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HZI to build and operate Fife EfW plant

Developer Brockwell Energy has awarded Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) a 25-year contract to design, build, and operate an energy from waste (EfW) facility on the former Westfield opencast coal site in Fife.

An early visualisation of the EfW plant at the former Westfield opencast coal site in Fife, which is currently under construction (picture: HZI)

Brockwell Energy named HZI its preferred bidder for the construction last April and the two companies signed a contract on 16 December (see letsrecycle.com story).

The Westfield plant will be HZI’s first project in the UK where the Switzerland-based specialist EfW engineering company operates and maintains the facility as well as designing and building it.

The project becomes HZI’s 15th in the UK overall.

Fabio Dinale, vice president of business development at HZI, said: “The UK remains a strong market for HZI, and we are immensely proud to not only build this project for Brockwell Energy Ltd, but support them through our 25-year operation and maintenance contract in bringing new and urgently needed waste management infrastructure to Scotland.”

Brockwell Energy had hoped for construction of the 240,000 tonnes per year capacity facility to begin last summer and to be completed by 2024.

However, in a statement published on 16 December, Brockwell Energy said construction was now due to begin in February, while the plant is expected to be fully operational early in 2025.

‘Hard work’

Commercial waste management company Cireco will supply the waste to the facility.

We are grateful for the continuing support of all the key stakeholders involved in the project

– Neil Young, Brockwell Energy’s technical and operations director

Cireco, previously named Resource Efficient Solutions, provides services for Fife council, NHS Fife, and The University of St Andrews, among a number of other commercial clients across Scotland.

Neil Young, Brockwell Energy’s technical and operations director, said: “After many years of hard work, we are delighted to have completed the financing and contracting to enable the construction of this facility.

“It has been a very challenging economic period and we are grateful for the continuing support of all the key stakeholders involved in the project, including Fife council and Fife council’s waste disposal business, Cireco.

“We are delighted to have HZI’s broad experience in building and operating this facility.”

Brockwell Energy says the project will create more than 400 jobs during its construction phase and 40 long-term skilled roles once in operation.

Opencast coal site

Once operational, the plant will generate more than 23MW of electrical energy.

The door of an HZI reciprocating grate (picture: HZI)

HZI says the plant will be equipped with the companie’s own technologies, including the HZI reciprocating grate, as well as their boiler technology and flue gas treatment.

Brockwell Energy says the plant will also be a “catalyst” for the re-development of one of largest derelict brownfield former coal mining sites in Central Scotland.

The developer says that, alongside the landowner, Hargreaves Land Limited, it has already engaged with “a number” of industrial businesses to promote the site.

Mr Young added: “Our long-term aim is to look at how we can locate other renewable energy schemes within the wider site to enhance our offering to the market and demonstrate our commitment to developing and investing in projects that meet our environmental and social governance criteria.”

Earls Gate

The Westfield facility will be a sister plant to the 216,000 tonnes per year capacity Earls Gate Energy Centre in Grangemouth, Falkirk.

The Earls Gate facility is being built on behalf of a consortium involving Brockwell Energy, Green Investment Group (GIG) and EfW specialist Covanta Energy (see letsrecycle.com story).

Once finished, the Westfield plant will sit alongside Earls Gate and seven other EfW plants fuelled by municipal waste in Scotland.

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