A new deal was agreed today that will significantly lower the cost government pays for energy and create hundreds of local jobs, the Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude announced.

The new 20 year contract with Air Products, worth 2% of government's energy spend, is expected to deliver £84 million in savings over the life of the contract through an innovative fixed agreement that will provide stability in what the public sector pays for energy.

As part of the deal, Air Products expects to invest an amount similar to that of their first plant, £300 million, to build a new 'energy from waste' facility in Tees Valley, Teesside, bringing new jobs to the local area from the initial construction phase and beyond.

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The new agreement means government, via the Government Procurement Service (GPS), will buy a portion of its energy directly from a UK-based generator at a low fixed price via an innovative Power Purchase Agreement rather than buying entirely through short-term wholesale markets which are subject to unpredictable price fluctuations.

Mr Maude said: "This is the beginning of a pioneering approach to how government uses its collective buying power and long term demand to buy energy. Not only have we secured £84 million of savings for taxpayers by signing a new, low cost energy deal with Air Products, but we’re also helping the UK compete in the global race by investing in growth and creating hundreds of new jobs through the construction of a new 'energy from waste' plant.

"Our aspiration is to develop world-leading, exportable technology, and the new state-of-the-art site in Teesside will help the UK become a centre of renewable technology. This is about changing the way we work to not only get the best out of our suppliers, but the best out of the UK."

(CD/H)