Approval granted for East London gasification plant

Monmouth-based Cyclamax yesterday (July 12) revealed it has received planning permission to develop a ‘flagship' gasification facility in East London, which will be used to turn 120,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste a year into renewable energy.

The company was granted planning permission by regional development agency the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation at its planning committee last week (July 8). The Corporation is developing a ‘Sustainable Industries Park' at a site in Dagenham Dock, East London.

Cyclamax first unveiled plans for the plant in March 2009, with the 15MW facility being one of six the Welsh company is looking to develop across the UK (see letsrecycle.com story).

The gasification facility will be used primarily to treat commercial waste arisings in the region and is being developed and operated by Cyclamax subsidiary Thames Gateway Power, which was set up specifically to deliver the plant.

A spokeswoman for London Thames Gateway Development Corporation confirmed that the plant has contracts in place for the delivery of waste but could not confirm the names or sources for commercial confidentiality reasons.

The plant is expected to be operational in 2013, and it is expected to provide renewable and low carbon heat, cooling and power to other businesses occupying the 60-acre Sustainable Industries Park. Other occupants of the site include plastics recycling firm Closed Loop Recycling.

Planning

Tony Watkins, managing director at Cyclamax, said he was “delighted” at the quick turn-around of receiving planning permission for the facility having submitted plans in March 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story). He noted that commissioning for the facility should begin in 2012.

He added: “There is a strong appetite for low carbon energy generation, providing energy for local people and businesses. It was important for us that one of our first plans be located on a park of the quality and exemplar sustainability ambitions of the London Sustainable Industries Park.”

Cyclamax said that the plant would also be capable of producing enough renewable electricity to power 31,500 households in Barking and Dagenham – 45% of the London borough's requirement.

Welcoming the award of permission, Peter Andrews, chief executive of the London Thames Gateway Development Agency, said: “It is an important milestone in creating the London Sustainable Industries Park at Dagenham Dock, which is the first in a new breed of business parks.

“The Park will accommodate, support and grow environmental technology businesses and sustainable industries, creating business synergies with existing tenants while maximising resource efficiency, innovation and minimising waste.”