The company behind the facility, Energy Works, today (April 30) announced its plan to appoint US-based infrastructure firm MWH Treatment, alongside its partner company Spencer Group under an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) wrap contract for the development of the 150 million facility.
The plant, which has EU backing, will provide 28MW of power for the National Grid. It was awarded planning permission in October 2011 and will treat solid residue fuel (SRF) derived from municipal, and commercial and industrial source, using fluidised bed gasification as well as housing in-vessel composting and anaerobic digestion technology.
The first stage of development will see MWH and Spencer Group construct the facility in early 2015, for a completion date of March 2017. The proposed AD and materials processing facilities will be built during the second phase.
Feedstock
Construction of the plant will create over 200 jobs and 40 permanent positions. Energy Works has also said that it is advanced talks with feedstock suppliers to provide waste to the plant.
Energy Works project director Phil Morland welcomed the announcement as a major milestone for the company, which has recently secured a grid connection agreement.
He said: We are pleased to announce the joint venture of MWH Treatment and Spencer Group as our preferred bidder. The two companies are a good fit, with complementary capabilities, and offer the ideal partnership to deliver this ground-breaking project.
There is a clear synergy between the partners MWH brings a wealth of experience in energy recovery projects and a strong thermal process capability, while Spencer has vast experience in executing complex multi-disciplinary energy projects and a track record of delivering large civil, electrical and bulk handling works.
Grant
In March 2013, Spencer Group which has enjoyed long ties with the project – secured a 19.9 million capital grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government, which has been key in financing the project (see letsrecycle.com story).
Spencer Group Chief Executive Frank Millar said: We are delighted to have been selected, in partnership with MWH Treatment, as preferred contractors for such an exciting and pioneering development.
MWH Constructors president and global director Blair Lavoie added: We see our complementary capabilities as the ideal combination to deliver a project that will generate electricity by diverting a significant amount of material that would otherwise need to be landfilled.
Meanwhile, Energy Works is also exploring the opportunity to establish a neighbouring data centre, which would see the firm supply power and heat to Hull-based telecommunications company KC. The potential investment would be in the region of 20 million.
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