Marks & Spencer signs 30,000MWh biogas agreement

M&S sends food waste that cannot be passed on to food banks and local charities to Shanks, where it is converted into biogas for renewable energy and digestate for use as a nutrient-rich soil conditioner. M&S will buy back around 30,000MWh per year of electricity from the facilities – enough to power 20 M&S Simply Food stores.

This two-year agreement is the second deal between Shanks and M&S, with the first supplying the food retailer with renewable energy from an AD facility in Cumbernauld. This facility is a joint venture between Shanks and Energen Biogas and has a processing capacity of 60,000 tonnes a year. Commissioning will soon be completed at Westcott Park which will have a capacity of 48,000 tonnes a year.

Giacinto Patellaro, head of energy supply & risk at M&S, commented:?"Having advocated the use of AD technology since the launch of our sustainability programme, Plan A, back in 2007, we're now seeing in practice how these deals are helping M&S to maintain two of our targets: to procure 100 per cent renewable electricity and send zero waste to landfill. As leaders in the field of AD and organic waste management, we look forward to continuing our relationship with Shanks."