Wilton-based DRD Power will take low-grade heat generated by the Huntsman Pigments site at Greatham, Hartlepool, and turn it into green energy.

The £1m pilot project to turn waste heat into electricity could be a massive carbon-saver for Teesside’s heavy industries

DRD Power managing director, Roger Mallinson wants a successful trial at Huntsman to be the launchpad for large-scale plants across the region.

He added, “Our system uses the heat generated by industry that’s too low to be of use - and that’s what makes it unique.

This technology has been around since the 1850s, but the key to ours is that it works off these low temperatures. It’s essentially waste, and it’s something that’s a huge problem for many industries.

There’s a massive opportunity on Teesside because of its heavy industry, including steel, cement, power generation and processing sectors. Power prices are going up all the time, it’s a major cost for companies now.

The pilot at Huntsman is a small unit for trial and demonstration purposes - we want to make bigger plants.”

Hot water from the Huntsman plant will generate up to 200 kilowatts of electricity - saving between 600 and 750 tonnes of a year.

Project funding

The project has been handed £248,000 from the Tees Valley Industrial Programme (TVIP).

DRD also received £250,000 from the Carbon Trust towards the development and demonstration of the technology, which could also be used with biomass, combined head and power (CHP) and waste to energy plants.

Ian Williams, director of business and industry at One North East, said “Should this pilot prove successful,it will be of great interest to businesses throughout the region, allowing us to gain a competitive advantage and further strengthen our reputation as a leader in developing the low carbon economy.”

The scheme is expected to be operational by March.