The plant is being developed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and FCC Environment through a joint venture called the ‘Lostock Sustainable Energy Plant Limited’ (LSEP).
Plans for the plant were originally drawn up in 2012 by Tata Chemicals, which remains a partner in the project, and would have seen the facility generate 60MW of electricity per year.
However, the developers of the project had set forward amended proposals for the site, which, through the use of more efficient boilers and turbines than initially planned, will see the output of the plant increase to 90MW.
According to the developers, the more efficient technology will see an increase in the steam pressure and temperature, and an increase in the thermal output of the facility.
Calorific value
They have also claimed that a change in the composition of the waste available for processing since the site was originally planned in 2012 is likely to result in a greater ‘calorific value’ of waste available for treatment.
In documents outlining the proposals, which required ministerial approval, LSEP said: “Recycling rules have generally resulted in a reduction of combustible dry recyclables which are relatively lightweight and of organic wet food wastes which are heavy and increasingly tend to be treated by composting and anaerobic digestion, potentially resulting in fuel with a greater CV variance over time.”
“Recycling rules have generally resulted in a reduction of combustible dry recyclables which are relatively lightweight and of organic wet food wastes which are heavy and increasingly tend to be treated by composting and anaerobic digestion, potentially resulting in fuel with a greater CV variance over time.”
The proposals received approval from the Secretary of State for Business Greg Clarke last week, who accepted that the proposal was not “fundamentally different” in character or scale to the initial planning permission granted in 2012.
“The secretary of state notes that there will be no change in the main fuel source of the Varied Development and there have been no significant changes in the environmental and other impacts identified,” BEIS concluded.
Documents outlining the decision, added: “The secretary of state is therefore of the view that the varied development does not result in a development that is fundamentally different in character or scale to that originally consented.”
FCC
Earlier this year, CIP and FCC Environment announced that £480 million in funding had been secured to construct the plant, which is due to be operational in the second quarter of 2023 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Under the agreement, the LSEP will own, construct and operate the facility, but Tata Chemicals Europe will “remain a key long term participant”.
The deal will also see CIP own 60% of the plant, while FCC will own the remaining 40% and also source the waste for the facility.
Cheshire West
Some concerns over the impact of the development, in particular the likely increase in vehicle movements around the site, have been raised by Cheshire West and Chester council.
Cllr Karen Shore, cabinet member for environment, highways and strategic transport at Cheshire West and Chester council, said the authority will monitor the project going forward.
“The council submitted a letter to the Secretary of State expressing our concerns about the impact of the plant on the area, as well as the cumulative impact of similar, adjacent developments,” she said.
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