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Tate & Lyle Eliminates Coal-Based Energy at Corn Wet Mills

Company now uses natural gas-fired combined heat and power systems at four corn wet mills in the U.S.

Photo: Tate & Lyle
Photo: Tate & Lyle

Tate & Lyle has delivered on its commitment to eliminate the use of coal-based energy in all its operations across the world.

This commitment, targeted for delivery by 2025, has been met four years ahead of schedule.

This marks the completion of a multi-year capital investment program totaling more than $150 million to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase efficiency in Tate & Lyle’s plants.

This has been achieved primarily by replacing coal systems with natural gas-fired combined heat and power systems at four corn wet mills in the U.S. in Loudon, TN, Decatur, IL and both plants in Lafayette, IN.

The Sagamore plant in Lafayette decommissioned its coal system in 2014, followed by Loudon in 2017, then the Lafayette South plant earlier this year. With the decommissioning of the final coal system at the Decatur, IL plant last month, Tate & Lyle delivered on its commitment.

As well as delivering significant environmental and economic improvements, the elimination of coal-based energy at these sites means less water will be used and local communities will benefit from improved air quality and less truck traffic.

Tate & Lyle has a strong track record of energy efficiency. In September, Tate & Lyle’s Loudon and Lafayette South plants were awarded Energy Star Certification by the Environmental Protection Agency for the fifth and seventh years in a row, respectively. A new biomass boiler is being constructed at its acidulants plant in Santa Rosa, Brazil, and Tate & Lyle’s Scope 1, 2 and 3¹ greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for 2030 have been validated as science-based by the Science Based Targets initiative.

“Moving away from onsite coal consumption is a key part of our sustainability program to drive a significant reduction in our Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions," says Sara Leeman, Tate & Lyle’s Global Environmental Lead. "We have now fully decommissioned all onsite coal systems at our sites.”

¹Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating and cooling consumed by the reporting company. Scope 3 includes all other indirect emissions that occur in a company's value chain. More information here.

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