Tata Chemicals Europe receives government fund for soda ash facility in UK

Tata Chemicals Europe has opened a new Pound 5.5 million turbine which will efficiently provide energy for its soda ash business in Cheshire, UK. The turbine - the beneficiary of a Pound 2.5 million European Regional Growth Fund grant from the UK government - is housed at Tata Chemicals’ Winnington CHP plant, which as a result performs at more than 80 percent efficiency.

Alan Runciman, general manager for soda ash, Tata Chemicals Europe, commented, “Anyone involved in synthetic soda ash manufacturing will know that it’s an energy-intensive industry, where the cost of energy makes up the largest part of the overall cost base. This turbine allows us to provide power for our manufacturing process and produce soda ash much more efficiently.”

Craig Thornhill, head of sales for soda ash, Tata Chemicals Europe, added, “As the UK’s sole manufacturer of soda ash, it is crucial that we remain a reliable and long term partner to the UK glass, detergent and chemical industries, all of which rely heavily on our product and service. Significant investments in our business such as this should therefore be seen as investments in the future of our customers and UK manufacturing.”

In 2013, Tata Chemicals acquired Winnington CHP so that it could take full control of its energy costs. Since then, the company’s energy team have been very busy maximising this state-of-the-art CHP plant’s efficiency and thereby dramatically reduce its carbon footprint.

The plant itself is now capable of powering 200,000 homes - an area the size of Liverpool.

In September 2016, this culminated in the opening of a new steam turbine. This Pound 5.5 million investment has transformed the CHP plant, making it one of the most efficient CHP plants in the UK. The project will ensure that soda ash and sodium bicarbonate have affordable energy for the next decade and beyond. The soda ash business has reduced its carbon footprint by 10 percent in the past three years and a further 15 percent is planned for the next 5 years. This will maintain Tata Chemicals Europe’s position as one of the world’s lowest carbon emitters from a synthetic soda ash process.  

Martin Ashcroft, managing director, Tata Chemicals Europe, said, “The opening of the steam turbine represents a key moment for the soda ash business. The new steam turbine is perfectly sized for our operation and as a result, the overall plant is much more efficient. The investment ensures that soda ash has affordable energy for the long-term and underpins the long term future of the business.”