The Waste & Resources Action Programme is managing the capital grant programme which began last May and offers successful applicants up to 30% towards the costs of plant, equipment and infrastructure.
Speaking to letsrecycle.com today, a spokeswoman from WRAP was unable to say how much MAP was investing in the project, however she said that the aim of the project is to “stimulate investment of up to £5 million.”
This figure accounts for the 30% of the funding which MAP will provide in addition to the funding which the successful applicants need to attract to get the facility up and running.
In order to be eligible for funding from MAP, applicants will be assessed for overall value for money, financial robustness, quality of design, arrangements for sourcing input material, ability to deliver and environmental commitment/impact.
They also have to be able to demonstrate that at least 60% of the plant's inputs will come from commercial and/ or industrial sources that would otherwise go to landfill.
Applicants must also be able to demonstrate that the project would be unable to proceed without MAP funding and that it is a viable commercial proposition in the medium to long term.
Sarah Burns, capital grants officer for WRAP, said: “There is great potential for this technology in Wales due to the prevalence of food-related industries, from which the waste can be converted into an effective source of energy via anaerobic digestion.
“The initial capital support programme attracted strong interest and the first project to benefit is due to come on line next year, but we need to maintain this momentum as the technology is developing all the time. The second programme of support is open to companies who applied previously as well as new entrants.”
WRAP's spokeswoman also confirmed that there was one successful applicant from the first stage of funding, and that more information on this proposal will be released soon; plans for this facility are for it to be operational by March 2009.
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