Biffa is set to propose a 50,000 tonne increase in capacity for its 300,000 tonnes-per-year capacity energy-from-waste plant in Shepshed, Leicestershire.
The firm has concluded that its Newhurst Quarry facility, which was first proposed in 2009, will need to process an extra 50,000 tonnes of residual waste a year, increasing the overall electricity output of the facility from 21MW to 33MW.
Other updates to the original specifications from five years ago include moving the flue stack, additional cooling fans to improve process efficiency, and cancellation of a canopy roof over the storage and maturation area.
The changes will require Biffa to submit a new planning application to Leicestershire county council to approve the variation and the firm has already sent a scoping report to the local authority that outlines its proposals.
However, the council twice rejected the original planning permission for the facility, which Biffa submitted despite being cut from a list of potential bidders for the councils 685 million long-term residual waste treatment project in June 2010.
The residual waste project itself was subsequently dropped by the council towards the end of the tender, due to Defras withdrawal of PFI support in October 2010, but Biffa has opted to continue with the facility, with waste to be secured from commercial and industrial sources (see letsrecycle.com story).
In January 2012, the authority published its strategic vision indicating it was moving away from landfill and had procured capacity at an MBT facility to treat 50,000 tonnes of residual waste per year.
But communities secretary Eric Pickles overruled Leicestershire county council and granted Biffa permission to set up its own facility in June 2012, a move which was described at the time as a threat to localism (see letsrecycle.com story).
Capacity
Biffa has explained that the new proposed increase in capacity remains well within the currently permitted approved maximum capacity of 375,000 tonnes per annum for the site, and would not result in an increase in vehicle movements.
Furthermore, the changes would see an increase in power output of 57% for a corresponding increase of 17% in fuel feedstock.
Mike Thair, Biffa development director, said: Since obtaining planning permission for the Newhurst energy recovery facility in 2012 Biffa has taken the opportunity to refine and improve the facilitys design, so as to improve energy efficiencies and overall performance which will significantly increase the amount of electricity the plant can produce. We are delighted that this project is now moving to the next stage of implementation.
He added: As well as providing a major contribution towards sustainable energy generation and waste management in Leicestershire, the project will bring 250 million of investment to the area with 40 full time jobs, hundreds more during construction and more still through contractors and suppliers over the plants life not forgetting that money will also be spent on local hotels, taxis, shops and other necessities which will be required by this major project.
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