DS Smith and E.ON have announced the signing of a major agreement to construct a state-of-the-art combined heat and power (CHP) facility at Kemsley Paper Mill in Kent (UK).

The facility will replace the existing CHP and extend E.ON’s partnership at the site with DS Smith for the next 20 years. The new facility has been specifically designed to set the standards in efficiency, sustainability, reliability and will enable a carbon reduction of 36,000 tons per year which is the equivalent of 30,000 medium-sized cars driving 10,000 kilometers a year.

Once complete, it will have an electrical capacity of 75 megawatt (MW), generating steam and power for DS Smith’s production processes at its flagship Kemsley Mill site. With 830,000 tonnes of paper manufactured at the mill every year, the partnership will further improve resource efficiencies and contribute to DS Smith’s corporate goal of reducing carbon emissions by 30 percent by 2030.

E.ON will finance, build and operate the CHP and with the two-year construction phase starting this year, the facility is planned for commissioning in 2021.

Colin McIntyre, CEO for DS Smith Paper and Recycling Divisions: “Embracing world-leading innovation to minimise our environmental impact is a key corporate goal for DS Smith. Partnering with E.ON to develop a state-of-the-art solution to meet our long-term energy requirements is a vital element to achieve this ambition and we expect to see a 36,000 tons per year carbon reduction from improved efficiency at the new facility. We are looking forward to construction beginning later this year as we are delighted with the benefits the new plant will bring to our business, as well as the opportunity this gives us to continue our strategic partnership with E.ON.”

Anthony Ainsworth, CEO E.ON Connecting Energies: “Generating steam and power on-site, where it is needed, gives energy-intensive industries the benefit of a highly efficient energy solution that improves their operations. We want to help our customers reach their carbon reduction goals and show that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand with the right solution tailored to their business needs.”