Groundbreaking ceremony marks the start of works on a new anaerobic digester at Toyota’s Deeside engine plant

Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) has hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a state-of-the-art anaerobic digester at its engine plant in Deeside, North Wales (TMUK-D). The event marked the start of project that will enable the site to be at the global forefront of carbon-zero manufacturing.

Construction will start on the new waste-to-energy plant next month and when complete will supply TMUK-D with green electricity and gas directly via underground cabling and piping, replacing the current grid power supply. The £282 million privately funded venture has been conceived by D SPV, ABRDN and PWC and is being built by bio construct.

The plant will be able to handle around 180,000 tonnes of waste a year, converting this into biomethane by anaerobic digestion. This is a natural process in which bacteria break down the waste matter, releasing biomethane which is captured, processed and delivered by a pipeline directly to the engine plant. This will replace the current natural gas supply, avoiding emissions of around 2,900 tonnes of CO₂ per year. Compost is a byproduct of the process and this will be given to local farmers, supporting the development of a circular economy in the local area.

TMUK-D is set to take a lead in environmental innovation with this project. The plant will be able to end the use of fossil fuel in its processes and serve as a model for sustainable manufacturing within Toyota.

Ken Skates, the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, said: “TMUK’s Deeside manufacturing plant is an important player in North Wales’s economy. This development is a key step for the plant to decarbonise its high-value manufacturing operation, and the local partnership on which the project is built represents an exciting collaboration for local businesses and the wider community in North Wales.”

Mark Tami, MP for Deeside and Alyn, said: “As the local member of parliament, I would like to congratulate TMUK Deeside and the whole partnership as this is a significant step towards decarbonising Toyota’s European manufacturing operations. It will make TMUK Deeside a clear benchmark towards carbon-zero manufacturing. The groundbreaking ceremony is a significant milestone on this journey.”

Richard Finchett, Director TMUK Deeside, said: This anaerobic digester is a critical step in demonstrating Toyota’s leadership in sustainable manufacturing. We are excited to pioneer this technology, which will not only support our aim of Deeside becoming carbon-zero, but also set new benchmarks for the automotive industry’s contribution to combating climate change.”

Toyota’s Deeside facility has a long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability, having already achieved zero waste to landfill and being powered by renewable electricity. This latest investment furthers Toyota’s commitment to achieving global carbon neutrality by 2050, with Deeside at the forefront of this mission.

ENDS