The project is being delivered by a partnership between the Councils of Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Durham and Newcastle.

From 2026, the new facility will process up to 450,000 tonnes of residual waste from the region each year and use it to generate up to 49.9MW of electricity – or enough to power the equivalent of 60,000 homes.

This solution will avoid sending waste to landfill, save Greenhouse Gas emissions and make the most of the region’s rubbish.

A two-stage competitive dialogue tender process is underway to find an experienced operator to design, build, finance and operate the TV ERF – overseen by a governance board representing all seven partner councils. Three bidders have been shortlisted and final tenders are expected in 2022 with a preferred bidder announced later this year.