Vince Cable announces £60m GIB fund
Business Secretary Vince Cable has unveiled a £60 million funding boost for community-scale renewable energy projects primarily via the UK Green Investment Bank (GIB).
The new financing will provide equity funding of between £1 million and £10 million for a broad range of developments generating around 24 MW of new renewable energy, including anaerobic digestion and landfill gas projects.
The investment has been made with the Strathclyde Pension Fund through the Albion Community Power plc – which builds, controls and operates renewable energy projects across the UK.
GIB has committed to provide up to £50 million with SPF investing a further £10 million. ACP is working to attract a further £40 million from additional co-investors to bring the sum of investable capital up to £100 million.
Speaking from the GIB headquarters in Edinburgh, Business Secretary Vince Cable, said: “Renewable energy is the future, and we must continue to use all of the new and established technologies at our disposal to power our homes and businesses in a way that doesn’t damage the environment.”
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Shanks signs Netherlands hospitality contract
Shanks Group has signed a three-year preferred supplier agreement with Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN) –the largest hospitality industry organisation in the Netherlands.
Shanks hopes to increase recycling at the firm via the arrangement, which has over 200 branches representing more than 20,000 catering businesses across the country.
The agreement was launched to KHN’s members earlier this month.
Michael van Hulst, managing director of Shanks’ Benelux Solid Waste Division, said: “We are delighted to sign this preferred supplier agreement which is consistent with our strategy to gain share in our target segments and focus our activities in areas where we can be the lowest cost operator.
“The agreement will not only increase our market presence in the hospitality sector but will also help KHN’s members to increase their sustainability and recycling rates through Shanks’ innovative waste management solutions. ”
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Neales wins Blackpool Pleasure Beach contract
Neales Waste Management has been awarded a three-year contract to treat waste and recycling at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
The firm will also implement food waste collections at the North West amusement park, which features some 125 rides and attractions.
Neales has worked with the site’s management to ensure food waste will be bagged at sourced before being treated at an anaerobic digestion facility.
Meanwhile general waste will be sent to Neales’ new plant in Chorley, where recyclables can be recovered. The remaining material will be converted into refuse-derived fuel (RDF).
Commenting on the contract, Neales director Hugh Stewart said: “Blackpool Pleasure Beach is a truly iconic site. We are delighted to be able to provide a service that will ensure that none of the waste produced by the millions of visitors a year will go to landfill and just as importantly will have no impact on the fun that they will have whilst they are there.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
North East landfill operator admits offences
The operator of the Gilberdyke landfill site in East Yorkshire has been convicted of five environmental offences.
City Plant Ltd, which runs the waste site in Leatherdog Lane, Newport, admitted to three charges of failing to comply with its permit conditions at Beverley Magistrates’ Court last week (February 17).
The operator also admitted failing to comply with enforcement notices served in 2014, which required City Plant to install a landfill gas collection system and an engineered cap on the site.
Sentencing has been adjourned until April 15 this year.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
BlueMAC Manufacturing reports growth
BlueMAC Manufacturing has plans to expand its operations after installing 18 recycling plants in its first year.
The company, which was set up between equipment distributor Blue Group and technology specialist DMAC Engineering, has also launched Mobile AMS – its new all metals separator.
BlueMAC now has plans to develop new offices at its manufacturing facility and launch a recruitment campaign to boost staff numbers.
Oliver McShane, from BlueMAC, said: “Our plans for the factory allow us to maintain our growth and develop new plant and equipment for our range whilst ensuring that we can build on the engineering quality that has been such a vital factor in our success since we launched last year.”
Subscribe for free