Green energy uk, supplier of 100% green electricity, is providing the new Waitrose store in Rickmansworth with electricity created from growing tomatoes that are then sold at the store. This means the supermarket’s checkouts, lights, fridges and more are all powered by the small red salad fruit.

Tomato plants kept in greenhouses at farms in Chichester and Stanstead are fed carbon dioxide, which, combined with photosynthesis, produces better tasting tomatoes. In the process of creating carbon dioxide, heat is generated, heating the greenhouses and turning a turbine that then produces electricity which fed into the national grid. This is an efficient and sustainable process called Combined Heat and Power (CHP) that benefits everyone involved and which also has positive environmental benefits and no waste. The Waitrose Rickmansworth store, which opened in October 2007, gets all of its electricity from this source.

All green energy uk’s electricity comes entirely from green sources, including pig waste, vegetable oil, organic waste gasification, biomass, as well as wind and hydro power. green energy uk founder and Chief Executive, Doug Stewart, says: “Electricity from growing tomatoes is extremely positive because it has multiple benefits and no waste – all the heat is used for warming the greenhouses, the CO2 is ‘fed’ to the plants and the electricity goes to consumers and businesses who want green power. It’s great to work with Waitrose on a project like this because it makes a great deal of sense to use these resources. It’s an excellent piece of joined-up-thinking”

Bill Wright, Energy and Environment Manager at Waitrose, says: "It is essential to us that every aspect of our business meets our environmental standards. In addition to being an environmentally sound option, this surplus energy allows Waitrose to maintain our green commitments, and it helps the farms generate additional income - so everyone benefits.”

Doug Stewart continues: “There are massive infrastructure and technology issues in moving away from our present carbon economy. It is important to promote the introduction of new technologies to substitute for fossil fuels and make renewable and green technologies a greater part of the mix. This will eventually drive energy prices down as greener technologies improve and our reliance on fossil fuels lessens. In theory the UK has the resources to receive all of its electricity from green means, all we need do is harness this potential, and we are making great strides in that direction.”