The building was described by the Spencer Group, which is heading up the ‘Energy Works’ project, as a “key element” of the overall plans to build the energy from waste plant. Spencer Group describes itself as one of the UK’s “largest privately owned multidisciplinary engineering businesses”.
Incorporating the control room for Energy Works as well as education facilities, the building is designed to offer operational staff, researchers and visitors wide-ranging views of operations on site.
And, a Hull University partnership will provide two positions for PhD students and offer schools and the local community the opportunity to learn about the benefits of renewable energy technologies, said the Spencer Group.
Benefits
Spencer Group operations director, Andy Beach said: “As a Hull-based company, everyone at Spencer Group is very proud of Energy Works and the benefits it will bring to the city and region.
“The Energy Academy is unusual as it is an on-site facility as part of a working plant, rather than based in an educational institution. That means it offers a great opportunity to combine academic research with operational evidence.”
Commissioning of the site has started and first run on refuse on-site is due at the end of January 2018.
The 25MW facility will use fluidised bed gasification and is planned to produce energy to power 43,000 homes by processing 240,000 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel annually.
Feedstock to power the gasifier will first be processed to recover materials which can be reused.
Management
Energy Works is the Humber region’s largest current development, according to the Spencer Group which, in a statement, said it has steered Energy Works “on a seven-year journey from concept to reality, with Spencer teams working closely with principal contractor M+W Group to deliver the huge green energy facility. On behalf of the investors, Spencer Group is also managing the construction of the plant and will oversee operations once live, under a Management Service Agreement.”
About 350 people have been employed on site during construction at its peak and once live, 25 permanent staff will operate the facility.
The project was awarded a £19.9 million grant from the European Regional Development Fund in 2013.
Related links
Energy Works
Spencer Group
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