The facility’s permit will allow it to accept up to 500,000 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste a year.
The backing is to come from Gresham House’s British Strategic Investment Fund (BSIF), which invests in sustainable UK housing and infrastructure, with an emphasis on the smaller mid-market. Gresham House says the BSIF strategy aims to have a positive social and environmental impact on the UK.
Ed Simpson, BSIF fund manager and investment director for new energy at Gresham House, said: “The benefits to the UK from the Waste Knot Energy project are myriad – from providing a waste disposal alternative to reducing carbon emission from the industrial sector and stimulating regional economic activity.
“Having just completed its final funding round, this is exactly the type of strategically important sustainable project BSIF is looking to facilitate, while generating attractive returns for investors.”
Waste Knot Energy is based in London and says it manufactures green pelleted fuels for major and large scale energy users to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.
Pellets
Waste Knot Energy says the high-calorific value of its pellets makes them a reliable, low-emission bulk alternative to coal and pet-coke for energy-intensive industries such as cement and steel.
“Green Knot pellets are the future of fuel”
Roger Ferguson, founder of Waste Knot Energy, said: “The circular economy demands that we re-use materials wherever possible and landfill should always be avoided.
“Green Knot pellets are the future of fuel, to sit alongside other sustainable power generation.”
Waste Knot Energy says it will use solid recovered fuel (SRF) as a raw material, sourced from regional suppliers.
Freight
It is estimated the plant will manufacture in excess of 240,000 tonnes of fuel pellets each year, which will be transported within the UK by rail or exported by ship.
Once completed, the plant will create more than 20 full time jobs.
It is being developed on a brownfield site owned by AV Dawson, a Teesside-based freight logistics specialist with a 40-hectare port facility in Middlesbrough.
The city’s mayor, Andy Preston, said: “This is very positive for Middlesbrough, bringing investment and jobs to the town and enabling AV Dawson, as one of the largest family businesses in the area, to take the next step in its plans for growth.”
Tees Valley
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said: “It is fantastic to see Teesside landing the first plant for this exciting new project. Whether it is Net Zero Teesside, e-scooters or pioneering the use of hydrogen across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool we are developing the technologies of the future and creating sustainable good quality well paid local jobs for local workers.
“This amazing news further supports our ambitions to drive forward the clean energy agenda, further cementing our region’s reputation as an innovator and world leader in decarbonisation.”
Tees Valley already hosts a facility run by Dutch alternative fuel firm N+P Group which produces higher grade SRF/RDF pellets, known as Subcoal (see letsrecycle.com story). These pellets are produced from residual non-recyclable waste and used as fuel in energy-intensive industries.
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