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Mainstream power generators see waste potential

Mainstream power generators are beginning recognise the potential contribution waste towards energy production, according to the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

The authority announced on Friday (November 24) a list of 15 companies that are in the running for a potential contract to handle refuse derived fuel to be produced by Greater Manchester.


” The response suggests that mainstream power generators are beginning to recognise the potential contribution of energy supply from this source “
– Tim Judson, GMWDA

Although responses include several waste management companies and cement firms, major energy producers such as Scottish and Southern Energy also included.

Tim Judson, PFI procurement manager at Manchester, told letsrecycle.com: “We were delighted with the initial response, both in terms of numbers and range of respondents. In particular the response suggests that mainstream power generators are beginning to recognise the potential contribution of energy supply from this source.”

MBT

As part of a separate contract at least two mechanical biological treatment plants are to be built on behalf of the GMWDA.

These plants will produce a fuel and Manchester has begun the process of tendering for an outlet for the material amid fears that there are not the outlets for RDF in the UK.

Although Manchester's response has been strong, Mr Judson believes that not all producers of RDF will find it as easy to locate outlets.

He said: “It is unclear at this stage whether our experience can be applied to all Refuse Derived Fuel – a term which is ill-defined and seen to encompass a wide range of material types.

“GMWDA has taken a particular approach to the creation of a Solid Recovered Fuel that reflects significant treatment and produced to a standard based on an emerging European standard.

“That approach means that power generators would be dealing with a stable product where storage and transfer are more possible, where there is a reasonable prospect of international market development, and where odour and other amenity issues are removed,” he added.

Bidders

A total of seventeen companies responded to Manchester's call for RDF outlets, 15 have been taken through to the next stage.

Related links:

GMWDA

The authority will decide in January whether or not to definitely run the RDF contract separately to its waste disposal contract, there is still a possibility that the two remaining bidders – Viridor and SITA UK – could combine the contracts.

The fifteen potential bidders are:

  • A consortium of Advanced Recycling Technologies Limited and Cargill plc, supported by Ove Arup and Fortum
  • Buxton Lime/Tarmac Group
  • Covanta Energy Limited
  • ENER.G plc
  • E.ON UK plc
  • A consortium of Ineos Chlor, John Laing Infrastructure Ltd and Viridor Waste Management Ltd
  • Keppel Seghers NV/ Keppel Corporation
  • Lafarge Cement UK/ Blue Circle Industries plc
  • Novera Energy Ltd
  • Scottish and Southern Energy Ltd
  • A consortium of SITA UK Limited, Peel Industries UK and Royal Bank of Scotland Project Investments Ltd
  • A consortium of Stadtreinigung Hamburg and Kraftwerke Peute Projektmanagment Gmbh
  • Tilhill Forestry Ltd/ UPM Kymmene
  • Veoila ES Aurora Ltd
  • Waste Recycling Group Ltd

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