29 July 2025
Read our full story in the July 2025 edition of EME Outlook magazine, charting our journey and growth over the last 16 years, alongside an in-depth interview with our Managing Director Jonathon Wroe.
In 2008, a small project team at Severn Trent Water began looking into anaerobic digestion (AD) as a technology for renewable energy production using a crop source as feedstock. Back then, the idea of powering our homes and infrastructure with renewable energy seemed alien. Fossil fuels made up 76 percent of the UK’s electricity mix. Renewables contributed just 6 percent. The technology for developing large-scale renewable systems and storage was in its infancy. But Severn Trent, with its extensive experience in sludge AD, recognised the potential in other applications. Hence, Green Power – a renewable energy division within the group – was formed in 2009.
From the get-go, Green Power focused on building a sustainable business model that could support its parent company’s intensive energy needs whilst fulfilling its own ambitions. It was this early commitment to investing strategically and making bold and informed decisions that led to its extraordinary evolution over the next 15 years.
Crafting excellence
The early years were marked by many valuable lessons learned. Stoke Bardolph was the company’s first AD facility which over the years has become one of the largest crop AD sites in the UK. John Jackson, Farms Manager and Crop AD Site Manager at Stoke Bardolph, said: “It was very important that we got our first large-scale AD site right first time. That’s why we went to mainland Europe to search for a low-risk technology that would deliver what it said on the tin. After some trials and errors, we learnt very quickly the most optimised way to design, build and run a crop AD plant.”
Alongside this growth, Green Power took on the management of Severn Trent’s hydro, wind and solar assets, spanning from North Yorkshire to mid-Wales. A small team of experts were beginning to form the core of the company.
Breaking new ground
Green Power began to work with Agrivert, a specialist in renewable energy, to build AD plants that could turn food waste into renewable energy. Its decision to acquire Agrivert in 2018 allowed the Oxfordshire-based company to tap into an emerging organic waste recycling market and expand their portfolio. Energy generation leapt from 17GWh in 2009 to 250GWh per year by 2019.
The next expansion arrived in 2023 when Green Power acquired Andigestion, an AD specialist, to increase their food waste recycling offering – just two years before new recycling legislations are set to kick in. Taking strategic steps like these driven by a deep understanding of customer needs, market dynamics and operational expertise continued to pave a strong foundation for its long-term growth.
2024 marked a pivotal moment in its evolution. The decision to build four large-scale solar farms transformed the company into an emerging force in renewables. What started as a quest for energy self-sufficiency has evolved into a diversified business, rich in the expertise and experience essential for addressing the country’s energy needs and tackling the impacts of climate change.
In 2025, it joins forces with the likes of Centrica, Cadent and Ecotricity to form the Green Gas Taskforce, working together to boost the profile of biomethane as a key energy vector among policymakers in a bid to decarbonise the UK’s gas grid.
Today, Green Power generates 335GWh of renewable energy every year. With a new leader at the helm, it’s poised for more exciting growth. So what’s next? Jonathon Wroe, Managing Director, reveals.
EME Outlook (EO): Green Power generates clean energy from food waste, crop, wind, solar and hydro. Why do you think renewable energy is important to our country?
Jonathon Wroe (JW): Being among a handful of companies that operate across the spectrum of renewable sources that currently provide most of the UK’s clean energy, we’re involved with a range of conversations and organisations that want to see the country’s successful transition to Net Zero but also totally cognisant of the financial, logistical and legislative challenges faced by both the food waste AD market and renewables sector.
It's clear the demand for clean energy will only increase. Population growth, electrification of road transport, more mainstream use of artificial intelligence, volatility in international relations... it has never been more important to grow our sustainable energy sources and provide tangible support for those producing clean energy. We’re committed to the ongoing decarbonisation of energy sources while supporting the UK’s transition to Net Zero.
EO: What do you foresee to be Green Power’s overall renewable energy mix in the next 10-15 years?
JW: With a strong track record of delivering sustainable growth and innovation, we’re always looking to expand our portfolio. We’ve recently launched a solar expansion project that will see the energisation of four large-scale solar farms, strengthening our foothold in the renewable energy space. As the economic and regulatory landscape continues to evolve in the next decade or so, we’re ready to explore both innovation “within the site boundary” and new build opportunities to maintain our market-leading position for organic waste recycling and clean energy generation.
Additionally, as one of the founding members of the Green Gas Taskforce, we want to ensure that AD continues to be promoted as an effective and essential part of the UK’s future energy mix. Having a joint voice around industry-wide headwinds will help mitigate long-term risks around energy price and incentive changes. Collectively championing AD and biomethane as a clean energy source that supports the circular economy is a key priority for us and the rest of the industry.
EO: Green Power clearly has ambitious plans to grow its energy generation. What will enable you and your teams to achieve success?
JW: To do that, we need to ensure that our offerings and services change with expectations, and this will mean keeping up with technological advances and swiftly adapting to shifting market trends and customer expectations.
This includes upgrading existing assets to biomethane production, converting process waste products to useful materials, and looking for new ways to best utilise the energy we produce. We’re always interested in partnering with forward-looking and innovative companies with expertise in these areas.
EO: What kind of background and expertise do you look for to contribute to Green Power’s future growth?
JW: Technical and industry expertise is always important in any company’s make-up, but cultural and organisational fit have also become increasingly relevant. Our colleagues come from all sorts of backgrounds, not just traditional AD and renewable settings, which I feel makes us a more innovative and resourceful team.
As a “people first” organisation, we actively encourage learning and development for both technical skills and broader personal development areas. We’re also proud to provide apprenticeship opportunities for young people looking to make a difference, and we’re constantly on the lookout for talented and passionate individuals to join our fantastic team.
