Energy Efficiency

UK Green Investment Bank and Equitix announce energy efficiency deal with Bernard Matthews

Announcements prior to September 2017, including this announcement, occurred under previous ownership.

10 March 2014

The UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) and Equitix have today announced a £24.5m investment to finance the installation of renewable energy boilers at Bernard Matthews' turkey farms.

The project, the largest of its kind, will see c.179 new biomass boilers installed across 21 farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire, meaning that 40 per cent of Bernard Matthews' estate will benefit from the new renewable energy technology.

"Across the UK, GIB is starting to see some excellent examples, from farsighted companies, of the commercial benefits that come from investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy generation. These benefits can be significant, especially for energy intensive industries, including many parts of the farming industry. Bernard Matthews has placed sustainability at the heart of its business and we are pleased to be able to support them in their ambition to generate 100% of their energy sustainably."

Shaun Kingsbury
Chief Executive, UK Green Investment Bank

The project was conceived, designed, and managed by Lumicity, a leading renewable energy developer. In addition to reducing costs, the new boilers will have a significant green impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The dry heat biomass systems will also produce a number of benefits due to the improved circulation of heat, including reduced ammonia levels, reduced ventilation requirements, and increased litter (bedding) quality. The project will create c. 51 jobs in the local area, including nine full time permanent positions.

The Equitix managed fund, Energy Saving Investments (ESI), in which GIB is the cornerstone investor, is investing £12m in the project. This mobilises an additional £12.5m of additional private sector capital from the Equitix Energy Efficiency Fund (EEEF).

"Sustainability is central to our long term business strategy. We're already generating a large proportion of our energy needs from other renewable sources including solar and wind and with the addition of biomass boilers on our farms, we're well placed to be generating 100 per cent of our energy sustainably by 2016."

David Joll
Executive Chairman, Bernard Matthews

"We set up the UK Green Investment Bank to kick start investment in renewable energy technology like this. Bernard Matthews has seen that energy efficiency makes good business sense and I am confident that more companies will follow. Today's investment will have a significant green impact by reducing carbon emissions and benefits local economies by creating green jobs across three counties."

Vince Cable
Business Secretary

"We are pleased to be investing further GIB capital into a project that not only benefits Bernard Matthews, by reducing their costs, but also benefits the environment. We have a strong pipeline of opportunities to deploy GIB funds into future energy efficiency projects alongside additional private sector capital."

Geoff Jackson
Chief Executive Officer, Equitix

"Lumicity is delighted to have brought together Bernard Matthews with the latest, proven biomass technology providers and Equitix energy efficiency finance. We are very proud to have played a leading role in the development of one of the largest installations of distributed heating in the UK. We look forward to working with the various parties as we continue to manage the project."

Tristan Fischer
Chief Executive Officer, Lumicity

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The ESI fund forms part of GIB's allocation of investment into one of its priority sectors, energy efficiency.  GIB awarded the competitive fund mandate to Equitix to invest £50 million, matched by private investors, to drive investment in small-scale low carbon infrastructure. Equitix has also established EEEF to make investments into the energy efficiency sector, including as co-investors alongside ESI.

UK Green Investment Bank

The UK Green Investment Bank was launched in November 2012.  With £3.8 billion of funding from the UK Government, it is the first bank of its kind in the world.  It is a "for profit" bank, whose mission is to accelerate the UK's transition to a greener economy, and to create an enduring institution, operating independently of Government.

Equitix

Equitix is a company established to deliver and manage infrastructure projects from bidding and closing through to construction and service provision. Its reputation is built upon strong relationships with its clients and partners, as well as a committed approach to every project in which they are involved and investment they make.

Bernard Matthews

Bernard Matthews Limited is the largest turkey farmer and supplier in the UK, based near Norwich in Norfolk.  It employs just over 2000 people across East Anglia and is a totally integrated food business, allowing for full traceability of all its products and farms, which rear over 7 million turkeys per annum.

Their breeding and rearing farms, feed mill, production sites and hatchery are Quality British Turkey (QBT) and Assured Food Standards (Red Tractor) certified, guaranteeing consumers they are buying turkey that meets high standards of food safety, traceability and bird welfare.  Externally audited against more than 200 criteria, the QBT assurance scheme is the only fully accredited turkey standard that meets the UK Accreditation Scheme and EU standards.

Lumicity

Lumicity is a renewable energy company that works with customers to design, develop and manage tailored renewable energy projects in order to deliver maximum reliability and financial return. We have a particular focus on helping farmers, with much of our staff joining from farming backgrounds. Lumicity was set up by Irish state electricity utility ESB through Greencoat Capital, and the Ludgate Environmental Fund, a listed investment company.