Energy Development Ltd (EDL), a renewable electricity company, has said that it will stop its funding of the pilot plant in Wollongong, Australia. However, the company will make full provision for the $93-$98 million (38-40 million) remaining balance of the SWERF in case a new business partner is not found.
The company owns an 88% stake Brightstar Environmental with the remainder being owned by Synfuels of Texas. It said it intends to remain involved in the SWERF development but is looking for a new business partner.
Chris Laurie, managing director at EDL, said: “While Energy Developments will seek to retain a stake in the potential of SWERF through the partner search process, the company's efforts will now be focused on resuming a leadership role in landfill gas, remote area and coal seam methane electricity generation.”
The company's SWERF technology comprises three components: waste pre-treatment and separation of recyclates, gasification and electricity generation from burning the residual material. Questions have been raised concerning the viability of the residual material from the SWERF as a fuel for a dependable energy supply.
UK plants
In the UK, Brightstar has contracts to build SWERF plants in Kent and Derby which the company has said will not be affected by the financial situation.
Brightstar Environmental’s UK general manager, Peter Cumberlidge, said: “The EDL announcement of 21 July 2003 does not directly affect our UK projects and we are confident of attracting a new partner for the SWERF business given the technical and commercial progress made to date.”
He added: “EDL has confirmed that they are committed to retain their SWERF opportunities particularly in the UK in recognition of the demand that exists here for this type of waste processing technology and the demand for renewable energy.”
Brightstar has worked with Brett Waste Management, who has a contract with Kent county council to build a 165,000 tonnes per year capacity SWERF in Canterbury. The company has also obtained planning permission for a plant sited in Derby for up to 220,000 tonnes of municipal waste per year.
Before beginning work on the Derby SWERF, Brightstar is waiting for an Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control operating permit from the Environment Agency which depends on emissions figures and other data from the Wollongong plant.
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