Switching to a Greener Future

South Tyneside Council will next week make the switch to a fully clean renewable electricity supply.

The authority's electricity will be generated in the UK from completely renewable sources, including wind, solar and hydro.

These sources will all have zero emissions ratings, backed by REGOs (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin).

The council has set itself an ambitious target to reduce carbon emissions by more than 17,000 tonnes by 2030. The switch to 100 per cent renewable electricity will cut that by 14 per cent.

The contract with provider EDF allows the council to review and select the sources of its electricity supply.

Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: "This switch further underlines our commitment to our goal of carbon neutrality by 2030.

"Our climate change strategy and aspirations are ambitious, and we are embedding and promoting sustainability in everything we do.

"This is the latest in a raft of green initiatives being developed by the council, including continued investment in cutting-edge green technology to meet our energy supply demands.

"We are bringing forward genuinely pioneering schemes like the Viking Energy Network at Jarrow and our minewater energy project at Hebburn, as well as a district heating system being developed at South Shields Riverside.

"One of my priorities as leader of the council is to invest in our environment, to lead the charge against climate change and to influence our communities to do the same so that together we can tackle the challenge ahead of us for the benefit of our Borough and future generations."

The Council declared a climate emergency in July 2019 and since then has developed a comprehensive five-year strategy and action plan, Sustainable South Tyneside.

There has already been considerable progress in bringing forward highly innovative schemes such as the UK-first Viking Energy Network in Jarrow, which aims to slash annual carbon emissions by 1,035 tonnes by harnessing heat from the River Tyne to heat council-owned buildings.

Last month the council secured £8m from Government to fund 26 decarbonisation schemes across the borough. The funding is being used to undertake a range of energy improvement and de-carbonisation measures across various Council buildings including schools, leisure facilities and civic buildings.