Turning 100,000 Pumpkins into Power: A Spooky Step Towards Renewable Energy This Halloween

This Halloween, Severn Trent Green Power is set to transform approximately 100,000 discarded pumpkins into renewable energy at its facilities throughout the Midlands, the Home Counties, South Wales and the South West.

Using a well established method known as anaerobic digestion, these pumpkins will be decomposed to produce biogas, a valuable source of clean, renewable energy. Additionally, the residual byproduct, known as digestate, will be repurposed as a nutrient-rich fertiliser for local farmland, supporting the growth of new crops and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Andrew Simm, Operations Director at Severn Trent Green Power, said: “We’d encourage everyone to recycle their unwanted pumpkins to prevent them from going to a less sustainable disposal fate. Don’t forget to check with your local council to find out what its arrangements are for collecting leftover pumpkins as sometimes they’re picked up alongside your food waste caddy.”

The company estimated that this will produce 77 MW (megawatts) of “spook-tacular” energy to power 10,000 homes for a day.

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Sources:

https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/severn-trent-to-turn-100000-pumpkins-into-energy/#:~:text=This%20Halloween%2C%20Severn%20Trent%20Green,10%2C000%20homes%20for%20a%20day.

https://www.energylivenews.com/2024/10/29/severn-trent-to-turn-100k-pumpkins-into-renewable-energy/