A pioneering horticulture project in Essex is set to become Europe’s largest low-carbon greenhouse complex, with 40 hectares of greenhouses powered by energy generated from burning household waste. The facility, due to open in 2027, aims to produce around 6% of the UK’s tomatoes, reducing the country’s reliance on imports.
The development, located at the Rivenhall site, will divert nearly all of Essex’s household rubbish from landfill to an incinerator, where it will be used to generate heat and electricity. Waste company Indaver, which is spearheading the project, says this innovative energy system will lower carbon emissions by 20% compared to landfill disposal.
“The boiler produces steam and some of that steam we’ll divert to our new heat exchanger to create hot water for the greenhouses,” said Gareth Jones of Indaver. “The rest of the steam powers a turbine to generate electricity, some of which will also supply the site.”
Currently, Essex’s household waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions through methane produced in landfill sites. By converting waste into energy, the project is expected to offer significant environmental benefits.
The initiative comes amid growing scrutiny of the UK’s dependence on imported vegetables—nearly half of which come from abroad, according to Defra. Tomatoes are often sourced from countries like Morocco, Spain and the Netherlands, raising environmental concerns over long transport distances and the impact of industrial farming practices.
Southern Spain’s Almeria region, known for its vast plastic-covered ‘Sea of Greenhouses’, frequently faces droughts, and the associated CO₂ emissions from transportation to the UK are considerable.
Project director Ed Moorhouse said the Rivenhall greenhouses could reshore up to 8% of UK tomato imports. “Water scarcity and extreme temperatures in regions like North Africa and southern Spain highlight the unsustainable nature of our current supply model,” he said.
However, the project may face regulatory hurdles under the UK government’s biodiversity net gain strategy, which requires new developments to demonstrably benefit nature. The National Farmers Union has expressed concern that the policy, originally designed for residential and large commercial developments, may inadvertently obstruct innovative green initiatives.
Martin Emmett, chair of the NFU’s Horticulture and Potatoes Board, warned: “Projects like Rivenhall risk being held back by regulations not tailored to horticulture’s unique sustainability opportunities.”
