnes of waste is already being used to generate 1.8 megawatts of green electricity at the Council’s Bryn Pica site in Llwydcoed, Aberdare.  The electricity, which is being fed into the national grid, provides sufficient energy to power all the households in Llwydcoed, Church Village and Tonypandy.