22 – Using industrial waste heat and Carbon Dioxide in greenhouses: a facilitated symbiotic exchange in UK between a nitrogen producer and a tomato grower

The National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP) in the UK acted for several years as a facilitator to create several symbiotic exchanges across the whole Country. In this specific case, it helped the implementation of a profitable symbiotic exchange between a nitrogen producer capturing steam and Carbon Dioxide and a neighbouring tomato grower, which uses the steam to heat up the greenhouses and the Carbon Dioxide to support tomatoes’ growth.

Thee challenge that led to the creation of the symbiotic exchange was the need of the tomato grower to produce tomatoes all year round, independently from weather conditions, expanding its production capacity without considerably increasing costs.

The discovery process, led by the facilitator, mainly consisted in putting the two companies into communication, creating adequate facilities and assessing the environmental and social benefits other than the economic ones, in order to increase the exchange’s profitability.