Thames Water signs deal for 100% renewable electricity

Haven Power has signed a deal with Thames Water to supply its electricity requirements in a deal worth more than £500mn over five years. There is an option for two further five-year renewals, which could increase the overall value of the contract to more than £1.5bn over 15 years.

Haven, the UK’s largest independent electricity supplier to businesses, sources its power from the Drax power plant in Selby, Yorkshire, which, as a result of adding biomass-burning facilities alongside coal, is now a significant supplier of renewable energy. The deal will enable Thames Water, which already sources about 20% of its electricity through self-generated renewables such as solar, wind, hydro and biogas, to meet all of its electricity needs from renewables.

One of ten companies bidding for the contract, Haven says it won the tender thanks to a strong focus on technology and innovation in the face of recent and on-going changes in the electricity industry. The contract has been ‘future proofed’ to accommodate and anticipate changes in the electricity sector over its lifetime.

In addition to being responsible for electricity supply, Haven will also look after demand management, as well as all metering and data provisions. Moving water is power intensive, so there are benefits of optimising the timing of pumping, says the supplier.