THE giant Solvay chemical plant in Oldbury has been fitted with a brand new energy system which has cut its CO2 output by over a third.

Oldbury MP Adrian Bailey officially opened the new system at the 60-acre site which produces phosphorus-based intermediates that are used in a wide range of products, including pharmaceuticals.

The company is also set to shave 20 per cent from its annual energy bill for the site in Trinity Street, Oldbury, as it is now able to generate the majority of its own electricity by using the new equipment.

Adrian Bailey MP said: “This is a great example of the way in which cogeneration technology can be harnessed to not only reduce a company’s carbon footprint, but also save money on energy costs.

“Employees at Solvay Oldbury and within its wider group have put a huge amount of hard work into this project.

“I am very pleased to declare the new plant officially open.”

Jean-François Berthiaume, site director at Solvay, said: “We take our environmental responsibility very seriously; hence we have spent a lot of time investigating ways in which to reduce our carbon footprint.

“The new cogeneration system, which took 18 months to complete, will be a huge asset to the site, enabling us to significantly reduce our impact on the environment and to be more self-sufficient in terms of energy production.”

The new system comprises a diesel engine, combustion boiler and a hot water network.

The diesel engine runs on natural gas and drives a generator that makes electricity.

The hot exhaust gases from the engine pass through the new boiler to generate part of the site’s steam demand.

The engine also generates 85°C hot water, which is used as a source of heating on site.

In addition to reducing energy costs by producing power on-site, the cogeneration unit reduces emissions compared to conventional electrical generators and onsite boilers.